Below is the teen lesson I’ll use for tomorrows Sunday School program where I teach 9-12th grades. It’s certainly a suitable study for adults as well, after all, I teach these teens as the spiritually mature adults they are. On more than one occasion they’ve taught me.
Most days I feel like the underdog. I fail, I fall, I get up and try again. I leap in faith only to look more like a leap frog than leaping a building in a single bound. I venture a guess I’m not alone. I’ve yet to meet a saint of God (at least any I cared to be around) who thought they were an absolute success. Servitude brings a humility that allows us to remember who the real super Hero is: The Lord Jesus Christ! But even the bible recognizes the making of a hero. We’re not super heroes, but yet we too have the potential to be a hero by using the power within us. We (or at least I) fail to remember that it’s never me who has the ability to make things happens when leading souls to Christ or serving God in any capacity. But rather the Holy Spirit.
The rollcall of heroes in the book of Hebrews gives me great hope that God can use someone like me. So what is our role on the roll and what is our superpower.
One of my Dad’s favorite verses was Hebrews 11:1 ~
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Superpower #1 – Seeing the Unseen
Other Christians see things in me that I don’t see. Or I don’t have the faith in my abilities to bring them to fruition. But if we view life through the vantage point of God what are the unseen things we’d see? And how do we see them?
Hebrews 1:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
What unseen things do you “see” in creation?
When I think of framing I think of an incomplete project. God created this world by speaking it into existence. “Framed by the word of God.” But there is still work to do. We are that work for which we do by stepping and leaping in faith to show others to Christ.
Why do you think that unsaved people, especially those in the field of science, struggle with believing in God’s creation?
Superpower # 2 – Willing to Kill
The first hero mentioned in the book of Hebrews 11 is Abel. His super power was a righteous kill.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Abel killed in obedience. Cain on the other hand killed out of jealous and pride and the killing was of his own brother.
Why was Abel’s killing of the sacrifice righteous?
Is that hard for us to understand, especially if we are critter lovers?
Of course it is! But it may be a little less difficult for those of us who are not vegetarian. We can understand the sacrifice a critter makes for us to have a hamburger.
Abel’s refusal to sacrifice an animal was his unwillingness to recognize that sin required a blood covering. It still does. But Christ made that final sacrifice on the cross.
The death now is our own. We are dead to ourselves and alive in Christ!
Superpower # 3 – God Pleasers
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
What can we do that would please God and allow the world to see this superpower?
One thing for certain, without faith we will not please God. Hebrews 11:6 says
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe00 th0at he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If by seeking God, it pleases Him, how do we seek Him? And how does seeking Him show faith?
Superpower #4 – Boat Builders
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
In that day, that was more than a little bit crazy. From this side of it we know how wise he was, but at that point it had never rained one drop.
Sometimes if we want to be obedient to God’s calling we have to be a little bit crazy!
Have you, or do you know someone who’s been a little bit crazy?
Superpower #5 – Going to the unknown and believing the impossible
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Stepping out in faith isn’t for the faint of heart. Abraham had no idea where God was sending him, but he was willing to go.
Where would you fear God’s calling on your life? Has He called you to do something you now fear?
What country(s) would you fear being called to?
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Sarah was 90 and Abraham 100 when Isaac was born. There is nothing that God cannot do?
Write down something that you struggle believing God will do in your life and then remember the principles of your superpowers!
Superpower #6 – Eternal Living
Hebrews 11:20-22
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
All these men knew that there was an eternity to live for. Until their dying breath they handed down that legacy. We should never stop believing that we need to tell people about Jesus.
How should an eternal mindset cause us to live?
Superpower #7 – Facing the Fire and Water
Hebrews 11:
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Moses stood before the fire when God called him out of the burning bush and he stood before the Red Sea believing through the power of God they’d get through it. Even as an infant he was placed in harms way. All this is evidence that even the chosen children of God are not immune to heart aches and danger. His own family rejected his wife and gossiped behind his back, but God took care of it all.
How does this encourage you in your everyday life?
Superpower #8 – Girl power!
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
God doesn’t only use men for the higher powers. Rahab is listed as a “harlot” and yet she is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. What does that tell us about the people God will use for the Kingdom’s glory?
Rahab and her family’s life was spared because she believed in the God of Abraham and protected His people. She truly had girl power to face certain death if she was caught. She also proved that God can use people even with questionable pasts.
Paul went onto mention more heroes of the faith, but what we might find when we get to Heaven is that in a book of the things we’ve done for Christ we too are mentioned as heroes of the faith!