A Work In Progress Series

Sunday Morning January 6, 2009 Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “Moving With God (Exodus)” [#2]

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Exodus 2:1-25

Introduction:

Do you ever feel like you are just wandering around on this earth without a purpose? Let me tell you that thought is of the devil. God has a purpose for each of us and He uses those things that happen in our lives to make us who we are.

God knew that Moses was going to lead His people before it ever happened. God knew about all of Moses’ flaws before he was ever born. God knows what it will take to get you where you need to be.

Exodus 2:1-10

God uses…

1. Our childhood to mold us.

Our raising has a great influence on who we become. We as parents and grandparents influence many things about our children and grandchildren. Moses was born into a godly family. His father was a Levi which put him in a family line of vocational ministers. His mother was a woman who was willing to do whatever necessary to protect her child.

We see a model of how to raise a child in a godly manner in these verses.

God wants us to…

> Protect our children. We need to shelter our children from the dangerous things in this world. It’s not a bad thing to not allow them to do everything, watch everything, or listen to everything that they want.

> Encourage good sibling relationships. We should not allow our children to hate one another. It is natural that children are going to fight and argue. It is natural that they are going to do things that hurt one another at times; but we must hold them together. It is a terrible thing to see siblings that won’t speak to each other because of things that have happened.

> Raise our children. What a blessing for Moses’ mother. She got to raise her child. What a blessing that we can raise our children in the way that we see fit. We must remember that it is our responsibility as parents to teach our children in the ways of the Lord. It is not up to the schools, church, etc… This is a parent’s responsibility and we should welcome it.

> Let them go when the time comes. It is hard to let your children leave and be under the care of someone else; but there is a time that you must do that.

I must stop for a moment a make a couple of comments. I praise God that I was raised in a godly home and was taught the ways of the Lord. Unfortunately, not everyone here had it so good. Some of you were raised under terrible circumstances and terrible situations. While our parents’ influence does have much sway over what we believe and do; it does not have to control us. Just because your dad was a drunk doesn’t mean you have to be. Just because your mother cussed like a sailor doesn’t mean you have to.

Exodus 2:11-15

God uses…

2. Our mistakes to mold us.

This is what happens when we try to do the work of God in the flesh. Moses was trying to help and he ended up the bad guy. He killed the Egyptian so that the Hebrews would be safe; but he ended up the bad guy with the Hebrews also.

Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a dispute? This is one of the most challenging things to me is to be caught in the middle. Once you are in the middle you are going to end up the bad guy almost every time unless the Lord is taking care of it.

> When the Lord takes care of it, you are a mediator.

> When you take care of it, you are an agitator.

Although Moses had messed up by taking matters into his own hands, he was still usable to God. God would use this to get Moses out of the area so that He could continue to mold him. God can use our mistakes and do mighty things with them as He grows us.

Exodus 2:16-22

God uses…

3. Our family to mold us.

Moses just happened to end up at a well where he met his future wife, right? God uses interesting places and circumstances to bring us together with our spouses. If you are single and looking for that right person, just remember that God knows the plan.

God blessed Moses with a son. Our children change who we are. I know for me, it was grow up time.

Conclusion:

Exodus 2:23-25

See the plan unfolding? God’s people needed to be rescued and God was preparing that very man for the job. God is preparing you for a very special task- Are you willing to let Him shape you?