KEEP RUNNING!

Hebrews 11:32-12:1

Swindoll:   4 Common Misconceptions about Christians:

     1. Christians are followers of Jesus, therefore, true Christians are always meek and passive. (Jesus wasn’t passive)

     2. Christians are people of faith, therefore, true Christians never doubt nor get discouraged (Christians do struggle with doubts)

     3. Christians are new creatures, therefore, true Christians are perfect.

             (We still have a sinful nature; we still struggle with the presence of sin in our lives).

     4. Christians are God’s people, therefore, true Christians never suffer tragedy.

             (Bad things do happen to forgiven people)

The misconceptions relate to issues Hebrew Christians face–especially the last.

One clear indication that bad things do happen to God’s people is the struggle the early Hebrew Christians were facing because of their faith in Christ.

Through the ages God’s people have suffered.

Paul: “those who live godly lives will suffer persecution”

     Affliction and adversity is a fact of life for God’s people.

Last 9 verses list people who learned what it’s like to suffer adversity, because of their faith in God.11:32-12:1

EXAMPLES OF FAITH 11:1-40

     Faith is the appropriate response to Christ’s greatness.

The examples from history of godly men and women who trusted God in the face of adversity, encourage us to follow in their footsteps.

They risked their lives–willing to pay a high price because they trusted God.

When he concludes those who lived by faith during times of Patriarchs and the Conquest, it presents a summary of how the same faith was demonstrated in the times of the judges, kings, and prophets, right up to the present.

The list includes the prophets, the intertestamental period, and probably even godly people they had known.

Far too many heroes of faith existed for him to deal with them all in detail.

He didn’t have time to deal with each of them individually, nor do we.

                  He lists some by name.

Then he refers to categories of people who trusted God in times of adversity.

Studying the named leaders in O.T. demonstrates that these were ordinary people.

                  You can point to major failure in every one of their lives!

Yet, when push came to shove, each trusted God and remained faithful to Him, expecting that what God had promised He would ultimately fulfill.

Although their faith was imperfect and incomplete, it was still approved by God.

                  That leaves us all room for hope. Faith’s power isn’t out of reach for any of us.

Each lived in a time when faith was scarce—definitely the minority position.

Each battled against overwhelming odds–little chance they’d come out on top.

The author uses unnamed individuals to teach another lesson.

All these people give testimony to the value of faith.

Some are miraculously delivered; God is glorified by rescuing them. 11:32-35a

List reaches climax with supreme victory: resurrection. Even death couldn’t defeat them!

Not all men and women of faith received the rewards of faith in their lifetime.

Others pay for their faith with their lives. God is still glorified! 11:35b-38

In contrast to those who witness God’s power for deliverance,

others witness God’s power to persevere, in tremendous affliction–even death!

The writer may have in mind heroes like Paul who may have been martyred recently.

Others were killed when Nero proclaimed Christian faith a crime worthy of death.

         They were killed in all sorts of imaginative ways in the circuses of Rome.

They could have been released from torture, if they’d been willing to give up their faith,

         or at least publicly renounce it, but they categorically refused that way out.

By dying for their faith, they made a statement: they believed the assurance of their future hope was to be preferred to temporary relief from affliction.

“They refused to be released”[NIV], or, “not accepting their release” [NAS}.

                  Literally, “not accepting the redemption.”

“Redemption” = the price paid to buy someone from the slave market.

                          They weren’t willing to be paid off or bought.

                          They weren’t willing to sell themselves, to escape affliction.

Though not appreciated or respected by their contemporaries, these faithful heroes were of greater real worth than the rest of humanity put together.

So much for the so-called “prosperity gospel.” Here are saints so holy and full of faith that the world is not worthy of them, yet they are called to endure persecution and deprivation, because of their faithfulness to God.

When you think of the gawking, jeering crowds that came to watch the carnage,

it’s easy to understand why the writer says the world, filled with such violence-crazed minds, isn’t worthy of them.

All kinds of physical suffering has been endured by people of faith,

             as well as ostracism from friends, family and community.

Some were delivered; some suffered for their faith.

But they were “all commended for their faith.”

God used each according to His purpose to further His program and to glorify Himself. 11:39-40

God doesn’t always accomplish His purpose in the way we expect!

             He certainly didn’t for these heroes.

While sometimes God chooses to intervene miraculously and free His people from suffering, sometimes He doesn’t.

One pastor tells: “While making a hospital visit, I found a patient weeping. Someone had sent her a book on divine healing and the power of faith. On the flyleaf they had written: ‘Read this book—it will give you the faith to be healed.’ The giver assumes that all people with faith should be delivered miraculously.” God never promises that!

The fact someone suffers, doesn’t mean they are lacking faith.

It takes greater faith to trust God in the midst of suffering,

                  than it does when He chooses to relieve the pain.

People of faith often suffer intensely.

God is glorified through our faith and faithfulness in the face of adversity.

If God desires to be glorified by delivering His people, He will do it.

     If God desires to be glorified by not delivering His people, He will do that.

Don’t conclude that absence of deliverance means a lack of faith!

We may go through significant loss before we see His solution to our problems.

That’s what troubled Daniel about the revelation of the end times that he saw.

                  God allows the evil beast to defeat the saints—at least for a while.

We, like Daniel, struggle with that. It doesn’t seem right.

But it’s still part of God’s plan to glorify Himself.

We have to learn to trust Him to glorify Himself with His own plan!

The program doesn’t end with them.

None of these received the promise.

         They’re waiting for the rest of us.

God’s program continues, because God wants to include us.

It includes godly men and women: the Corrie ten Booms, the Jim Elliots, the Hudson Taylors, 1000s of faithful homemakers and professionals, teenagers and senior citizens—not one perfect, but each committed to trusting God and remaining faithful in the face of difficult circumstances.

He wants to use us the same way!

All these people testified to their faith in God and in His faithfulness.

When we consider what their faith cost them,

                  How can we question the suffering God allows in our lives today.

Alongside these heroes, our suffering seems pretty insignificant!

Yet, when we do suffer, it never seems insignificant! It still hurts!

         So, what should our response be?

             Will we join these great heroes of the faith? Or, will we escape?

God wants to use our lives similarly,

         so that, by our faith, He may be glorified again.

EXHORTATION TO REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES

     AND FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE 12:1

The value of faith has been amply attested by a cloud of O.T. witnesses.

         They are witnesses to God’s faithfulness.

“Cloud of witnesses” doesn’t refer to them looking over edge of heaven to watch us.

It’s their witness to us, to faith revealed by their lives—the witness of their lives to us.

These heroes are approved for their faith.

         Their experience stands as a testimony to us of what pleases God.

         They witness to the value of persistent faith.

We should follow their example. Three specific exhortations:

Let’s remove every obstacle—take off all the weights that work against us and cause resistance–everything that may get us bogged down!

Some things that are not wrong in themselves—they may even be beneficial in training —but they may hinder us from running our best in the big race.

Let’s get rid of anything that may get in the way of us trusting Him

             and standing firm for our faith to the end!

Let’s get rid of the sin which entraps us so easily.

         –the sin that gets us tangled/tripped up!

Any sin can entrap us and keep us from running the race,

One temptation we’re prone to when faced with intense affliction: unbelief

                  —throwing in the towel, and escaping—taking the easy way out.

Spurgeon: We ought to abhor the very thought of obtaining honor in this world by concealing our sentiments or by making compromises. If there be a chance of your being highly esteemed by holding your tongue, speak at once; don’t run the risk of winning such dishonorable honor. If there be a hope of people praising you because you’re ready to yield your convictions, pray God to make you like a flint never to yield again; for what more damning glory could a man have than to be applauded for disowning his principles to please his fellow men!”

Let’s run with endurance (with patience/perseverance) the race set before us.

“Race” refers to conflict or struggle. If we’re “running,” the natural concept is of a race.

Key thought: endurance.

This isn’t a sprint to a goal, 100 yards away, that we reach quickly.

                  It’s a marathon extending through life. The long race requires endurance.

Root for “race” is the basis for our word “agony”

You see it in a marathon—”Keep going!” “You can make it!”

                  “Don’t quit now, there’s only a half mile to go!”

Churchill: “Never give up!”

Bill Broadhurst is a living object lesson of running with patient endurance. In 1981 he entered the 10,000 meter Pepsi Challenge. Ten years earlier Bill had surgery for a brain aneurism and was paralyzed on his left side. As the race began, he was left in the dust by the other runners. Sweat was rolling down his face, pain pierced his ankle, as he thrust forward his left leg, plop-plop-plop. Some runners completed the race in about thirty minutes. Bill reached the finish line 2 hours and 20 minutes later. Greeting him with a medal was Bill Rodgers, famous marathon runner. His finish was glorious, though he finished last. Why? Because he ran with perseverance the race set before him!

We shouldn’t allow anything to impede the goal set before us.

     We’re urged to hang in there—to keep running.

We only have a vague inkling of how this passage will apply to the church of the 21st C.

         Many have already suffered for their faith.

A few weeks ago three godly men were slaughtered in a Christian publishing house in Turkey.

Christians in many parts of the world have been persecuted for their faith.

Christians in India, in Sudan, in Iraq, in Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Vietnam, China, and other countries, still suffer because of “the Name.”

Michael Horowitz, Jewish spokesperson for the Hudson Institute says, “If Jews were being so flagrantly persecuted there would be overwhelming protest. But it’s going on among Christians and no one raises a voice!”

What does the future hold for us? I don’t know.

The author of Hebrews anticipates additional suffering for their faith.

As one who loves them, he desires that they be ready for the trauma.

             He stirs us to stand with those who have gone before.

Do we think we can escape with less commitment than those who’ve gone before?

Kent Hughes: Citing current trends: “It is highly probable that the church, once pampered, may become the church persecuted.”

It’s time for US to run the race!

     Our race may well include suffering for our faith.

         Are we ready for that?

The call for the race is given.The athletes gather round.

             It’s clear they’ve been well-trained for the race.

             The warm-up suits are laid aside. 

                  Everything that might get in the way of running at our best is taken off.

All the good things that might get in the way have to go: extra activities that take up our time, extra trappings that go with an affluent lifestyle but don’t help us run, things that keep us warm and comfortable, they have to go.

It’s time for us to run our race. Are we ready? Get ready! Get set! . . .

ARE WE PREPARED TO RUN, WITH PATIENT ENDURANCE,

     THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US?

Must I be carried to the skies

     on flowery beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

and sailed through bloody seas.

Sure I must fight if I would reign,

Increase my courage, Lord.

I’d bear the toil, endure the pain,

    supported by Thy Word.