TONY LING SUNDAY 30TH MARCH

Hebrews 11 lists many heroes of faith for us to learn about and to learn from.  Tony focused on Moses.  

Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 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 application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

• 'grown up' Moses was about 40 when God considered him mature enough to begin the work he had planned for him.  Maturity is not about age though.  You can have a 16 year old with a mature attitude and a 50 year old who still behaves like he was a child.  Jesus said we should be childlike in our faith but that is not licence to be childish in our behaviour. Squabbles and falling out is for children, with maturity comes the desire to live in peace, to forgive and restore relationships.
• 'refused' Moses realised he could not have a foot in both camps and be both Egyptian and Hebrew.  We cannot as christians have one foot in the church and the other in the world - it doesn't work. If Jesus is to be Lord it has to be over every part of our lives. Recognise sins pleasures are 'fleeting' whereas the rewards of God are eternal.
• 'with the people of God'  Moses knew his family was the people of God, he belonged with them. God's desire has always been for a family and anointing and gifting will be given when we are firmly rooted in the family of God.  No lone rangers!
• 'disgrace... of greater value'  Jesus told us to store up treasure in heaven where it can't be stolen or destroyed. It may look like a loss of face or a defeat to us or we may feel we are not working to our strengths but if what we are doing comes from a desire to serve God and is done in obedience it's treasure in our heavenly account.
• 'persevered' (or in Tony's version 'endured') The christian life is not plain sailing, we do encounter problems, sometimes it is really difficult, we do suffer hurt and loss but if we persevere (endure) and trust God either he will move the problem or enable us to stand strong and work our way through it with him.
• 'kept the Passover' Moses was obedient to follow God's instructions to the letter and he saw deliverance not just for himself but for all the people. We need to be a people of God's word - read it, love it, live it. Jesus the word is our protection against our enemy and all his schemes.

How do we get ready for the move of God that Tony spoke over us?  Be a hero like Moses.  Choose maturity and put childishness behind us.  Choose to be 100% for Jesus and ditch anything from your old life that is holding you back.  Commit yourself to being a part of the family of God and working together to see the kingdom of God established here.  Choose obedience to God over selfish wants and desires and to hang in there with God when things get tough. Choose to read God's word and allow it to transform your thinking and power you up in faith!