Hebrews 11:33-40
Hebrews 11 reminds the believer that God always honors those who honor Him. While God does not promise to exempt His child from persecution, He does promise a marvelous reward for consecrated living.
What Does Consecration Require? v. 33
“who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,”
1. It requires a radical change of lifestyle. Luke 9:23
“Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'”
2. It requires the ultimate leap of faith. Hebrews 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
3. It requires complete abandonment. Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
What Will Consecration Bring? vv. 34-36
“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. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.”
1. Inner peace . Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
2. Inner sanctification . 1 Peter 1:15-16
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”
“Christ does not always answer every question; He is the answer to every question.”
Paul Martin
How Is Consecration Modeled? v. 39-40
“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
1. A willingness to serve . Galatians 6:2
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
2. A willingness to sacrifice . Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
3. A willingness to share . Acts 20:35
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
4. A willingness to suffer . Colossians 1:21-23
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored,
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Peter Scholtes
