Sermon Cloud

Living in Awe of God: Accept God’s Challenge

Exodus 3-6

Intro: Coach Bear Bryant and Alabama up by 6 with 2 minutes to go.  Told his QB to play it safe and run the clock out.  “We’re gonna pass and surprise.”  Sprinting champion DB intercepted the pass.  Slow QB caught him at the 5 yard line.  Opposing coach asked Bryant how the QB did it.  “Your guy was running for a TD, my guy was running for his life.”

Proposition: Everyone wants to succeed.  But are you up to obeying the challenges God has called you to do?  Saying no to God is disobedience – and so we must learn how to obediently accept great challenges from God – or we might be running for our lives.

1. Don’t get so busy that you miss God. (3:1-6,9-10)

(1-3)  Moses was busy working.  In fact, he’d been working in a foreign land for 40 years and was 80 years old at this time.  While out sheparding he sees something strange.  He could have decided he was too busy to check it out.

“Yeah I know there’s some strange burning bush, but I’m busy.  I got prescriptions to pick up at Sinai-Mart, my son Gershom has to be taken to soccer practice, my in-law Jethro wants to go mushroom hunting later, Zipporah has been breathing down my neck to fix the siding on the hut, and tonight Midian Idol is on and I’m pulling for Sanjaya…I’ve just got no time to check out some brush fire.”

Moses didn’t say that.  He stopped, looked, and listened – and He didn’t miss God or the plan God had for him.  (4-6, 9-10)

Serious question I want you to think about: Is busy your goal? 

Is busy your goal or is your goal to make an impact and be used greatly by God?

Don’t feel guilty if being busy.  I’m doing something.  But is it what God has called you to do?

Book: Eat that Frog.  Do the hardest thing first.  Why? We’ll get busy with all the little things and use it as an excuse to not do the hardest thing.  We do that with God.  But if you aren’t doing the big things – the little things don’t matter.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

This passage would still be true if you took out “love” and filled in “done what God has called me to”.

Ex. Slow down time before we can pray with Abigail.

We’ve got to learn to slow down enough to hear Him.

Most religious people at the time of Christ we’re looking for Him – but missed Him – even killed Him!

Are you so busy you are missing Christ and His plan 4 u?

1. Make Excuses or Follow God – You Can’t Do Both. (3:11-4:17) Don’t read yet.

God told Moses his great task was to lead Israel out of Egypt by confronting Pharaoh.  Not exactly an easy task – and Moses clearly didn’t want to do it and offered 4 objections or excuses why God had the wrong guy.

Moses came down with the dangerous disease known as excusitis.  We all are acceptable to it and it can be more dangerous than the swine flu or any other disease.  Why?  You not only miss out on something great – it can lead you to disobey God, and there is nothing more dangerous than disobeying God.

Common Sense Mngt calls Excusitis the “if only” disease.

SYMPTOMS:

“If only I had more money; If only I had a better education; If only I were healthier; If only I were younger; If only I were older; If only I were luckier; If only I were brought up in a different family; If only I didn’t have a problem spouse.

Like all diseases, excusitis grows worse if it is not treated properly. Typically, the victims are unaware that they are suffering from the disease. The very nature of excusitis is to produce the mind-deadening thought, "I am not doing as well as I should. What can I use as an alibi that will help me save face?”

Once the victim of this disease has selected a "good" excuse, he lives with it.  Then he relies on it to explain to himself and to others why he is not going forward. And each time the victim makes the excuse; the excuse becomes imbedded deeper within his sub-conscious mind.  At first the victim of excusitis knows his alibi is more or less a lie. But the more frequently he repeats it, the more convinced he becomes that it is completely true, and that the alibi is the real reason for his not being the success he should be. Thoughts, positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition.”

Moses had a bad case of Excusitis.  But for every excuse God had an answer.  He was patient with Moses but made it clear that He doesn’t make mistakes when He calls us to a task.

Let’s look at Moses excuses and God’s responses.

Excuse 1: I ain’t nobody special. (3:11)

Common excuse.  God, you picked the wrong guy.  I can’t do this task.  I’m not good enough to teach a class, share Christ, lead this team, etc.

God’s Response: (3:12) I will be with you.  Jesus said something familiar with the Great Commission.  Also, Paul understood where he was weak – that is where God will be strong.  In other words, it doesn’t matter if you aren’t up to the task – God will work through you.

Excuse 2: Who are You anyway? (13) 

Moses didn’t realize who he was talking to.  He didn’t know Him.  You do need to know God to follow His plan.

God’s Response: (14) I AM.  God is the only God and is eternal.

Excuse 3: I doubt the results. (4:1)

Moses doubted people would listen to him.  We often don’t do what God asks us, because we don’t think it will work.

God’s response: In verses 2-9 (don’t read) God shows Moses 3 miracles He will do through Him.  In other words – what God orders, He delivers.  If God gives you a task – He will carry it through if you will follow and obey.  Our capital campaign will be an example of that.

Excuse 4: I’m not prepared/talented/right gifts/right person. (4:10)

Moses is basically telling God He made a mistake.  He is using whatever excuse will work to get out of it.  God has had enough of the excuses.

God’s response: (4:11-15)

Stop being disobedient.  Just go!  Do it!  God made you and knows your limitations and He knows you can do it –so do it.

People always do what they want to do.  If you want to do it then you will make it happen.  And if you don’t want to then you will pick any excuse you think will work.

You can obey God or make excuses – you can’t do both.

1. Realize Following God will not usually be easy or popular. (5:20-6:8)

(20-23)

All of Moses’ fears seemed to be coming true.  Pharoah would not budge and in fact made things harder on the Hebrews.  So now they were angry at Moses and even cursed Him.  So Moses goes to God and asks – why did you even send me here?

Following God will not be a bed of roses.  You will hit brick walls and barriers for sure.  And even some of your closest friends may oppose you.

Ex. Peter with Jesus going to the cross.

Anything great has obstacles.  Noah had to build an ark while others mocked.  Joshua led a kingdom after undeserved slavery and prison.  Ester approached a King that could have easily had her killed.  David killed a giant while his brothers condemned.  Elijah stood up for God while other prophets were being killed.  Jeremiah prophesied while no one listened.  Steven preached while the crowd aimed stones.  Paul proclaimed while sitting in prison.  And Jesus came – headed toward a cross.

Whatever obstacles have stopped you from obeying what God is telling you – it’s time to go over them.  It’s time to obey.  Turn a deaf ear to the naysayers.  They don’t matter.  There’s only one who you should aim to please.

Conclusion:  Everyone wants to do something great.  Two men chased Text record in Penn.  Combined for 210k with one of them sending 140k of them in 1 month.  He got a bill for 26k.  Limit of 100k.  Wasting your life has a high cost.