The
Hebrews 11 Mandate
We are on the verge of seeing a
great awakening in our country today. We are living in a time wherein we see
the destiny that was spoken of prophetically a couple of years ago being
fulfilled in our lifetime.
In 1 Chronicles 12:32, the author
shared that in Israel’s peak, the men of Isaachar understood the seasons and
times. And in this hour, we as believers are called to understand the seasons
and times we are in.
Last week, I sat down as I listen to
Atty. Lyndon Cana and speak about this time and season like no other. This is
no time to sit around and do nothing. We need to quicken and do so much as we
are still awake because in the twinkling of an eye, everything can happen –
whether we like it or not.
Our history speaks of the youth as
the hope of the nation. My pastors speak about the christian youth as the hope
of the nation. We need to rise up, believe that God has something better than
just school, the internet, DOTA or even sitting in the church listening to
crazy sermons like this.
We
are called to become forerunners for this generation. Forerunners are people who go
before a crowd or group, preparing the way for something to happen. We don't
sit and wait; we work our way to make something happen. We belong to a
generation who prepares the coming of the Lord.
Let
me ask you these questions:
·
Who do the pastors and elders in the
church call if they need something to be done for a big event? The youth.
·
Who do the pastors like to have in
the worship team leading such great events? The youth.
·
Who do the pastors get excited to
when they hear testimonies of every Sunday? The youth.
·
Who do our pastors correct, rebuke
and teach as often as they want to? The youth.
The youth plays an integral part of
this church's generation. We need to rise up and become responsible individuals
with a divine calling. Today, I'd like to share about something that I've been
praying for quite some time now. This message is birthed in many stories I've
heard, the books I bought and of course, this sense of urgency to share what the
Lord has placed in my heart for such a long time.
Anyway, I have two main verses to
share and this is in Hebrew 11:1 and 2 but will also focus in the entire
chapter:
“Now faith is the substance of
things hope for, the evidence of things not seen. For it (referring to faith),
the elders obtained a good report.”
Hebrews
11 speaks about a
list of great names and unaccounted events in history that we love to read. How
many of us here love to hear about David? Samson? Abraham? Sarah? These great
men and women of God in the bibles started young like you and I? Yes, they are
all great and mighty and all has one common ground – FAITH.
They have the faith that is things
hoped for and things that they have not yet seen but right now have been
transcribed in the bible as something significant.
There are a couple of things pointed
out in this specific verses that I want to share to you.
This is with the
expectations that the Holy Spirit will open your mind and hearts for the BIGGER
PICTURE God has entrusted you.
1.) A forerunner acts in faith
regardless of how big the task is (v. 4) – It is impossible to move in
the forerunners' anointing without God in it. As what we've read awhile ago,
the patriarchs and prophets in the bible all had one common ground – that is
faith in someone BIGGER than themselves. In David's own words he said “who am I
that you are mindful of me? The son of man that you care too much for me? You
made a little lower than the heavenly beings and crown me with glory and honor!”
As forerunners, we need to believe
that whatever we do for the Lord, we believe that by faith we can accomplish
great things. A short testimony about this one that relates to believing big
and having the faith to accomplish it was the Generations Gathering we did last
April. We didn't have the money or the capacity to do such an event but we were
bold enough to step forward.
God brought us speakers across the
globe and raised more than P 50k in just 2 months. We didn't lack anything and
we still have enough left for us to use for the ministry. We believe God will
work things for us and yet we acted out in faith. And the Lord provided.
Our faith stirs us to move, it stirs
us to share the gospel, it stirs us to act and believe that God will do the
rest.
2.) We live in the promises of
God and embraces the very essence of Christ's calling (v. 7) – The
journey of becoming a forerunner is not easy. We need to embrace God's promises
as a daily food supplement. We need to bring it wherever we go – whether at
work or in school. It is the very essence of our being. How we live in our
house, in church or in school should be the same. Look for Joseph as an
example, he lived as a slave in Egypt for 40 years but remains true to the
essence of believing that Yahweh has given him a dream, and in his lifetime saw
it fulfilled. He became the 2nd highest ranking official in Ancient
Egypt. He basically saved the ancient world from the famine that affected his
time.
The famous people in the bible lived
to please the King of kings. They believed in a God who can make them do all
things through Christ. They believed that God does not lie. He will fulfill
whatever he promised in us for us.
If God has given you a dream, He
will not fail. It may tarry, you may have to wait for a lifetime for it to be
fulfilled. You might get recognized only after you die but keep this in mind
always – do everything to please God and He will in the long run, reward you
along the way.
3.) We are a man or woman of
character (v. 32 & 33) – one thing that is persistent about Hebrews
11 is that it speaks about the flaws and the victories of the saints. It spoke
about Abraham's faith in moving out in his own country; Sarah laughed at God to
have a baby but ended up fulfilling the promise of God by naming him Isaac
meaning “she laughed at God”.
Other examples speak about the
hardships they've encountered and how, even in the hardest of times remained
true to their calling. Some of them even sinned against God but in the end,
repented and fulfilled the mandate God has for them.
A forerunner is not moved by his
circumstances. She is not shaken by the obstacles that have aroused in her
journey. All the more that they used these circumstances to prove that whatever
they have received from the Lord is first of all, true and that in their
lifetime, can speak “ never did the Lord leave me nor forsake me...”
4.) Our story is about HIS
STORY (v. 39 & 40) – the famous people Hebrews 11 mentioned about
had a story to tell but it was not their story. It was a story given by God for
them to share. Their life was the examples of this great God in heaven who makes
and acts in behalf of the need of the world in simple and great ways through
the acts of his people – us. Our story starts where His son's life ended.
The cross of Christ is the key of
the forerunner's anointing. It is the key that unlocks the chapter 1 of our own
journey to becoming like them. In Isaiah 61, it spoke about the coming Christ
and what he will do when he came here. And he fulfilled everything in it. As
believers, God has called us to become like Christ, the apostle Paul said
“imitate me as I imitate Christ” and these were not mere words about character
but also with power.
Like the apostles and the rest of
these people, they saw the promise and dwell in the supernatural providence of
God to move the red sea in half, to provide food in the dessert, to provide oil
that could let a widow and her two kids live prosperously, to pass by in shadow
and be healed, to set captives free, to proclaim the favor of the Lord.
These were not about them but about
God – our God, He is greater than what our story is and BIGGER than what we can
accomplish. His story is just starting and he wants you to play your role to
complete it with Him.
Conclusion:
What story is showing in your life
right now? Will you make God the finisher of this BIG story? Will you allow
your story to end like Jehu doing greater things for God but ending the wrong
way by still allowing sacrifices to idols? Or will you end like the other Jehu,
the prophet who became the oracle of God in his generation.
Both lived in the span of 2 lifetimes,
both lived in different kingdoms but has the same God. Both did what was right
in the eyes of the Lord. Both boldly act in behalf of God without the fear of
what lies ahead.
King Jehu received a promise of
having his offspring up to the fourth generation to rule over his kingdom. His
name is engraved as someone who made an impact to his generation. Prophet Jehu
became the voice of God in Judah's history.
I don't know what is going on with
your story right now but one thing for sure; it is not an accident why God
placed you here. He needs you to take part of His story and whether you like it
or not, you are part of a bigger story for His time to come. Unless we do our
part, we can never get the “end” we are so eagerly waiting about.
God is calling forerunners across
the globe. Let us not be left behind to what God is doing in the world today.
In Bro. Garth’s depiction about Bais City, it is the launch pad of God to the
nations. It is the trigger-point for revival. It is where we see the Lord
placing a cross-road from the north and the south, the oriental and the
occidental. But one thing for sure, if we start where God has placed us.
Surely, we cannot deny the possibility that those who have gone before us will
see the completion of the promise of God fulfilled.
It is time for us to rise up; it is
time for us to run together. It is time for us to arise and take the step of
faith. It is time for us to become forerunners of God in our generation, in our
lifetime!
