Hebrews 11:27 - Faith Over Feeling.
Hebrews 11:27 (NLT) It was by faith that
Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the
kings anger. He kept right on going because he
kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Faith That Persists Above Feelings
There is a strong belief in our culture
that influences every one of us, whether we want
it to or not: If it feels good, do it.
But this kind of thinking allows you to
be manipulated by your moods - making you live
according to your feelings. God wants you to live a
different kind of life. He wants you to live a life of
faith, not a life of feelings.
We dont always feel like doing the
right thing. I dont know about you, but I
dont always feel like being nice to people. I
dont always feel like stopping what Im doing
to help someone. I dont always feel like
believing Gods promises for my life.
But our goal as believers is to develop
the kind of faith that persists above feelings.
You deepen your relationship with God when you
spend time with him, even on days when you dont
feel like it.
Its like an Olympic athlete exercising
when she doesnt feel like it or a great
musician practicing his craft, even when hes
tired. Its the same with your relationship with
God.
People who have a regular, consistent
quiet time with God didnt get there because
they felt like spending time with God every
single morning. They got there because they woke up
and decided to read the Bible and pray, even
when they didnt feel like it.
Faith is being persistent. Faith is
refusing to give up no matter how tired you are or
how many other things you wish you could be
doing.
Through the example of Moses, the Bible
shows us how to begin to develop persistence.
Hebrews 11:27 says, It was by faith that Moses
left the land of Egypt, not fearing the kings
anger. He kept right on going because he kept his
eyes on the one who is invisible (NLT).
Thats how you get there. Thats how
you persist. You begin to see the invisible.
Only those who see God for who he really is can
persist in the most difficult times of life. Only
those who see the invisible can do the impossible.
Believe in faith what God can do in your
life, and thank him in advance for how he is going
to work. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
Think of Moses, what endurance and patience
characterized his life. Paul, in his Epistle to the
Hebrews, says: For he endured, as seeing Him who
is invisible. The character that Paul thus
ascribes to Moses does not mean simply passive
resistance of evil, but perseverance in the right. He
kept the Lord ever before him, and the Lord was
ever at his right hand to help him. 5T651
Many suppose that in following Christ they
will be obliged to be gloomy and disconsolate,
because they are required to deny themselves the
pleasures and follies that the world indulge in. The
living Christian will be filled with cheerfulness
and peace, because he lives as seeing Him who is
invisible; and those who seek Christ in His true
character have within them the elements of everlasting
life, because they are partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruptions that are in
the world through lust. Jesus said, This is
the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me, I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day. And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day (John 6:39, 40).
1SM137
CLOSING THOUGHT
Choose Faith over Fear and Feelings
Either we live by faith or we live by
fear.
The Bible says of Moses in Hebrews 11:27,
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the
kings anger; he persevered because he saw him who
is invisible (NIV).
Moses teaches us that living by faith
rather than by fear is a choice.
He went to the most powerful man in the
world and said, You know those slaves that are
building all your pyramids? Im taking them, and
were all leaving. Youre not going to have
slave labor anymore. Let my people go.
Moses had every reason to be afraid. He
was going up against a powerful man who was
considered a god, and whatever Pharaoh said, you had to
do. What he said was the law. And here came
Moses and declared, We arent going to do
what you say anymore. Im not afraid of you
because I report to a higher authority. That took
some guts!
Do you want that same kind of faith in
your life so you can overcome your fear? The
closer you get to God, the more youre going to
be filled with faith. The further away you get
from God, the more youre going to be filled
with fear.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of
faith for the rest of your life. The Bible says
that whatever is not of faith is sin. How many
times did you sin this week? A lot. So did I.
Because anything I did that wasnt done in faith
but was done in doubt was a sin. The Bible also
says that without faith it is impossible to
please God. How many times did you please God this
week?
Do you want something to change in your
life? Instead of complaining, start believing. God
is not moved by complaints. God is moved by
faith, a truth we see in these words of Jesus:
According to your faith let it be done to you
(Matthew 9:29 NIV). You get to choose what he does in
your life.
Heres the key: What matters is not the
size of your faith but the size of the God you
put it in. A little faith in a big God gets big
results! [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I am with you in all that you do, even in
the most menial task. I am always aware of you,
concerned with every detail of your life. Nothing
escapes My notice - not even the number of hairs on
your head. However, your awareness of My Presence
falters and flickers; as a result, your life
experience feels fragmented. When your focus is broad
enough to include Me in your thoughts, you feel
safe and complete. When your perception narrows
so that problems or details fill your
consciousness, you feel empty and incomplete.
Learn to look steadily at Me in all your
moments and all your circumstances. Though the world
is unstable and in flux, you can experience
continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of My
Presence. Fix your gaze on what is unseen, even as the
visible world parades before your eyes. (Mat.
10:29-31; Heb. 11:27; 2Co. 4:18) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Hebrews 11:25 - The Faith of Moses.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20121114-1622.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
