The Courage and

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The Courage and Cost of Faith! Hebrews
1132-40
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Is life in this sinful world truly fair and
easy?How about for the people of faith? Is
there courage that can be derived from faith, and
is there sometimes a cost to faith?
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Hebrews 1132-40
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to
tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through
faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice,
and gained what was promised who shut the mouths
of lions,
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34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped
the edge of the sword whose weakness was turned
to strength and who became powerful in battle
and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back
their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured and refused to be released, so that they
might gain a better resurrection.
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36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still
others were chained and put in prison. 37They
were stoned they were sawed in two they were
put to death by the sword. They went about in
sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted
and mistreated 38the world was not worthy of
them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and
in caves and holes in the ground.
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39These were all commended for their faith, yet
none of them received what had been promised.
40God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect.
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Our culture is so success oriented that we
sometimes evaluate things backwards.
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What can we learn from these heroes?
Their lives are an example as to how to live
faithfully before God in a sometimes hostile
world.
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1. Other Heroes of Faith!
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Gideon

• One of Israels judges
• Lord called him mighty warrior
• Placed fleece before the Lord
• With 300 men defeated great army

Pay attention to what God says about you over
what others.or you say.
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Barak

• One of Israels judges
• Served under Deborah
• Lead Israel in defeating Sisera- commander of
  Canaanite army

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Samson

• One of Israels judges
• Dedicated as child to the Lord- Nazirite
• Mighty in strength by the Spirit
• Toppled Philistine temple

Dedication to the Lordgood enough for our
childrengood enough for us!
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Jephthah

• One of Israels judges
• Great warriorson of prostitute
• Ostracized by half-brothers and elders
• Lead Israel in defeating Ammorites

God loves to use those whom families have
neglected or rejected.
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David

• One of Israels Kings
• Great warrior-defeated Goliath
• Lead Israel in defeating neighbors
• Brought peace to Israel

Not perfect.but God loved his heart!
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Samuel

• Last judge in Israel
• Man of wisdom and great leader
• Served as Gods mouth piece

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2. Their Exploits!

• Hebrews 1133
• conquered kingdoms, - Joshua and David
• administered justice,- made gov. work
• and gained what was promised - the land
• who shut the mouths of lions,- Daniel, etc.

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• Hebrews 1134
• quenched the fury of the flames, - Shadrach,
  Meshach and Abednego
• escaped the edge of the sword,- Elijah
• weakness turned to strength - Hezekiah
• in battle routed powerful armies,- Joshua and
  David
• women received back their dead- widow from
  Zarephath

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3. Heroes who paid the ultimate price!

• Hebrews 1135a Others were tortured and refused
  to be released, so that they might gain a better
  resurrection.

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• They chose martyrdom because nothing on this
  earth was worth hanging onto at the expense of
  their faith.

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• Hebrews 1136 Some faced jeers and flogging,
  while still others were chained and put in
  prison.

faced jeers--- Many OT prophets flogging---
Jeremiah put in prison--- Joseph Samson
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• Hebrews 1136 They were stoned they were
  sawed in two they were put to death by the
  sword. They went about in sheepskins and
  goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated

stoned--- Zechariah Jeremiah sawed in
two--- Isaiah (tradition)
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4. Heroes who belonged in heaven!

• Hebrews 1138 the world was not worthy of them.
  They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in
  caves and holes in the ground.  

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Faith is a way of life that requires surrender to
Gods eternal purposes.
This life of faith is the normal life for the
people of God!
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Where are you today?

• Like Gideon, will you allow God to determine
  who you are?

• Like Samson, will you dedicate yourself wholly
  to God and his Kingdom this day?

• Like David will you determine to have a heart
  after God?

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Take a walk along the road of faith! It will
take your heart where the mind wont go!