MOSES A HERO OF THE FAITH

HEB 11:23-26

 

1. Remember the problem we have in this chapter as the writer works his way through.

1. thus, he repeats over and over “by faith” over and over.  They need to see that it is not by works....the legalistic, ritualistic concepts have to be overcome

2. to show that faith is NOT SOMETHING NEW....he mentions all Old Testament men as the heros of faith.  Moses was a man of faith....He came before the law....before all of the law, he believed God... He sets before us the standards of faith....

3. OUR WHOLE LIFE IS THAT OF DECISIONS..... CHRISTIAN MATURITY: IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS...You can tell a mature Christian by the decisions he makes....Holiness is making the right decisions...

a. you will rise and fall on the basis of decisions you are making.  

b. you have spare moments....and you make decisions to watch television or read and study the Bible.... a small decision at the time but having long term results...

c. EVERYTHING IN LIFE BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY....

d. Adam had a choice....took the wrong one....

MY WHOLE LIFE IS RESULT OF CHOICES....RIGHT AND WRONG.  

6. I Kings 19, 18...”all the knees which have not bowed to Baal.”

7. Neh. 10:28.....”separated themselves from the land unto God.”

8. Eph. 6:6....the shield of faith is believing God.”  WHEN YOU BELIEVE GOD....YOU HAVE MADE A CHOICE....

 

9. the Jewish people associated Moses with law and works...rules...

      10. Moses learned early on in life, that LIFE IS MADE UP OF DECISIONS....Everyone has to make decisions....Men are in Jail today because of their decision making ability...not their environment, mother or Father, whether they were abused or not abused...IT IS DECISIONS...

a. I awake today having to make decisions....Faith is believing God...

      11. Now back of his decisions was his FAITH....By faith he made certain decisions..in his life...FAITH IS BACK OF ALL GOOD DECISION MAKING.   

      12. THE NEW covenant is being presented....The New Covenant can only be appropriated by faith....and then he shows that all of the GREAT MEN IN OLD TESTAMENT...LIVED BY FAITH.

1. He wants to establish that FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING NEW BUT OLD...and that they all lived by faith.  

      13. We learn in this first part that there are two sides to the coin of faith....Many think that faith is ONLY POSITIVE....but FAITH HAS A NEGATIVE SIDE TO IT. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MERELY POSITIVE FAITH....IT HAS TO HAVE ITS NEGATIVE SIDES TO IT.     [THE QUALITY OF FAITH IS FOUND IN ITS NEGATIVE ASPECTS]

 

THINGS WHICH FAITH REJECTS  24-27

1. Faith says NO to certain things and says YES to other things...

                       1. It rejects the WORLDS PRESTIGE: v.24

a. v. 24....”refused to be called the son of Pharoahs’s daughter.”  AT THE AGE of 40....he had to make a decision....HE REFUSED SOMETHING....

b. her had risen to the heights of Egyptian society....He had been schooled in the schools of Egypt, had their culture, education, enjoyed all that the world could offer.  MOSES HAD IT ALL IN ALL ASPECTS OF THIS WORLD...

a. when I reject the things of the world, it is limited...for I have never know ALL THAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

c. Exodus 2:5....-7....Jochebed weaned the child....during  this time he was given the full measure of Messianic hope and truth....He knew he plan of God for Israel as we shall find out later on in these verses....THIS MOTHER GAVE HIM MORE THAN FOOD AND CLOTHING....SHE TAUGHT THIS CHILD.  

d. between 10 and 11 there is a gap....[during this time he was exposed to all that Egypt had to offer....total wisdom of the Egyptians....God used Egypt to teach and train and prepare Moses FOR THE WORK HE HAD FOR HIM.  

e. Acts 7:23....at the age of 40...he thought that by killing the Egyptian they would know he was for real... the .real deliverer....

f. REFUSED TO BE CALL THE SON OF PHARAOHS DAUGHTER....HE DID NOT SEEK THE PRESTIGE OF THE WORLD....HE KNEW GOD HAD SOMETHING ELSE FOR HIM....Prestige honor and fame...ARE WHAT MOST PEOPLE DREAM AND THINK ABOUT THEIR WHOLE LIFE...NOT MOSES...

a. It is one thing to HAVE IT AND GIVE IT UP.

b. I have given it up, but I have never had it....It is one thing to give something up which you have never had....but MOSES HAD IT ALL AND GAVE IT UP.  

g. Read what God calls prestige in this world  in Luke 1:  “he (John the Baptist)  shall be great in the sight of the Lord.” Matt 11:11....among them that are born of women, there had not been one greater than John.”  John would be considered a no-body in the world's eyes. God measures greatness differently from the world.

h. SELF DENIAL WAS A QUALITY MOSES HAD....THE STRENGTH OF FAITH IS PROVEN BY SELF DENIAL....

2. It rejects the WORLDS PLEASURE.... v. 25. 

                            ”than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season"

a. listen, SIN IS FUN...I have a side to me that enjoys sin...I have always enjoyed sins....the pleasures of sin.. He could have all the women, all the money, all of the fine chariots all the ease... NO ONE WILL EVER CONVINCE ME THAT SIN IS NOT FUN.

b. it is not a sin to be in the Egyptian court....unless God tells you otherwise...as God did to his servant, C. T. Studd...He felt it was wrong for him to have all of the family could offer....HE GAVE IT ALL AWAY TO TOTALLY TRUST GOD...

c. SIN IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR A MOMENT....and the Bible even testifies to this SHORT PERIOD OF ENJOYMENT OF SIN.  “when I went into the sanctuary of God....then I understood their end.”  

Isa 21:4....”the night of my pleasure hath turned into fear."

James 5:5....”you have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton.....”as in the day of slaughter.”  [JUDGMENT COMES]

d. GOD GIVES US PLEASURE FOR EVER MORE.....I like the fact that MOSES MADE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE....

e. God has called us to holiness.... a life of separation...I am convinced that without separation, there is no holiness....

f. The shield of faith has to be put up....if not, then you will give in to the pleasures of sin.

                 g.  Note: In the case of Moses, HE HAD A LOT TO LOSE....His choice involved LOADS OF STUFF.

j. The formula is this:  The closer Moses became to God and His will, the less appeal the things, the culture, the comforts of Egypt were to him...

a. You do not just SIT UP ONE DAY AND MAKE THE BIG DECISION....no....it is the results of a close walk with God and realizing the values of this world in the light of eternity.  I find that as I GET CLOSER TO HIM, THE LESS I NEED OF THIS WORLD.  

k. the world WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THIS....[It has absolutely no comprehension of what we are talking about.]

a. I Peter 4:3....”things of the Gentiles.”  We had one store to shop in....when we were unsaved....lusts, excesses of sin, carrousings,    v. 4...”they think it strange that you run not with them.”

b. There are so many Christians who are trying to get the world to understand their decision.

3. IT REJECTS THE WORLDS PLENTY  v. 26

1.  Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

a.”Pleasures of Egypt.”

2. Notice how Moses made this decision:  “esteeming.”

 a. this is not a QUICK DECISION word...but is a word meaning that he thought about it from all angles...  no rash conclusion....

3. “the reproach of Christ.”  [Christ had not even come when Moses lived]

a. MOSES BORE THE VERY REPROACH THAT CHRIST DID WHILE ON THIS EARTH....Moses experienced something of the same.

b. “treasures of Egypt.”  [HE HAD A FULL ORB OF PLENTY AS A BELIEVER]

c. Moses did not get confused:  Today with the new theology, we would be taught that our PROSPERITY IS A SURE SIGN OF GOD'S APPROVAL of what we are doing, where we are etc....THUS DO NOT MOVE. 

d. Moses did not get confused:  about those who would say that the best way to help his people would be to continue in Egypt and become a real part of the program of Egypt and through his prosperity  help HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL....very subtle.  

1. Heb 13:13....We have he same opportunity....WE RUN FROM THIS FORM OF APPROACH...   ACTS 5:41....’SUFFER shame for His name.”

II Cor 12:10....you confront the world.... I Peter 4:14...”if you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you.”

4. Subtle Note about Riches:

a. there is nothing WRONG WITH RICHES.

b. the wrong is in STRIVING, WORKING, PLANNING AND THINKING AND DWELLING ON RICHES. 

c. LESSON:  There is nothing more wholesome than to see a MAN WHO IS WALKING WITH HIM AND GOD IN TURN THEN MAKES HIM RICH. To see a man who SEEKS HIS WILL FIRST and then gets these things is so refreshing and wholesome.  "Seek you first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you" 

5. Question: HOW COULD MOSES MAKE SUCH A DECISION AS THIS?

a. ANSWER:  He had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”  [ He had his heart set on an eternal reward]   

b. Conclusion: You cannot out of the air make a decision like Moses....unless you have in your own being the theology of this “recompense of the reward,” or have your mind set also on the eternal reward.  [THIS IS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF MAKING A NEGATIVE DECISION]  His heart was set on eternal rewards.  Paul said  “our light affliction which is but for a moment...worketh a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” [if Paul had not viewed into the future, he could not have borne up under the pain, the disappointment of the day.] 

 

4. IT REJECTS THE WORLDS PRESSURE.  “not fearing the wrath of the king.”

1. Moses did not allow the pressure to get to him...pressure of friends, pressure of jobs, of promotion, ....He had pressure but did not give in.  “don’t get squeezed into the worlds mold.”

2. What were the PRESSURES  [for Moses}

1. PRESSURES OF THE PALACE:  How would you like to give this up to live with the slaves...sleep out in the open with no inner spring mattress, no silk to cover you at night, no servants to wait upon you....no warm water to bathe with....herding sheep now...running around the desert with sheep for 40 years.

2. PRESSURE OF PLEASURE:  Just think of the nice, legitimate, legal things of pleasure that were no longer...

 3. COMFORTS OF HONORS.

4. PRESSURES OF FEAR:   “not fearing the wrath of the king.”most Christians do not witness because of fear.  I THINK IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN MY WITNESSING.  

5. “FORSOOK.”  this was heart renunciation...this has to happen before the PHYSICAL separation.....”the fear of man bringeth a snare.”  MOSES WAS NOT AFRAID OF MEN.  

3. Note the POSITIVE side of pressure....”endured  as seeing Him who is INVISIBLE.”  [ONLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE BY FAITH CAN SEE THAT WHICH IS INVISIBLE....MOSES COULD SEE AN INVISIBLE GOD]

4. Exodus 5  [to see the pressure]

1. 5:1....real guts to do this....[There are some things you can pray about, but you must ALSO ACT UPON]

2. 5:3...who is going to carry on the brick making...

3. note 5:6....Pharaoh made them make bricks, plus go out and and pick their own straw....MAKE THEM PRODUCE THE SAME BRICKS PLUS GET THEIR OWN STRAW. v. 10....they had to get their straw.....

4.Note: Moses was not afraid of the King nor of his own PEOPLE.  [can you imagine the hostility of the people when they found out that Moses was the cause of the added work and responsibility]   note what happened to the leaders in v. 14...

5. note v. 21....THE PEOPLE TURNED ON MOSES...

 

WHAT DOES FAITH ACCEPT:

1. ACCEPTS THE LORDS PLAN:

a. Moses parents are a good example of ones who accepted the plan from God... The phrase ”fair unto God.” used by God to describe Moses, means that God had especially set his affection upon the child.  THE PARENTS HAD BEEN TOLD BY GOD THAT THIS CHILD IS FAIR UNTO ME AND IS SET APART FOR SPECIFIC SERVICE....thus, they set him apart, hid him....kept him in the house for three months.... 

b. I hope you do not think that they left the CHILD TO CHANCE, when they put the child in to basket and placed it in the river....

1. that Mother was right there when the child came floating by the  Egyptians....SHE BELIEVED SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN, ALTHOUGH, GOD HAD NOT GIVEN HER THE SYSTEMATIC PLANS.....like we have today.,

c. The mother taught him about not fearing....Messianic hope....she obeyed the plan of God.  

d. Note how God uses the World to fulfill his plan:  HE PLACED MOSES INTO THE HANDS OF THE WORLD AND USED THE WORLD TO FULFILL AND REFINE HIS PLANS FOR MOSES.... [can you imagine how frustrated the devil is}

1. I go on record as saying that I have seen God use even my sins to make me into the person of God that I should be.   

2. She did not do as Sarah did....in helping God out with his plans....

e. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY TO HER LIFE....nothing more.

 

2. TRUE FAITH ACCEPTS THE LORDS PROVISION  v. 28

1.   Moses believed this far out plan.....kill the lamb, take the blood, put it on the top of the door....MOSES DID AS HE TOLD....the people who believed God did just this...

2. I AM SAVED THROUGH THE PLAN OF GOD WHICH TO THE WORLD MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS THIS PLAN OF GOD FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL...

  3. I BET MY WHOLE LIFE ON THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. Notice that Moses did not add anything to the plan of GOD.

 

3. TRUE FAITH ACCEPTS GODS PROMISE  v. 29

1. The sea rolled up....as they walked...it rolled ...IT TOOK FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT THE WATERS WOULD STAY UP THERE....

a. I believe that GOD WILL HOLD BACK THE WATERS OF THIS WORLD...IF I WILL LIVE AND BELIEVE HIM. 

b. DO YOU BELIEVE GOD WILL HOLD BACK THE WATERS?  If you do, that is exercising FAITH.