FAITH TO OVERCOME
Heb 11:29-40
Observations On the Obstacles of the Faith
1) EVERY BELIEVER’S HOPE IS GROUNDED IN THE PROMISES
OF GOD
(John 10:10) The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they may have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
2) THE PATH OF FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE GOD’S
PROMISES
3) EVERY BELIEVER WILL FACE OBSTACLES ON THE PATH TO
GOD’S PROMISES
(James 1:2-4) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Test the Reality of our Faith
Strengthen the Perseverance of our Faith
Ensure the Purity of our Faith
Prepare us for a greater work of our Faith
4) THE OBSTACLES IN BELIEVERS’ LIVES ARE DIFFERENT
IN TYPE AND SEVERITY
a. Physical/natural Hindrances (11:29)
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
b. Strongholds of the Enemy (11:30)
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
c. Sinful past (11:31)
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
d. Overwhelming Odds (11:32-34)
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Gideon: 300 men with trumpets and lanterns against the armies of the Midianites and the Amalekites
Barak: a small army of 10,000 men against the great army of Siseria with 900 iron chariots (Judges 4:15)
Samson: stood against the Philitistines
Jephthah; called to subdue the Amorites (Judges 11)
David: stood against Goliath
Samuel: stood against idolatry and immorality of his day
the Prophets: Elijah, Elisha, etc.
e. Fiery Trials (11:35-38)
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, 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 in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
5) GOD RESPONDS TO THE OBSTACLES IN OUR LIVES IN
DIFFERENT WAYS
1) He may remove the Obstacles Completely
2) He may allow us to endure the Obstacles
6) GOD WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME WHATEVER
OBSTACLE PLACED BEFORE US
(2 Cor 12:9)And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(Rom 8:35-39)Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
7) PERSEVERANCE IS THE GREATEST SIGN OF TRUE FAITH
(11:39-40)
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
(John 20:29) “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
