Faith Abused (FaithWorks 3)

Prayer, Psalm 9.11-20
Children, Acts 5.23-42 (apostles imprisoned)
Message, Hebrews 11.23-31

Review:

            extended
sermon
            endurance
in a time of trial – faith that is future-directed
            Abraham …
Faith Risks – departure, descendants, death
            today …
Moses

Moses’ Choice – The “Royal” Treatment

Obsession with British royalty, particularly the BABY!
            Kate &
William
            baby George
            “International
Obsession with Duchess Kate’s post-baby bump”
                        Msnbc.com
headline

Pope Francis washed the feet of inmates at an Italian youth
prison for Maundy Thursday … a tradition that has been for priests only. But he washed the feet of youth offenders,
including two young women and spoke with a larger group that included Muslim
and Orthodox young people. And he said, “This
is a symbol. Washing your feet means
that I am at your service.”

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a
son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵
choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the
fleeting pleasures of sin.

Chooses pain over pleasure, but not in generic sense

pain =
suffer WITH God’s people
pleasure =
pleasure of sin

How much of our time and energy is spent protecting
ourselves from pain?

Is that
ever SIN?
John Chrysostom, “[Moses] accounted it ‘sin’ not to be ready
to ‘suffer ill treatment with’” (p198, ACCS NT X Hebrews)

Claims his identity (adoption identity crisis)

not as son
of Pharoah’s daughter
as one of
the oppressed people of God
The “royal” treatment: to be served or to serve

Moses’ Choice – The Easy Way or the Hard Way?

If it is not worth doing the hard way, it is not worth doing
at all
Caleb and
the tree

Relativity of wealth

inflation,
$20
what we
value, a key or a diamond ring

Two kinds of wealth that Moses could choose:

He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater
wealth than the treasures of Egypt,
for he was looking ahead to the reward.

Abuse for Christ (insult, disgrace) = wealth

“Abuse” in
translation
domestic
abuse/professional abuse – not the abuse of Christ

The cross is at the center of Christian faith

salvation
and witness
apostles
rejoicing at being worthy to suffer for Jesus
Easy or hard: Silence or speech

Resources:

Fred B. Craddock. 1998. Hebrews in The New
Interpreter’s Bible, Vol XII. Nashville:
Abingdon Press.

Erik M. Heen and Philip D. W. Krey. 2005. Hebrews,
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT vol X. Downers Grove: IL