FAITH MATTERS
Hebrews 11: 24-26, 29-34, By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, (25) choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. (26) He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. …. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. (30) By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. (31) By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. (32) And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— (33) who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, (34) quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
“George Muller, a great man of faith, once said, “God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be wiling to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say---say it deliberately----trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometime defeats, are the very food of faith”. (Michael P. Green.Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989, p. 134). How willing are we to learn and grow in the way that Muller describes?
It is said on Pam Tillis that she wanted to get into country music on own path and not because of the fact that her father was Melll Tillis.
Moses could have embraced his privilege of being the adopted son of the royal family as the daughter of Pharoah’s boy, but he chose not to do that.
Moses was willing to refuse to be known as a son of Pharoah’s daughter (Hebrews 11:24). If you had been Moses, could you have made the same choice?
Today, we will look at Grit, Growth and Glory because those three are connected.
GRIT
What does grit mean to you?
We tend to think of grit as a level of toughness. A group of researchers wanted to understand why some survived basic training and did well compared to others who barely made it. Their research found that it wasn’t all based on “athleticism, intellect, leadership ability or well-roundedness” as some might have anticipated. Instead, it had more to do with a trait known as “grit”. It has been said that the best way to get “grit” is through adversity. (Justin Zoradi. Made for Theses Times. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, pp. 2018, pp. 52 -52). The Apostle Paul understood that kind of adversity (see II Corinthians 11:25 -28).
Has your grit been tested by relationships?
Sometimes family ties are cut off because of our faith in God. We can only wonder how history might have turned out differently if Moses had not cut his family ties with Pharoah’s daughter.
1) Family ties: In Luke 12: 51 - 53 Jesus mentioned how division could and would happen between family members (see also Matthew 10:38). Jesus also mentioned how our love for Him should be above our love our love for anyone.
Consider Luke 14:26: "Whoever comes to me and does not hate [which in the original Hebrew according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance means to detest; to love less] father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple” (NRSV).
2) Complete love: God calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27). How well do we love God completely like that?
3) Compromise: Whether kinship or friendship, would we not compromise if we do not put God first?
Thomas Becket was good friends with the King Henry II back in the 1100’s. King Henry II made him the Archbishop of Cantebury in 1161 at a time when the law of the land was stronger than the law of the church. Henry thought Beckett would just be a figure head rather than a true leader. King Henry II was obviously hoping for a quid pro quo in making Thomas Beckett the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Immoral behavior of some of the clergy was treated mildly until Thomas Beckett changed that when he upheld that the law of the church was greater than the law of the land. It was once said Thomas Beckett became more religious than even most of clergy his peers.
King Henry and Beckett had a falling out and Beckett wound up in exile for 6 years. After he returned, Beckett excommunicated some of his bishops. Since Bekett refuse to let Henry II have his way in having power over the church, Henry made a statement of hoping to be rid of Beckett. Four of Henry’s knights took his comment as a summons. They ended up killing Beckett in the church because he refused to budge after the first blow of the attack. The Death of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral (historic-uk.com) No doubt that Beckett “earned his grit” and reputation through “adversity”.
Our Grit is good, but it is not enough!
GROWTH
How can true growth happen when people want to take the path of least resistance?
1) Struggles build character: In sports they say, “no pain, no gain”. How can any athletic team be ready for competing well without practice? Every person of faith mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews had their faith tested.
2) Service: A person once told a pastor that he looked forward to joining the church where he was a pastor because he said he “wanted to be fed”. The pastor made the point that he needed to put away his bib and pick up his apron to serve. (James W. Moore. Yes, Lord I have Sinned But I Have Several Excellent Excuses. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991, p. 51). Jesus said that He came to serve and not to be served indicating that He expects that same attitude from His disciples (Mark 10:45).
Does our growth effect the growth in God’s Kingdom? Faith and growth go together!
1) From faith to faith: Paul tells us in Romans 1:17 That ... “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (ESV). “ From faith to faith means faith is at the beginning of the salvation process, and it is the goal as well”. We are justified by faith and grow through faith”. (Nelson” New Illustrated Bible Commentary).
2) Necessity of faith: “... without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).
Our Growth is good, but it is still not enough.
GLORY
Why is glory so important?
1) The significance of glory:
a) Glory is not about us!
b) The Bible often refers to glory in reference to God’s presence.
c) The Bible also refers to glory as a victory.
d) Even though the word glory is nowhere in our text for today glorifying God is about praising God, honoring God, worshiping God, and giving thanks to God.
2) Perspective: Some people spend a lot of time---some even a lifetime seeking glory---- the praise of others. That kind of glory-seeking is a dangerous thing when its aim is the praise of others. Jesus even pointed out how people idolize their success, prosperity and praise because they make that their aim. In Mark 8:36 - 37 Jesus asked, For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
3) Suffering precedes Glory: A common theme throughout the Bible is how suffering usually precedes glory. The cross comes before the crown (see I Peter 5:4). Satan wants us to be discouraged so that we will quit and not give God the Glory!
4) Calling: Paul tells us three times in three different verses to life worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1: Colossians 1:10 and I Thessalonians 2:12). In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul reminds us that “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (ESV).
5) Labor: I like the way that The Passion Translation translates 1 Corinthians _15:58 So now, beloved ones, stand firm and secure. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures (TPT).
6) Glorifying God: The Westminster shorter catechism says “Man’s chief aim is to glory God, and enjoy Him forever”. (Westminster shorte Catechism, http://www.reformed.org/documents/WCS.html ).
What have we done for God lately, to give Him, glory, honor and praise?
1) Genie?: How many times do we think of God like a genie and our prayers like wishes? How do we walk by faith and not by sight that demonstrates to those around us that we do not lean to our understanding (Proverbs 3:3)? Grit and growth help us in our faith journey. But, it is in glorifying God in the ways we live, love and serve that the picture is completed through our grit, growth and how we glorify God!
2) Race: The twelveth chapter of Hebrews talks about the great cloud of witnesses and those who are still running their race (Hebrews 12:1) . They have finished their race and have gone to the great cloud of witnesses in the church triumphant. Through their faith and witnesses, our heroes of the faith of Hebrews chapter 11 serve as an inspiring example. Their race inspires the race that we are still running in the church militant.
3) God’s speed: Today, we say farewell to the Jones family who have been with us in our race for fifty years at Fair Lawn UMC from its beginning to this day. They will be picking up the baton to join other runners in their new community where they are moving and we bid them God’s Speed.
4) Faith matters: Our faith matters to those who are running in the race for God’s kingdom with us and those that we inspire around us as we seek to glorifying God.
In the Name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
