The Resume Of A Champion.
Hebrews 11:1-6NASB
What does the resume of a champion look like? Believe it or not, but possibly a lot like yours.
Many times success comes with downfalls and setbacks.
However, champions fight; Champions fight the good fight of faith.
Paul reminds Timothy his young protégé in
1 Timothy 6:12AMP Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.
Faith is a fight, it’s a fight to speak a good confession. Satan throws accusations by reminding you of your failures. Remember, he failed, and remained prideful without repentance, so of course, he wants you to fail.
Again, I Timothy 6:12b… take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…
This eternal life—heaven, is a good start. For the believer, the finality of the temporal, is the beginning of eternal life—Life as God knows it.
Hebrews 11:1-6, gives the believer a strong definite word about faith. Let’s look at these verses, one at a time.
Hebrews 11:1NASB Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Again, faith is the certainty, the assurance, the proof, and evidence, of things hoped for.
Can I tell you with certainty that your faith confession will win every time.
Hebrews 11:2NASB For by it the people of old gained approval.
Here’s a good reminder, if faith worked for these men and women in the OT, it will work for you. Be certain of this, Your faith is your integrity, it’s you speaking and living God’s word.
The individuals in Hebrews 11, were inducted into the Hall Of Fame of faith, because of their tenacity, and gumption, yes, those listed, paid a high price. Moreover, they won their prize!
Albert Einstein once said, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”
Hebrews 11:3, begins by expressing to the reader that faith is good enough for God. Moreover, during creation, God actually spoke faith, and if God speaks faith, you should too.
Hebrews 11:3NASB By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
Faith has to become a way of life. Either you believe and confess, or you don’t. It’s that simple.
If ‘one’ doesn’t speak faith, they speak doubt. There’s only two choices.
Those that don’t do faith, stay confused, and depressed, because they say they believe in something that isn’t their lifestyle.
They really never walk in any consistent victory. That’s sad. P.H
1 John 5:4AMP For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].
There’s an old praise song we used to sing a lot and it still has a lot of meaning. It goes like this, “Victory is mine, victory is mine, victory today is mine, I told satan get thee behind, victory today is mine.”
“You just got to sing your faith, say your faith, and believe your faith!” P.H
Hebrews 11:4NASB By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Abel offered God his best sacrifice, while Cain gave God his leftovers. P.H
Although Abel was murdered, Genesis 4:10NLT say’s, 10 But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
What cried out to God? Abels blood, his confession, Abels integrity—Abel’s faith!
Hear this word, “Your faith always cries out to God, it gets his attention.” P.H
Faith doesn’t quit. Listen to this champions resume.
If there ever was a tale of American leadership and perseverance, it is that of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was born into poverty in 1809.
Throughout his life he continually faced setbacks and defeats. He twice failed in business, lost eight elections, and suffered a nervous breakdown.
Defeat and failure were often beckoning him, inviting him to quit, but he refused that invitation, and his story is one of extra ordinary perseverance. This is a sketch of his life:
In 1816, Lincoln's family was forced out of their home, and he had to work to support them.
In 1818, his mother died.
In 1831, he failed in business.
In 1832, he ran for the Illinois house of representatives and lost.
In 1832, he lost his job. Later that same year, he decided he wanted to go to law school, but his application was rejected.
In 1833, Lincoln borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business, but by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years paying off that debt.
In 1834, he ran for state legislature again and lost.
In 1835, Lincoln was engaged to be married, but his fiancé died and it broke his heart. In 1836, Lincoln suffered a total nervous breakdown and was confined to his bed for six months.
In 1838, he sought to become speaker of the state legislator and was defeated.
In 1840, he sought to become elector and was defeated.
In 1843, he ran for Congress and lost.
In 1846, he ran for Congress again; this time he won and finally made his way to Washington.
In 1848, Lincoln ran for reelection to Congress and lost.
In 1849, he sought the job of land officer but was rejected.
In 1854, he ran for Senate of the United States and lost.
In 1856, he sought the vice presidential nomination at his party's national convention. He got fewer than 100 votes and lost.
In 1858, he ran for the United States Senate again and lost again.
Then, in 1860, Lincoln decided to run for president…
I mean, based on what?
His track record?
He won and went on to become one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States and one of the finest models of leader- ship in modern times. In a speech, Lincoln said, “My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out-of-the-way, but I recovered and said to myself, it's a slip and not a fall.
NBA Great, Michael Jordan, once said, “I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career, I've lost more than 300 games, and 26 times I have been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. Throughout my life and career I’ve failed, and failed, and failed again. And that's why I succeed.”
Hebrews11:5NASB By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.
What pleased God? Enoch’s faith. His testimony, His way of life, His confession.
Remember this, it’s not your success that pleases God, it’s your faith—Your belief.
Hebrews 11:6NASB And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.
Just as Enoch’s faith pleased God, your faith pleases God.
Luke 17:5-6AMP The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith [our ability to confidently trust in God and in His power].” 6 And the Lord said, “If you have [confident, abiding] faith in God [even as small] as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree [which has very strong roots], ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and [if the request was in agreement with the will of God] it would have obeyed you.
Again, Jesus’ disciples said, “Lord increase our faith.” Jesus’ reply was, “If you have faith…”
If you have faith, believe. If you have faith, speak. If you have faith, stand without wavering. If you have faith do. If you have faith, but fall, get back up. And that my friend, pleases God.
Jesus say’s—Be.
Jesus say’s—Say.
Jesus say’s—Act.
Jesus say’s—Do.
Jesus say’s—Get back up. P.H
Benediction. Let’s ask God to stir-up our faith. Remember this, If your faith is genuine, you won’t lose, you’ll win!
