The Victory of Faith

Hebrews chapter 11, verse 23.

Hebrews 11:23

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they

! saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith, Moses,

when he was grown up, refused to be called the sons of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated

with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of

Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith, he left

Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he enjoyed as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith, he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn

might not touch them. By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians,

when they attempted to do the same, they were drowned. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down

after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab, the prostitute, did not perish with

those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I

say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David, Samuel, and the prophets,

who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured,

refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and

flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 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,

of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had

provided something better for us, that apart from us, they should not be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight

and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him,

who endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Martin.

What an encouragement it has been already this morning, as brothers and sisters have been baptized

amongst us. I would like to add my welcome to those who are visiting, especially those who have come

supporting a loved one who is here. Great to see you. And let's pray as we come to God's word.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the testimony in this chapter to the

faith of many who have gone before. And we thank you this morning for the testimonies amongst us

of the faith of those who have been baptized. Lord, we thank you that you are a faithful God,

that faith in you, trust in you is never wasted, that it is always answered by your faithfulness

and your promises. And we pray that as we spend time meditating on your word this morning, that you would

grow each one of us in faith in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, eight brothers and sisters have stood up amongst us today and received water baptism.

Baptism is above all a picture of what God does for us by his son, through his son and by his spirit.

God washes us. God forgives us. God in Christ nailed our sins to the cross, crucifying the old man.

God raises us up with Christ into new life. Baptism pictures what God does for us.

But baptism is also an expression of faith, faith on the part of the one who is baptized,

faith that God has indeed done all the things that baptism symbolizes.

Washed and forgiven and put sin to death and raised us up.

Lola, Bella, Liz, Chez, Carol, Caitlin, Zach and Colin have stood up amongst us and declared

their faith in God our Saviour, Father, Son and Spirit.

The Bible passage we're considering today is all about faith.

We're looking at the second half of Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

If you are visiting us today, maybe in support of a loved one, you've landed in the middle of a series

or towards the end of a series from the book of Hebrews and indeed in the second of two talks on Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

We saw in the first half of chapter 11 last week that faith is trusting the promises of God.

Faith trusts God for things we do not yet have and things we do not yet see.

We also saw in the first half of Hebrews 11 that faith recognizes that not even death is an obstacle to the promises of God.

That's why the Bible can say in Hebrews 11 verse 13 that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all died in faith,

Hebrews 11:13

not having received the things promised.

It's why again it can say at the end of the chapter in the passage we just heard read in verse 39,

Now of an even greater procession of believers, Old Testament believers, verse 39,

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised.

Now let me ask you a question.

Are Christians, Christian believers, are we in the same situation?

That is, do we who believe in Jesus die in faith when we die,

not having received the things that are promised?

Do we who believe in Jesus live our whole lives by faith,

not receiving what God has promised?

Are those words also true of us?

Well, the answer has to be no and yes.

Doesn't it?

No and yes.

No.

Much of what they were promised, much of what they only had in shadow, we have in reality.

They had the sacrificial system, Old Testament believers.

We have the cross.

They had the descendants of Aaron as priests.

We have Jesus.

They had the temple.

We have access to heaven itself.

Already our sins are forgiven.

Already we're included in God's family.

Already we receive God's spirit.

Hebrews 11 verse 40 says,

Hebrews 11:40

The reason the ancients died in faith, not having received what was promised,

was, verse 40, because God had provided something better for us.

That apart from us, they should not be made perfect.

It was for our sake.

Promises that weren't yet fulfilled for believers before Christ,

have now been fulfilled for us who believe in Christ.

No, our situation is not like theirs.

And yet, yes, our situation is like theirs.

The answer is also yes.

Our faith is the same.

Hebrews 9 verse 28,

Hebrews 9:28

We eagerly wait for Jesus to appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 13 verse 14,

Hebrews 13:14

Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Yes, we have more than Old Testament believers did,

but we still await the final fulfillment of God's promises to us.

It can be said of every Christian who dies.

He too died in faith, not having received the things that are promised.

And this faith, this faith that is undaunted, even in the face of death,

this faith is the faith that wins the victory.

This faith is the faith that overcomes the world.

In the second half of Hebrews 11, this is what I want us to see this morning,

we see four reasons that faith overcomes the world.

First, faith overcomes the world because it doesn't fear the world's power.

That's what we see in the example of Moses in verses 23 to verse 27.

Faith overcomes the world because it's unafraid.

Look at verse 23.

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents

because they saw that the child was beautiful

and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

You may well be familiar with what this is describing here in brief.

That Pharaoh had commanded that all the baby boys born to the Hebrews,

who were at that time enslaved to the Egyptians,

all the baby boys born to the Hebrews would be killed at birth.

But rather than give him up to be killed,

Moses' parents hid their child for three months.

And then they put Moses in a basket among the reeds by the river,

watched over by his older sister,

where he was discovered by Pharaoh's daughter,

who then protected and adopted the boy and raised him as her own.

Moses' parents defied the decree of Pharaoh at considerable risk,

no doubt, to themselves.

They were unafraid.

We see it in the actions of Moses himself.

Verse 27.

By faith, Moses left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king,

for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses defied as an adult.

He defied and confronted Pharaoh.

He repeatedly called for the Israelites to be set free

so that they could serve the Lord.

He didn't fear the king.

He didn't fear the power of Egypt.

He didn't fear the power of the world because he did fear God.

He endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Brothers, sisters, we don't need to fear worldly powers.

We don't need to fear the power of the world.

Now, Christians, let me point out,

Christians are always for governments and authorities

in that we respect government,

we respect authorities as instituted by God.

We pray for human authorities.

We pray for governments.

We submit to them.

We desire that governments rule justly.

We seek to live at peace with all people.

But we don't need to fear governments.

We don't need to fear prime ministers and presidents and kings.

We don't need to fear armies and missiles and bombs.

We don't need to fear multinational corporations.

We don't need to fear bosses and managers and CEOs.

We know the one who rules all things.

We know the one who judges all people.

We know where history is heading.

We don't need to fear.

We know the one who rules all things.

We don't need to be on the right side of history.

For we're on the right side of eternity.

That means believers, Christian believers,

make the best protesters, the best whistleblowers

and the best campaigners for justice.

Because we can challenge and resist corrupt authority

because we have no fear.

We can say with Peter and the apostles,

we must obey God rather than men.

We've seen that in this past week,

for those who have been watching the news,

although it's scarcely been reported in the news.

10,000 people who rallied outside New South Wales Parliament

to protest a corrupt bill,

a corrupt bill that turns nurses and midwives

into abortionists.

Thankfully, parts of the bill were struck down

in the upper house.

But the central part

that allows midwives and nurses

who should protect life

instead to take life,

that central part is passed unchanged.

It'll go before the lower house on Tuesday.

We still need to pray.

There's still time to contact an MP,

your local MP.

You know, more and more we face a world

in which human power is lifted up in defiance of God.

But faith overcomes the world because it's unafraid.

Secondly, faith overcomes the world because it's patient.

Faith does not covet the world's riches.

Look at verse 24 to 26.

By faith, Moses, when he was grown up,

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God

than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth

than the treasures of Egypt,

for he was looking to the reward.

See, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

He rejected the treasures of Egypt and the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Moses turned his back on all the wealth and prestige

and status and comfort which the ruling Egyptian dynasty had to offer.

He was looking to be called the promise of God.

The promise of God.

Faith enables you to live free of the passion

which controls the lives of most people in our world.

The pursuit of pleasure and comfort and wealth and ease.

I mean, we heard this in Colin's testimony just earlier, didn't we?

This is what people live for.

The treasures of Egypt.

People live as if this life is all there is.

As if every desire must be satisfied now.

As if the only good things we'll ever enjoy

are whatever good things we're able to grasp onto now.

But we who believe see beyond Egypt.

We see beyond the present age.

We look to the heavenly city that is to come.

So we don't need to live for everything now.

We don't need it.

Isn't that why, at short notice,

as a church,

we were able to raise so much money

to send to Myanmar for disaster relief

just a few weeks ago?

Money you could have spent on your own comforts.

Money that instead you gave up

to ease the suffering of others.

Isn't that why, when they received this money,

our brother and sister in Myanmar

didn't use it for themselves?

But at personal cost and at considerable risk,

they travelled through that conflict-stricken land

to places worst affected by the earthquake

and gladly spent and gave that money

in the service of others,

in all those ways we heard about last week.

Now, I know a young man who won thousands of dollars

playing poker online.

The money he won was all from other online gamblers.

He was smarter at poker than those other players

and so he won the money they lost.

Their money became his.

And he was travelling overseas,

enjoying his winnings,

but he became a Christian

and he gave all that up.

He returned home

and turned to honest

and humble

and, let's face it,

less lucrative work.

Faith doesn't covet the world's riches.

Faith is patient.

We have the promises of God.

We don't need everything now.

Yeah, how freeing that is.

That's what Colin testified too in the end,

how freeing that was for him.

That we don't need everything now.

We don't need to live in restless pursuit

of pleasure and comfort and wealth.

We're free to live quietly and humbly

in pursuit of better things.

Faith.

This is the faith that overcomes the world

because it does not fear the world's power

and it does not covet the world's riches.

Thirdly, faith overcomes the world

because faith accomplishes mighty works.

From verse 28 to 35,

we've got kind of a list of achievements of faith

and the text is continuing to work through

examples of faith from the Old Testament,

kind of chronologically.

And we have this list of things people did

because they believed God's promises.

And so actually these things that people did

were not things they did.

They were things God did.

Faith simply took hold of things

that were promised by God.

So in verse 28,

by faith Moses kept the Passover

and sprinkled the blood

so that the destroyer of the firstborn

might not touch them.

In that final plague on Egypt

when the firstborn was struck down,

by faith Moses and the people of Israel

observed the Passover

and found shelter under the blood

that God provided.

Verse 29,

by faith the people crossed the Red Sea

as if on dry land

but the Egyptians

when they attempted to do the same

were drowned.

The people of Israel trusted the Lord.

He parted the sea

and they escaped unharmed.

Verse 30,

by faith the walls of Jericho,

this is the time of Joshua,

the book of Joshua,

by faith the walls of Jericho fell down

after they'd been encircled

for seven days.

God commanded his people

just to march around Jericho

for seven days

with the ark of the Lord

and with trumpets

and the walls of the city fell

and the people of Israel prevailed.

Verse 31,

by faith Rahab the prostitute

did not perish with those

who were disobedient

because she had given

a friendly welcome to the spies.

She was one of the residents of Jericho

but she believed God

was with the Israelites.

She'd heard of the Lord

and so she welcomed

the Israelite spies

and she was spared

in the destruction of the city.

Verse 32,

what more shall I say

for time would not tell,

time would fail me

to tell of Gideon,

Barak, Samson, Jephthah,

of David and Samuel

and the prophets

who through faith

conquered kingdoms,

enforced justice,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions,

quenched the power of the fire,

escaped the edge of the sword,

were made strong

out of weakness,

became mighty in war,

put foreign armies to fight,

women received back their dead,

received back their dead

by resurrection.

Well time did not permit

the writer of Hebrews

to elaborate on these

Old Testament examples

and time does not permit us

to do so either.

But the emphasis

of these verses

is on their mighty deeds.

They trusted God,

they trusted God's promises

and so they were empowered

to do the things

that God had raised them up

to do,

to achieve the purposes

for which God had sent them.

Now you may not have

to conquer kingdoms

or fight lions

or rout an army,

but there are things

God has promised us

in Christ.

There are things

which we who believe

in Jesus can do

because it's not we

who do them,

but it's God.

By faith,

you can forgive someone

who's wronged you.

You believe that God

has forgiven your offences,

which are many.

so you can forgive

the wrong someone

has done against you.

I mean,

I'm not just talking

about trivial misdemeanours,

which, you know,

we can just kind of let go.

I'm talking about

even deeply painful hurts.

You can let go

of bitterness.

You know,

even if the other person

doesn't

admit what they've done

and apologise

and repent,

even if there's no

actual reconciliation

of relationship,

even if,

as might be the case,

you cannot trust

that person

in the same way again,

you don't need to live

a life of resentment

controlled by the hurts

you've received.

As God

has forgiven you,

you can be gracious

and merciful

and forgiving

and at peace.

You can do

by faith

what you could not

do alone.

By faith,

you can change.

You believe

that God

has given you

his spirit

through whom

he sanctifies you,

purifies you

and makes you holy.

You can let go

of old habits.

You can put sin

to death.

You can grow

in godliness.

You can find freedom

from destructive

addictions.

You do all this

not by your power

but by God's power

because you trust

in him.

You know,

there are amazing

stories I could share

with you

of young men

who have been

set free

from various

addictions

through faith

in Christ.

sometimes the

battle has been

long.

Almost always

it's a battle

fought alongside

other brothers

united in prayer.

It's stories

of lives

transformed,

made whole,

made pure.

There's testimonies

of people in our

own midst

who've been

freed from addiction.

So don't despair

if some lion

or army

is before you.

Take hold

of the promises

of God.

By faith

in God

and his promises

there are battles

we can fight

and victories

we can win

which we would

lose every time

if we fought

on our own.

Faith accomplishes

mighty works.

Fourthly

and finally

faith

endures

terrible

hardships.

In the rest

of verse 35

to 38

the text

moves on

from the

achievements

of faith

to the

endurance

of faith

from things

accomplished

to things

suffered.

Look at

halfway through

verse 35

some

were tortured

refusing to

accept release

so that they

might rise

again to a

better life.

Others

suffered mocking

and flogging

and even

chains and

imprisonment.

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.

of whom

the world

was not

worthy.

Wandering

about in

deserts and

mountains and

in dens

and caves

of the

earth.

This is

the ancient

power of

faith.

Sorry,

this is another

power of

faith.

This is another

power of

faith.

Because God

has promised

us the world

to come,

those who

believe can

endure anything

now.

Among those

who attended

the Billy

Graham

itinerant

evangelist

conference in

Amsterdam in

1983 was

a Maasai

warrior named

Joseph.

Joseph had

heard the

gospel and

accepted Jesus

Christ as his

Lord and

Saviour.

And Joseph

was so

overjoyed with

the good news

that he began

to share the

message with

anyone he

could and

with the

members of

his tribe.

He went

back to his

village and

began telling

everyone in

his village the

good news of

Jesus door to

door, speaking

to any who

would listen.

Joseph was

surprised when

the others in

his village

rejected the

message that

he'd received.

and not only

rejected it, they

became violent.

The men of the

village grabbed

him and held

him down while

women beat

him with

strands of

barbed wire.

Then they

dragged him from

the village and

left him to

die.

Joseph survived

that ordeal and

crawled to a

water hole and

then over several

days passing in

and out of

consciousness, he

gradually, gradually

his strength

revived.

So what did

he do?

He went back to

his village,

shared his

faith with them

once more.

Jesus died for

you so that you

might find

forgiveness and

come to know the

living God.

Once more they

grew angry.

Once more the

men held him

down while the

women beat him.

Once more they

dragged him

outside and

left him to

die.

days later he

awoke bruised

and scarred and

determined to

go back.

The third time

Joseph returned to

his village.

This time they

attacked him on

sight.

As they beat

him he spoke of

Christ.

Before he

passed out the

last thing Joseph

saw were the

women beating

him beginning to

weep.

he woke in

his own bed.

The ones who

were beating

him were now

nursing him

back to

health.

The entire

village had

come to

Christ.

If we know

we're saved,

if we know

God promises

us life,

if we know

we have a

future,

then we can

face suffering

now.

Any

suffering.

Our

suffering is

temporary.

The glory

of heaven

is everlasting.

Whatever

trial,

grief,

hardship or

persecution we

face, it

cannot rob us

of eternal

joy.

And so by

faith we

meet it with

patience and

steadfastness

and perseverance.

perseverance.

That's the

victory of

faith.

That's how

faith overcomes

the world.

Faith does

not fear the

world's power.

Faith does

not covet the

world's riches.

Faith

accomplishes

mighty deeds.

Faith endures

terrible

hardships.

I don't

know which

of those

tests is

confronting

your faith

right now.

Whether there

is corrupt

power to be

resisted.

Whether there

are seductions

of the world

to be denied.

Whether some

great work

must be

attempted.

Or whether

some hardship

must be

endured.

But whichever

it is,

God's up to

it.

The

promises of

God are

enough to

prepare you

for it.

The faith

you have

is the

same faith

they had.

The God

you trust

is the

same God

they trusted.

So have

faith.

Above all,

look to

Jesus.

chapter 12

verses 1

and 2.

Therefore

since we

are surrounded

by so

great a

cloud of

witnesses,

let us

also lay

aside every

weight and

sin which

clings so

closely and

let us run

with endurance

the race that

is set before

us, looking

to Jesus,

the founder

and perfecter

of our faith,

who for the

joy that

was set

before him

endured the

cross,

despising the

shame and

is seated at

the right

hand of the

throne of

God.

Jesus is,

verse 2

says,

the founder

of our

faith.

Our faith

begins with

him.

He is our

Lord, he is

our saviour, he

is our master,

he is our

brother.

Jesus is our

perfect high

priest and our

all-sufficient

sacrifice.

He is the

one who has

gone before

us.

He is the

one who

unlocks for

us the

promises of

God.

Faith

begins with

Jesus.

He's also the

perfecter of

our faith.

It's Jesus

himself who

will bring

everything that

God has

promised to

perfect

fulfilment.

He's

coming soon.

He will

not delay

and he

comes to

save all

who are

waiting for

him.

Jesus is

moreover

the supreme

example of

faith.

For the

joy that

was set

before him,

Jesus looked

to the

future,

himself,

as he

contemplated

the cross.

He looked

ahead.

He trusted

the father.

He believed

what was

promised.

For the

joy that

was set

before him,

he endured

the cross,

despising

the shame,

and is

seated at

the right

hand of

the throne

of God.

He is the

supreme

example of

faith.

Jesus did

not fear

the world's

power.

The Jewish

leaders,

the Sanhedrin,

the high

priest,

Herod,

the Roman

emperor,

or his

representative,

Pontius

Pilate,

all gathered

together against

Jesus,

all raging

against

Jesus.

Jesus

didn't fear

them.

Jesus

didn't

covet the

world's

riches.

He was

born in

a manger.

He had

no place

to lay

his head.

Offered

by the

devil,

a shortcut

to all

the kingdoms

and splendour

of the

world,

he refused,

saying,

it's

written,

worship

the

Lord

your

God

and

serve

him

only.

Jesus

didn't

cover

the

world's

riches.

Jesus

endured

terrible

suffering,

falsely

accused,

mistreated,

beaten,

spat on,

stripped

naked,

mocked,

crucified.

Knowing

all of

that lay

ahead,

Jesus

set his

face to

go to

Jerusalem.

He

didn't

just

suffer

that,

he

chose

that,

he

submitted

to

that.

He

didn't

shy

from

death,

he

didn't

save

himself,

he

didn't

come

down

from

the

cross,

he

endured

the

cross,

despising

the

shame.

Jesus

didn't

fear

the

world's

power,

Jesus

didn't

covet

the

world's

riches,

Jesus

endured

terrible

suffering

and

Jesus

accomplished

a

mighty

work

through

his

suffering,

the

salvation

of

all

who

believe

in

him.

Look

to

Jesus,

both an

example of

faith and

the

object

of

our

faith,

the

one in

whom we

trust.

Look

to

Jesus,

run

the

race,

by

faith

overcome

the

world

and

share

in

the

everlasting

joy

of

your

saviour.

To

him

be glory

forever

and

ever.

Amen.