Faithfulness In All Of God’s House And The Monster Of An Hidden Sin In The Life Of A Minister

¹Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.⁵ Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future.⁶ But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebrews 3:1-6, NIV)

Introduction

The writer of Hebrews in a parenthetical gloss made a comment in Hebrews Chapter 3 verse 2 that I will compare with a compendium of biblical interpretation of the life and ministry of the man of God:  Moses.  This has meant much to me and I feel I should share with you also as a servant of the Lord for this contemporary time.

All of God’s House

The house of the Lord in the context is far more than a three bed room flat or a six bedroom block of flats.  Jesus says: “in my father’s house there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…” The impression of the house of the Lord in this context is like the reference to all of God’s businesses. It is like a Government Secretariat having several departments, board and ministries, but I tell you, there is no government that has anything close to the enormity of the magnitude of diversification of God’s ministries and business which is being referred to as the house of the Lord by the writer of Hebrews.

Moses:  Epitome of Faithfulness

Moses had been so much baked that he was able to function creditably in any area of God’s business. He did and he was found faithful to the effect that, there was none like him.

Some people are here today as ministers, they have been placed under a limit of operation due to unfaithfulness, but some of you seated here today are to be trained under God to become fitting to operate at all levels of God’s house and business if you will submit yourself for his training! Sorry you feel you have completed your training because you have B.Th., M.Th., Ph.D or what have you, but I make bold to tell you that training in the classroom is good to fulfill civil/human denominational requirements but quite inadequate to make full proof of your ministry except you pass through the tutelage of God Almighty.  In that school, you are in a class of yourself.

If you will be God’s instrument, He will make you pass through His school.  You must be certified by him otherwise you will remain a mere civil servant, a jobber, marking time to collect monthly salary.  An uncertified minister is an unfinished product.  No manufacturer will display an unfinished product. It will remain in the factory forever.  It does not matter how many degrees you have. God’s certification of his own servant is not only on the basis of your academic credentials.  It includes your character, spirituality, and hidden credentials!

Faithfulness

Faithfulness is a condition of the heart which has no hidden agenda, but rather commit itself wholly to the assignment given to him by the master.  The reference to faithfulness in all of God’s house as far as Moses is concerned has to do with reference to a couple of his character sketch in Exodus 25-26 c.f. 40:16, Numbers 12:3.  The meekest man on earth yet he had flaws!  Let us x-ray some of the flaws/hidden sins of Moses.

Hidden Sins in the Life of Moses

He did not know how to pay attention to detail instruction.

A. In Ex. 3:18

(a)  Moses was to take elders with him to meet Pharaoh.

(b)        “       “    “  explain who Yahweh is to Pharaoh.

(c)        “       “   “   be polite.

(d)       “       “   “   ask for a temporary 3 day journey to offer sacrifices to Yahaweh.

Rather             (a)  Moses took Aaron and go to Pharaoh alone.

(b)  Moses was impolite addressing Pharaoh floating the instruction in

3:18 see 5:1.

(c)  Moses used a foreign language which was and made no sense to

Pharaoh. “Yahweh, God of the Hebrews”…to Pharaoh, that was

Break in transmission.

(d)  Moses gave an impression of asking for total release, a thing which

he had been told will come by and by after a coercive judgement

upon the Land.

B. His lack of attention to detail compounded the problem of Israel.

• Pharaoh did not allow Israel to go, 5:2.
• Pharaoh was more hostile.
• Moses now chose to do what God said initially, 5:3 but too late!
• Arrogant request received arrogant response!
• Oppression was intensified, 5:4-9, 10-19.
• Moses was tactless in his demand.

Moses Treatment of the Hidden Sin

1. Moses’ flaws/error drove him back to God, 5:22.
2. He complained to God, 5:22-23.
3. The best approach in times of difficulty.

A. God’s Response

1. God chose to encourage Moses with renewed Promises/Assurance, 6:1.
2. God did not answer: Moses questions were not answered directly.
3. He had to give thought to his lack of attention to detail obedience.
4. God rather gave him encouragement/promise.
5. Covenant will soon be renewed, 6:4; Gen 22:16; 6:5, 6-8, 6:9.

B. God re-commissioned Moses, 6:6ff

1. He did not write him off.
2. He sent him back to Pharaoh 6:10-11.
3. Moses doubted it 6:12.
4. God does not change his mind due to our error
5. The call of God is irrevocable

C. God and the Hidden Sin

1. God never scold his own servant publicly.
2. God will never give the judgement of his servant to the hand of an individual.
3. God defends his servant no matter his problem. Ps. 119

D. You and Your Ministry

1. If you have a ministry, it is given to you by Jesus.
2. There is uniqueness with you and your ministry.
3. Release yourself for Jesus to do what he wants to do with you. Phil. 2:5ff
4. Take care of yourself and your family to the best of your ability.
5. Put Jesus in everything you do (Take the name of the Lord with you).
6. Never attack the principle of your own denomination.

Application

Today the Lord of the church is asking me to remind you of your call.  What Did God ask you to do in his church.  Go back to the drawing board and understand the blue print, and please know who called you and do what he told you to do.  Be faithful even when it is not convenient.  In principle your employer/caller is Jesus, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Baptist Convention.  By extension that all has positioned you in the local church where you minister.  Be faithful in all of God’s business and be careful to deal with the hidden sins of the leader.