Tag Archives: Hebrews 11:1-6

Faithful When We Are Faithless??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 06

22 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Confidence, Contentment, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol.14 No.06 Faithful When We Are Faithless???

 

I have a word for today that I want to talk about with you all– faith—an oft misused and misunderstood term, but the bedrock and the very core of the Gospel we believe in.  The author of Hebrews put it in a nutshell for us, if you will.

“Now faith is the substance

of things hoped for,

the evidence

of things not seen…

…6 But without faith

it is impossible

to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them

that diligently seek him.”    Hebrews 11:1, 6

We must seek HIM—but it is HIS grace, convicting power, and the drawing of the Holy Spirit that calls us and draws us to Him.  Isaiah told of it, and even Jesus pictures it!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake

his way,

and the unrighteous man

his thoughts:

and let him return

unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy

upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens

are higher than the earth,

so are my ways

higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain

cometh down,

and the snow

from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth

out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me

void,

but it shall accomplish

that which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing whereto I sent it.”   Isaiah 55:6-11

God is calling and has always called us to Himself—salvation is the work of God, not of our own hands!  If you don’t know Him, Jesus is calling you to Himself today; He has paid the price for your sin and mine!  And faith is being willing to see our sin, as sin, repenting of it, and receiving the sacrifice that HE has paid for all whosoever will!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in

to him,

and will sup

 with him,

and he

with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Have you answered the door?  Maybe you have opened the door, yet lost hope due to your circumstances, well God knows your heart and your circumstances; and He also understands when we are too weak to hold on—that’s why HE holds us!

“Jesus said unto him,

If thou canst believe,

all things are possible

to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child

cried out,

and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.”  Mark 9:23-24

Oh, how often I have cried out to my Lord Jesus in this way—times when faith seems so distant that I can’t bear it, and yet the God who called me to Himself always meets me there; and He will meet you where you are!  No matter the difficulty, God is able to lift us up!  Praise be to HIS name!  Our God knows your heart, and even when we stand in danger of the fires of persecution, discouragement, or just plain weariness, our God is able.  We can stand with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, their Jewish names—each reflecting the character of God); and just as these three had Jesus meet them in the fire, remember that He will never allow you to go through it alone either.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God

whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not,

be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”    Daniel 3:16-18

We can trust ourselves to HIM just as these three did, for HE is always there (where ever ‘there’ is for you today!)!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

 nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

 and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”     Hebrews 13:5-6

Jesus Himself assured us of His presence—even when we fail, as we often do–HE is ever faithful to keep His own.

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

 and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father

are one.”  John 10:27-30

Have you heard His voice?  Have you repented of your own sin and opened the door to His’ knock?  Are you questioning His work in your life—look up and trust HIM!  He who bore our sins is faithful even when we are faithless!

“For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

 9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath

through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”  Romans 5:6-11

So, may we each take courage and hope in our faithful God!  He knows where you and I are, and He will provide!  He will help our unbelief—and we all have it from time to time–so just rest in His grace and in His promise to supply.

“But my God shall supply

all your need

according to his riches

 in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God

and our Father

be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

And in closing, one of my favorite reminders of the practice of faith and obedient walking with our Lord.

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also

in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest

in the LORD,

and wait patiently

for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices

to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise

to do evil.”  Psalm 37:3-8

May God speak to your heart and lift you up where ever you are.

Amen and Amen!

Are You In Focus??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 03

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in Crucified With Christ, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.03     Are You In Focus???

 

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders

obtained a good report.

3 Through faith

we understand that the worlds were framed

by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things

which do appear…….

6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”   Hebrews 11:1-3 & 6

There is a lot of talk about “faith”, but the thing that we often miss, is that ‘faith’ doesn’t save and keep, but the object of ‘our faith’ is our only security!  I may ‘believe’ that a stone will save and keep me, but the truth is that it has no existential power.  God on the other hand, is all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient), and omnipresent (all present).  It’s not so much that God is everywhere, but that wherever anyone is, God is already there.  The Psalmist reminds us of God’s power, pre-imminence, and provision.

“Whither shall I go

from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee

from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold,thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not

from thee;

but the night shineth

as the day:

the darkness and the light

are both alike to thee.”  Psalm 139:7-12

We learn so much about the character of God from the Psalmists, as well as all of scripture, for those who come to HIM. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we “must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.  God loves us and calls us to trust Him—Him who is worthy of our trust and faith—and faith placed in Him will never be insufficient.  Only Jesus can and will save—HE is the only way to God, for HE paid the price for our salvation on the cross!  Peter reminds us that we can come to Him with confidence!

“To whom coming,

as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God

by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion

a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone

which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were

appointed.

9 But ye

are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth

the praises of him

who hath called you

out of darkness

into his

marvellous light:”   1 Peter 2:4-9

Jesus is the “corner stone” and we who come to Him in repentance and faith, are built upon Him.  As we compare the contrasts in Peter’s warning above, we see that there are those who “stumble at the word”—those who refuse to believe, and hence are “being disobedient”, and yet Peter tells us that “ye” (we, those who have come to Jesus and have been born again) have answered the call and placed our faith in the only One who saves.  The point being that we are given the free will to choose whether we will believe in the Gospel or go our own way.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we are to yield ourselves to His Spirit and walk in His ways—the way of the Holy Spirit.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk

in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25

We can only do this by pursuing the crucified life—Jesus calls us to it, and Paul describes it beautifully.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-26

There is no other offering/sacrifice for sin but Jesus, and as He said, “what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”.  The only payment for sin, is death and hell, or Jesus’ sacrifice, it is only Jesus who gives life—eternal life.  And when HE gives us life, we have victory in Him—not only victory over death and hell, but victory in everyday living; all by dying to self and living unto Him, led by His Spirit.

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ

liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”    Galatians 2:20

This is how we walk by faith, with confidence in the veracity and dependability of God and His Word.  Yet if I don’t know His Word, I may fall for the lies of the enemy, and they are abundant around us.  There are two choices—a life lived in the fleshly lusts or a life lived in the Spirit of Jesus, and the works or fruit will reveal our choice!  What do your works/fruit reveal?

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such

there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.”  Galatians 5:17-24

Did you notice that Paul lists the “works of the flesh”, but then he contrasts this to the “fruit of the Spirit”!  We don’t “work” our way to heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He imparts His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, and we simply have to live for HIM, to bear fruit—and notice it is “fruit” (singular) and not ‘fruits’ (plural).  The “fruit” is God’s not ours, we simply need to fix our eyes on JESUS, and “walk in the Spirit”, abiding IN Him, and He will lead our every step and be glorified in our lives as we abide IN Him!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

And that’s why Paul could say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

I can only ‘do’ because I “be” born again (not good grammar, but a great example) and have the Holy Spirit within!  So, I am determined to keep my focus on Jesus!  I long to hear that “Well done, thy good and faithful servant” when I face Him!  In the mean-time, we are to run our race (no one else’s race, but the one that Jesus has set before ‘you/me’)!  And whether my race includes ease, or pain; joy or sorrow; lack or abundance, I/we can proclaim with Job, “though He slay me, still will I trust Him”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son, despise not thou

the chastening of the Lord,

nor faint

when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth…

 8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:1-6, 8

Do you know Jesus the Savior? Are you focused on YOUR race for and with Him?  Jesus gives “abundant life” IN Him, so may you have a blessed week keeping your eyes on Jesus, focusing on HIM, and run your race faithfully before The Lord, that others may see HIM!

Amen and Amen!

Faith That Works??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #517

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Freedom To Or From?, Trust God, Truth is True, Work

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #517  Faith That Works???

 

“But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”    Hebrews 11:6

“Now faith is

the substance of things

hoped for,

the evidence of things

not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

These are two of the quintessential passages about faith in all of scripture, helping us understand that faith isn’t an ethereal, unreal thing but truth that we haven’t seen or perceived with our physical eyes yet! Our faith and hope reveal that our trust in is secure and sure, for it is God in whom we have placed our faith. And having trusted Him through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can look forward to the things that HE has promised. Paul speaks of this assurance and hope in Romans 8, and when he speaks of hope he is referring to our confidence in God’s promises, His ability, and the surety of His ever-faithful deliverance of HIS own!

“And not only they, but ourselves also,

which have the firstfruits

of the Spirit,

even we ourselves

groan within ourselves,

waiting for the adoption,

to wit,

the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope:

but hope that is seen is not hope:

for what a man seeth,

why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not,

then do we with patience wait for it.”  Romans 8:23-25

So what about your faith and mine? Are we walking by faith in Jesus, or by sight? Much of the “name-it-and-claim-it” theology seems to focus our hope on being in this present world, and fulfilling our fleshly lusts rather than living for Jesus and looking for our reward with HIM. Trusting HIM to meet our physical needs in His will and His time. Remember what Jesus said, “Give us THIS day our daily bread”! And Paul told Timothy about keeping his “desires” in check: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (Be sure and check out the context of 1 Timothy 6:8).

Faith is holding on to Jesus, not abstract mental assent, but having confidence in The One who saves and delivers. Holing on to Jesus as to a ‘life preserver’ in a sea of sin and darkness. Holding on to that “shield of faith” that we will be able to utilize it in our daily battles (and we are in a warfare, see Ephesians 2:10-18)—and to utilize a shield you must have a firm grip on the shield itself with complete confidence in it’s ability to protect and deliver! Doing HIS work in the midst of a dark, hostile world that most often doesn’t want to see the light. Even as Jesus Himself said, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (from John 3:19, and see 1 John to see more about the ‘light’)—our faith is from the light, and will grow us in the light when we yield to the Spirit’s leading in our lives—but only for those who have genuine faith. But what is genuine? W. E. Vine, in the “Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” gives the most succinct definition of faith that I have found:

“The main elements in ‘faith’ in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from ‘faith’ in man, are especially brought out in the use of this noun (Greek pistis, as described on page 222, under “faith”) and the corresponding verb, pisteuo; they are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgment of God’s revelation or truth,….(2) a personal surrender to Him…..(3) a conduct inspired by such surrender… Prominence is given to one or other of these elements according to the context (of the passages listed which I haven’t included here for time and space sake). All this stands in contrast to belief in its purely natural exercise, which consists of an opinion held in good “faith” without necessary reference to its proof.”

It is sad that people become confused and think that Paul says we are saved by faith not works—which is true—but they often misunderstand what James says about works. It’s like the proverb of the blind men describing an elephant as they grasp only one part of his anatomy, without seeing the “whole” context! We need to understand that real faith works—recognizing that real faith is in God, not self, dead works, wealth/poverty (and either/both can be consumed with greed!), or religion—when we know Jesus, The One who has called us to Himself, by His own blood!

James describes one who “says” he has faith, and Paul talks about “vain” faith—each one describing those who have lip service with no outward evidence of God’s presence and work. It’s what Paul reminded the Philippians of:

“Wherefore, my beloved,

as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear

and trembling.

13 For it is God

which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”   Philippians 2:12-13

Paul didn’t say that we work “for” our salvation—but by faith we are to work “out” what God has put in! And my friends, when we belong to Jesus, it is because of the work that HE does in us; working it out in our daily living, so that others see Jesus in us! “Working out” our spiritual muscles with more passion and devotion than athletes do their physical bodies. I pray right now, that Jesus will help us to see that real “faith”, is dependence on HIM in every area of our lives; yielding to HIM; knowing HIM more each day; walking with HIM in every circumstance—the good, the bad, and the ugly! May we yield to Jesus’ HIS work in us—to a desperate world!

So my friends, I am praying that you/I examine our hearts, even as the Psalmist cried out to God, letting God do His perfect work of grace in me/you today—every day!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen!!!

Real People Of Faith??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 10

28 Sunday Oct 2018

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Great is Thy Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 10   Real People Of Faith???

 

What is “real” faith? I want us to examine that question in light of scripture. Is real faith simply being giddy all the time, with no problems, being as the old proverb says, “healthy, wealthy and wise”! Or does real faith turn to God for the answers? That’s what I want us to spend our time doing today. I would like to start in a place that many turn to when they talk of faith, but with a twist that many miss.

“Now faith is the substance

of things hoped for,

the evidence

of things not seen…..

5 By faith Enoch was translated

that he should not see death;

and was not found,

because God had translated him:

for before his translation he had this testimony,

that he pleased God

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”    Hebrews 11:1 & 5-6

We must believe “that he is”, that HE is The Almighty God who created “all things” and that He not only created us, but has provided for our redemption because man chose to sin rather than obey and trust God. Faith is placing our confidence and future in God’s hands, based on the cross of Jesus and His substitutionary (in my place), atoning (paying a debt He didn’t owe, because I owed a debt I couldn’t pay apart from death and hell), sacrifice (giving up Himself for me, even though I was unworthy!) for MY sin. Paul describes this so aptly as he wrote to the Roman believers.

“For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God

commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while

we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Christ died for me/you—and HE is what/who our faith is in. Faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed—and Jesus is the only place where saving faith rests.

As we see in the first part of Hebrews 11, faith is having our heart and mind set on Jesus! Yet so many take the examples that are shared in this chapter, and conclude that all who have “faith” will be prosperous. But when they make this claim, it is evident that they have missed the last part of the chapter! Faith doesn’t mean that we will have a life of ease and/or prosperity, but it does mean that whatever we face, pleasant or unpleasant, our confidence is always in our God and His faithful promises, for our God is ever faithful.

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised before the world began;”    Titus 1:2

God didn’t lie to those who suffered in the past, and He hasn’t lied to us when suffering comes, for He is working a great work of power, grace and spiritual maturity in us.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs

of God,

and joint-heirs

with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed

in us.

19 For the earnest expectation

of the creature

waiteth for the manifestation

of the sons of God.” Romans 8:16-19

Did you see verse 18—“the sufferings of this present time”? We will experience suffering in this life, but don’t miss the wonder of the “sufferings”—“the glory which shall be revealed in us”! Our faithfulness to God as we undergo suffering and trials, will reveal His glory “IN US”—the “sufferings” of this life reveal HIS glory ‘in us’ both when we are with HIM, and for others to observe in us today! Since Jesus suffered as the perfect God-Man, Son of God, why would we think that being HIS follower and servant would be any different in the world that seems to hate God more every day; and they certainly don’t want to hear truth, even as Jesus said:

“And ye shall be hated

of all men

for my name’s sake:

but he that endureth to the end

shall be saved.

23 But when they persecute you in this city,

flee ye into another:

for verily I say unto you,

Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel,

till the Son of man be come.

24 The disciple is not above

his master,

nor the servant above

his lord.” Matthew 10:22-24

So how are we to walk? By faith which is seen in our devoted obedience to God. Let’s look at a few faithful servants of God from scripture, and see what kind of things they endured. I would like to begin our study by looking at two young men from the Old Testament, who have nothing negative recoded about their character.

Without going into the detail of Joseph’s story, I just want to hit the highlights due to time and space. Joseph was the next to the youngest son of Jacob—the first son of his beloved wife, Rachel—and Jacob favored him (not a good practice within a family, creating hard feelings just as it did with Jacob’s family) leading to his brothers to hate him.

“And when his brethren saw that their father

loved him more than all his brethren,

they hated him,

and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream,

and he told it his brethren:

and they hated him yet the more.”   Genesis 37:4-5

Not only did partiality cause problems in this family, but it also seems that Joseph had a heart for spiritual things of God, and God had granted him a special gift of dreams. Now while some beat Joseph up for telling the dreams, if he hadn’t related the dreams—that they were of God, and that they seemed to involve this family—how would these brothers have seen God’s hand at work when they came to pass? Joseph’s brothers were also jealous.

“And he dreamed yet another dream,

and told it his brethren,

and said,

Behold, I have dreamed a dream more;

and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars

made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father,

and to his brethren:

and his father rebuked him,

and said unto him,

What is this dream that thou

hast dreamed?

Shall I and thy mother

and thy brethren indeed

come to bow down ourselves

to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him;

but his father observed the saying.”   Genesis 37:9-11

While I don’t think that Joseph understood what these dreams meant (yet), and his father didn’t understand either, he did take note of it, while his brothers “envied him”—like many today who hear from God! When we share the message that God gives us with others, often, rather than receiving the message that God has given us to share, they resent, reject or ignore the message, or even become jealous of the one who has been called to share it—the messenger, if you would. But there’s more.

“And the man said,

They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan.

And Joseph went after his brethren,

and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off,

even before he came near unto them,

they conspired against him

to slay him.

19 And they said one to another,

Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore,

and let us slay him,

and cast him into some pit,

and we will say,

Some evil beast hath devoured him:

and we shall see

what will become of his dreams…..

26 And Judah said unto his brethren,

What profit is it if we slay our brother,

and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him

to the Ishmeelites,

and let not our hand be upon him;

for he is our brother and our flesh.

And his brethren were content.”   Genesis 37:17-20, 26-27

Joseph was hated because of the love of his father (over which he had no control), and also for the gift of dreams, from God—which none of them understood at the time—so they hated him so much they decided to kill him. Doesn’t sound much like a life of “ease and prosperity” does it. But they relented (by chance, right? NOT—but God’s providence is ever at work here!) and chose to sell him into slavery instead of killing him, meanness with a profit! So we find Joseph in Egypt.

“And Joseph was brought down to Egypt;

and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian,

bought him of the hands

of the Ishmeelites,

which had brought him down thither.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph,

and he was a prosperous man;

and he was in the house of his master

the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw

that the LORD was with him,

and that the LORD made all that he did

to prosper in his hand.” Genesis 39:1-3

God was with Joseph—this young man of 17 years old, the favored son of his father, is now a slave in Egypt—but his new master saw that “the LORD was with him”! Joseph was a godly young man who was trusting God to care for him—but he was still a slave, a favored slave, but nonetheless, a slave. And skipping forward, Joseph was once again treated poorly and cast into prison, being falsely accused by his master’s wife. What about those dreams now? What was going on? If God was “with him”, why all this suffering? Well, to cut to the chase, God had a different plan, and Joseph saw God work on his behalf, but 13 years later—while we want “instant” insight and maturity! Joseph was raised to prominence by this very gift from God for interpreting dreams.

Yet after his promotion his heart was still set on God, and when he had the opportunity to take revenge he kept trusting to the God who was in charge, not vengeance!

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants,

Can we find such a one as this is,

a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,

Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this,

there is none so discreet

and wise as thou art:

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled:

only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,

See, I have set thee over all

the land of Egypt.”   Genesis 41:38-41

As ruler of Egypt, he exercised the mercy of God toward those who had mistreated him. In response to his brothers who experienced the “fulfillment” of his dreams, he extended grace, not revenge—and he credits God for it all.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren,

Come near to me, I pray you.

And they came near.

And he said,

I am Joseph your brother,

whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved,

nor angry with yourselves,

that ye sold me hither:

for God did send me before you

to preserve life.” Genesis 45:4-5

Joseph knew that faith was trusting to God’s plan even when he didn’t understand it all ‘yet’! What about us?

“And Joseph said unto them,

Fear not:

for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you,

ye thought evil against me;

but God meant it unto good,

to bring to pass,

as it is this day,

to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not:

I will nourish you,

and your little ones.

And he comforted them,

      and spake kindly unto them.”   Genesis 50:19-21

Now let’s go on to another young man who found himself in bondage to a pagan king—Daniel. I could spend months on Daniel, he was an amazing young man, but for our purposes, we’ll just peruse the highlights of some of Daniel’s encounters.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour

and tender love

with the prince of the eunuchs.”    Daniel 1:8-9

Taken into Babylonian captivity, Daniel determined to be faithful to his God, no matter the cost! It’s also interesting that God blessed Daniel with the same gift that He gave to Joseph—dreams and interpretation of dreams. Because Daniel and his friends determined to be faithful to their God—their God honored their faithfulness.

“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in,

then the prince of the eunuchs

brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them;

and among them all was found

none like

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters

of wisdom

and understanding,

that the king enquired of them,

he found them ten times better

than all the magicians

and astrologers

that were in all his realm.”   Daniel 1:18-20

Daniel and his friends were faithful to God, and God blessed them so that the king found them “ten times better than all” the other ‘wise men’ in the kingdom! Yet that blessing caused them no measure of conflict with their pagan peers! Just like Joseph, they suffered for their faith—yes they were in a position of authority and even luxury of a sort, but they were still captives in a pagan land–yet they remained faithful even under fire! (Literally for his three friends.)

“Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound ….. and all kinds of musick,

ye fall down

and worship the image

which I have made;

well:

but if ye worship not,

ye shall be cast the same hour

into the midst

of a burning fiery furnace;

and who is that God

that shall deliver you

out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand,

O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee,

O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,

and the form of his visage was changed

against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake,

and commanded

that they should heat the furnace

one seven times more

than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men

that were in his army

to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

and to cast them

into the burning fiery furnace.”   Daniel 3:15-19

These three faced the fire, and while God did deliver them out of that fire, they were willing to go into the fire, trusting that whether God delivered them out of the fire, or through it—our God “will deliver us” for their good and HIS glory. Daniel and his friend left a footprint of faith before those who loved them as well as those who hated them. Even his enemies had to admit in chapter 6 that the only fault they could find with Daniel would be in regard to his relationship with his God.

“Then the presidents and princes

sought to find occasion

against Daniel concerning the kingdom;

but they could find none occasion

nor fault;

forasmuch as he was faithful,

neither was there any error

or fault

found in him.

5 Then said these men,

We shall not find any occasion

against this Daniel,

except we find it against him

concerning the law of his God.”  Daniel 6:4-5

Daniel was a faithful man in all his ways—even in captivity, even when he was facing a den of lions. Yet because of his faithfulness, others saw God in him! Suffering and opposition in the life of the faithful is not a popular message, but it is still truth!

“16 Then the king commanded,

and they brought Daniel,

and cast him into the den of lions.

Now the king spake and said unto Daniel,

Thy God

whom thou servest continually,

he will deliver thee……

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:

and the king spake and said to Daniel,

O Daniel,

servant of the living God,

is thy God,

whom thou servest continually,

able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king,

O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel,

and hath shut the lions’ mouths,

that they have not hurt me:

forasmuch as before him innocency

was found in me;

and also before thee, O king,

have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:16 & 19-22

Daniel was found innocent before God and man—he had been faithful for some 70 years and while he faced opposition, God vindicated him and honored his faithfulness. So what about you and I? Is our faithfulness an assurance of ease and prosperity? Or have we realized that it is the assurance of God’s purposes being accomplished in and through our suffering and trials? Amen!

If we have time, we could look at Paul, at Jeremiah, at the prophet Macaiah, at King Jehoshaphat and others, all with the same conclusion that faithful servants trust The Master in all kinds of situations, no matter the difficulty, trial or inconvenience, even when we don’t understand. God has called us to keep our eyes on Him, and that last part of Hebrews 11 is the icing on the cake!

“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:

33 Who through faith

subdued kingdoms,

wrought righteousness,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions,

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.

35 Women received their dead

raised to life again:

and others

were tortured,

not accepting deliverance;

that they might obtain

a better resurrection:

36 And others

had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings,

yea, moreover of bonds

and imprisonment:

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;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

they wandered in deserts,

and in mountains,

and in dens

and caves of the earth.

39 And these all,

having obtained a good report through faith,

received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”   Hebrews 11:32-40

Think on these faithful things!!! Let’s be sure we know that real faith isn’t measured by ease or $$$! Amen and Amen!!!