A Better Resurrection

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 18, Issue 32, October 26, 2008

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon; - through faith received a miraculous victory, and of Barak; - a captain in Deborah's army who through faith brought a great deliverance at the hand of God, and of Samson; God delivered all the Philistines into his hands, and of Jephthae; a judge who through faith showed great boldness; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, showed forth righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

The Word of God is full of accounts of deliverance. Many of you have received deliverance of some form. Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, Violent Tempers…
Jesus breaks every chain!

In general we were all: lost in sin and now we are found! Dead and now we live!
Blind but now we see! These wonderful things happen as people put their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus!

However, there is a kind of faith that is not seen much today. A powerful effective faith that refuses anything, but God's deliverance! Folks there are two types of faith.
There is a receiving faith and there is a refusing faith!

Hebrews 11:35-39 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes and more, chains and imprisonment: WHY did they refuse deliverance?

They were stoned, they were sawed in half, were tempted, were slain with the sword: (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: They relied on the promised Messiah, but never lived to see Him come in the flesh and fulfill His work of redemption.

There comes an hour when the strongest proof of your
faith is in the rejection of the
easiest way out!

It seems that the early believers were always given a choice - all they had to do was to denounce their belief and they would be spared all the suffering.

A Roman centurion would write the name of Christ on the wall and all the believer would have to do was spit on it - and they would be given their total freedom - granted deliverance.

In another example all the believer would have to do is reach into a box, pick up some grain from within it and throw it down at the feet of "another god". Instantly all the cruel mockery and torment would cease - - just by throwing down the grain!

But, they refused to bow, they would not compromise!

They chose faithfulness to God rather than the freedom offered at the hands of man. We need this type of faith.

I Corinthians 10:13 no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Do you know it?

Many Christians settle for a quick fix. Beware! There is no true deliverance outside of Christ!

I want to show you something, turn to Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took Jesus up on to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world And sad to him, All these things will I give thee, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus replied Get out of here, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

Just as Christ was taken to the mountain by the enemy - so the enemy takes us. The devil will bring you up on a mountain some-where. He’ll offer you all that your eyes can behold - all you'd have to do is just compromise a little!

Just bow down and all these kingdoms will I give you!

Consider these verses when the enemy comes to you.

Psalms 142:3-5 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. On the path that I walked they laid a snare for me. I looked on my right but there was no one around to help me, my refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried out to You, O LORD: saying, You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Our confidence can’t be in any other form of deliverance or in any other deliverer! Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD.

When your job ends, when Mr/Miss dreamboat becomes a nightmare - when depression attacks, when the car breaks down, when there is no bread in the cupboard, whatever the case - do not seek deliverance in your own wisdom!

Trust the Lord - He will deliver you!

Don't compromise to make ends meet; refuse to look the other way! The night may be dark but there will come joy!

Psalms 5:11-12 Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them.. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 34:7-9 The angel of the LORD camps round about them that fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him... there is no want to them that fear him.

Jesus was tempted with deliverance -

Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar mingled with gall and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Had He not prayed in the garden for the Father to take this cup from Him? Could this not be the way of deliverance?

This was a drug, a pain killer. He’d still be crucified - it would still accomplish the same result - wouldn't it?

Take heed! The Word of God warns us that; there will come a time when people will not endure sound doctrine; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. I Timothy 4:3

Folks don't give up!
Folks don’t give in! Look up!

Carry on in Faith Brothers and Sisters Carry On!

The LORD, preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalms 97:9-11

Hebrews 11:35 ... and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:... Of whom the world was not worthy

Luke 22:31 Jesus said, Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not:
Christ doesn’t always deliver us out, but He always delivers us through!

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy