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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