“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: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions” (Hebrews 11:32,33).
TEXT — Hebrews 11:30-40
Message
David Livingstone went to remote parts of Africa as a lone missionary. After some time, his missions committee wrote, “Some people would like to join you. What’s the easiest road to get where you are?” He replied, “If they’re looking for the easiest road, tell them to stay in England. I want people who will come, even if there’s no road at all!” Sometimes, the pathway of the Christian life appears to change from a smooth-surfaced road to a stony track or peter out altogether.
It is the life of faith that stands each hero of faith out among his compatriots. They do not navigate easy roads to success. They faced trial and triumph, pain and gain, death and life, peace and war. The exploits of Joshua, Rahab, Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, and several unnamed prophets and heroes are recorded in the Holy Scriptures as the cloud of witnesses.
We, too, in our generation, can do more remarkable exploits than these men and women subject to like passions as we are. If Ruth, a Moabitess, can, by faith, become an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ, what stops a sister Ruth of our age from sinking racial and gender prejudices to carve her name among the heroes of faith in our own time? Daniel stood alone uncompromisingly before the political manoeuvrings of his time. We, too, can outshine the faith of Daniel and humbly but faithfully confront the corruption and godlessness in the corridors of power in our days. Esther, by faith, dared to lead a whole tribe of people who were doomed for perdition to bring God’s incredible power down in the city of Shushan. Her decisive faith in praying and fasting for three days reversed the king’s decree, and the hunter was now hunted and defeated.
Beloved, these things were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Your hope can become substantiated today if you follow the steps of these heroes of faith. You, too, will overcome obstacles and do exploits.
Thought for the day
The road to victory is not paved with stones; it could be a jungle.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
