From Mark Copeland... Faith That Overcomes The World (Hebrews 11:23-40)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

               Faith That Overcomes The World (11:23-40)

INTRODUCTION

1. What kind of faith leads "to the saving of the soul" (He 10:39)?
   a. It is "Faith That Pleases God" - He 11:1-7
      1) That has confidence and conviction in things hoped for, in 
         things unseen
      2) That believes God is, and that He rewards those who seek Him
      3) That worships like Abel, walks like Enoch, and works like Noah
   b. It is "Faith That Embraces The Promises" - He 11:8-22
      1) Obeying God when He calls, even it means sojourning as a 
         pilgrim, or sacrificing that which is most precious to you 
         (Abraham)
      2) Receiving strength from God to do His will (Sarah)
      3) Declaring the promises of God from generation to generation 
         (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph)

2. Saving faith is also "Faith That Overcomes The World", concerning
   which...
   a. The apostle John wrote in 1Jn 5:4-5
   b. We have many examples in He 11:23-40

[In the last half of chapter eleven, then, we are reminded how in the
Old Testament those with faith were able to "overcome the world".  How
such faith overcame the world may vary.  To see how, let's begin by 
noticing...]

I. FAITH IN THE GENERATION OF THE EXODUS (23-31)

   A. THE FAITH OF MOSES' PARENTS... (23)
      1. They hid Moses for three months - cf. Exo 2:1-3; Ac 7:20
         a. They saw he was a "beautiful" ("good", "proper", "not 
            ordinary") child
         b. They were not afraid of Pharaoh's command - cf. Exo 1:22
      2. It was their faith that gave them courage to withstand the 
         king's edict
      -- With such a small beginning, by faith they "overcame the 
         world" of Egypt

   B. THE FAITH OF MOSES... (24-28)
      1. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter - He 11:
         24-26
         a. He chose to suffer affliction with God's people rather than
            enjoy sin's temporary pleasures
         b. He esteemed the reproaches of Christ more valuable than the
            treasures of Egypt
         -- Through faith "he looked to the reward" (he had confidence
            in "things hoped for", i.e., that heavenly reward)
      2. He forsook Egypt - He 11:27
         a. It was not the wrath of the king that he feared
         b. It was the invisible God he feared - cf. Mt 10:28
         -- Through faith "he endured" (he had conviction in "things
            unseen", i.e., God)
      3. He kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood - He 11:28
         a. He believed in God's warning regarding the death of the 
            firstborn- Exo 12:1-30
         b. He had Israel sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the lintels
            and door posts
      -- By faith, Moses "overcame the world" of Egyptian bondage!

   C. THE FAITH OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL... (29-30)
      1. They passed through the Red Sea - He 11:29
         a. They walked through it on dry land - Exo 14:21-22
         b. The Egyptians who followed them perished in the sea - Exo 14:23-28
      2. They destroyed the city of Jericho - He 11:30
         a. They walked around the city for seven days - Josh 6:1-20
         b. Thirteen times they encircled the city, showing their faith
            in God rather than in their own military might
      -- By faith, Israel "overcame the world" of Egypt and Palestine!

   D. THE FAITH OF RAHAB THE HARLOT... (31)
      1. She had received the two spies from Israel with peace - Josh 2:1-24
      2. Therefore she did not perish with the unbelievers - cf. Josh 6:22-25
      -- By faith, Rahab "overcame the world" of sin and unbelief!

[Through faith, Israel receive the promised land as God had told 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Josh 21:43-45). In the process, by faith 
they overcame what obstacles the world placed before them.  Even a 
Gentile sinner like Rahab became a recipient of the promise by her 
faith.

But the need for faith did not stop there. As we continue, we see
examples of...]

II. FAITH IN THE LAND OF PROMISE (32-40)

   A. A SAMPLE LIST OF HEROES OF FAITH... (32)
      1. There is not enough time for the author to describe the faith
         of others in detail
      2. Such as:
         a. Judges like Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah
         b. A king like David
         c. A prophet like Samuel, and the rest of the prophets
      -- But what the author does provide is that which follows...

   B. A SUMMARY LIST OF WHAT FAITH ACCOMPLISHED... (33-37)
      1. Through faith, people such as these...
         a. "Subdued kingdoms"
            1) Joshua, in conquering Palestine - Josh 12:7-24
            2) David, in conquering neighboring nations - 2Sa 5:4-25;
               8:1-14
         b. "Worked righteousness" (administered justice)
            1) Samuel, as judge - 1Sa 12:4
            2) David, as king - 2Sa 8:15
            3) Solomon, as king - 1Ki 3:28
         c. "Obtained promises"
            -- The nation of Israel, receiving the promised land - Josh 21:43-45; 23:14
         d. "Stopped the mouths of lions"
            1) Samson - Judg 14:6
            2) David, protecting sheep - 1Sa 17:34-37
            3) Daniel, in the lions' den - Dan 6:21-22
         e. "Quenched the violence of fire"
            -- Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace - Dan 3:23-25
         f. "Escaped the edge of the sword"
            1) David, fleeing King Saul - 1Sa 23:19-29
            2) Elijah, fleeing Jezebel - 1Ki 19:8-10
            3) Elisha, whom the King of Israel wanted murdered - 2 Kin 6:31-32
         h. "Out of weakness were made strong"
            1) Samson, after his hair was cut - Judg 16:29-30
            2) Hezekiah, who was given fifteen years of life - Isa 38:
               1-8
         i. "Became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of 
            aliens"
            1) David, in defeating Goliath - 1Sa 17:50
            2) Jehoshaphat, in defeating Edom - 2Ch 20:1-30
            3) Hezekiah, whose faith led to the slaughter of 185,000 
               Assyrian soldiers - 2Ki 19:1-36
      2. Also through faith...
         a. "Women received their dead raised to life again"
            1) The widow of Zarephath, via Elijah - 1Ki 17:17-24
            2) The Shunamite woman, via Elisha - 2Ki 4:8-37
         b. "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, to obtain
             a better resurrection"
            1) Eleazar, in the Maccabean period between the Testaments 
               - 2 Macc 6:30
            2) Also, seven brothers and their mother tortured by 
               Antiochus Epiphanes - 2 Macc 7:9-36
            -- Such events would have been well known by the Hebrew 
               readers
         c. "Others had trials of mockings, scourgings, chains and 
            imprisonment"
            1) Micaiah, the prophet - 1Ki 22:24-28
            2) Jeremiah, the prophet - Jer 20:1-3; 37:11-21; 38:1-13
         d. Some were:
            1) "Stoned" - Zechariah, son of Jehoida the priest - 2 Chr 24:20-22
            2) "Sawn in two" - the prophet Isaiah, according to 
               tradition
            3) "Tempted" - Daniel, as a youth - Dan 1:8-21
            4) "Slain with the sword" - Uriah the prophet - Jer 26:
               20-23
         e. Some wandered about:
            1) "In sheepskins and goatskins" - Elijah - 2Ki 1:8
            2) "Being destitute, afflicted, tormented" - Elijah - 2 Kin 17:2-6; 18:9-10

   C. WHAT THESE PEOPLE RECEIVED BY THEIR FAITH... (38-40)
      1. Certainly not the praise of the world! - He 11:38
         a. Many had to wander in deserts and mountains, live in dens 
            and caves (Elijah)
         b. But in truth, the world is not worthy of them!
      2. They did obtain a good testimony... - He 11:39a
         a. As stated regarding the elders in He 11:2
         b. As stated regarding Enoch - He 11:5
      3. Yet they did not obtain "the promise" during their lifetime 
         - He 11:39b-40
         a. They did receive some of the promises, such as the promised
            land - cf. He 11:33
         b. But they did not receive "the" promise
            1) They did not live to see the coming of the promised 
               Deliverer (Christ)
            2) Nor did they experience the "perfection" which Christ 
               now offers
               a) The Law could not make them "perfect" - He 9:9-10; 
                  10:1-4
               b) But Christ can! - cf. He 9:11-14; 10:11-14
      4. What they did not receive during their lifetime, they did with
         the coming of Christ!
         a. For Christ died to redeem them as well as us! - He 9:15
         b. They are now made "perfect" just as we are - He 11:40; cf.
            10:14; 12:22-24
            1) Note the phrase "the spirits of just men made perfect"
               in He 12:23
            2) Those who in the past "should not be made perfect apart
               from us" are in Christ "made perfect"!

CONCLUSION

1. Through faith, they truly overcame the world...
   a. Sometimes their victory was miraculous; often it was not
   c. Their ultimate victory was that they "died in faith" - He 11:
      13-16
   -- And now, they enjoy the fruit of faith:  bliss in the presence of
      the Lamb! - cf. Re 7:9-17

2. Through faith, we can also overcome the world...
   a. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God will give us the victory! - 1Jn 5:4-5
      1) Victory over the world's temptations
      2) Victory over the world's persecutions
   b. The victories we win may not be as impressive as those listed in
      this chapter, but if we are "faithful until death", the reward 
      will be the same! - cf. Re 2:10

May this great chapter with its heroes of faith, serve to motivate us 
to grow in the faith which...

      * Pleases God!

      * Embraces The Promises!

      * Overcomes The World!

We may not win the praise the world, but we will receive the praise of
God, for such is the faith which leads "to the saving of the soul"!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... And I went to sleep...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo

Information about The Sisteen Chapel

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Storia.html

(click on the Information... link or paste the web address into your browser)

Last night was just a "normal night". I turned in about 11 p.m. , but for some reason awoke about 3:30, pet the dogs a few times and went back to sleep without problem. I awoke about 8:30, feeling refreshed and happy. Refreshed because I had more than usual amount of good sleep and happy because of a dream I had.  I dreamt of the last judgment and I was acquitted before God because Jesus vouched for me. You would wake up feeling happy too!!! I wasn't awake too long before I realized WHY I had this dream. I had read Mark chapter 13 yesterday (which is today's reading posted on the blog- I always read a day ahead), forgotten about it, but subconsciously I REMEMBERED!!!  And here is the portion that relates to my dream....

Mark, Chapter 13

 1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!” 

  2  Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” 

  3  As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,  4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” 

  5  Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.   6  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he! ’ and will lead many astray. 

  7  “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.   8  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.   9  But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.   10  The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.   11  When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 

  12  “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.   13  You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.   14  But when you see the abomination of desolation,  spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,   15  and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.   16  Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.   17  But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!   18  Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter.   19  For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.   20  Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.   21  Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.   22  For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.  23  But you watch. 

“Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.   24  But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,   25  the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.   26  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.   27  Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. 

  28  “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;   29  even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.   30  Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.  31  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.   32  But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.   33  Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

Now, I know the passage from Mark relates to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., but remember, we are dealing with MY SUBCONSCIOUSNESS.  Frankly, I do not know how to put the vivid images I dreamt into words, so I thought to do it with pictures.  And what better images could there be than that of the sisteen chapel painted by Michelangelo you see at the top of the post.  Everyone makes choices every day as to how they will lives, but think about it- Aren't dreams relating to spiritual things better than a thousand other things you could have dreamt about?  Who says Bible reading doesn't affect you? I can testify it does- even to the core of the essence of my subconscious. Nice choice, great results.... jealous yet????

From Jim McGuiggan... A True Story

A True Story

Their hopes were dashed; they huddled in locked upper rooms and moaned to each other as they walked the roads. They were fear-filled, ashamed of their cowardice and disappointed that the one they’d hoped would fulfil God’s promises to Israel had turned out a loser. In a real sense, more than any others they were unbelievers and that’s what he called them when he walked into the room and rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief (Mark 16:14, see Luke 24:25 and John 20:24-29).

We’ve heard the wise objection that Jesus should have appeared to unbelievers when he rose rather than to his followers. Only wise people who don’t know the text can speak that way because the only kind of people he appeared to was the unbelieving—his disciples didn't believe he was raised.

In any case, had he appeared to Pilate and he had become a believer we wouldn’t have been allowed to use his witness since it would be the testimony of a believer. If you don’t believe that, take a look at what happens when we speak of Jesus appearing to Saul, the unbeliever. To get around his testimony all kinds of explanations are offered, from epilepsy to heat stroke to suppressed guilt and consequent hallucinations.

This much we know from the NT record: something happened after the crucifixion of Jesus broke their hearts and spirits—something that galvanized them into fierce warfare with the powers that be, that made them rejoice and call suffering a privilege; something that enabled them to work miracles and persuade many thousands that God had not abandoned his promises. Their story was that Jesus was gloriously alive again, that they saw and spent time with him and that he was in their midst by his Holy Spirit who was making his presence felt by signs and wonders.

The New Covenant church (see Matthew 16:18) began in fulfilment of God’s promise that he would not abandon faithless Israel and that he would make a new covenant with them unlike the one he’d made with their fathers when he brought them out of Egypt (Luke 22:20, Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:6-13). These were Jews, the descendants of Abraham through Jacob and Jesus came to fulfil the promises God made to their fathers (Romans 15:8) and in Jesus as the critical moment God revealed and continues to reveal his faithfulness. The richness of God’s promises to Israel were greater than they could possibly have known and it was left to people like Peter (Acts), James (Acts 15) and to Paul in particular to reveal that Gentile (non-Jewish) blessing was wrapped up in Israel’s glory (see Romans 11:24 and context and 15:25-27).

To dismiss all this—which is the heart of the NT witness—and reduce the nature of the Church of God in Jesus to a mass of people who admire Jesus and select precious pieces of his teaching as a moral guide is to ignore the biblical witness altogether.

The NT church didn’t rise as a sad group who knew the gentle and kind man and couldn’t let his memory die. Jesus didn’t foresee that he’d be killed before he accomplished anything and so made a last minute attempt to give personal piety something to remember and feed on.

No, his death and resurrection were part of God’s eternal and cosmic purpose and his establishing of his church (as distinct from the Mosaic church of the Wilderness—Acts 7:38) was no ad hoc response to unforeseen events.

Does the description of the Church of God in Ephesians 1:1-14 sound like a spur of the moment thing? Does it read like something built out of the fragments of failure? Does it look to you like a “Plan B”? Does it read like a movement that humans came up with in the face of their disappointment?

As surely as Abraham was chosen of God and as sure as Israel was chosen by him and as sure as Jesus was God’s chosen (Matthew 12:18, 1 Peter 2:4) so the New Covenant people were the chosen of God (1 Peter 1:1; 2:9 and Ephesians 1:3-14) made up of Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 1:11-14 and 2:11—3:6).

To reduce the Church of Jesus Christ to a brotherhood/sisterhood of morally serious people whose primary aim is to grow in moral excellence is a tragedy! The NT is then read as a repository of “Principles to live by”; the kind of thing you can read in a Reader’s Digest or a Humanist Manifesto.

The Church’s business is not to show what nice people it’s made of and how you’d enjoy their company if you became a part of this or that congregation and nor is its business is to talk ceaselessly about how to get saved and go to heaven.

Its business is to be “the body of Jesus Christ,” to bear witness to a person! Jesus! Jesus!—in whom God has begun and will complete the redemption and glorification of his creation in keeping with his eternal purpose.

The Church did not appear by chance or as an after-thought or as a weak substitute for the real thing! The Church is not to determine its own nature but to embrace the truth God has revealed about her as she moves in Christ-imitating witness toward more truth and a greater likeness to her Lord into whose death and resurrection she was baptized and whose return she heralds in her Holy Communion!

Her place and destiny in this world was eternally planned and brought about. The world may smile at that as nonsense but the Church must take an entirely different view. Click here for a little more.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.