Being A Deliverer

Exodus 3: 1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”And Moses said, “Here I am.”5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey —the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

We all know …Burning Bush. Famous. WHY DID GOD SPEAK TO MOSES

Acts 7: 23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

Moses was ready at 40. Strong. Cocky. READY….TO DELIVER

Fast Forward…40 years…From the Prince of Egypt, TO the king of sheep!

His natural strength is gone, Egyptian wisdom is gone,

Influence w/ the royal family is gone...

He’s about to have a GOD ENCOUNTER

The promise that Moses thought was dead... IS ALIVE

God doesn't quit on us, just because we've blown it, in the past.

His calling on our life...is constant and true!

Today Church, we’re going to discuss How to be a deliverer.

No matter who you are, what you do…Somone you know needs a deliverer

Family - Friends - Church - Job – Yourself

What did Moses need to be a deliverer?

1. Time

Moses - 40 years in the Desert.... Moses being a deliverer didn’t happen overnight

People need time, Students need time, Fathers need time...Mothers need time...ETC

When I think about how little I knew when I started preaching…called to a church

My first year, I did, what you’re gonna do you’re first year of College…FAKE IT

Some pastors want a Doctorate, M. Div…. I Just wanted to find Ecclesiastes

Don’t get discouraged. It takes time to be great.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

It took Paul time, David time, Esther time, Billy Graham time.

2. Patience.

40 years is a long time to wait…It took 40 years for MOSES to be Ready.

Think Back 40 Years: MOVIES- The Jerk, Apocalypse now, Rocky 14

MUSIC- My Sharona, Too Much Heaven, All the Gold in California,

TELEVISION- Mork and Mindy, Dukes of Hazzard, Diff’rent Strokes

God is always on time. – Lazarus- His family was impatient.

God’s timing has nothing to do with mine and yours

I’ve had to learn patience as a pastor- Out visioned churches.

Great marriages take time…great jobs take time

This week at work…guy closed $1.1 million sale

Psalm 37: 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

3. Loneliness.

Just Moses and the Sheep all day long

Sometimes being the deliverer means... YOU DON’T HAVE FRIENDS

Different town…Location…People you don’t know.

Don’t be afraid to be lonely.

Not a lot of accolades... Applause...Standing Ovations ... FOR DELIVERERS

My job as a pastor, husband, father.... IS NOT TO BE POPULAR

When Isaiah was prophesying about Jesus:

Isaiah 53: 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.