“The disciple is not above is master (teacher) : but every  one that is perfect (blameless, whole in Christ) shall be as his master.” Luke 6:40

The toughest question to answer concerning the Kingdom of God and those who live for it and more importantly those who have died for it is why do so many that follow Christ suffer unimaginable persecution.

The answer is quite simple, just as Jesus told us that the servant cannot be above his master and to reign with Christ we must suffer with Christ.

It is not because God does not love us or that he has forsaken us in our afflictions, we have his promise that he will never leave us.

We are not of this world as he is not of this world.

The world hated him so the world will hate us.

John 15:18-20: “ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated  me before it hated you. 

If  ye were of this world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord. 

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; 

If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.“

Persecution comes to us all.

Despite denominations, nationality, poverty or wealth.

From the darling little hat-wearing Baptist church lady left widowed, now struggling with health and loneliness trying her best to survive it all without complaint, hiding the tears behind the dignity, elegance, and decorum taught to her generation.

Those who are mocked, ridiculed, and shunned by family, friends, & often employers who do not wish to know of their new faith.

Those who suffer attack from the enemy through trials, sorrows, and sickness suffering a seemingly never-ending season of night, holding on in faith for the daybreak that will come.

And those who suffer the most, those who risk life, limb, imprisonment, and even death for their faith in Jesus Christ.

The evidence of their love for Christ and steadfast obedience displayed in their own blood and the blood of their families as they are helplessly slaughtered.

A slaughter of innocence witnessed by a world that for all intents and purposes could really care less about their plight.

This world is not even worthy of the presence of those they hate.

The greatest riches of this world will be accounted as less than nothing when compared to the glory, and splendor that they will receive in the Kingdom of God.

Now we are going to go diving, really deep diving into to Hebrews chapter eleven, which is known as the faith chapter.

We will go verse by verse and I will expound and give background and clarity in between and it is my sincerest prayer that the journey through this amazing chapter will encourage and renew faith today as we read about those who came before us, their struggles, and the faith in which they prevailed and the courage their stories give us that we also, through Christ shall prevail.

Hebrews 11:1-3: ” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Faith is believing.

It is believing for the impossible because we serve the God in which to whom nothing is impossible.

We have hope for those things which we cannot see believing that those things will happen.

The elders will be discussed in the passage, those who believed by faith for those things which were impossible, that belief giving them a good report because God commends faith.

We understand by faith that God created everything simply by speaking.

His word spoken into a void of nothingness brought all things animals, plants, people, sea life, microscopic creatures whose beating hearts can be viewed under a microscope, the stars, the moon, the sun and all that is under the earth.

Far too numerous to name but his word brought all things into existence.

Hebrews 11:4-6: ” By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him (he did not suffer death, God took him to heaven): for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve, and life after the fall was just being established.

The laws and commandments had not yet been given but they were to offer sacrifice unto God.

Able honored God by giving his very best, showing a right heart.

Cain on the other hand gave his offering half-heartedly revealing a heart not quite right.

God accepted the offering of Able but rejected the offering of Cain, this action revealing in real-time the true condition of the heart of Cain.

He was filled with anger, rage, and jealously toward his brother and killed him.

Abel’s shed blood cried out from the earth because he was righteous through his faith in God and God heard the cry of his blood, that he had been murdered by his brother.

Enoch walked with God and through his faith in God did not have to face death, God took him to heaven because he pleased him.

This also mirrors the rapture when those who live for Christ will be taken to heaven before the great battle at the end of days.

We are then reminded that we must have faith, it is not an option, it is not believe in him one day, then not believe in him so much the next, it is day in day out.

We must believe that he is, that he is real and that he will fulfill the promises he has given us and that he blesses and rewards our faith in him as we seek him.

We are blessed by believing in him, as he told Thomas.

Thomas was one of his disciples, and we do not want to be thinking hard toward Thomas and bashing his faith, these men were mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted.

Watching Jesus perform miracles, cast out demons, and raise the dead undoubtedly had been filled with wonder and amazement and then with one fell swoop Jesus was accused, arrested, and crucified.

Their world was shattered and they questioned everything.

Thomas was not among them when Jesus first revealed himself to his disciples after his resurrection and when they told Thomas that Jesus was alive, he said that he would have to feel the wounds before he could believe that he had risen.

Jesus in his grace, and mercy allowed Thomas to do just that, allowing him to feel his wounds and he also referenced those who believe but have not yet seen.

John 20:29: “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

That is faith.

Hebrews 11:7-16: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and went out, not knowing whiter he went (not knowing where he was going).

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents) with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out (where they came from), they might have had opportunity to have returned.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

Noah obeyed God despite being mocked and laughed to scorn because no one had ever seen a flood but them having never seen a flood did not prevent the flood from coming.

Noah by faith believing God and in doing so he saved his family and God had commanded the animals to be brought to save them also as the entire world was condemned because of their wickedness.

Abraham had faith in God’s guidance and while many would argue to know where they are going before committing to the journey, Abraham did the opposite, he trusted God for him and his house.

He trusted God’s promise that he would father a great nation, so great in fact that they would be innumerable.

Sarah ninety-years old, past menopause and Abraham much too old to father children were blessed of God to do just that.

Abraham never seeing the fulfilment of that promise as even today we are still being added to that awesome number and one day he will see us all, from every nation, every tribe, every language as we take our home in that same heavenly city.

They kept the faith for what they believed, not seeing the fulfillment, but in faith knowing it would come to pass.

Forgetting that which was behind, as we also must, so that nothing could pull us back from our journey to a better land.

Hebrews 11:17-31: ” By faith Abraham, when he was tried (tested), offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from when he also received him in a figure (figuratively).

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years (an adult), refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect to the recompense pf the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them.

By faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying (attempting) to do drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

Abraham passed his test because he knew that God would fulfil his promise even if he had to raise Isaac from the dead and did not withhold his only son, as God did not withhold Jesus but gave him for us all.

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all gave blessings as they were dying, proclaiming good and Joseph even mentioned when the Hebrews would be freed and at this time, they were yet to be enslaved.

Moses parents refused to let him be killed as the Pharoah had ordered the death of all Hebrew males, trusting God they hid him and after three months his mother cast him onto the water knowing that God would save her child.

Moses gave up all the riches, pleasures, and prestige that came with being a prince of Egypt, knowing that God would bless his people and with them he would stand.

God blessing him to be chosen to lead them out and through faith, he obeyed the voice of God and witnessed deliverance unlike anything that had ever been seen.

Rahab and her family were spared from the destruction because she had faith in helping God’s chosen, regardless of her past, God allowed her blessings that would extend to king David being born of her lineage.

In carefully following the instructions of God, the walls of Jericho fell in an absolute supernatural victory for the children of God.

And here is the deepest of the deep, and as you read this allow the faith that lived in these, arise in you also.

He has given the measure unto us all.

Hebrews 11:32-40: ” And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; and of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens  (forced their enemies to flee).

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings  (lashings, beatings) yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder (cut in half), were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

(of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And these all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

This tells us not only the great feats of faith displayed in their lives but also their suffering, their poverty, their deaths and that even though they all kept the faith and fulfilled the call upon their lives as of yet, they have not received the reward of those promises.

God bringing us all into that land together after time has been fulfilled.

As many today, they were beaten, persecuted, impoverished and slain, and as those of old, those of today suffer in a world that is not eve worthy of them.

As the Apostles were made gazing stocks by their afflictions, to those in the world it would appear that they were forsaken but we know that they were blessed beyond measure and will one day take their places and rule each over a tribe of Israel in New Jerusalem.

I want to leave you with their words as they themselves explain that in the persecution lies the proof of righteousness and the assurance that in the fulness of time, God will plead your cause with those who have tormented you.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-12: ” So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense (repay) tribulation to them that trouble you;

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Blessing & Peace.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2026 / Rev. N. Brown Johnson