God-Honoring Examples [Part2]

Genesis 1:26–27 CSB

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

INTRO—

[[This Father’s Day…]]

What is the essence (‘what is essential for?’) a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? —FAITH— … “Faith of Our Fathers” (I blame Bing Crosby…)…

Last week we considered examples of Influencing (Jethro & Caleb) and Tested (Jairus & Cleopas) Men of Faith.

This week, I invite you to join me in learning from Courageous and Anonymous examples from biblical Men of Faith.

COURAGEOUS FAITH

NATHAN [2 Samuel 12.1-15; bkrd = 2 Samuel 7.1-17]

To Challenge (the King). [To Confront]

Nathan sent to David — 2 Samuel 12.1 “So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.”

Nathan said to David — 2 Samuel 12.2-4 “The rich man had very large flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

David Reacted — 2 Samuel 12.5-6 “David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.””

Nathan Clarifies — [2 Samuel 12.7-12] 2 Samuel 12.7 “Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul.” … 2 Samuel 12.9 “Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.”

David Repents — [2 Samuel 12.13-15] 2 Samuel 12.13 “David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.” …

STEPHEN [Acts 6-7]

To Stand for Truth… [To Respond]

“Deacon” Stephen — [Acts 6.1-5] Acts 6.5 “This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.”

Stephen Amid Unjust Opposition — [Acts 6.8-15] Acts 6.8-9 “Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen.” … Acts 6.15 “And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

Stephen’s Courageous Confession — [Acts 7.2-53] Acts 7.2-3 ““Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.” … Acts 7.51-52 ““You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.”

Stephen’s Courageous Conclusion — [Acts 7.54-60] Acts 7.55-56 “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”” … Acts 7.59-60 “While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.”

ANONYMOUS FAITH

[[Again…I have included the anonymous faith examples to encourage me…& you. I want to be encouraged and keep the mindset of a friend of mine from my college days— “I’m not so concerned that 20, 30, 40+ years from now you will remember my name; BUT…I do hope you’ll remember ‘that guy, that pastor’ who encouraged, taught, showed me…”.]]

CENTURION [Matthew 8.5-13; prll = Luke 7.1-10]

Unexpected faith. [Showing extent of the Gospel; Pure, focused faith]

The Centurion’s Need — Matthew 8.5-6 “When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.””

The Centurion’s Response to Jesus — [Matthew 8.7-9] Matthew 8.8 ““Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Jesus’ Assessment of the Centurion — [Matthew 8.10-12] Matthew 8.10 “Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith.”

Jesus’ Answer to the Centurion — Matthew 8.13 “Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.”

MAN BORN BLIND [John 9.1-38]

Dismissed & Demagogued Faith [Being some theologian’s, politician’s opportunistic football…]

The Blind Man’s Background — [John 9.1-3] John 9.1-3 “As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.”

Jesus Heals the Blind Man — [John 9.4-7] John 9.6-7 “After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.”

The Blind Man Barraged & Badgered — [John 9.8-34] John 9.13-15 “They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. Then the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.”” … John 9.24-27 “So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!” Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?””

Jesus & the Blind Man, Round Two - [John 9.35-38] John 9.35-38 “Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked. Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him.”

CONCL—

Jesus’ invitation to the Man Born Blind…is his invitation to us today. …

INVITATION...

Salvation...

Wisdom...

Healing...

Service...

John 9:30–33 CSB

“This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him. Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”