WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHRISTIAN HERO
HEBREWS 11:32-12:2
INTRODUCTION: Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It is a time in which we honor many of our nation’s heroes. Let me ask you what is a hero? One dictionary defines a hero as (1.) A mythological and legendary man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. (2.) A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: (3.) A person noted for special achievement in a particular field (sports, medicine, etc.) Too many are looking for the wrong characteristics to determine what it takes to be a hero. Hebrews 11 provides us with a list of some of God’s past heroes. They were ordinary people who were used by God. Everyone here can be a hero, one of God’s heroes. This morning I would like to share with you what it takes to be a true hero, a Christian hero. You see, a Christian hero is not some superman, endowed with a myriad of abilities and talents. It is an individual who is willing to believe God’s Word, commit himself to God’s Will, and devote himself to God’s Work.
I. Belief in God’s Word
A. Today, many looked up to sport stars and athletes, movie stars and musicians as heroes. They are seen, as heroes because in many ways they do things that most of us can’t. But God’s heroes, the heroes of the Bible, were not men and women of extraordinary ability or talent but men and women of extraordinary faith.
B. 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
C. Every individual listed in Hebrews 11 took God at His word. Look at want it says about Abraham in Romans 4:18-20 "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
D. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
E. Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
F. Certainly God can use a person of great intellect, but only as long as his faith is even greater. - Fred Smith in Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 2.
II. Commitment to God’s Will
A. Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
B. Someone said, "A hero is someone who is sincere and does his duty. He is a man really stands up and is counted, ethically, morally and humanly."
C. Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
D. It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men. – Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)
E. Who is a hero? He who conquers his will. - The Mishna
F. Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
G. The Holy Spirit chooses the nobodies of the church and makes them somebody when they are committed to God’s will in their lives.
H. The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire for God.
I. We are to be consecrated not to Christian work, but to the will of God, to be and to do whatever he requires.
J. Psalms 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
K. Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the kingdom of God on earth. -James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 128.
III. Devotion to God’s Work
A. James 2:18-23 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. [19 ] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20 ] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [21 ] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22 ] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [23 ] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
B. I am only an average man, but I work harder at it than the average man. – Teddy Roosevelt
C. Heroism is faith transformed into action.
D. The ordinary man is involved in action. The hero acts. An immense difference.
E. Matthew 23:11 "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." --
F. Faith and works should travel side-by-side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again--until you can scarcely distinguish which is one and which is the other. – William Booth in The Founders’ Messages to Soldiers. Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 10.
G. There is a Norwegian Proverb that says’ A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.” In Christ’s service, the heroes are those who work until Christ says it’s time to stop.
H. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I. Bear in mind, if you are going to amount to anything, that your success does not depend upon the brilliancy and the impetuosity with which you take hold, but upon the everlasting and sanctified bull-doggedness with which you hang on after you have taken hold. – A. B. Meldrum
