so so Amen. If you'd like to find your place in Hebrews chapter 11, Hebrews chapter 11, I'd like to welcome those that are joining us now by the way of the internet. We thank God for your presence and we thank you for your prayers. Please pray for us as we pray for you and I trust this message will be a challenge to you, to just exhort you to do more for Christ. And we're living in the last days, and may the Lord help us to be busy serving Him. And I want to have much to lay at Jesus' feet, and I trust that you do as well. The title of the message tonight is, Unnamed Saints. And if the Lord allows me to, I would like to lay the foundation or the groundwork, if you would, for a series coming up on unnamed characters in the Bible. And there are so many people in the Bible that they are not named by their name. And we don't know who they are particularly, but we have the story of what they did and how God used them at that particular point to make a difference for him and to serve him. Here in our church, we've had several people recently that have made the news and the local news, if you would, and not for bad things, for good things, amen? But somebody was interested in reporting their story and reporting on maybe something that had been done for them or something that they did or they've accomplished. But you know, for the majority of us, our names are never gonna be known on this earth. For many of us, we'll never be recognized for our everyday accomplishments. No news articles, no reports, no books are gonna be written on what you did every day. Matter of fact, here in America, to our government, we're just a number. We're a social security number. And many other countries have that as well. And that's basically, that's how we're known, by a number. But Mother's Day is coming up. For the most part, what moms do every day goes unnoticed. It goes unrecognized and not many times are moms thanked on a daily basis for all that they do or have done in the past. All the work that's put into being a good mom is not gonna make the headlines or put you on the front page of who's who magazine. But in the Bible, we find many characters that are unnamed. I think about the brethren when they came to meet the Apostle Paul at this place called the Three Taverns. The Bible does not give us the names of these brethren, but it does give us a description of what they did and of their character. We see their submissiveness to the Holy Spirit. They were led of God to go and meet the Apostle Paul and be an encouragement to them, and they submitted to that. They were willing to come out of their comfort zone to go and do something for the Lord. We see their willingness to follow the Lord. We see their willingness to obey the Lord. The fact that they sought to be a blessing over being blessed. I mean, they wanted to be a blessing to someone else. They were willing to give up of their time and their talents and their treasures to bless someone else. They valued the work of the Lord both in and through the apostle Paul and how God was using him and they came alongside him just to be an encouragement to him. They invested in others. We see here that they sought the good of others. These brethren, they sought the good of others. They were willing to come alongside someone and help them lift their burden. They were a refreshment to the apostle Paul. Paul was being transported to Rome as a prisoner, but they were willing to be identified with Paul. They were not prisoners of Rome, but they were prisoners of Jesus Christ. I think there's many here in Hebrews chapter 11. They're not mentioned by name. Many are mentioned by name, and it's just a short list, really, of those that are mentioned by name, but yet, every person in here, even those that are not mentioned by name, but are referenced to, are important to God. And God used these people, these others, and these that we're gonna read about here that are not mentioned by name, but God used them to have an impact on you and I. God wants us to recognize that if it were not for these unnamed saints, none of us would be here today. Every one of us, if you're saved, you've had someone who labored in your life to get you to the place where you are now. whether it was a family member, or a friend, or a co-worker, or someone in the local church, but someone is to be credited with you being where you are right now in the Lord's work. I personally don't know every person who served or labored or gave of their time and talents and treasures to this local church that I'm the pastor of, but I am thankful for their contribution. that this church has been here 51 years, that there's no way that I could know everyone that came before me and even our members here. There's no members here that were here at the beginning there. So there's been many people come through this local church that God has used that really we don't even know who they are, but God does. And they played an important role in being here at that specific time and being used of the Lord. so that you and I can be here today. I'd like for us to start reading in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 32. And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, and of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought 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. Women received their dead, raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." And then, if you're used to underlining words, underline this little word, others, here in verse 36. And others. That's those that weren't mentioned by name. "...and others had trial of cruel malkings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sewn asunder, they were tempted, were slain with a sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth and underline these here in verse 39, and these all, these people here, these others, these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. and God, having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. I'm interested in these little words found in verse 36 and verse 39, the others, and then the word these that include everyone there. I've got a book called The Martyr's Mirror. And I mean, it's a thick book and there's hundreds, possibly thousands of names of people who were recorded throughout history to have given their life for the cause of Christ. The Bible says, of whom the world was not worthy. And even though the names of these people were recorded in that book, The Martyr's Mirror and Fox's Book of Martyrs, but how many more others? How many other people will never be remembered here on earth? But God has their name recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. He also has another book where our wanderings and our tears are recorded. In Psalms 56, eight it says, thou tellest my wanderings, put thou my tears in thy bottle, are they not in thy book? Look, even though the role that you and I may play in this work of the Lord, sometimes it may seem insignificant, can I just remind you that God has put you in that place for a reason. How many unknown parents? I mean, people that you wouldn't even know their first name or their last name. The only reason you would know their last name is because they raised a child who went on to be used of the Lord in a mighty way. How many unknown Sunday school teachers have faithfully taught their little class not knowing that one of their students would one day be used of the Lord in a greater way? I think about D.L. Moody. He was reached by a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball. You know, while we were at Shining Light Baptist Church in Monroe, North Carolina, For years there, we worked in the bus ministry and we brought in hundreds and hundreds of children, even adults, on the bus to church. My wife and I, many times we would purchase clothes for the children there and we saw the need that some children had and we would buy things for them and give it to them, hoping to have an impact in their life for the cause of Christ. And I pray that many of those children have chosen to follow the Lord and many of those children now would be grown. They would be in their 20s and maybe even early 30s. And I pray that God is using them in a mighty way and that they're serving God with their life. There's still families that were reached through the bus ministry there that God has used and is still using there. today and I wonder how many children won't go to hell because of the message that was given to them, that opportunity that was given to them to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thank God for a church that loves children, that loves families, that just loves God and loves people and they want to give the gospel to them and will invest in their lives Not looking for anything in return. Not looking for a name or a position or a place in a newspaper. No, they just want to be used of God to see people get saved. You know, the Lord used my family and my mom and dad's family in Canada and supporting churches there in America to help us start a church there in Canada. And I'm so thankful for being allowed to do that for the glory of God. But you know, as that church continues and that church grows, there's going to come a point in time where we won't be remembered for what we did there, for starting that church and following the Lord. And the churches that helped do that, they'll never be recognized on this earth. There's no list of churches up there in that church that said, all these churches helped. by giving faithfully and praying to get this church started. As new converts come and people are being saved and older folks that have been there since the beginning and they're no longer there at some point in their life, then our names and other things will just be things of the past and no one will ever know that we were even there, but God knows and God remembers and he had us there for a specific time, a specific place in order to make an impact for him. Our labors are not in vain in the Lord. Most of us in this world, our names are not gonna be remembered. We're gonna be part of the others. And we're gonna be part of and these all. But we don't labor for recognition. Our inheritance and our reward are in heaven. And may the Lord help us to just keep our eyes on the recompense of the reward. I want my life to count for Jesus. You know, I worry about Christians who don't think that coming to church faithfully is important to them. I worry about Christians who don't tithe and give of their time, talents, and treasures to the Lord, that don't give to missions, that don't get involved in the local church because they're missing out on being part of the greatest story ever told. Look at verse 40. God had been providing some better thing for us that they, without us, should not be made perfect. They, this being mentioned here, they never got to see the fruition of their labors. But by faith, they labored for the Lord. All they had was his promises. That's what they held on to. I think about Pastor Buddy Countess that started this church 51 years ago. He never got to see the church where it is now. He never got to see all that the Lord has done through this church over the last 51 years. But you see, it's our responsibility to keep that work going through the power of Christ. Hey, it's Christ's church. It's the church that belongs to Jesus Christ. And we're laboring together with God. God chose you and I to be here to support the work. Some are going to be in the front. Some will be teachers and some will be those that sing and they'll be more well-known than others, but there's many that are just behind the scenes and they're faithful and they pray and they give. But you must know that we're all important. We're all important in the work of God. You have your place right where God has put you and you're important to His work. In our passage it mentions the martyrs. It made me think of the song there that Brother Justin sings, I Can Go In. and it was written by Abigail Miller. And that song, it speaks of the prophets and how a man that made it to heaven, he sees the prophets there and he says, well, I'm not one of them. And then it talks about the disciples, the apostles, it talks about the martyrs, those that gave their life for Christ. He said, well, my goodness, I'm not one of them either. But then it starts talking about everyone that was saved by grace. throughout the ages believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. And man, he could identify with that crowd. He said, I'm one of them and I can go in with them. They may have been others in these, but they all made it by grace, by simply believing in the Lord. I'm glad that God included me. You and I are just as valuable to God as those who have made the headlines for Christ. Remember, God's keeping good records. And there's a crown for you and me if we'll just stay faithful. You know, I'm just worried that there's going to be many Christians who they're going to be there. They're going to be in heaven, but because they would not get involved. because they just refuse to go further with God. They never put much emphasis on giving of their time and talents and treasures to the Lord, that they're not gonna have much to lay at Jesus' feet. you don't have to have much talent. Matter of fact, God's looking for those that have no talent because he'll give you the ability to serve him where he wants you. You don't have to have everything all together in your life. Matter of fact, he's looking for empty vessels. He's looking for those that are not full of themselves so he can fill them with himself and use them for his glory. You know, God has blessed each person uniquely with certain abilities. And the one ability that God has equipped every one of us with is the ability to humble ourselves and be used of Him. We can all present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. We can all make the choice to not be conformed to this world and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. You know, God's looking for followers. And He'll lead you. He'll equip you if you're just willing to go. I believe we've got too many sideline Christians today. Too many people sitting on the bench And they'll say, well, I made the team. Well, I'm glad you made the team. I'm glad that you're part of the team, but are you satisfied sitting on the bench? Me personally, I've never liked sitting on the bench. I played baseball when I was a teenager and I wanted to be the catcher. Why? Because I knew I'd be in on every play. I had no interest in being the outfield even though I could play or shortstop or first base. I wanted to be catcher and I wanted to be a pitcher. Why? Because I knew I'd have the ball on every play. I didn't want to be inactive. I wanted to be in on the action. When I played on a soccer team, I was a defender. I wanted to be involved everywhere on that field. I wanted to be able to make a difference. I liked the sport of tennis because I was in on every play. I had something to do there. I played basketball. When I was a basketball player, of course, probably because of my height, but I was point guard. I wanted to be the one that brought the ball down the court there and set up the play. In all the sports I've ever participated in, there was only one position that I did not want, and that was the bench position. I didn't want to be there. I wanted to be in. I wanted to be involved. Turn to 2 Timothy chapter 2. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 19. 2 Timothy 2.19 says, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." God wants all of us to be vessels of honor. sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work. This is what God expects of us. But unfortunately, that's not what God always gets. Now we can't all be full-time laborers in the field. I understand that as far as a paid position to serve the Lord. But we can all be full-time in the field. We can be faithful in our daily walk with the Lord. We can be faithful to church. We can be faithful to witness and to pray to others. We can be as involved as we want to be. We can tithe and we can be a laborer in the field of prayer, of witnessing and giving to missions. There's a work for everyone to do. I think about the hymn, Little Is Much when God is in it. They say it goes like this. In the harvest field now ripened, there's a work for all to do. Hark, the voice of God is calling to the harvest, calling you. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it if you'll go in Jesus' name. Verse 2 goes like this. Does the place you're called to labor Seem too small and little known? It is great if God is in it, and he'll not forget his own. Third verse goes like this. When the conflict here is ended and our race on earth is run, he will say, if we are faithful, welcome home, my child. Well done. I tell you, little is much when God is in it. You say, well, I'm not much, and I may not have a name that's going to be remembered, but can I say God will take the small things, the little things, and I tell you, and He'll bless it and use it for His honor and glory if we'll just make it available to Him Think about that little boy there and he brought that lunch to Jesus, that little happy meal if you would. He brought it to Jesus and look what Jesus did with that. With just a few pieces of bread and a few pieces of fish, God fed a multitude. Little is much when God is in it, when we make ourselves available to him. Go back to Hebrews chapter 11. Look at verse 39. And these all, having attained a good report through faith, receive not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Do you want to be part of these all? Do you want to have obtained a good report through faith? You may not see the end of your labor in this lifetime. Those in this chapter, they didn't see the end results. But you know what? They did it anyway. You know, if the Lord tarries, what we're doing now is we're setting the stage for the next generation. Just like those that have come before us, they did that. They set the stage for the next generation. Hey, we're building on the right foundation. We're building on the Lord Jesus Christ based on the Word of God. We're building, hopefully, and Lord willing, Lord helping us with gold and silver and precious stones. On our 50th church anniversary last year, missionary David Johnson told me that while Miss Martha, Buddy Countess's wife, she kind of stood there with my wife and she gave my wife some flowers that were meant for her. We had bought these flowers for Miss Countess there and Miss White now, Miss Martha White. And we bought those in honor of her, but she said, I just want one out of it because I want to give them to the new pastor's wife and I want you to have it. And Brother Johnson, she gave my wife a hug and Brother Johnson said for him, he just teared up because as he saw that, he saw one generation passing on the torch to the next. Hey, I've ran my race. I was in my place. I did what God called me to do. Now it's your turn. It's your turn to take up the reins and run for the cause of Christ. Pastor Buddy Countess' race is run. He never saw everything that would take place over the last 50 years. But by faith, he did his part. He gave it all to Jesus. You know, as far as I've been told, there's not one pastor that pastored here that ever saw everything that God put in their heart to do come to pass. Yeah, they had some short-term goals, some things like that that took place that happened in their tenure here, but you know what? Even though God didn't let them see everything that He had put in their heart to do take place, they still labored toward that end. They were following the Lord. and they were laboring in his field. The others, the these all, that is who God wants you and I to be. He wants us to be faithful others. He wants us to be praying others. He wants us to be Bible reading and Bible believing others. He wants us to be soul winning others. He wants us to be giving not only of ourselves but of our time and talents and treasure others. He wants us to be sacrificing others. He wants us to be laboring others. He wants us to be glorifying God others. He wants us to be working others, steadfast others, unmovable others, those that always abound in the work of the Lord. He wants us to be those people. Go back to 2 Timothy if you would, chapter four. 2 Timothy chapter four. Paul said at the end of his race, of his recorded race, the words that we have that he spoke in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 6, it says, and the time of my departure is at hand. I fought a good fight. I finished my course. I've kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. And not to me only, but unto all them." And underline those words, unto all them. You could be part of the all them, all these, these others, not mentioned, but all them also that love. His appearing back over in Hebrews chapter 11. None of those, those others and these and all them that were mentioned, none of them ever regretted what they did for God. Now I'm sure they had a lot of things they regretted not doing for God. But they never regretted what they did for the Lord. You know, you and I, We're gonna be remembered one day. We're gonna be known for what we yielded ourselves to in this life. It's gonna be a sad day for many. For many Christians when they meet Jesus face to face and they give an account as to why they chose not to be involved. And why they chose not to do what they knew was right for them to do. What was important to us in this life It's going to be tried with fire one day. And only what we did that was important, that was important to God, is going to stand the fire. Others and these. What are you doing with the opportunities and the responsibilities that you've been given right now?