1-29-23 PM Service: An Unsung Hero

Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives.

The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist

Church in Eastern Massachusetts. You can find out more about us

or contact us at my Liberty, Baptist dot org or just look us

up on Facebook. And now, we hope that this

message from God's word will be a blessing to you.

I hope you're in Judges chapter number 13, this evening.

And the title of the message is this and unsung hero.

You know, if we look at Judges chapter, 13 and Beyond when we

think of heroism, we may likely think of Samson and there's a

reason why the exploits of Sampson are something of Legend.

Of course we say that knowing that Samson's exploits were

true, they weren't a falsehood, they weren't a fable, but I'm

saying that of all of the exploits in the word of God,

perhaps, Sampson's are some of the most legendary Some of the

most talked about in all the Bible because of the manner of

which he did them because of the supernatural strength that he

had, these are things that are often discussed.

However, an unsung hero in our text here tonight is actually

not Sampson at all. It's someone that has not spoken

of very much in the Bible. It's someone who is outside of

really this chapter. The next not really spoken of at

all in the Bible, but someone who I believe speaks volumes

because of their faith in God. You know, I've been doing this

pastoring thing for a little bit now would be almost 10 years as

the pastor here at Liberty, Baptist Church in seven years

before that is a youth director in Florida.

And so I'm not an expert by any measure, but I have done this a

little bit of time. And I found this to be true.

Those who are the loudest about their faith in the sense of not

that they are bold in sharing their faith.

I mean, we're talking about getting forward in Soul, winning

next month. So that's not what I'm talking

about, but those who are quite bold In telling how great their

faith is to other. People are some of the people

who worried me the most. Let me explain what.

I mean by that. The Bible says in Proverbs

Proverbs 27 · chapter mention

chapter 27, let another man, praise thee and not thine own

mouth, a stranger and not thine own lips.

Meaning this it would be better for someone else to see your

great faith and make a compliment on it, then for you

to tell other people How Great and Mighty your faith is.

And over the years, I have met people Have told me of the great

exploits that they have done for the Lord and how great their

faith is and how strong it is. And I'm not saying they be there

is an element of Truth to that but those are the ones that

sometimes concerned me because I found this to be true about

heroism in general Heroes. Don't need to tell other people

they're Heroes. Usually, you can tell a hero by

the heroic acts. They do if you have to advertise

the fact that you're a hero, you're probably not much of a

hero we've Fallen, where I'm going with this tonight.

And when it comes to Faith, I think sometimes it's easy for us

to celebrate certain people of the Bible who have great faith.

And I'm not going to downplay Samson here tonight because

Samson is actually found in Hebrews chapter 11, as a man of

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

great. Faith is a, but he did some

incredibly awful things and he did some things that just don't

make sense. Sense.

And I agree with that, but we also know this that Samson was a

judge for 20 years. 20 years is seven thousand and three hundred

days. Could you imagine if four seven

hundred and seven thousand three hundred days?

Your worst decisions were printed in a book?

I will tell you those worst decisions of mine would be a lot

longer probably than Samson's here, that we find in the word

of God. People are oftentimes a down on

Peter and understandably. So in fact, Petrova talked about

this just a few weeks ago, but can you imagine We found all of

the worst things of Peters life written in the gospels and if

someone took a three-year stretch of my life and wrote it

down in a book, I think Peters, life would come out a lot better

than mine. All things considered.

And so Samson was a man who did wonderful things and Samson was

a man of great faith. And even though it's sometimes

hard to reconcile, but we see in Hebrews chapter 11, that's the

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

case. But who I want to talk about

tonight, at what I want to encourage you with tonight is

this is that there is one who is an unsung hero in Judges chapter

number 3, Teen one. Whose faith in.

God was a quiet Faith, but was a strong faith.

So quiet, was it? That God does not even deem it

necessary to give us her name. I wish I could present you of

the name of this woman with great faith tonight, but I

cannot because God in his infinite, wisdom has not given

us This Woman's name this evening, but I think her faith

deserves our discussion this evening, and preaching, and I

believe there's a lesson. Ross to be learned about our own

faith here from Judges chapter number 13.

So if you would, please, would you stand, please for the

reading of the Book of Judges chapter number 13, will be part

of the text. And we will preach through the

chapter this evening, read part of it and will preach through

this evening. It says, and the children of

Israel did Evil again in the sight of the Lord and the Lord

delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

And there was a certain man of zorah of the family of the

danites whose name was manoah and his wife was barren.

And bear. Not now this is the woman of we

we discussed and we will not find her name here in Judges 13

or anywhere else in the Bible. Just think about that her name

will not be found here or anywhere else in the Bible and

the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman and said unto her

behold. Now Thou Art Barren and bearest.

Not but Thou shalt conceive and bear a son.

Now therefore beware I pray thee and drink, not wine, nor strong

drink and eat, not any unclean thing for Lo Thou shalt conceive

and bear a son and no Sure. She'll come on his head.

In the child shall be at Nazarite unto God from the womb

and he shall begin to deliver Israel.

Out of the hand of the Philistines, then the woman came

and told her husband saying, I'm a man of God came unto me and

his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God.

Very terrible. But I asked him not whence.

He was neither told me his name, but he said unto me, behold,

Thou shalt conceive, and bear a son and now drink no wine or

strong. Drink either eat any unclean

thing for the child shall be a Nazarite to God.

From the womb to the day of his death and will continue on in

the chapter through preaching but you can remain or you can be

seated now, don't remain standing.

That would be very uncomfortable for the rest of the message.

You may be seated and we'll get into the preaching of the word

of God this evening. An unsung hero to me, one of the

most compelling parts of Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

And I just mentioned a few moments ago and we've made

reference of it many times here through preaching that Great

Hall of Fame of faith. In fact, we talked about it at

the end of the message at Sunday morning last week.

But one of the most compelling parts of that text is the final

verses near the end of that chapter verses 33 through 36.

Listen to this. And what more shall I say for

the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of bear.

I kind of say Epsom and of jeptha of David also and Samuel

and of the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought

righteousness, has obtained promises stopped the mouths of

lions. 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. Women received their dead raised

to life again and others were tortured.

Not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better

Resurrection. Correction and as I read these

exploits, as I read these great acts of faith here in Hebrews 11

33 36. While some of these people are

named about 20, some our names throughout Hebrews chapter 11.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

There's a lot of things that are mentioned there at the end of

the chapter and we have to ask ourselves who are these people,

who are these people, the ones who subdued kingdoms and wrought

righteousness and take promises some, we can get some idea.

Stopped the mouths of lions. Lions.

We would assume that that would be Daniel, but others out of

weakness were made, strong waxed Valiant in fight and on and on

and on it just makes me wonder who are these unnamed Heroes?

These people who God, chose not to give us their names, but

instead told us of these great things that they did not through

themselves, but that we're all done through faith because faith

is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of Things Not

Seen, who were these people? Well, we can surmise some of

these people. Like, I just mentioned, like,

Dan Niall and Isaiah, I believe is another many were unnamed

Heroes of their faith of the faith, their life and faith were

approved by God. But for reasons, only known to

him, their names are not recorded in the word of God.

You might even ask tonight. Well, why is it Samson's

mother's name in the Bible? Why isn't some of those people

you just read in Hebrews chapter 11, in the Bible.

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

And the answer is this. I don't know there are times of

the pastor. I'd like to tell you, I know the

answer but there are times I just had to be honest.

Say this, I don't know in any Pastor who tells you they know

is sound you a bill of goods that they don't know either?

Because the fact of the matter is we don't know the mind of God

and why he does certain things and says certain things and has

recorded some things for us in the Bible and others.

He is not I for one would love to know what Jesus is life was

as a child and all the way up till his 30th birthday.

When he started his public Ministry but God In His

Infinite, Wisdom is only let us know of his birth and early life

and when he was 12 years old when he went to the Temple and

confounded, the Pharisees, I want to know more, but I know

this that God in his knowledge has given us what we need to

know. We have to rest upon that.

And so there's a part of me that would love to know who is this

woman, who is Samson's mother, who we just start to have

introduced to us in Judges chapter 13 and quickly passes

Judges 13 · chapter mention

off the scene and Judges chapter 14.

Judges 14 · chapter mention

But here is a woman of exemplary Faith, who far outpaced her

Future Fame. She has almost no, Notoriety.

There's almost no preaching on her.

There's almost no teaching on her.

And, but yet, here's a woman that I look at throughout this

chapter has Rock Solid Faith. So what do we do with it?

Well, I would submit to you tonight.

We look at her character tonight.

Draw some conclusions about her character as best we can, and

we'll be looking at Samson for several weeks after this, so we

can take some time to do that here.

But at the same time realize that there's some lessons from

her life that can also be helpful to us in our stand.

So we see at the beginning of the chapter, that the

Philistines have taken over the land of Israel as they

oppressed. The Israelites, as this cycle of

Disobedience continues. Remember we've looked at this

over and over, or now that the Israelites will disobey God will

bring in oppressors. They'll cry out to God for

deliverance and forgiveness and then God delivers them.

And then after a while they forget what they've done before

New Generation comes and the cycle begins all over again.

Well, it's now been 40 years at the Philistines have oppressed

the people of Israel and God Does something very incredible

here in Judges chapter 13. Something that we don't see with

Judges 13 · chapter mention

any of the other judges is that he literally has Samson created

prepared as a judge of Israel from birth.

Because his mother has an understanding that her son has a

special job prepared for him. While she surely, does not know,

all of the details of Samson's life, she has been told by the

angel of God will mention. What?

And who that is in just a minute that he has a A special task

that is ahead for him. So as we look at this woman,

there's a few things I want to point out to you, just very

quickly about her, which gives us some more understanding about

her faith. First of all, we see in verse

number two, she was Barren, she was Barren.

Look again in verse number 2 and there was a certain man of zorah

and the family of the danites whose name was manoah and his

wife was Barren and bare not. Well, that's kind of cut and dry

right there. Simple for us to understand, but

we also know, from reading the word of God, that when a woman

was, Aaron when a family was not able to have a child, that was a

cause for great difficulty that, that was a cause for great

sadness. We also know that there were

some within their communities. That might even think that

family was cursed that God would not see fit to give them a

child. And so because of that, there

must be something spiritually wrong with them.

So, they carried the burden of not only having no child, but

they also further carried. The burden of the fact that

socially they might be pariahs, that there will be many, who

would not even consider them to be Godly people, because God had

not shown And upon them to give them a child.

But what we see about this woman, that is so special.

Compared to many others, is that despite the fact that she had no

child, we see that, she still had a trust and a faith in God

one commentator. Put it this way here.

No. Background is offered whether

like Sarah the woman was old or like, Rachel.

She complained to her husband about childness childlessness,

or like Sarah and Rachel. She tried other means of

obtaining a child, she does not pray for a As does Hannah nor

does her husband pray for her as Isaac.

Praise for Rebecca even her name is not reported though.

Her role in the story is as important as that of her husband

Manoa. What we do see is this here's a

woman who has not complained about her lot in life.

Here is a woman that does not seem.

I don't want to say he's not bothered but has come to some

level of terms with the life that she has in front of her.

And so just that fact, alone compared to many others in the

word of God women and their husbands as well that this was a

Cause here is a woman who has, I believe some level of faith in

God and understanding that God has a plan.

So we see not only that she was Barren.

But consider this the angel of the Lord comes and speaks to

her. And says, even though you're

Barren, you're going to have a child but that child is going to

have to keep the Nazarite vow. Now I'm not going to, I Really

wrestle with how much to get into the Nazarite vow this

evening. I'd encourage you.

If you want to read more about the Nazarite vow and what it is,

you can go to Numbers Chapter 6 and see Samson.

Numbers 6 · chapter mention

Obviously is the most notable example of someone who took the

Nazarite vow, it required things as we see in our text of, not

partaking in great products of not having your hair cut of not

touching a person or an animal that was dead, which would You

ceremonially unclean the idea of the Nazarite vow, very simply

was, this is that you were to be separated by God for specific

purpose for God. The Nazarite was to be separated

by God for a specific purpose for God.

That was the job. That was the task of the

Nazarite. And so, what's interesting about

this is that the angel of the Lord, again, I'll explain what

that is in just a second or who that is in just a second.

The angel of the Lord says, not only is Samson going to partay

Take of this Nazarite vow but she will have to take part of

the Nazarite vow as well while she carries her child did you

notice that look again in verse number 4 now.

Therefore beware, I pray thee and drink.

Not wine, nor strong drink and eat, not any unclean thing for

Thou shalt conceive and bear a son and no razor shall.

Come on his head for the child, shall be a Nazarite unto God

from the womb and he shall begin to deliver Israel.

Out of the hand of the Philistines now.

At this for just a second one. I want to take a little bit of

an aside and then we'll talk about her faith in just a

second. It's amazing to me.

How many times people talk about how backwards the Bible is in

the face of modern society today.

How irrelevant the Bible is in the face of modern society?

Today, I see a Biblical principle being given to us

here. That is as relevant and as fresh

and as real as it ever has, been up until just a few years ago,

it was common for women. Women, who are carrying a child

to smoke to drink to think that there will be no consequences in

utero for a child. But do you know what?

I see God saying here. What you do mom is going to

affect your child and I want to make sure the angel of the Lord

says, I want to make sure that you keep that vow because I want

that child separated even before his birth.

So it seems like that's a very Why?

Why is thing compared to what quote unquote modern science up

to a few years ago was just talking about.

But here's another thing. It seems to me to be one of the

greatest verses to prove the sanctity of life.

Even in the womb, how important life is to God in the womb.

The fact that this child is not just a fetus or a clump of cells

who then becomes alive, once the baby is born and that's even

questionable to Today, with some of the laws and ideas that are

out there today even after the first few hours after birth.

But yet know this child is not just a child when the child is

born. But from conception, you are to

treat this child as having life because this child is alive.

I think this is one of the greatest proof text that you can

actually give to someone to help them to understand why abortion

is so wrong. Why?

Abortion is literally snuffing out a human life.

I was just reading a few two weeks ago in the New York Times

because I'm a glutton for punishment.

I was reading in the times about how there's this conversation

about when does Life Begin? Of course, we understand that

New York Times would be a very left-leaning publication.

I think that's a very modest and Mild way of putting it but I was

reading in this and scientists all had to agree.

The ones I was reading all had to agree.

Well life begins at conception. but I read several of the

scientist who said, well, the real question is not when the

baby has life, but when the baby is alive, You say, what are they

trying to say? Well, because they understand

scientifically. The baby is alive at conception.

They have to turn into a philosophical question.

When is the baby alive? When did the baby have value?

And they feel like that's the only way, with the changing

morals of society that you can make that type of case.

And here's what happens. When we take God out of society,

you might be able to twist that to the point where people say,

oh, you know, maybe it's not a big deal but even science says

the baby is alive. Live.

When the spark of life is given, I believe, this is a wonderful

example for us, here of that very same thing.

But getting back to the mother of Samson, the wife of manoah,

we see that she had to have some level of Faith because she is

willing to keep the Nazarite vow herself.

She accepts that not only is there something that's going to

affect her, but there's something that's going to affect

her future child as well. And so, because of that, she is

willing to keep this value. This constricting, vow this

vowel, that would not An easy necessarily for one to keep, but

she realized that this is something that she will have to

do as well on behalf of her son and in essence showing that life

in the womb matters to God. I think that's an amazing thing.

So, she was Barren. But yet, I believe she had faith

in God. She kept the Nazarite vow

herself. She listened to this Angelic

messenger. You want a proof of her faith.

She listened. There were those who argued with

Angelic Messengers. Could we talk about Gideon?

There were those who argued with the Lord.

Could we talk about Moses and the burning bush.

But here is a woman who the angel of the Lord came to.

By the way, the angel of the Lord, I believe is a Old

Testament appearance of Jesus Christ.

And the reason why is will see little bit later in the chapter.

If we read the verses that this Angel of the Lord was recognized

by them as being God himself was worship.

Only God can be worshipped and so when you often see that term,

the angel of the Lord, for instance, with Abraham or with

Joshua before Jericho and you see that worship is offered or

even with Abraham and Melchizedek tithes being given.

These are things that can only be done to God which tells us

this is a appearance of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

But here is the Angel of the Lord here is Jesus Christ who

comes and says, you're going to have a son.

This is what you need to do and she listened You say well I mean

what big deal was that well she didn't doubt like Abraham doubt

it. When he was told that he would

have a son. She didn't laugh like Sarah

laughed when she was told that she would have a son.

She didn't question like Zacharias at the beginning of

the New Testament, remember when he was told that he and his

wife, Elizabeth, we're going to have John the Baptist and email,

the angel came and said, your prayers have been answered.

You've been praying for this. You're going to have a son

immediately, he doubted. And so many times in this very

same situation when someone was Bare.

Aaron a woman was Barren and without child and the Angelic

messenger or God himself comes and gives us great news that a

child will come. There were many who doubted that

news, here's a woman who doesn't doubt she goes and tells her

husband, this is what's going to happen, and the husband kind of

questions it a little bit. In fact, if you look in verse

number 8, it says then Manoa entreated the Lord and said O My

Lord, let the man of God, which thou didst send come again unto

us and teach us what we shall do unto the child that she I'll be

born in my response to, that would be well Manoa.

She just told you what you're supposed to do.

You're supposed to have the child.

He supposed to grow up as a nazirite, this is what's

supposed to be done, but he's seeking a confirmation and I

don't know that that's necessarily wrong thing, but for

her, she heard it, she believed it, and it was.

So, that's an amazing thing. And I would say this, she even

had a teachable spirit. What her husband said.

Let's hear from the Lord and teach us.

O Lord, he was saying Lord, she wants to be taught.

I want to be taught. I think that's a marvelous

thing. She was willing to listen to the

messenger, you know what, she was, Also spiritually mature, it

ended up, being that they prayed.

They asked the Lord to reveal certain things to them again.

Well, the angel of the Lord reappears and reappears to the

woman. So, the woman says, wait right

here, and she goes and gets her husband.

But Noah, I'm Noah comes back and look at what it says in

verse number, 15 manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, I

pray thee. Let us detain me until we have

made ready a kid for the by the way, just make sure on the same

page, that's a goat. All right, so, that's not like a

kid kid, all right, so but a kid goat and 16 and Angel of the

Lord said in a Manoa though, they detain me, I will not eat

of thy bread. If thou will offer a burnt

offering now, must offer it unto the Lord, for Manoa, knew not

that. He was an angel of the Lord and

manoah said unto the angel of the Lord.

What is thy name that when I say things come to pass we may do

the honor and the angel of the Lord said unto him.

Why ask us thou? Thus after my name seeing it is

secret. So Manoa took a kid with a meat

offering and offered it upon a rock under the Lord.

And the angel did wondrously and manoah and his wife.

Wife looked on. Well, what did he do?

It says this and it came to pass when the flame went up toward

Heaven, from off the altar at the ends of the Lord descended

in the flame on the Altar and manoah and his wife looked on it

and fell on their faces, to the ground.

But Angel of the Lord didn't know more appear to manoah and

his wife at Manoa, knew that he was the angel of the Lord and

Manoa again, if you're not sure who this Angel of the Lord is

manoah said unto his wife. We shall surely die because we

have seen God. So here's what happens.

They detained. This angel will you please stay

with us for a meal. He's I will not stay for a meal

but if you want to make a sacrifice you go ahead and do

so. Again sacrificed it really could

only be offered to God and so they yet a kid they get this

goat and prepare it and offer it and as they lay this before him,

the offering is consumed in a flame a flame reaches up to

heaven and the angel of the Lord ascends into the flame into

heaven, right? Before him.

Now, we just read this like a couple of verses like it's no

big deal. This is a big deal.

I mean, we just read it and go on to the next chapter.

Like we're just, you know, reading the Bible like this is

just things that happen every day.

But these are people who have seen something and they haven't

read Judges chapter 13 yet. They don't know what's going on

Judges 13 · chapter mention

and they haven't seen all this. They're experiencing this.

These are real people with real feelings and real thoughts.

And this happens and Manoa goes though.

We're gonna die. Now, there's some level of

understanding to that. I mean, we can maybe understand

why he would feel that way. I mean, if you saw sacrifice

consumed, a flame that reached up to heaven and the angel of

the Lord, just Ascend into heaven in the flame, you might

have some thoughts yourself but we're Manoa had confusion.

His wife had Faith, she had spiritual maturity, because look

at her answer. This is just such a wonderful

spiritually, grounded, answer that she gives.

We shall surely die verse 22 because we have seen God.

But his wife said unto him, if the Lord were pleased to kill

us, he would not have received a burnt offering in the meat

offering at our hands either. What he showed us all these

things Norwood. At this time, have told us such

things as these Do what she says.

We're not gonna die. If he wanted to kill us, he

could have already killed us. And if he wanted to kill us,

then why would he tell us of these future events that we're

going to be a part of? No, we don't need to be afraid

whether we're going to die. We can be thankful for what God

has done. But Manoa, let's just take this

for what it is and let's understand that God has a

purpose for us. God is going to use us.

So let's trust and have faith in what God is going to do.

And let's have faith in the plan.

That he has just given us that stays that's marvelous and I

love being able to read this. And here's this woman that has

had a husband that I'm not down on Manoa.

I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with him and I

don't think that he was spiritually dull but at the same

time in that moment of panic and that moment of fear his wife say

the said this let's just think about this for a second and

let's just consider what God has revealed to us.

That is what we would call spiritual.

Maturity and that is what she had.

She was a spiritually mature woman, you know, the final time

we see manoah's wife Sampson's mother is in chapter 14.

Because in chapter 14, he wants a wife and guess where he wants

his wife from Samson. From the same people that are

repressing, their people, the Philistines.

And it's interesting that at the beginning of the text, that

Samson's mother and father, both say, please Sam Listen, do not

do this. This is not a wise thing.

You should not take a wife of the Philistines but I also see

this that in verse number 10 of chapter 14, it says this.

So his father went down unto the woman and Samson made their

feast for so used the young men for.

So use them young men to do, it may very well be, and I think

it's supported by this text that when Samson got married to this

woman, that his mother said this, I won't attend.

I won't be a part. I won't be a witness to

something that I know is wrong in your life and which God has

commanded, not to be done. And so, we see that the father

for whatever reason, went down to the wedding.

But she did not. What do I see from her?

In, every time she has mentioned, I see spiritual

maturity so you say, well, Pastor.

Okay, that's great. You've talked about this for a

few minutes. Sure.

We don't know the woman's name, she had great faith.

What does this have to do with us tonight?

And that's a Question. But all this bodes, this

question for us, tonight does a person have to be a priest, a

prophet or a preacher to be meaningful in.

God's eyes, can a nobody be a somebody in God's economy.

Can a nobody be a somebody in God's economy, in many ways in

this world today, you've got to be a somebody to get things

done. If you want to walk down to City

Hall and you want to get something done, most likely, you

can't even get an appointment. But if you're a somebody, you

can get in the right office at the right time and get the

appointed outcome, if you want to be able to get a loan at a

bank, it used to be. So now I don't know exactly how

it works because of computers and different things they do.

Do now. But it could be that if you knew

the right person at the bank and you could go into the office,

you could shake their hand and because you were somebody, you

get a loan. But sometimes I'm afraid that we

in God's economy, not in the world's economy, not in the

world of Finance or any of these places.

But in God's economy, I think that, we believe that there are

only a certain type of people who are really valuable and are

really useful in God's service. And the answer is this it can't

nobody be a somebody in God's economy and the answer is yes,

because in our eyes and nobody is different than God's eyes.

And in God's eyes, I somebody is different than a man's eyes.

Let me ask you question this way.

Because God doesn't reckon faithfulness.

The way that we do who is what was the title, the message and

unsung hero? So who's a more of a hero?

A preacher. Or stay-at-home mom.

Who's more of a hero? Let me ask you this question.

Who's more the hero a teenager? Or an elder in the church.

Who is more of the hero and well-known person at the church

or a person who often Blends into the background.

Who's more the hero, the preacher that no one knows or

the preacher that has television spots and books and websites?

Who's more the hero? And here's the answer.

We don't know. We don't know. because that's

not the way that we Rank and rate faithfulness, we don't know

the problem is this, we think we know, The problem is oftentimes,

we think we know who are the ones who are with great faith.

We think the ones who are the most well-known, or we think the

ones who get the most attention, or we think the ones with the

biggest personalities are the ones, who are the ones who God

is smiling upon the most. And the fact of the matter is,

that's not necessarily the case. I'm not saying that there's any

value more in a pastor's Faith or an estate homes, mom, faith,

I'm saying this, we don't know who it is and here's what we do.

We cannot put Value on someone's being or in their faith.

In fact, we must get to the place where we recognize quiet

faith. That there are many who have a

quiet faith. And I'm not talking about being

quiet and not sharing their faith.

I meant that, the game, the message.

The Bible says, in Romans 1:16, for I am not ashamed of the

Romans 1:16

gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to

everyone who believes to the Jew first and also, the Greek,

that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about those who have a quiet, strong firm, faith.

The believe God and his promises, they're willing to do

what he says. They're not loud about it.

They're not out there necessarily holding up the flag

and waving it about how great their faith is, but they're just

willing to listen to God. Those people in God's.

Economy are far more valuable than we give credit for Let me

ask you this. When the Widow through her might

into the treasury. Was there anything?

Noticeable about her? No That we don't know her name,

the woman at the well in John chapter 4.

John 4 · chapter mention

Who came to Believe In Christ and brought a whole city.

The city of sychar to come here. Jesus Christ.

Do we know her name? We don't what?

About the thief? Who was crucified on one hand of

Jesus, who Jesus said, today, Thou shalt be with me in

Paradise. Do we know his name?

We don't, we heard just this morning.

What about the Widow of Zarephath for Elijah or the

Widow and debt for Elijah? Both widows who had great

difficulties in their lives, but we see we don't know their

names. But they had great faith, whose

Pharaoh's daughter, the one who pulled Moses out of the water

and was willing to have a Hebrew boy grow up in her home.

A woman of faith of some nature. Who was the boy with the Five

Loaves? And the two fishes?

What was his name? We all know.

But I would say this, if God would allow and get to heaven,

they're the kind of people I want to talk to the kind of

people. I want to know their stories.

Oh sure. It's easy to talk of Samson and

Gideon and Bay rack, and those kinds of names.

And listen, there's nothing wrong with them.

They are in the faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews chapter 11, but

Hebrews 11 · chapter mention

yet, at the same time, we need to remind ourselves that God

uses many who are unknown and unnamed to do his work.

And to do his will, God, uses the unknown and the unnamed most

often to do his work and to do, his will, our name doesn't have

to be in a marquis. Our name doesn't have to be well

known the things we do. Even in our own church doesn't

necessarily have to be known by everybody that we don't always

have to get patted on the back for what we do or what we give

or what we teach, or any of those things.

But the fact of the matter is God knows, God, sees God cares

and if no one ever thanked me for my service to God and no one

ever shook my hand and Wow, thank you for all that.

You've done for the Lord. Jesus Christ.

And by the way, I'm not looking for that, but if no one ever

did, it would be fine. You know why?

Because there's one in heaven, who knows?

And there's one in heaven Who records it?

And there's one in heaven who gives the Crown's after we pass

that finish line and he knows, he sees, he cares.

He reckons, meaning he accounts for what we do.

And so we may not be the ones out there saying everybody.

Hey, look at me, follow me, and maybe that's okay.

And maybe that's okay. But here's the question tonight.

Or here's the thought. Tonight is that in the end?

My faith isn't about what you or I say about it.

It's about what God says about it.

Well, that Pastor has great faith.

Well, maybe that's true. Oh, that woman.

You know, nobody really even knows her name.

She just comes to church. And oh, she's friendly enough,

but you know, don't really know a whole lot about her.

She doesn't really open up. It could be that woman who that

you put off to. The side is praying hours.

A day for missionaries all across the world.

Is praying for her town. Praying for family members to

come to Christ. Well, that Pastor could be doing

things for pride and arrogance. And the Bible says that if that

is the case, you have your reward Who is more honored?

Let's be careful about assessing other people's Faith apart from

And particular our own apart from the word of God because

really comes down to this, my faith.

Do I observe the word of God? Am I in it?

Am I reading it? Am I studying it?

I'm allowing the word of God to read me.

I'm not just reading it, but I'm allowing it to read me.

And do I obey the word of God? Because that's really The

Tell-Tale sign of thing. Do I observe the word and do I

obey the one? Thank you for listening to this

sermon from the pulpit of Liberty, Baptist Church.

If this message was a blessing to you, or if there's any way we

can serve you, please let us know by contacting us at info,

at my Liberty Baptist dot org, or you can visit us this Sunday

at eight hundred Washington Street in Eastern.

Massachusetts, may the Lord bless you as you grow in his

word.