Telling Lions to Shut Up

July 10

Read: Hebrews 11:32-40

Telling Lions to Shut Up

“…who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” (v.33,34)

What do you think of when you imagine “faith” and what it does in our lives? How powerful do you expect the work of faith to be. The list above is shocking when you think of it! Do we ever really think of “faith” being the vehicle that conquers kingdoms!? Or “quenches the power of fire”? How about granting strength or making a person “mighty in war”? I can’t help but think that we have in some way or another developed a watered down idea of what faith produces in God’s people. It has become something like kind sentiment or a comforting thought… but how often do we expect it to work with POWER in our lives and the lives of others?

We may not even think that “faith” would get involved with these sorts of things to begin with… kingdoms, justice, lions, fire, swords, wars, and causing foreign armies to flee. That is quite a different landscape than the faith-settings of today. Here is what we need to embrace: FAITH IS POWERFUL. Jesus tells us as much:

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt 17:20)

To walk by faith and not by sight is to walk in this sort of power. What do we have to be afraid of when we see the power that God has entrusted to us in his gift of faith to us? When I read the list above, I realize there is not much that I need to fear short of God himself. I don’t know specifically what you are facing today, but I know that the power and presence of God in you … and the power of faith working through you … is more than enough to conquer whatever lies ahead; “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) The enemy wants us to shrink back in fear and think that the powers at work against God Most High are the greatest… when they ARE NOT. Somehow, our assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen is able to “conquered kingdoms, enforce justice, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the power of fire, escap the edge of the sword, make strength out of weakness, make us become mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.” (v.33,34) It is time for our faith to “come pff the bench” and carry us into ACTION. Those situations outlined are not “passive” activities… you don’t find yourself in a place of needing your faith to work that like by “playing it safe” or sitting around in your living room! May God call us out of our comfort and/or fear and into a Hebrews 11:33-34 sort of FAITH. Love you guys. - JDP