Sermon #77 Hebrews Notes

Title: "Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy"

Text: Hebrews 11:32-40

Subject: Men of Faith

Date: Tuesday Evening – March 3, 2002

Tape # W-89b

Introduction:

In our society a man’s worth is commonly judged by his position, his power, and his possessions. We are conditioned to presume that anyone who lacks what we commonly consider obvious signs of success must be uneducated, or lazy, or both. Those who are poorer are commonly more likely to be immoral, if not criminal. – Mom and Pop are always a little concerned if their daughter shows interest in a boy who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. – And they are always delighted to see her marry into the right kind (That’s the kind with money!) of family.

Young people (and old ones, too) put themselves deep into debt to keep up the appearance of success. Husbands and wives work every minute they can, so that they can impress themselves and their neighbors with what they have! What a sad commentary those facts are upon our society!

This perverse, proud, corrupt mentality is just as prevalent in the religious world as it is in the secular world. We have been conditioned by the "health, wealth, prosperity" preachers of the day to think that if a person is not physically healthy and wealthy and prospering materially, there must be some fault in his character, some flaw in his faith, or something otherwise evil that is the cause of his failure.— Anything less than tangible success that leads to great comfort and prosperity in life is shamed as being a defective faith.

What is the result? In the minds of most, God has been reduced to nothing more than a great dispenser of creature comforts who is manipulated by positive thinking and positive believing! The Christian is, in the minds of most, synonymous with prosperity. Failure of any kind, sickness, and tragedy are thought to be beyond God’s control, contrary to his goodness, outside his will, and altogether beneath the dignity of a Christian. Faith, today, is made to be the elusive secret for elitist Christians to attain all the dreams of capitalism and all the flamboyance of a Hollywood lifestyle.

Such thinking to totally contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. When we come to Hebrews 11, and read here of the great men and women of faith, men and women held before us by God the Holy Spirit as examples to follow, we see that faith in Christ, obedience to the revealed will of God, and the goodness of God to the people of his love very often bring us into the very condition and circumstances the world disdains.—Faith in and obedience to Christ, God’s infinite wisdom and sovereign goodness very frequently (Indeed, most commonly!) prevent the souls he loves from ever attaining that which the world calls good and great.—Faith in and obedience to Christ meant that…

  • Abel had to be hated by his own brother.

  • Noah had to be the object of constant scorn and ridicule for 120 years.

  • Abraham had to leave the splendor of Ur to live as a nomad his whole life.

  • Abraham had to cast one son out of his house and sacrifice the other.

  • Isaac had to bless Jacob and curse Esau.

  • Jacob had to be brought down to Egypt.

  • Moses had to be hid in a basket.

  • Moses had to flee the wealth and the throne of Egypt.

  • Jericho (the cursed city inhabited by God’s enemies) had to be destroyed.

  • God’s spies had to be saved by a harlot.

  • Gideon had to fight the Midianites with a rag-tag army of cowards.

  • Barak had to go out against a king and army that terrified him.

  • Jephthah had to sacrifice his only daughter.

  • Samson had to die with the Philistines.

  • Samuel had to anoint a king to replace his beloved Saul.

  • David had to be hunted like a rabbit, running from one cave to another.

  • God’s prophets had to be a gazing stock, laughed at, scorned, and abused by men from generation to generation.


Faith is just as real, just as active, and just as true when all circumstances are unfavorable, when we face deep personal loss, when our enemies appear to conquer us, and when all hope of comfort and external peace are gone.—Faith takes us through the deep waters and stormy seas, faith takes us through the fiery trial and the wilderness of temptation.—You see, faith is a conscious dependence upon the infinite, omnipotent, eternal, immutable God!—Faith is dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ, our almighty Savior!—It is not the strength of our faith that sustains us and carries us through these things, but the strength of Christ, who is our Strength!

Faith realizes and acknowledges personal weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and inadequacies. When we are strong, we are terribly weak. But when we are weak, then we are strong. Faith carries us through every possible situation depending on the Lord.

To the world, to our families, to our friends, our case may be pathetic, hopeless, a total loss and failure! But inwardly, faith mounts us up on eagles’ wings, carrying us through great loss with the triumph of peace, joy, and hope in Christ.

(Isaiah 40:27-31) "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

I do not suggest that the believer never receives any of those things the world craves. We have examples in this chapter of some who did. But these things are not the end of life or the great goal of our existence. Faith enables us to set our minds on things above while living even in the most distressing circumstances imagineable here below (Col 3:1-4).

Proposition: Faith carries the believer through every stage and demand of life, and ultimately delivers him into the presence of Christ.

That is the message these this first century believers needed; and that is the message we need. Yes, as we believe God, you and I too can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us. How does faith triumph? Read Hebrews 11:32-40 with me, and we will see.

(Hebrews 11:32-40) "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

I take the words of verse 38 for the title of my message.—"Of Whom the World was not Worthy." Using the examples here given by God the Holy Spirit, I want to show you seven great things about faith in Christ.

I. Great Diversity—First, we see a great diversity in faith, not in the Object of faith, or in the doctrine of faith, but in the people of faith.

(Hebrews 11:32) "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:"

Believers are not like cookies cut out by the same cutter. We do not all look alike, talk alike, or act alike. Oh, certainly, all believers are alike in many things, seeking to obey God, seeking to honor Christ, and seeking to do good in this world. There is no question about that. But believers are still individuals.

The Lord deals with us personally and individually. He shapes each into the image of Christ. Each experiences the workings of God’s providence in his life differently. And the workings of God’s providence are tailored to affect every detail of our lives, to bring us into conformity with Christ and to the glory of God. And it i all accomplished by God’s free grace.

(Romans 8:28-31) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

II. Great Unity—Yet, second, I want you to see that there is a great unity in faith.

All God’s people are one. All these men and women named (and unnamed) in these 40 verses are (I almost said, were), one in Christ. God’s church and God’s kingdom is one! I am getting ahead of myself here a little, but notice in verse 40 that Paul says, "that they without us should not be made perfect." That is to say, the body of Christ was not complete and could not be complete until each of his chosen, redeemed brethren has been brought into living, vital union with him by faith.

(Ephesians 1:22-23) "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

  • One Atonement

  • One Righteousness

  • One Hope

  • One Body

  • One Father

  • One Spirit

  • One Elder Brother

  • One Inheritance


May God give us grace to live in that blessed unity, for the glory of his name!

(Ephesians 4:1-7) "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

III. Great Trials—Third, verses 33-38 show us something that most every believer learns very quickly and continues learning all the days of his pilgrimage through this world.—Wherever faith is found, trials follow.

(Philippians 1:29) "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

(Hebrews 11:33-38) "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

I will not, tonight, discuss all these trial in particular, but this is certain.—Wherever you find a man or woman who believes God, you are sure to find a person whose faith is tried, tried by God, tried for the purpose of doing him good.

  • Persecuting Egyptians and Canaanites must be faced.

  • Devouring lions roar against us.

  • The fires of persecution burn, and the sword of the persecutor ever threatens.

  • Aliens constantly oppose.

  • Mockings, scourgings, bonds, and imprisonments have ever been the lot of faithful men and women in this God hating world.

  • The history of God’s church is a history written in blood.—Stonings, tortures (sawn asunder), and persecutions have ever been the lot of God’s saints in this world.

  • God’s people have often been (and in many places are yet) made to wander about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, chased into the mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth.


(James 1:2-3) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

(James 1:12) "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

God in Israel sows the seeds

Of affliction, pain, and toil.

These spring up and choke the weeds

That would else o’erspread the soil.

Trials make the promise sweet.

Trials give new life to prayer.

Trial bring me to His feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.

Bastards may escape the rod,

Sunk in earthly, vain delight;

But the true born child of God

May not, must not, if he might!

IV. Great Triumphs—Fourth, these same verses, these verses that describe such heavy, heavy trials, declare to us that wherever faith is tried, it triumphs. What great triumphs are here set before us.—True faith never fails. It always triumphs!


Oh, yes, we fail, fail often, fail in everything. But our own failures are so graciously and magnificently overruled by our God that he brings triumph out of failure!

  • Failure brought us into Egypt. Faith brings us out!

  • Failure created all our adversaries. Faith conquers them!

  • Failure, our failure, brought death to our families. Faith sees the dead raised to life again!

  • Failure, our failure, brought us into unrighteousness. Faith brought us into righteousness!

  • Failure put us under the sentence of death. Faith gives us right to and obtains a better resurrection!


(Romans 8:32-39) "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

V. gREAT Blessedness—Fifth, faith in Christ brings us into great blessedness.

In verse 39, we read that all these who lived and died in faith, like Enoch, "obtained a good report!"—Would you hear me now? I have, by faith in Christ "obtained"—not earned, but "obtained a good report!"

  • Not From the World!

  • Among God’s Family!

  • Before the Holy Lord God Himself!


The result of faith for these brethren, as it is here recounted for us, was not how many things they amassed in life or what good fortune they found or how many kingdoms they conquered or even how much righteousness they performed. The result was that they found approval in the sight of God for their faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

You might be a famous preacher and preach great sermons—You might give fortunes to churches and missionaries— You might serve as a missionary in New Guinea all your life—You might write books and commentaries that others use for years—That’s all well and good, but "Without faith it is impossible to please God." These men lived by faith. Living by faith, they honored God. Honoring God, they were honored of God!

A good report before God, a good report from God, what unparallel blessedness!

VI. Great Hope—Sixth, having a good report before God, having that blessed peach of perfect righteousness and justification, these men lived in hope of promises, promises of things provided by God.

(Hebrews 11:39-40) "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

VII. Great End—Seventh, I want you to see and go home rejoicing in this last fact revealed in our text. Where there is faith in Christ, there is a great end. – Soon, we shall be made "perfect!"

(Ephesians 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

(1 Peter 5:10-11) "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

(Jude 1:24-25) "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen."
Don Fortner