Heb 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:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 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.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 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;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
FAITH!
Subdued kingdoms.
Wrought righteousness.
Obtained promises.
Stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire.
Escaped the edge of the sword.
Our of weakness were made strong.
Waxed valiant in fight.
Turned to the flight the armies of the aliens.
Dead raised to life again.
Torture.
NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION.
Trials of cruel mockings.
Scourgings.
Bonds and imprisonment.
Stoned.
Sawn asunder.
Tempted.
Slain with the sword.
Wandered in sheepskins and goatskins.
Being destitute.
Afflicted.
Tormented.
Wandered in deserts.
Wandered in mountains.
Wandered in dens and caves of the earth.
READ THAT LIST AGAIN it is what those with FAITH can and have to do and endure.
It's all well and good to subdue kingdoms, do righteousness, receive promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench fire, escape the sword, their weakness was made strong, they were valiant in fight, turn armies to flight, had the dead raised to life…but then we read these things that those with faith were called to endure…torture, cruel mockings, scourgings, bonds, imprisonment, stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, wandered in animal clothing, destitution, affliction, tormented, wandered in deserts, mountains, dens and caves of the earth; and you know what that doesn't sound all well and good at all to us.
We just DO NOT believe that God could be OUR GOD and let us suffer. Why we don't believe it I don't know. The BIBLE is filled with the suffering of God's people.
But we REFUSE to believe God will let us suffer. We would rather believe that God would have us do anything to get away from suffering, but that's NOT TRUE! There were MANY people of FAITH who did NOT deny God in order to be spared suffering that we don't even want to imagine. They DID not say that God would understand their doing anything and everything to keep from suffering. If they had said that they would NOT be people of FAITH. How can I be so sure? This is how…
JESUS SUFFERED!
Mar 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
Mar 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Mar 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is EXCEEDING SORROWFUL UNTO DEATH: tarry ye here, and watch.
Mar 14:35 And he went forward a little, and FELL ON THE GROUND, and prayed that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE THE HOUR MIGHT PASS FROM HIM.
Mar 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; TAKE AWAY THIS CUP FROM ME: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and KNEELED DOWN AND PRAYED,
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And BEING IN AN AGONY he prayed more earnestly: and HIS SWEAT WAS AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD falling down to the ground.
Mat 27:35 And they CRUCIFIED HIM, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests MOCKING HIM, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
GOD'S SON!
Did HE have to take the abuse?
Mat 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands
Mat 27:26 ...and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
GOD'S SON!
I ask again… DID JESUS HAVE TO TAKE THE ABUSE?
Or
DID JESUS CHOOSE BY FAITH TO TAKE THE ABUSE?
Think about it for a few moments.
Our Savior was a man who cried.
Our Savior was a man who agonized.
Our Savior was a man who felt pain.
Our Savior was a man who suffered.
Do you think for one second that it didn't hurt Him when He was whipped, stuck in the head with huge thorns, beaten with a reed on the head, had nails driven into His flesh? Do you really think that our Savior did not feel any pain, that He could endure all that because He had a special power not to feel hurt?
Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin
JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN IN ALL ASPECTS.
When we place Jesus on a special pedestal giving Him special super human powers that make Him less than human, like we are, then we are creating a FALSE SAVIOR to worship and that is a grave sin.
When you are called to SUFFER you need to ENDURE NOT believe you are supposed to be immune to suffering in order for you to believe God is loving you and protecting you.
People have a lot of trouble believing God allows them to suffer and yet re-reading what we've read above how can we believe that to be true?
IF we are called to endure a life filled with suffering so that we may remain God's, just as our SAVIOR endured suffering and remained God's and God, then we must not faint.
We have to KNOW God's will and if it is God's will that we have NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM then we better not have ANY God's before HIM! We cannot choose to have other Gods and tell ourselves that God will understand, HE WON'T! HE CAN'T!
We cannot deliberately disobey God's MORAL laws and then expect God to understand. We are called to SUFFER because we live in a world where sin reigns and we are not to sin.
We are called to have FAITH that NO MATTER WHAT we go through that there is a better reward waiting.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
WE WILL ALL BE PERFECTED TOGETHER WHEN OUR SAVIOR COMES FOR US!
All the FAITHFUL will receive their reward together.
You might be called to any of these things--
Subdued kingdoms.
Wrought righteousness.
Obtained promises.
Stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire.
Escaped the edge of the sword.
Our of weakness were made strong.
Waxed valiant in fight.
Turned to the flight the armies of the aliens.
Dead raised to life again.
Torture.
NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERENCE THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESSURECTION.
Trials of cruel mockings.
Scourgings.
Bonds and imprisonment.
Stoned.
Sawn asunder.
Tempted.
Slain with the sword.
Wandered in sheepskins and goatskins.
Being destitute.
Afflicted.
Tormented.
Wandered in deserts.
Wandered in mountains.
Wandered in dens and caves of the earth.
And through IT ALL whatever form your suffering takes you have to remember this always--
DO NOT ACCEPT DELIVERANCE SO THAT YOU MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION, just like those in times past. CHOOSE TO SUFFER IN RIGHTEOUSNESS rather then be delivered from the suffering and only be resurrected to eternal death.
Please LORD help us to CHOOSE LIFE over death even if it means we suffered horrifically, let us NEVER forsake YOU or YOUR ways! Help us! IN YOUR LOVE keep us, save us!
All by YOUR GRACE and MERCY!
IN YOU!
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 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.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 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;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
FAITH!
Subdued kingdoms.
Wrought righteousness.
Obtained promises.
Stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire.
Escaped the edge of the sword.
Our of weakness were made strong.
Waxed valiant in fight.
Turned to the flight the armies of the aliens.
Dead raised to life again.
Torture.
NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION.
Trials of cruel mockings.
Scourgings.
Bonds and imprisonment.
Stoned.
Sawn asunder.
Tempted.
Slain with the sword.
Wandered in sheepskins and goatskins.
Being destitute.
Afflicted.
Tormented.
Wandered in deserts.
Wandered in mountains.
Wandered in dens and caves of the earth.
READ THAT LIST AGAIN it is what those with FAITH can and have to do and endure.
It's all well and good to subdue kingdoms, do righteousness, receive promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench fire, escape the sword, their weakness was made strong, they were valiant in fight, turn armies to flight, had the dead raised to life…but then we read these things that those with faith were called to endure…torture, cruel mockings, scourgings, bonds, imprisonment, stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, wandered in animal clothing, destitution, affliction, tormented, wandered in deserts, mountains, dens and caves of the earth; and you know what that doesn't sound all well and good at all to us.
We just DO NOT believe that God could be OUR GOD and let us suffer. Why we don't believe it I don't know. The BIBLE is filled with the suffering of God's people.
But we REFUSE to believe God will let us suffer. We would rather believe that God would have us do anything to get away from suffering, but that's NOT TRUE! There were MANY people of FAITH who did NOT deny God in order to be spared suffering that we don't even want to imagine. They DID not say that God would understand their doing anything and everything to keep from suffering. If they had said that they would NOT be people of FAITH. How can I be so sure? This is how…
JESUS SUFFERED!
Mar 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
Mar 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Mar 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is EXCEEDING SORROWFUL UNTO DEATH: tarry ye here, and watch.
Mar 14:35 And he went forward a little, and FELL ON THE GROUND, and prayed that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE THE HOUR MIGHT PASS FROM HIM.
Mar 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; TAKE AWAY THIS CUP FROM ME: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and KNEELED DOWN AND PRAYED,
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And BEING IN AN AGONY he prayed more earnestly: and HIS SWEAT WAS AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD falling down to the ground.
Mat 27:35 And they CRUCIFIED HIM, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests MOCKING HIM, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
GOD'S SON!
Did HE have to take the abuse?
Mat 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands
Mat 27:26 ...and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head
Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
GOD'S SON!
I ask again… DID JESUS HAVE TO TAKE THE ABUSE?
Or
DID JESUS CHOOSE BY FAITH TO TAKE THE ABUSE?
Think about it for a few moments.
Our Savior was a man who cried.
Our Savior was a man who agonized.
Our Savior was a man who felt pain.
Our Savior was a man who suffered.
Do you think for one second that it didn't hurt Him when He was whipped, stuck in the head with huge thorns, beaten with a reed on the head, had nails driven into His flesh? Do you really think that our Savior did not feel any pain, that He could endure all that because He had a special power not to feel hurt?
Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin
JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN IN ALL ASPECTS.
When we place Jesus on a special pedestal giving Him special super human powers that make Him less than human, like we are, then we are creating a FALSE SAVIOR to worship and that is a grave sin.
When you are called to SUFFER you need to ENDURE NOT believe you are supposed to be immune to suffering in order for you to believe God is loving you and protecting you.
People have a lot of trouble believing God allows them to suffer and yet re-reading what we've read above how can we believe that to be true?
IF we are called to endure a life filled with suffering so that we may remain God's, just as our SAVIOR endured suffering and remained God's and God, then we must not faint.
We have to KNOW God's will and if it is God's will that we have NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM then we better not have ANY God's before HIM! We cannot choose to have other Gods and tell ourselves that God will understand, HE WON'T! HE CAN'T!
We cannot deliberately disobey God's MORAL laws and then expect God to understand. We are called to SUFFER because we live in a world where sin reigns and we are not to sin.
We are called to have FAITH that NO MATTER WHAT we go through that there is a better reward waiting.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
WE WILL ALL BE PERFECTED TOGETHER WHEN OUR SAVIOR COMES FOR US!
All the FAITHFUL will receive their reward together.
You might be called to any of these things--
Subdued kingdoms.
Wrought righteousness.
Obtained promises.
Stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire.
Escaped the edge of the sword.
Our of weakness were made strong.
Waxed valiant in fight.
Turned to the flight the armies of the aliens.
Dead raised to life again.
Torture.
NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERENCE THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESSURECTION.
Trials of cruel mockings.
Scourgings.
Bonds and imprisonment.
Stoned.
Sawn asunder.
Tempted.
Slain with the sword.
Wandered in sheepskins and goatskins.
Being destitute.
Afflicted.
Tormented.
Wandered in deserts.
Wandered in mountains.
Wandered in dens and caves of the earth.
And through IT ALL whatever form your suffering takes you have to remember this always--
DO NOT ACCEPT DELIVERANCE SO THAT YOU MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION, just like those in times past. CHOOSE TO SUFFER IN RIGHTEOUSNESS rather then be delivered from the suffering and only be resurrected to eternal death.
Please LORD help us to CHOOSE LIFE over death even if it means we suffered horrifically, let us NEVER forsake YOU or YOUR ways! Help us! IN YOUR LOVE keep us, save us!
All by YOUR GRACE and MERCY!
IN YOU!
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