BY FAITH (3)

“BY FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” – Hebrews 11:30

The saints of old did amazing exploits and overcame BY FAITH: “BY FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (Heb.11:30). Overcoming in life to fulfil divine destiny has always been by Faith. In Hebrews 11, by God’s Grace, lessons of Faith through the saints who have gone before us, would inspire us to walk and live by Faith.

By Faith, Believers Conquer (v.30a). This recalls the astounding faith of the generation that invaded the Promised Land after their parents’ utter Failure of Faith! God was vexed with the whole generation of Israelites He had freed from slavery in Egypt. Though they saw His wonders, they failed to believe God would bring them into Canaan or that He could handle the land’s inhabitants. But their children walked in formidable Faith. At Jericho, God’s people obeyed His instructions to wage War through their Worship, and the walls of the fortified city fell (Jos.6:20). Hebrews was speaking to a generation of Jewish Believers whose parents had failed by crucifying the Messiah, to conquer where their parents cowered back!

By Faith, Sinners are Saved and Adopted into Sonship: “BY FAITH the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe” (v.31a). Rahab, the harlot, lived right in the walls of Jericho. But she heard of the wonders of God, of what He had done for His people in delivering them from Egypt (Jos.2: 1-18). She allied with God’s people, and God adopted her by her faith – made her one of His own people, so much so that Rahab is listed in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt.1:5). How humbling! Whores could make it into the Kingdom by Faith, while the self-righteous are excluded! The God of Rahab can save anyone who believes!

By Faith, Believers accomplish Exploits and produce Fruits (vv.32-34). The Stories of Faith captured in these three verses are worth tonnes of sermons! By Faith: Gideon and his 300 overcame an army of Midianites like a horde of locusts – Victory by the Strength of the Lord, not by multitudes; Barak, a military leader, joined forces with Deborah, to route the Canaanite armies (Judges 4); Samson used his God-endowed supernatural strength to crush the Philistines (Judges 13-16); and Jephthah defied the Ammonite armies and led the Israelites against them in Victory (Judges 11-12).

David, Samuel, the prophets, and others “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (vv.33-34). They achieved all these BY FAITH, not by intellectual dexterity, great talents, human strength, worldly wisdom, great wealth, extraordinary political scheming, or military power. No, BY FAITH! God delights to use the weak things of the world to shame the wise. All we need is Faith that He is enough and His promises are good!

By Faith, Believers face tribulations with steadfastness (vv.35-38). Faith is not always about material provisions or prosperity. By Faith, “we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom.8:28). By Faith, we can “count it ALL JOY” when we face diverse trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience (Jam.1:2-3). Trials will refine, not destroy our Faith (1Pet.1: 6-9). “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom.8:37).

By Faith, Believers await a Future Glory with all the saints: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (vv.39-40). Our present lives of faith are links in the same chain that stretches back to our Faith Ancestors and forward to future believers! Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith is like a great stadium with seats still empty, waiting for us to finish our race and join the Victory Parade!