Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
JUDE 1:3 KJV
For the past two days, we have considered saints who had dedicated their lives for the sake of a promise given to man at the beginning. These men lived as pilgrims in their generation. While there are many saints of note throughout scriptures, we looked through Hebrews 11, at some of the saints listed on there to pick a few attributes we can desire to have in us if we would be among those in the last days whom God will use to pass faith and truth to the next generation.
- Like Isaac and Jacob, these saints must depend on God completely as their sufficiency. Isaac was a simple man, who knowing the promise and that he had received, did not chide with any man. He decided to live at peace with all men, such that even when the Philistines envied him because of the evident favour on his life, he would not chide or pick up fights with them. He waited patiently for God to make room for him in the land of his sourjourn and this meant digging four wells and having the philistines pour dirt into them until he got to the fifth, where the contention ceased, Genesis 26:12-33. Jacob on the other hand had been a fighter from the womb and by tricks, he stole the birthright from his brother Esau. However, in Genesis 32, when he was to face the consequences of his action and face his brother, he was brought to his knees and learned to depend on God. He wrestled with God and his nature and name was changed. It was recorded that he leaned upon his staff, which is symbolic of Christ, blessing his children, Hebrews 11:21.
- Like Joseph, they fear God and keep their focus on the kingdom. Joseph was the eleventh of the twelve sons of Jacob and the first son of Rachael. He, however, had received a promise from the Lord that he would be a ruler and a saviour for his brethren, Genesis 37. The fear of missing out on this promise, like his uncle Esau and offending God kept him from indulging in the pleasures of sin even for a moment, Genesis 39:1-20. Even in Egypt, his heart was on the promise, such that he asked the Children of Israel not to leave his bones in Egypt. He must have believed that there would be a resurrection and that God will visit Israel again, Hebrews 11:22. It was this hope that preserved him in Egypt.
- Like Moses, they will have a personal revelation of the God of Israel. Moses was meant to be a prince in Egypt, but upon learning about his people, he despised Egypt and sought to be identified with his brethren. This eventually made him an enemy in pharoahs eyes and so he fled egypt. In the wilderness, he encountered God and learned a new name of God, Exodus 3:1-14. It was this revelation that he shared to His brethren and by this revelation he rescued them from Egypt. If we must show Jesus to the world, we must see him first. We get this revelation by Spending time with God in the secret place.
- Like Gideon in Judges 6, they will cry “Where be all His power?”. These men will not be satisfied with the current state of seeming powerlessness in the church. The bible says the church is meant to be the pillar and ground of truth, 1 timothy 3:15. It says the church, the mountain of the Lords house, will be exalted and all nations will flow into it, Isaiah 2:2. However, this does not seem to be the case now. These men will judge God to be true and cry out to him for the deliverance He has promised. Because of this faith, God will make them the deliveres that all creation is groaning for, Romans 8:19-23.
- Like David, they will not break rank, but will have respect for the grace of God upon their brethren. David was annointed king in God’s eyes, yet Saul was still on the throne. Saul sought to kill David and though David had different opportunities to kill Saul, He would not lay his hand on the Lord’s annointed. Regardless of if our brethren are working in the right path or not, our Job is never to slay them, but correct in love, respecting the annointing of God on their lives and knowing that we are not in the place to judge another man’s servant. God is the judge of all, but for us, brotherly love must exist at all times.
Time will fail us to speak of Sarah, who though her womb was dead, judged God faithful and received a child at ninety-nine. There is also Jephthah who wrought a great deliverance for Israel and being a man of discernment, drove out ungodliness from Israel using the “shibboleth” technique, Judges 11. Samson, Rahab, the prophets, Daniel, Esther, the list could go on and on of mighty men and women who held on in faith for the redemption promised by God. However, God has designed better things for us. We are the people upon whom the end of the age will come and we have a more glorious opportunity before us, to have the Spirit of the Living God on the inside of us and be partakers of His nature. We must be careful, however, lest we be fornicators like Esau who despised the promise and lost it forever, even though he sought it later with tears. Seeing these great company of saints, including the apostles that have gone before us, our eyes should be fixed on Jesus who will surely reward them who diligently seek Him. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus thank You for showing me many examples of men and women of like passion who, having received the promise gave their lives, seeking to be partakers of it. Father, thank You for the promise of the Kingdom, that I will live and reign with You as Your Son and as a king and priest on the earth after the order of an endless life. Help me not to despise this great gift You have given me. Help me to fix my eyes on You at all times, that I will be among them who through faith and patience, inherit the promise.
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