Text: Hebrews 11:35b-40, Title: Others, Date/Place: NRBC, 8/5/12, AM
Opening illustration: Bro Howard, former pastor, who got cancer of the throat and could not preach. Complained until another pastor said, "You are not exempt."
Background to passage: these verses bring an ominous but realistic end to this great chapter on overcoming faith. It deals with the scenario that these believers might face – no deliverance. After so many examples of OT saints and heroes who overcame huge circumstances to see victory, deliverance, and the fulfillment of promises, the writer speaks of the "others," who did not see the answers to prayer. Interestingly, the "others" obtained a good testimony (God’s approval on their lives) just as the elders in the first verse of the chapter. Important note: we are dealing with believers here, not all people.
Main thought: we are not exempt, and some are really not exempt.
Some Have it Rougher
One of the reasons this text exists it to let us know that the Christian life is not exempt from suffering, nor is it fair. Life is not fair. Many of the members of the hall of faith had huge victories and miracles, but the "others" never saw the promises fulfilled or prayers for deliverance answered. God providencially ordered their lives so that they would be offered a chance to save their lives on the condition of apostasy, but they would not accept it. God is a God who is good all the time, including when He ordains the suffering of His children. The word used here for the torture spoke of a round rack which one was stretched on and beaten with rods or whips.
Lam 3:31-32, Job 1:21, 2:10, 42:11, Deut 28:63, Josh 23:15, Amos 3:6, Isa 45:7,
Illustration: ever meet one of those people that just can’t seem to catch a break?
We have a big hang up with fairness and rights because we live in a free society in a representative republic. But here is a newsflash: some of you will suffer much more than others, and that is part of God’s plan. You can’t expect the Christian life to be fair. If that is your expectation when you came into the faith, you will be sorely dissapointed. Christian men, women, and children have their lives cut short by car wrecks, cancer, torture, drownings, murder. Christians are raped, kidnapped, and enslaved. Christians starve, and freeze, are homeless, shipwrecked, carjacked, hijacked, bombed, and are attacked by animals. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." -1 Pet 4:12-13
Rougher Doesn’t Mean Cursed
It is clear in these verses that God is not upset at these "others." It says that they obtained a good testimony with God. It says that the world was not worthy of them. It says that God had something better in mind. It is always for His glory and your good. It is always for your sanctification and purification.
Job—whole book was this error, John 9:2, Lam 3:33, 2 Cor 1:9, Ezek 18:32
Illustration: Michael Phelps’ coach constantly making life hard for him: leaving his goggles or hat away from the pool, giving fake start signals, intentionally running behind and being late/rushed, ice cold water, one more lap further,
God will never afflict us purposelessly. We know some general purposes for suffering: growth, purification, evangelism, learning not to trust in ourselves, valuing Christ, testing our faith, but we may not know our specific resaon. He always has something better for us than a life of ease. We may not understand His reasons, but know that your suffering doesn’t mean that you are cursed of God. You may feel like God has turned his back on you, but remind Satan that it is not true. God may be silent before you for a season, but it is not because He doesn’t hear you, or doesn’t love you. Our minds deceive us, and cause doubt in God’s love and character, but stand firm, God is good, and He is sovereign. Sometimes we think that our suffering is more than we can bear, but know that He is for you, not against you. Now it can always be good to search your heart when suffering comes, because sometimes chastening from the Lord comes to expose a particular sin, but sometimes not. But even a chastening father loves his child. Know that God loves you! In fact, the bible says that God is close to the brokenhearted, and that He is like a refiner of gold—closest to the gold when the fire ist he hottest.
Suffering Binds Together
One of the interesting parts of this text is where the writer makes the statement about God providing for us and perfecting them in each other. There is a connection between believers, even across covenants, related to suffering. There is a bond that is formed among those who suffer together. This is one of the reasons that churches can be so close—they have borne each other’s sorrows. Or this is a reason that some churches are not close—they are not invested intimately in each other’s lives. This principle is even found in not religious settings, for instance in battle, or in the oncology unit, or in natural disasters.
Rom 8:17, Heb 10:33, Rev 1:9. Phil 1:7, 4:14, 2 Tim 1:8
Illustration: this is why support groups for people with cancer, alcoholics in the family, suffer from different disorders, because people feel a sense of comradery with others who have suffered in the same way, this is why there is some comfort in all the family being around when a death occurs, people who go through life and death situations together tend to form bonds that are close, persecuted believers draw strength from one another as they did in the Cuban prison that held Herbert Caudill and his son as he spent much time imprisoned during his mission work there after leaving New River, same as Martin and Gracia Burnam who were kidnapped in 2001 and held for weeks before Martin was killed,
But you are bound together as you suffer with believers for thousands of years. You look to Christ who has redeemed you, and they looked to Christ who would redeem them. They cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for deliverance through a coming Messiah, and you do it to the same God through the Messiah that has already come. Hundreds of thousands of believers have perished from this life with the name of Jesus Christ on their lips. And you are part of them. Here at New River you are linked with all who suffer in our midst. Don’t be afraid to bear one another’s burdens. Get to know their stories. Get to know that stories of heroes and martyrs of our faith. Most of us know more about Obama or Peyton Manning than we do about the men and women whose blood was spilled as a foundation for the church of Jesus Christ.
God and Grace are Sufficient
These men, women, and children gave their lives for the testimony of Christ. Most believers, at least those of us in countries with religious freedom, wonder if we would really have the courage to take a bullet for Christ if we have the opportunity to live by denying Him. But be reminded that God’s grace is sufficient for any need. He gave these believers the strength to sing as the blades cut them in half, and He will do the same for us. Whatever you are facing, God is able to see you through it if He doesn’t take you out of it. Look to the better resurrection! Look to the riches of Christ!
2 Cor 12:8-12, Romans 8:28-39, Hab 3:17-19, Lam 3:22-26, Ps 73:26, Mark 11:13
Illustration: One day, on the way to visit some friends, John Denley was stopped and searched by the authorities, who found his written confession of faith. Denley believed the Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as its head, and that the present state church, the Church of England, was not part of this true Church. In his time, many of its teachings were not according to the Bible. For this he was turned over to a local government official, who turned him over to the bishop for questioning. Denley would not back down from his statement of faith, so he was condemned to die and turned over to the sheriff. Within six weeks, he was sent to the stake to be burned. When they lit the wood beneath him, Denley showed no fear. He cheerfully sang a psalm as the flames rose around him. One of his tormentors picked up a piece of wood and threw it at him, hitting him in the face. He hoped to anger or silence Denley, but Denley only responded, “Truly, you have spoiled a good old song.” Then he spread his arms again and continued to sing until he died.
We are told to hide in God or in Christ, because He is our Refuge, our Rock, our Redeemer! He is our Lily of the valley, the rod and staff of the Shepherd! He is our sufficiency, our portion forever. His mercies are new every morning. His grace is sufficient. He will keep our feet from falling. He is the Lifter of our head. He is our hope, our joy, our strength, our shield, our fortress, our deliverer. In Him we can do all things, in Him we can be strong in the power of His might, in Him we can find peace that passes understanding, not as the world gives, but in Him. In Him we have an inheritance undefiled that fades not away. In Him we can find rest for your soul. The One who controls the depth, heighth, breadth, and length of every trial is big enough to bring you safely through, or give you grace to die well!
Closing illustration:
Again the motivation and fuel for their not accepting deliverance is the truth of a better resurrection.
Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
