Hebrews 11:32-40 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… 1. Has your faith "subdued kingdoms"? Here is the subduing power of faith declared. If final judgment were to-night, is your heart subdued? I do not mean, is the inclination for sin no longer existing? but I mean, are you able to overcome it by God's grace? 2. Have you by faith "wrought righteousness"? Behold the man without faith working; he "works all uncleanness with greediness"; he works for self and despises the command of God. 3. Has your faith "obtained promises"? The Lord Jesus Christ, before He left this world, at the ascension, left us certain promises, which on certain conditions we should obtain. If we abide in Him that we should bring forth fruit. Do you do it? If we pray that we should receive the gift of the Spirit. Do you receive it? If we love Him that we should have peace. Have you peace? If we serve Him that we should be hated by the world. Are you hated by it? 4. Have you " stopped the mouths of lions"? The devil is "the roaring lion, going about seeking whom he may devour," and when we stand before God to be judged, the devil will be there to accuse us, and to bring against us the charge of every sin we have committed at his instigation. 5. Have yon" quenched the violence of fire"? There is a fire now preparing for the lost in which Satan and his angels are making ready an abode for their miserable victims. None shall be able to quench its violence and escape its fury save those who have lived by faith. Have you thought of that fire, feared it, shunned it? If not, you are not prepared to meet the Judge. 6. "Out of weakness were made strong." Have you been weak and are now strong? Faith gives strength to every feeling and principle in us. 7. Has your faith led you to bear the trial of "cruel mockings"?There are many mockings we meet with from the world if we live by faith. 1. There is the open opposition, an unbridled, undisguised hatred of the world, more exactly " cruel mockings," which led men in times of yore to drive families from their quiet homes. 2. There is the "cruel mocking," more difficult, perhaps, to bear, and which we are more called to bear — the silent and significant remarks made in a general way, yet intended personally; the mocking of sacred and holy subjects in our presence, when we know it is intended for and directed at ourselves; the laugh of open ridicule, or the smile of half-concealed contempt; the attacks on the faults and inconsistencies of religious characters, which we well know to be intended for our own. (E. Monro.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
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