FAITH’S HALL OF FAME
Part 5
”Still Others”
Hebrews 11:30-40 “It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith they overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.”
Now at this point in the narrative things suddenly change:
“But (still) others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith…”
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Now, the first 34 verses of Heb. 11 take us through some Old Testament highlights of the miracles God did on behalf of His people.
Noah, Moses, Rahab, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, all experienced supernatural, glorious miracles of deliverance.
But what about the “STILL OTHERS?”
What about those who didn’t receive miracles?
Who weren’t spared from their troubles and trials?
Instead they were:
Tortured, mocked, whipped, stoned, shackled to chains, and thrown into prison.
They wore low-end clothing of sheepskins and goatskins,
Were destitute, afflicted, and tormented.
They wandered about in deserts and mountains.
Dens and caves of the earth were their homes.
What about these nameless “others” who were not delivered?
And what does their experience tell us about faith and the walk of faith?
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First, their story informs us that:
I. Faith doesn’t guarantee deliverance from all trouble
Sometimes we DO experience a miracle, a breakthrough, a change in circumstances…
And sometimes we DON’T.
God never promised His people deliverance from all suffering in this world.
No, He in fact tells us the opposite:
Acts 14:22 says, “We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33
Here’s the thing: God will either deliver us IN the trial, or He will deliver us FROM the trial.
Either way, faith is still active!
In verses 1-34 we see God delivering people of faith FROM their trial.
But in verses 35-40 He graces them to endure the trial.
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Scripture tells us that The Apostle Paul wanted to be delivered from his “thorn in the flesh,” but Jesus instead graced him to endure it.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 “Three different times I begged God to take it away. 9 Each time he said, ‘No, my grace is with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in your weakness.’”
And Paul, true to form, embraced the will of God:
“So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me….For when I am weak, then I am strong.”—vs. 9-10
Paul learned in a whole new way to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit for strength!
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So:
—Faith is not a magic exit door out of all trouble.
—It is not a guarantee of endless good times.
—It is not a force field surrounding you that insulates you from difficulties.
—But it IS the means by which we’re saved,
—walk with God,
—stand on His promises,
—successfully fight the devil,
—and enjoy God’s peace no matter what is happening around us!
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And secondly, faith in the trial:
II. Is the means by which God hammers and chisels the character of Christ into our personalities.
Listen: If God delivered you out of all your trials you’d never grow!
—It’s the steep hills that cyclists strain to climb that turns their legs into solid muscle.
—It’s the muscle-burn in the gym that builds strength into your frame.
—It’s that daily run that preps the athlete to make it in the long marathon.
And it’s the trying of your faith in the shadows that prepares you for Goliath in public!
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James 1:2-4 “2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
When by faith you pray for deliverance and it tarries—then the same faith will work on your behalf to bring something SWEET out of something BITTER!
As Job said, I know that “when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”—23:10
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And we also see that faith IN the trial produces eternal rewards!
The unnamed champions in Heb. 11 not only successfully endured their trials on earth, but they are now:
III. Enjoying their reward in heaven!
The Bible says they refused to forsake their faith in Jesus “that they might obtain a better resurrection.”—vs. 35
They knew this world was not their home, and that heaven was their final destination.
The book of Revelation gives an incredible picture of exactly where these unnamed champions are right now and what they’re experiencing!
John writes in 6:9; 13-17, “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held——Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. They shall neither hunger anymore not thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them…and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (13-17)
So while we may not always be delivered FROM difficult trials, the rewards of spiritual growth and the joy that is coming are well worth it!
Romans 8:18 “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.”
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The faith of the unnamed champions looked beyond their present circumstances to what was coming.
And that is the one of the GREAT KEYS to enduring tough times!
Listen to how Hebrews sums up the heroes of faith in chapter 11,
Hebrews 12:1-4 “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans (of faith) cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Drop all encumbrances, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.” (Catch this) “Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating joy of what lay ahead—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over His story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Amen!
So let’s keep in mind the truth of a walk of faith—whether we’re delivered from trials, or are graced to endure them, faith in God and His promises will carry us all the way to the finish line!