Others with No Name
Notes
Transcript
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
I don't know if anyone has counted all of the names listed in the Bible, but with the genealogies it is indeed quite a lengthy list.
One list of names is found in Hebrews 11—and what a list it is! Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, the prophets (Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.). All of these people are included in this list because of their faith.
And look at what God did through their faith:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
These "others" without a name here at the end of Hebrews 11 represent the many who have been persecuted and in some cases been martyred for their faith. There is much that we can learn from lives that have come through fire and rather than having been destroyed in their faith, have become more pure and noble.
Extreme persecution is something that we have been blessed in our lifetime to have avoided so far. But I believe that this may not always be the case for us. We may find a day where we cannot openly come to church, pray, or even have a copy of God’s Word. We are blessed to live not only in America but to live a time where we don’t have to hide our faith from fear of death or safety.
But we sadly take this for granted! I just read of a “church” in China that meets in secret for fear of being locked away in jail or even killed for being a Christian. They meet in an apartment where they show up by one or two at a time. You will not see a sign outside welcoming people as they drive by, you will not be greeted at the door. From the hallway everything looks like a normal apartment. But as you walk in the walls are lined with mattresses to absorb the sounds. The church people there are much different than many Christians in america today as well. They can’t wait to go to church! They hang on to every word spoke from the Word of God! They sing with joy in their hearts!
I wonder can God trust us with this kind of trials? Will we exercise faith in the difficult times? If we will, we, like Job, can come out better on the other side.
But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
No, we don’t face that kind of persecution but we do have difficulties, we all have some kinds of problem. You know, I have noticed in my own life I learn more from my problems than anything else?
(Josiah and Noah) I want Josiah to try to get passed Noah (Noah lets him by twice) What did you learn? Try again (This time Noah doesn’t).
I am super competitive! but did you know that doesn’t come out in the way it does most competitive guys. I’m not normally a trash talker or loud and super energetic. But I don’t know when to quit. If you beat me and I let my competitive spirit out. I’ll, say, “let’s play again.” you win, “let’s play again.” until I win. But what I am doing is learning how to win.
Thomas Edison was asked when creating the light bulb about his 1000 failed attempt. He said,
“I never once failed at making a light bulb. I just found out 999 ways not to make one.” - Thomas Edison
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” - Thomas Edison
A Persecution Template
A Persecution Template
No generation has ever prayed for persecution. It is not something we relish or enjoy. But whenever we find people in the Bible or in history being persecuted, there was always growth as a result. Every time Satan would try to stomp out the revival fires in the book of Acts, a spark would fly up and land in another city or region, and a great work would result.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
There is a common thread that runs through every child of God. It is the thread of trials and temptations. We all have them.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Every person that is used of God has had to overcome difficulties. No Christian arrives at their destination in the will of God traveling on “Easy Street.” But God uses these difficulties to strength and develop His servants. The apostle Paul battled with a thorn in the flesh and he asked the Lord three times to remove it from him. God’s response we not exactly what Paul wanted, but it was what he needed.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Just as a butterfly must struggle to break out of the cocoon and the chick must struggle to break out of the egg, so the Christian struggles through hard times that God uses to ready us for service. In fact, God develops His best servants in difficult places.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
In his devotional bool, Faith's Check Book,
Charles Spurgeon said that the phrase from Isaiah 48: 10,
"l have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" was hung on a plaque in his and Susannah's bedroom wall. He further wrote, "God's choice makes chosen men choice men. We are chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace." - Charles Spurgeon
The Bible is filled with promises. Most of them we gladly claim, but there is one we would like to ignore.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
This persecution that definitely comes to godly Christians is not without reason. We are persecuted because we bear the name of Jesus who, though He was perfect, was persecuted above anyone who has ever lived. Jesus was without sin and never wronged anyone in any way, yet He was hated of the world.
The persecution template has been in place for centuries. You and I will not be exceptions to this rule. Where we can be the exception, is in how we handle that persecution. Jesus was our perfect example.
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Let God be the final judge of those who make it tough for you to live for Christ. Commit yourself to being faithful to His will.
Joseph (included in Hebrews 11 in verses 21-22) was mistreated and persecuted by his own brothers. They sold him as a slave after contemplating killing him. Despite that mistreatment, Joseph remained faithful to the Lord and God raised him up to be a deliverer to his people. When it was all said and done, his brothers mistakenly thought Joseph would take revenge against them for their past treatment of him.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Joseph kept his eyes on God through his trial, and he was therefore able to see God's perspective rather than focusing on his own suffering. When your trial comes, ask God to give you that same perspective and spirit.
A Probable Temptation
A Probable Temptation
In all of this persecution and trial that those in Hebrews 11 faced, they had to endure temptation.
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
“They were... tempted..”
While temptation can come in many different forms, one temptation common to us—and certainly to the "others" in Hebrews 11 as well—during seasons of trial is the temptation to quit.
A. Quitting Is Easy
A. Quitting Is Easy
The easiest thing to do in a battle is to run away from it. It takes an extra measure of God's strength and grace to stay faithful in the battle. But God commands faithfulness.
The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges. Martin Luther King Jr.
“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!” ~ Rocky Balboa
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Most of the martyrs in Christian history were given a chance to recant. In almost all cases, the torture prior to their execution was brutal and inhumane. For months and years they endured these tortures, and our human experience would tell us that they were tempted to quit. So often today, the slightest unkindness or lack of appreciation tempts us to throw in the towel. But it doesn't take any fortitude or courage or trust in God to quit.
B. Quenching Is Essential
B. Quenching Is Essential
One of the keys to remaining faithful in battle is being diligent to quench the fiery darts of Satan's temptations to quit.
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The darts—in all sizes and shapes—are coming; and when your fears are bigger than your faith, you will quit. That's where the shield of faith comes in, and that's why we take it. By taking the shield of faith, every one of those darts can be quenched.
By faith we must focus on Christ rather than the crisis, the circumstances, the chaos, or the catastrophe.
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.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Our faith must not be in ourselves, but rather it must be in God and the power of His Word.
Jesus successfully endured temptation after temptation in
Matthew 4. Each time Satan came to Christ and tempted Him, He responded by using God's Word. Every time that Jesus answered these temptations, He began with the phrase, "It is written" and then quoted Old Testament portions of Scripture.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Are you ready with the Word of God when temptation comes? Can you say to Satan when you are tempted to worry, or fear, or lust, or get angry, "It is written"?
We cannot outrun Satan. We cannot outfight Satan. We cannot out-maneuver Satan. But we can out-truth Satan. He literally has no truth in him!
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Because there is no truth in him, Satan cannot stand up to the slightest bit of truth. He will flee from you just as he left Jesus in Matthew 4 each time the Lord confronted him with "it is written."
If we are to be named with these "others"—these unnamed people in Hebrews 11—who lived by faith, then it is essential for us to learn to quench the darts of Satan.
The faithfulness that these "others" displayed didn't happen by accident. They purposed to fervently follow Christ because they deemed Him more worthy than immediate relief.
Throughout this study, we've looked at many people whose lives had eternal significance but whose names were not recorded in Scripture.
Are you content to be one of the "others" whose name may never be remembered here, but will be known in Heaven as faithful?
You may never preach to a crowd of eighty thousand people as George Whitefield did. You may not have the opportunity to know famous people like Benjamin Franklin as Whitefield did.
You may never travel beyond your hometown and perhaps will teach a small class in the baptismal changing room—but you can be a part of the "others" who will have before their name in Heaven the words, "By faith."
Christianity begins and ends with faith, for Jesus Himself is "the author and finisher of our faith."
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.
No one becomes a Christian apart from faith.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
And no one reaches the finish line without faith.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
It is often said that a faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. These "others" without a name alluded to here in Hebrews 11:36 had a faith that was tested. Our own faith will likewise face the tests of trial, temptation, and perhaps even persecution as these were. When that test comes, will we be counted worthy to be placed alongside these "others" in the Hall of Faith?