1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ’The LORD has not appeared to you.’ " 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" … 20 Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand. Ex 4:1-2, 20 (NKJV)
[I took time here to talk about this story - the calling... It is one of my favorite stories in the Bible]
God is about to do a great work… He is going to take 3 million people out of Egypt.
As always, he wants to use a man to accomplish His work. (God always partners with people)
He chooses an 80-year-old shepherd named Moses.
Exodus 3-4 is the story of a great change in a man’s life. When 80-year-old Moses the shepherd becomes Moses the prophet.
What does it take to go from Shepherd to Prophet? How does a person prepare for God to do a great work in their life?
How does a person prepare for a miracle?
HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S HAND
1. Realize that you have a NEED
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV)
2. Focus on what You HAVE (v 2)
• What can I do with this?
• What can God do with this? (This is the exciting question)
3. GIVE what you have to God (v 20)
• He can us what you have (v 3-4)
• He can use you! (v 6-7)
4. EXPECT a miracle!
• Samson – a donkey’s jawbone (Jud 15:15) - kills 1000 Philistines
• Shamgar – an ox goad (Jud 3:31) – kills 600 Philistines
• David – a sling and five stones (1 Sam 17:40) – kills Goliath
• Little Boy – five loaves and two fishes (Mat 14:18) – feeds 5000
what is in YOUR hand?
The key is in transferring ownership.
The Bible calls us stewards. This is a person that has things that do not belong to him. We have been entrusted to use things for God’s glory.
If you own it, it’s usefulness is limited to your resourcefulness. If God’s owns it, then it is limited to HIS resourcefulness (meaning that it is not limited at all)!
This is the key behind tithing…
WHAT TO EXPECT IN GOD’S HANDS
And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; Matt 14:19 (NKJV)
When you give something to God, He will:
• BLESS it.
• BREAK it.
• MULTIPLY it.
