Follow A Good Example, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. Humility Egypt filled his head. Midian filled his heart changed. It made him clearly and extremely humble.

Moses did not because he understood because he believed remember what is he doing in the save us all the time just joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt fellowship and words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie going pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world. What is all important at this point she does it take courage is to carry for teenage notice a number and have the baby. It takes courage to do that.

There are all kinds of incidents is our life and the choices we have is will you choose to have courageous faith or will you choose not to answer company of fear. And I think we do that so often we end up ashamed of ourselves because we succumb to the fear rather than showing courage and Moses parent is going to cost them their life they want.

Afraid now back to Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24 says, by faith Moses, we just moved 40 years and please understand some things here. Moses is an Israelite by only one factor birth exit that's always map he's been raised by Egyptians and she's three months old so wasn't my dog Nelligan learned a lot of lessons from his mom and dad just from birth. He is Egyptian in every way, social status, prestige, wealth actually that's who Moses is. He goes on, he says, by faith Moses when he had grown up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and here's the choice he makes choosing rather to endure ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of that's a choice Moses made, we must choose to make God's kingdom first. Any dollars and is against all logic menu raised in Pharaoh's home.

This is the richest, most powerful human being on the planet you been given the very best treatment. The very best food.

The very best education. Everything you could possibly have you had that and I am certainly Pharaoh's daughter in the whole household loved him and he chooses to treat all of that infamous treatment and marginalization as a person and this is a time of incredible prosperity in Egypt is the 19th Dynasty.

This is one of the most prosperous periods in the history of Egypt. He's an Egyptian by adoption and status, and culture and had nothing to do with the something was born 1C.

How could he make such an unthinkable choice because he chose to make God's kingdom first sin amazing thing back to Exodus for just a moment.

Verse 11 of chapter 2 is now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up they went out to his brother and he looked on their hard labors Nissan Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brother say look this way and that and we saw that there was no in Iran.

He struck down the Egyptian in a hidden in the stand. Now please understand something here that could have been courageous on his part, but that would not be abrogated by God. Okay, he might've felt in his heart that he was an Israelite, but he acted like an Egyptian Prince besieges executed the man on his own and it says then that the human eye. The next day, and behold to Hebrews were fighting with each other and he said to the offender why are you striking your companion and he said made you Prince and judge over us. Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian and Moses was afraid and said sure. This matters become known.

Now you got understand what happened. Moses having Moses thought no one will notice this, but if the Jews notice of what will they do with me me me hero right. Hey begin about the sky he killed a guy was being broken one of our people but notice the Israelites don't function that way. Then when I knew more to do with Moses than the Egyptians is exactly the same for them and it's kind of an interesting thought in his part in any conspires and interesting way.

As I said before he is. His heart is all Hebrew, but his actions are just like a prince of Egypt would act in these wrong that's exactly what you find out in the book of acts chapter 7 Stephen is talking about it. It says he was wrong. He makes it extremely dangerous choice, not when you're trying to figure this out. You say why did this happen and how this whole thing come about. Did God know Moses going to be the deliver from the time it was put in the Nile. Does he have a unique understanding of Egyptian culture. The most unique is is raise the privilege Egyptian what is a lack if you like anything he does is Prince of Egypt what he think he might lack showed up in the murder of Egyptian election Melanie don't grow up in Pharaoh's house and said all you really humble guy nobody is a humble guy in Pharaoh's house member firm is viewed as God. You're not humble and he's not humble and is an interesting thing that he got what he does here, but he chooses. Notice he chooses the kingdom first. In fact, as you read on the notice what happens verse 15 when Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from his presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian set down by a well that's an interesting thought.

Moses is now being hunted by his stepfather or stepgrandfather. He's being hunted by Pharaoh and he decides to run for hands up in land a minute Midian over near the Sinai very different kind of place for him. Know what I find about this is notice what he ended up doing all this comes about because he chose God's kingdom over being Prince of Egypt 18. We can learn from that example is you have to choose God's kingdom first question is do you do that to desire you evaluate your life and the choices you make in step you choose God's kingdom first member and I Matthew six in the sermon on Mount Jesus is talking about worrying and I know that some of you are world-class at that, you know, worry about everything when it comes down to what is Jesus, and in 633 of Matthew. What does Jesus say he said but seek first. What the kingdom of God's righteousness, and then what you say all these things will be added to you.

That's the promise of God. The question is do you believe it, and maybe more importantly then do your client into your life. Is that what you apply in your life. I'm going the basis of God's kingdom first is not always big things. Some of you know the story of said before but when I was in Pennsylvania and became very good friends. I was a man named Cliff and he was the lead architect of the largest architectural firm in the area in which we live, and he and I became very good friends and he told me as I was deciding to go to Dallas something going to ministry. He told me what he said. What I like to do for you is like you to go back to Carnegie Mellon University of grade school in Pittsburgh finish her degree up in architecture, then come and work for me and I said well Cliff what I want to do is I want to go in the seminary and then go into ministry and Cliff. The words he gave me is what a waste of talent that would that was a statement wasn't no it was just the kingdom was first made was a flattering thing.

Here's a guy only has a big architecture firms will they give me a job naming finish school, but we were close friends. That's the way it works with God you put in first Jim Elliott.

The missionary said it best, he is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. I mean you couldn't say it any better than that. Now let's go back for just a moment here to the Hebrews passage is an interesting twist or after recess considering the reproach of Christ greater ease and greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, which would've been his friends, looking for reward, it says in verse 27 by faith, there is again he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is unseen.

I don't know if you just remember what I just said kinks in a minute kill you in one Moses he said, going truck I did.

What he do. He ran but what to say right here it says, not fearing the king see is he not fearing the king received during the king. Don't misunderstand this. He did have a death wish. And so he ran if he were to really fear the king he would've never killed an Egyptian seat is not that he was afraid of the king.

He was applying his own wisdom on what I'm looking execute myself the same thing his parents that they want afraid either.

But it could cost them their lives. That's exactly what happened. So in one sense he didn't have a death wish.

In another sense he knew that if he had feared the king, he would never killed the slave.

Now it's interesting he's driven by faith. Now, what you end up finding here is we must choose courage over fear, we must choose make God's kingdom first and we must choose now to stay the course. Notice. All it says here is that by faith he left Egypt during the wrath of the king measuring the wrath of the king. He left Egypt how all four years ago the last 40 years, where you were 40 years ago. Some of you may have been born.

But where were you 40 years ago.

Think of how long. That tightness you got understand something here is the Prince of Egypt. He's a Linda Midian. He's a sheepherder. Okay, that's what he does not list me on how interesting would that be is educated by the Egyptians and all he has of the sheep. You take care and you think, I wonder when it's time for me to go back so it up.

How are you going to be here Moses. We think he said when he first got there probably couple months couple years maybe decade. I don't know now in our long-standing 40 years 40 years pending shape. What's the point of that member. God never waste time, he invest time he never wasted, so I wanted to see a verse it's really an interest when my favorite verses in the Old Testament numbers 12 numbers chapter 12 verse 13 and what makes it even more special than the circumstances who wrote the book of Numbers is written by hope. Moses is what he writes in verse 13 members were extremely numbers 12 verse three now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of fear. He wrote that, I think that's really something that so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is pretty clearly was. Now I know why was there 40 years see the humility that he now has Egypt and filled his head, but Midian filled his heart to change them.

It made him clearly and extremely humble man.

Moses did not obey God because he understood God, but because he believed God, and remember, what is he doing in the land of Midian. I say this all the time he's doing what you and I have to do with is waiting is just waiting is endorsing 40 years. See, now let's go back to book.

Hebrews again want to see something this time. Hebrews chapter 10 right before Chapter 11 yet understand the context Jewish believers have come up with a plan. After about 20 years that it's no longer viable for them to remain in a church they would be much smarter if they went back in the Judaism they still believe in Jesus, but they gotta get back in the Judaism because her families of disowned and they can do business. They don't have Jewish friends and remember Jews and Gentiles Nomex is a consequently they felt so isolated they come up with this whole plan. And that's the whole book of Hebrews is about. But the writer of Hebrews says some in them is interesting. He says in verse 35 of Hebrews 10, he said, therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which it has a great reward for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God. You may receive what was promised.

What was it they needed a new door you grow your faith you see so much of what you read in chapter 11 that is all the examples of people who endured and some of those people received what the reward, and many of those people never did. They all endured me so that's what you need and that's what Moses an example for me. Moses had to wait in the land of Midian for 40 years, and God uses them in a magnificent way. How good are you waiting to see how will you wait. Do you have enough faith to stay the course. That's the point, you have enough faith just to stay the course. That's what this is.

Now it's interesting bye-bye by the way, Moses stays the course, but notice what else God does to verse 28 of Hebrews 11 Jesus by faith again.

He kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so that he would destroy the firstborn when I touch them. I hasn't delivered anybody yet. You know the whole story Pharaoh no-brainer in Trenton has been made fighting with each other in all the plagues are hitting all that but he hasn't delivered anybody in God's is all by the way great delivers what I want you to do before there be any deliverance on what you to celebrate the event called the Passover occasion at the exam of the Lamb to prepare the food you have to sacrifice the lamb you have to sprinkle the blood and then you have to eat the meal but they haven't been delivered.

Could you imagine the night history United States. With that, we declared our independence before they ever fought the Revolutionary war have to win something right is another argument.

Now you see, I would've thought you do the Passover. At the get showing guy did. He said notice due to front and Moses did it kingdom comes first to Moses courage over fear. Courage may God's kingdom first courage to stay the course and encouraged to rely on God's intervention. Notice what happens in verse 29 by faith. They pass through the Red Sea, as though they were passing and dry land in the Egyptians when they attempted it would drown you know the story well.

Notice he said by faith. They but if you read the story.

By the way how faithful was Israel by the Red Sea, something I do. Moses said would resume behold with God you see the example he was everybody there. Could you imagine what happened on the sea part in the walk-through and the Egyptian army was swallowed up. See the example of Moses was to them is an amazing thing. Notice again little bit of credit for, though they pass through the Red Sea is a passing through dry land. They did follow Moses because he was such a great example. But they had very little faith in 40 years later, verse 30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down 40 years again got about a plan all right Jericho's most fortified city in a part of the world and were just gonna walk around and to the more walk around once every day to the horn and then in the last day to the lot and it is yours. But they did it and God did you seal this works. That's an example to us. God works in mysterious ways. Gotta work at the way he wants to. That's certainly not anybody's battle plan then it says in verse 31 by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those were disputed after she had welcome spies in peace. Many have Rahab, Rahab and Josh were to said I know that the Lord is giving you the land, and she risked her life to save the spies same idea. She's a harlot all by the way, if you read Matthew chapter 1.

She's in the lineage to Jesus Christ. That's how she was using. Again, these are examples for us to rely on God's intervention in our lives. That's what you're saying is an amazing thing. How this all works out. So we must choose courage over fear, we must choose to put God's kingdom.

First, we must choose to stay the course and we must rely in God's intervention in our lives were great examples for us to follow.

The question is do you follow stuff like this when you really follow what our lives are a series of defining moments. Every one of our lives. We have big choices in small choices you are product of the choices you made in your life and those moments will exposure values go test your deepest commitments in no shape the character God knows how important these are nets whites given us these great stories we call the heroes of the faith.

But God doesn't give us the stories to entertain us, gives us the story says examples so that we would follow him in our lives. And that's the key word fall all that's why Jesus used so often and you can that's the other beauty of our faith. You can follow. That's why God gave you the spirit of God so that I can follow God even in the weakness of my own flesh. I don't have to make that decision only on the spirit of God will make it for me this great father, thank you for this great story, we know it so well that it were almost immune doing and what great examples of the kind of faith that you want from your children courageous faith, enduring faith, a faith of priority in a faith that will rely completely on you father I ask everyone had to challenge her heart and say goodbye. Follow these kind of examples because we must miss. We have to build on the radio ministry of fellowship more if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember, you can Google great website called in one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship of the word online event website you will find on today's broadcast.

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