Faith in the Unseen

Hebrews 11:11-40

Introduction:

Good morning again. It’s a joy for me to be with you each week and share from God’s Word. At this time children can be dismissed to children’s ministry time if they would like. I invite the rest of you to open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11 where we will be camped out today. We have a lot to cover so let’s dive right in.

Context to whom he is writing.........

When we think of Hebrews 11 and the great hall of faith, we don’t generally think of the idea of suffering and tribulation. Yet for those who follow Jesus, we have a certainty that we will suffer and face persecution for our faith in Jesus.

Jesus guaranteed that his disciples would face tribulation. They would face suffering and hard times.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We are not bandwagon fans. We don’t only cheer and root on the home team only during a winning streak. In fact, faith grows in the fertile soil of persecution and suffering. It blossoms during the hard times. False faith withers during persecution. The author of Hebrews is writing to these Hebrew Christians who were facing pressure to return to the Old Covenant ways of life and worship and turn their backs on their newfound faith in Jesus.

- seems interesting that in the middle of this chapter on these great people of faith we have a prostitute. Reminds me of that Sesame Street song… One of these things is different. But it’s not. She was commended for her faith.

Read Hebrews 11:11-40

Hebrews 11:11–40 ESV

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

This is the Word of the Lord. Let’s pray and ask God to help us understand.

I. What they did (v. 4 - 35a)

Last week we talked about the first part of the hall of faith and what it was that caused these actions in their lives. Their faith in God, a faith in a coming Redeemer drove them to obedience of God.

In this passage we have a recounting of just exactly what their faith catalyzed them to do.

The author’s goal is to positively illustrate what faith looks like in practice. He wants to show his audience how faith looked in the real lives of real people who they would have most likely been familiar with.

Abel gave the Lord an acceptable offering (11:4b).

Enoch left the earth without dying (11:5b).

Noah survived the great Flood (11:7b).

Abraham inherited a land (11:8b).

Sarah bore a son through a barren womb and began a nation (11:11b).

Abraham believed that God could raise the dead (11:19).

Isaac and Jacob both predicted the future (11:20b, 21b).

Joseph anticipated the Exodus long before it happened (11:22b).

Moses’ parents defied the king of Egypt (11:23b).

Moses forsook the pleasures of sin (11:25).

Moses left the land of Egypt and was not afraid of the king (11:27b).

The people of Israel kept the Passover (11:28b).

The people of Israel crossed the Red Sea (11:29).

The people of Israel shouted down a city (11:30).

Rahab protected some Hebrew spies (11:31b).

- seems interesting that in the middle of this chapter on these great people of faith we have a prostitute. Reminds me of that Seasame Street song… One of these things is different. But it’s not. She was commended for her faith.

As we read this section we see some people who we know messed up in their lives. We have accounts of their sin even. Yet, this passage focuses more on their faith than their deeds and doesn’t seem to mention their sins. I like her appearing here because the playing ground is even. We all are sinners. All have sinned. Some seek forgiveness that is only found in Jesus and some do not. But the point here was her faith.

(Plug upcoming Family Christmas series)

There is another place where we find some sketchy characters in a list in the Bible. It’s in the genealogy of Jesus. For the advent season this year I’m going to be preaching a series of messages called Family Christmas where we are going to look at some of the people in Jesus’ geneology and how the gospel confronts our shortcomings and sins with love and forgiveness. I am really looking forward to it. End commercial.

Next we see some accounts of what the prophets and judges did in verses 33-35.

The prophets and judges subdued kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched flames, escaped the sword, exchanged weakness for strength, put enemy armies to flight, and a few even raised the dead (11:33–35a).

Verse 34 “made strong out of weakness”

Understanding where the strength comes from.

They persisted and followed God’s leading.

Focused on God’s promise.

These things sound awesome so far. All of us would be on board with this stuff. But then we hit verse 35 and it gets a little, as Matt Chandler says, “Tarentino” . There’s this shift from all of these things that humanly speaking we would call good or amazing to things that sound pretty terrible here halfway through verse 35. Let’s read this.

Hebrews 11:35–40 ESV

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

II. What they endured (v. 35b - 38)

1. Terrible torture (11:35b)

2. Ridicule (11:36a)

3. Cruel flogging (11:36b)

4. Imprisonment (11:36c)

5. Stoning (11:37a)

6. Being sawn in two (11:37b)

7. Death by the sword (11:37c)

8. Extreme poverty (11:37d–38)

The model we see in scripture for those following Christ closely does not seem to match up with what we hear from many popular television or Christina Book store preachers.

It was God’s plan for their lives to go this way.

It might be God’s will for your life that you glorify him through walking through cancer, through the death of a loved one, through suffering that so far you can only imagine. We see biblical evidences of this. Not one of you would say that Jeremiah wasn’t blessed and sent by God. And yet when things happen to us we want to ask where God is. He’s right there and we should trust Him alone. Cling to Jesus.

Faith is built stronger in suffering and hardship.

The world was not worthy of these people

Their presence in the world is evidence of God’s grace.

Proclamation of the Word of God to sinful people was a greater privilege than the world or any of us deserve and yet the very fact that they were here is a gift of the grace of God.

He didn’t wish for us to perish, but to know Him.

III. Why they endured (v. 11:10, 13–15, 16b, 26, 35c)

1. They saw the invisible City of God (11:10, 13–15, 16b).

2. They believed that suffering for the sake of Christ was better than having all the riches of this world (11:26).

3. They looked forward to their own resurrection (11:35c).

IV. What they recieved. (v. 11:16a, 39–40)

1. In the past (11:16a, 39) - The earthly and temporary approval of God.

2. In the future (11:40) - The heavenly and eternal approval of God.

The actions of the Old Testament saints show that faith pleases God and that he rewards all who seek him.

V. 40

Hebrews 11:40 ESV

40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

They only saw preliminary glimpses of what God had promised.

Abraham -

Romans 4:1–8 ESV

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Something better for us: These are the NT realities of the Son of God.

JESUS!

The saints of old mentioned here along with believers in the current era get to partake in the end times perfection together!

Understand: It wasn’t the faith itself that produced this in them. IT WAS THE OBJECT OF THAT FAITH!

Gospel Truth.

IV. What that means for the original audience

The faith of the origianl audience was being tested. They were being tempted to walk away. They were tempted to forsake the gathering of the church for worship. The writer is telling them over and over that Jesus is better. The same Redeemer that their ancestors were looking ahead toward and grasping ahold of is the same Redeemer who redeemed them and calls them to persevere in their faith. Trials should not be looked at as an easy time to pull the eject cord. They are an opportunity for growth in their faith and for them to again, see the promise keeping, covenant making God, continue to keep His word.

George Muller, a great man of faith, once said,

“God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say—and say it deliberately—trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”

V. Bridging the cultural gap to today’s audience

Struggle, persecution, and trial....

Looking ahead to the permanent city...

Holding fast to the Savior...