Focal Point

Pastor Mike Fabarez: If you step out to do something great, you'll have enemies. And then what you're going to need to do is you're going to have to trust God for protection because you will be opposed. Okay?

Every one of them: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David—they were up against the swords of foreign armies that wanted to kill them. But here's the great thing about our list of ambitious faith heroes: they escaped the edge of the sword.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Focal Point with author and pastor Mike Fabarez. There's nothing quite like the feeling of stepping across the stage to receive a well-earned diploma. Or how about crossing the finish line of an important race? But these hallmark achievements don't come without cost. They require years of dedication, hard work, and focus.

Today, Pastor Mike talks about applying this same fervency toward attempting great things for God. Want to live out this calling in your life? We'll find the motivation we need in Hebrews chapter 11. Here's Pastor Mike.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Average American lives about 75 years. That's about 27,000 days. I'm already pushing about 16,000, which, if you're good at math, you recognize I'm way past the middle age. And that's if I live out to be the average American lifespan.

So what's the point? What am I supposed to do? I'm supposed to stand back and think, "God, what am I going to do with the rest of my life? What am I going to do? Work real hard to buy that next house so that someone else can live in it?" No, I really probably should be thinking about bigger things than that. I should really step back and maybe use passages like Hebrews chapter 11 as a catalyst in my life to say, "What am I doing with the rest of my life?"

Hebrews chapter 11, we've been talking about ambitious faith because one verse after the other, we get another lesson on look at another person who wasn't content just to live a comfortable life. They were willing, with ambitious faith, to step out and say, "God, I'm willing to be used to do something great." It's all about us attempting something great for God.

Why? Because that's what Hebrews 11 has been all about. And we get to verse number 32, and if you've got that open, take a look at it. Hebrews chapter 11, verse number 32, and he's done expanding on the stories. I mean, he's done giving full verses to one person. We now, after Rahab was the last one to get a full verse to herself, verse 32, he says, "Well, what more shall I say? I don't even have time to get into..."

And here he starts. "I don't have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets." And then he starts talking about some of the things they did through faith, "who through faith, they conquered kingdoms. They administered justice, and they gained what was promised." And he did amazing things through these folks.

And we're going to say, as he rapid-fires through the list, he gets us thinking about more people who stepped out to do great things. It really leads us to stand back and say, "What's the point here? What have we learned so far?" Don't sit around and do nothing with your life. Step up with ambitious faith and emulate these examples.

In this case, as he throws Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel out at us, we think, "Wow, yeah, they did do things like conquer kingdoms, administer justice, and they gained all kinds of hills for the kingdom of God." What am I doing with my life? Trying to build my Roth IRAs? I mean, come on. What's the point?

Well, I should maybe, number one on your outline, emulate this example and let's just decide with the rest of our lives, number one, we're going to do something great for God. I mean, let's just be as ambitious as these people in Hebrews 11 and say it isn't just about earning a paycheck. I'm going to try to, in my sphere of life, in my little corner of the world, I'm going to try to stand up and do something great for God.

You know what that takes to believe that about yourself, that God can do that through you? It takes ambitious faith. You're going to have to say to God, "Okay, God, I'm not going to sit here and peddle these stupid excuses to you and say, 'God, I'm going to save that for those preachers or those missionaries. I can't do anything.'" You can do something for God.

And all you need to do is to say, "I'm willing to trust God to be utilized with what I got left. 15 years? With the rest of your life." Say, "God, I want to do something great for the kingdom of God." Well, okay, but I wouldn't know where to start. Okay, let me help you with that. 1 Peter chapter 4.

Let's go to 1 Peter chapter 4. If you don't know where to start, here's where you start. First of all, let's start where our message started, verse 7. "The end of all things is near." That's not a very happy thought, but you know what? It's a good thought because you know what that does? It motivates me to maybe spend the rest of my life on something worthwhile.

So the end of all things is near. Either Christ is coming back or I'm going to die. I'm not going to be around forever here on earth. So be clear-minded, self-controlled so that you can... what is it? Pray. Now, if you're taking notes, jot down letter A. You're going to build your back-page prayer list. Start with this. It starts with prayer, okay?

Secondly, verse number 8. "Above all," he says, "love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins." Love each other deeply, okay? It's number one: it starts with prayer. Letter B: it is fueled by love. And love is helpful because it keeps me from thinking it's about building my empire. That's not love. That's selfishness, okay?

The greatness that you should be aiming for is not the kind you'll see early in the morning on Sunday where the preacher's talking about doing something great. Because what they're talking about is getting your boat in the harbor, which someone else will own eventually, or your big house on the hill, which you're going to give away to someone else after you die anyway.

We're not talking about that kind of greatness. We're not talking about building your empire. We're talking about doing something that is fueled by love. And love means that it's not about you. It's about somebody else. It's about others. We don't have to have our name on it, but the point is, can we please see this done for the good of the church, for the good of others, for the good of those that will be trained by it? That would be great.

Start with prayer, fueled by love. That means not about building my kingdom. It's about building Christ's. Thirdly, drop down to verse number 10. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." Each one should use whatever gift he's received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

God is doling out what he calls grace in all kinds of forms. And we should be faithful as stewards to administer the grace he's given me. And so I want to make sure that my big list for God, my great things for God, are in keeping with my gifts. I put it this way, letter C: it utilizes my gifts. See, not yours.

Because when the angel of the Lord showed up and talked to Gideon about delivering the Midianites, here's the thing: it wasn't totally out of the box for him. Oh, I understand he was the weakest and the smallest, but I'll bet he had at least a slingshot in his back pocket, right? The guy wasn't out of the box. This wasn't outside of his gift set.

The guy was a warrior. The guy was trained to fight. The guy had the propensity to think as a military leader, see? And so it is for you. You need to utilize your giftedness. Now this could be a whole another sermon or, for me, a whole another series of sermons, but the point is you need to figure that out. And let me give you three sub-points to the sub-points that were in the middle of the first point underneath letter C.

Number one, let's think this one through. If you're going to figure out what your giftedness is, then you need to be looking at things where you see the need, okay? You're going to see the need. Now there are things that are out there that you don't see the need for. For instance, one of my passions and prayers is that before you lay my body in the ground, whether it's a thousand days from now, 10,000 days from now, and you go to my funeral and you cry, "Oh, Pastor Mike," and he's gone, I would hope that there has been in the wake of that, that we get a Christian college that trains people in the word of God, okay?

You know why I think that's part of something God would have me pray for and want to be utilized to help do? Because I see the need all the time. You may not see the need. I see it all the time. I know that part of my giftedness is to care about the training of pastors. I look around every year, I read the theological journals, I get my alumni magazines, and I'm always going, "God, the whole theological thing is slipping in our country."

The high view of God is gone. The centrality of scripture, the high view of God's infallible word, it's just dumped into the trash can these days. There's so much compromise. I see the need all the time, see? I don't see the need for a lot of things that you may see the need for. I will never start a cooking ministry. I will never start that.

You tracking with that? You would if you saw me cook. I don't. I can heat up Spaghettios. But I have no passion for that, no gifts for that. I'm not going to do that. That may be part of something great that God is calling you to do. You will do something in that vein. I'm not. That's not my thing. So you'll see the need.

Secondly, here's the thing: you will have a growing desire to do it. God is great in that regard. He fuels our passion as we delight ourselves in him. He gives us the desires of our heart. He not only grants us the desires, but he gives us the desires. We start to desire the things that he wants us to do. And so I'm saying to you, you'll have a growing desire to do it.

It's a godly principle throughout the scripture. You will sit there and it will almost become such a passion for you, you can't help but plan and think and lean in that direction. And thirdly, you'll have people continually and increasingly affirm it. You'll have people that affirm that gift in your life, okay?

Now if Gideon was called by the angel of the Lord to go out and apparently called by the angel of the Lord to go out and lead the Israelites against the Midianites, and he failed and got defeated and routed time after time, eventually you're going to say, "Hey, I don't know what you ate that day or what you thought you heard from the Lord, but I don't think you're our military leader because you're a failure at it," right?

But that's not going to happen with Gideon. As a matter of fact, he saw success and people kept saying, "You're a great military leader." You know when the story of Gideon, they eventually wanted to make him the commander-in-chief, the king, see? But he refused that because that wasn't his calling.

But the point was people saw his giftedness and affirmed it. So you want to know what your gifts are? Look at the things where you see the need, where you have an increasing desire to be used by God in that area, and thirdly, people keep affirming, "You're pretty good at that. That's good. You know, that's what you should be doing." You'll have the affirmation of God's people.

Let's read the next verse, verse 11. We're building the little mini-sermon within the sermon. Verse 11. "If anyone speaks," he should do it, and that may be your giftedness to do something in teaching or whatever, "he should do it as one speaking the very words of God." If God has gifted you, and that means that you see the need, you have a growing desire to do it, and people affirm it, and you do it well, they affirm that you do it well, then here's what you should do: you should do it as though you're speaking the very words of God.

That's not sitting around going, "Well, I don't know, I got a few things to maybe tell you today." That's passion. That's enthusiasm. That's doing it with all of your might. Or if you're serving, maybe you're not speaking or you're not writing, but you're a servant, and that's the way God is going to use you to do something great with your life, then you should do it with the strength that God supplies.

What does that mean? You're doing it with all your might. That would be letter D, okay? Are you tracking so far? Starts with prayer, fueled by love, utilizes your gifts, and it's done, letter D, with all of your might. Whatever it is, don't do it half-heartedly. Do your work heartily, not just your occupation Monday through Friday, but how God is going to use you in your sphere of influence, do it with all of your might.

You're never going to do something great for God unless you're committed to go head-long into it and say, "God, use me to do it. I will spend and be expended for this." You've got to have that attitude. For what purpose? Well, purpose clause, bottom of verse 11. "So that in all things," whatever your giftedness may be, whatever mine is, "that God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and power forever and ever."

Okay, what is this? Letter E? Lastly, it brings glory to God. You want a last-page big prayer request list of the great things that God may utilize you to do? Well, it starts with prayer. Lock yourself in a closet. Make sure it's not self-centered, it's fueled by love. It's not something completely out of the box for you, right? It utilizes your gifts. It's not something you're going to do half-heartedly. You're going to do it with all your might. And lastly, it's not for any other glory but the glory of God.

That helps you build that last-page prayer request list. And then you throw yourself into it and say, "God, any way you want to use me, I am here to see that accomplished." That would be a better way to spend the rest of your life than sitting around trying to create a comfortable life for yourself when you retire so you can buy a nice rocking chair or recliner and hang out in it until you die. I don't think that's really a very ambitious goal for your life.

Let us expend our lives for something great for God. Expect great things. Attempt great things. These guys were doing it. What were they doing? Conquering kingdoms, administering justice, gaining what was promised. These are here for us as an example, as a template. Let it fuel our lives.

Now notice the list. Back up at verse 32. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. Okay, even the first ones: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David, even Samuel's cutting off the heads of kings. You may say, "Well, this feels pretty military. It feels pretty warfare-ish. It feels like it's all about fighting. And so what? I'm supposed to get a Glock and go to the range and learn how to shoot and maybe I can kill a few people for God?"

Yeah, that's it. No, that's not what we're talking about. I mean, we're not a theocracy in Old Testament Israel conquering kingdoms as an extension of God's justice in the world. That's not what the church is about. And yet the military themes prevail even in the New Testament. And so we need to stand back and say, "You know what? I need to take that mindset into our battle."

So one little sidebar here. 2 Corinthians chapter 10. Let's quickly go there. As you think about your last-page prayer request, it's going to feel like a military motif. But it isn't, as some theological and world religions would teach, it's not about cutting people's heads off, right? That's not what we're talking about here. Christianity, New Testament, New Covenant Christianity is not about that.

It's a different kind of warfare, and yet it's a warfare just the same. 2 Corinthians chapter 10, look at verse number 3. We may not be a conquering kingdom or administering justice in that sense, but it certainly is that, and it feels that way, but it's different. Verse 3. "Though we live in the world, we don't wage war as the world does."

Okay, this is not about that military, I understand that, government role, I get it, but it's not what we're purposing in our heart, okay? "The weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of the world," verse 4. "On the contrary," they're better, "they have divine power to demolish strongholds." What kind? "We demolish arguments," that's the kind, "and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God."

This is a battle for ideas. This is a battle for the people's minds and hearts. And we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ, which is often misquoted because what we're talking about is in the world. We're going out to conquer some brains. We're out there to turn those hearts to God. We're going to take those thoughts captive and turn them to Christ.

I don't want people sitting in a classroom in some nice opulent campus learning the wrong things. I want it to be done right. I want God's word and truth to prevail. But it's going to feel like a war. And because it feels like a war, the great thing that you choose to do, you will always have enemies. You will always have opponents. There will be opponents immediately.

As soon as you go into your closet and pray about it, the minute you get out, you will be opposed. If you want to live a nice, you know, sedated Orange County comfortable life, no one will care, okay? Everyone will say, "Oh, fabulous, have at it. Hope you get a nice recliner." But if you say, "No, I want to do something great for God. I want to take a few hills for the kingdom. I want to use my life for something great in God's kingdom," you will have enemies. I guarantee it.

Look at the next few verses here in Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews 11, bottom of verse 33. Because these guys were stepping out to do something great for God, they got thrown in lions' dens sometimes, à la Daniel the prophet. And sometimes, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. But by God's protection, they quenched the fury of the flames.

Every one of them: Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David, they were up against the swords of foreign armies that wanted to kill them. But here's the great thing about our list of ambitious faith heroes: they escaped the edge of the sword. And in one case, in the early classical period of the Old Testament prophets, these women who thought all hope was gone, the prophets came in that little rash of the supernatural GT-1s, if you were there for that sermon, you know what I'm talking about, that little rash there in the Elijah/Elisha period, there was even people raised from the dead just like they were in the New Testament.

So God was doing some amazing deliverance, was he not? He was, when people stepped out, doing amazing things to keep them, protect them, guide them. He just put his hand of protection on them. If you step out to do something great, you'll have enemies. And then what you're going to need to do on a whole new level, number two on your outline: you're going to have to trust God for protection because you will be opposed, okay?

Let's talk about demons for a minute. And now I know you liberals don't believe it, you non-Christians you don't understand it, that's fine. But Christians who believe the Bible, you do know there are these spiritual opponents of God that are sent out as henchmen from the head demon, his name is Satan, the opposer, the adversary, and they go out in the world to oppose God's work.

If your work in Christian life is all about finding a nice comfy lounge chair to live out your remaining days with a Bible on your lap, demons don't give a rip about that, okay? Have at it. Bye-bye. You're already saved. See ya. But if you come out of your closet and say we want to take a few mountains for God, guess what happens immediately?

The whole entire demonic realm that knows who you are is now opposed to you. And they are opposed to that plan. You want to make some enemies? All you got to do is say, "I'm going to do something great for God with the rest of my life." And that's what I'm asking you to do. And you're going to have now pray on a whole new level.

It won't be about hangnails anymore. It will be about much bigger things because you step up to do something great for God and you will need his protection on a whole new level. David was plucked out of obscurity to be the leader of Israel, right? I mean, he was this little shepherd boy and he stepped up with the anointing oil of Samuel on his head.

He said, "Okay." And he went up and did it. Did he ever get opposed? Every day. Sometimes the opposition was so real, so harsh, so hot that it came even from the most unexpected places and it hurt the most. I mean, think about the fact that one of his big battles was against his own son, Absalom. Remember that?

He wrote a song talking about Old Testament Hebrew songs. He wrote a song in Psalm 3 that I think would be good for us to quickly look at that shows us that as a guy stepping up to do something great for God, he was opposed in a painful way by his son and his son's army, and he had to show that if he was going to walk this path, he had to trust God for protection.

Look at the way he does it. Totally entrusts himself with an utter dependence on God for protection. Now don't miss the superscription of the song. It is a Psalm of David when he fled from his... these are painful combinations of words here. He fled from his son, Absalom. He was on the run. They were out to kill David, his own son.

And he says, verse number 1, "Oh, Yahweh, how many are my foes?" This is Psalm 3. "How many rise up against me?" Now if he was out there in the field as a shepherd boy and kind of said, "Forget this whole thing, I'm just going to be a shepherd the rest of my life, raise my kids to be shepherds and their kids can be shepherds and we'll just sit around," his big opposition would be a few wild animals, okay?

His sons would not care. But now, because he stepped up to do something great, he's being opposed by his own son. "How many are my foes? How many rise up against me?" That's what happens to people that want to do something great for God. "Many are saying of me, 'God won't deliver him.'"

Then here's our word: Selah. Pause, think about that. A lot of people saying you're going to fail, okay? A lot of people would laugh at me. "So you're so prideful. That's just like Mike. Big head, ego-maniac," right? Whatever, okay? Fine. I understand that. You think it's all whatever. I don't care what you think.

I just want, before you lay my body in the ground, to have done something good for the future of pastors in the world. That's just what I want to do, okay? If God doesn't accomplish that through me, fine. But that would be one of my heartfelt prayers. Now whatever. A lot of people saying, "Ah, it's never going to happen." Great. Fine. That happens to all these people.

Verse number 3. But I have to say to all my critics, all my detractors, all the people that want to oppose me, all the demons that want to oppose me, I want to say, "You know what? God's going to be a shield around me. Lord, that's what you are to me. You bestow glory on me. You lift up my head when I'm just ready to give up. My head is bowed down in hurt and oppression. You lift me up."

Verse 4. "Lord, I cry aloud. You answer me from your holy hill. Selah." Stop. Think about it. How many times have you delivered me trying to step out do something for God? You've done it. I lie down and sleep. And for him, this is not just, "Oh, did you have a nice rest? Yes, I did. It was nice."

People wanted to kill him. Every time he laid his head down, he's wondering who is someone going to run me through and kill me when I'm sleeping? No, I lay my head down to sleep and I wake up again and I know that you are protecting me. The Lord sustains me. I wasn't killed tonight.

Verse 6. "I will not fear." Look at this resolve. "The tens of thousands that are drawn up against me on every side. Arise, oh Yahweh." Here comes the imprecatory part of this song. "Arise, oh Lord. Deliver me, oh my God. Deliver me. Strike all my enemies on the jaw. Break the teeth of the wicked."

Take the opposers, take the demons, take all that oppose the great things that I'm praying for and wanting to see accomplished for you. You defend me. You go after them. Verse 8. "From Yahweh comes deliverance. May your blessing be upon your people." Now what a good statement. God is our deliverer. He is our fortress.

Guest (Male): That's Mike Fabarez on Focal Point. Today's message is called "Attempting Great Things for God." If you want to hear it again or share it with a friend, just go to focalpointradio.org. And for even more content from Pastor Mike, be sure to download the free Focal Point app.

And this month, when you give a donation of any amount to Focal Point, we'll say thanks by sending you a special book called *Songs of the Son* by Daniel Stevens. Daniel reveals how the Psalms quoted by Hebrews are more than poems. They're songs about Jesus. Songs he sang. Songs that speak of his kingship, his priesthood, and his humanity.

Discover this for yourself by requesting your copy of *Songs of the Son* when you give to Focal Point today. Simply call 888-320-5885 or go online to focalpointradio.org. Well, now let's join Pastor Mike for an important announcement.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Thanks, Dave. I'd like to invite you to join me September 19th through the 26th, 2026, on a Christian cruise through New England and Canada. We'll sail Holland America's Zuiderdam, known for its elegance and exceptional hospitality, to historic cities like Boston, Halifax, and Quebec City.

We'll gather for devotional times in God's word, followed by thought-provoking Bible teaching throughout our journey. Grammy-winning musicians Keith and Kristyn Getty will lead us in worship. You'll enjoy the stunning autumn landscapes as we explore charming coastal villages, all while building friendships with like-minded believers.

It's a unique opportunity to deepen your faith and see some of the most beautiful scenery on the Eastern Seaboard. Space is limited, so don't wait to sign up. Secure your cabin today at focalpointradio.org. Just go to focalpointradio.org.

Guest (Male): Your kids are pushing back and you're not sure how to respond. And somewhere in your church, someone just delivered a polished sermon no one can explain. Tomorrow, Pastor Mike Fabarez takes both questions head-on in another edition of Ask Pastor Mike Live. Real calls, real answers, Friday here on Focal Point.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Hi, Pastor Mike here. God's word promises it'll never return void. So I wonder, how is God's word moving in your heart right now? Drop us a line. Let us know. We'd love to hear from you. We'd love to be praying for you here. Just go to focalpointradio.org. And then be sure to join us again tomorrow right here as we continue to explore the depths of scripture. We'll see you then.

Guest (Male): Today's program was produced and sponsored by Focal Point Ministries.