Faith For All Of Life Series

Hebrews Sermon Series

“Faith For All of Life”

Heb. 11.23-29

August 6, 2014 Chester’s FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson

Introduction:

A Abraham is the father of all those who believe, the central figure in Judaism, . . . the runner-up is Moses.

1 He, Moses, is the most highly regarded ancestor of Israel, next to Abraham.

a He wrote the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).

b John 5.46 (KJV), Jesus said “[Moses] wrote of me”

John 5:46 (KJV) 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

2 Moses’ life is a solid example of a life lived by faith in action.

a It serves as a model for all of us to follow.

b The author of Hebrews selects three primary events in the life of Moses to illustrate three marks of complete faith.

B I believe that the marks of our faith are all related, but it’s possible, by God’s grace/favor for links that never were to be and links that have been broken to be restored. (I’ll come back to this thought in my conclusion.)

I Parental Faith (11.23)

Hebrews 11:23 (NASB) 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

A Before Moses was ever born we find two faithful Jews who loved, obeyed, trusted YHWH.

1 In Exodus 2, we find Moses’ parents (Amram & Jochebed) were really no different than the other 2.3 million Jews living in slavery under Egyptian rulers.

a In order to control the blooming increase in population amongst the Hebrews, Pharaoh orders all Jewish male children to be cast into the Nile River.

aa Amram & Jochebed were with child, and she gave birth to a son . . . able to keep him hid for 3 months.

bb You only hid a baby for so long until somebody notices.

b Amram & Jochebed made a small ark/basket made from bulrushes and set him adrift in the river.

aa This mom & dad believed in the sovereignty of God, that God would take care of their lil’baby boy.

bb Imagine the hearts aching, fear growing as they put their beautiful baby boy in that little basked, “We can’t let them kill our baby boy!!!”

2 They violated human authority because they believed in a higher authority, the authority of God.

a Their faith acted rationally/carefully as evidenced in the preparation of the little boat of reeds.

b Amram & Jochebed had their young daughter Miriam follow that boat.

aa She was amazed to find that it came to rest near where an Egyptian princess was taking a bath.

bb Pharaoh’s daughter took the baby as her own (like a stray puppy) and thanks to quick thinking by Miriam, Jochebed became the baby’s nurse in the palace of Pharaoh until he was 12 years of age.

c Who but God could arrange things so that His deliverer of the Hebrew Children would be raised in the enemy’s palace, on the enemies dime, right under his nose!!!!

B Parents/Grandparents don’t you ever think for one moment your faith cannot protect your children.

1 And it’s your faith in God for your children/grandchildren that may just free our nation/save our nation/take us back to the cross.

a The world and its modern Pharaoh’s have no regard for our children, the sanctity of life, marriage, good behavior, honor, . . .

b The Abortionists are killing our future.

aa (IL.) A miscarriage can teach you a lot about abortion.

bb Whether a pregnant woman is pro-life/pro-choice . . . if she loses her baby during pregnancy she’s devastated because it wasn’t a collection of cells that ceased from being . . . it was a child. A child that was dependent upon it’s mom for shelter, food, protection.

cc Abortion boils down to one simple question: Does the mother want the child or not.

2 Our babies need us to protect, provide (food, clothing, shelter) but they also need our covering of faith.

a Godly parents/grandparents in their lives who raise them to know the Lord.

b It doesn’t matter if you have wealth, resources, enough money to pay your bills . . . Aram & Jochebed were slaves . . . and their faithful covering, not financial solvency, that raised up a Moses.

c A mother/father’s faith is a big deal that cannot be under valued.

II Personal Faith (11.24-26)

Hebrews 11:24-26 (NASB) 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.