The CHALLENGE OF GOD's CALL-VIII—Exodus 3:1-22
Attention:
Just Being Honest
In a trial, a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her & asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know me?' She responded, 'Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, & frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, & you manipulate people & talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot & I sincerely hope you have what it takes to be a good lawyer. Yes, I know you.'
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room & asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?'
She again replied, 'Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a
youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, & he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone, & his law practice is one of the most notorious in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.'
The defense attorney nearly died...
& both of them simultaneously looked to the judge, who immediately asked both counselors to approach the bench.
In a very quiet voice, said, 'If either of you screw-ups asks her if she knows me, you’ll both do jail time!
Some things can be a real Challenge to us.
All Christians deal with the realization that God’s Call presents a Challenge to our flesh! If we heed His call, then God can work in our lives. But if we trust ourselves rather than God, He is not working in our lives.
Exodus records the significance of God’s call to Moses.
Answering God’s call presents a significant challenge.
To What does God’s call present a challenge?
16 challenges of/to God’s call.
We have found in earlier weeks that,
God’s call presents a challenge to...
1. Our OCCUPATION(:1)
2. Our OBSERVATION(:2-3)
3. Our AVAILABILITY(:4)
4. Our APPROACH(:5)
5. Our AWE(:6)
6. Our COMPASSION(:7-9)
7. Our INABILITY(:10-11)
8. Our POWER(:12a)
9. Our FAITHFULNESS(:12b-13)
10. Our PROBABILITY(:14-15)
11. Our COMMITMENT(:16-17)
12—God’s call presents a challenge to...
Our LEADERSHIP(:18a)
Explanation:(:18a)Instill trust in others?
:18—“Then they will heed your voice; & you shall come, you & the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; & you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; & now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ ”
Moses is not responsible for convincing the elders, only for declaring God’s message in a faithful & believable manner. If some will not hear it, they are responsible for their own choices, but Moses is not responsible for their inattention.
Ex. 4:29-31—“Then Moses & Aaron went & gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; & when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel & that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads & worshiped.”
The whole scenario is God’s design, & He has revealed to Moses that “the elders” “will heed” Moses’ “voice”(:18a). Moses will present a viable witness. Moses’ witness is not stayed on himself but upon the self-existent & ever-existent God, to bring it about.
This lets the reader know that though Moses himself has personal responsibility for following the LORD’s command, he is nonetheless not alone in it. The “elders” of Israel are to appear before Pharaoh(“the king of Egypt”) as well(“Us”/“We”). They along with Moses(& Aaron—See 4:10-16) Thus they will also witness God’s desire lived out thru Moses’ faithfulness. Witnessing the faith of others goads those of lesser faith to be stronger witnesses.
Together they will witness God’s power as He gives them an audience with the Pharaoh.
Without prior commitment to God, there can be no Leadership in the things of God.
“Voice”—lq kol—1) Voice, sound, noise; 2) lightness, frivolity. Strong—from an unused root meaning to call aloud; A voice or sound.
“Come”(See :9, 13)—awb bow'—
“Elders”(See :16)—Nqz zaw-ken'—
“King”(See :19)—Klm meh'-lek—1) King. Argumentation:
Mat. 15:1-14—“Then the scribes & Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered & said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father & your mother’; &, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”-- ‘then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear & understand: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Then His disciples came & said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered & said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
1Cor. 10:32-11:1—“Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
Php. 3:17-21—“Brethren, join in following my example, & note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, & now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, & whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
1Thes. 1:5-7—“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, & in the Holy Spirit & in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us & of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia & Achaia who believe.”
Leadership assumes a following. However, some become obsessed with their own leadership. These lead with the expectation of controlling & manipulating such a following. They choose self-aggrandizement over leading others, to the Master.
This is especially pronounced in recognized ‘offices’ of the church. It happens among Pastors, Council Members, Deacons, Committee heads, etc.
However, if me/we/you can lead in trepidation & fear of dishonoring God, then I/we/you (am)are fit for leadership!
Heb. 6:10-12—“For God is not unjust to forget your work & labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, & do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith & patience inherit the promises.”
Eph. 4:30-5:2—“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, & evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us & given Himself for us, an offering & a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Php. 2:3-8—“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, & coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself & became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Illustration:
Military leaders during WWII/Hitler became a ‘great leader’ because he offered the German people hope that their world would be better as a result of Hitler’s efforts/LEADERSHIP
America(Franklin Delano Roosevelt) & Britain(Winston Churchill) on the other hand, became great leaders because they offered the Allied people hope that their world would be better as a result of overcoming Hitler’s barbaric & oppressive efforts/LEADERSHIP
Application:
?God’s call present a challenge to Your LEADERSHIP?
?When is the last time your LEADERSHIP mirrored God’s?
?Has God’s call Challenged you?...Or do you Challenge God’s call?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Judge—‘If either of you screw-ups asks her if she knows me, you’ll both do jail time!
Action:
God’s call presents a challenge to...
12. Our LEADERSHIP(:18a)
1. Our OCCUPATION(:1)
2. Our OBSERVATION(:2-3)
3. Our AVAILABILITY(:4)
4. Our APPROACH(:5)
5. Our AWE(:6)
6. Our COMPASSION(:7-9)
7. Our INABILITY(:10-11)
8. Our POWER(:12a)
9. Our FAITHFULNESS(:12b-13)
10. Our PROBABILITY(:14-15)
11. Our COMMITMENT(:16-17)
Pt. 12 Presented 03/01/2015am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE
Carrabelle, FL 32322
