Page 5 - Heros of the Faith - Textbook w videos short

1.3 Guiding Principle throughout History

There is one guiding principle given in Scripture that allows a man or woman of God to stand out
in history. Look at this verse:

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
I Cor. 4:2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”
What is it? It’s faith or faithfulness.

What is Faith? Here is a definition that I think best describes the full meaning of the word: “Faith is believing
God to the point of doing something about it. Faith is an action word!” Another way of saying it is, “Faith
compels me to respond to and trust in God’s Word so that you can see it in my life and behavior!”
In Hebrews 11, verse one starts out defining faith, and in verse two the author says that the “ancients were
commended by demonstrating faith.” A large list of saints, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, and Samuel are listed. The author concludes this chapter with these
verses which not only describe the history of the saints in the Old Testament, but aptly describe the History of
the Saints, for which we are about to embark.

“…through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the
mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness
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was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received
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back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that
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they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and
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imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the
sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world
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was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the
ground.”

Throughout the eons of time, God has searched for those individuals who would trust Him and has used those
who put their trust totally in Him to change the course of History.

When others look at your life, do they see you demonstrating FAITH? In other words, do they hear you talk
about living for the Lord AND see it demonstrated in your life? Just as God honored great faith in the history of
civilization, He today, is looking for men and women of FAITH who will demonstrate their faith by action! Have
you stepped out by faith in any area of your life lately? Be one of those who demonstrates FAITH and whom
God uses to CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY!

A Quick Review of 1st Century Church History

The church was born at Pentecost, the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot (the day that God gave the Torah to
the entire Israelite nation at Mount Sinai and committed Israel to serving God). On that day, the Holy Spirit
came upon the twelve apostles and other followers as described in the book of Acts, 2: 1-31. It is the “Birthday
of the Church.” Immediately, the Apostles began to obey their great commission:

Matthew 28: 19-20 “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
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and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely
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I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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