Hebrews 11:23-29 Faith in Difficult Decisions
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Intro
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
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
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
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
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.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
The Reward of Faith vs. 27-29
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
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,