Sermons

Hebrews 11:23; Exodus 1-2:10

Big Idea: Freedom From The Fears Of Life Is Found Through Fearing The Lord

“By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
- Hebrews 11:23

“Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great possessions.”
- Genesis 15:13-14

When Fear Draws Near:

1) Behold God as bigger (Exodus 1:15-21)

Fear of the Lord: Trusting God wholeheartedly and doing what God says faithfully no matter the circumstance or consequence

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”
– Proverbs 9:10-11

Fear Busting Realities:
1) My God Redeems
2) My God Reigns
3) My God Provides
4) My God Protects
5) My God Delivers

2) Believe God’s Word to be greater (Hebrews 11:23; Exodus 1:22-2:10)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
– John 14:15

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and His children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a foundation of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
– Proverbs 14:26-27

Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50

Big Idea: The Assurance Of God’s Faithfulness Equips Me To Face The Future With Confidence

“By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
- Hebrews 11:22

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

Assurances of God’s faithfulness:

1) God is always working for His good for me (Genesis 50:15-21)

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
- Luke 23:24

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
- Romans 8:28

2) God has a bright future for me (Genesis 50:22-26)

My assurance of God’s faithfulness gives me confidence to:
1) Know what I believe (Genesis 50:24-26)
2) Know in Whom I believe (Genesis 50:20; 24-26)
3) Know where I belong (Genesis 50:25)

3) God will always sustain me (Genesis 50:24-26)

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.”
- Genesis 39:2

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
- Genesis 39:21

“Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’ ... ‘God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.’ ... This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this in whom is the Spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.’”
– Genesis 41:16; 25; 37-40

“Fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Isaiah 41:10

4) God will always deliver me (Genesis 50:24-26)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33

Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48

Big Idea: Faith Is Learning To Trust In The Goodness Of God And Rest In The Grace Of God In Every Season And Situation.

“By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.”
- Hebrews 11:21

In My Mess:

1) God is my Shepherd (Genesis 48:15)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Psalm 23

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
– John 10:10-11

Following God’s Shepherding:
1) Listen to God’s leading of me (Genesis 28:10-22)
2) Look to God’s Word to feed me (Genesis 35:9-15)
3) Lean on God’s power and promises to protect me (Genesis 32:22-32)
4) Let God guide me (Genesis 46:2-4)

2) God is my Redeemer (Genesis 48:16)

Identity shifts - changed by the grace of God:
1) From deceiver to dependent
2) From scheming to surrendering
3) From running to redeemed
4) From haughty to humble
5) From wrestling to worshipping

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Hebrews 11:20/Genesis 27-28:5

Big Idea: God Is Faithful To Accomplish His Purposes Even Despite Our Failures.

1) Run from faithless philosophies for life. (Gen. 27:1-45)

- Isaac: “If it feels right, it is right.” (1-4)
- Rebekah: “The ends justify the means.” (5-17)
- Jacob: “A little white lie never hurt anybody.” (18-29)
- Esau: “Don’t just get mad, get even.” (30-45)

2) Recognize God at work in your mess. (Gen. 27:46-28:5/Heb. 11:20)

Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22

Big Idea: Great Blessing From God Comes When I Withhold Nothing From God

Spiritual Tests Study Guide:

1) Always Ready (Heb 11:17-18; Gen 22:1-2)

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin where it is fully grown brings forth death.”
– James 1:13-15

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ... 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.”
– James 1:2-4; 12

2) Obey Quickly (Heb 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-4)

3) Withhold Nothing (Heb 11:17-19; Genesis 22:4-19)

Isaac Jesus

1) Miracle promised baby: born to a 1) Miracle promised baby: born to a
barren woman too old to conceive virgin (Luke 2)
(Gen 18; 21)

2) Only son (Gen 22:2) 2) Only Son (John 3:16)

3) Figuratively dead for 3 days 3) Physically dead for 3 days
(Gen 22:4; Heb 11:19) (Matthew 12:40)

4) Carried the wood for his sacrifice 4) Carried the wooden cross for His
(Gen 22:6) sacrifice (John 19:17)

5) Willingly submitted to be sacrificed 5) Willingly submitted to be
(Gen 22:9) sacrificed (John 10:18)

6) Sacrificed on a mountain in Moriah 6) Sacrificed near Mt. Moriah
(Gen 22:2) (John 19:20)

7) Figuratively brought back from the 7) Literally raised from the dead
dead (Heb 11:19) (Matthew 28:6)

“He (God) who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
- Romans 8:32

Hebrews 11:11-16; Genesis 15-18; 21

Big Idea: Setting My Heart On God’s Faithfulness Empowers Me To Persevere For God’s Purposes

While I’m Waiting:

1) Am I fighting for control with God or surrendering control to God? (Hebrews 11:11; Gen 15:1-7; 16:1-6)

The power for my perseverance (Genesis 15:1-7):
1) Faith in God’s protection (Genesis 15:1)
2) Faith in God’s promises (Genesis 15:2-5)
3) Faith in God’s plan (Genesis 15:7)
4) Faith in God’s heart (Genesis 15:1-7)

2) Am I laughing at God or leaning on God? (Hebrews 11:11-12; Genesis 17-18; 21)

How to lean on God as I wait:
1) Remember who and where God is (Heb 11:11; Genesis 18:1-15)
2) Rely on God’s Word (Genesis 18:10-15)
3) Recall God’s faithfulness (Hebrews 11:11-12)
4) Rest in God’s sovereignty (Hebrews 11:11-12; Genesis 18:10-15)

3) Is my deepest desire the temporal or the eternal? (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Hebrews 11:8-10, Genesis 12:1-5

Big Idea: Earthly Faithfulness Requires An Eternal Focus

Foundations Of Forward-Looking Faith:

1) God’s Call is My Command (Heb 11:8; Genesis 12:1-5)

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.”
– Genesis 12:1-5

2) God’s Promises Are My Confidence (Heb 11:8-9; Genesis 12:1-5)

“‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’”
- Romans 4:3

How To Focus On God’s Promises:
1) Focus on the who not the how

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
- Romans 12:1-2

2) Focus more on what I’m gaining than what I’m losing
3) Focus on living missionally not comfortably

3) God’s City Is My Hope (Heb 11:9-10)

“Therefore 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.”
- Hebrews 12:28-29

Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6:5-9:17

Big Idea: Reverent Fear Of God Produces Radical Obedience To God

Even When I Can’t See:
1) Walk with God reverently (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:5-22)

Reverence Reality Check:
1) Is my life filled with Gospel consistency? (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 5:32; 6:8-9)
2) Am I discipling my family to walk with God? (Genesis 5:21-32; 6:9-10; 18)
3) Am I fearing God or fearing man? (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:5-12)

“God preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness ... “
- 2 Peter 2:5

4) Am I truly grieved by my sin? (Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6:5-7)
5) Am I doing the harder, right, God-honoring thing or the easier wrong thing? (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:5-12)

2) Obey God wholeheartedly (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:13-8:22)

3) Rest in God’s grace confidently (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 8:20-9:17)

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
– Hebrews 4:16

“But the Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Hebrews 11:5-6

Big Idea: God Is Pleased By Those Who Faithfully Walk With Him

1) Step out by seeking God constantly. (6c, Genesis 5:21-24)

2) Step out by standing for God courageously. (6b, Jude 14-16)

Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:1-12

Big Idea: A Life Of Faith Is Rooted In A Heart Of Worship

Biblical Faith: A confident belief in Jesus Christ that produces enduring obedience to God in order to advance the Kingdom of God, no matter our earthly circumstances or consequences

A Heart Of Worship:

1) Delights in the righteousness we have from God (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:1-12)

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
- Psalm 51:16-17

2 ways to delight in the righteousness from God (Genesis 4:4):
1) Rest confidently in God’s justification of me (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:4)

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
– Hebrews 9:22

2) Rely completely on God’s provision for me (Genesis 4:4)

2) Gives faithfully and generously to God (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:4)

“The point is this whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
– 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

The “Get To” Giver (Genesis 4:4):
1) Gives God my first
2) Gives God my best

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
– Romans 12:1-2