May 05 - 06, 2007 HEROES! Hebrews 11: 1, Selected

MOSES - FUGITIVE RESCUES A NATION!

(Pastor Dan Shields...Guest Speaker)

*** Hebrews 11:1-2 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. [2] This is what the ancients were commended for.” [New International Version]

*** Hebrews 11:23-29 “By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. [24] By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. [25] He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. [26] 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. [27] By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. [28] By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. [29] By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. [NIV]
Heroes are not perfect; in fact most heroes have past mistakes or failures. Our faith journey is no different. Today we will learn of some of those most common mistakes we make along the way…

Mistake #1…Living life my way, not Gods Way.

*** [11] One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. [12] Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. [13] The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?"

Mistake #2…Giving excueses instead of obedience when God calls.

*** Exodus 3:10 “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

We call this “the butt” sickness to our faith.

*** Luke 9:59-62 He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." [60] Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." [61] Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." [62] Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." [NIV]
***Luke 5:4-5 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." [5] Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." [NIV]

But God, who am I?
But God, who are you?
But God, what if others don’t believe me or listen to me?
But God, I don’t have those gifts.
Please find someone else.

Mistake #3- Allowing fear and not faith guide my decisions in life.

***Exodus 2:14-15 The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known." [15] When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. [NIV]

Bottom line: The first step of faith can often be the hardest.

Conclusion: What is holding you back on this day from taking that first or next step on your faith Journey to allow God to be the Hero through you?