“THOSE TIRED EXCUSES”
Matt 9: 37-38
Intro: (The Excuse Test) ‘
When the Lord called Moses to go down into Egypt, Moses came up with just about every excuse he could in order to get out of going. Today, you and I have received a calling. This is not a calling to go and free a group of people from slavery to man, but rather to help the world experience freedom from sin. However, there are times when we react just as Moses did, and we give God every excuse in the world in order to get out of fulfilling our responsibilities.
Let’s examine the excuses that Moses used, and study God’s answer to them. Hopefully, we can learn from this, and stop making excuses, and just do what is asked of us.
I WHO AM I? (Exo 3: 11)
1. Having been adopted into the house of Pharaoh, Moses was at one time in a position of power.
A. However, at this time, he was but a lowly shepherd.
B. It had been 40 years since he had been in Egypt, and he was now 80 years old.
C. He wonders if he is the right man for the job.
2. But God answered him without hesitation.
A. Exo 3: 12, “Certainly I will be with thee;”
B. This should have been enough for Moses.
C. Rom 8: 31, If God be for us, who can be against us?
3. This excuse is still used by many today.
A. Many of us claim to be insufficient for the task at hand.
B. 2Cor 3: 5-6, Tells us that our sufficiency comes from God.
C. Act 4: 13, Consider what he did with the uneducated and untrained men that came to be known as apostles.
II WHAT SHALL I SAY? (Exo 3: 13)
1. Moses feared the questions that he was sure would come.
A. Who is this God that has sent you?
B. Why should we leave this land that has been our home for over 400 years?
C. Moses did not know how to answer these questions.
2. Once again, God showed no hesitation.
A. Exo 3: 14-15, Thus ye shall say..
B. God told him just what to say.
3. Though the tune has changed, the melody is still the same.
A. Many today say that they do not have enough knowledge.
B. God has once again provided a way.
C. 1Cor 2:2
III SUPPOSE THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME? (Exo 4: 1)
1. Now that he has been told what to say, he worries that they will not believe him.
A. Is Moses afraid of failing?
B. Does he not understand that God will be with him?
2. God gives him several means by which to prove what he says.
A. Exo 4: 2-5 Rod into Serpent
B. Exo 4: 6-8 Hand displaying leprosy.
C. Exo 4: 9 Water into Blood.
3. Fear of failing also holds many of us back today.
A. God has also given you and I the proof we need to convince those around us.
B. Rom 10: 17, The word of God is able to produce faith.
IV I AM SLOW OF SPEECH AND SLOW OF TONGUE. (Exo 4: 10)
1. Moses says that he is not a eloquent speaker.
2. This excuse fails to move God.
A. Exo 4: 11God knows our limitations.
B. god provided a way.
3. Many believe the way Moses believed.
A. In order to teach and preach the gospel, one doesn’t have to be the best speaker.
B. It only takes an enthusiastic heart.
V PLEASE SEND WHOMEVER ELSE YOU MAY SEND. (Exo 4: 13)
1. Moses did not want to go.
A. All of the other excuses were just smokescreens.
2. God becomes impatient with Moses.
A. Exo 4: 14, He begins to become angry.
B. Exo 4: 15-17, Notice the word “SHALL.”
3. This is still true of you and I today.
A. We are still saying god send someone else.
B. We should bear in mind, that the same anger that was kindled against Moses, is still directed at those who do not answer the call today.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
LORD THAT'S SO HARD!
"LORD, THAT'S HARD!"
1Pe 2: 1-10
Intro: "
What an amazing testimony to hard work and determination. Here we see a man who could easily have given up, and decided that he would just let those around him take care of him. Instead, though he knew it would be hard, he pressed onward in order to acheve his dreams.
There are so many lessons that we as Christians could take from this wonderful story. You and I know that in our spiritual lives there are those times when we want to throw back our head, and cry, "Lord, that's hard!" This morning, I want to look at a passage which contains two of those moments which make us want to say, “Lord that’s hard!” I want you to see these difficulties, and then I want to show you how they can be overcome.
I LORD IT'S HARD TO FORGET MY PAST (1Pe 2: 1)
1. Consider the past of some of the Apostles.
A. Jn 20: 27 Thomas who had once doubted Jesus!
B. Mt 9: 9 Matthew who had been a tax collecting cheat!
C. Gal 1: 13-14 Paul who had persecuted and killed!
D. Lk 22: 60-63 Even Peter, by whom the passage currently under examination was written, did the unthinkable and denied Jesus!
2. However, despite what they had done, we still find them serving the Lord!
A. Acts 1: 13 though he had once doubted the teachings of Jesus; Thomas was still to be found with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem.
B. Acts 1: 13 Matthew, who had been a member of the oppressive Roman government, was also to be found in Jerusalem.
C. Gal 2: 20 Paul, who had been a killer, put all that behind him and led thousands to Christ.
D. 2Pe 3: 18 Peter also understood the need to put the past in its place.
3. The question then becomes, how did they do it?
A. It comes down to a matter of focus.
B. 2T 4: 8 they were not focused on there past mistakes, but rather they looked to their future rewards!
C. 1Pe 5: 4 though it might be hard, we must forget our past sins which have already been forgiven, and looked to the crown of glory!
II LORD IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IN YOU AS I SHOULD (1Pe 2: 7)
1. Again, throughout the scriptures, we find examples of those who experienced periods of disbelief.
A. Gen 17: 17, 18: 12 rather than believe what the Lord told them he would soon do, they laughed instead.
B. Ex 16: 2-3 the nation of Israel didn't believe in God's promises to them, so they longed to return to bondage.
C. Lk 24: 1 rather than believing what the Lord had taught them, none of the disciples came to the tomb to await his return.
2. In each of these cases, those involved didn’t believe God capable of performing the impossible.
A. Abraham thought it impossible for God to be able to provide a child.
B. Israel thought it impossible for God to be able to provide food.
C. The apostles thought it impossible for God to be able to raise his son.
3. The same problem exists for us today; the question is how to correct it?
A. Just as in the cases above, belief is possible, only when we consider all the blessings that God has already given to us.
B. Gen 13: 14-18 God had already done the impossible and blessed Abraham beyond measure.
C. Ex 12:51 God had already done the impossible and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.
D. Jn 11: 44 God had already done the impossible and raised the dead.
E. Lk 1: 37 in the same way, God has already done the impossible in so many different ways in your life, and there is nothing that he can't do for the one who believes in him!
1Pe 2: 1-10
Intro: "
What an amazing testimony to hard work and determination. Here we see a man who could easily have given up, and decided that he would just let those around him take care of him. Instead, though he knew it would be hard, he pressed onward in order to acheve his dreams.
There are so many lessons that we as Christians could take from this wonderful story. You and I know that in our spiritual lives there are those times when we want to throw back our head, and cry, "Lord, that's hard!" This morning, I want to look at a passage which contains two of those moments which make us want to say, “Lord that’s hard!” I want you to see these difficulties, and then I want to show you how they can be overcome.
I LORD IT'S HARD TO FORGET MY PAST (1Pe 2: 1)
1. Consider the past of some of the Apostles.
A. Jn 20: 27 Thomas who had once doubted Jesus!
B. Mt 9: 9 Matthew who had been a tax collecting cheat!
C. Gal 1: 13-14 Paul who had persecuted and killed!
D. Lk 22: 60-63 Even Peter, by whom the passage currently under examination was written, did the unthinkable and denied Jesus!
2. However, despite what they had done, we still find them serving the Lord!
A. Acts 1: 13 though he had once doubted the teachings of Jesus; Thomas was still to be found with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem.
B. Acts 1: 13 Matthew, who had been a member of the oppressive Roman government, was also to be found in Jerusalem.
C. Gal 2: 20 Paul, who had been a killer, put all that behind him and led thousands to Christ.
D. 2Pe 3: 18 Peter also understood the need to put the past in its place.
3. The question then becomes, how did they do it?
A. It comes down to a matter of focus.
B. 2T 4: 8 they were not focused on there past mistakes, but rather they looked to their future rewards!
C. 1Pe 5: 4 though it might be hard, we must forget our past sins which have already been forgiven, and looked to the crown of glory!
II LORD IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IN YOU AS I SHOULD (1Pe 2: 7)
1. Again, throughout the scriptures, we find examples of those who experienced periods of disbelief.
A. Gen 17: 17, 18: 12 rather than believe what the Lord told them he would soon do, they laughed instead.
B. Ex 16: 2-3 the nation of Israel didn't believe in God's promises to them, so they longed to return to bondage.
C. Lk 24: 1 rather than believing what the Lord had taught them, none of the disciples came to the tomb to await his return.
2. In each of these cases, those involved didn’t believe God capable of performing the impossible.
A. Abraham thought it impossible for God to be able to provide a child.
B. Israel thought it impossible for God to be able to provide food.
C. The apostles thought it impossible for God to be able to raise his son.
3. The same problem exists for us today; the question is how to correct it?
A. Just as in the cases above, belief is possible, only when we consider all the blessings that God has already given to us.
B. Gen 13: 14-18 God had already done the impossible and blessed Abraham beyond measure.
C. Ex 12:51 God had already done the impossible and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.
D. Jn 11: 44 God had already done the impossible and raised the dead.
E. Lk 1: 37 in the same way, God has already done the impossible in so many different ways in your life, and there is nothing that he can't do for the one who believes in him!
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