There is no excuse before God
Exodus 3:1-7, 10-14, 4:1-5, 10-14
An excuse is a reason we give for not doing what someone else expects us to do. We not only make excuses for missing church, but for missing work, school, and meetings. We also make excuses for bad behavior and for bad attitudes, and for not getting a job done on time.
One of the worst times we make excuses is when we feel God impressing us or calling on us to do something. We find all sorts of reasons for not doing what God wants us to do. He no doubt has called on you to do one of the following things at some point in your Christian life: To share your faith with someone who needs to know about Jesus. To partake in an outreach program at church. To help in special music in church. To do something nice for someone. To teach a Sunday School Class. To help in a Bible Study. To take a short term missions trip. To talk with a fellow believer about a sin in his life. To be a peacemaker between two believers. To give more to church or to missions or to a special project. To help someone who is having a difficult time. To be an officer in the church. To be an officer in the Sunday School.
In some cases you simply did what God called you to do. In other cases you may have simply made excuses for not doing. Making excuses is nothing new. Some of God’s choicest servants in the Bible made excuses when God called on them to do something. One of the people who made excuses when God called him was Moses. Moses had the advantage of a Godly home. Two great things he grew up with were an absolute faith in God and a fearless courage. Faith outlasts fear. When ever we begin with God we need both of these to be developed in our spiritual lives. Moses grew up in a bad environment. The palace had no helpful spiritual influences and does not seem a great place to grow in a life for God. God had him there to test him in a hard place. As he grew up in Egypt he became a learned student, a powerful statesman and a valiant soldier. From this information we know that we can not choose our heredity or environment that we grow up in. We do have the choice of what our life is to become. IT’S A GOOD TIME TO CHANGE . Moses was the little baby that was placed the river, when Pharaoh, had ordered all male babies be killed. Moses was found and ended up growing up in Pharaoh’s court, receiving all the education of Egypt. God does not force Himself on us. Moses let God have an intimate relationship with him and it says that God spoke to Moses face to face as one speaks to a friend. It was Moses’ faith that made him what God used him to be.
Moses spent forty years in the wilderness, taking care of sheep. Meanwhile the children of Israel were having a miserable time as slaves in Egypt. God decided that it was time for the children of Israel to be delivered from their bondage in Egypt. God decided that the man who was going to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt was Moses. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that would not burn up and called Moses to be God’s representative before Pharaoh and to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. It is at this point that Moses began to make excuses for not doing what God wanted him to do. It was in the desert that Moses learned how to be what God wanted and not do. It was not by hearsay that Moses learned here but by experience. He had to learn no matter how great he was in the past he was very common. Any greatness that would come would be the result of God’s indwelling. It was in the desert that Moses heard God call that he had missed when he took on the task by himself. After getting the call Moses decided that he lacked prestige, the message, authority, eloquence, special adaptation, success. This list would pretty well not qualify him of the task. This made God angry. Have you or would you ever want to make God angry?
Do we find ourselves guilty of using the same excuses today when God calls us? We find five excuses for not doing what God wants you to do.
EXCUSE #1 – I AM UNWORTHY Exodus 3:11
Moses was saying “Who am I?” Of all Moses’ excuses this one was the most genuine. Moses had come a nation of slaves. He had attempted deliverance before and was at guilty of murder. We have all failed God in the past. Because of this we don’t deserve to be used of God. But if you have placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, He has planned for you to serve Him. God has plans for you. You have been called to a life of good works to be done for God through Jesus Christ. Are we worthy of such a thing? Of course not! But that’s what God’s grace is all about. We need to see God’s response to Moses claiming to be unworthy. God said, “I’ll be with you.” When God calls us He says, “I’ll be with you.” God wants us to depend on Him to achieve whatever He has called us to do.
"I Threw Out..."
Last week I threw out Worrying, It was getting old and in the way. It kept me from being me; I couldn’t do things my way.
I threw out those Inhibitions; they were just crowding me out. Made room for my New Growth, Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.
I threw out a book on My Past (didn’t have time to read it anyway) Replaced it with New Goals, Started reading it today.
I threw out childhood toys Remember how I treasured them so? Got me a new Philosophy too, threw out the one from long ago
Brought in some new books too, Called I Can, I Will, and I Must. Threw out I might, I think and I ought. Wow! You should’ve seen the dust.
I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door. I Found It - its called Peace. Nothing gets me down anymore.
Yes, I have my house looking nice. Looks good around the place for things like Worry and Trouble There just isn’t any place.
It’s good to do a little house cleaning, Get rid of the old things on the shelf. It sure makes things brighter. Thank you God for cleaning up myself. Author Unknown
Zech. 4:6 “It is not by force or by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
John 15:5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me.”
EXCUSE #2 – I AM UNKNOWING Exodus 3:13
Moses is pleading ignorance here. He is pleading his own ignorance as well as the ignorance of the Israelites. The Children of Israel probably knew more about the gods of Egypt than they did their own God. They needed education! There are times when God will call you to say something, and you will claim ignorance. You will use as an excuse the fact that you don’t know what to say. God had an answer for Moses and He has an answer for you. Vs. 14-22, God tells Moses exactly what to say and encourages Moses that they will listen. Exodus 3:14 - And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Moses is to tell Israel, “I Am” has sent me. This is the Word, Jehovah. And when people want to know who has sent us, it is still “I AM”, the self sufficient God who exists entirely on His own. “I AM.” From this we learn God is real, eternal, personal, alive, everywhere, constant, involved, powerful.
EXCUSE #3 – I AM UNAUTHORIZED Exodus 4:1
Moses was authorized by God, but he was afraid that Israel would not listen to him. He was afraid that they would not believe that he was God’s messenger. That is one of our worries when God calls on us to preach, teach, or lead in some way. We are afraid that people will not accept our leadership. God asks Moses what is in His hand. Moses answer was quite simple, a rod. God went on to use that rod to show Moses’ authority. The rod became a snake. His hand would turn to leprosy and then back to normal again. Water from the Nile would turn to blood. God asks you, “What is in your hand?” What abilities do you have? He will use those abilities to prove that you have authority from God. If your ministry is from God, God will authenticate what you do.
The Rosebud
A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned Minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush, handed the young preacher a rosebud, and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so easily, But in my hands they die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of God’s design, Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine? So I’ll trust in God for leading Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance In each step of the way. The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows. I’ll trust God to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose.
EXCUSE #4 – I AM UNABLE Exodus 4:10
Moses appeals to what he saw as his handicap, slow of speech. Every servant of God has some sort of handicap. It may be some sort of physical handicap such as speech, eyes, mobility, or sickness. We will never have all the spiritual gifts. The gifted preacher is not always the gifted visitor. The gifted visitor is not always the gifted administrator. The gifted administrator is not always the gifted teacher. God limits us, so that He will get the glory! The answer God gave Moses is a good answer for you and I. God says, “I made you this way, I will empower you to do what I want you to do.”
A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER CONVERSATION
I asked God to take away my habit. God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicap. God said, No. Your spirit is whole, this body is only temporary I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea. THIS DAY IS YOURS DON’T THROW IT AWAY. Elizabeth Badenhorst
For the Christian, Prayer is not an option but an opportunity. "In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman Don’t tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!
EXCUSE #5 – I AM UNWILLING Exodus 4:13
Here was a man who had seen the glory of God in the burning bush. Here was a man who had just talked intimately with God. Here was a man who had God all his objections for going and doing what God wanted him to do. Here was a man in verse 13 who basically told God that he was unwilling or unavailable! Beware that you are not the same way. Notice that God’s anger is finally kindled in verse 4:14.
Aaron would be sent to help, but later, Aaron would cause Moses problems. Make sure that you do not kindle God’s wrath by refusing to go and do what he has called you to go and do. Moses finally got going. What is it God wants you to do? GET GOING! Don’t make any of these excuses!
I AM UNWORTHY I AM UNKNOWING I AM UNAUTHORIZED I AM UNABLE
I AM UNWILLING
Where you are in your life today, you made an appointment to be there five years ago. Where you’ll be five years from now will be determined by your actions today and in the future. The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you’re not going to stay where you are. Analyze your life in terms of your environment. Are the things around you helping you toward your success - or are they holding you back? You’re a product of your environment.
So choose an environment that will best develop you toward your goals. Your world today is a living expression of how you’re using and have used your mind. It’s something you can change at any time. Don’t remain a captive to your environment. Don’t say "If I could, I would," say, "If I can, I will." You can make changes any time. Why not start today?
