3.4.23 5.2.2021 Hebrews 11.23-28 The Tenacious Faith of Moses

Entice: Even as we trust God to be faithful most of us instinctively understand that much of what our life will become will be dictated by our own actions. These actions will take place in contexts which are more often than not beyond our control. We are still emerging from a year of pandemic. Much of what we experienced was out of our control.

Our reactions.

Our decisions.

Our behavior

these are things we can control.

Engage: The times have been difficult. Yet, we should all feel hopeful. Jesus lives. The gospel is still true. The Scripture still teaches us. The Church has never stopped worshipping. There are times when we need to be reminded that stubbornness, resolve, flexibility, elasticity, and tenacity are the attributes of faith which are strengthened during difficult times which will then flourish in renewed ministry as the crisis passes.

Expand: Moses. Lawgiver. Giant of faith. Pinnacle of prophecy. On the very short list of most significant humans ever. And the Hebrew author says "we really can learn from his story!" It may not be easy. It will take work. Life is like that. The way of discipleship is largely up-hill, and crosses are by design heavy and clumsy.

Excite: That is the Joy of this chapter! Ordinary people living lives of extraordinary faithfulness—faithfulness still available to you and me.

Hebrews 11:23–28 ESV

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Explore:

Moses’ tenacious hope flowed from a continual response to God.

Explain: Faith not only believes it behaves. It knows and acts. In this passage we are taught to respond with...

1. Acts of Righteousness.

1.1 Resolve.

1.2 Refusing Ease.

1.2 Choosing Faithfulness.

In this passage we are taught to respond with...

2. Acts of Restoration.

2.1 Reproach?

Not our first choice!

2.2 Reward.

In this passage we are taught to respond with...

3. Acts of Redemption.

3.1 Identifying with the unseen God.

3.2 Trusting God's saving Word.

Shut Down:

You don't have to be Moses to share his faith. His faith and forward focus can help you to develop the hopeful tenacity that makes you an overcomer in difficult times. That is one of the reasons that this whole series of sermons is so significant. These hero's of faith we read about in Hebrews 11 really were ordinary even if they lived extraordinary lives.

The goal is not just to celebrate their heroic hopeful faith but to emulate it. We need the kind of tenacity that Moses learned from his parents and passed on to all Israel.

We are approaching the half-way mark in this year of recovery. Some are doing well others are failing miserably. Tenacious faith never goes out of style because it responds to God by choosing to be like Him in our behavior.

It is time for us to choose, to respond with faithful acts which will reinforce our future and inject it with a stubborn hope.