RADICAL FAITH: Faith chooses God's plan - Hebrews 11:24-28 Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on June 7, 2020)

RADICAL FAITH: Faith chooses God’s plan (Hebrews 11:24-28) - June 7, 2020

INTRODUCTION

Radical Faith chooses God’s plan over everything else.

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:24-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I. FAITH CHOOSES GOD OVER PERSONAL SECURITY

“Let it never be forgotten that glamour is not greatness; applause is not fame; prominence is not eminence. The man of the hour is not apt to be the man of the ages. A stone may sparkle, but that does not make it a diamond; people may have money, but that does not make them a success.

It is what the unimportant people do that really counts and determines the course of history. The greatest forces in the universe are never spectacular. Summer showers are more effective than hurricanes, but they get no publicity. The world would soon die but for the fidelity, loyalty, and consecration of those whose names are unhonored and unsung.” - James R. Sizoo from Bits & Pieces, June 22, 1995, p. 11.

A. Moses chose God’s family versus Pharaoh’s family

B. Moses chose mistreatment versus pleasure

1. Solidarity with God’s people

2. Turned his back on the “fleeting pleasures of sin”

C. Moses chose disgrace over the treasures of Egypt

1. “For the sake of Christ”

2. “He was looking ahead to his reward”

II. FAITH TRUSTS AN INVISIBLE GOD OVER A VISIBLE RULER

Obedience and Disobedience

“Important lessons are given by this alternation of the two ideas of faith and unbelief, obedience and disobedience. Disobedience is the root of unbelief. Unbelief is the mother of further disobedience. Faith is voluntary submission within a person's own power.

If faith is not exercised, the true cause lies deeper than all intellectual reasons. It lies in the moral aversion of human will and in the pride of independence, which says, "who is Lord over us? Why should we have to depend on Jesus Christ?"

As faith is obedience and submission, so faith breeds obedience, but unbelief leads on to higher-handed rebellion. With dreadful reciprocity of influence, the less one trusts, the more he disobeys; the more he disobeys, the less he trusts.” - Alexander Maclaren

A. Moses left Egypt

1. He did what God commanded

2. He did not give in to fear of the world’s most powerful ruler

B. Moses persevered

1. He saw the difficulty

2. He saw the invisible God

III. FAITH FOLLOWS GOD’S PLAN OVER HUMAN REASON

The story is told of a group of people in Kansas who after a long drought came together to pray for rain. As they met, they discovered only one young gal had brought an umbrella with her. - Source unknown

Faith carries an umbrella.

A. Moses acted in faith

1. Ate a meal and painted a doorway

2. Did what God required

B. Moses saved his people from death

1. Followed God’s plan rather than “everyday wisdom”

2. Did what others thought was foolishness

3. Led by faith

CHALLENGE

Write down 3 things God has asked you to do that seemed foolish to those around you. How did you respond to those 3 situations. Write down what would have been faithful responses? What is God asking you to do today? Write that down and pray for the courage to follow in faith.