Arguing With God

CBC ARGUING WITH GOD

6/14/09

TEXT: EXODUS 3: VS. 1---12

INTRODUCTION: SOME FOLKS ARGUE OVER EVERYTHING.***

MOSES ACTUALLY ARGUED WITH GOD.

?? HAVE YOU EVER ARGUED WITH GOD? BE HONEST!

MOST OF US HAVE AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER.

MOSES HAD AN UNUSUAL LIFE.

HIS LIFE WAS REMARKABLY DIVIDED INTO THREE (3) FORTY YEAR PERIODS. ( 40= TIME OF TRIALS AND TESTING)

Ist FORTY YEARS, HE WAS A PRINCE IN PHARAOH’S COURT.

2nd FORTY YEARS, HE WAS A SHEPHERD IN MEDIAN.

AND THE 3rd FORTY YEARS, HE WAS A LEADER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

1. HE HAD NOW FINISHED HIS 2nd FORTY YEAR PERIOD.

2. HE IS NOW PATIENTLY AND HAPPILY TENDING SHEEP FOR HIS FATHER IN LAW.

3. HE SEES A BUSH BURNING WITH NO FIRE UNDER IT, YET IT IS NOT CONSUMED. MOSES TURNS A SIDE TO VIEW THIS REMARKABLE SIGHT.

4. GOD SAID TO HIM: “MOSES, DON’T COME ANY CLOSER, YOU ARE ON HOLY GROUND, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES.

5. GOD SAID: “I’VE GOT A JOB FOR YOU AND YOU ARE THE BEST QUALIFIED TO DO IT.

6.MOSES BEGINS TO ARGUE WITH GOD, CONSULTS THE FLESH AND LIKE MOST BAPTIST, THROWS ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER BEFORE GOD OF WHY HE IS NOT QUALIFIED.

I. ARGUMENT #1. I AM A NOBODY.

1. GOD DOES NOT HAVE ANY “NOBODIES”

2. GOD ANSWERED, SURELY, I WILL BE WITH YOU (ENOUGH SAID)

(A) GOD DOES NOT CAL THE QUALIFIED, HE QUALIFIES THE CALLED.

1. WHEN GOD CALLS A PERSON TO DO A JOB, HE SUPPLIES THAT PERSON’S NEED.***

2. GOD ALWAYS PAVES THE WAY FOR HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

3. GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR YOUR ABILITY*** BUT YOUR AVAILABILITY.

4. IF GOD WAS LOOKING FOR A PERFECT ONE TO DO HIS WORK, HE WOULD NEVER FIND ONE.

(B) GOD DOESN’T CALL A NOBODY, HE CALLS A CHOSEN VESSEL.

1. MOSES WAS RAISED IN THE ROYAL HOUSE OF PHARAOH,

THAT WAS PART OF GOD’S MASTER PLAN AND NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME ABOUT.

2. Ps 23:Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

3. NO ACCIDENT THAT MOSES WAS FOUND BY PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER . (MIRACLE IN ITSELF)

4. HIS OWN MOTHER WAS PAID WAGES TO RAISE HIM. ****

( C ) GOD KNEW THAT NO ONE KNEW THEIR WAY AROUND EGYPT LIKE PHARAOH DID.

1. EXAMPLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE. KNEW THE JEWISH LAW, CUSTOMS RITUAL, HE WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY OF GOD AND PREACH TO THE JEWS.

II. ARGUMENT #2 I HAVE NO MESSAGE. ***

HE HAD A GREAT FEAR THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WOULD NOT BELIEVE HIM.

V13>> WHAT WILL I TELL THEM WHEN THEY ASK WHO SENT ME?

1. GOD SAID TELL THEM I AM*** SENT ME

(A) 400 YEARS OF HARD LABOR HAD DULLED THEIR MINDS, BODY AND SPIRIT.

(B) 400 YEARS OF HARD LABOR HAD BROUGHT ABOUT SPIRITUAL COMPLACENCY

1. MANY WERE STEEPED IN EGYPTIAN IDOLATRY.

( C ) 400 YEARS OF TEACHING JEWISH CUSTOMS AND SCRIPTURES HAD KEPT THEM IN TOUCH WITH GOD

1. THEY KNEW WHO “ I AM” WAS

2. YOU CAN GET FAR AWAY FROM GOD BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION.

III. ARGUMENT # 3 THEY WON’T BELIEVE ME.

1. MOSES AGAIN CONSULTS WITH THE FLESH

2. HIS MIND GOES BACK TO HIS DAYS IN EGYPT** HE HAS FEAR IN HIS HEART.

3. ANY EXCUSE WILL DO AT THIS POINT.

(A) GOD ASSURED MOSES THAT DEVINE AUTHORITY WOULD ACCOMPANY HIM ALL THROUGHOUT HIS MISSION IN EGYPT

(NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU)

(B) GOD REMINDED MOSES OF THE SHEPHERD’S STAFF HE CARRIED THAT GOD HAD ANOINTED TO HELP HIM PERFORM THE MIRACLES HE WOULD NEED TO DO.

(C ) GOD SAID: “MOSES, YOU DO THE TALKING AND LET ME DO THE WALKING”

1.THEY MAY NOT LISTEN AT FIRST BUT LET ME HANDLE THAT.

IV. ARGUMENT #4 OH YES, GOD, I’M GLAD YOU MENTIONED TALKING.

1. I DON’T DO THAT TO WELL.

2. I’M NOT ELOQUENT, I DON’T PREACH TOO WELL.

(A) GOD SAID, I CREATED ALL YOU, I GAVE YOU A MOUTH TO SPEAK WITH , I’LL CONTROL THAT TOO.

(B) APOSTLE PAUL IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY SAID: “ I COME BEFORE YOU NOT WITH GREAT WISDOM OF WORDS OR ELOQUENCE OF SPEECH BUT IN THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

( C ) IT’S NOT HOW THE PREACHER SAYS SOMETHING, IT’S WHAT HE SAYS THROUGH THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD, IT IS NOTHING BUT EMPTY WORDS OF NO VALUE.

V. ARGUMENT #5 SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB. (WISHBONE EXCUSE)

HERE, GOD’S ANGER IS KINDLED AGAINST MOSES.

PLAIN OLD LANGUAGE:

MOSES. I HAVE INVESTED 80 YEARS IN YOU, I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING.

(A) I’LL SEND AARON ALONG WITH YOU.