Heroes of Faith: Moses (Pastor Wilson Akubo) 16-07-2017

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC) 

Wuye, Abuja 

1st Sunday Service 

16th July, 2017

Picture credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON: 

* Speaker: Pastor Wilson Akubo 
* Theme: The Just Shall Live by Faith 

* Topic: Heroes of Faith (Moses) 

* Text: Exodus 3:9-11 → "Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”   But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (NKJV)

★ Exodus 4:18-20 → "So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”  And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”   Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand." (NKJV) 

★ Hebrews 11:23-29

* Moses was the son of Amram and Jecobed and became the adopted son of Pharoah and married Zipporah

* He was born at a critical time when boys of his age were massacred at birth 

* Moses lived for 120 years 
(which can be divided into three parts):

(a) During his 1st 40 years in Egypt: 
- he thought he was somebody (because of his royal privilege)

(b) During his 2nd 40 years in the wilderness:   
- he thought he was nobody (dejected as an exile)

(c) During his 3rd 40 years as a deliverer: 
- he knew that God can transform a nobody into a somebody

☆ Lessons to be learnt from the Life of Moses:  

1. How He began His journey of faith

★ Hebrews 11:23 → "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command." (NKJV)

* NOTE for Parents: You must create an atmosphere of faith for your children

→ At this point, Moses was not operating by his own faith yet

★ Exodus 2:3 →"But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank." (NKJV) 

* It was the faith of the parents of Moses that kept him afloat in the river as a helpless baby. 

* If you exercise faith, what drowns every other person will not drown you! 

* God began to raise a deliverer for his people through the faith of parents

* The faith of parents can go a long way to help children fulfil their destiny in Christ

2. His own personal Journey of Faith 

★ Hebrews 11:24-26 

* NOTE: When you come of age, the faith of your parents cannot sustain you any longer. You have to work out your own faith 

★ Philippians 2:12 → "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (NIV)

★ Hebrews 5:14 → "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (NKJV)

☆ When does a person come of age? 

a. When a person chooses to live in truth instead of living a lie
* Moses did not forget his background in spite of being raised in Pharaoh's palace.   

★ Hebrews 11:24 → "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter."

b. When a person chooses God's word over the pleasure and privileges that could be gained through disobedience

* NOTE: God will hold you accountable for your decisions 

3. When a person decides to disconnect from the Privileges that accompany Sin: 

★ Hebrews 11:27 → ''By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible."

→ He forsook Egypt and incurred the wrath of the king

→ If you see the 'invisible', there is no punishment that any man will mete against you that can deter you from obeying God 

★ Acts 5:29 → "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter."

* Faith sees the invisible and it helps you to endure every reproach.

4. He Kept the Passover 

★Hebrews 11:28 →"By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them."

* NOTE: this practice was never done in Israel before

→ Moses did not doubt God. He did not negotiate and He did not proffer any personal solutions 

* NOTE: This was the tenth (10th) time he was stepping out in faith against Pharaoh. The other nine (9) times and did not 'work', but he was willing to step out again in faith

5. Passing through the Red Sea 

★ Hebrews 11:29 → "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned."

★ Exodus 14:13 → "Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again."

* As long as you walk in faith, your faith will be strengthened

* The enemy will not allow you to step out into your God given destiny without a fight! 

* If faith got you thus far, God will make a way though the 'Red Sea' confronting you 

☆ Conclusion:

* No matter your background and pedigree, if you decide to walk with God in faith, He will make a way for you

* Deny yourself of any pleasure that makes you an enemy of God
 

* You must consistently choose good over evil
 

* Every man of faith becomes great! 

* Every man of faith reaches his/her destiny 

☆NOTE: Though Moses did not get to the Promise Land physically, He got there spiritually! 

★ Matthew 17:1-3 → "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him." 

Growing Up (Rev. David Kwamkur) 01-02-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

1st February, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Growing Up

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service leader: Mr. Stephen Barthner

* Text: Hebrews 11:24-26

* The life of Moses began as a Journey of faith. (See: Exodus 3)

* Moses' parents demonstrated faith for the protection of their child even in the midst of danger

* You can destroy your future if you disregard your past.

* Parents have a significant role to play in the life of their children's spiritual growth and maturity

→ Note: Moses' parents were not afraid of the verdict of the Pharaoh. They trusted God to preserve their son

* One thing that is destroying many people today is fear

★ Matthew 10:28 → "Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell."

* If you are interested in growing deeper spiritually, you should study the life of Moses - His life Was a life of faith

* Benefits of Studying the life of Moses:

(a) It will help you understand that God is greater than every evil scheme or person in the world

(b) It will help you to focus on God, rather than on your circumstances

(c) It will help you understand that God is faithful and will never fail to keep His promises

→ The most dangerous thing you will ever do in life is to doubt God's faithfulness

→ Hold on to God until your situation changes

(d) It will help you let God work through you

→ God will not force you to do anything (including submitting to Him) that you don't want to do willingly

(e) It will help you realise that you are not an ordinary person

→ NOTE: You are the Child of the King of the Universe & you are important to God

* Moses made faith decisions:

→ if you are ever going to grow spiritually, you must walk by faith all the time

→ Children cannot make certain decisions on their own because they are immature

→ The quality of your decisions is an indication of your maturity (or immaturity)

→ If you do not know how to make decisions, other people will decide for you based on what they want for you

* Decisions You Must make if you want to grow in Christ:

1. Refusing the wrong

* Hebrews 11:24

→ It is not enough to know what is right or wrong, but you must be courageous enough to out-rightly refuse to do what is wrong in the sight of God

→ When faith comes into operation, your ability to recognize and refuse to do anything that is contrary to God's will is strengthened

* Examples of persons who refused to do what was wrong, even at the cost of their lives:

(a) Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife (Gen 39:9)

(b) The 3 Hebrew boys

* Daniel 3:12 → “Certain influential Jewish men whom you appointed to manage the city of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—have neither paid attention to you, your majesty, nor served your gods. And they won’t worship the golden statue that you set up.”

* It did not make any (reasonable) sense why they would choose to disobey the King's express orders at the detriment of their political positions and even their lives

*NOTE: When faith is in operation, your reason is inactive.

(c) Daniel refused to obey a Royal ban on prayer→ Daniel 6:13

"Then they told the king, “Daniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day.”

(d) Peter and John refused to obey a decree not to preach in the name of Christ → (Acts 4:17-20)

- They did not allow themselves to be intimidated by the Jewish Council (the most powerful and influential entity in Israel at the time)

* You must always refuse to do the wrong thing, even when it is the most popular thing to do

* Nobody grows in Christ by doing the wrong thing

* If you don't want evil to multiply, you must always refuse to do what is wrong

* Don't follow your reason; follow your faith

* God is calling you to refuse anything that is contrary to your faith

2. You must choose to do what is right

→ It is Impossible to choose to do what is both right and wrong at the same time. You have to choose only one

* Sometimes, the right thing to do does not appeal to your reasoning, But you must always follow faith, rather than your reason

* You must be wise in making your decisions

* Always make decisions in the light of tomorrow and eternity

* Don't mortgage your tomorrow for the brief pleasures of today

* If you choose to be a believer/disciple of Jesus, You Must be willing to pay the price:

★ The cost of Discipleship

(Luke 14:25-33)

→ You must be willing to cut links with your family and loved ones, if need be (verse 26)

→ You must carry His cross (verse 27)

→ give up everything for the sake of Christ (verse 33)

* A person who is not a faithful disciple of Christ cannot enter His kingdom in eternity

* Making the right decision would always cost you something (time, privileges, relationships, possessions, advantages, certain pleasures, your life, etc.)

3. You must run away from any appearance of wrong/evil

→ Running away from evil does not mean you are a coward

* Temporal things are just temporal - they will not last

* Amos 5:14-15 →"Pursue good and not evil, so that you may live, and this is what will happen: The LORD God of the Heavenly Armies will be with you, as you have been claiming. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in court— perhaps the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies, will be gracious to the survivors of Joseph.’

* Titus 2:11-12 →"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age."

→ As a Christian, God expects you to always renounce all forms of ungodliness

→ Renunciation must be total: You're not expected to go back to something you have renounced already

→ It is the by the grace of God that you are able to renounce every act of ungodliness, not by your own power or will

★ 2nd Timothy 2:19 →"However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

→ Departing from evil is a prerequisite for serving God faithfully and effectively

* 2nd Timothy 3:1-5

→ People that have a form of godliness but deny its power must be "quarantined" from your life before they infect and pollute you too

* 2nd Timothy 2:22

→ "Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart."

* Mark 8:36 →"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

→ It is foolish to mortgage your life and eventually loose/destroy your soul

* Romans 8:17 →"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

→ There is an eternal glory that comes after our temporal sufferings here on earth

* Look beyond your senses and depend or your faith

* If you have faith, you have everything!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

MISSION CHARGE

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming"

→ Ephesians 4:14

QUOTES

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety".

→ George Mueller

"Sadness takes you away from true worship of the Lord."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

"Satan will always make you feel that there is no reason to be happy. He will give you reasons to be angry at everyone, everything and even at yourself."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

Spiritual Maturity (Rev. Gyang Moses Chuwang) 25-01-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)
(Now Church of Christ in Nations)

Gigiring, Hwolshe, Jos

Plateau State-Nigeria

25th January, 1998

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Gyang Moses Chwuang

* Topic: Spiritual Maturity

* Theme: Christian Maturity

* Text: 1st Corinthians 2:15-16 → "The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else’s evaluation. For “Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?” However, we have the mind of the Messiah."

* Spiritual maturity concerns the improvement of one's relationship with God

* A spiritual man is one who has the mind of God

- Such a person has a relationship with the Holy Spirit and He controls Him

* Characteristics of the unspiritual man is found in Romans 8:9

→" You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him."

* The Characteristics of the spiritual man are found in Galatians 5:22-23

→" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things."

★ James 1:2 →"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trial."

* Suffering helps you to mature spiritually

★ 1st Corinthians 10:13 →" No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it."

* Spiritual maturity entails consistently walking in the Spirit

* If you walk in the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)

* The spiritual man experiences victory because of Jesus in Him

★ 1st Corinthians 2:14-15 →"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

★ 1st John 3:2 → "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."