Friday, May 23, 2008, Part 2
". . . who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked 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, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and or chains and imprisonment. 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—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:33-38).
IDEA: Faith in God's promise enables us to accomplish great things and to suffer great things.
PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that faith enables us to accomplish what we could not do on our own and to undergo things which we could not go through on our own.
Have you found as you've gotten older that you value different things in different ways?
Have you found that in your reading of Scripture?
Are there things in the Bible that mean more to you now than when you were younger?
I. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews nears the end of chapter 11 and makes a change in presenting people of faith.
What is the change? Throughout the chapter the writer described people considered to be examples of faith. The chapter describes what they did in some detail. But beginning in Hebrews 11:32 we have a summary of the names and accomplishments of later heroes of faith:
Imagine how long the chapter would be if the writer spelled out in detail all of the accomplishments of the people in the summary.
It's a bit like a poorly planned sermon or a badly planned course: everything gets crammed into a short space. Have you ever taken a course like that?
The people are listed in two groups:
In verses 32-35 we read about great accomplishments through faith: ". . . who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength, and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again" (NIV).
In verses 36-38 we read about great suffering through faith: "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground" (NIV).
II. Which of these two groups do YOU admire most? Why?
Which group would probably have more biographies written about them today?
Do you think in actual experience a Christian may be part of both groups today?