READ THIS PASSAGE SLOWLY - IT'S LOADED WITH AWESOME FAITH STORIES!
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Hebrews11:32-38
Faith can be practised by all sorts:
- Barak who needed Deborah to hold his hand
- Gideon the scaredy-cat from the smallest clan and tribe
- Samson who just made so many mistakes
- David who fell into adultery
- etc.
Faith can:
- conquer kingdoms,
- administer justice, and gained what was promised
- shut the mouths of lions
- quench the fury of the flames,
- escaped the edge of the sword;
- turn weakness to strength
- etc
But faith can cost:
- jeers and flogging,
- chains and prison.
- stoning (and even being sawed in two)
- being put to death by the sword.
- etc
But the world won't be worthy of those who walk by faith - this world will never be our home,
So, you don't have to be perfect - you can come as you are and through faith you might to something great for God.
But it could be costly...
but worth it!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
