I WANNA BE A MAN LIKE THAT!
Hebrews 11
INTRODUCTION: Heroes. People we look up to, and some even idolize. Perhaps they are famous, or maybe they are a relative, a teacher or coach, or a neighbor. These are the people in which we see great qualities that we desire to have. These are the people who have achieved great things. We want to be like them, some way some how. I remember my sports heroes, Terry Bradshaw - standing in the poicketuntil the very last moment to deliver the winning touchdown pass, Pele- I worked and worked on kicking bicycle kicks until I mastered it. Some have business heroes like Sam Walton and Bill Gates. Successful businessmen often hold workshops so that others can learn their techniques and behaviors. Churches look to grow by sending their pastosrs to here from "successful" pasators who have grown their churches. We want to be like those who achieve, those who win, those who do great things!
Hebrews 11 is a roll call for some Heroes of the faith. These are men and women who were just like us, imperfect and frail, yet they are great because of their faith. I am going to give you a few of my biblical heroes, some are in the text others are not listed here but are heroes nonetheless. Each of these individuals sets a standard for us to follow.
I WANNA BE ….
I) A MAN LIKE ABEL WHO WORSHIPS GOD
A. Offers an Acceptable Sacrifice
B. Sacrifice mixed with faith
C. True Worshipper
D. Testimony of Worship continues after me.
II) A MAN LIKE ENOCH WHO WALKS WITH GOD
A. 7th Generation (Fullness / Perfection/ Completeness)
B. Testimony = He pleased God
C. Took time to enjoy the presence of the Lord
D. Translated and did not taste death!
E. Imagine the friendship, the fellowship, the fondness, familiarity
F. One day God says, just come on and stay with me Enoch
III) A MAN LIKE NOAH WHO WORKS FOR GOD
A. A man with a purpose in life
B. A man who is faithful to the task, despite the enormity of the job, despite the labor, despite the ridicule, despite the delayed promise
C. A man who finds GRACE in the eyes of God!
D. A man who cares enough for his family to share the Truth!
IV) A MAN LIKE ABRAHAM WHO WENT FOR GOD
A. Left all to walk before God
B. Called the friend of God
C. Sojourned for years looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
D. Nothing else mattered, all he owned was nothing.
E. Believed God = Righteousness
F. Father of faith
V) A MAN LIKE JACOB WHO WRESTLES WITH GOD
A. Not a man who argues or resists God
B. A man who refuses to let go of God
C. A man who desires to be blessed beyond measure
D. A man who is willing to be totally changed from Deceiver to Prince!
VI) A MAN LIKE MOSES WHO RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD
A. A spokesperson for God
B. An intercessor
C. A man who hears God
D. A man who receives God’s word
VII) A MAN LIKE DAVID WHO WAITS ON GOD
A. David had many hard times (hunted by Saul, haunted by sin, hunted by Son)
B. David wrote many Psalms
C. David declares that he waited on God
D. David waited because:
i. God is a God of Providence and Sovereignty
ii. God is a God of Pardon and Salvation
iii. God is a God of Provision and Supply
E. David tells us, “Wait on the Lord…wait, I say, on the Lord” Ps 27:14
VIII) A MAN LIKE STEPHEN WHO WITNESSES FOR GOD
A. First Martyr
B. Was not afraid to witness
C. Full of Faith, The Holy Ghost, and Power
D. He was killed for blaspheming Moses but:
1. He Spoke in the Spirit (as did Moses) Acts 6:10
2. He Shined in the Spirit (as did Moses) Acts 6:15
3. He Saw in the Spirit (More than Moses, who only saw the hinder parts after requesting to see God’s glory, but Stephen saw the Glory of God and Jesus- standing on the right hand of the father) Acts 7:54-56E.
E. Unafraid, Unashamed,
IX) A MAN LIKE PAUL WHO WINS FOR GOD!
A. Impacted by the faith of Stephen
B. Ran the Race of faith
C. Forgot things behind, Reached for things before, pressed toward the mark.
D. Ran that he could obtain
E. Said I have run my race, finished my course, received an incorruptible crown, a crown of righteousness
