Morning Worship
LIFE LESSONS FROM MOSES
Hebrews 11:23-27
INTRO:
a. When the subject of Bible personalities arises, Moses is prominently
mentioned
b. The life of Moses presents us with a vast array of possibilities in a
discussion of life lessons. his life took him from the threat of death as a
baby to life in the splendors of Egypt as the grandson of Pharaoh. From a
shepherd in the wilderness of Sinai to incredible meetings with God to forty
years of nomadic existence as the leader of over a million people called
Israel
I THE LESSON OF PARENTS OF GREAT FAITH:
A. Exodus 1:22-2:4 Faith in God surpassed fear of Pharaoh:
1. When conviction is in conflict with convention, conviction must prevail
2. Of his parents we know little - but they were of Levi - and Hebrews 11:23
B. Exodus 2:7-9,11 A mother’s care, instruction!
1. So, he knew he was a Hebrew and it meant something to him as an adult ...
what is the source of this significance? II Timothy 1:5
2. I Chronicles 23:14 “man of God” ... tribute to parents!
II THE LESSON THAT there are SOME PLACES where GOD’S PEOPLE DON’T BELONG:
A. Hebrews 11:24-26 - He had a choice to make:
1. Apparently, he couldn’t have it both ways - choose
2. Everything Egyptian was counter to God and righteousness (note Joshua
24:14 “and in Egypt”)
B. What choices of this sort must we make?
1. Professional? Recreational? Entertainment?
2. A question you must ask? II Corinthians 6:14 and it must be asked in view
of II Corinthians 7:1
III THE LESSON OF THINKING THROUGH THINGS:
A. Hebrews 11:26 - He looked beyond immediate gratification:
1. He could stay in Egypt and have material want and power unequaled in the
world
2. Or, he could forfeit all of that for eternal reward
3. Life often presses us to take the immediate
B. Thinking through things is such a wise course:
1. Yes, we may make some immediate sacrifices, forfeit some of earth’s
pleasure (and I know that’s not a popular thing)
2. But we will still be “whole” - untouched, unharmed, not anxious about
what may now come
3. Listen: Proverbs 4:26,27; Psalm 119:59; II Corinthians 5:8,9
IV THE LESSON OF PRAYER’S POWER:
A. Exodus 32:14 and Numbers 14:20 God’s responses to Moses’ prayers:
1. Yes, I accept that neither you nor I is Moses
2. But think of James 5:16-18 ... of Elijah
b. Where is our confidence in praying?
1. I do understand about “conditions” of prayer
2. But I also know that the Bible gives examples of the power of prayer for
our benefit
V THE LESSON OF ANGER’S DANGER:
A. Numbers 20:10-12 It appears Moses was angry:
1. Certainly, his patience had been tested
2. But there is never a right way to do a wrong thing
3. And the cost of his anger was so great!
4. The consequence of his anger, rebellion could not be averted - note
Deuteronomy 3:23-26 (40 years of anticipation gone in an instant)
B. A moment’s recklessness can be very “costly”:
1. Plainly, in a moment when he did not control his spirit he disobeyed God
2. So many people live by their emotions ... and behave in ways which do not
glorify God
3. And there is usually a high price to pay
4. Regret is not satisfying - II Peter 1:5,6 ... “temperance” is
self-control
CON:
a. Moses, a man who listened to God and who did God’s bidding
b. I think of him as one who was careful about his life
c. One thing to add: Moses pointed the world to Christ - Acts 7:37
Evening Worship
THE JOY OF THE TRUTH
II JOHN 1:1-4
INTRO:
A. As ONE reads the little letter John wrote to “the elect lady and her
children”, notice that the apostle John makes to his joy and to the filling
of his joy
B. In the little letter mention is made of several points which contribute
to his joy
C. notice that five times in the first four verses of II John we find
references to “the truth”. John finds great joy in the truth! In scripture
“truth” is personified in Christ – JOHN 14:6
I CRITICAL POINTS TO EMPHASIZE AT THE BEGINNING:
A. Truth must be known:
1. v. 1 - “they that have known the truth”
2. John 8:31,32 - “ye shall know the truth.”
3. There is absolutely no joy in truth if it is not known!
B. Truth must dwell in us:
1. v. 2 - “the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us”
2. Colossians 3:16 - “let the word of Christ dwell in you”
3. “Truth” must “dwell” in us ... it must reside in us
C. Truth must govern our behavior:
1. v. 4 - “walking in truth”
2. I Thessalonians 4:1 - “how ye ought to walk and to please God”
3. there most assuredly is a Christian lifestyle - living that lifestyle
pleases God - any other lifestyle is not pleasing to God
II WHERE IS THE JOY IN THE TRUTH?
A. There is joy in the confidence of the truth:
1. Think about truth versus fiction ... basing our hopes in fiction is
“hopeless”
2. There is incredible confidence in being able to say, “I know”
3. Listen: II Timothy 1:12; I John 2:3,4; I John 5:14,15
4. There is so much ambiguity, error, opinion, etc. in the world - and some
folks seem to live in the “fog” most of their lives
5. John 17:17 - my life rests in the confidence of God’s word
B. There is joy in freedom through the truth:
1. In part this freedom relates to the confidence I have mentioned - with
the truth there is freedom from indecision, from anxiety, from unknown
2. But the real freedom has to do with our relationship to/with God
3. John 8:32 - the context has to do with the slavery of sin (v. 34)
4. The truth reveals God’s remedy for sin ... and how we can gain access to
that remedy
5. Romans 6:17,18 - God’s remedy involves obeying from the heart revealed
truth
C. There is joy in living in the truth:
1. God wants you and me to be happy people
2. Psalm 16:11 - here is a passage which has lent credence to my conviction
3. But the key here is in our choosing the “path of life” - or living God’s
way
4. “Guilt” is one of the great enemies of happiness - and guilt comes in
living outside the boundaries of God’s plan, God’s will
5. look at I Thessalonians 4:1; Colossians 1:10
D. There is joy in anticipation through truth:
1. Colossians ...hope...whereof ye heard...in the word of the truth...”
2. If Christian joy is not anticipating in nature, it is absolutely bound to
this earth
3. And I would remind you of I Corinthians 15:19
4. The truth reveals “great and precious promises” which are critical to our
living to please God ... otherwise, why live the Christian life?
5. II Corinthians 4:18; II Corinthians 5”1 … that hope filled anticipation,
which produces joy as a state of being
Con:
A. The Christian life is a life of the truth, in the truth, by the truth.
While the world struggles for answers, Christians have them!
B. The apostle Paul would add, “Rejoice evermore” -I Thessalonians 5:16
