Your Hero Too?

As the title cleverly suggests, this is the second post regarding heroes. I had promised to make this second installment but because I am preaching this message tomorrow, I decided to hold off completing it until tonight.

What I have seen in our church is an urgent desire to follow a man. I mean this in several aspects.. We claim to seek Christ, yet in action, we want flesh and blood. This desire is evident in the youth program, the morning worship service, the Wednesday evening service, and even in our pastoral search. I truly believe that many in the church feel that we are floundering corporately because we have not named a youth pastor or a senior pastor. I have seen (what I perceive to be evidence of) a lack of commitment to church services because we do not have a pastor to notice our unfaithfulness. The fact of the matter is our human nature wants others to see our efforts.

Several (3?) years ago I taught an ABF class on heroes of the faith. Hebrews 11. During that class, I stated that I found it ironic that we let the actions of others affect our faith. As a matter of fact, if we were going to lose heart because of the failures of godly men, we should lose heart because of the failures of the heroes of the faith.

Abraham and Sara laughed at the Lord when told of their future son. (Genesis 17:17, 18:12) Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of disobedience. (Numbers 20:7-12) Rahab was a harlot, Samson sought after Delilah, David committed adultery and murder, and Samuel was hardly a model parent. With these men as our heroes why in the world would we lose heart because of an unkind word from a member in our church or quit coming to church altogether because we didn't like the guest speaker? How shallow have we become?

In truth, we are only as deep as our personal relationship with the Lord. If that relationship is predecated on the behavior of others, we will never become the people that the Lord wants us to be. Maturity comes when we stop comparing ourselves to other men and look to...

Well, let me say this:
All of the heroes of the faith in chapter 11 of Hebrews are human. We are not to idolize people, the importance of the chapter is on the display of faith (Hebrews 11:6). Though all men fall, the reminder here is that trust in the Lord is what is counted when all is done.

I can in no way expositionally teach through every verse in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Not in one Sunday. There are however four clues scattered throughout the chapter that are placed there to keep us on track. I will share these verses and let the Holy Spirit show you the meaning. I may write more on this later, if not, ask for the CD of the message.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Who is your hero?
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.