What's Your Excuse (Part 2) Series

Sunday Morning January 20, 2009

Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “Moving With God (Exodus)” [#4]

WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE? (Part 2)

Exodus 3:11-4:17

Introduction:

It is interesting to me how God allows us to make choices instead of making us do it His way; and then would even have the patience with us to listen to us try to make excuses as to why His way must be wrong. What a gracious and loving God we serve that He would put up with us and not just destroy us.

As we learned last week, in order to move forward with the Lord we must recognize…

1. His presence.

2. How to approach Him.

3. He uses us to accomplish His plan.

In order to move forward with the Lord we must recognize…

1. That He knows what He is doing.

Look with me at the 4 excuses Moses uses to try to get out of serving the Lord; and the answers that God gave him.

Exodus 3:11-12

> Excuse #1: ”Who am I, that I should go?” Moses is saying, “Lord I’m not qualified. I’m not good enough to do this.”

> God’s reply: “I will be with you.” The Lord does not make us go on our own. He is there with us.

Exodus 3:13-14

> Excuse #2: Who do I say You are? Moses is saying, “Lord I don’t know what to say or do?”

> God’s reply: “I AM WHO I AM”. God is simply telling us, “I am in charge; I’ve got this taken care of”.

Exodus 3:15-22

Exodus 4:1-9

> Excuse #3: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” How often are we more worried about what others think about us then what God is trying to do through us?

> God’s reply: God gave Moses tools to use. God gave Moses this rod to give Him security. We have security through the Bible that God has given us.

Exodus 4:10-12

> Excuse #4: "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Moses is telling God that he does not have the ability to do what God is asking him to do. He does not have the gift of speaking.

> God’s reply: God told Him that He would teach him and tell him what to say. God will not give you a task that He does not equip you for.

Exodus 4:13-17

In order to move forward with the Lord we must recognize…

2. That God will accomplish the work with or without you.

Don’t be so arrogant as to think that if you refuse to do what God calls you and equips you to do that it just won’t get done. God doesn’t have to have you to carry out His work. He wants you to be obedient and let Him use you, but He will use someone else if you won’t do it.

Conclusion:

“I have seen the misery of my people…”

> God knows.

“So I have come down to rescue them…”

> God cares.

“I am sending you…”

> God works (through us).