Lets look at Hebrews 11:32 - 12:1 (NIV) And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, {33} who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, {34} quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. {35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. {36} Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. {37} They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- {38} the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. {39} These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. {40} God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. {12:1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Paul said "I can't tell about all of the men of faith..." "I don't have the time. I'm sure Paul would have enjoyed recounting every individual of faith. He had by no means exhausted the reservoir of the faithful. He does name a few who were at the tip of his tongue. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel.
Each in their own way were men of faith and worthy to be counted among the men of faith! It would be a worthy study to look at these additional men and the "others referred to by Paul. It would be worth a look thru the Bible just looking for the examples of faith recorded for our edification.
We will just look at them as a group and let them minister to us as if they were a big choir. One of the lessons for us, from this passage, is that faith does not require that we be well known. Without a doubt most men and women of faith are not famous or well known. They are individuals that have their struggles and weakness very much like you and I
I am sure we would be surprised to learn the men and women of faith who have walked among us. Being well known does not make us more or less an individual of faith. Being an individual of faith does not mean that we experience big earth shaking miracles. In fact, the people who have influenced our lives were not "healers" or "miracle workers."
I think of my father-in-law who is one of the "others." I cannot think of one spectacular miracle that happened as he prayed and ministered. Yet he was a man of faith. He was faithful! He was faithful to the work God had called him to do. He had a confidence in God that was unshakable. He knew God and what God could do. He was not a super preacher. Yet people's lives were changed as a result of his ministry. He is one of the "OTHERS"
What about the SS teachers that have been faithful in teaching God's word? Somehow they were able to teach more than the facts from the Word. As they taught there was a faith that was caught by their students. No doubt many of you have been influenced by their teaching and life example.
What about the deacon or elder in the local assembly that was faithful in their supportive ministry. There are many "fathers" and "mothers" in the Lord that are among the "others." There have been many grandmothers and grandfathers in the Lord. They have been those who have spent untold hours in prayer for the church and its people. There have been those who have given counsel to those younger in the faith than themselves.
I am reminded of one of these - POP EVANS. Pop Evans would visit the campus of Southern California College. He would walk around talking to the young students. As he would walk and talk, his eyes were always moist with tears. Some how I knew that he was praying for me and the other students he talked with. He would impart his faith, just being in his presence. He would give you counsel, if you asked. He never pushed. Yet he was always available. I never heard him discuss theology. He would hand out a little red booklet that contained what I call "pearls of wisdom." POP EVANS is on my list of the "OTHERS" When I think of Pop Evans, I am reminded of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah.
There have been a multitude of precious saints who have stood by supporting the pastor. The pastor is the one in the public eye. Yet these dear saints were always there to pray for their pastor. They were the ones that gave the pastor stability to stand in his weaker moments. They were there exercising their faith in God. They were there to give a "thus saith the Lord" in the crisis time. They were there to give a word of encouragement when needed. They were ready to give of themselves. Sister McCarty was such a saint.
When we were in Idaho I met Brother Fleming. In his youth a faithful minister! He had been the superintendent of the Southern Idaho District Council of the Assemblies of God. He had a good reputation as a Pastor and Superintendent. I never knew bother Fleming as a pastor nor as superintendent. When I met brother Fleming, he was shaking uncontrollably from Parkinson's decease. He was weak and unable to do many of the things he had done so well in his youth. He was barely able to speak. It was always difficult to understand him. His life as a victim of Parkinson's was a witness to the grace of God. I never heard a negative word from him about his circumstances. To be with brother Fleming was to hear about the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord. His eyes would fill with tears of joy as he would rehearse the things of the Lord.
To borrow Paul's words " these are men of whom the world is not worthy."
Many men and women have had to endure: Torture Mocking, Chains, Scourging, Stoning, Imprisonment, Temptations, Death, Destitution, Affliction, Ill-treatment BE ENCOURAGED!!!
Hebrews 12:1 "... since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Do you feel like I feel? So what if life is rough! God is faithful. I need to renew my determination to walk if faith! I invite you to join me as I renew my faith in God this morning.
I think we all would like to be one of the "Others." My prayer today is that I would be one of the "Others"