Hebrews 11:35-40

-Good morning church! If you have a Bible, grab it, turn it on, and go to Hebrews 11. We will be finishing our sermon series Hall Of Faith this morning.

-In chapter 10 we learned what a solid foundation of faith looks like theologically and biblically, chapter 11 we see the practical implications of a life of faith through various Old Testament saints. So far we have seen God work in amazing ways in these 34 verses. The life of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Daniel, Samson and the list could go on and on. The writer told us in last week’s text that time could not allow for him to share each story of faith.

-The writer makes a hard turn in his approach to faith in verse 35. Let’s read our text for this morning starting in verse 35 and going to verse 40. The words will be up on the screen for you if you don’t have a Bible.

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

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.

PRAY

-The writer of Hebrews is writing to three distinct audiences within the Jewish church.

The Unconvinced

The Convinced

The Convinced AND Committed

-Faith is the agent to get you from Unconvinced to Convinced. Faith is put to the test when suffering comes your way. Suffering will test your commitment to the gospel and you will do one of two things when approached with suffering and trials. You will either dig deeper into your faith or you will walk away, proving that you probably didn’t have faith in the first place.

-This was a timely warning for the Hebrews. In just a few short years the Jewish church would suffer much persecution for the name of Christ. The writer wanted to make sure the church wasn't just convinced…but convinced and committed. Remember, it’s not enough to just be convinced.

-In verse 35 the writer makes a swift transition of thought, he moved from faith’s obvious triumphs and victories to what seemed to be defeats. But these defeats were only apparent…not real.

-Faith gives us a new lens in which to view the world around us. Faith also gives us a new perspective on what happens to us. What seems like a defeat and loss to some will seem as a victory to those who exercise faith.

-When trials, tribulation, and suffering come your way…you have the gift of faith to say that yes, things are tough right now but God has a plan because I know he works everything out for the good of those who love him.

-Let’s look at verse 35 together.....’Women received back their dead by resurrection.’

-The dead that is talked about here are children. Some translations even say ‘Women received back their children by resurrection.’

-This is faith in the midst of devastating loss. I have never experienced this myself but I know there are many here in this room who have. Maybe you have lost a son or a daughter or maybe you have even had a miscarriage. You can feel the weight of this verse.

-It is easy to trust God and praise Him when your children are happy and healthy…but is God enough even if that isn’t the case.

-The writer here gives us a hope of resurrection. An ultimate resurrection. Let’s dive into the old testament for these two women mentioned in Hebrews.

1 Kings 17:17–24 (ESV)

17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

2 Kings 4:32–37 (ESV)

32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

-Two stories. Two Mothers. Two Children raised from the dead.

-I don’t want you to just see this story at face value. If you do, you can become discouraged.

-The point of these two stories is to declare that God has the power to raise the dead. Death is the ultimate and last foe of every human being. Everyone in this auditorium will experience death. Death of friends, loved ones, family members, husbands, wives, children, and even our own death if the Lord delays his return, but praise God that he is more powerful that death itself.

-These stories push us to rest in the one person who defeated death and will one day RESURRECT ALL those who believe in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 (ESV)

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:42–49 (ESV)

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

English Standard Version (Chapter 15)

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory.”55  “O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

-The two women mentioned here in the Hall of Faith suffered for a little while, but their pain went away once their children were raised from the dead. However, God doesn't always operate like that. There are no more resurrections. I don’t believe that people are physically raised from the dead in the same sense that we see in scripture.

-This is where faith in the last resurrection becomes our only hope.

-Jordan’s story

-God is sure on his promise. He will heal. Maybe not in this life but for sure in the next.

-Let’s go on to the second part of verse 35. ‘Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so they might rise again to a better life.’

John MacArthur says this in his commentary, Sometimes affliction is inescapable; sometimes its not. To the person of faith, no affliction is escapable that requires denial or compromise of God’s Word. What is easily escaped for the wordly person is not for the faithful.

-We see more examples of persecution in in verses 36-37

Hebrews 11:36–37 (ESV)

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.

-The writer is giving this church a heads up. The book of Hebrews was written around 67AD. 70AD would be the year that everything would change. The church would experience persecution and loss like they have never seen. Jerusalem and the temple would be seized and destroyed.

-Christianity was a threat and it needed to be eradicated. Believers were killed because of their faith.

-What would you do?

-Faith is the willingness to accept the worst the world has to offer which is death, because of trust in the best God has to offer - resurrection life

-Let’s see what happened in these verses....

Mocking and Scourging- The prophet Jeremiah was emotionally and physically abused but he kept on preaching. He is known as the weeping prophet. He wasn't weeping for himself, but for those who he was preaching to. The very ones who hated him and his message.

Chains and Imprisonment and Stoned- We see the Apostle Paul countless times arrested for preaching. I love Paul’s attitude. Officials would say you better stop preaching or we are going to throw you in prison. Paul would say thats okay, i’ll share the gospel with your guards and will break out in a worship service. Paul you better stop preaching or we will kill you....Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. You literally couldn't touch Paul.

Sawn In Two- Biblical history teaches us that the prophet Isaiah was sawn in two. The people hated his preaching so much they cut him in half. Ive gotten some hate mail and I’ve had some people yell at me after the service in the hall way about something I said in my sermon but nothing like this.

Killed With The Sword- This reminds me of John the Baptist. Let me tell you the story. I promise this is true. You can read it in Matthew 14, let me summarize it.

-King Herrod’s wife HATED John the Baptist (keep that in mind) Its King Herrod’s birthday party. His wife comes in and does a dance for him that greatly pleased him. Herrod tells his wife that was awesome, let me get you a gift....anything you want. She says I want John’s head on a platter. Herrod says done. John is immediatly beheaded and his head was given to Herrod’s wife.

-Let’s finish verse 37 and go into 38

Hebrews 11:37–38 (ESV)

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.

-The last part of verse 37 goes on to tell us how others were treated for their faith in Christ. This verse isn't as severe as verse 36 but nonetheless it is still persecution.

Made Outcast

Lived Alone

Aflicted

Mistreated

-This type of persecution is the most common in the church here today in America. We don’t see mocking, chains, prison, sawn in two, or killed…but there may come a day this type of persecution hits the church of America.

-You may be outcasted for your faith. At work at home

-You may suffer affliction for the cause of Christ. People say negative things about you.

-But hold on to what Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the persecuted, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

-Verse 38 ‘Of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.’

-I see two observations in this verse.

The world is not worthy of people who live by faith and suffer for Christ in their midst. The persecution of Christ’s precious saints will be dealt with and God will hand down severe judgment and wrath. Every aspect of persecution will be made right. God will not forget and he will not sweep it under the rug.

A life of faith is a life away from comforts. These people mentioned did not have the luxuries of a nice home or the comforts of a normal life. Christians today are much too comfortable. We like to do things the way we have always done them. We don’t have a band one Sunday people lose their mind or we say we are changing the way we do things and we all meet on Wednesday evenings. I get it, i like normal and comfortable, but thats not the life of faith.

-Do you want to know how God grew His church when it first started? Persecution and discomfort. We pray that God will grow our church but are we willing to do what it takes? Are we ready for persecution? To take a bold stand on truth when it is culturally unacceptable. Even to just say the fact that a man is a man and a woman is a woman can get us in a lot of trouble. To say that God’s Word has the final authority can get you in a battle on Facebook. Will I preach God’s word with boldness even tho there is a chance that people could blast me on social media? Are you willing to share Christ in your sphere of daily influence?

-Are we willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of Christ? One of our mindsets is church on the move. Are we really willing to do whatever it takes to reach the lost or is that just a phrase on our banner in the atrium.

-Chapter 11 closes with this...

Hebrews 11:39–40 (ESV)

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.

-The writer concludes this Hall of Faith by saying ‘ALL OF THESE.’ Everyone we have talked about in this chapter. The victories and seeming defeats, they are all praised for their astronomical faith even though they did not receive the promise in their lifetime. They didn’t see the promises for themselves but they still continued to trust God that the promised he made he will keep.

-Since God had provided something better...

-Many of them never received their land. Some had earthy victories some not. Sometimes their faith saved them from death, others it brought death. No matter what, they knew God has provided something better and that is the long awaited, promised messiah Jesus Christ. He is truly better than anyone or anything.

-That apart from us they should not be made perfect

-This phrase in verse 40 took me some time to study. The writer just referred that who is promised is better. All of the OT saints were resting in the promise of Christ. Their salvation was not made perfect until the crucifixion of Christ. Without Christ on the cross, all of their faith was for nothing.

-I want to close this sermon series with a deep look at Christ. It is so easy to preach the Hall of Faith wrong. I have heard many messages on this passage. Some good…some terrible. Christ should always be the focus of every sermon. If you preach a sermon and miss Christ you didn’t preach a sermon. The ultimate hero in the Hall of Faith isnt Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Isaac, Samson, Gideon, or those who were Martyred for their faith. No, the true hero is Christ.

-we are almost done, I promise, but I want you to pay attention to this last part.

BEN COMES OUT

-I broke out my Systematic Theology book and I did a study of the Atonement of Christ. Easter is coming up, thought it was fitting.

-Theology of the Atonement can be broken down to this sentence, The Atonement is the work of Christ did in his life and his death to earn our salvation.

-I think we all know of the atonement through his death on the cross. His blood poured out for sin, but have you ever thought about the atonement that his LIFE brought?

-In the old testament, before a lamb was sacrificed there was a period of testing. The lamb had to be perfect, without spot. So there was an examination process for this lamb. Once the lamb was tested, the lamb was brought forth to be the sacrifice.

-When John the Baptist saw Christ he said ‘behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’

-33 years Christ was tested. 33 years he was perfect. By his perfect life he proved that he was the lamb without spot and blemish.

-Those 33 years weren't easy for Jesus. Isaiah tells us that he is a man acquainted with sorrow and grief. Jesus had to suffer in his death AND his life.

-Why? Because those who he came to save suffer. He had to be made like me in order to save me.

-Jesus taught us how to suffer

Physical Pain

Death

Pain of Sin

Abandonment

-When we suffer in our life we look to the one who suffered perfectly and model his example.

-What I’m about to say is very unpopular, especially in prosperity gospel churches.

-Jesus never promised you an easy life. He promised you suffering. But he says I’m going to show you how to suffer through faith in me and what I promise you not necessarily in this world but the next.

-Church Suffer Well

-Julie’s Walker

-We pray. We beg God to heal in this life but we KNOW he will heal in the next.

Romans 8:18–28 (ESV)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

-In this life you WILL have pain and suffering, but take heart, I have overcome the world.

-I will leave you with this thought.

-If you are a believer, this world (with all the pain and suffering) is the closest thing to hell you will ever experience. If you are a non believer, this world (with all the pain and suffering) is the closest thing to heaven you will experience.

-To the Unconvinced in the room today....Will you trust in Christ today and give your life to Him?

-To the Convinced and Committed, keep the faith. In the midst of suffering, dig deep. May you be completely satisfied in Christ who is truly better than anyone or anything.