Hebrews 11:23-29 Faith in Difficult Decisions

Intro

This morning we are in part three of a four message series on faith

The first week we looked at being marked by faith

We saw how it was impossible to please God without faith

Last week we looked at Faith in Real Life

We saw how our faith has to be tested, wrestled with, and needs patience

I don’t think anyone got out of here unscathed on that one

This week are going to look at Faith in Difficult decisions

How you use faith as your compass to make the difficult decisions

Story of Neal McDonough

Neal McDonough is one of the really good actors in Hollywood

He is one of the best villans in the movies

Several years ago de decided he wasn’t going to kiss another woman in his roles

He was blacklisted for two years

Then he decided to start making more wholesome movies on his own

There are going to be times where you have to make a difficult decision that will impact your future and family

What are you going to use as a foundation to make that decision?

Moses gives us one of the best case studies on how to have faith in difficult decisions

Read Hebrews 11:23-29

Transition

At the beginning of this week I hit decision fatigue

I literally sat staring at the wall because it wasn’t going to ask me to decide on something

Christian living involves making right decisions.

You can note the maturity of a Christian by the decisions he makes.

Holiness is making right decisions, carnality is making wrong ones.

Our Christian living rises or falls in maturity and holiness on the basis of the decisions we make.

When Satan tempts us, we decide either to say yes or no.

Right choices are made on the basis of right faith.

Often we cannot see the consequences of our choices.

Satan tries to make his way seem attractive and good and God’s way seem hard and unenjoyable.

When we know God’s will in a matter, we choose it by faith.

We know it is the right choice because it is God’s will, even before we see the results.

God’s will is the only reason we need.

When we choose God’s way, we put up the shield of faith, and the temptations and allurements of Satan are deflected

No person in Scripture, other than Jesus, illustrates the power of right decision better than Moses.

His decisions were right because his faith was right.

In the Jewish mind he was associated with commandments, rituals, and ceremonies—with all the religious requirements and works of the Old Covenant.

But he was a man who lived by faith.

Because to the Jews Moses ranks as one of the most respected Old Testament figures, to show that he lived by faith, not legalism, is one of the most powerful arguments possible to convince Jews that God’s way has always been the way of faith.

Build a Foundation of Faith vs. 23

To make difficult decisions you need to build a foundation of faith

In this first example related to Moses, Moses’ faith is not actually on display.

Rather, it is the faith of his parents.

Because they loved their beautiful child and refused to be dismayed by the violent and wicked decree of Pharaoh, they hid Moses to protect him

Moses was fortunate to have believing parents.

For them to hide their baby son from the authorities was certainly an act of faith.

Though godly parents cannot pass on their faith, they can certainly create an atmosphere of faith at home and be examples to their children.

A home should be the first school of faith for a child.

What if you weren’t blessed with an example of faith in your home?

There is an old saying: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the 2nd best time is right now

You can start building that foundation right now

Psalm 89:14 ESV

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Jesus is the foundation of our faith and he instills his righteousness in us

From there you build your foundation of faith in three ways

Knowledge

Immerse yourself in God’s Word

Sit under Godly Biblical teaching

Surround yourself with good counsel

Obedience

Take God’s word, Biblical teaching, & good counsel and do it

You have to put it into practice

Trust

Believe God’s Word

Communicate with Him

Wait on His timing

If you implement these three things. over time you will develop a foundation of Faith

Let Faith be Your Compass vs. 24-26

Your faith needs to be the compass that guides your decisions

A compass is what tells you what true north is

It can guide you to God’s plan for your life

Even being a little off can lead you far away from where you want to be

Your faith has to be a compass that leads you to the right decisions

As the adopted son of the Egyptian princess, Moses could have led an easy life in the palace.

He could have experienced the privileges of a life in the royal family, but instead he chose to be associated with the people of Yahweh.

His faith moved him to refuse that kind of life.

He chose to identify with God’s suffering people.

This favoring of temporary distress over transitory pleasure displayed a hope in a reward far surpassing the wealth of Egypt.

True faith causes a believer to hold the right values and make the right decisions.

The phrase “pleasures of sin” does not refer only to lust and other gross sins.

The phrase describes a way of life that we today would call “successful”—position, prestige, power, wealth, and freedom from problems.

Moses showed faith when he let God chart his destiny instead of allowing Pharaoh or raw ambition to do it.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

The Reward of Faith vs. 27-29

Faith in difficult decisions is always rewarded

God always rewards true faith—if not immediately, at least ultimately.

Over against “the treasures in Egypt” Moses saw the “the reward.”

The faith of Moses was rewarded with deliverance for him and his people.

Faith brings us out (Heb. 11:28), takes us through (Heb. 11:29)

Faith can get you out of a tough situation

The Jews had been slaves to Egypt for 400 years

They were more numerous and prosperous than the Egyptians and they were feared

Because of this the Jews were treated harshly

They cried out to God and God sent them Moses

The son that no one wanted

He stood up to Pharoah w/o fear and led the people in the first passover which protected them from the Angel of Death

How was this possible?

Look at the end of vs. 27

He endured by seeing him who is invisible

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,