Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• v23-29
• Remember the context in the first century
• Hebrews who lived shortly before the time of Nero
• Judaism was recognised as an official religion - Christianity
  was not
• Nero did terrible things to Christians when he came to power
• These Jewish Christians had started well (chapter 10) but then some were struggling and tempted to give up Christ/go back to Judaism
• The author mentions the Patriarchs of Israel
• A near massacre at the Red Sea - but in faith Moses prospered
• David overcoming by faith
• Abraham overcoming by faith
• Remember the fathers in the faith and how they overcame - if God delivered them He will deliver you
• In this chapter: The beginning of faith, the continuance of faith and the end of a persons days [in faith]
• Beginning by faith - Abel
• Continuance of faith - Enoch, Moses
• Ends of their lives - Isaac, Jacob and Joseph
• In this chapter: Great trials involving death and judgment
• Noah - Judgment and the ark
• Abraham - Issac
• Moses - Judgment upon Egypt and the Passover
• We live in times of judgment and trial - we must trust God in these times
• Our victory is in faith
• This morning: v24-28
• Faith's Decision (v24-26)
• Faith Without Fear (v27)
• Faith in the Blood (v28)

Faith's Decision (v24-26)

• The biggest decision he made
• Consider Moses family background/adoption into Egypt
• He decided to give up all the treasures of Egypt
• He gave it up for the toil and pain of the Israelites
• Remember the biblical narrative
• Be careful of embellishment in films
• His parents were Hebrews who loved the Lord
• Moses was a beautiful child before God
• They hid Moses for three months because Pharaoh had decreed to kill all the male children
• They placed Moses in a basket by the river, in an act of faith
• Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses and employs his own mother to look after/nurse him
• Acts 7:22 - Moses would have a great education, great luxury, great opportunity
• Moses gave all this up at the age of 40
• What a renunciation this was!
• Modern example
• Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God
• "He esteemed the reproach of Christ" (v26)
• Not a rash decision
• He saw the living God and saw something of the Day of and riches of Christ (like Abraham)
• The affliction of Christ - the sufferings of God, not just the joys
• Have we weighed things up - have we weighed up the afflictions of Christ?
• There is a grace and joy in suffering - what an awesome teaching
• Often we grumble in the trial but Moses chose affliction
• Those not in Christ
• Have you weighed everything up?
• Do you know how important it is to know God?
• Do you know the worth of your soul?
• Have you made a decision - do not go along with friends or family
• Some people are called to make tough decisions
• Example of the Harley Street Doctor [Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones]
• Example of the great cricketer [C.T. Studd]

Faith Without Fear (v27)

• Does this refer to the first or second time Moses fled Egypt?
• Maybe the second time when Moses left with the people of Egypt
• Remember the story
• Moses had made a decision to stand with the people of God
• Moses killed the Egyptian who was beating the Israelite
• Two Hebrews and Pharaoh had learned of this
• Maybe Pharaoh would have given him a pardon
• Moses went into the dessert for 40 years and settled down
• God speaks to Moses in the burning bush
• We see Moses struggling but the Lord convinces him
• Moses had to make another decision to leave the happy life of being a shepherd and challenge Pharaoh
• His faith was triumphing - he had overcome all fear
• Not just Pharaoh
• A difficult people - they wanted to stone him
• A difficult life
• How does this apply to us today?
• We live in an increasingly secular society
• Those that believe the Bible are taken as fundamentalists, called bigots, often misunderstand
• The Bible is scoffed at
• Example of C.S. Lewis
• We are in the minority
• They do not understand the gospel
• Heb 13:13-15
• God does not want us to be a discouraged and disheartened people
• We are to give thanks to God
• We are to remember what God has done for us and His people (v29)
• We believe in a miraculous God
• When are backs are against the walls we trust/have faith in God

Faith in the Blood (v28)

• Remember the first Passover
• Remember God's justice upon the Egyptians
• The Israelites had to believe and obey the word of God
• There was the shedding of blood, the substitute lamb, the blood had to be applied - a prefigurement/type of Christ
• Jesus died as a substitute for you and me
• We are safe in Christ only through the shedding of blood
• There is only forgiveness through the shedding of blood
• Do you have faith in the blood of Christ?
• Is this your only hope?
• Nothing else that you are trusting in
• Consider the difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites
• Are you spiritually asleep or awake before Christ?
• "The passing pleasures of sin" (v25)
• The passing pleasures ...
• It is only temporary: afterwards often comes guilt, sadness and pain - ultimately the judgment of God
• 'I would rather live for Christ'
• The testimonies of those on Youtube
• Sin never brings blessing - there may be enjoyment in but it always brings destruction
• Will you choose like Moses?
• Will you be like Moses?