“Faiththat
Overcomes”
The Underdog…
•We all love stories about the
under-dog that overcomes all
adversity to win the game
•To overcome, one must put faith in something
•Sports events are one thing, but what about life?
•Who will you trust to get you through the tough
times?
•A.W. Tozer said, “Nothing twists or deforms the
soul more than a low conception of God.”
The Underdog…
•I agree with the statement because,
if you have a warped understanding
of God, it will affect how/if you
believe on Him and how you live your life
•Improper understanding of God’s nature and
character, leads to belief in a wrong god
“23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden
for three months by his parents, because they saw
he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of
the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had
grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for
he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith
he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the
blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn
would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed
through the Red Sea as though they were passing
through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they
attempted it, were drowned.
Hebrews 11:23-29, NASB
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Vs 23-26,
“23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden
for three months by his parents, because they saw
he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of
the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had
grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for
he was looking to the reward.”
Hebrews 11:23-26, NASB
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Vs 23-26, I’m sure all parents
think this way, but God blessed
•We must give some cultural
background to understand
Moses’ circumstances…
•Rich delta land gave Egypt a
huge advantage over
neighboring countries,
especially in times of famine
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Moses benefited greatly– he
was raised as Pharaoh’s
grandson
•Best education, training, food
•According to Egyptian oracles,
Moses was a statesman and a
soldier– when Ethiopia attacked
Egypt, Moses was given
command of the Royal troops
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Moses’ army defeated the
Ethiopians and brought back
slaves and spoils to Egypt
•Josephus wrote that Moses was
a crown prince– in line to be
Pharaoh himself one day
•Now you can understand the
choice he made– weighing the
material against the spiritual
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of
a fork in the road, forcing choice
“25 …choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with
the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;
for he was looking to the reward.”
Hebrews 11:23-26, NASB
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of
a fork in the road, forcing choice
•One way was broad, well-traveled,
and well-paved with golden
opportunities and many enticements
to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin
•The other, pot-holed with uncertain
footing, shaky bridges, and rough
rocky territory ahead
A. Stage 1: Refusing a Sinful Life
•The Greek word ‘heg-eo-mai’, tells us
that he thought through the choices
before he made them
•‘Considered’ has the literal definition
“to lead, to go before, to think ahead”
•Moses looked far down the road to
where his decisions would take him,
thinking through eternity
•The reward for enduring the reproach of
Christ outweighed the experience of
enjoying anything Egypt had to offer
B. Stage 2: Determination to Leave
•V 27, Moses’ decision was not a
casual one—
“27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of
the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is
unseen.”
Hebrews 11:27, NASB
B. Stage 2: Determination to Leave
•V 27, Moses’ decision was not a
casual one—
•He left everything except the
clothes he had on at the moment
•The choice took amazing
determination: choosing the
invisible, imperishable, impossible
•He believed God could cover the
wrath of Pharaoh
C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will
•Vs 28-29, to understand
what is happening, we
must read Exodus 12 too…
“28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling
of the blood, so that he who destroyed the
firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they
passed through the Red Sea as though they were
passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when
they attempted it, were drowned.
Hebrews 11:23-29, NASB
“7 Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and
put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the
houses in which they eat it.”
Exodus 12:7, NASB
“12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that
night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all
the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am
the LORD. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the
houses where you live; and when I see the blood I
will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to
destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 12:13-13, NASB
C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will
•Vs 28-29, you can imagine
Moses putting up the blood
•A highly educated man, Moses
did this “strange” thing
•Not only that, he will cross the
Red Sea soon…
•God may ask many “strange”
things from you in your walk…
C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will
•Many people will be derisive
about your faith and say things like
•“Well, I don’t believe in a God of
love judging…”
•“A loving God would never...”
• Or, I am just not into organized
religion…”
•As believers, we need to think and
act biblically, not emotionally
C. Stage 3: Willing to do God’s Will
•Far too many folks think about God
in relation to what they have done
and/or what they want, to justify
ungodly thoughts or actions
•All of us have our own person
theology or ‘belief about God’
•C. S. Lewis warned, “If you do not
listen to theology, that will not mean
that you have no ideas about God. It
will mean that you have a lot of
wrong ideas.”
Take Home Tips
1. We need the discernment from the
Word to refuse sinful choices; faith
must overshadow feelings and logic
2. We need godly determination to leave
the patterns of our sinful past; your
faith is your security
3. We must be willing to do what God
tells us, no matter the consequence;
your faith will silence other’s opinions!

Faith That Overcomes

  • 2.
  • 3.
    The Underdog… •We alllove stories about the under-dog that overcomes all adversity to win the game •To overcome, one must put faith in something •Sports events are one thing, but what about life? •Who will you trust to get you through the tough times? •A.W. Tozer said, “Nothing twists or deforms the soul more than a low conception of God.”
  • 4.
    The Underdog… •I agreewith the statement because, if you have a warped understanding of God, it will affect how/if you believe on Him and how you live your life •Improper understanding of God’s nature and character, leads to belief in a wrong god
  • 5.
    “23 By faithMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
  • 6.
    endured, as seeingHim who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. Hebrews 11:23-29, NASB
  • 7.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Vs 23-26,
  • 8.
    “23 By faithMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:23-26, NASB
  • 9.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Vs 23-26, I’m sure all parents think this way, but God blessed •We must give some cultural background to understand Moses’ circumstances… •Rich delta land gave Egypt a huge advantage over neighboring countries, especially in times of famine
  • 10.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Moses benefited greatly– he was raised as Pharaoh’s grandson •Best education, training, food •According to Egyptian oracles, Moses was a statesman and a soldier– when Ethiopia attacked Egypt, Moses was given command of the Royal troops
  • 11.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Moses’ army defeated the Ethiopians and brought back slaves and spoils to Egypt •Josephus wrote that Moses was a crown prince– in line to be Pharaoh himself one day •Now you can understand the choice he made– weighing the material against the spiritual
  • 12.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of a fork in the road, forcing choice
  • 13.
    “25 …choosing ratherto endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:23-26, NASB
  • 14.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •Vs 25-26 draw the mental picture of a fork in the road, forcing choice •One way was broad, well-traveled, and well-paved with golden opportunities and many enticements to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin •The other, pot-holed with uncertain footing, shaky bridges, and rough rocky territory ahead
  • 15.
    A. Stage 1:Refusing a Sinful Life •The Greek word ‘heg-eo-mai’, tells us that he thought through the choices before he made them •‘Considered’ has the literal definition “to lead, to go before, to think ahead” •Moses looked far down the road to where his decisions would take him, thinking through eternity •The reward for enduring the reproach of Christ outweighed the experience of enjoying anything Egypt had to offer
  • 16.
    B. Stage 2:Determination to Leave •V 27, Moses’ decision was not a casual one—
  • 17.
    “27 By faithhe left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” Hebrews 11:27, NASB
  • 18.
    B. Stage 2:Determination to Leave •V 27, Moses’ decision was not a casual one— •He left everything except the clothes he had on at the moment •The choice took amazing determination: choosing the invisible, imperishable, impossible •He believed God could cover the wrath of Pharaoh
  • 19.
    C. Stage 3:Willing to do God’s Will •Vs 28-29, to understand what is happening, we must read Exodus 12 too…
  • 20.
    “28 By faithhe kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. Hebrews 11:23-29, NASB
  • 21.
    “7 Moreover, theyshall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” Exodus 12:7, NASB “12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the
  • 22.
    houses where youlive; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13-13, NASB
  • 23.
    C. Stage 3:Willing to do God’s Will •Vs 28-29, you can imagine Moses putting up the blood •A highly educated man, Moses did this “strange” thing •Not only that, he will cross the Red Sea soon… •God may ask many “strange” things from you in your walk…
  • 24.
    C. Stage 3:Willing to do God’s Will •Many people will be derisive about your faith and say things like •“Well, I don’t believe in a God of love judging…” •“A loving God would never...” • Or, I am just not into organized religion…” •As believers, we need to think and act biblically, not emotionally
  • 25.
    C. Stage 3:Willing to do God’s Will •Far too many folks think about God in relation to what they have done and/or what they want, to justify ungodly thoughts or actions •All of us have our own person theology or ‘belief about God’ •C. S. Lewis warned, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ideas.”
  • 26.
    Take Home Tips 1.We need the discernment from the Word to refuse sinful choices; faith must overshadow feelings and logic 2. We need godly determination to leave the patterns of our sinful past; your faith is your security 3. We must be willing to do what God tells us, no matter the consequence; your faith will silence other’s opinions!