"New Inductees in the Hall of Faith”

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:11

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Hebrews 11:24-26

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

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choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

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He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 11:31

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:32-38

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

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who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

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Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

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Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

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They were stoned, they were sawn in two,

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they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

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of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

I heard Abba say, "I am inducting new members into the Hall of Faith. And I have a spot waiting for you."

Friends, Hebrews 11 often called the "Hall of Faith" gives us countless examples of men and women who were commended as having "pleased God." As we read through their testimonies and ponder the secret to their success, a common theme emerges.

These words are repeated over and over….. "By faith."

By faith Moses. By faith Abraham. By faith Sarah. And on and on the list goes.

These remarkable believers lives have been given as examples for those upon whom the ends of the age have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11) And we are those people.

Friend, you have been called into the same company. An invitation to the Hall of Faith has been offered to you through the shed blood of Messiah. You must only take the "ticket"…. by faith.

Often times we look at men like Abraham and Moses and we conclude these were "special men" with an anointing much different than ours. The truth is different. James 5:17 says "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.."

These were ordinary men who came to know intimately an extraordinary God.

And through fierce faith (and many personal failings) they sought the "better country" which is yet to come.

The Scripture declares, in Hebrews 11:39-40, "

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And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

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since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Do you hear what the Father is saying to you now?

The Father is commanding you to walk just as these "heroes of the faith" walked. He is saying that you and only you can fulfill the specific calling and destiny the Father has predestined you to carry. And that by your obedience, the work these heroes in the "Hall of Faith" did for Yahweh would not be in vain. In fact, through your obedience and sacrifice and the fulfilling of your commission, their service to the Lord would be made complete.

This is an incredible mystery!

Friends, the trials you are facing are teaching you how to walk by faith in a world that only knows how to walk by sight. God knows, the money hasn’t come. The healing hasn’t come. The breakthrough hasn’t come. But God is calling you to press on. And speak the things that are not as though they are.

He is calling you to study the lives of the heroes in the "hall of faith" to learn the secrets to their success. You must study the lives of recent saints like Richard Wurmbrandt, Brother Yun, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie Ten Boom and the many others who lived lives of surrender and sacrifice.

Let these men and women and those like them be your encouragement as you press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah.

11 is the biblical number for a witness. So its no coincedence Hebrews 11 tells the stories of the faithful "witnesses" to the glory of Christ. They did not merely see God as a historical figure, but a Living reality. We must join their company.

In Canton Ohio, there exists the National Football League's Hall of Fame. I can remember walking down the aisles as a child mesmerized by the statues of the legends of old. Those whose lives were marked by great glories on the football field.

But friend, there is something better being prepared for us. In the heavenly realm there is a "Hall of faith." And this is not filled with statues made of iron and bronze, but living testimonies standing as examples to what God can do through the surrendered heart of a humble servant.

Your place in the hall is waiting. Exchange everything in this life for a ticket in. It was purchased for you by the blood of the Lamb. And together we will become the Living Stones, fixed upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yeshua as the Chief Cornerstone.

The Hall of Faith is still under construction. Your spot is waiting!

Our Prayer

Father, our greatest desire is to please you and to live a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called. Thank you for the lives of the saints. For all those who came before us who showed us what it looks like to follow you until the end. Father let us not grow weary in doing good but learn the secret art of endurance. Let us live lives as overcomers modeling the amazing men and women of Hebrews 11. Let us become the next generation of inductees into the Hall of Faith. For the glory of Yeshua alone. Amen.

A Word from Our Father

My child, there is an entire wing in the Hall of Faith waiting for you and the Benjamin company. Your life has been filled with great victories and painful defeats. But the best of your testimony is yet to come. Every person in Scripture was flesh and blood just like you. They had fears, doubts, and shortcomings. They had moments of great triumph. And moments of great despair. One of my servants Oswald Chambers once said, "If I give you a bitter cup don’t try to make it sweet. And if I give you a sweet cup don’t make it bitter." My Beloved, whatever season you find yourself in, whether bitter or sweet, follow my Son. Walk closely with Him and you will learn the secret Brother Paul experienced. For he came to know that whether in abundance or need he could do ALL things through messiah who strengthened him. I have a place for you in the Hall of Faith. You will not get there on your own. All you can do is surrender to my will for your life, cling to the hem of Messiahs garments, and watch as I unfold the beautiful mystery which is your life here on earth. I have prepared a place for you. I have spoken.

Devotional Song

This morning let the testimonies of those who have gone before us become our inspiration! Let them remind us that He fights for His people, and He will fight for us!