The Ecuador mission team is leaving on Monday, so this Sunday, in the second service, we will take the opportunity to pray for the team and those with whom they will share the gospel. We will also finish Hebrews 11:32-40. In this section, the author brings his list of faith-filled Old Testament saints to its conclusion. After telling us "the righteous will live by faith," the text began with Abel and systematically walked through the eras of biblical history. As verse 32 continues, the author gives rapid-fire references to the faithful during the time of the Judges, through the Davidic Monarchy, and speaks of the many unnamed believers leading up to the time of Christ. Several issues arise in this final section of chapter 11. The judges listed (Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah) accomplished great victories in the Lord’s name, but much of their stories also included acts of doubt and sin. How could the author include such men in the "hall of fame" of faith? As the author summarizes the great accomplishments, victories, and miracles that God did in the lives of His faithful, delivering them from every conceivable suffering, our hearts rise with the text’s proclamation of God’s power and promises. Yet, in the middle of verse 35, the list turns and speaks of many unnamed saints who were not delivered - they were tortured to death. They lived lives of destitution and lack. These saints (who are just as faithful as those who accomplished victories) endured the worst the world had to offer - by faith. And God commended them for their faith with the same commendation as those who put foreign armies to flight. Yet, in the end, none of these faith-filled people of God received the promise in this life. They did not see God’s salvation in Christ fulfilled while they lived on the earth. By faith, they trusted it from far off. Chapter 12:1-4 gives us the application of this list of the faithful. Since we have such a cloud of witnesses (those who testify to a life of faith) let us lay aside the weight and sin that besets us and run the race with endurance. How? By looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
I. What Faith Accomplishes (v. 32-35a)
II. What Faith Endures (v. 35b-38)
III. What Faith Receives (v. 39-40)