Hebrews #34: an exposition of Hebrews 11:32-40. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 14, 2014.
Intro:
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.” That’s the description of faith given by the writer of Hebrews to a group of people who are struggling to survive. Their world is crashing around them. They are on the verge of giving up and giving in. They are seriously considering walking away from their new found faith in Christ. The writer pleads with them to hold on. Continue to believe. Continue to trust, for Christ is better than the best that Judaism and the world has to offer. In chapter 11 he sets before them a catalogue of the faithful. Men and women of faith who overcame overwhelming odds. These are not “super saints” or people with unusual gifts or abilities but rather ordinary people made extraordinary by the grace of God. It is also important to note that chapter 11 is not given as entertaining stories intended to inspire confidence. This is “survival truth.” This is essential teaching aimed at equipping these struggling saints for even more difficult times to come. Soon these same believers will endure the pains of widespread and wholesale persecution. The book of Hebrews is intended to give them the necessary tools for survival. This chapter is helpful not just because it gives inspiring examples but because it is so balanced. Too often we have a warped understanding of the life of faith. If you just have faith it will be all sunshine and no rain. If you just trust Jesus everything will always turn out right – meaning you will be happy, healthy and prosperous. That is not the case in this sin-cursed world. The life of faith assures us of future glory but not necessarily the good life now.
We’ve been encouraged by the examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses. We’ve been inspired by Joshua and Israel’s great victory at Jericho and Rahab’s faithfulness and God’s subsequent blessing. Now the writer piles on example after example in rapid fashion but not all of them are what we expect. For this section contains both triumph and tragedy. Our text this morning is Hebrews 11:32-40.
Text: Hebrews 11:32-40
As we work our way through this text we are going to find some clarification about the life of faith. From this text we learn that…
Thesis: The life of faith gladly yields to the will of God and trusts wholly in the truthfulness and certainty of God’s Word.
The life of faith is the life that trusts God.
The life that refuses to lean on its own understanding but rather yields to the will of God.
The life that faces hardship and adversity assured that God does not lie, that He will do what He said He would do.
There are 3 things I want to point out along the way.
- Sometimes God, through the working of miracles and acts of Divine providence leads His people in triumph. (11:32-35a)
- Sometimes God grants courage and grace to enable His people to persevere despite persecution, deprivation and death. (11:35b-38)
- In all things the people of God, whether they triumph, persevere or perish, live by faith for eternal glory. (11:39-40)
Conclusion:
The word to that struggling first century church was hold on. Continue to believe. Walk in faith.
Yield to the will of God and trust wholly in the truthfulness and certainty of His Word.
The same must be said to us. We too must gladly yield to His will trusting the truthfulness and the certainty of His Word. The dark clouds are gathering. A storm is on the horizon. Dark forces are at work to the extent we find our culture calling evil good and good evil. It is not only possible it is probable that the church once pampered will become the church persecuted. Does that mean it’s hopeless? No. The message of Hebrews 11 makes it clear that the people who are sure of God and of His Word live in great hope of a glorious future.