COURAGE BY FAITH

SERMON STARTER

          When I was a Sophomore in high school, desegregation happened. The little school house for black kids on the edge of town was shut down. The black children were invited into our open doors. It was 1956. The football coach taught health ed classes and a strong dark young man sat toward the front of the class. The coach was always looking to recruit new talent for his team. In Texas high school football is a big deal.

          The coach decided to attempt to recruit the young man for his team in front of the class. The young man stoutly refused. The coach tried a bit of ridicule that would be politically incorrect today.

"Oh, I see you have a problem with INTESTINAL FORTITUDE."

The young man looked surprised,

"What's that?"

The coach replied, "No guts."

When it comes to exhibiting courage, a lot of us have a problem with "intestinal fortitude." People want to blend into the crowd.

COURAGE HUMOR:

Adrian Rogers tells about the man who bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn't cut off the lion's head, the man replied:
"Someone had already done that."

COURAGE EXAMPLE:

Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI Ace that shot down 26 enemy planes

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."

Eddie Rickenbacker, Bits & Pieces, April 29, 1993, p. 12.

Mark Twain wrote,

"True courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear."                

I've always shied away from exegetical sermons from Hebrews 11, mostly because it's a forty verse chapter. The lengthiness of a sermon can put the people into slumber or boredom. In this sermon I explore the connection between courage and faith.

Pastor Phil  <><<

COURAGE BY FAITH

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION

 

          One summer morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing his breakfast, he gazed out the window, and saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath a road and then emptied into the main culvert.

          Ray dashed out the door and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the foundering child. Then he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. Blankenship surfaced and was able to grab the child's arm. They tumbled end over end.

          Within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray's free hand felt something--possibly a rock-- protruding from one bank. He clung desperately, but the tremendous force of the water tried to tear him and the child away.

"If I can just hang on until help comes," he thought. He did better than that. By the time fire-department rescuers arrived, Blankenship had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock. On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard's Silver Lifesaving Medal.

The Rest of the story:

The award is fitting, for this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew. Ray Blankenship can't swim. 

Paul Harvey, Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

 

 

May 1, 2011

Sheepfold Ministries – pastor Phil Roland

 

COURAGE BY FAITH

Hebrews 11:1-40 esp. vs.1, 6

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. . .” “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

 

Webster defines courage as "the quality or state of mind or spirit enabling one to face danger or hardship with confidence or resolution: the ability to disregard fear: bravery, boldness, intrepidity, valor, fearlessness."

 

I.  OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF COURAGE BY FAITH

“Courage is some kind of inner strength that seems to emerge when in the face of danger or seemingly impossible circumstances.”

 

          A. Abel Offered a Sacrifice of Courage by Faith – Heb. 11:4

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was

commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.

And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”

            B. Enoch, 7th from Adam, Passed Death through Courage and Faith

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience

death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before

he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” Heb. 11:5

C. Courageous Noah warned his Generation about the Flood – v. 7

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an

ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became

heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”                  

D. Abraham left his father’s Land / gods to follow the One God – v.8

       “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as

his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he

was going.”

E. Abraham and Sarah Believed God for a Son – v. 11

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was

barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful

who had made the promise.”

F. Abraham showed Courage by Faith Offering Isaac his Son - v. 17

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He

         who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,”

          G. Each Generation Blessed their Sons of God’s Promise – v. 12

“And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as

numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”

                        1. Isaac Blessed his Sons Jacob and Esau – v. 20

                      “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.”

 

Courage by Faith, cont., p.2

 

2. Jacob Blessed Joseph’s Sons pf Promise - v. 21

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons,

and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

3.  Joseph Prophesies the Exodus before Moses’ Birth - v. 22

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of

the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.”

4. Moses’ Parents showed Courage Defying Pharaoh   v. 23

“By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born,

because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid

of the king's edict.”

5.  Moses Renounced w/Courage Pharaoh’s Inheritance - v. 24

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the

son of Pharaoh's daughter.”

                   6.  Moses Left Egypt at God’s Call thru Courage by Faith - v. 27

                   “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered

because he saw him who is invisible.”

                   7. Moses' Courage to Observe the First Passover - v. 28

              "By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that

                       the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel."

                   8. Courage by Faith led G-d's People thru the Red Sea - v. 29 

                        "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but

                        when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned."

                      9. Courage by Faith led people to March Around Jericho - v. 30 

                        "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched

                        around them for seven days."

                      10. Courage by Faith led Rahab to shelter Israeli Spies - v.31

              "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies,

                         was not killed with those who were disobedient."

 

II.  HUMANITY OFFERS CHALLENGES TO COURAGE BY FAITH

          A. Our Problem is Fear of Change / Unknown

                        1. We are terrified of Uncertainty

                        2. Unwilling to change the Status Quo

                        3. Will we be happy with the Consequences?

            B. With G-d's Strength We Can Do Impossible Things - Deut. 31:6

            "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the

            LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you

            nor forsake you."

            C. We Overcome Fear with Love - 1 John 4:18

            "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has

            to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
            D. Courage by Faith Displayed by those with Human Weakness

            "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing

            power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but

            not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned;

            struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the

            death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

            For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,

            so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."     2 Corinthians 4:7-11

Courage by Faith, cont., p.3

III.  COURAGE BY FAITH IS WILLINGNESS FOR MARTYRDOM

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."      Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

            A. The Call of Jesus is the Call to Come and Die

                        1. "Witness" = Greek: MAR-TOUSE  (Martyr in English)

                        2. Willingness to give the testimony to the Point of Death

        B. Fox's' Book of Martyrs, John Fox's account of Christian martyrs

                        1. Accounts go from 1st Century to early 16th Century

                        2. Heart-Breaking accounts of Young people giving up their                                            lives for their testimony of faith

        C. Greatest Example of Courage by Faith is Jesus - Luke 9:51

                Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received

            up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,"

                        1. He knew He would be crucified, but went, anyway

                        2. He told His disciples what would happen in advance

                        "Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary

                        for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

                        and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in

                        His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are

                        witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father

                        upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued

                        with power from on high." Luke 24:46-49

                        3. His Death was necessary to Reconcile Us back to God

                        4. He Died for Your Sins and Mine

                        5. Will you find the Courage for Faith to Believe?

 

 

COURAGE BY FAITH

HEBREWS 11:1-40 (NIV)

11:1  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2  This is what the ancients were commended for.

3  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4  By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7  By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8  By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

9  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

10  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11  By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.

12  And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13  All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

14  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

15  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

16  Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17  By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

18  even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."

19  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22  By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23  By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

25  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

26  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

27  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

28  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29  By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31  By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32  And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,

33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

34  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.

35  Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

36  Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.

37  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--

38  the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39  These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

40  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.