Faith can work in the life of anyone who dares to listen to God’s Word and surrender to His will. But is that who we are? Are we people who will believe God for His promises – even when life and all its difficulties seem to be against us? For God to count us as men or women of faith means we come to a place where we trust Him
There are ordinary people with Extra-Ordinary Faith, such as the people listed in the Scripture’s like…..
- Gideon – (Judges 6:11-17)(Judges 7:1-25)
- Barak – (Judges 4:6-24)
- Samson – (Judges 13:24 – 16:31)
- Jephthah – (Judges 11:29 – 12:7)
- David who God says of him in (Acts 13:22)….He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
- Samuel – (1 Samuel 7:15)
Through faith – people such as these – “Subdued kingdoms”
1. Joshua – conquering Palestine- (Joshua 12:7-24) 2. David – conquering neighboring nations – (2 Samuel 5:4-25) (8:1-14)
These “worked righteousness“ (administered justice). David – as king (2 Samuel 8:15)….So David reigned over all Israel, and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. Solomon – as king (1 Kings 3:28….And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. These “Obtained promises.” The nation of Israel, receiving the promised land
Read: (Joshua 21:43-45) – Joshua reminds Israel God is faithful in (23:14). These also “Stopped the mouths of lions.” Samson (Judges 14:6)…..And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his mother or father what he had done. David – protecting sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-37), Daniel – in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:21-22). These “Quenched the violence of fire.” Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego – in the fiery furnace, (Daniel 3:23-25) They “Escaped the edge of the sword.” David – fleeing King Saul (1 Samuel 23:19-29), Elijah – fleeing Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8-10), Elisha, whom the King of Israel wanted to be put to death(2 Kings 6:31-32). “Out of weakness were made strong.” Samson – after his hair was cut (Judges 16:29-30)….And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he killed in his life. They “Became valiant in battle” (turned to flight the armies of aliens), David – defeating Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50), Jehoshaphat, in defeating Edom (2 Chronicles 20:1-30). But they were not perfect, Gideon sinned by making an idol (Judges 8:22-27), Barak did not have enough faith to go into battle without the presence of Deborah (Judges 4:6-9), Samson had a weakness for women (Judges 16:1), Jephthah made a rash vow to God (Judges 11:30-31), David committed adultery with Bathsheba – had her husband murdered to cover up his sin
But we can have Extra-Ordinary Faith too. We can conquer wicked kingdoms – strongholds of the evil one, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We can obtain promises just like them. Here is some good news, we have already obtained all the promises we need, (Ephesians 1:3-14) tells us this very truth.
We too can shut the mouth of a lion. (1 Peter 5:8-9) says….Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
We can quench the power of fire that burns in hell as we give the gospel to people headed for the flames, (Jude 23) says,….but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
We too can turn armies to flight as James tells us, (James 4:7)….Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
(Hebrews 11:35b-38) mentions some great things about these people of Faith who have come before us….. “and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection; still others had trial mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they 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.
What distinguishes the people in verses (33-35a) from those in (35b-38)? The people in both parts of the description are characterized by faith, (v.39)…..And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith…..
This leaves me with the thought, “What does faith look like in the life of the Christian today? Is it the same? Is your faith like those who lived before us? Is your faith increasing in your God today? May it be.