Hello Everyone,
Another attribute that those who have gone before us is They Withstood the Trials of Faith.

Examples:
Nameless others – Hebrews 11:35-38 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground

They speak to us saying, “When life goes bad don’t give up. There is a better life coming.” They didn’t receive the promise but saw it from afar, Hebrews 11:39, 13. This is the definition of faith, verse 1.

Illus. Stephen in Acts 7:55-5655But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

Also those who have gone before “Became Our Witnesses of Faith”
Hebrews (12:1).
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

There’s a gallery of witnesses watching us, pulling for us. They along with the Trinity and the angelic hosts cheer us on.

We should draw strength from these witnesses. We have great reason to hold fast in faith.

There is a great “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on. They still speak.

It may be fathers, grandfathers, husbands and children who have given their lives to protect our freedom.

And it may be those who endured till the end, those who fought the good fight of faith.

May our lives speak to the next generation as being faithful and doing great things for God.

Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil