Hebrew 11:32-40 Faith Results

Christian life of faith is a fun filled life?

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 3 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

(ESV) Revelation 14 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The result of faith

Sometimes we see it turn into marvelous excitement and current victory.

Sometimes we wait and see only trouble.

But if we live by faith – the reward will come.

By faith we know that He is

And that He rewards those who seek Him

And He will.

The Lord always ensure that faith will ultimate be rewarded.

I. Faith Results: Great victories

(ESV) Hebrews 11 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. …

A. Conquered opposition

1. Attained success – victory over the enemy – weaker forces by the power of God through faith overcame greater forces

2. Barak

a. Conquered kingdom of Canaanites sisera

b. Put armies to flight by faith

3. Jephthah

a. Illegitimate son of a prostitute – ran out of town – hung out with worthless folks

b. Conquered kingdom of ammonites by faith

c. Mighty in war

B. Ensured justice

1. Acts of faith – bring justice into the world through faith

2. Prophets

a. Declared justice was required

Kings who set things right for orphaned widows strangers

C. Received what was promised

1. First of many

2. David

a. Promise to be made king and father of kings

b. Escaped the sword of Philistines / Goliath – Saul – Absolom

D. Rescued from trouble

1. Endured by faith and were rewarded now

2. Daniel / Three Hebrew young men

a. Stopped mouths of lions

b. Quenched the power of fire

E. From weakness were made strong

1. Gideon

a. Strong out of weakness – hidden away till God made him great

b. With 300 put to flight 135000 Midianites

2. Samson

a. Made weak but regained strength at the end kill philistine army

II. Faith Results: Great trouble

(ESV) Hebrews 11 35 … 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.

A. Physical torment

1. Examples

a. Paul

b. Jeremiah in the pit

c. Isaiah sawn in two possibly

d. James the apostle died by the sword – all the apostles but John

2. Verbal abuse / mockings

3. By the authorities / flogged, chains, prison, executed

4. By regular folks / stoned, afflicted, mistreated

B. Did without

1. John the Baptist / Elijah

2. Had nothing

C. Wandered

1. Missed out of security

2. No resting place

3. Kept away from the support of others - alone

4. Wandered around

III. Faith Results: Incomparable reward from God

35 … refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered … 38 of whom the world was not worthy—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.

A. Great value in God’s sight

1. World not worthy

2. The perception was not real

3. God would reward them – though not in this life

4. Received a better life

B. Commended by God

1. God honored them – commended them

2. Reward of faithfulness – God says Well Done

C. Full fulfillment of all God’s promises

1. Even better because we see the fulness of the promises

2. We know of Christ

3. He benefits us and them