Hebrews 11:32-40

I. THE FAMILIAR NAMES

Hebrews 11:32: “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—”

Gideon (Jdg. 7)

Barak (Jdg. 4)

Samson (Jdg. 16)

Judges 16:28–31: “Then Samson called to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines.’ Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.”

Jephthah (Jdg. 11)

David (1 Sam. 17)

1 Samuel 17:47: “The LORD saves not with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hand.”

Samuel (1 Sam. 1–16)

Hebrews 11:33–34: “…who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

Hebrews 11:35a: “Women received back their dead by resurrection.”

II. THE HIDDEN FIGURES

Hebrews 11:35b: “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.”

Hebrews 11:36: “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.”

“Life,” Gk. ἀνάστασις (anastasis), “resurrection”

Hebrews 11:37–38a: “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—.”

Hebrews 11:38b: “They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

Do you believe that God can change the world through small acts of faith carried out by hidden figures?

III. THE SAME APPROVAL

Hebrews 11:39: “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised.”

1. All of them were commended through their faith
2. None of them received the ultimate fulfillment of what was promised in their lifetime

Hebrews 11:40: “…since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

TAKEAWAYS

1. The validity of your faith is not based on the outcome of your faith.

The validity of your faith is not based on the outcome of your faith, but on the object of your faith.”

2. God can change the world through small acts of faith.

When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?