Foundational faith #2 Moses

Jamey

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Northside Church

July 31, 2022

Chen family visit

Foundational faith #2

Good morning… My name is Jamey and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside.

It’s always great to be with you all…

I wanted to say thank you for all the feedback we received… and share with you the exciting news that Northside has an associate pastor…

We offered the full time job to Daniel this last week… and they accepted. Daniel will start on Oct. 1.

Be praying for them… as they transition and as they welcome their baby boy into the world sometime in early Sept.

Last week we also started a new sermon series called…

“Foundational Faith” … (PIC)

The goal of this series is to help us step back and ask the question what role, if any, is faith playing in my life?

Last week we talked about how Hebrews 11 defines faith as…

The assurance of things hoped for…

It's not wishful thinking or even reckless optimism… but it's grounded in deep belief and trust that what God says… even if it’s yet to be realized… will come to be.

The Conviction of things we can’t see.

This life altering conviction that impacts the way we think and live our lives… it leads to action.

This deep trust that God will do what He says in a way that impacts the way we think and live…

We talked about how Jesus himself taught that building our lives on Him, His truth, and applying that truth to our lives is what it means to build our lives on the right… secure and strong foundation… that will withstand the storms that will come in life.

That sort of faith is the one foundational thing… that holds us… and that holds it all together is this rock solid, unwavering faith in Him. Through the highs and lows… the thick and thin… the success and failures…

Heb 11 goes on to illustrate faith sharing these amazing examples of faith… some of which we are surprised to see on the list… they had real struggles… didn't always get it right, but here they are as examples of faith.

They were real people… with real struggles just like you and I… and one of the things that I think God is trying to teach us in all of that is… not only did their faith see them through…

It also changed the way they faced those things… which in turn… changed the way those things impacted their lives in the long run… they learned… and even dealt with the consequences differently because of their faith.

And so from now until Sept. we will be looking at different people that God used as examples of faith and today we’re talking about Moses…

Through a series of interesting miracles… Joseph ended up being second in command in all of Egypt and when one of the worst droughts in history hit, his brothers and father and their families ended up moving to Egypt too as honored guests of the king.

Exodus one goes on the say… they multiplied… a lot

And when a new king came to power, he knew nothing of Joseph or how God used him to save millions… out of fear… he said… we have to stop this or eventually they will over power us…

With one decree… israel went from honored guests… to severely oppressed and overworked slaves under the thumb of cruel slave drivers… but even then it says… they multiplied even more…

Soon after the order was given that all Hebrew baby boys were to thrown into the Nile river… and that is what Moses was born into…

I am going to read through Heb. 11: 23-29. As I do, try to pay attention to how often we hear the words fear and faith.

Hebrews 11:23–29 NLT

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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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.

(NLT)

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.

There are five important things I think we can pull from this short passage about faith…

Faith helps us deal with fear.

Faith grounds us in who we really are

Faith reminds us of what really holds value.

Faith involves keeping our eyes on the right thing

Faith inspires faith in those we lead.

Faith helps us deal with fear.

There is a ton in scripture about Moses… but one of the things God wants us to see in Heb 11… is the role our faith plays in fear…

Fear is a God given thing… it’s normal and can play a healthy role in our life, but it also can be incredibly destructive.

It can weaken the immune system

Cause cardiovascular damage

Cause Gastrointestinal issues

Fear produces a physical, emotional, mental and psychological reaction within us…

That in turn produces that whole fight or flight mentality. It releases dopamine and adrenaline… it actually can be addictive… I think that's why some people jump out of perfectly good airplanes.

Fear often produces what one study called a freezing effect… one author suggested for some it's just short of paralysis.

And its interesting… how fear can impact every other point out of this passage.

Fear can cause us to lose sight of or to deny who we really are. To hide.

Fear can cause us to settle instead of investing in what matters.

Fear can take our eyes off of the right things and cause. Attack or priorities. Chase things that matter far less.

Fear can rob us of the influence we have in the lives of others.

And we could go on…

It was faith… that empowered Moses’ parents to put their lives on the line and defy a king.

It was through faith that Moses confronted the most powerful man in the world and his own grandfather

Fear is a real thing… I’ve struggled with it off and on in my life. It didnt keep me from doing dumb stuff as a young man… but it robs me of a ton these days. I would say that my #1 mistake as a father has been parenting in fear.

And into that I want to share something that has been helpful for me…

Wherever I feel myself sliding into this place of fear… I often try to think through this process…

He either created and is over it all or He isn't.

He either has a plan or He doesn’t.

He either healed the sick and raised the dead or He didn’t.

He either has me… right where He wants me or He doesn’t.

He will either see me through whatever comes of this… or He won’t.

He either is with me… or He isn’t.

So, Jamey… who are you going to be.

95% of the time when I can get myself into that line of thinking I choose faith.

Fear is normal, but God never intended it to be a paralyzing thing in our life.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

(NLT)

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

There are a ton of passages that talk about not being afraid even of those who could take your life… but instead… fear the one who holds the power of eternity in the palm of His hand.

Faith grounds us in who we really are (vs24)

Acts 7 tells us that Moses was brought up in all the wisdom of the Egyptians… he was raised within a culture that was far from God… and yet… he never forgot where he came from.

He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter…

And that is far more important than we realize.

If I were to ask you who you are, what would you say? What would you say the greatest truth about you is?

I don’t know that we think about this enough…

Not only are we formed by God… Not only were we created with a unique part of His very image in us, not only are we the target of His grace and called for his purpose…

One of the primary ways the Bible teaches about you as a believer is that you are a “Child of God”.

Think about that… Do you believe it? Does it matter?

Faith… growing in the way that we see and relate and respond to God… gives us a growing and refining sense of our identity in Him.

Which I think really leads into the next one…

Faith reminds us of what really holds value. (vs 25)

It’s hard to imagine all that must have come with being the grandson of Pharaoh, who at that time was literally the most powerful human in the world.

You’d think it changes how you walk into a room or even what happens when you walk into a room.

Literally the best that money could buy or that man could provide… of everything… was at your fingertips…

Food, education, toys, homes…

My grandfather is Pharaoh seems like a powerful pick up line…

Very few people… would ever dare tell you no.

Born into incredible influence…

One author said it like this… there are few in the world do day… or for that matter at any time… that had at his fingertips what Moses did

And it’s hard to imagine anyone walking away from that…

Fame… money… whatever he wanted… influence…

What could be better? And that's a great question for you and I to wrestle with… what could be better than what so many people chase?

This passage uses the language, the fleeting pleasure of sin. And no one… had a better seat to analyze that than Moses.

The list from whom we can learn that sinful pleasure and selfish living are both brief, shallow, meaningless, and disastrous is long.

Job, Jeremiah, and Aspah are just three examples of the wrestling match that happens within us when we value the wrong things…

Saying things like…

Psalm 73:12–13 (NLT)

12 Look at these wicked people—

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

And it reminds me of this… those things that you value and chase and invest in… not only will you likely see growth in those areas… but those areas begin to form your world view.

And into that Jesus said this…

Matthew 6:19–21 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

(NLT)

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Does your faith… change what you value… invest in… prioritize and live for.

For Moses it did… He literally had it all.

But he valued God… and His Kingdom… and God’s promises more than anything the world could offer…

He knew the value of what Jesus taught in

Matthew 6:33–34 NLT

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

(NLT)

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

And that seems significant… that what the world has to offer is less than… and temporary compared to what Moses knew by faith.

Faith involves keeping our eyes on the right thing (vs 26-27)

Scripture and life are full of examples of people who let their eyes wander… and found themselves in a tough place.

The language of this passage literally says… Moses saw all that Egypt had to offer, and he saw that 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.

Instead of keeping his eyes on what's Temporary… it says he saw two things clearly.

The one he could not see… God

On the things that He promises…

His faith… caused Him to focus on the right things and to move in the right direction.

In mountain bikes and motorcycles… whenever things are getting a little crazy, they tell you to fix your eyes on where you want your tires to go… and not on what you're trying to avoid…

You can hear that… faith vs fear a little.

I think Heb 12 helps us understand how to keep our lives focused on the right things…

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

(NLT)

Throwing off those things that tend to steal our focus… and following the example of Christ.

Faith and faithfulness inspires faith in those we lead. (vs.29)

These people had been enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years… they hadn’t seen Moses in 40. Moses shows up… confronts Pharaoh, his adopted family and all of egypt…

It was Moses’ willingness to hear God… and stand firm that ushered in these plagues that sent all of Egypt reeling… and that eventually caused Pharaoh to relent and let God’s people go.

Right away Pharaoh regretted it… had his army chast them… and in that moment… all of Israel saw the sea split… and seeing Moses faith and faithfulness in action had an amazing impact… and those people saw God do incredible things that day.

Conc…

I don't really know what I am called to? Yes you do.

And if God ever wants you to play a different role, than trust with Moses that he will make that burning bush clear to you when that time comes.

That Moses had the advantage… burning bush… voice…

Is that really superior to a risen savior?

And that… is what Moses was born into.

Hebrews 11:23–29 (NLT)

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 (my parents can relate), and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

In Exodus it says that when they couldn’t hide him any longer they put Moses in a basket and sailed him down the Nile…

Can you imagine that… as parents… to be in this place that your best hope for your child was to place him in a basket and sail him down the river…

This river… that so many had died in… would be the river that would carry this baby that God would eventually use to deliver his people… into the hands of the enemy…

He was found by Pharaoh's daughter who eventually adopted him… and raised him…

Moses was cared for, raised and educated with the best things money could buy…

Can you imagine… being the child of Pharaoh's daughter… the kind of life he must have enjoyed…

The author of Hebrews makes it clear… that all of this happened at least in part because of His parents faith…

And as Moses grew he would visit His people… the Hebrews… and he’d see the horrible way they were treated… and at one point killed and hid the body of one of the most cruel slave drivers he saw… which casued all sorts of problems… that resulted in Moese running for his live from Egypt.

ter…

Can you imagine… being the adopted child of Pharaoh’s daughter… having everything at your fingertips… Literally… he could have… and in some ways probably did have it all…

It says that began to visit his own people… and say how poorly they were being treated… eventually even killing and hiding the body of one of the cruelest slave drivers.

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.

His faith in God God anchored His identity as a Child of God…

After Moses' parents sailed him down the river in a basket… he was found and eventually adopted by Pharaoh's daughter… really… it's probably the only way Moses survives that…