TITLE: God has big plans for those who wait. TEXT: Hebrews 11:30-40 THEME: People of faith endure suffering because they know God has planned something better for them.

A police exam read: You are on patrol in outer London when an explosion occurs in a gas main in a nearby street.

What would you do in the circumstances?

God allows his people to face impossible situations because God had a greater purpose that is ultimately for our good and his glory.

How does faith guide us in making decisions with uncertain outcomes?

I. It enables us to be obedient in that we know God is going to act. (30-31)

Hebrews 11: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

I. It enables us to be obedient in that we know God is going to act. (30-31) A. Even if it doesn’t make sense.

I. It enables us to be obedient in that we know God is going to act. (30-31) A. Even if it doesn’t make sense. B. It will enable us to help others if we know if it is for God.

How does faith guide in making decisions with uncertain outcomes?

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38)

Hebrews 11: And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and 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

Hebrews 11: Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated

Hebrews 11: the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. – They did not withdraw from making their faith known and acting on it.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. – They did not withdraw from making their faith known and acting on it. – Sometimes avoidance is not the best course- we may need to face the battle before us.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. – They did not withdraw from making their faith known and acting on it. – Sometimes avoidance is not the best course- we may need to face the battle before us. – Sometimes the most urgent thing is not the most important thing.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to:

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to: – Face torture and imprisonment.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to: – Face torture and imprisonment. – Accept death.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to: – Face torture and imprisonment. – Accept death. – Live is isolation and homeless.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to: – Face torture and imprisonment. – Accept death. – Live is isolation and homeless. – Live in poverty and persecution.

II.It enables us to look beyond the tyranny of the urgent. (32-38) A. We may engage in battles we may otherwise avoid. B. It can turn our weakness into strength C. It will allow us to: Because they knew God had some long term greater good in mind.

Three Words That Impacted a Nation “But if not”

How does faith guide in making decisions with uncertain outcomes?

III.It enables us to know God has something better planned for us. (39-40)

Hebrews 11: These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

III.It enables us to know God has something better planned for us. (39-40) A. God’s reward is often not immediate.

III.It enables us to know God has something better planned for us. (39-40) A. God’s reward is often not immediate. B. With them we will be perfected for our faith.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “The ultimate responsible question is not how I can heroically make the best of a bad situation but rather how the coming generation can be enabled to live.”

APPLICATION A life of Faith is not something reserved for a few “elite saints.” All of us are called to lives life of faith.

APPLICATION God can take whatever impossible situation in which we find ourselves and use for his greater purpose- even if the purpose is not immediately revealed.

APPLICATION Don’t panic. It may make no sense to you, or may even seem hopeless- but God has a bigger plan that you cannot see that this situation is part of.

Joni Eareckson “Today as I look back I am convinced that the whole ordeal of my paralysis was inspired by God’s love. I wasn’t the brunt of some cruel divine joke. God had reasons behind my suffering and learning some of them has made all the difference in the world.”