MOTIVATE
One of the blessings of spending time with family is retracing old stories and life lessons. This past week, our family had the opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my wife’s parents.[1] My wife and her sister honored their parents with a trip and time (&food) together, and also with a special video tribute where each of us shared gratitude for their legacy of family and faith.
I hope you were able to share similar celebrations of family & friends (ohana) with your Thanksgiving holiday and upcoming Christmas celebrations.
In some sense Hebrews 11 is like a family gathering swapping stories and passing down the legacy of faith.
EXAMINE
Faith in God moves us forward despite our faltering (Heb 11:30).
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Under Moses’ leadership, the Israelites were rescued from Egyptian slavery. They saw the Red Sea part and walked through dry land. They also so many Egyptian chariots chasing after them drown in the sea. God delivered the Israelites, only after a short while for them to despair and complain – repeatedly. God provided food from heaven, meat from the sky, and water from a rock, but they still found ways to be ungrateful for their provisions. God gave them instructions how to live and be blessed. Yet, the people still found ways to worship idols. Did God destroy them? No. Instead, God disciplined them and continued instructing them with blessings and cursings. One of the cursings was an entire generation of the Israelites were unable to enter the promised land, including Moses. Their grumbling and ungratefulness had consequences. Yet, God raised up leadership with Joshua and Caleb to lead a new generation into Canaan.
And when they faced a fierce army with formidable walls, they could have easily given up. Additionally, God’s instructions for conquering Jericho were strange: march around 7x while praising with musical instruments and singing songs. After so much doubt and disobedience, we expect the Israelites to be defeated or despair in failure. However, their faith enabled them to move forward. The marched and magnified the name of the LORD, and God granted victory. They believed praise and prayer gave them necessary perspective to navigate their obstacles and opponents.
They believed praise and prayer gave them necessary perspective to navigate their obstacles and opponents.
> Php 3:13-14 “one thing I do: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lays ahead. I press onward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
> After sin, do the next right thing. Confess. Obey. Grow and keep moving forward. But too often we either grow stubborn bc we can’t admit we’ve been wrong, or we’re fooled thinking God isn’t gracious.
> How do you treat others after they falter? Are we quick to pounce and punish, or aim to improve and restore upon repentance?
> Whatever walls holding you back in life, are you walking & complaining or marching & praising God?
Faith in God transforms outcasts to allies (Hebrews 11:31).
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Rahab was not someone we would expect to be on the distinguished hall of faith list. She was an outcast for several reasons.
- She was a prostitute. Selling your body for pleasure disregards God’s design for marital intimacy, much more self-worth. It cheapens intimacy to something that can be purchased, which we know forced affection is not love. So, Rahab was far from God-honoring.
- She was a woman. In the ancient world, women were not always socially esteemed. God’s ideal was established at creation and upheld in God’s providential care (Hagar, Leah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, female disciples, etc.). Yet, on the surface Rahab would not appear as a prime example of faith.
Excursus: SPBC upholds both dignity and distinction of gender…
- Rahab was a non-Israelite. She became an unexpected believer in God based upon the reports of God’s powerful salvation of the Jews from the Egyptians (Jo 2:10-11).
But what mattered most was not her past actions, not her gender, and not her ethnicity, but her faith.
Gal 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile; neither slave or free; neither male or female, for [your faith makes you] one in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.” Mt 21:31
Rahab’s faith in God inspired the spies she hid, so that they went back and encouraged the army to advance (cf James 2:25). And they spared Rahab’s life, and she would go on to become the mother to Boaz, 2x great g-mother to King David, and ultimately in lineage of Jesus the Savior (Mt 1:5).
But what mattered most was not her past actions, not her gender, and not her ethnicity, but her faith.
Also, it wasn’t just Rahab that was saved but her parents, her siblings, and other relatives/friends. Rahab’s faith impacted her family AND future generations. The same is true for us:
- If we don’t wholeheartedly follow Jesus, then our family will grow misguided for their life purpose and reach the end hearing Jesus say, “Away from me, I never knew you.”
- If we treat church casually and optional, then our children and relatives will confuse God as unimportant and miss heaven.
- Teens & young people are wondering if it’s worth becoming a Christian and following Jesus – and you need to know that what you do today in faith will impact one-thousand tomorrows.
Overall, Rahab modeled what author of Hebrews commanded believers:
3:12-13 “Take care brothers & sisters, lest there be in any of you an unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Exhort one another every day, that none of you might be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
10:24-25 “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Faith in God transforms outcasts to allies. And if God can welcome and save Rahab, then God can save anyone. Your life does not have to be defined by past failures, a prior divorce, or previous vices.
> Who is a surprising person that God has brought to your life, but you’ve been hesitant to embrace and minister? God wants you to take that step of faith and be His witness.
What you do today in faith will impact one-thousand tomorrows. @dave_dwb
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Faith in God understands God is superior and sweeter (Heb 11:32, ff).
This last section is like a symphony or firework show climaxing with a celebratory point. It’s also like a sermon where the author of Hebrews realizes he cannot preach forever. So, he attempts to summarize… and he lists two groups of people to discover:[2]
GROUP 1 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 [Daniel], 34 quenched the power of fire [Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego], 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.
The first group received power to overcome bc God is superior to every enemy and each problem.
- Gideon conquered 135K Midianites with 300 soldiers but he was distrusting and tested God.
- Barak conquered fearsome Canaanites, but he was afraid and needed the help of Deborah.
- Samson defeated thousands of God’s enemies on his own and with a donkey’s jawbone. Yet, Samson had a lustful eye and a lazy distracted heart for God, so he was not as victorious as he should.
- Jephthah was a mighty warrior against the Ammonites; but he was the son of a harlot and made foolish vows to God.
- David was a great babysitter by rocking Goliath to sleep {haha}, and he advanced the Israelite army into a superpower kingdom. BUT, we all know his faults as an adulterer, a liar & murderer, and flawed leader.
- Samuel & prophets enforced justice & empowered nations toward God’s truth.
Each of these understood God was superior. Their faith informed their perspective that God was bigger than their problems, and His power helped them to overcome. God doesn’t promise a smooth road, but He does promise His Spirit to strengthen us along the journey.
Of course, at salvation a person needs to employ faith that God’s truth is bigger than your opinion; Jesus’ grace is bigger than your sin; and the power of the resurrection is daily at work giving you life and hope.
Then, there are other times when believers are called to exercise a sort of faith to overcome obstacles and solve problems, like when you need direction, guidance, motivation, or provision. And the author of Hebrews describes this power available through our high priest able to empathize with our weaknesses, but we can find grace to help our time of need by approaching the throne of Jesus, the Son of God (Heb 4:14-16).
Christians, we need to be these types of people and this sort of praying. We want a culture of trusting God for big things personally and seeking God for greater influence and impact collectively. Where do you/we need to seek God like this? Mt 13:58 says Jesus did not do many mighty works in His hometown of Nazareth because of their unbelief. Let us be a church who believes God is superior and His power is available to those who pray.
We want a culture of trusting God for big things personally and seeking God for greater influence and impact collectively. Let us be a church who believes God is superior and His power is available to those who pray.
This starts by praying for people’s salvation and resurrection life. Heb11:35 says women received back their dead… 10 examples of such…
Q: Will your name be on this list? OR
Who’s name will be on this list bc of your witness?
GROUP 2 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 [Zechariah], they were sawn in two [Isaiah], they were killed with the sword [Jeremiah]. 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 [Elijah].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.
While the first group believed God was superior, this group believes God is sweeter. The first group received power to overcome obstacles, but this group receives God’s presence to endure tension and trials. Their faith informed their perspective that God is sweeter to endure suffering; knowing that this world contains groans and grief, but they’re not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed. The promised heaven and new earth are a confident hope to sustain us through every present pain and hardship.
An old hymn writer lost her husband, and amid her grief and suffering, she penned these words:
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
– Louisa M.R. Stead
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord!’
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him over and over
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more.
Our dream is to be part of group 1, seeing our superior God perform great works. But reality reminds us to be ready to be enlisted into group 2 where we need to know the sweetness of Jesus even through suffering.
Php 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and to share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”
We cannot be like our Savior in heaven w/o enduring suffering on earth. Like Jesus, we need eternal perspective…
- When the challenges of life outnumber the comforts
- When a friend betrays or backstabs, and then another, – and another…
- When a newborn is in NICU or 1-y/o child is helicoptered to ER surgery
- When sickness doesn’t go in remission
- When a parent no longer remembers your name
- When being a parent is the most stretching and humiliating role of your life bc it magnifies your pride and flaws day by day
- When God’s answer is “not yet” and waiting doesn’t have a time limit.
This is my list, what’s yours?
We cannot be like our Savior in heaven w/o enduring suffering on earth. Like Jesus, we need an eternal perspective.
> Friends, stop chasing happiness and choose joy. Happiness is based on what happens – your circumstances, which are a roller coaster of emotions. But joy is different; it’s your faith with a level foundation to provide peace through whatever happens.
The hunt for happiness is like climbing hills to touch a cloud, and even if you travel high enough, it’s a hollow empty vapor. Chasing happiness leaves you disappointed but God offers us something someone better: joy is rooted in relationship with Jesus.
As a pastor who sits at bedsides of the dying, only those with faith in Christ show me a sly smile as if they’re staring death in the face and saying, “O death, where is your sting? You have no hold on me.” (cf Ac 2:24; 1Cor 15:55; Rev 1:18)
Stop chasing happiness and choose joy. Chasing happiness leaves you disappointed but God offers us something better: joy, which is rooted in relationship with Jesus.
APPLY/TAKEAWAY
In this long list of 16 names and additional groups, we do not see Jesus on the hall of faith list. The reason is because Jesus is not just our example; He’s our everything. We have the substance, but they had the shadow. We have in completion what they only had promised.
The gospel baton is being passed. Are you dropping the handoff? [3]
[1] Side note: My parents celebrated their 50th marriage anniversary in Feb 2024. We have wonderful legacies of faith, hope, and love.
[2] This point inspired and adapted from J.D. Greear sermon on this passage.
[3] https://youtube.com/shorts/vuE_OkpwOaI?si=i6H-hP2i4W2xl4ia
Growing Godly Generations 