Exodus 3:1-3 (NASB95)
1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.
3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”
We know the story, Moses had tried and failed in his own strength and was now a “goat herder”…
But there are things in God’s heart that He wants to have accomplished.
Exodus 3:7 (NASB95)
7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.
(Important that as leaders we examine the agenda within)
The local church is not just a dream of your leaders and pastors…
It’s the dream of God that God had put in their hearts.
And it’s the dream of God that is within YOUR hearts as leaders in this journey.
It’s God’s dream.
And God puts the responsibility of that dream within the team or “members” that He calls together…
Dreams vs wishful thinking…. If I want to be healthy, if I want to be financially fit etc….
God waited 40 Years:
Moses needed work, Israel needed work i.e. to be sick of captivity
Exodus 3:11 (NASB95)
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
Moses identity crisis…Who am I? Not uncommon for leaders to go through this!
God’s answer
Exodus 3:12-14 (NASB95)
12 And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”
Don’t let insecurity be your excuse to not carry the dream. Remember, it is God’s dream in you…
13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
Suddenly, Moses did not know who God was…Insecure in his relationship!
Point: It’s important as leaders to be in relationship with God. Walking, praying, seeking…. (you cannot let your Pastors’ relationship be a substitute) It hinders you carrying the portion of the dream.
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God answers and basically is saying “I am what is needed”….
Exodus 4:1 (NASB95)
1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”
Moses is still on o.k. grounds here with God. He knows he does not have what it takes to carry out the purpose in himself.
So God answers and demonstrates He is willing to supply what is needed! Should
give us confidence!
Exodus 4:2-7 (NASB95)
2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”
3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—
5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 The Lord furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
7 Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
Once again Moses’ insecurity surfaces….(expound on the need to affirm our team members)
Exodus 4:10-13 (NASB95)
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
This should have been the end of the conversation! Over….
13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.” Exodus 4:14 (NASB95)
Notice that vs 13 was the statement that made God angry!
14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
God was not angry over Moses’ past failures, deficiencies, and insecurity, even lack of giftedness or ability!
Moses presented the ONLY attitude that made God angry!
Moses told God he was UNAVAILABLE!
Unavail-ability
Lots of people have ability
Without the avail part of it, it’s useless….and angers God!
2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB95)
2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
God has dreams, things that He desires do through us.
We are carriers of that dream, that vision.
Being available is one of the most crucial components of the journey…
We don’t want people wandering for years because of our “unavailability”!
