Sermon Tone Analysis

We are continuing our series, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”.

Hebrews 11 has 17 individuals, mentioned by name, that serve as witnesses or testimonies of faith.

Several more are referred to by the things they experienced or endured, because of their faith.

The great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11 testify about the power, love and faithfulness of God.

20 times in the 40 verses of this chapter we are told these witnesses lived “by faith”.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is only as good as its object.

These witnesses in Hebrews 11, trusted what God said and trusted Him enough to act out it.

And we too are called to live be faith, to trust the Lord Jesus with our lives.

Loving, worshipful faith is what God desires from us...

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

6 ...without faith it is impossible to please Him...

Faith is pleasing to God.

The Great Cloud of Witnesses confirm it.

We don’t please God by trying harder or doing better.

Instead, by faith, we deny ourselves, trust Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, and follow Him in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

That’s faith.

That’s what God wants.

Faith.

So far we’ve covered the first 27 verses in Hebrews 11, looking at the witnesses found in the book of Genesis, namely, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph and now we have entered into the book of Exodus and examine the faith of Amram and Jochebed, the mom and dad of Moses, and last week, we took a look at the witness of Moses.

This morning is Moses part 2.

Hebrews 11:32–34 (NASB)

32 And what more shall I say?

For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Judges 6:11–7:25 (NASB)

11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites.

12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.”