The roll call of heroes continues. The Old Testament records the lives of many people who experienced great victories; a few are selected for mention here. None of these people were perfect; in fact, many of their sins are recorded in the Old Testament. But these were among those who believed in God:Gideon, one of Israel’s judges, was known for conquering the Midianite army with only three hundred men who were armed with trumpets and jars (Judges 6:11–8:35). Barak served with Deborah (another judge of Israel) in conquering the army of General Sisera from Hazor (Judges 4:4-23).
Samson, another judge, was a mighty warrior against God’s enemies, the Philistines (Judges 13–16). Jephthah, still another judge, delivered Israel from the Ammonites (Judges 11:1-33).
David, the beloved king of Israel and a great warrior, brought peace to Israel, defeating all of his enemies.
Samuel, the last judge of Israel, was a very wise leader. He also was a prophet. Samuel, along with all the prophets, served God selflessly as they conveyed God’s words to an often rebellious people.
These people demonstrated that faith will accomplish much: They overthrew kingdoms. Throughout their years in the Promised Land, the Israelites had great leaders who brought victory against their enemies. People such as Joshua, all of the judges, and King David were great warriors. They ruled with justice. Many of the judges, as well as leaders such as Nehemiah, administered justice to the people.
They shut the mouths of lions. Daniel was saved from the mouths of lions (Daniel 6). This statement could also refer to Samson (Judges 14:6) or to David (1 Samuel 17:34-35).
They quenched the flames. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were kept from harm in the furious flames of a fiery furnace (Daniel 3). They escaped death by the edge of the sword. Elijah (1 Kings 19:2-8) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:19, 26) had this experience.
Their weakness was turned to strength. Hezekiah was one who regained strength after sickness (2 Kings 20). They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. This refers to Joshua, many of Israel’s judges, King Saul, and King David. Some even received their loved ones back again from death. The widow from Zarephath received her son back from the dead because of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24), and so did the Shunammite woman, through Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37).
We, too, can experience victory through faith in Christ. Your life may not include the kinds of dramatic events recorded here, but it surely includes moments where faith is tested. Give testimony to those moments, publicly and honestly, and thereby encourage the faith of others.
While the above examples mention great victory—there is a victory that may not seem so. Other believers were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God. These faithful people experienced the blessings and endured persecution because they placed their hope in the resurrection. These people lived by faith because they knew that gaining the world and achieving this world’s success was not their objective.
They waited for a better life that would begin after death. This promise of a better life encouraged them during persecution and other difficulties. These descriptions could apply to many people who lived by faith—including some who were part of the community of the original readers of this epistle. Many Christians were persecuted and punished for their faith. They were: Mocked—like Elisha (2 Kings 2:23-25), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:1), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:12). Cut open with whips—like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:15). Chained in dungeons—like Joseph (Genesis 40:15), Samson (Judges 16:21), Micaiah (1 Kings 22:26-27), Hanani (1 Chronicles 16:10), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:16; 38:6). Killed by stoning—like Zechariah (1 Chronicles 24:20-21); according to Jerome, Jeremiah was stoned at the hands of Jewish Egyptians because he denounced their idolatry. Killed by being sawed in half—like Isaiah.
Many of God’s followers who lived before Christ and many who have lived after Christ have been persecuted. Their clothing was the skins of sheep and goats. Many faced being hungry, oppressed, and mistreated. Some had to wander and hide in the wilderness. Despite their difficult lot, the writer of Hebrews claims that they were too good for this world. These people were great men and women of faith. All of the above people mentioned by name and those alluded to received God’s approval because of their faith. These people looked forward to a better day and salvation, but none of them received all that God had promised. Of course, they saw some of God’s promises fulfilled, but not the promises that referred to the new covenant and the promised eternal Kingdom. These people did not live to see the Kingdom arrive, but their future citizenship was secure there. Thus, they were able to endure suffering.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Have you ever gotten to the point in your life that you just feel like you can’t do it anymore? Whatever “it” is for you, you just are tired, maybe defeated, disillusioned, frustrated? Do you ever feel like you want to stop trying? I know I have! We all have at one point or another. Maybe some of you have felt that way spiritually. Just can’t go on. This morning, I want to share with you that there is hope from HIS word.
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Did you get that promise? Maybe in your power you can’t go on – perfect – you are right where God wants you. Why? He wants you to go on in His power, and His strength! If you didn’t recognize it, this is another promise from God to us! You can’t become a person of faith without getting the promises of God in your life.
Today, I want to give you three secrets of staying in the game – the three keys to getting through those times when discouragement is pounding on your life. Three keys to taking the initiative in your faith, so you will grow strong spirtually and not just wallow around in defeat or self pity.
Here’s the faith story we are going to look at this morning. One day Jesus was walking through the streets of the city of Jericho. A large crowd was following Him. There was a blind beggar by the side of the road by the name of Bartimaeus. To be blind in Jesus’ day meant you couldn’t work, obviously you couldn’t read or write, and you probably couldn’t go anywhere because there were no seeing eye dogs, no wheel chairs, no social programs to help the blind. So he was reduced to simply begging for living. Everyday somebody would carry him out to the side of the road, set him on a pallet. He would beg for sustenance every day and at the end of the day they would take him back. It was a miserable life. This blind beggars name was Bartimaeus. This story is found in Mark 10:46-52.
The first step to taking the initiative in your faith…
#1. SEIZE THE MOMENT
When Bartimaeus got up that morning he had no idea that Jesus was going to be passing by him. As best as he knew it was just another ordinary day. Same place, same thing, same begging, same miserable, lonely, pitiful lifestyle. So he had no time to prepare for Jesus, he had not time to plan for Jesus. It was just an opportunity that was dropped in his lap. It’s now or never. He seized the moment!
Bartimaeus thinks, “This is my chance. I’ve got to go for it. I’m not going to miss this opportunity,” Mark 10:46-47 (NLT) says “As Jesus... left town, a great crowd was following. A bind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” He seizes the opportunity, the moment. Why is this so key? All around you daily there are opportunities. You get them all the time. But you don’t take advantage of them. Why? We think we have all the time in the world!
The Bible warns us over and over about presuming upon tomorrow. I’m not guaranteed a tomorrow, neither are you. Whatever you’re going to do you better do it now.
Ÿ Job 9:25 ”My days go quickly. More quickly than a runner, they sprint away.” The older you get the faster they run.
Ÿ Job 8:9 “Our life is short. We pass like shadows across the earth.” Your life is really just a blip, a shadow.
Ÿ Proverbs 27:1 “Don’t boast about tomorrow for you don’t know what a day will bring forth.”
Ÿ Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are. Help us to spend them as we should.”
Ÿ Ephesians 5:16 “Make the most of every opportunity.”
I think God brought some of you here this morning just to hear this truth. He wants to say to you, “Stop making excuses. Get on with it. Start living the things you know to do. Give Me your life now. Start living for Me now.” Luke 9:62 (MB) says “Jesus said, ‘No procrastination! No backward looks. You can’t put off God's kingdom till tomorrow. Seize the day!” What am I saying? Stop doinking around – get on with your faith and spiritual life – start today.
The second step to taking the initiative in your faith…
#2. GO PUBLIC WITH your faith.
Go public with it. Announce your goal, your intention, the change you want to make in your life, what you’re asking God to do. Clarify what you really want and then state it publicly. You need to tell people because a secret faith is a shallow faith.
Mark 10:48 (GN) says “Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, ‘Have mercy on me!’” This guy was not afraid to make his need known and to shout out to Jesus that he needed help. It seems to me that the scorn of others is often a reason we often shy away from making our faith more public.
But, if you’re going to make a change you need to go ahead and make a public announcement about it and say, “This is what I’m asking God to do in my life.” In Mark 10:51 it says, “Jesus asked him [Bartimaeus] ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man answered, ‘Teacher, I want to see.’” He said, I want my sight. I want to be healed.
Here’s the amazing thing. Jesus Christ asks you the very same question right now. “What do you want Me to do for you?” God wants to use you. He wants to bless you. He wants to make changes in your life. He wants to do incredible things in your life. Things you can’t even imagine. But you have to ask. And you have to ask in faith.
Why should you announce what you want HIM to do in you and through you and for you publicly? The more people who know the more support you’ve got. If you want to make a major change in your life and you keep it to yourself, that’s a pretty shallow faith. The more people you share it with, the more people can pray for you, the more people can support you,
the more people can encourage you. You need to go public.
How do you go public with your faith? Two ways! The first way – make your decision to live for Him public – let people know that you have indeed accepted Christ into your heart. Let people know He is your savior and Lord! (Romans 1:16) how do you do that? Get baptized! This is a no brainer. Baptism is a public announcement saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ. I’m not a secret agent Christian. I am a disciple. I am a follower. I’m not ashamed to say that I belong to HIM.” It’s a public act.
The second way to go public with your faith – announce to your small groups the goals you have for the new year. Put your hide on the wall. Every time you set a goal it actually is a statement of faith. People who don’t set goals, who don’t go public with them – people of little faith. Here’s a reminder -
There is one qualifier when you set a goal, when you say, “I’m going to do ‘this’ with my life.” you need to add the phrase, “... if it’s God's will.” Folks, you’re not sovereign. He is. As followers of Christ, we need to set goals, set off in the direction we think God is leading, then let Him guide us. Let Him open doors. You say, “Here’s my goal... if it’s God's will.”
James 4:15 “You ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.’”
The third step to taking the initiative in your faith…
#3. Receive God's grace
In Mark 10:52 we read this, “Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way. Your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight.” What happened here? Old Blind Bart accepted the grace of God. I know that there’s a lot of hurt here. Some of you barely made it here today. Some of you are carrying major conflict, major pain, major disappointment, major grief in your life. Some of you are quite lonely and you feel that happiness has passed you by. You’re kind of like Bartimaeus on the side of the road. You’re in a lot of misery. The truth is you can put on a happy smile but inside you’re hurting.
John 1:16 says “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” How do you receive God's blessings in your life? You do it by faith. Some of you say, “I’d like to change. I just can’t.” And you’re right. You can’t change. If you could, you would have already done it. But you need a power greater than yourself to make the changes that really make a difference in your life. You need grace. Folks, grace is the power to change! Just like you receive Christ for salvation, you have to receive His grace for the power to change. (That’s why you need to memorize Philippians 4:13 – this is a promise you can build you life on.
I heard a story about a little boy. His father asked him to go to the back yard and move a big bolder. He goes in the back and he pushes it and it won’t move. He pulls it and it won’t move. He uses a lever and it won’t move. He ties up his dog and tries to pull it with a rope and it won’t move. All these different ways. He finally comes back in and says, “Dad, I can’t do it. It’s impossible.” The father says, “Son, Have you tried everything?” He said, “Yes.” “Have you tried everything?” “Yes! I have! I’ve tried everything!” The father said, “You didn’t try asking me to help you.”
Many of you are in situations where you’ve tried all kinds of stuff. You think, “It’s impossible. It’s never going to change. It’s never going to be any different.” Have you tried asking God for help? Have you tried receiving God's grace and letting Him give you power that you don’t have on your own?
Folks, Bartimaeus was blind. But he had enough vision to see that Jesus Christ could help him out. He had enough vision to see that he needed grace. Do you? Do you realize how much grace you need in life or do you just think you can go through life on your own? Spiritual blindness is far worse than physical blindness. Because if you’re spiritually blind, you don’t realize how much you need God's grace in your life.
Grace isn’t just for salvation. It’s not just for you to get your sins forgiven and get you into heaven. Grace is for the daily mistakes of life.
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