Real Heroes

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ July 18, 2010

“Real Heroes”

 

“Hero” – a person of distinguished courage, abilities and qualities… especially one who has risked their life

A coward dies a thousand deaths, a hero only one. ~ William Shakespeare

  • America’s military – many show distinguished service in protecting our freedoms… a guy taking a grenade for his friends, genuine heroes, 911 responders…
  • American Idol… media industry in search of natural talent… where’s the real heroes… idols / heroes…
  • Lebron James – Great basketball player who was with the Cleveland Cavaliers now signed with Miami Heat
  • Alice Cooper / Ozzy Osborne – rock music industry, brash, drugs, type of hero you want to admire?
  • Lindsey Lohan – 24 year old actress, singer, model… personal life a shambles… pleads guilty to cocaine use, addicted to drugs and alcohol, the party girl, the model citizen, is she a hero we can celebrate/ look up to?

 

“Gibbor” – appears 159 times in O.T. (strong, mighty, warrior… the proven one, to excel, a champion for Christ… excellence)… this Hebrew word is often used to describe God… “Mighty God”

 

  • Military heroes, common everyday heroes, movie heroes like the Terminator, Spider man or Frodo, music heroes, political heroes, entrepreneur heroes… they come in every shape and size…
  • We want heroes, fantasize about them… successful, powerful, leader… with a clear sense of purpose and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong…
  • Our children want heroes… they gravitate toward characters on TV, movies, video games, sports jock… someone to look up to, emulate… dad and mom? Yet 19% girls and 13% boys cite a parent as their hero…
  • They need someone to love them, correct them, teach them right from wrong… truth and lie… about God

 

I.   Examples throughout the Bible (literally hundreds…)

  • Joshua – Humble dependent obedience in the Lord

Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Joshua 5:15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so… Joshua 6:27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

  • Young Joshua served alongside older & wiser Moses for 40 years… never complained, he never caused problems… he was found faithful and obedient to the Lord
  • God divinely promoted Joshua to lead the Israelites when Moses died…
  • Reading about Joshua… he was a humble servant, not up to the great task & responsibility
  • Unsure, untested… God would often intervene to bring encouraging words… confidence grew
  • Joshua led God’s children into the promise land… crossing flooded Jordan… to walls of Jericho
  • Obedient to his Lord – he stayed humble in spite of his exalted position – A Real Hero!

 

  • Stephen – Powerful Faith in the midst of adversity

Acts 6:5 “…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…”

Acts 7:59-60 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

  • Stephen was chosen for a task of helping in the church to oversee food distribution…
  • God tells us, “he was full of faith…” 6:8 also says full of God’s grace and power… he also did great wonders and miraculous signs confirming the fledging church…
  • Opposition arose but the unsaved Jews could not refute his wisdom… the mob seized him
  • Stephen preached to the people about Jesus… the people went berserk… furious, gnashed their teeth at him, stopped their ears, screamed at him… dragged him out and stoned him
  • In the face of martyrdom… this N.T. Hero demonstrated powerful faith… A Real Hero!

 

  • Daniel – Blameless Lifestyle and Persistent Prayer

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

  • Nothing is recorded in the Bible about any character flaw/sin in Daniel’s life… blameless life…
  • Taken into captivity to Babylon, Daniel did not waver in his convictions… “exceptional qualities”
  • His enemies could find no corruption, he was trustworthy… King Darius was tricked into signing into law ONLY to pray to the king for next 30 days… BUT Daniel disobeyed man’s law in order to obey God’s higher law… He continued to humbly pray to the Lord… arrested, lions den, deliverance… A Real Hero!

 

  • Paul – Unwavering Commitment to Christ

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

  • Called out of devote Judaism where Paul persecuted the early church… now a new creature
  • Driven with his passion to know Christ more… plants churches everywhere, even in Europe
  • 2Co 11:23-33 Five times lashed 39 times, beaten with rods, stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, spent night in open sea, on the move, much danger… labored and toiled, hungered & thirst, cold & naked, felt the daily pressures of all the churches… arrested, in chains… exposed to death many times… weak, tired… I have been crucified with Christ… NOT I BUT CHRIST…
  • With his ambition to finish the race and complete the task Christ gave him…
  • A driven, passionate, unwavering commitment to Christ… A Real Hero!

 

 

  • David – Passionate Love for God

Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

  • 1Sam 16… David as a shepherd boy is anointed by Samuel… he is a brave man and a warrior, he speaks well, handsome, and the Lord is with him v18…
  • 1Sam 17… young David says to Goliath, “you come against me with sword, spear & javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied… David struck Goliath with a stone from his sling… cut off his head!
  • Some 14 years later he becomes King of Israel… Greatest king in Israel’s history! Passionate LOVE… after God’s own heart… love for the Lord was his motivation… A Real Hero!

 

 

  • Jesus Christ – Serving willingly, sacrificially, effectively, etc…

Mark 10:43-45 43 “… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (diakoneo) 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave (doulos) of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

  • Cannot stop without naming Jesus, the Son of God… our ultimate Hero and example…
  • Creator of all things, God walked this earth 2000 years ago… Jesus made the blind to see, He cleansed the Leper, He caused the lamb to walk, He fed the multitudes, He stilled the storm and walked on water, He even raised the dead back to life, He suffered and died under the hands of sinful man, He was buried and conquerored death… A Living Savior who is soon coming again!
  • Get this, Jesus said… the Son of Man did not come to be served, BUT TO SERVE… A Real Hero!

 

“Servant” diakonos – voluntarily renders service to others “..become great among you must be your…”

“Slave” doulos – forfeits his own rights in order to serve others “…wants to be first must be slave…”

 

Voluntarily renders service to others… forfeits his own rights in order to serve others…

  • Cross Creek is filled with heroes… those who volunteer to serve the body of Christ… Real Heroes!
  • Yesterday we had a memorial service for Alice Johnson… servants making it happen… Real Heroes!
  • All you dad’s and mom’s who are faithfully raising your children in the Lord… Real Heroes!
  • Matt & Becky faithfully changing the marquee on our sign every week… Real Heroes!
  • Everywhere you look you see heroes… those on the worship team… servants... Real Heroes!
  • Sunday School staff… every week preparing then teaching our children God’s Word… Real Heroes!
  • Celebrate Recovery, Men’s & Ladies ministries, financial team, Secretarial staff… Real Heroes!
  • All the VBS workers… what a ministry giving of yourself to serve others… Real Heroes!
  • Beautiful facilities/grounds… flower beds, lawns, weed wackers, snow removers… Real Heroes!
  • Revolution College & Career team, Cross-Roads Teen ministry team… Real Heroes!
  • Special event servants, meal makers, phone care folks, Children church workers… Real Heroes!
  • Awana workers, teachers, set uppers and clean uppers, greeters, ushers, parkers… Real Heroes!
  • Those who sign for the deaf, faithfully serves at Choices, First hospital, Ruth’s Place… Real Heroes!
  • Those who faithfully pray… faithfully tithe… faithfully attending… Real Heroes!
  • So many who served in our awesome building project in whatever needed to be done… Real Heroes!
  • Those who minister in the nursery, loving and caring for our children, blessing… Real Heroes!

 

THANK YOU! You’re the Real Heroes… what more can I say… There is JOY in serving Jesus!

(Take a snap-shot picture of them… what would you see?)

 

II. Common Traits of Real Heroes…

  • Spiritually growing and healthy! ... the joy of the Lord is my strength
  • Submission to the Lordship of Christ! … Not I but Christ
  • Sold-out in fulfilling the Great Commission! … reaching your world for Christ as you win the lost
  • Servitude of pouring their lives into others! … mentoring, teaching, helping, giving of yourself
  • Sacrificially giving of their time, talent and treasure! … one big collective team serving Christ

 

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

Once again… Be sure to fill out & hand in your golden ministry sheets!

 

MAKING AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE!  HUGE dividends someday!

 

Be praying: “High Seas Expedition” VBS July 26-30th 6:30pm “Exploring the Mighty Love of God”

 

Let’s Pray