TEXT:HEB 11:30-40
INTRODUCTION: Faith is the heart’s intake, and love is its outlet. For real faith never comes away from God’s well with an empty vessel. Faith believes only that which is true. Faith has an understanding. For the beginning of doubt is the end of faith, and the beginning of real faith is the end of doubt. Someone has said, “give me faith that will not worry, whine or wrangle, but watch, work, wait, and warble, AND A WINNING FAITH
Faith can go no further than the Word of God, but must always be limited by this phrase “It is written.” For faith is merely saying amen to God. And a firm faith in the promises of God is the very best theology. With this in mind lets at our text and see how these people became winners in the faith.
1. NOTICE THE PEOPLE SHARING FAITH vrs 30-32 as we read this passage we find there are a mixture of different kinds from different walks of life yet God used these folks because of their FAITH. Men and women young and old common people just like you and me,farmers-sheperds-soliders-preists-son of a harolet-a prostitute-liars-swindelers- HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?
A. THE HARMONY…..what brought these people was their faith it was a harmonious faith…different in heredity, different in taste, different interests, different skills we are not alike, but there must be a common bond and that is our faith in the WORD OF GOD.
B. THE HISTORY… There are three periods mentioned here
1. the judges….Gideon, barak, Samson jephthah
2. the kings….david
3. the prophets…Samuel and the prophets the reason we bring this out is to let you know that faith is ageless and timeless no matter what time frame it is faith works. FAITH IS NOT LIMITED BY TIME OR AGE OR CIRCUMSTANCES weither it is Gideon with three hundred or Samson by h imself FAITH is the key to it all
1. NOTICE THE PEOPLE SHARING FAITH
2. NOTICE THE PROBLEMS SOLVED BY FAITH
vrs 33- 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched 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. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
A. SUBDUED KINGDOMS…..The meaning is, that some of them subdued kingdoms, Joshua subdued the nations of Canaan; Gideon the Midianites; Jephtha the Ammonites; David the Philistines, Amalekites, Jebusites, Edomites, there is one kingdom we must subdue it is SATAN’S
B. STAYED RIGHT…. wrought righteousness, Carried the laws of justice into execution, particularly on guilty nations. They executed the great purposes of God in punishing the wicked, and in cutting off his foes.
C. SHARED PROMISES…. obtained promises, as a result of their faith, promises of blessings on their posterity in future times.
D. STOPPED LIONS… Samson, Jg 14:6; David, 1Sa 17:34, and particularly Daniel, Da 6:7. To be able to subdue and render harmless the king of the forest–the animal most dreaded in early times–was regarded as an eminent achievement.
E. STRENGHTENED IN WEAKNESS…. out of weakness were made strong,
F. STOOD FIRM IN THE FIGHT… waxed valiant in fight, in such a way as must have proved that God was with them.
1. NOTICE THE PEOPLE SHARING FAITH
2. NOTICE THE PROBLEMS SOLVED BY FAITH
3. NOTICE THE POSSIBILITES SHOWN BY FAITH]
D.L. Moody described three kinds of faith: STRUGGLING FAITH - is as a man in deep water, barely able to swim, and struggling to stay afloat. These are those who, struggling in the sea of life, head barely above water, but never gaining faith’s victory. CLINGING FAITH — is depicted as one in deep water, clinging to the side of the boat with one hand, and just barely holding on. These are those, spiritual immature, barely clinging to the promises and great adventures of faith. RESTING FAITH — is portrayed as the faith of a person safely secured in the boat - but able to reach out and assist those struggling or clinging. You see unbelief will lock up our potential while faith releases it.
PRAYING FOR RAIN: A drought was having devastating effect on a certain section of the country. The little country church announced a special prayer meeting to pray for rain. The members began to gather. Aunt Martha, carrying her umbrella, was encountered by an old skeptic on her way to the church. “Aunt Martha, where are you going?” He knew, but thought he would chide her a little. “Why, to prayer meeting,” answered Aunt Martha. “Prayer meeting, huh, bunk,” retorted the skeptic. “Yes, we are meeting tonight to pray for rain.”
FIVE FACES OF FAITH
Our faith in the Lord is the staff of life for the believer. Without faith, we cannot grow in the Lord, and we certainly cannot please Him, Heb.11:6; Rom.14:23. Faith is essential! Faith is the assurance that God will do what He has said He will do - Rom.4:21. Faith, then, is best summed up by Heb.11:1; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
I. CONVERTING FAITH This is the type of faith that saves the soul - it is all that is required - Acts 16:31 This is eternal faith -
II.CHANGING FAITH This type of faith helps us to live holy lives - This faith helps us to trust in Jesus for direction And helps us walk each day in His will -
III.CONTENDING FAITH This type of faith makes us seek God for others and believe God will move in their lives.
IV.COMFORTING FAITH This type of faith reminds us that God is still in control - Rom.8:28 This faith deals a death blow to our fears -
V.CONQUERING FAITH This type of faith destroys any obstacle that arises in our lives it reminds us that God is still the Lord! This faith gives us the victory in any situation -
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