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Moses, Servant of God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMoses stands as an extraordinary example of faithfulness, marked by his profound relationship with God and his unwavering commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to Him. Described as God's servant more frequently than any other individual, Moses embodies the essence of submission through his actions and conduct, reflecting a life dedicated to serving the Lord despite personal sacrifice. His title as servant underscores his reliable service, showcasing a man who could always be counted on to fulfill God's commands without seeking personal glory. From the beginning of his life, Moses displayed remarkable leadership, shaped by divine gifts and circumstances. Born into a spiritually stable family, preserved from death, and educated in the wisdom of Egypt, his path was guided by God's hand. Even his exile to Midian, where he served as a shepherd, became a time of preparation, teaching him humility and deepening his understanding of human nature. When called by God at the burning bush, Moses was ready to lead a stubborn and recalcitrant people, drawing on both his earlier experiences in Egypt and his humbling time in the desert. Moses' faithfulness is evident in his humility and dependence on God. Described as very humble by God Himself, Moses was aware of his flaws and felt unworthy of the tasks given to him, yet he consistently turned to God for assistance. He served quietly and confidently, carrying out every obligation laid upon him with exceptional character, even under challenging circumstances. His intimate relationship with God, not just as a servant but as a friend, set him apart as the prophet against whom others are measured. God enabled Moses to fulfill his calling, providing strength and vigor even into old age, ensuring he could complete his work. From overcoming his initial reluctance to speak, as seen when he argued with God about his inability, to leading Israel through the wilderness, Moses relied on God's provision. His life demonstrates that what God requires, He always enables, supplying the necessary tools and blessings to meet any assignment. Though not without fault, as seen in his moment of anger when striking the rock, Moses' overall record of faithfulness remains unparalleled. Despite this failure, which barred him from entering the Promised Land, God's mercy and forgiveness were evident. By allowing Moses to see the land, God assured him of his place in the Kingdom, signifying a formal transfer of ownership in a spiritual sense. Moses knew he was forgiven and had secured his eternal inheritance. In every responsibility, whether as founder of a nation, prime minister, legislator, or judge, Moses performed with a virtuous character rarely seen among human leaders. His example teaches that faithfulness is achievable within the gifts and responsibilities given to each individual. Just as Moses overcame through God's preparation and enabling, so too can others be faithful servants, emulating his dedication and trust in God's unfailing support.
Faith (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMoses exemplified faithfulness by refusing, when he came of age, to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Though raised in the royal household, educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and positioned to inherit rank, power, pleasure, and riches, he deliberately turned away from these advantages. He chose instead to share the affliction of God's people, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt because he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt without fearing the king's wrath, enduring as one who saw Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, and by faith the people passed through the Red Sea. Moses made these choices after God communicated His will and purpose to him, enabling him to trust the divine promises concerning Israel's deliverance even though his eyes saw only bondage and impossibility. He counted the cost, recognizing that no sacrifice was too great to break trust with what he had heard from God. His parents had already demonstrated the same trust when they hid him by faith, unafraid of the king's command, because they too had received and acted upon God's Word. This pattern of faithfulness illustrates the larger exhortation that the just shall live by faith, requiring endurance and patient waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled. Moses' example shows that living by faith means active commitment to the invisible realities of God rather than to what can be seen, and that such trust produces the perseverance needed to receive the promise.
Conviction and Moses
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMoses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, receiving from God a tribute higher than that accorded any other except Christ, with whom he is directly compared. God spoke to him face to face, without visions or dark sayings, and entrusted to him the entire household and family of God, declaring him without peer among the holy. This faithfulness stood in sharp contrast to Israel's persistent unbelief and rebellion, which repeatedly demonstrated that without faith no one can be faithful. Moses did not begin as a man of such conviction; his faithfulness emerged through a long process of relationship with God that required continual yielding, receiving correction, enduring discipline, and acting on what he believed. By faith he refused the privileges of Pharaoh's court, choosing affliction with God's people over the passing pleasures of sin and esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than Egypt's treasures. By faith he forsook Egypt, kept the Passover, and led Israel through the Red Sea. God did not replace Moses' natural qualities but molded them to His purpose as Moses cooperated, maintaining constant contact with Him so that he could carry out his stewardship responsibly. Early nurture in a God-fearing home laid the foundation, yet Moses still had to grow from wavering preferences into settled convictions that enabled him to discharge his duties with reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness. His life therefore illustrates that faithfulness is faith in action, produced and sustained only by an active, maintained relationship with God.
Conviction, Moses, and Us
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike Moses, we have to develop conviction, a product of a relationship of God, established by being faithful day by day in the little things of life.
Faithful, Following Firstfruits
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThose reveling in the 'new freedoms' of apostasy cannot be persuaded to return to former beliefs because they no longer believe in the sanctified Word of God.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Becoming equipped for leadership requires that we discipline ourselves in following God's way of life, allowing the mind of Jesus Christ to be in us in.
Israel's Missing Characteristics of God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Faithfulness is living continually by faith, acting even though doing so may cost us. Love is not primarily a feeling, but faithfulness in applying God's Word.
Leadership and Covenants (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWe must learn the lessons of godly leadership now because our positions in the Kingdom will require their use. Society demonstrates a lack of personal leadership.
Among the Few
Sermon by Mark SchindlerInitially, the primary motivation for responding to God's call may be a panicky desire to save our skin, gloming onto a place of safety like Petra.
No One Else Matters (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAll God's shepherds are mortal men, guilty of sin, including Moses. Despite that, God backed them up because they faithfully followed His leadership.
Hebrews (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWe must emulate Christ, who learned through suffering, preparing Himself for His role as High Priest. Giving in alienates us from the fellowship with God.
The Church, One Body
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's call to learn from the ant does not teach us to yield to a hierarchical system, but to participate in a community with the goal of edification.
Hebrews (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus blazed a trail, giving a pattern for qualifying (through suffering and resisting sin) for our responsibility as priests, reconnecting man and God.