Heroes of Faith- It’s People
Pastor Jamie Wright * Maranatha Fellowship Church * 5-30-04
HONORING OUR HEROES
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for will happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Where are the people who have that confident assurance?
Micah 7:2 (GW)
Faithful people are gone from the earth, and no one is decent. All people lie in ambush to commit murder. They trap each other with nets.
I believe there are a few (FAITHFUL ONES) still alive today! We can see examples of these heroes of the faith in the Word of God.
We have heroes of our society with us today and we are honoring them.
Faith does for us, in the spirit realm, what a lot of these Heroes here with us do.
For example, faith saves us, sets us free (rescue), heals us and protects us.
Our police officers and military personal provide protection for us.
Fire men help save us and rescue us. Doctors, nurses, emts and all medical personal assist in the healing process.
Faith does that for us also.
It saves us Ephesians 2:8-9
It heals us. It delivers us or rescues us. It protects us
Now, let us look at Heroes of Faith (the people of faith) in the Bible.
I. A Mother with Faith- (Matthew 15:21-28)
Faith brings Freedom
* She wanted her demon-possessed daughter to be delivered.
vs. 22 “…Have mercy on me son of David! My daughter is severely demon possessed.”
* She was willing to do whatever it took for her daughter’s deliverance.
vs. 26 “It is not good to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.” Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs from the Master’s table.”
*She worshipped Jesus in the middle of it all.
vs. 25 “Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, Help me!’”
*She received what she desired. Her daughter was delivered. She was set free from that very hour on. FREEDOM! Faith brings Freedom
vs. 28 “O, woman, great is your FAITH! Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
II. A Man of Faith- (Mark 10:46-52)
Faith leads to Recovery
* He was frantic to receive a touch and recover his sight.
vs. 47 “..he began to cry out and say, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
* He was relentless in his approach to get to Jesus.
vs. 48 “they warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more.”
*He firm in his request.
vs. 51 “Jesus asked ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He answered, Rabboni, that I may receive (recover) my sight.’”
*He received what he desired. He recovered his sight. He was healed, immediately. Faith leads to Recovery
vs. 52 “...go your way; your FAITH has made you well.” “And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus.”
III. A Military Officer with Faith- (Matthew 8:5-13)
Faith causes Healing
* He understood protocol, process and procedure!
Vs. 9 “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one go and he goes; and to another come and he comes. And to my servant do this and he does it.”
* He believed in the power of Jesus.
vs. 8 “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak the word and my servant will be healed.”
*He received what he proclaimed.
vs. 10 “...Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great FAITH, not even in Israel!”
vs. 13 “...go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
IV. A Maiden of Faith - (Mark 5: 25-34)
Faith produces Feelings
*She was desperate for her healing!
Vs. 25 “Now a certain woman had an issue (flow) of blood for 12 years…”
Vs. 26”...and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
* She was determined to get to Jesus!
Vs. 27 “She heard about Jesus and she came behind Him in the crowd…”
*She was definite in her request. It was a positive confession.
vs. 28 “For she said, ‘If only I may touch the he of His garments, I shall be made well.’ ”
*She received what she desired.
Vs. 29 “And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Faith produces Feelings. *WHY was she healed? Vs. 34 “and Jesus said to her, ‘Daughter your FAITH has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.’”
V. Men of Faith - (Mark 2:1-12)
Faith allows Forgiveness
*They were devoted to their friend! They wanted him healed!
Vs. 3 “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.”
* They were determined to get him to Jesus! They were unwavering. They had dogged determination. They didn’t stop!
Vs. 4 “And when they could not come near Jesus because of the crowd…
*They were fanatical (radical) in their approach.
vs. 4 “…so when they had broken through (ripped up the roof) they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
*WHY was he saved? Why were his sins forgiven? Faith allows Forgiveness
Vs. 5 “When Jesus saw their FAITH, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’”
Vs. 5 because of their FAITH
What do all these people of faith have in common?
1. They are determined to get to Jesus. They will not stop until they get to him.
2. They are desperate for something. They desire a touch or a healing or deliverance.
3. They are radical in their approach. Every one of us is different in our approach to Jesus.
4. They all exercised their faith and received. Doubt you will do without. Believe and you will receive.
