I have used sermoncentral as one of many resources in this sermon.
HOW CAN GOD USE ME?
January 13, 2008 Jay Davis Robison EXODUS 3:9-14 & 4:1, 10
Isn’t it unusual who God uses to do God’s work?
Jacob the brother to Esau was a deceiver
David was a great king but committed adultery and murder
Paul was a peg leg w\coke bottle glasses, sorta ugly reached world
Mary mother of Jesus from an obscure place, afraid
Maybe God uses those kinds of people to remind us God can use us
As we see their warts\weaknesses take seriously God’s call on us
Exodus tells a dramatic story of Moses and his call to work for God
God used Burning bush that is not consumed, to get his attention
Ch 3 and 4 we eavesdrop on conversation they have
Clues when think of how God can use you and me
1. Realize that God sees MORE IN US THAN WE SEE IN OURSELVES
God lays out for Moses a great vision God’s people slaves
Go to king of Egypt Lead the children of Israel to freedom
Moses has a serious self-confidence problem
Sure great idea, but can hear Moses looking for outs
Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and
Bring the Israelites out of Egypt Vs 1 TNIV
Throughout the Bible when God gives vision
Those who see it often doubt and question
So no surprise when same thing happens to us
Gideon be a great warrior, said oh no not me
Jeremiah to be spokesman for God oh no not me
Beware of EXCUSES, listen Moses sounds like us
Moses said not me I’m not fit 3:11, don’t know what to say 3:13,
Don’t have the authority 4:1, nervous before people 4:10
Then gets to bottom line, I really don’t want to go 4:10
Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure Don Wilder
God has a greater GOOD FOR US
God wants to use us in ways that will blow our minds
We are called to touch the world for Jesus Christ
We are about transforming lives, Showing that Red, and Yellow, Black, and white All are precious in his sight
Could we be the beginning of the end of prejudice in Lexington?
Used by God to unite families help emotional health & heal hurts?
2. Remember who GOD IS
The job before us is HUGE
As long as there is one person who is lost we have a job to do
As long as there is 1 inactive member of TBC we have a job to do
As long as 1 person not living abundant life we have a job to do
So in Vs 13 TNIV Moses asks "Suppose the Israelites ask me,
’What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?" Vs 13 TNIV
Name is something to invoke power
Name something to have power over it
Moses is looking for authority
Good Question: Why do we do what we do?
Because we believe it is so? NO
Because we have $$ power or prestige? NO
We serve in God’s name what is that name? Vs 14 TNIV
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are
to say to the Israelites: ’I AM has sent me to you.’ " Vs 14 TNIV
eh heh ah eh heh=Yahweh
In many ways defies translation, beyond humanity
Self existent, eternal,
God of your fathers and mothers, connected with what Moses knew
Yet Moses had a fresh experience with God
3. Refuse to ACCEPT DISCOURAGEMENT
Whenever you and I try to do something have to face doubt
When the old tapes in our heads say It’ll never work
Are you kidding you will fail and look like a fool
Its crazy, you are not good enough
Same thing Moses dealt with Exodus 4:1 TNIV
"What if they do not believe me or listen to me
and say, ’The LORD did not appear to you’?" Vs 1 TNIV
Looking for some objective proof
All of us can think of reasons we cannot or should not serve
Too old, or too young, too busy, don’t know enough
Someone else would be better at this,
Christians are not called to be successful only faithful
Moses had a Low self image, low view of God
If we are going to move on refuse to accept discouragement
Do you hear the music? January 12, 2007 youngish white man
In jeans, long sleeve T-shirt & Wash. Nationals baseball cap
Started playing violin in L’Enfant Plaza or Wash DC subway
He positioned himself against a wall beside a trashcan case for tips
Start at 7:51 a.m. for 43 min violinist played, 1,097 folks walked by
Guy did pretty good collected $32
Was Joshua Bell one of world’s best violinists three days earlier Bell sold out Boston Symphony Hall ordinary seats cost $100
Fiddle “Gibson ex Huberman” Stradivarius violin worth $3.5 mill. He commands $1,000 a minute performances all over the world.
Washington Post website has video of it, “Pearls before breakfast”
Don’t take your cues from surroundings, listen for music
It’s not a matter of WHAT WE CAN DO BUT WHAT GOD CAN DO
When God calls we tempted to put our assets\abilities in one column
limitations\liabilities in another to decide if can do what God asked.
God not interested in that wants to know if we’ll depend on him.
So we can see God work do more than we ever thought
God uses OUR PERSONALITY, ABILITIES, PASSIONS, AND EXPERIENCES
Gene Getz "God gifted Moses with a three-dimensional advantage."
First he had great physical assets. Strong and handsome
2nd Moses a smart man. Egyptians built pyramids Moses educated in one of most advanced civilizations of all time.
3rd He had exceptional leadership abilities. Moses was a man of
power in words and deeds. He was very strong in leadership.
God calls us to ACTION
God has greater circle of influence than you can imagine right now.
Giving you exposure to people places ideas that can be invaluable
God is using opportunity to prepare you for something greater later.
Sometimes we want leadership, position, power but not blood swet
and tears, criticism or heartache that goes with being used
Doesn’t mean Moses was a great speaker, or that never doubted
He continued to have his ups and downs
2 Cor 3:5-6 "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."
Difference between having a master and being mastered
Our potential is God’s gift to us. What we do w\it our gift to Him.
Lost great explorer Edmund Hillary this week. 1952 he tried to climb Mt Everest and failed. A few weeks later he addressed a group pointed a fist at Mountain and said "Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time bcause you’ve grown all you are going to grow. . . but I’m still growing!" Sir Edmund Hillary (he did May 29, 1953)
God’s answered every one of Moses excuses
I’ll be with you. 3:12, told by what authority. Exodus 3:14 – 22
I will give you my power. 4:2, I’ll teach you what to say. 4:11-12
I will send Aaron with you. Exodus 4:14 -15
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
Exodus 4:20 TNIV
We need to more leaders in our church with youth, in SS, Deacons, we need more godly, mature leadership in every area of our church, but we also need to stir up the gift of leadership in you so that you will have a more positive impact on your circle of influence.
If our desire is to go deep and wide in our relationship with God,
we need to lose the excuses and grab hold of the faith
He asks us to appropriate. Our relationship with God grows
As we are faithful to God, as we act on faith
The Edge of the Cliff.
"God said, ’come to the edge.’ We said, ’the edge is too high.’
He said, ’come to the edge.’
We said, ’we may fall and be crushed on the rocks below.’
He said, ’come to the cliff.’ We said, ’but we are afraid.’
He said, ’come to the edge.’ And we came, and he pushed us off
and we flew."
HOW CAN GOD USE ME?
January 13, 2008 Jay Davis Robison EXODUS 3:9-14 & 4:1, 10
1. Realize that God sees
Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and
bring the Israelites out of Egypt Vs 1 TNIV
Beware of
God has a greater
2. Remember who
"Suppose the Israelites ask me, ’What is his name?’
Then what shall I tell them?" Vs 13 TNIV
Good Question: Why do we do what we do?
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are
to say to the Israelites: ’I AM has sent me to you.’ " Vs 14 TNIV
3. Refuse to
"What if they do not believe me or listen to me
and say, ’The LORD did not appear to you’?" Vs 1 TNIV
Do you hear the music?
It’s not a matter of
God uses
God calls us to
"Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I’ll beat you the next time bcause you’ve grown all you are going to grow. . . but I’m still growing!" Sir Edmund Hillary (he did May 29, 1953)
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
