Who through faith
Hebrews 11:33-34 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought 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, waxed valiant in flight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
Our faith is a mighty helper in our spiritual life.
This is not “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)….for that is the whole body of doctrine and belief that God has given us through His Word.
But this faith, spoken of so wonderfully in Hebrews 11, is the faith within us, that gives us the sight to see God, and the heart to stand with Him….for all those that are spoken of in this chapter, hazarded their lives for God.
Who through faith subdued kingdoms:
There are two kingdoms that we must subdue….one is within us. It is called “the flesh”, “the old man”. It is our old nature which is always with us, even after we are born again….and we are to subdue it and bring it under subjection to Christ.
Romans 6:19 “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”
(“members” here has to do with our bodies. Our eyes, what do we look at? Our tongues, what do we say? Our hands, what do we handle? Our feet, where do we go?)
The other kingdom is without us….the world’s system. It can hold a great deal of power or leverage over us, especially if we follow the fashion of words,…the latest thing….or the influence of money, and power. (Phil. 3:18-19)
This kingdom we are to subdue, by our walk through it:
Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation (walk) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
Romans 12:1 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
1 John 5:4 “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Who through faith….wrought righteousness:
This signifies, living up to the required standard.
And to work righteousness means walking according to the rule of God’s Word.
Living up to the Light you have received…and using the ability (grace) you have to do it.
Matthew 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Wrought righteousness…”wrought” here is “minister about”. Every Christian has a ministry of righteousness. Of course, we are given Christ’s righteousness when we are born again….but we are then required to show forth that righteousness…..to minister that righteousness in the circumstances we are in.
It is through our obedience and devotedness to Christ Jesus, that we minister in righteousness.
And in this, we partake of the divine nature (we have Christ’s life manifested through us):
2 Peter 1:3-4 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
As He…the Lord Jesus Christ…is our object, the world loses its power over us.
As He is our Strength, we get the Victory over it.
And we obtain the promise of “be partakers of the divine nature” as we “wrought righteousness” and “subdue kingdoms”.
Hebrews 11:33-34 “Who through faith….obtained promises, (the promise of Christ’s life by the Holy Spirit within us and through us),… ….stopped the mouths of lions, (as it was done for Daniel….their mouths were shut)
1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
(Notice how many things in our spiritual life are done….”through faith”)… Quenched the violence of fire, (as for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego…the fire did not hurt them….they were in it, but it gave them no hurt.) 1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Escaped the edge of the sword, (as David did against Goliath….”in the name of the Lord of hosts”...with a sling and stones.) 1 Samuel 17:45-46 “Then David said to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who thou hast defiled. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand;....that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”
“Out of weakness were made strong” (as Samson did, after the weakness of Deliah…having his hair cut, and blinded…..then his hair grew back, and he called unto the Lord, when they were going to mock him before their gods)
Judges 16:28-30 “And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this since, O God,….
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars….
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at this death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
(And we, too, after the weakness of our sins, can be “made strong” in the Lord, by confession and His grace to overcome.)
“Waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (As Joshua and Israel did on the day the sun stood still [Joshua 10:10-14], as Deborah and Barak did against the hordes of Midian [Judges 4:14-16 ], as Asa did against a host of a thousand thousand, because he cried unto the Lord [2 Chron. 14:9-13])
Who through faith….
One old preacher believes that there is a book of the acts of faith in our God written in heaven.
Our acts of faith (though we may think of them as little in comparison to what we read in scripture) are noted, are loved, are blessed….
…because faith is God’s gift to us by the Holy Spirit, and when it is used, He is glorified.
Let us, through faith subdue the kingdoms of the flesh within and the world without….and minister righteousness….and overcome in faith all that stands between us and His Will being done in us, by us, and through us!
Praise His Name, that He allows us such a privilege!
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 