Seeing is Believing
Hebrews 11:23-28
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
An Inkling
Faith begins by acknowledging the Holy Spirit's stirrings in your heart where you begin to perceive something different that He wants to do. What do you see in your life, family or environment that needs to change to reflect God's kingdom?
Moses' parents hid him because they saw he was beautiful. You need to develop a hiding place in God where He can turn those inklings into a path formation.
An Identity Shift
Faith is built with an identity shift where you begin to see yourself, your world and your purpose through Christ's cross, gospel and eternal purposes.
Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter.
Who do you identify with? Who's your family?
Moses chose to be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He would leave the fleeting pleasures of sin but use the relationships that he had developed for the glory of God. You are called to do the same.
This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.
- Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
By faith, Moses considered the reproach of Christ of greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.
Have you come to that place in your heart?
How do you give yourself to what is eternal, enduring, can not spoil, wrinkle or fade (Matthew 6:19-21 ; I Peter 1:22-25)?
1 Peter 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Moses was looking forward to the reward. It takes faith to look forward to your reward that comes from the hand of God.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot, missionary to Auca indians in Ecuador”
- Elisabeth Elliot, The Journals of Jim Elliot
An Initiative
Faith results in obedience expressed in some form of action.
Moses left Egypt, not fearing Pharoah's wrath, enduring as seeing him who is invisible.
Do you have the Lord always set before you? Do you see Jesus, the author and perfect of our faith?
Psalm 16:7-8
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
By faith, Moses led the Israelites to keep the Passover and the sprinkling the blood, which represents our cleansing by the blood of Christ spilled on the cross for our sins, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
What has God commanded you to do to protect your family, friends and those you lead?
It may seem foolish, arbitrary and unimportant in the sight of the world, but it is actually wisdom and leads to the salvation of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
As we obey God in faith, He works miracles. By faith, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians who did know or love God were drowned. The favor of God will allow you to experience such miracles when you see what He sees, and, therefore, what others can not.
Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ leading to His atoning work on the cross is the beginning and the end to walking out all of this. It is by grace and grace alone, by grace, through faith.
Second City Church: Faith of Our Fathers Sermon Series 2016