X-alt June 2011: Heroes of the Faith - The People

Up until now we've been looking at some impressive individuals who did great things for God.  But Hebrews 11 goes on to big up the people and to commend them for their faith.

Both stories that are mentioned - crossing the Red Sea and the walls of Jericho falling down - are about overcoming obstacles.  If our God can deal with these, then he can deal with anything!  Whatever the obstacles in our lives - whether physical, emotional, or spiritual - he can overcome them!

But we also need to remember that when they faced these things the people were together.  When we face obstacles in our lives we should remember that we are part of a community.  As Phil was saying last Sunday morning, we should bear one another's burdens and cast them onto Jesus.

We have a role to play in the obstacles that one another face.  That's why it is so important to use spiritual gifts to encourage one another and pray together.  We also need to be careful that we don't celebrate the wrong things - we should seek to spur one another on to great things, not to drag one another down into the gutter!

Together we can have faith that will see some amazing things happen!  We're in this together!