They Still Speak - Sermon Outlines. Org



They Still Speak

HEBREWS 11:4

INTRO: Established in 1868 as a day to honor the fallen soldiers of the just

concluded Civil War, Memorial Day has grown to become a solemn

recognition of all of our nation's war dead and the high price of our

freedoms. We praise God for those who have given their lives so that

we can now have the freedoms we enjoy as a Nation. But even more

importantly, we praise God for those dear saints who have given their

lives so that we can enjoy the Spiritual freedoms we now enjoy! Those

who fought for the veracity of this Bible, the freedom to worship freely,

and who founded our Nation upon God and His Word. In his first

general order to his troops, General George Washington called on:

Every officer and man ... to live, and act, as becomes a Christian

Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country. The

Provincial Congress of Massachusetts 1774 reorganized the

Massachusetts militia, providing that over one-third of all new

regiments be made up of "Minutemen." The minutemen, known as

such because they would be ready to fight at a minute's notice, would

drill as citizen soldiers on the parade ground, then go to the church to

hear exhortation and prayer. Many times the deacon of the church, or

even the pastor would lead the drill. They proclaimed, "Our cause is

just," and believed it was their Christian duty to defend it. The

Provincial Congress of Massachusetts charged the minutemen: You ...

are placed by Providence in the post of honor, because it is the post of

danger ... The eyes not only of North America and the whole British

Empire, but of all Europe, are upon you. Let us be, therefore, altogether

solicitous that no disorderly behavior, nothing unbecoming our

characters as Americans, as citizens and Christians, be justly

chargeable to us. It was by godly men with godly characters that this

Nation was built upon godly principals.

There is the sense in which the dead, though silent, still speak -- the

quality and character of their lives lingering long after they have gone.

The writer of Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter, declares of Abel,

murdered by his brother but approved by God, "he still speaks, even

though his is dead" (vs. 4). His faith speaks to all ages. good men die,

and some of them die a violent death, as did Abel, yet he speaks in the

Scriptures, which have a voice in them, Luk_16:29 or by his blood,

which calls for vengeance; or rather by, or because of his faith, though

he is dead, "he is yet spoken of", as the word may be rendered.(John

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible). Let us hear what the godly lives of

the past say today.

(1) THEY SPEAK OF THE GODLY HERITAGE WE OUGHT NOT TO FORGET

Hebrews 11:1-40

A. THE MATTER OF GODLY FAITH. Faith is a marvelous and mysterious

thing! Carter Lindberg said, “Faith enables persons to be persons

because it lets God be God.” (1). It is by a strong godly faith that the

individuals recorded in Hebrews 11 accomplished great things for God

and His Glory! Notice a Godly Faith:

1. Defined (Hebrews 11:1). William Newton Clark said, “Faith is the

daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.” (2).

ILLUS: Oliver B. Greene in His commentary on Hebrews writes:

“Faith is firm persuasion and expectation, knowing that God

will perform all that He has promised to the believer in Christ;

and this persuasion is so strong and complete that it assures

the believer of possession even NOW, of those things for which

we exercise faith. Faith gives the believer substance in the

soul by the firstfruits and foretastes of things desired and

requested of God in faith. Faith does not look to God with a

cold heart and clouded thoughts concerning things to come.

Faith inspires confident expectation in the heart of the

believer concerning the objects his hope promises…Faith

believes God simply because God is God (3).

2. Declared (Hebrews 11:6). Matthew Henry said, “We cannot come to

God, unless we believe that he is what he has revealed himself to be in

the Scripture.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary). The only

possible way to please God is by faith. Many have tried to please God

apart from faith but to no avail. Faith is imperative if we are to be

accepted by God! Believing that God exists is only the beginning, even

the demons believe that much (James 2:19-20). God will not settle for

your mere acknowledgment of His existence. He wants a personal,

dynamic, life-changing relationship with you (4).

3. Described -- more than 20 times expressed, "by faith". Hebrews

10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith..” Hebrews 11 proves that

faith can conqueror in any circumstances. As verse 39 tells us, “And

all these, having obtained a good report through faith..” It was faith in

God which supported all those eminent men who, in different parts of

the world, and in different ages, were persecuted for righteousness

sake. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible).

ILLUS: Biblical faith is trusting in God, and the power of faith is

putting the matter into God’s hands so that He is able to do

what He wants to do in that situation.—Maurice B. Irvin (5)

B. EXAMPLES OF OUR GODLY HERITAGE

1. Abraham speaks of faith and obedience. He abandoned much to

follow God (Hebrews 11:8-17). Verse 8 says, “..and he went out, not

knowing whither he went.” That took a great deal of faith! “Went out”

tells of his performance. He obeyed in word and deed (6). Notice we

see Abraham:

a. Following (Genesis 12:1-8). Verse 4 tells us, “So Abram departed,

as the Lord had spoken unto him…” True faith follows God even

though it doesn’t know where it is being led. Listen to the words of

this poem:

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go;

Anywhere He leads me in this world below;

Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade;

Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.

Anywhere, anywhere! Fear I cannot know;

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.

Jessie Brown Pounds

b. As Isaac Is Born (Genesis 21:1-7). God told Abraham in

Genesis 12:2—“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I

will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be

a blessing.” For this to be possible, God had to work a miracle

because both Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child-bearing

age. Abraham believed God. He knew God would perform what

He had promised. In Genesis 21, Isaac was born just as God

promised.

c. In Isaac Being Offered (Genesis 22:1-18). In this passage of

Scripture we see God’s test of Abraham in offering Isaac. Abraham

was put to the most crucial test any mortal could ever face be

called upon to face. He was put to a test to prove his faith by his

obedience and works. God knew Abraham loved Isaac, how his

hopes were built upon this son of promise. In Isaac were the

promised seed and the blessings that were to come upon Israel.

God was asking Abraham to surrender and offer the most precious

thing he possessed—his only begotten son Isaac. It would be

impossible to fully understand what Abraham must have felt—but

beloved, if you study the Genesis account carefully you will note

that Abraham did not murmur, he did not complain, he did not

question God nor offer any argument. Instead, he offered perfect

obedience: “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled

his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son,

and clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went

unto the place of which God had told him” (Gen. 22:3) (7). What a

great faith! No wonder He is called “The friend of God”!

2. Joseph speaks about purity and wisdom and forgiveness.

(Hebrews 11:22). The life of Joseph is a wonderful picture of the Lord

Jesus Christ. Anywhere you touch the life of Joseph you see a

reflection of Christ. Notice Joseph’s:

a. Purity (Genesis 39:1-12). When Potiphar’s wife cast her eyes

upon Joseph, and said, “lie with me,” he refused her to retain his

purity. Notice his words in Genesis 39:9—“There is none greater

in this house than I, neither hath he kept back anything from me but

thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great

wickedness, and sin against God.”

ILLUS: In the forests of northern Europe, and Asia a little animal

called the ermine lives. He is mostly known among us by

his snow-white fur, a thing than which there is nothing

more beautiful on the fur markets of the world. In some

countries the state robes of judges are lined with it, the

white being emblematic of purity and honor. The ermine

has a peculiar pride in his white fur coat. At all hazards he

protects it against anything that would spoil it. It is said

that the fur hunters take cruel advantage of the ermine's

care to keep his coat clean. They do not set a snare to catch

him at some unwary moment, but instead find his home, a

cleft in the rock or the hollow of a decaying tree, and daub

the entrance and interior with filth. Then their dogs start

the chase. Frightened, the ermine flees toward his home,

his only place of refuge. He finds it daubed with

uncleanness, and he will not spoil his pure white coat.

Rather than go into the unclean place, he faces the yelping

dogs and preserves the purity of his fur at the price of his

life. It is better that he be stained by blood than spoiled by

uncleanness. The ermine is right purity is dearer than life.

--Walking With God.

May we be more like Joseph and determine to retain our purity and

not yield ourselves to the lusts of the flesh. Because we belong to Him

who said, “..Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

b. Wisdom (Genesis 41:41-57). When a famine severely struck Egypt

while Joseph was a prisoner there who did they look to? One who had

and would exercise godly wisdom. Where do we acquire this wisdom?

In prayer. The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher

on tiptoe. -- Dwight L. Moody, 19th century evangelist. Men of

Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1. Pharaoh said of Joseph in vv. 38-39—“Can we

find such an one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?…For-

asmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and

wise as thou art.” From whence did Joseph’s wisdom arise? From the

Lord! Note v25—“God hath shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.”

c. Forgiveness (Genesis 50:18-21). It seems that in the area of

Forgiveness, Joseph is more like the Savior than in any other area.

What grace it took for Joseph to be as forgiving as he was! After all

that he had endured because of his brothers’ wickedness, yet he gives

us an prime example of Christian forgiveness. He tells his brethren in

v20—“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto

good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Oh,

what a picture of our Lord Jesus! As He hung dying on the Cross, he

prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke

23:34).

ILLUS: The Chinese consider Jesus' teaching about forgiveness

unmanly. A Christian Chinese was once explaining

forgiveness to a group of people gathered in the chapel by the

mission hospital. He said, "I will tell you how we obey this

commandment. When you are sick or hurt, you come to the

hospital and we nurse you, dress your wounds, and care for

you, but you go away and revile us and lie about us. Then,

when you are sick once more, you come back and we nurse

you, and care for you again and again. That is forgiveness.

That’s the type of forgiveness that Joseph offered his brothers and

it is the kind of forgiveness Christ offers through the Cross!

3. Moses speaks about strength and courage. (Hebrews 11:23-28).

There were honor, wealth and pleasure in the palace, but affliction

with the enslaved nation. He chose the latter by faith. He had faith in

God's promises, and hence forsook his honored position, for the sake

of his people. He realized that sin’s pleasures are but “for a season.”

Any reproach endured through faith in the promises of which Christ

was the center and sum, was called the reproach of Christ. This

reproach, though men might shrink from it, was really of more value

permanently than the treasures of Egypt, because he looked forward

to the recompense, the heavenly blessings. The unseen God was

present with him by faith and his support gave strength to endure all.

(The People’s New Testament Commentary). The life of Moses speaks

of three things:

a. Strength (Exodus 32). Where did Moses get the strength to care

for such a large company of people? His strength came from the

LORD. It took a lot of strength and courage for Moses to return

and confront the sin which had befallen the people. While Moses

had been upon the mount receiving the Law, Aaron and the people

had been down in the valley serving and worshipping idols. The

zeal and courage of Moses was astonishing, considering he opposed

an intoxicated mob. The people were separated into two divisions,

and those who were the boldest and most obstinate in vindicating

their idolatry were put to death, while the rest, who withdrew in

shame or sorrow, were spared. (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Commentary). Moses, despite his shaky start, turned out to be a

strong leader. Not only was he a strong leader, but a

compassionate leader. Notice his words in vv. 31-32—“Oh, this

people have sinned a great sin, and have made gods of gold. Yet

now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee,

out of thy book which thou hast written.”

b. Courage (Exodus 5-12). As He stands before Pharaoh we see His

great courage. This man who asks in Exodus 3:11—“Who am I,

that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Stands

with a holy boldness in the face of such aggressive opposition from

Pharaoh. From where did his courage spring? Hebrews 11:27b

tells us, “..he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

c. Service (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). Often a leader is more

appreciated after death than during his life. The book [of

Deuteronomy] closes by reminding us of the unique character of

Moses’ ministry—he was a man to whom God talked face to face

(8). The Scripture tells us that the people wept for Moses for thirty

days (v8). NO doubt this mourning was do to the fact of what a

strong, courageous, compassionate servant of the Lord Moses was.

And because he would be dearly missed.

C. PERSONAL EXAMPLES OF GODLY HERITAGE THAT HAVE TOUCHED

OUR LIVES. Probably each one of us could name someone whose life

and godly example have graced our lives. Maybe it was a Sunday School

teacher who faithfully studied and taught us the Word of God. Or a

preacher who faithfully delivered to us God’s Word. Or a godly mom or

dad. What a blessing these people have been to our lives! Revelation

14:13 tells us, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord…yea, saith

the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do

follow them.”

(2) THEY SPEAK OF THE GODLY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DARE NOT

WASTE

Hebrews 12:1—“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every

weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us; and let us

run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Their godly lives of surpassing trust, valor and integrity summon us to nothing less than the same. That means the following:

A. GODLY PRIORITIES -- "let us lay aside every weight" (Luke 9:23;

Philippians 3:12 -14). A weight is anything that might deter us in our

growth in grace or render ineffective our testimony for Christ. If we are

going to run the race well and be victorious we must not be hindered

by anything or anyone who would retard our progress. The Scripture

teaches us that “..None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to him-

self.” Each of our lives affects others. We either encourage or discourage

by our words and actions. We must have godly priorities if we hope to

be a blessing to the lives of others.

ILLUS: Thomas Guthrie used to say: "If you find yourself loving any

pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the

Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better

than the Lord's table, any person better than Christ, any

indulgence better than the hope of heaven-take alarm."

B. GODLY PURITY -- "let us lay aside ... the sin that so easily besets us”: (2

Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4). Oliver B. Greene wrote,

“Even though we are born again, we are still in the flesh. Regardless of

how spiritual we may be, the flesh is still a definite part of every one of

us. We DO possess Divine nature in Christ, we have new life, but we are

still in the flesh…If the devil cannot damn us through the sin of unbelief,

he attempts to hinder us through any sin—the lust of the flesh, the lust

of the eye, the pride of life—even lack of faith. To stand against his on-

slaughts we need to put on the whole armor of God (Ephs. 6:10-17) (9).

ILLUS: THE CHALLENGE TO MORAL PURITY IN A DAY OF DECADENCE

We are living in a day of rated movies, adult entertainment,

sexual perversion of every kind, gutter language and the

acceptance thereof, pornography, nudity or near nudity, gross

lasciviousness, alcohol and drug addiction and divorce. Yes, we

are living in a day of moral decadence.

Such has been brought on by mass media, primarily television,

sexualizing our culture. By the time a child completes high

school he will have watched twenty thousand hours of TV; and,

ninety seven percent of our homes have television sets. Through

this medium our children are fed a daily diet of sexual

suggestiveness in music, drama and talk shows. Yes, there is

music and the lyrics thereof" (I don't care what's right or wrong

...") The printed page, via books and magazines, has contributed

its part. One of the best known family magazines of our day

showed a beach in Europe where the bathers were unclothed.

Then, there are the movies wherein influential personalities are

glamorized for swinging life styles and wherein a picture of a

Bible marriage would be considered a fiasco. Then, the church,

through acquiescence, capitulating silence, passivity, neglect

and tolerance, has been a factor. For example Joseph Fletcher

and his Situation Ethics affirmed: "whether any form of sex

(heterosexual, homosexual, auto-sexual) is good or evil, depends

on whether love is fully served."

However, Christians must not be influenced by the decadent

world in which they are living. We are not to be conformed to

the world (Romans 12:2). We are not to be a friend of the world

(James 4:4). We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the

world (James 1:27). We are to come out from the world and to

be totally separate (II Corinthians 6:17,18). We are not to love

the world (I John 2:15-17).

The Christian is to be pure in heart (Matthew 5:8; Philippians

4:8; Proverbs 22:11; James 4:8; Psalm 24:4, 51:10; 73:1), in

speech (Ephesians 4:29), in dress (I Timothy 2:9; Matthew

5:28) and in conduct and morals (Galatians 5:19-21; I

Corinthians 6:18). II Samuel 22:27 reads: "With the pure thou

wilt show thyself pure." Again, "Who shall ascend into the hill

of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath

clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul

unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully" (Psalm 24:3, 4). We are to

cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit

(II Corinthians 7:1). The church is to be sanctified, cleansed,

washed, and have not spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). We

are to purify ourselves even as he is pure (I John 3:3). The

Lord gave himself to purify unto himself a peculiar people

(Titus 2:14). We are to be an example in purity (I Timothy

4:12). Timothy was exhorted to flee youthful lust (II Timothy

2:22). Indeed, God wants his people to be pure.--1992 Fort

Worth Lectures

C. GODLY PERSEVERANCE -- "let us run with patience the race that is

set before us" (1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9). God has saved us

so that we might serve Him and bring glory to His name. God has a

purpose for our lives and sets before us a course to follow. He has laid

out the course, so let us run with patience. He has gone before us. He

knows every inch of our course and every obstacle we will face. And if

He is for us, who can be against us?

The battle of good and evil is won only as God's people pay the price of personal discipline and public integrity, touching their world for good. Paul said we are to be God's letters, "known and read by everybody" (2 Corinthians 3:2).

(3) THEY SPEAK OF THE GODLY MESSAGE WE MUST NOT FORSAKE

Hebrews 12:2, 3—“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. For consider him that endured

such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be

wearied and faint in your minds.”

THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST WE CLAIM FOR OURSELVES

(Hebrews 12:2) (Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17). To be victorious, the

runner must have his eyes fixed on the goal line and nothing else. We

must be constantly looking unto Jesus. The believer is to look away from

all things, all persons, and look to Jesus with a single eye (10).

a. On the cross Jesus became the author of our faith. Adam Clarke

in his commentary wrote, “ [the word] translated here author, signifies,

in general, captain or leader, or the first inventor of a thing; see

Heb_2:10. But the reference seems to be here to the judge in the

games, whose business it was to admit the contenders, and to

give the prize to the conqueror. Jesus is here represented as this

officer; every Christian is a contender in this race of life…The heavenly

course is begun under Jesus; and under him it is completed (Adam

Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible). Christ has already run this race of

Faith and conquered for us! He is the Author (Pioneer, Trailblazer)..

of our faith..” (11).

b. On the throne Jesus becomes the perfecter of our faith. At this

very moment, He sits at the right hand of God. Having finished the

course and completed his work, Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Wherefore He

is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing

He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” The word “finisher” -

corresponds in meaning with the word “author.” It means that he is

the completer as well as the beginner; the last as well as the first.

As there has been no one hitherto who could be compared with him, so

there will be no one hereafter. (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible).

B. THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST WE PROCLAIM TO OTHERS

Hebrews 12:3—“For consider Him that endured such contradiction

of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in

your minds.”

2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 18-20

a. Christ alone saves (Acts 4:12). He alone is Savior! He is, as v2 tells

us, “..the author and finisher of our faith.” It is by HIM, and through

HIM, and to HIM we must come if we are to make it to heaven! Christ

is to be looked unto as "Jesus", a Saviour, who being appointed and

sent by God to be a Saviour, came, and is become the author of

eternal salvation; and to him only should we look for it: he is able

and willing to save; he is a suitable, complete, and only Saviour; and

whoever look to him by faith shall be saved; and he is to be

considered, and looked unto, as "the author and finisher of faith": he

is the author or efficient cause of it (John Gill’s Exposition of the

Entire Bible).

b. Christ alone sustains (Hebrews 12:3). “Consider Him,” all that He

endured that you and I might be redeemed. Him who was “wounded

for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise-

ment of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

(Isaiah 53:5). The Greek word here translated “consider” is a mathe-

matical term meaning “to compute by comparing things together in

their due proportions, thus reaching a just and accurate estimate..

perhaps some of you are thinking that your cup is a little more bitter

than that of other Christians. Perhaps it seems that your suffering is

more severe, and that you are called upon to bear more than others.

If this is your line of thinking, then I beg of you, “consider Him!” Take

one look at the cup HE drank, and I guarantee that one look to be the

perfect antidote for weariness! (12)

c. Christ alone satisfies. 1 Peter 2:7a tells us, “Unto you therefore

which believe He is precious..” What a joy it is to be God’s child! To

be redeemed and forgiven! To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that

you are His and He is yours, FOREVER! What a blessed assurance!

Jesus is mine! (1 John 5:10-13).

CLOSING: Only the Good News, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, lived and

shared, has the power to rescue individual lives and heal our

nation. We are debtors to those who have gone before us for their

faithfulness to God and righteousness. Now it is our turn to offer

the same to those who come after us.

NOTES: 1. Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary &

Classical. p. 68.

2. Wells. p. 67.

3. Oliver B. Greene. The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.

p. 426.

Living Letters from the Life Application Bible. p. 202.

Wells. p. 68.

Greene. p. 459.

Greene. pp. 47-473.

Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old

Testamest. p. 204.

Greene. p. 526.

10. Greene. p. 527.

11. Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New

Testament. p. 710.

12. Greene. p. 534.

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