Faith In Action
Following Jesus: The Letter to the Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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Hebrews 11:23-29
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
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.
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.
28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
INTRODUCTION:
How strong is your faith? If you had to rate it on a scale of one to ten, where would your faith fall? Real faith is not demonstrated in the confines of a Sunday Morning worship service. It is revealed in the difficult times of life. Faith is defined in our lives when we are facing the hard decisions and fiery trials of life.
Faith in action will be lived out in some practical ways:
I. FAITH CHOOSES OBEDIENCE TO GOD EVEN WHEN CONTRARY TO THE LAWS OF MEN (Hebrews 11:23).
I. FAITH CHOOSES OBEDIENCE TO GOD EVEN WHEN CONTRARY TO THE LAWS OF MEN (Hebrews 11:23).
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
A. Sometimes the laws of men may dictate disobedience to God.
A. Sometimes the laws of men may dictate disobedience to God.
1. There are examples in scripture to this fact.
a. Moses parents kept Moses alive and in hiding even though the law said to kill him.
b. Daniel prayed to the Lord against the law of the King.
c. The three Hebrew children refused to worship an idol even though the law commanded it.
d. The Apostles preached the gospel even though forbidden by the authorities.
e. It is politically incorrect to stand for Biblical principles.
B. Obedience to God is a higher calling than obedience to the laws of men.
B. Obedience to God is a higher calling than obedience to the laws of men.
1. Moses’ parents feared God more than they feared Pharaoh.
2. We must choose to obey god rather than men (Acts 5:29).
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
Key Thought:
“Faith is not believing that God will do what we want Him to do, but rather it is believing that God will enable us to do what He wants us to do.”
II. FAITH CHOOSES THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS INSTEAD OF THE WAY OF SIN (Hebrews 11:24-25).
II. FAITH CHOOSES THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS INSTEAD OF THE WAY OF SIN (Hebrews 11:24-25).
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
A. Refuse to allow this world define who you are. (Hebrews 11:24).
A. Refuse to allow this world define who you are. (Hebrews 11:24).
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
1. This world will attempt to conform you to itself (Rom. 12:1-2).
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
2. The child of God must choose to be different (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9).
14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
B. Reject sin and embrace righteousness. (Hebrews 11:25).
B. Reject sin and embrace righteousness. (Hebrews 11:25).
25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
1. Sin always will bring temporary pleasure and permanent heartache.
2. Righteousness brings temporary hardship and permanent joy.
(2 Corinthians 4:17).
17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
III. FAITH RECOGNIZES WHERE TRUE RICHES ARE LOCATED (Hebrews 11:26).
III. FAITH RECOGNIZES WHERE TRUE RICHES ARE LOCATED (Hebrews 11:26).
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.
A. Evaluate things realistically. (Hebrews 11:26a).
A. Evaluate things realistically. (Hebrews 11:26a).
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.
1. The reproaches that the world gives those who follow Christ are worth more than all of the riches of this world.
2. The real riches are those that are not of this world.
B. Keep your eyes on the ultimate reward. (Hebrews 11:26b)
B. Keep your eyes on the ultimate reward. (Hebrews 11:26b)
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.
1. The reward that is coming to those who follow Christ outweighs anything this world can give. (Romans 8:18; James 1:12; Luke 6:23)
18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.
IV. FAITH FOCUSES ON THE LIVING GOD (Hebrews 11:27).
IV. FAITH FOCUSES ON THE LIVING GOD (Hebrews 11:27).
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.
A. When we trust in God, we will not fear what men will do to us. (Hebrews 11:27a)
A. When we trust in God, we will not fear what men will do to us. (Hebrews 11:27a)
1. Remember the example of those who have preceded us.
a. Moses
b. The Apostles
c. Michael Sattler
B. Our focus must be on the one that the world does not see. (Hebrews 11:27b)
B. Our focus must be on the one that the world does not see. (Hebrews 11:27b)
1. We focus on him through staying in His Word. (Psalms 119:11; Psalms 119:50)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
50 Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
2. We draw our strength from Him through prayer. (Psalms 138:3; Isaiah 40:31)
3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
3. We see him through remembrance of His faithfulness.
(Psalms 143:5 ; Psalms 63:6)
5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
V. FAITH FOLLOWS THE PATH OF VICTORY (Hebrews 11:28-29).
V. FAITH FOLLOWS THE PATH OF VICTORY (Hebrews 11:28-29).
28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
A. The path of victory is the path of obedience. (Hebrews 11:28).
A. The path of victory is the path of obedience. (Hebrews 11:28).
28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
1. We must obey even when obedience does not appeal to us.
a. God’s way is repulsive to the physical senses.
1.) God commanded the Israelites to put blood on the doorposts of their houses.
b. God’s way does not appeal to the religious works mindset of the day.
· The religious mindset wants to work for salvation (ie: JW’s; Mormons, etc.)
· God’s Way is by grace thru faith. (Eph. 2:8-9).
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
B. The path of victory is one that is saturated with God. (Hebrews 11:29).
B. The path of victory is one that is saturated with God. (Hebrews 11:29).
29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
1. When the victory is won, it is evident that only God could have done it.
a. There is no way that man could have accomplished the victory experienced by the Israelites.
b. There is no way except God to change a sinner into a saint.
c. There is no way to accomplish God-sized tasks except with God doing it.
CONCLUSION:
Faith, real faith, produces action.
A young fellow heard a preacher from the olden days, and was greatly moved, and the preacher said: "When you have a religious impression, the time to act upon it is right then. The time when you hear God's call, in which you ought to respond is right then." And the young fellow walked down the aisle and publicly made his surrender to Christ, saying: "It shall be right now that I take Christ as my Savior." He went back to the sawmill in the mountains where he worked, and the boys said that next morning he sang continually. Religion in the heart makes men sing. The boys said that he sang all the morning, and they moved the great logs to the sawmill, and as he went singing all that morning--the first morning that he had ever known what it was to be Christ's trusting disciple and follower--about noon his body was caught somehow in the machinery and crushed and mangled, so that a little while thereafter he went away into dusty death. When they got him out he faintly said: "Send for the preacher, that preacher in the church at the foot of the mountains that I talked to last night." The preacher fortunately was soon found and hurried up the mountain to the mill, and he bent down by the side of the dying fellow and took his hand and said: "Charley, I have come. What would you like to say?" And with a smile on his face that was never on land or sea, he faintly pressed the minister's hand and said: "Wasn't it a glorious thing that I settled it in time?" Oh, men and women, my men and women, I beg you, in the great Savior's name, turn your boat upstream before it is too late! "Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).
--George W. Truett
