The Impact of Faith
Notes
Transcript
Splitting a boulder with a small hammer
God used the faith of Moses’, parents Amram & Jochabed, to make an impact of faith.
There names are not even mentioned until Ex 6, yet their faith made an impact on the lives of many
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
The context of the story we see highlighted picks up in a circumstance that is troubling
Clear instruction from Pharaoh to kill every child
Whether it is throwing a baby in crocodile infested waters in the Nile or an abortion clinic - life is life! That life started the moment conception took place in the womb!
Moses had not yet been born nor was the first five books of the Bible even written - And still, the people knew the principle that life is important, passed down from the instruction God gave Noah:
Gen 9:4
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
They knew this was against the very nature of God!
God is life!
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Romans 5:21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Jude 21
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
In this context, we see Moses’ birth:
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
Goodly - good adj. — having desirable or positive qualities; especially those suitable for a thing specified.
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
Fair - SAME WORD in:
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Proper - elegant adj. — refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style. Handsome
God gives us a picture of Moses as being a beautiful, handsome, good spirited, well mannered baby boy
The decision to protect, hide, and preserve their baby boy was solidified in their heart the moment they saw Moses.
Their hope in God and belief in the truth of God moved them to act. This action was faith. Why did they act upon faith?
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Feared - speaking of standing in awe of God - God was the One that drew the awe of their heart!
God is awesome!
Faith that makes an impact is moving faith
Faith that makes an impact is moving faith
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Picture of mustard seed
Amram and Jochabed’s faith, by hiding Moses for 3 months, impacted all of the children of Israel, the nation of Egypt, and is impacting us this very moment as we learn from the very Word of God, that God used Moses to record.
Their faith created action!
God can use a little faith, a small amount of a faith muscle to move a mountain!
Don’t underestimate what God is teaching your heart to do!
Faith the read your Bible today
Faith to pray
Faith to tell someone about Jesus
Faith to resist temptation
Faith to use the right language
Faith to stay pure
Faith to teach your children
Faith that makes an impact is daring faith
Faith that makes an impact is daring faith
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
This was clearly contrary to Pharaoh (the king’s command)
This wasn’t an issue that was debatable or preferential - this was clearly against what God had instructed!
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
And Samuel said,
Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to hearken than the fat of rams.
As we learn what God instructs, daring faith will act despite the resistance
Medical News Today - Muscle hypertrophy occurs when the fibers of the muscles sustain damage or injury. The body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which increases the mass and size of the muscles.
When there is resistance to a muscle, the muscle grows.
Weight - the more weight one lifts, the more muscle builds
Faith is acted upon in resistance - there will always be resistance when we step out by faith - God promises that the resistance the weight will not be more than what I can handle with Him.
No matter how big or small the faith is that you exercise - God uses it to make an impact. That impact is greater than you may ever realise.