Series: Super Heroes Of The Faith [#3]
GOD’S CAPED CRUSADER
Hebrews 11:24-28
Introduction:
There is 52 white keys and 36 black keys, equaling 88 keys on a piano. As I play this note, middle “C”, can someone tell me what song this is? If you did actually guess the song, it would have just been luck; because it is very hard to know a song by the repetition of 1 note. When a musical composer begins to write a song, they generally begin by writing a melody line. See if you can tell this song by its melody line. (Play the melody line to “How Great Thou Art”). “What song is this?” Yes, it is “How Great Thou Art”. Once a composer has the melody line they then write chords in. (Begin playing the chorus to “How Great Thou Art” using chords and arpeggios.) “Now you can begin to hear all of these different notes form a beautiful song; but what really draws me to a song in a way that the song becomes a part of me is through the words.” (Sing 1st verse.) “What even enhances a song even more is when a vocal harmony is added.” (Sing chorus with Chris on lead and Shawn on harmony.) “Join Chris and I in the chorus of “How Great Thou Art” and sing as a prayer to God.”
Every Super Hero we know has had to find out who they are and make some choices. Batman, had to choose whether to be rich and famous or fight crime. He had to look at the “big picture” and see what was really important. This morning, we are going to look at “God’s Caped Crusader”. Let us ask ourselves 4 important questions that every Christian needs to ask.
Question #1: Who am I?
Hebrews 11:24 (NIV)
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Have you ever wondered why God put you here. Most of us have a good “Church” answer; but don’t you wonder sometimes about what God had in mind when He created you?
Jeremiah 20:18 (TEV)
“Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?”
Many of us live from day to day, hour to hour just like that- just surviving. We get up, go to work, go home, go to bed, and do it again; until finally we die. How depressing! None of us will ever be “Super Heroes of the faith” with that philosophy on life.
Proverbs 16:4a (GW)
“The Lord has made everything for his own purpose.”
Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)
“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.”
God has a purpose and a plan for our lives. The 1st thing we must do to find out that purpose is become part of His family. That only happens through salvation.
Ephesians 1:11 (MSG)
“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
Once we are saved, we no longer belong to ourselves but to God. We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and God would not pay that high of a price just to let you waste away. As God shapes you into who you are supposed to be, you must…
Answer #1: Be yourself!
As Moses did, you must refuse to be anyone other than who God called you to be. Stop trying to imitate what you think is great and trust God to do great things through you.
Question #2: What are my choices?
Hebrews 11:25 (NIV)
“He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.”
As we allow God to grow us, we are going to have to make choices. We can really sum up any situation into 2 choices: The right choice or the wrong choice. How simple, but true. The right choice is always choosing God’s ways and the wrong choice (sin) is always choosing Satan’s ways.
Although enjoying the pleasures of sin would have been easier, Moses chose to be obedient to God. Sin is fun for a while. If sin wasn’t fun, no one would be tempted by it. Anytime we have to choose, it would be easier to choose sin; but if we are going to grow into “Super Heroes of the faith”, then we must…
Answer #2: Be responsible.
As God’s children, we must stop making excuses and remember that through Christ we will survive these challenging times in our lives.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (GW)
“There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.”
Question #3: What is really important?
Hebrews 11:26 (NIV)
“He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
In order for you to fulfill your God given purpose, you must decide what it is that matters to you the most. Solomon tells us over and over in the Book of Ecclesiastes that worldly things are meaningless. He tells us great intelligence is meaningless, pleasures are meaningless, fun is meaningless, work is meaningless, position in society is meaningless, etc… If you want to get depressed, read Ecclesiastes in one sitting.
What did Jesus tell us about priorities? We know the rich young ruler couldn’t follow Christ because he couldn’t give up his wealth.
Matthew 19:29 (MSG)
“And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields — whatever — because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.”
Christians in order for us to be able to determine what is really important we must…
Answer #3: Have some values.
A person doesn’t just simply put God 1st by saying so. There must be a foundation of godly values that we operate from. For example if serving God is going to be a priority, then you probably ought to know what God expects. How are you going to know what God expects you to teach to your children unless you read the Bible and find out? How are going to know what God expects from you at work unless you read the Bible and find out?
As the old saying goes, “If you can’t stand for something, you will fall for anything”. You to need to live by God’s standards and stand up for those standards when they are challenged.
Question #4: What are my goals?
Hebrews 11:27
“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”
Moses was focused on God. His goal was to please God. Moses was looking forward to that day that he received his eternal reward.
The other day, Chris and I went and played golf. Now I haven’t played in a while and Chris has only played a few times; but we both had at least 2 things in common. We both wanted to hit the ball in (or at least towards) the hole; and anytime either one of us lifted our heads and took our eyes of the ball while we were hitting the ball, guess what? That’s right, we either missed the ball or hit a poor shot.
If we are going to be a “Super Hero of the faith” then we must…
Answer #4: Have some vision.
Proverbs 29:18 (NASB)
“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”
What is your goal? If you will set your eyes on Jesus, you will not only be able to set clear goals to being a “Super Hero of the faith”; but you will reach them.
Philippians 1:6 (MSG)
“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”
