Culture Shock in My Own City

Yo,

I find it really odd to say, but I think I am currently experiencing the beginning of culture shock.

A couple days ago I moved into a new condo and it's really different from everywhere else I've ever lived. Just yesterday I was walking to the bus to go to work and in the span of like 15 minutes I was approached five times for spare change. There are people everywhere ranging from homeless to businessmen suited up and ready to conquer the world. Small businesses. Historic locations. Rainbow flags. Rainbow crosswalk. Starbucks down the street. LCBO downstairs. Walking home at night, drunk people and open bars. People at night.

I don't think I'm really that close to downtown, but I am faced with the reality that I do live downtown and everything is different now.

I need to figure out how to build relationships here. I need to figure out how to show people love on the streets whether I have change or not and use those brief conversations to share eternal truth and hope. I need to figure out how to feel comfortable in a place that is so foreign to me and, in many ways, believes a worldview that is different, if not opposed to how I see the world and myself.

Moving to Asia or Africa was less of a shock.

I understood that I'd be paying a much higher rent than I had previously. I understood that my life would be different. I understood my condo was beautifully clean and modern. I understood the transit. I understood. But I was not prepared for this.

I pray that God would help me to really grow in my faith while in this place. That I can meaningfully impact the lives of my housemate, neighbours, community, and those I interact with regularly. I pray that I would be building solid foundations of spiritual habits.

D.Fa

Japan 2016 Entry 4

Yo yo swageroo,

Today was pretty sweet. Traditional breakfast at Pastor's house. Children's English class day 2. Lunch. Beginner adult English class. A bit of worship. Visiting a wycliffe missionary for dinner.

I know I've said it before, but yo. We are so blessed here. Literally everyone is pouring out love on us and it makes it so much easier to love others.

The morning English class was a little bit less well planned out than yesterday's, so it felt like it was kinda lame, but it sounded like the students enjoyed it still, which is great. We have 7 great girls (and one of the girls really likes pokemon go. ;P) and I'm so blessed to know them. Today NP shared her testimony and it seemed like they were paying much more attention during chapel time than yesterday.

The afternoon class was with all new students, so we didn't know what to prepare for. Our class was 7 great men and women! They were so enthusiastic to try and speak English and were asking great questions and as such we only actually ended up getting through half of the material we had planned. ;P At one point one of the guys (instead of practicing the english we were supposed to) just asked AL about how she became a Christian. And later when she actually shared a testimony another guy who isn't yet a Christian was all like "Ya. What she said is actually in the bible". He had checked. ;D So happy to be their teacher. Haha

Had a few minutes between class and dinner, and I'd been feeling kinda accused and guilty, so I ended up praying a bit and grabbed the guitar in the chapel and played. Good times. God is good.

Dinner was taco rice. Amazing concept. Rice, chilli, other toppings, in a bowl. Legit. But the best part was hearing how MN had discerned to become a missionary with wycliffe to Papua New Guinea. It was a long process of fear and then taking steps to pursue God's calling to missions. She also ended up sharing part of how she had come to know Jesus. Q . Q  one time her friend had invited her to a Christian run English camp not expecting that she'd believe. She went because she wanted to know English better and ended up asking for God to be in her life. The effects of an English camp was salvation for her and likely for thousands more through the work of translating the bible into one of the about 800 languages in Papua New Guinea. Wow yo. Completely changes how you see this week on English camp here in Japan. God can do such crazy amazing things.

Her testimony also really resonated with the team. She shared how at one point she was reading Isaiah 27 or 28 while discerning her call and it was about a farmer who tills the field, then sows, working hard to bring in a crop or something. How can I expect fruit if all I do is till? We need to take the steps towards the goal.

And for me it resonates too, but more that that is what I'm trying to do. Being here this week is a step for me. I actually feel super at home here. I haven't done too much exploring yet, we'll do a bit of that tomorrow, but man. I think I could see myself living and working in Japan. I love so much about everything here and doing ministry with a church. MN's testimony also included to a degree how she was fully funded by this church (and she was there for 14 years!). And now we see her serving faithfully and working with the church while also inspiring others of missions and bible translation. A beautiful partnership of church and parachurch organizations. < 3

But yo. So good. Swagerooster. Ttyl

D.Fa

Japan 2016 Entry 3

Well, it seems yesterday's post couldn't publish because I tried to attach photos... haha. So you'll get it when you get it. ;P

Today was crazy. It was our first day of class with the kids so I did some extra lesson plan prep before breakfast and so had NP. =D We conferred and got all our stuff from LS. We all prayed together in a big group and went off to class. Our 7 girls are all so sweet and well behaved and energetic. < 3 We were learning activities, ordinal numbers, and months today and will review a bunch of that tomorrow. A spoon relay was a hit of a game to help demonstrate 1st 2nd 3rd.

Bento lunches were great! Did some lesson planning for the beginner adult class tomorrow with AL. It should be a fun class.

Then we went to a mall for some shopping, buying some food, and dinner.

I'm pretty tired now. Haha Time flies yo.

Ttyl

D.Fa.

Japan 2016 Entry 1

Yo,

So I'm in Japan now. Me and four other young adults from my church back in Ottawa are here in Soka (North of Tokyo) for 12 days teaching English, sharing testimonies of God's work of salvation in our lives, and serving with our brothers and sisters here. I still feel like I'm dreaming, like this is all fake and I'll just wake up all of a sudden.

I had written a page in a physical journal, but I think it'll be easier if I just write it here. The church has provided us with WiFi, so I might as well use it to make blogging easier. ;P

I'm actually astounded with how much I can understand, and how I'm actually so much more confident to speak Japanese than I am to even speak French. I really enjoy being praised by everyone here for my Japanese skills, but at the same time it is very tiring to speak another language. Previously when I had gone somewhere that most people spoke French better than English I tried to speak French more. After a few weeks I grew tired of the extra effort and stopped trying. I kinda feel like that is already starting to set in... but it's only been a couple days.

We got to meet LS yesterday. She is a missionary who has been here for a while. She has prepared great lesson plans for us and knows the children since she is the one normally teaching English here. She's pretty funny and very friendly.

The team is good. We apparently all really like milk tea. ;P In free time a few of us have been playing Pokemon (including LS  haha).

Although things are good, I feel scared. The thought of giving into sin and temptation is looming and I hate the thought. I am scared of not giving ministry my all. I am scared of not making the most of this time and opportunities. I pray that God would be giving me comfort and peace in Him. That I would be assured of His great might and power at work in me and in this place.

Also Pastor's 2.5 year old daughter is super cute. =P

Ttyl.

D.Fa

By Faith: Moses Part 2

June 26^th – Hebrews 11:27-28

Good morning everyone. I do really love being able to dig deeply into God’s word, so I’m happy to be here again getting to share the word of God with each of you. If you’d like to follow along in the pew bibles or on your cellular devices, please do. Before we get into the word today, let’s pray

If I asked you what your greatest fear would be, what would you say? Although not necessarily the most reasonable greatest fear, possibly the first large fear that comes to mind would be spiders, or snakes, or darkness. // Not to say that those things aren’t scary. But in reality, they don’t actually pose a great threat on our lives, especially in Canada. In Canada we have one poisonous snake the Massasauga Rattler that has only caused a handful of deaths ever, and our most poisonous spider the Fiddleback or Brown Recluse spider lives in less disturbed areas, doesn’t like to interact with humans and will only bite if pressed against the skin, even so it will rarely cause more than a rash. And darkness? I’m sure you’ve experienced winter in Ottawa, but worse so winter in the Yukon. More dangerous in reality is running into a bear at a campsite (maybe 500 attacks, ~50 deaths), frostbite and hypothermia, or accidentally colliding with a deer on a highway (thousands of deaths) or driving in general which takes about 2500 deaths each year in accidents. These things all boil down to some extent to a fear of death, which to a degree is a good thing, it keeps you alive. Aside from fear of things that could kill you, what are you scared of? Scared of poverty? Scared of letting others down? Scared of suffering? Scared of death of your loved ones? Fear of the unknown? Is there anything scarier than those things and scarier than death? This is where we are going today as we continue our study in Hebrews 11.

Briefly, the context of the book of Hebrews. It was a letter written to Hebrew Christians as they fall out of favour in the eyes of the Romans. To remain as Christians they would lose much and face suffering. So they were greatly tempted to go back to Judaism for safety and security since it was an officially recognised religion. They were tempted to turn back to what they knew. But through faith, the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, the author is encouraging them to persevere. Heb 2:1-3 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

Hebrews 11 that we have been going through this summer is a list of many examples of that faith lived out, persevering even though they did not receive the things promised, but only saw them and greeted them from afar. Last week we looked at the first part of the faith of Moses in verses 24-26. The author of Hebrews through the example of faith was encouraging the church to persevere and not be afraid of loss and suffering. Hebrews 11:24-26 ““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.” Moses had a willingness, he was unafraid to endure the loss of all things and suffering for the sake of being found in Christ and partaking in the promises of God. Even as the church falls out of favour and may suffer for following God, He would still be worth it. The promise of entering into His rest, of salvation through Christ, it would be worth all they lost or suffered. Hebrews 11:27-28 continues “By faith [Moses] 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.”

Today we will see more of how the author addresses that desire to turn back to Judaism, especially through Moses. We will see how faith is lived out in each of these verses: faith overcoming fear, faith overcoming wrath, and how through Christ alone we can be saved from the wrath of God.

1.                 Moses the Man of Faith

Something I have yet to ask you this week or last is this: Who was Moses? If I dropped his name with no context what would you think of? Probably the 10 Commandments? The burning bush? Parting the red sea? Writing the first 5 books in the old testament? The Prince of Egypt movie? ;P

If you were Jewish, what would you think of? ***

Now, I’m not of Jewish descent, so I can’t say for sure, but from what I’ve read it would probably be quite similar but with much more reverence since in addition to the things he did, he was also a great prophet and leader, the arbitrator between God and man through the time of Egypt and the wilderness. He was the one who gave the law that the people of God might live by it. // Moses, the man of the law.

And this is very interesting since so far in the whole book of Hebrews Moses has not been identified like that. So far through the book Moses has been mentioned as being Heb 3:2,5 “(Moses also was) faithful in all God's house … Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later” and we see that faith again in Heb 8:5 “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” By faith he followed God’s instructions and patterns. And we see this again in Hebrews 9:19. By faith we see him leading the people in verse 3:16 as he himself was following God. Other than in Hebrews 11, Moses is only described one more time in the book as trembling, but not once was he described as a man of the law or confident in his own works. And in Hebrews 11, as we’ve seen all summer, the author points out the faith of the individuals. After today’s two verses by faith the Israelites cross the red sea. And following that by faith the walls of Jericho fell. There is no mention of the law. // Moses is described as a man of faith.

What was the purpose of the law then?

Without getting too deep into this topic today, the law was there to show our need for faith. In total Moses was given 613 laws from God covering every aspect of life from worship, to relationships, to diet and clothing, to sickness and health. In the book of Romans the reason for the law is described as follows: Rom 5:20 “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” Rom 3:19-20 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. The law came to show clearly that none was able to live a righteous life by themselves, to stop any mouth that might think so. Even one disobedience led to expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden. No one was able to fulfill each of those requirements on their own strengths.

And Moses himself knew this well. As we read in Exodus 2, he had killed a man before any of the major life events we know him for. He had acted on his own to save the Israelites before God had called him to do so. Although he had a heart of faith in God’s promises and was unafraid to suffer or lose the wealth of Egypt, he had acted impatiently, and, potentially for his own glory, he had acted to become the saviour of the people.

Let’s finish our discussion of Hebrews 11 before we come back to this. Let’s finish looking at the faith of Moses the author is pointing out, but know that although Moses was the man of the law, more so he was a man of faith. The question we’ll come back to later: if Moses himself was living by faith, not the law, what does that mean for the Hebrew church who are thinking to return to Judaism and the law?

Let's look at what Moses did.

2.                 By faith Moses left Egypt not being afraid.

Verse 27 picks up right where we left off last week, ““By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” Let’s go to Exodus to see what happened.

Exodus 2:11-15 “One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.”

But this verse raises a question the author of Hebrews says “he left Egypt, not being afraid”. It seems in Exodus that Moses is afraid of Pharaoh who plans to kill him. And so he flees to Midian, which is just to the East of Egypt’s borders. Is this verse really referring to Moses fleeing? And if so, if he wasn’t afraid, why did he flee?

Excellent questions! Again, I don’t want to spend a lot of time on this, but the answer that most people believe is that this verse is referring to the first time he leaves Egypt, not the second time with the Israelites. Some of the most convincing reasons for this is that Hebrews 11 generally follows chronological order of events (for moses he was born, he killed the Egyptian refusing to be son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he flees, he comes back, he keeps the Passover, they cross the sea, etc.). Secondly, the Greek used for ‘he left’ is singular. And more over later when they all leave they are being begged to leave by Pharaoh, they would have nothing to be afraid of or endure. For these reasons and others I have come to believe that it is more than likely referring to the first time that Moses left Egypt. So then, if it is referring to this event, how can we reconcile Exodus saying “then Moses was afraid … Moses fled” and Hebrews saying “he left Egypt, not being afraid”?

If we look to Stephen’s account in Acts 7, we find this additional information: Acts 7: 23-29 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ At [the retort of the Hebrew man] Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.” (the rest on the screen too).

God had promised to free His people after 400 years and the time was drawing near. Moses had been blessed in his miraculous adoption and all the subsequent education and power he had received. Associating with the Hebrews and knowing that their freedom was coming soon he acted to free them unafraid of loss or suffering, but was rejected by his people. There’s nothing to indicate whether God had spoken to Moses before these events and told Moses that deliverance would come through him, and it sounds like Moses was acting presumptively, supposing that his people would realize what was happening. Moses had some faith. That is what we can discern from these verses. But that still doesn’t answer our question, and somehow makes it seem that he is scared of the Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:27 “By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.”

Interestingly there is a parallel that the author of Hebrews is making here by his choice of words. Just a few verses earlier verse 23 reads “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.” Just as his parents were not afraid of the pharaoh’s edict that all male Hebrew babies were to be killed, Moses was not afraid of the pharaoh’s anger. In both cases they were willing to disobey Pharaoh in order to submit to God.

Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.” Concerning Kings who set themselves against God and His anointed Psa 2:4 “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” His power and might is so much more that in comparison Isa 40:23 “[he] brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.”

It is by faith in God’s might and faithfulness to his promises that Moses’ parents and him act against the Pharaoh, and also that Moses leaves not afraid of Pharaoh, though he may be somewhat afraid. If Pharaoh really wanted to, it would have been well within his power to chase Moses and kill him. The end of Hebrews 11:27 gives further evidence for this idea that Moses is somewhat scared saying that Moses “endured as seeing him who is invisible”. By faith, Moses endured his fear of the king by setting his hope on God. And by faith trusting that God would save the Israelites in His own time even if it wasn’t by Moses’ hands.

As A.W.Pink puts it (An Exposition of Hebrews) “Faith and fear are opposites, and yet, strange to say, they are often found dwelling within the same breast; but where one is dominant the other is dormant. The constant attitude of the Christian should be, "Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid" (Isa. 12:2).”

For the Hebrew church following a message to keep their eyes on God’s rewards and be unafraid of loss and suffering, this further encouragement of faith that overcomes fear would be a perfect message as they lose favour as Christians. No matter what the kings or rulers may be able to do, faith in God and His promises helps us overcome that fear. ““By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” And in the same way, by faith we can endure as we keep our eyes set on Him who is greater than anything the world can throw at us. John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” God is far stronger than any ruler. When we place our faith in Him and His promises we will not be shaken.

3.                 By faith Moses kept the passover.

We see a portion of God’s strength as we read the rest of the exodus account. Acts 7:30-31 ““Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to [Moses] in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord:”  Exo 3:16-20 “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go”

God will stretch out a mighty hand for the sake of His people. To summarize the next seven chapters of Exodus, Moses talks with God, he reluctantly goes to the Pharaoh asking for him to release his people. Pharaoh refuses making their work even harder, and then a cycle begins. Moses is told what will happen, he tells Pharaoh, Pharaoh says no, a plague comes on the egyptians, Pharaoh begs for the plague to end, the plague ends, and pharaoh’s heart becomes harder, refusing to let them go, so Moses goes to God. Rivers of blood, frogs covering the land, gnats everywhere, swarms of flies ruining the land, livestock dying*, boils and sores*, thunder and very heavy hail striking down man beast and plant*, dense swarms of locusts eating up all vegetation, and darkness for 3 days*. After all that Pharaoh still would not listen. His heart was hardened.

Exodus 9:15-16 “by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”

God is far stronger than any ruler.

God’s strength is actually terrifying. Far scarier than any spider, snakes, darkness, or even death.

A passage we’ve already read said Luke 12:4-5 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Jesus here says ‘fear God’. In Exodus 3, the account of the burning bush, to shorten the passage I chose only some of the verses but verse 6 says “And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” This fear is mentioned by Stephen in Acts 7:32. And the one mention of Moses in Hebrews that I skipped earlier is in verse 12:21 in reference to Exodus 19 at Mount Sinai before the 10 commandments were given Exo 19:16,18 “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. … Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.” Hebrews 12 refers to this day and says Heb12:21 “so terrifying was the sight that Moses said “I tremble with fear.””

Could you imagine being one of the Egyptians going through these 10 plagues? Day after day some terrible thing that had never been seen in Egypt. Things that the magicians could not do. Death of your animals and fields. Darkness, pitch black darkness for 3 days. Who was this mighty God who was afflicting them?

Could you imagine being one of the Israelites? Day after day some terrible thing that had never been seen in Egypt. Things that the magicians could not do. Death of animals and fields. Darkness, pitch black darkness for 3 days. Who was this mighty God who was afflicting the Egyptians? What was stopping Him from hurting the Israelites?

Now that we’ve caught up, Hebrews 11:28 continues “By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”

In Exodus we read Exodus 11:1,4-6 ““Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. … About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.”

Exodus 12:3,6-7,11-13 “Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. … the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. …(how to cook and eat it)… It is the Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Hebrews 11:28 “By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”

It’s pretty interesting the way this plague is introduced. In comparison to the others, this one was wasn’t just threatened and then it happened leaving the Israelites safe as in the last 5 plagues. When livestock died, the Israelites’ livestock didn’t. When boils and sores came. The Israelites weren’t affected. When there was thunder and hail, just the region of Goshen where the Israelites were was safe. When there were 3 days of darkness, the Israelites had light. But this time the plague would affect them unless they killed a lamb. Why was their God now attacking them? “I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt”. That means everyone! But “when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you.”

Hebrews 11:1 “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

By faith Moses was assured that Exodus 6:5-8 “I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” By faith Moses was assured of these promises they hoped for.

By faith Moses was convicted of the unseen reality. Never before had all the 1^st born children died at once. Never before were the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb for each house and put the blood on the doorpost that they would live. God’s great might and strength had been shown again and again in Egypt and now God's wrath was going to be shown through the tenth plague, the Destroyer of the firstborn.

God’s just wrath is upon all people ever since that original sin was passed down through our broken nature. People have been rejecting God, whether in small or big ways. Whether it is hardening your heart and enslaving others, or choosing selfishness and impatience over God’s plans, or lying, we have been rejecting God and His reign in our lives. This plague was not for the Egyptians alone. This one was going to come on both the Egyptians and the Israelites. A right fear of God’s awesome and terrifying power, worse than death, that was announced to be targeting all peoples. But God gave grace to the Israelites. // He made a way that they could be saved from His wrath. // If by faith they killed a spotless lamb and sprinkled the blood on the door post, they could trust God’s words and be saved.

Exo 12:27-29 “And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.” So Pharaoh told the Israelites to leave Egypt.

By faith Moses had a right fear of God, and through faith trusted in God’s words, acted accordingly so that those things which had never been seen wouldn’t affect them. He trusted in God’s strength and power and ultimate control. He obeyed by faith. His faith was seen in action. By faith Moses and the Israelites were spared. By faith and God’s timing they were leaving Egypt.

4.                 Likewise, By faith

The reality is that God’s wrath is on all people, that we too by faith as Moses said in the wilderness must choose life or death. Rom 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Luke 13:24-28““Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”

And this wrath is diverted by faith alone, through the blood of the spotless lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Not through works or teaching, or through being in Jesus’ presence even. When John the Baptist first saw Jesus he said John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 3:14-20, 36 ““as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

By faith, Moses in the wilderness lifted up a bronze serpent that the wrath of God towards the sinful, rebellious Israelites through snakes might be stopped. By faith Moses kept the Passover, an annual reminder of how God alone provided freedom for His people through faith in the sacrificial lamb of God. By faith, Moses spoke of a coming prophet like himself, of the Christ. By faith, Moses was looking to the reward. By faith Heb 3:25 “Moses was faithful in the house of God as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later.”

If Moses himself was living by faith, not the law, what does that mean for the Hebrew church who are thinking to return to Judaism and the law? // Don’t go back.

The author of Hebrews again and again throughout the book of Hebrews speaks of how Christ is far superior to the shadows that were the temple rituals, and the priesthood, and the prophets. And how to reject him would result in sure destruction. Heb 2:1-3 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Hebrews 10:11-12,14 “every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God … For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Through faith in the sacrificial blood of the spotless lamb of God, Jesus Christ on the cross; through faith alone in God’s provision could they be saved, overcoming any fear of loss or of suffering, overcoming any fear of unjust rulers or punishment, overcoming any fear of the wrath of God. Not through the law, but through faith in Christ alone. This message through the life of Moses and especially through the Passover would have again and again pointed to Christ who said:

John 15:5-6 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

1 John 4:15-19 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.”

If you have not confessed Jesus as the Son of God, as the propitiatory lamb of God who has taken God’s wrath from you upon Himself; If you do not know that love expressed so perfectly through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross even while we were God’s enemies, I pray that today God would be drawing you closer to that saving faith to the gracious gift of God, salvation apart from works. For it says

Rom 3:19-26 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Hebrews 10:19-23 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 12:28-29 “let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Let’s pray.

By Faith: Moses Part 1

Good morning everyone. It has been such a blessing these last few weeks in preparing to share the word with you. God’s word is so good. Today I will have the verses up on the screen behind me, but if you’d like to follow along in your own bible or if you’d like to use a bible app on your cell phones please do so.

Before we get into the message today I invite you to join me in prayer. . Amen.

In 1923 a sealed burial chamber was opened for the first time in over three millennia. Golden shrines; jewelry; statues; a chariot; weapons; clothing; a tomb abounding with treasures and artifacts from floor to ceiling. Within the perfectly preserved mummified body of King Tut. He lived around 1400 BC and died as a teenager after only 10 years as Pharaoh in Egypt. His body was embalmed, wrapped in bandages, given a solid gold mask, placed within a series of 3 golden coffins, in a granite sarcophagus, inside 4 gilded wooden shrines. As was the custom, he was buried with vast provisions for the afterlife, which after discovery took a whole decade to fully catalogue. This was the last tomb of the pharaoh’s discovered and the most well preserved (even with a couple entrance halls having been robbed before discovery). The collection has enormous value, estimated at nearly three quarters of a billion dollars with the innermost coffin and mask alone around 15 million. This amount of fortune and wealth is so far outside our imagination. At least for me it’s hard to imagine more than $100 000. Even a residential property in Ottawa averages at about $406 000. The highest paid CEO in Canada in 2014, CEO of blackberry made 90 Million. By comparison King Tut’s wealth seems like unfathomable. However, King Tut was not even close to being one of the wealthiest or most powerful pharaohs and only reigned briefly. This was the wealth of Egypt. Pause. What things would you value highly? Health? Career? Cars? Family? Friends? A complete Pokémon collection? Pause. Do you value Christ more highly?  Would you value suffering for Christ more highly? Pause.

In our series on Hebrews 11 this is where we will be going today. Throughout this letter to the Hebrew Christians, as they fall out of favour in the eyes of the Romans, the author has been encouraging the readers to persevere through challenges and the temptation to denounce Christ and turn back to Judaism. And the new covenant which supersedes and is far better than the old one. We see this in verses that say things like ‘we must pay much closer attention tp what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.’ Or ‘we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end’ or ‘let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.’ And this is where chapter 11 fits in. Leading up to it in verse 32 of chapter 10 the author wants the readers to again remember what they have already been through, what they had gladly chosen, and the hope they are holding onto.

“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

“Yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay;

but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Pause.

“Faith, that’s a great word, but a little hard to understand.” It’s something as simple to say as trusting God, and as amazing in reality as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. But what does that really look like and how can we apply it? Hebrews 11 tries to answer that through the examples of the saints, the people of old. Each of their stories showing us a way that faith was lived out, so that we can do the same as we trust God. Today we pick up where we left off last week in verse 24, Moses having grown up.

Hebrews 11:24-28 “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.””

Today we’ll be in verses 24-26, looking at the context of Moses’ faith-led choice, the parallels in Jesus, the Hebrew church, Paul, and other exhortation and encouragement for us today to live out that faith.

1. By faith Moses chose to be part of the people of God.

First is Moses. In the passage we get 3 things that Moses did by faith which chronologically includes everything from his birth to the exodus.

As we read last week in verse 23, Moses’ parents hid Moses for 3 months faithfully obeying God rather than the Pharaoh. He was placed in a basket in the river, found by Pharaoh’s daughter, and through God’s provision Moses ended up being nursed by his own mother and adopted.

            There isn’t a lot written about his childhood in the Bible. We know his mother was his nurse as I just mentioned. In Acts 7 by the Spirit’s inspiration we see that Moses was well versed and educated in the home of the Pharaoh. But that’s it. That’s all we get of Moses’ first 40 years. After that he has grown up and we immediately see him living out the faith mentioned. His refusal to be called son of the Pharaoh’s daughter, his choice to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, and him regarding the reproach of Christ as more valuable than the wealth of Egypt.

From the beginning of Moses’ adult life we see him choosing to side with the Hebrews. Let’s read the account in verses 11-15. <One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.>

This is a very strange situation, especially because there’s no context before the event. Acts 7 says “it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.” In verse 11 when Moses went out at the age of 40, at that point he went out to see ‘his brothers’, ‘his people’. It came into his heart to visit his brothers. The children of Israel. the people united in their God, faithful creator, provider, who would send the promised Messiah.

Pause. Already Moses had an awareness that he was an Israelite. Why would he consider himself a Hebrew? What would he understand that to mean? We have nothing definitive to let us know. Pharaoh’s daughter knew he was a Hebrew, and his mother nursed him. We don’t know how long that relationship went on for or if it lasted afterwards. We can only imagine that Moses mom had taught him about who God was and His promises to His people or that Moses had searched for answers himself of who God is. This God who created the universe. This God who had called their fathers into a distant land. This God who had saved their people from a famine. This God who had promised to lead them out of slavery. This God who had promised that a Messiah was coming to save them from sin and death, to conquer sin and death. This Messiah who would bruise the serpent’s head, but have his heel bruised. And all the other stories of God’s faithfulness to His people through the ages. We don’t know how much of this he knew. Moses had not seen any of this. Moses had seen Egypt. Moses had seen the wealth of Pharaoh. He’d have learned to read and write, he’d learn math and poetry. He’d have seen the abundance and privilege he had been adopted into. As son of Pharaoh’s daughter the life ahead of him would have been comfortable. Even without ever becoming the Pharaoh he would have enjoyed every luxury at his disposal as part of Pharaoh’s household.

However, to do so he’d have to choose to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He’d have to forsake his Hebrew heritage. Just because parents are faithful doesn’t guarantee children will be. Everyone faces this decision at some point in their lives to make their faith real or to turn away. This I believe is the importance of the event described with the Egyptian. For, what sounds like the first time, Moses was able to see the mistreatment of the Hebrews first hand. Up until now he may have been calling himself one of the people of God while living in Pharaoh’s house, but now for the first time seeing the reality that he could no longer live in both Pharaoh’s house and as a Hebrew. The two were opposed. He’d have to make a decision, to stay in Pharaoh’s house or to be one of God’s people. It is at this point that his actions speak for his choices. What we read in Hebrews 11 is that “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.” From this we see that in making that decision Moses was not simply siding with the Hebrew ignorantly. He knew the mistreatment of God’s people, he knew the wealth of the Egyptians was fleeting pleasure, and he was willing to choose to suffer in the present, as Christ would in the future so that he would be included in the coming hope and reward.

This is an incredible reality. As we’ve already briefly discussed, the wealth of Egypt was massive! Before the time of Moses, just as the visions Joseph interpreted predicted, the entire land had a severe famine and there was no food in the land. During that time Egypt sold grain to the peoples and accumulated vast wealth. So much so that the Israelites sold themselves into slavery that they would live. The house of Pharaoh had all the wealth of the land. Based on archeological finds many believe King Tut was Pharaoh after the Exodus (where the Israelites took much gold and silver) and as we mentioned before he wasn’t one of the great pharaohs. Even so his tomb abounded in wealth. Moses could have had so much more than that. But Moses had confidence: this life wasn’t it; the wealth buried with the Pharaohs didn’t make it to the afterlife. Although his time on earth would be lived indulging in all worldly pleasures, as Ecclesiastes puts it all of those things, money, knowledge, pleasure, power; all is a chasing after the wind, vanity, meaningless. He would die and he’d have to face his maker. So Moses chose to suffer with the people of God, looking forward to Christ, rejecting all the world could give him. Praise God for the faith he gave Moses to make such a large decision. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Those who trust God. Those who have faith, assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.

Pause. Would we make the same decision?  Would we value suffering more highly than vast riches, comfort, and a life of pleasure? Think briefly for a moment of what Moses ended up going through. Instead of a life of pleasure and comfort he got 40 years as a shepherd, had to stand up to Pharaoh multiple times, and 40 years in the wilderness overseeing hundreds of thousands of habitual complainers before he died across from the promised land never having entered it. Pause.

By faith Moses considered what it meant to be numbered among the Hebrews, what he’d have to go through from Egyptians and Pharaoh’s family, what he’d lose, and he chose to stand up for the Hebrews believing that the hope in God of freedom from Egypt and the coming messiah was worth more than all that. This example of faith in loss and difficulty. Choosing God over the world. This is the message the author of Hebrews is trying to get across in these verses. Within the book of Hebrews itself we see two other cases of faith being lived out in parallel ways. The second we find at the beginning of Hebrews 12.

2. By Faith Jesus.

            In Hebrews 12:1-3 we read “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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” By faith, Jesus chose to come down from the Father’s side, lowering himself from status as a prince to that of a baby born in a manger, he chose to be mistreated, he chose to fix his eyes on God’s purposes, even above his own desire.

            Jesus was tempted just as Moses to live a life of comfort and pleasure. When tempted in the wilderness the devil tempted Jesus to use his status as Son of God to satisfy his own hunger and to gain his own glory. The devil also offered to give him the nations if he’d worship him. Jesus was tempted to not go to the cross, but just become the king of the Jews. And even while he was praying on the Mount of Olives “"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." In each case he was tempted to have comfort, security, fame. He wouldn’t have to suffer. Instead throughout his 33 years of life Jesus chose to be homeless, to suffer the attacks and ridicule of Pharisees, officials, family, betrayal by friends, and even separation from the Father as He died on a cross so that the promises of God would come to completion. In bruising the serpent’s head his heel was bruised. In overcoming sin and death, he died on a tree. This is the reproach of Christ mentioned in verse 26 in Hebrews 11. The disapproval, disappointment, the suffering from others. Moses didn’t suffer for Christ, but suffered similarly to what Jesus would suffer. While holding on to the reward from God more valuable than many riches.

John 1:10-12 “[Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

            By faith Jesus chose suffering over worldly treasure for the sake of God’s promises. He chose to empty himself, suffer, die on a cross, and rise again for the purposes of God to be fulfilled, and the good news to go to the nations, looking forward to the day where people from every nation tribe and tongue would worship before the throne of God above; including the Hebrew church this letter was sent to. They are the third party we see living out this faith.

3. By Faith the Hebrews

            The church had already been showing their faith as we saw in chapter 10 “recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (just on the screen)

            The Hebrew church had heard the news of Jesus dying on the cross for them, God gave them faith to turn from the law which can never save to Christ and the grace that could be found in him alone. After coming to faith they suffered; endured a hard struggle. They were publicly exposed to reproach and affliction (there is the word reproach again). They heard disapproval and disappointment from those around them through their words and actions, just as Christ did. They were likely kicked out of families and synagogues. They had compassion on those imprisoned and joyfully accepted loss of worldly treasures for the better and abiding treasure.

            By faith the Hebrew church had chosen affliction and plundering for the reward found in God’s promises. He gave them faith to gladly choose to do so losing much and partaking in the reproaches Christ endured. And the author was encouraging them to continue to do so even as further suffering may come. Christ is better than anything the world could offer and that there was nothing to turn back to. By faith the Hebrew church chose to be called Christians rather than Jews, to suffer for the better and abiding possessions found in God and His promises. The last example I will mention today that is found in the Bible which is so similar to these others is that of Paul.

4. By Faith Paul

            Paul was Phil 3:4-11 “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” And that is an astounding resume. His heritage was there. He’d followed the law to a tee and had even been trained under famous teachers. He was on the front line of activism and fighting to protect his faith from cults. He had it all. But he continues: “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Paul counted it all as loss. Paul was not scared to be called a Christian. He valued sharing in Christ’s resurrection life as more valuable than all he’d worked for or any suffering. He valued knowing God, knowing Jesus Christ as more valuable than being known by many and being famed by other Pharisees and teachers.

He’d travel through Asia sharing Christ, being stoned, hated, shipwrecked, whipped. And instead of backing down, he’d go to Rome, warned again and again by prophets and the Spirit that he’d end up in prison. He’d choose imprisonment that he’d be able to share the gospel. Writing to the church in Philippi he says Phil 1:12-14 “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” He goes on rejoicing that no matter the reason Christ is proclaimed and pens those famous words as he hopes “that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

By faith Paul chose to count all as loss for the sake of knowing Christ and that no matter what he would work for others to grow in their faith through the preaching of the gospel.

            And that message, the good news of Christ is why we are here today. In the same way as the Hebrew church was encouraged to persevere and choose suffering over temporary comfort, so we too, and there’s much in the Bible that talks about this encouraging us to likewise live by faith.

5. Live By Faith

            Jesus was not afraid of telling hard truths. While he was here he rebuked, he told parables, he helped us know God, and he told us that there will be difficulties. He said Matt 10:22 “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Mark 10:29-30 “Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time … with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” Matt 6:19-21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 9:23-25 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” Matt 10:32-33 “everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Loss of house, family, lands, treasures and possessions, denial of self, persecution. Being a Christian isn’t a life of ease and is something I need to remember more. Our brothers and sisters around the world daily choose to suffer that they might receive greater things. They gladly leave the land of their ancestors. They suffer imprisonment, poverty, death. Their eyes are fixed on greater things. Treasures in Heaven. Eternal life. A life lost for the sake of God that it might be saved. Children of God. Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus also said Matt 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Which he describes as such: Matt13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Pause.

What would you lose or suffer to stand as a Christian and inherit the kingdom of heaven? Would you lose friends? Would you turn down promotions? Would you lose favour in our culture? Would you lose a life of pleasure, comfort, fame? Would you choose to put yourself into those situations for the sake of the gospel? Pause.

The author of Proverbs writes: Proverbs 16:8 “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” David in the midst of trouble with people pursuing him to kill him: Psalm 63:3 “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” James writes: James 4:4; 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Paul writes: 2 Tim 3:12 “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. And in another letter: Romans 8:12-19 “So then, brothers, … if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. // For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

These sentiments, a cheerful loss of all that they might have Christ, a glorying in the all surpassing greatness of knowing God and being found in Him, a daily obedience to turn our focus to Christ and value His love higher than anything the world could offer. This is echoed throughout the Bible, through the lives of saints through the ages, through the testimonies of each of His children today in this room and on the other side of the globe.

Pause.

By faith Moses, Jesus, the Hebrew church, Paul, and us today; each of us have had to leave things behind and suffer in standing as a Christian. All that the world could offer, everything: fame, power, pleasure, comfort, security, family, the wealth of Egypt; all of it is worth less than knowing Christ and being found in Him even if it means suffering. Pause. What have you been valuing higher than Christ? Have you ever asked God to forgive you for placing things higher than Him and chasing after your own desires while ignoring Him? Christ was willing to die on a cross that you would be able to know God. If you’re here today and have never asked for that forgiveness, I encourage you today to seek more the answers to these questions. I pray He would help us to understand the reality of those statements and give us faith to stand with His people.

As I’ve been saying those things if you call yourself a Christian, but are still valuing other things higher, I hope the Spirit has been convicting and drawing you back to Him. God’s grace is greater. Peter the apostle said he would never denounce Christ even if he had to die. Peter followed Christ to the house of the high priest, but denied Him three times to the men and women there. (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27) “I do not know him” “I am not ‘one of them’” “I do not know what you are talking about”. Peter wept bitterly as he realized his denial. For Moses it was 40 years before he lived out his faith as one of the people of God. They had chances to repent and were restored. Hebrew 3:12-15 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”” Esau traded his birthright for a single meal and was rejected with no chance to repent, even seeking it with tears. If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Repent, turn to Him, and by faith live in His promises today.

A final word for us. In the letter to the churches of Phillipi while in prison for the sake of the gospel Paul by the inspiration of the Spirit wrote the following to encourage them in their partnership in the gospel.

Phil 1:29-2:18 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

…

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose - Jim Elliot [36:11]

Let’s pray.