A Faith that Perseveres
Notes
Transcript
Intro; As we come to the end of our study on “What Is Faith?”, we’re going to look at a montage of people and their faith. One main theme runs through these last verses on faith and it’s “A Faith that Perseveres”.
The word perseverance means “to bear up under.” It describes someone who remains steadfast in the face of severe trials, obstacles and suffering. Perseverance is a never give up attitude, a commitment to move forward when everything is conspiring to hold you back. No matter what happens, you finish the job. [Dr. David Jeremiah]
Peter even tells us in 2 Pet. 1 to add perseverance to our faith. That’s what these hero’s of faith did that we will look at tonight.
Text; Heb. 11:30-40
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
The writer of Hebrews gives a roll call of hero’s from the Old Testament. None of these people were perfect; in fact their sins are recorded in scripture. But they experienced great victories because of a Faith that Persevered and believed God!
[30] The walls of Jericho fell as a result of the most bizarre military strategy enacted in history. Faith persevered for seven days for Israel to walk around the impregnable city of Jericho silently, then to shout and watch the walls crumble.
[31] Rahab the harlot, her faith persevered by believing and waiting for God to rescue her. [Gentile]
[32] Gideon, a judge, was known for conquering the Midianite army with only three hundred men who were armed with trumpets and jars (Judges 6:11–8:35).
• Barak served with Deborah (another judge of Israel) in conquering the army of General Sisera from Hazor (Judges 4:4–23).
• Samson, another judge, was a mighty warrior against God’s enemies, the Philistines (Judges 13–16).
• Jephthah, the son of a harlot and rejected by his family, was called by God and delivered Israel from the Ammonites (Judges 11:1–33).
• David, the beloved king of Israel and a great warrior, brought peace to Israel, defeating all of his enemies, starting with Goliath as a young shepherd boy.
• Samuel, the last judge of Israel, was a very wise leader. He also was a prophet. Samuel, along with all the prophets, served God selflessly as they conveyed God’s words to an often rebellious people.
[33-34] These verses cover some of the victories God gave through Persevering Faith. They not only speaks of those already mentioned but also of others who gained victory by faith.
They conquered kingdoms. Throughout their years in the Promised Land, the Israelites had great leaders who brought victory against their enemies. People such as Joshua, all of the judges, and King David were great warriors.
They administered justice. Many of the judges, as well as leaders such as Nehemiah, administered justice to the people.
They gained what was promised. Some people actually did see the fulfillment of some of God’s promises, such as possession of the Promised Land.
They shut the mouths of lions. Daniel was saved from the mouths of lions (Daniel 6). This statement could also refer to Samson (Judges 14:6) or to David (1 Samuel 17:34–35).
They quenched the fury of the flames. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were kept from harm in the furious flames of a fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
They escaped the edge of the sword. Elijah (1 Kings 19:2–8) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:19, 26) had this experience.
Their weakness was turned to strength. Hezekiah was one who regained strength after sickness (2 Kings 20)
They became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. This refers to Joshua, many of Israel’s judges, and King David.
[35a] The women receiving back their dead is probably a reference to the work of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:17–23 [widow of Zarephath] and the work of Elisha in 2 Kings 4:18–36 [Shunammite woman]. These women trusted God and so received back their dead.
[35b] Tortured- inflicting severe pain as punishment, to beat or scourge. This was done for the purpose of making one renounce or deny what they believed. This could cover many people including Job, Paul, the disciples and most importantly Jesus.
[36-38] From the Old Testament Jews who trusted God to the believers in the New Testament church, including some who were reading this letter, were punished and persecuted for their faith.
Mocked—like Elisha (2 Kings 2:23–25), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:12)
Scourged with whips—like Jeremiah and Jesus
Chained in dungeons—like Joseph (Genesis 40:15), Samson (Judges 16:21), Micaiah (1 Kings 22:26–27), Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:10), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:16; 38:6).
Stoned—like Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20–21); Stephen and Paul.
Sawed in two- Tradition (from the apocryphal book, The Ascension of Isaiah, chapters 1–5) says that the prophet Isaiah was sawed in half at the command of King Manasseh because Isaiah had predicted the destruction of the temple. Isaiah had at first escaped and hid in the trunk of a tree while in the hill country. Manasseh supposedly had the tree sawed in half with Isaiah in it.
Death by the sword—although some prophets did escape death by the sword, others did not (see 1 Kings 19:10).
Sheepskins/Goatskins- Many were sewn up in sheepskins and set to wander in the wilderness while others were sewn in goatskins and set on fire to light the courtyard of Roman emperor Nero.
The writer of Hebrews says that the world was not worthy of the faith of these people. The world stripped them of all their dignity and confiscated all their earthly worth. But it did not shake their faith nor change God’s love and thoughts towards them.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
[39-40] Though these who have gone before us have recieved a good testimony, and commended for their faith, they have not yet recieved the promise. God will bring that about when we all will be made perfect in Him at His Second Coming!
Close;
Hebrews 11:38 (NKJV)
38 of whom the world was not worthy…
[Tony Evans makes a statement about this] The world didn’t deserve them, but God applauded them. Whose approval are you seeking? You can’t please both the world and God. These departed believers left a faithful testimony for us. We are called to continue their work of faith as we seek to do God’s will on earth.
“A Faith that Perseveres” is a faith that has a relentless determination to honor God.
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”