Living by the Word: Making it Personal

Series Introduction: Living by the Word

Last Sunday, we shared with you our theme for the year, Living by the Word. My aim is to spend each Sunday of the year focusing on principles from God’s Word that will help us in our lives. I would like to segment these sermons and conversations around themes. At some point, we will focus on our health, family, finances, and other aspects of life. However, I thought it would be important to begin with self.

Nothing in our lives or attached to our lives an be of any value until we focus on ourselves and make a personal decision about (1) who we are, (2) what we are here for, and (3) where we are going. These three things are of the greatest importance to live an enjoyable and glorious life.

Introduction

Premise: The best joys in life often come from the hardest decisions and the greatest sacrifices.

During the Christmas break, we took our children to Universal Studios. This was their first time actually entering the theme park and they were beyond excited to enjoy the festivities. I must admit it was a pretty amazing experience.

The park is filled with all sorts of stores and amenities. It’s amazing to see how creative individuals are, as each park had a theme. There was a Simpsons theme, a Mario Cart theme, and many others. However, there was one theme in particular that seemed to have everyone’s attention. It seemed to be the place every kid (and adult) wanted to spend their time. It was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It was amazing!

There were real life characters, replica scenes from what I understood to be scenes from the movie and a host of other rides and fun activities. The park was a hit!

This park was made possible by J.K. Rowling, a woman who was a struggling single mother who had a passion for writing but also a real-life responsibility of taking care of her child. In fact, she was known for frequenting cafes while pushing her young daughter in a carriage around town. Her financial predicament led her to feel like “the biggest failure she knew” and she sunk into depression.

However, during this time she was writing the manuscript for Harry Potter. After completing the manuscript she began searching for a publisher and sent it to 12 publishers. They all rejected her. She supposedly received some interest from a small publisher who would only consider if she completely altered the story line and characters. This opportunity would have given her an advance and given her all sorts of assistance during her time of need. She refused believing her manuscript should be received by a publisher that believes in her vision for the book.

Principle 1: Your life isn’t for sale.

Establish your convictions and standards for everything you do, and live by them; never compromise—no matter what.

Eventually, Bloomsbury Publishing accepted her and published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This book went on to become a seven-book series, a mega film franchise, and a global phenomena. Here’s some of her success:

Series has sold 600 million copies world-wide, becoming the best-selling book series in history

Translated into 85+ languages

Harry Potter film series has grossed $7.7 billion globally

Established several theme parks

Rowling became the first author to reach billionaire status

She became the most influential author of all time

This all came from a once struggling mother who knew her potential and knew where she wanted to go.

Today, I want to talk to you about making a personal decision about your walk with God.

Two Things We Must Believe: Hebrews 11:6

Remember, there is a principle about accessing the blessings of God: Life is ultimately made up of the decisions we make. Therefore, we must have the proper influences in our life to help us make better decisions.

In our text today, we read Hebrews 11:6. In this text it revealed two things we must believe about God to make important decisions in our lives:

He exists- he comes and goes; one I connect with; have on hand

He is a rewarder- one who compensates, make payments in return for services, pays us back

The word is a compound word which means becomes a rewarder.

This is important to know because, often time, the decisions we must make for God require us to make a sacrifice. It requires us to lose something we would rather have. It tends to take away our temporary and immediate satisfaction in hopes of receiving something greater.

Principle 2: Something good comes out of seeking [not serving, obeying] God.

It is important that we emphasize the word seeking, because the word is focusing on desire before we could focus on activity.

Character Study: Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27)

The book of Hebrews is known as a Hall of Faith. In it is found the lives of individuals who lived a life in faithfulness to God. In fact, Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11:32–40 NLT

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half,* and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

These individuals understood the power of living by faith. Surprisingly, each one had to make a sacrifice in order to receive a reward for their “services.”

Today, we are focusing on one of these characters—Moses. Moses was Israel’s most influential leader. He is the leader of the greatest leaders, and from him, it is understood, all the wisdom of God has come.

Moses was born in Egypt into slavery. At the time, the Hebrews were growing at a faster than desired pace. So, all Jews were ordered to kill their male sons. However, Moses escaped.

Adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter

Exodus 2:10 “Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses,* for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.””

Taught as an Egyptian

Acts 7:22 “Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.”

However, at the age of 40 he experienced something that would change his life. He saw the sufferings of His fellow Israelites by the hand of the Egyptians.

Exodus 2:23 “Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.”

All those years living in the palace and now Moses saw for himself the gross life the Israelites were forced to live. Here, Moses had one of two decisions he could have made

(Hebrews 11:24–25 “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.” )

He could have chosen to stay in the palace, live life comfortably, or

He could suffer with his fellow Israelites.

Ultimately, Moses decided to suffer with His fellow Israelites, but it is important to understand who He was suffering for. He was not suffering for the Israelites. He was suffering with the Israelites. He was suffering for Christ.

Hebrews 11:26 “He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.”

There’s no promise of reward unless the suffering is for Christ.

Now, what does a decision for Christ look like? It is made of three actions:

Refuse- Hebrews 11:24 “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”

Choose- Hebrews 11:25 “He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.”

Keep right on going- Hebrews 11:27 “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.”

Principle 3: We must refuse something, then choose something, and keep on going.

*Demonstration*

Hebrews 11:27 “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.”

Conclusion: Jesus Christ

When Jesus was given the opportunity to choose the luxuries of this world, He declined, because He kept His eyes on the Father. This is what Paul said about Him,

Philippians 2:6–11 NLT

Though he was God,* he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*; he took the humble position of a slave* and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,* he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Brothers and sisters, this is the decision Jesus made for you long ago. What decision are you going to make for Him? Remember the decision is one that is for your best interest, even if it requires you to make a small adjustment to your temporary pleasure.

Hebrews 3:15 “Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”*”