[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfred, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word. There is no one like our God on the entire planet. Amen?
[0:11] No one like our God anywhere in the world. And that is the lesson of the book of Exodus. Tonight as we turn to Exodus chapter 6 and verse 20. God wants you to know there's nobody like Him.
[0:21] He wants the Egyptians to know there's no one like Him. He wants His name to be greatly honored, glorified, and praised all around the world. And so we're in Genesis chapter 6 and verse 20 tonight.
[0:33] As we take up the story of Moses and Aaron. And so I'd like you to read with me. Now you know, as you read the Bible, you may wonder why does God put stuff in the Bible?
[0:44] Why does He put certain stories? Why does He put certain genealogies? I think it kind of shows you in the story tonight things come alive. And I hope you understand that and take it to heart for yourself. Look, if you would, at Exodus chapter 6 and verse 20.
[0:56] The Bible says, And Amram took Jacobed, his father's sister, to wife. And she bare him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were 137 years.
[1:10] Father, I pray tonight that You would help us to recognize that there is none like You. I pray You'd help us tonight to leave praising You, magnifying You, lifting You up, thinking of how great You are, and wondrously bragging about how good a God You are.
[1:27] And I'll give You praise for all You do. In Jesus' name, Amen. There's some family history about Moses here in the first part of the story. Chapter 6, verse 20. You see some story there.
[1:39] It might seem to you that these parents aren't important in the story, but God took time to list them. I would just like you to consider this with me. When you're a mom and a dad, you really don't know what you have in your home.
[1:52] We all think our kid's good looking, and we all expect great things from our children, and we're always proud of our children, and there's no doubt about that. But God took the time to give us a little bit of a background of old Moses, and He said, she bare him, Aaron, and Moses.
[2:09] And He listed a whole bunch of other names that I didn't take the time to read, because I don't pronounce those names well. But God thought those parents were important enough to list them in the story to say they bare Aaron and Moses.
[2:22] You should be careful to remember that you are loaned a child to be raised for God. You should be careful to realize that you are loaned a child to be raised for God.
[2:37] When Betty and I were young and Chris was born, and we thought he was such a good-looking baby, I'm not sure anybody else thought that, but when you're always thinking about your own, we used to brag and joke about, we used to brag and joke about, hey, we are a fantastic baby-making machine, buddy.
[2:54] We turn out some beautiful babies. Well, here's what the story is in the Bible. Well, hey, Moses and Aaron, they're really gods. Say amen. And God loans them those babies.
[3:07] Realize that God is going to use your child, and you do not know how. You certainly don't want to hinder whatever it is that God has planned for your children. And so I'd just like to remind you, you've got to get in the story, in the Bible, and you've got to go back in the story, Bible story, back to the time they got this little baby.
[3:25] They've got two kids. They've got Aaron, who's an older brother, who has somehow survived the genocide that's going on, the killing of the babies that's going on, and he's got a younger brother named Moses. And I'm pretty sure from the Scriptures that they had no idea that the baby they were birthing was going to be the guy who would write the first five books of the Bible.
[3:43] I'm pretty sure they had no idea that he was going to be one of the most famous men in all of Bible history, one of the most mentioned men in all of Bible history.
[3:54] I'm pretty sure they didn't know that. But God chose to allow Moses' name to be great, allow Moses to be great, and he put mom and dad's name in there. And I would just like to remind you, I think that it's pretty tough for you to realize this.
[4:10] Those children weren't given to you for you. They were given to you to serve God. And they were put in your care, in your keeping, and everything you have and everything you are belongs to God.
[4:20] And you should take the time to say, these children were given to me, and I'm going to raise them for God to do with them whatever God sees fit to do with them, and I won't hinder that, and I won't send them away.
[4:31] And I think that's what happens in the story of Aaron and Moses. Go with me, if you would, to chapter 7 and verse 7. In chapter 7 and verse 7, And at the story as we begin, we need a picture of these guys.
[4:42] We need to know what Moses might look like in our mind. We need a picture of him, and we need a picture of Aaron. And if you'd notice, they're not young men. Mr. Moses is 80 years old, and Aaron is 83 years old.
[4:58] That's how old they were when they went in to speak to Pharaoh. Now, I'm looking around to make sure, but I think I'm the oldest person in the room, except for Lisa's mom.
[5:09] I'm the oldest person in the room. So just remember, if Moses were here, and Aaron were here, they would look at me, and Joe, they'd look at you, and they'd say, Hey boys, hey sonnies, how y'all doing?
[5:21] They would think we were kids. These are grown men that God is going to use. So possibly, possibly God's not finished with you. Possibly, it's not time for you to think about being set on the shelf.
[5:34] Possibly, it's not time for you to be backing up, but time for you to be getting busy. Look, if you would, at chapter 6, and verse 23. This is just an interesting note, because you got it in a genealogy.
[5:44] You're going to learn about two of these sons, and I won't take the time to tell you the story now, but in chapter 6, and verse 23, Aaron took him, Elishiva, daughter of Abimadad, and Nashon to wife, and she bare him, Nadab, and Abihu, Eliezer, Eliezer, and Itzmar.
[6:00] You're going to find out about those boys a little bit later on, two of them. All we can do is raise our children the best we can, with the best possible example.
[6:11] Some of you are Bible students, you already know that Aaron's sons are going to get mixed up, and they're going to mess up, and they're going to offer some strange fire, and God is going to kill them. Help your children to know how great God is, and how great God's work is.
[6:25] Help them to understand that serving God's not optional, and it can't be done the way you want to, or the way you think. Help them to never get used to, or take for granted the things of God, and the worship of God.
[6:37] I'd just like to say something to you that I think is a major problem in South United States, the southern part of the United States. It's a problem I didn't run into in America, in Peru.
[6:48] In Peru, there was this all about church, and you'd have to understand, they came to their church building, and it wasn't much. Many of the church buildings had dirt floors. Many of the church buildings had literally dirt floors.
[7:03] Some of them would have dust on the floor, sometimes two, three, four inches, because we live in a desert. We lived in a desert down there, and the building would be made out of rough brick that wasn't finished.
[7:14] It was just brick or this big volcanic rock that we made the thing out of, but people thought it was really something. They thought they were going to a place where they would serve God, and they took it quite seriously, especially as we began.
[7:28] People would get there early at night. It was always so funny. We'd get to church early, and there would be some people like you that would have gotten to church early, and they would have water buckets, and they would be taking water and sprinkling it all over the floor.
[7:38] You'd walk in the room, and there'd be seven or eight people, and they'd all have a water bucket under their shoulder, and they'd sprinkling this water over so they could get the dust to lay down. You don't try to sweep the dust, or you'll never breathe again. You just get it wet, that's what it'll stay down and stay out of your way, and they would be dusting off the chairs.
[7:53] They'd be getting everything ready, and I hate to say this, but there's a whole different way about it. When I stepped up to preach, it was like, man, grab your Bible, grab your ink pen, grab your notebook, take notes.
[8:04] I've been to people's houses that got saved 25 years ago. They still got notes from the first messages. It was like wild. They were excited about being in God's house, and here's what's going to happen.
[8:17] Man, Aaron and Moses are on the cutting edge, but it only took one generation for Aaron's kids to get where they're so used to the things that go on at church and so used to what God does that the thrill is gone.
[8:30] The awe is gone. They saw great and mighty things, but they lost the thrill. They lost the excitement. It's something I have to work at a lot. It's something I have to work at a lot. You know, when I first got saved, I used to hear preachers say, that person was gloriously saved, and I used to think to me, what does that mean?
[8:48] Gloriously saved. Did they cry more than other people cried? Did they shout when they cried? Who gets gloriously saved? And who gets regular saved? And I tried to figure all that out, but what happens is we begin to lose the awe.
[8:59] You need to help your children realize, man, we're going to the house of God. We're not going to go hear Austin preach. We're not going to go hear Ed Lee singing. We're not going to go watch Kristen play the piano.
[9:10] We're going to meet with God. We're going to open the Bible. We're going to spend time with God, and this is important to us. We don't take it for granted. We don't take it lightly, because it will end up causing some trouble.
[9:22] Aaron and Moses are just regular people in a family history that God chose to use. So if you would, look in chapter 6, I believe that is.
[9:33] I didn't mark that one down in my notes here. These are that Aaron and Moses. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, according to the armies.
[9:45] I want to tell you who they were. I want to tell you where they came from. I want to let you know they were just regular people I chose to use. These are not super people. This is not Spider-Man and Superman.
[9:57] They didn't come from another planet to come down and help us. They were born and raised in good godly homes, and God is going to use them. So here's the first saying. All that's introduction. Here's the first saying.
[10:08] And if we get through, we're going to go all the way into chapter 8, so you better get your Bible out and stay in the book of Exodus with me and just mark some things. The first saying, when do we quit doubting? When do we quit doubting?
[10:19] Moses is still doubting after all that he's seen God do. Look at chapter 6 and verse 28. It came to pass on the day when the Lord spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt that the Lord spake unto Moses saying, I am the Lord and speak unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I say unto thee.
[10:39] What Moses had seen should have already had him ready to believe God and act. If anybody has seen God do some wild and crazy things, let me tell you, TBN has to fake it to get half of what we've seen Moses see.
[10:55] He saw a burning bush that would not burn up. He heard God speak to him audibly. He saw his rod become a snake, eat other snakes and become a rod again.
[11:06] He saw his hand become leprous and healthy again. He saw water turn to blood. He had God get in his face and tell him that he was God. But Moses is still focused on what we focus on.
[11:19] I am unable. I am incapable. I'm not able to do that. Look if you would with me at chapter 6 and verse 30. Moses says in Exodus chapter 6 and verse 30, And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips.
[11:37] How shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? Moses says, God, I know I've seen you do big stuff. And God, I know that I've seen you show me all these miracles.
[11:48] And I know you've shown me your power. And I've taken a few steps for you. And I've seen you do a few things. And instead of thinking, God did this and I ought to have enough courage.
[11:59] And God did this and so that will give me more courage. And God did this and I ought to give me more courage. And I can almost start off running and believe that God's going to do something. The opposite happened in Moses' life. God did some things and then God did some more things and God did some more things.
[12:12] And God said, Moses, now you see how good I am. Go do this. And Moses says, Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. I can't. It's beyond me. I have uncircumcised lips.
[12:24] I have uncircumcised lips. Lips that aren't fit to be used. Lips that are unworthy, dirty, and useless. No matter what God has told Moses to do, he doesn't believe God can use him.
[12:37] Moses still doesn't believe that God can use him. Moses is focused on who he is and not on who is sending him and giving him the power to be used.
[12:48] Could I just stop and ask you a question? Would you be honest? Some of you could be getting involved in Sunday school. You could run up there and take one of those Sunday school classes, start working with the children.
[13:00] We wouldn't have to be going around trying to figure out who we could use. You could be one of those Sunday school teachers. You could be involved in the choir. We could fill the choir up and it wouldn't be what it is. You know, today it's really not exactly what you call a thriving ministry with people just flowing over, getting here early and practicing and stuff.
[13:15] And you really could go out and you could witness and you could see God do some stuff because you have seen God do stuff. How many of you have seen God do stuff? Say amen. How many of you saw God save you?
[13:26] Say amen. You saw him save you. You saw him change you. You've seen him work in your family. You've seen him do great things. And you're on the verge. And even in your heart, when no one's talking to you, you've even had ideas and thoughts that God might want to do something big with you.
[13:40] But instead of taking that next step and going out and doing whatever it is God would have, you're like, I've got uncircumcised lips. I could never sing well enough. I could never be a good enough teacher. I don't have enough time.
[13:51] And you've come up with a whole litany of excuses. That's what Moses did. That's what old Moses is doing in the story. At a time when he should be being used of God, he's coming up with stuff.
[14:02] So God reminds him. Chapter 7, verse 1. You got your Bible open? In chapter 7, verse 1, God reminds Moses what he's done. The Lord said to Moses, I have made thee a God to Pharaoh and Aaron.
[14:16] Thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee. And Aaron, thy brother, shall speak unto Pharaoh that he send the children out of the land. He said, wait a minute, Moses.
[14:27] Do you realize what I've done? Have you not seen my power? Do you not know that I know what I'm doing? Do you not know that I can accomplish great things with you? You're not even the one that's going to be doing the talking, Moses.
[14:38] You're talking about your lips, but it's going to be Aaron's lips anyway. You're just making excuses. I simply want you to obey me. I will have Aaron speak.
[14:50] You'll just tell him what to say. Can you follow instructions? How hard can this be? God's the one doing the work. Aaron's the one doing the talking. All you have to do is listen to me and tell Aaron what I said.
[15:03] The real question is, will you listen, believe, obey as God works? See, I don't know if you've got a picture of the story, but I can just see this like the wildest thing.
[15:13] And they walk in there. And when they walk in, so far in the story is they walk in. Aaron and Moses are walking in there together. And as Aaron walks in and Moses walks in, Moses is the big man. And everybody knows it.
[15:24] Pharaoh knows that Moses is the big man. And so Pharaoh said, All right, Moses, what do you want? And Moses leans over and says, Tell him God told me to tell him to let the people go. And Aaron says, God wants you to let the people go.
[15:36] He said, I'm talking to Moses. He said, you just tell him. God told me to tell you what to say. And just do it the way we do it. I mean, it's not like the weirdest little thing. We always say, God. Okay, good. God said to go ahead and tell him this.
[15:48] God said, throw you right down now. Throw you right down now. Let me destroy us what's going on here. You're not as big and important as you think you are. And you're holding yourself back when you could be a Sunday school teacher.
[15:58] You could be a discipler. You could be involved in ministry, but you've been making excuses like old Moses has been. God just wants to know, will you obey? By the way, did you know God wants none of you to be sitting on the pew?
[16:13] God wants none of you to be sitting on the pew. God wants none. The chairs are not going to float away. And regardless of how many preachers you've heard say, we can't all preach. Somebody's got to sit here and listen to us.
[16:25] If you'll go preach, enough people will come. We'll keep having people. Say amen. Get involved in ministry. God is going to harden Pharaoh's heart. Look at Exodus chapter 7 and verse 3.
[16:36] I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto me that I may lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth mine armies and my people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
[16:53] Pharaoh has said already that he doesn't believe in God. Do you remember? Moses went in to speak to him and Aaron and Moses were talking to him and he said, I don't know your God and I don't respect your God and I will not do what your God says to do.
[17:06] He said he wouldn't obey. He has shown no respect for God. He's shown no respect for God's Word. And now God is going to bring judgment on him. But the end result of everything that's going to happen, the story hinges around this thought.
[17:20] Look at chapter 7 and verse 5. The story hinges around this thought. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. When I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
[17:36] Would you read this part with me out loud? The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. Can you read that part with me? Everybody can say it out loud with me. You ready? The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.
[17:48] Oh, well, who's going... I know you've seen Hollywood movies and you've seen Burt Lancaster and you've seen other guys that are making new movies and it's like Moses is somebody powerful and Aaron is somebody powerful. But in the story, God said, no, I'm the one that's powerful and I'm the one that's making sure that everybody knows I'm the one who's big at doing stuff.
[18:06] That's why God can use you. That's why God could use you in the life of a young child in a Sunday school class. That's why God could use you in children's church. That's why God could use you to bring people to church. That's why God could use you.
[18:17] It's because He's not trying to make you somebody big. He's trying to show how big He is. He just wants everybody to know God is big. Amen? That's what He's trying to get across.
[18:29] God's goal is that the world know who He is. He will get the glory for being the one and only true God. Creator of the universe one way or another. You two will recognize Him one way or another.
[18:41] Second thing. So they were scared. That's the first thing. They were scared. They were nervous. Now I don't know of a time that I get ready to teach or preach that I don't get some of that nervousness especially when I go somewhere else to preach and I walk into a church and I don't know who I'm talking to but I don't know what they think and I don't know what's going on and you might say Austin probably never gets nervous and Austin's probably never worried about things.
[19:05] I'm terrified of teachers and workers meeting. I still am terrified of going to teachers and workers meeting. I really am. And here I am. I'm going to go out there and teach it. We have that excuse. But you've got to quit using that excuse and you've got to stand up and say I'm going to let God use me.
[19:21] I am going to be an instrument in His hand for His honor and for His glory. Number two. Moses and Aaron are going in His authority. Just write down His authority. Chapter 7 verse 16.
[19:32] Look at that if you would. And thou shalt say unto him The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me unto thee saying Let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness and behold hear the two thou wouldest not hear.
[19:48] So when they walk in the answer of the words aren't Moses or Aaron saying hey let our people go. They walk in and they say we're here in the name of the God of heaven.
[20:00] We're here in the name of the God of the Hebrews. We're here in the name of the Jehovah God. The one and only God. The real God. The creator God. We're here in His name. And He said tell you let His people go.
[20:12] That's what He said tell you. So they didn't go in their authority. And we don't go in our authority. We don't witness in our authority. We don't do foundations in our authority.
[20:23] We don't teach a Sunday school class in our authority. We don't sing a song in the choir in our authority. We don't sing a special in our authority. We don't play an instrument in our authority. We don't even set up chairs in our authority. It's all about Jesus.
[20:35] God tells them that Pharaoh will be wanting to see one of the parter tricks. Oh Pharaoh's getting to where he likes to see Moses coming. Because when Moses comes he does these tricks. And every time the guys that work for Pharaoh can do the same stuff.
[20:48] So look if you would in chapter 7 and verse 8. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying when Pharaoh shall speak unto you and say show me a miracle. Hey glad to see you boys. Show me a miracle.
[20:59] What new trick you got up your sleeves today. You shall say unto Aaron you tell Aaron take your rod and cast it down before Pharaoh and it shall become a serpent. And he does.
[21:11] Immediately in chapter 7 and verse 11 the magicians do the exact same thing. It says in verse 11 they also did in like manner. And in verse 12 Aaron's rod swallowed their rod and Pharaoh can see that his magicians his witch doctors can do the same thing.
[21:29] And he is not impressed with God's show of power. And God's going to harden his heart before I read you that verse. Can I just tell you if we do in Sunday school and church what Dr. Phil can do better than we can do.
[21:44] what Oprah can do better than we can do. They got more philosophy. They got doctor's degrees. They can bring in the highestfalutin people in the planet and you are not on a par or level to try to give good specific advice to them about any of those subjects they talk about.
[22:00] But you are way above them when you say I came today in the name of the God of heaven. I have his book open and I'm going to show you what he said. Now you got authority.
[22:12] People talk about credentials. Well he's got a doctor's degree. Well whoop-de-doo. Moses said doctor's degree or no. I come in the name of the God of heaven so you better listen to me. God sent me.
[22:22] God spoke and I'm opening God's word. Your credentials are I'm opening God's word and I'm going to teach you God's word. Chapter 7 verse 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart that he hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said and the Lord said unto Moses Pharaoh's heart is hardened he refuses to let the people go.
[22:41] Pharaoh's gone too far. He's rejected God and now God is rejecting him. God God will not allow you us people to constantly tell him he's a nobody ignore him till he'll get to a point that he hardens Pharaoh's heart.
[23:08] So God's going to use the rod to show that he's truly God. Look at chapter 7 and verse 17 Thus saith the Lord In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord I will smite Now look who's talking I wish you'd mark that in the story You've got to get the Bible story right Moses said Moses didn't say it God said I will smite with the rod I'm the one who's going to do the work Aaron it's not going to be you It's really not the stick Aaron and it's really not how you swing the stick Aaron and Moses it's not really how you hang on to the bat when you swing the bat I am going to show my power the river their lifeline will be turned to blood the fish will die the river will stink the Egyptians will be without drinking water it will not matter where the water is it's going to turn to blood everywhere if the river once the river the river starts running blood and so they all think let's run back to the house and get our well and pump up the bucket and get a glass of water out and when they do up comes up comes blood and when they go over to the fishing hole there's blood and when they go to the river and the creek and the pond it's all blood that's chapter 7 and verse 19 all the fish died the river stunk the magicians couldn't solve the problem the witch doctors can't solve the problem but they can imitate the problem in chapter 7 and verse 22 the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments and Pharaoh's heart was hardened neither did he hearken to them as the Lord had said amazingly the magicians repeat this judgment that only makes things worse it's enough to convince Pharaoh however that the God of Hebrews is nothing special my witch doctors can do the same this lesson is not enough to convince Pharaoh and in chapter 7 and verse 23
[25:01] Pharaoh turned and went into his house and said I ain't listening my magicians can do it and you can do it and I will not pay attention there are two things I've tried to help you see tonight as we get started number one Moses was afraid are you afraid are you afraid are you afraid to be involved in ministry are you afraid to witness to the person at work are you afraid to share the gospel track are you afraid to mention Jesus to somebody you've got to understand you're not alone you're not the first one that's been there Moses was there and Moses was scared Moses didn't want to talk the second thing you need to realize is you don't go in your own power we never do ministry in our own power and our own ability we don't do what we're able to do we do what God can do we step forward in God's power so there aren't any special young men or special old men or special young ladies or special old ladies that can do something for God it's always God and if you could back off and understand that you could walk into that Sunday school class and yes you're going to study and yes you're going to pray and yes you're going to get material and yes you're going to learn how to do stuff but when you sit down to teach that class you could say
[26:15] God please use me I need your power and you could start teaching and you don't even know what you're doing you don't have the ability to change people's lives but Moses didn't have any ability those days when he stepped out it wasn't Moses' ability we're so quick we like to think of how great Moses was the story is not about how great Moses was the story is about how great the God who sent Moses was the story is not about how good Aaron could swing the rod the story was about how powerful the God was that could use a dead stick and do great miracles you can be used of God there's no other God like our God get off the pew get off the bench get in the game find something you can do let God use you so you can go home and tell stories about the greatness of your God when I was a little boy and we you know there wasn't my grandparents didn't have a TV and we would go up there and stay at their house and things were so different you know they had lights that hung on the electrical cord just hung out of the roof and there was a bulb at the end of it in the rooms and at night everybody pretty well gathered in one room and we were told to be quiet children or be seen and not heard and I would listen to them talk and I'd listen to my granddaddy and my granddaddy would be talking to my dad and my mom and other of his kids there and I was a little fellow sitting over in the corner and my granddaddy would say my granddaddy would talk about how he'd been to the meeting house they never called it church he said we was down at the meeting house we was at the meeting house and he said
[27:54] God came down and worked and he talked about how people came and the meeting house was full and people were standing at the windows listing and how God was doing all these great miracles I can remember as a little kid thinking in my heart God someday I want to go to the meeting house and see that happen God I want you to do something big I think that's where you are I think you really do want your life to count I think you really do want to be involved in ministry I think inside you're saying if Austin would come and tag me and tell me to do it I would go do it but you're hung up on I'm afraid I'm afraid who's not afraid Moses was afraid he wrote five books of the Bible he was afraid and then the second thing you're thinking is I'm not sure I'm good enough and Moses is God's even telling Moses you ain't good enough I'm the one going to do the work it's going to be my power third lesson you should see go to chapter 8 verse 1 Moses goes back to see Pharaoh again in chapter 8 verse 1 and the Lord spake unto Moses and said go unto Pharaoh and said to him thus says the Lord underline that he didn't go in there with his own words he didn't write his own speech he said
[29:04] I came to tell you and the Lord spake unto Moses go unto Pharaoh and say thus saith the Lord let my people go that they may serve me Pharaoh is warned that if he won't obey God that frogs are going to come on all over the country in chapter 8 and verse 2 if thou refuse to let them go behold I will smite all thy borders with frogs and the rivers will bring forth frogs abundantly and they'll climb into your house and they'll get in your bed they'll climb into your oven and they'll climb into the place where you need the bread where you make bread they'll be in there and the frogs will come on everybody and upon your people and upon all the servants all your servants Pharaoh has already seen what God can do he knows that these are not idle threats however he believes that his gods are just as powerful he's still holding on to my magicians are able to do it in his pride he can't admit that God is greater than he is he's a God too so the frogs come and the stupid magicians come out and make more frogs now who would want more frogs chapter 8 verse 7 and the magicians did sow the enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt
[30:20] I'd have been like I don't need more frogs I want you to get rid of the frogs the magicians are like we can make frogs we're not in a frog getting rid of business but we can make frogs that's what religion does it can cause people to see miracles but not the kind that free them from sin and misery it can be powerful looking but powerless to save us from our condition I'm going to stop right quickly and just say to you you live in a day and time when miracles are a part of Christianity but they're a hoax they're a hoax your TBN guys and your and your people that are working all these miracles they're a hoax they're magicians tricks they're witch doctor tricks the real power is not in making frogs the real power is not in making water turn to blood the real power is making sinners into saints and that's what our God specializes in and you ought not fall for that trick that Satan would bring
[31:25] Pharaoh knows that man you can't ask my dumb magicians around here if you ask him for any help they'll just bring more frogs I got frogs in my bedroom I got frogs in my toilet I got frogs in the kitchen my wife went to make bread and there were frogs dancing around in the place where she makes bread there were frogs everywhere I called for my magicians and what did they do they made more frogs he said somebody called Moses and asked him to come chapter 8 verse 8 look at what it says then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said entreat the Lord hey ask God that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people and I will let the people go that they may do sacrifice to the Lord Moses says to Pharaoh in chapter 8 verse 9 look buddy me and you both know I didn't bring the frogs God did and your magicians can make more frogs but the God of heaven is the only one that can take away frogs and I'm just going to give you this honor when you really get tired of the frogs you call me and I'll talk to my God and he'll get rid of the frogs and I won't do that way
[32:28] I'm not getting rid of the frogs exterminators weren't able to get rid of them I give only God can he said and I will give you that glory chapter 8 verse 9 Moses said glory over me when shall I treat for thy servants to destroy the frogs and they did look at chapter 8 verse 10 and look at what it says you've got to underline it this is the point of the story the point of the story is never to make vision Baptist church the great place it's never to make the Sunday school teacher great it's never to make the disciple great it's to make God great in verse 10 he said and he said tomorrow and he said be it according to thy word that thou mayest know underline this you've got to underline this that there is none like unto the Lord our God take your time Pharaoh call in all your exterminators call the frog catchers get the businessmen and the entrepreneurs to start up businesses to get rid of frogs you do all you can and when you figure out you can't get rid of the frogs you call me and I'll ask God and the frogs will be gone
[33:37] God sent the frogs back to the river the other frogs died they started stacking them in piles all over the city Cairo is now stacked knee high in dead frogs piles the whole countryside stinks like dead frogs as soon as Pharaoh was out of trouble again though guess what he rejected God again chapter 8 verse 15 Pharaoh saw that there was respite and he hardened his heart isn't that how it works we come looking for God and making promises when we're in trouble when we need God we seek him but when things settle back we begin to doubt that he did the work in our lives we begin to doubt that we need him in our lives we want him for emergencies for first aid for help in time of need but not for everyday life not to be the Lord of our life listen to what I'm about to tell you I have found over the years that people come to God when they're in trouble but after trouble goes away we kind of get cold on
[34:42] God and after we get rid of the frogs and after the frogs quit stinking we begin to think you know I don't know I don't even remember how we got rid of the frogs but we got rid of the frogs hey we've been through blood we've been through blood and we've been through frogs we've been through every kind of problem you can be through we always come out on the good side and all of a sudden we begin to think we don't need God God saved you when you were a sinner he showed you how wicked you were and you have somehow crested the hill and you really believe I'm okay now and you're coasting you come to church but you're not genuine you're not real yes you're saved and yes you're going to go to heaven when you die and no you don't have to do any work but you were thrilled with how great God was but now you're not the Bible's not thrilling to you going to church isn't thrilling to you serving God isn't thrilling to you and you're getting you're getting calluses on your rear end you come and you listen but you're not involved Moses said yep got rid of the frogs and he quit
[35:44] God is about to prove that he is God and will do so look at chapter 8 and verse 19 then the magicians said unto Pharaoh this is the finger of God this is the finger of God and Pharaoh's heart was hardened and hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said Moses was told to tell Aaron to stretch his rod out and smite the dust and the dust would become mites in chapter 8 verse 16 and 17 the Lord said and they made mites they made lice to come out all over the place and the magicians attempted that and they couldn't and when they couldn't they said wow that's some trick we can't pull off we're not able to do that so there were lice on every man on every beast have you ever seen a kid with lice you ever had your kids in school when lice and a lice epidemic starts they shave all the heads and put all the junk on lice were everywhere does this tell you anything about the power of the devil to deceive people he has great power it's limited but he has power do you believe in miracles and signs and wonders trust the word of god see it is so easy for you to start seeing great things happen i mean they can make frogs okay they make frogs and they can do a lot of things but they can never do all that god can do and you're not judging things based on what the word of god says the key to the story is what's the bible say that's why we are such a ridiculously boring service we just take the bible and read it and say what the bible says there ain't nobody speaking in tongues there's nobody getting healed nobody getting slain in the spirit i hadn't knocked anybody down and i had boot kicked anybody in the head since we started the church which they're famous for doing because we aren't looking for signs and wonders we're looking for word of god we're trusting what the god of the bible says and how he says it then god sends flies in chapter 8 and verse 20 the lord said unto moses rise up early in the morning and bring on the flies but this time god's really going to say this ain't just a coincidence you got to understand a little bit about the story can you see cnn at night when the news comes on cnn says something really weird has happened we're not sure exactly what's happened with its oxidation in the pipes from the power treatment plant but all the water in the country has turned to blood and the magicians are finding out that yes they know how to do that and they know the scientific formula and they've got they understand that and those religious fanatics they claim it's their god but our magicians can do it too and so we're not sure exactly what's happening but it's happening to everybody and then the lice come and they're on there and they say well an unusual thing happened today uh you the polar vortex that came down was the lice vortex and it has brought lice on everybody and everybody is suffering from lice but then god sends flies and this time the night news is really going to be really weird the cnn reporter standing out there and saying moses and aaron these two quacks that come from the god of the hebrews they claim god was bringing on the flies and man there are flies everywhere as i report this i'm having a hard time i know you can't already see me for all the flies hey cameraman get the flies out of here so they can see me hey let's go to our let's go to our correspondent over in goshen where god's people live and see how many flies there are and they go over there and the the egyptian reporter's got flies all around his head and all the all the hebrews walk around no flies all of them i don't know what's going on this is really weird but god said i'm going to show you that i'm big and i can do it so look at chapter 8 verse 22 i will sever in that day the land of goshen in which my people dwell in that no swarms of flies shall be there and you got to underline what the point is the flies are not the point
[39:44] he says to the end that thou mayest know that i am the lord in the midst of the earth i am the lord in the midst of the earth i can bring on blood i can bring on frogs i can even bring on flies and tell them where to stop flying you flies can fly up to right here and stop get to the county line and stop because that county line belongs to goshen where god's people live verse 23 he put a division between his people and the world's people pharaoh can now see that it's god who's dealing with the egyptians and not the israelites he knows something's happening that he can't understand so he begins to bargain with god and he says to god okay he says to god moses in there and he says to him 8 chapter 8 verse 25 he calls for him and he said all right all right all right go and sacrifice to your god but underline in verse 25 stay in the land say you're close to home don't go very far you know i don't mind you worshiping god just don't go crazy with it i don't mind you loving jesus i could even put up with you wearing that necklace that's got a cross on it as long as you keep it under your blouse and i don't have to see it and and and just don't talk about jesus where you work and don't talk about jesus anywhere else and don't pray in public don't do anything that might call attention to it just go ahead and do your worship but do it in the land moses answers in chapter 8 verse 27 nope we're going to go three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice of the god that's how he told us to do it pharaoh we're not taking instructions on how to worship god we worship god based on how god wants to be worshiped so pharaoh says okay i'll verse 28 you got to understand this is really a funny story pharaoh has had his rear end kicked he's getting i mean he's getting his backside kicked i mean he's had everything in the world happening cnn is a regular can't you see them pharaoh we'd like to get an opinion what brought about the blood pharaoh can we get an opinion what brought about the lice pharaoh why won't the flies go over in the ocean so he says i will let you go that you may sacrifice the lord your god in the wilderness just don't go far away just don't go far away and while you're there pray for me at it okay politicians playing sweet with us just because they have to later pharaoh will say they can go as long as they leave their children out of the worship service and as long as they don't spend any money on it they can go the truth is that pharaoh's heart is hard he doesn't care what god wants and he'll lie at any time about it in chapter 8 and verse 32 pray we're hard in his heart at this time also and he wouldn't let the people go let me give you the last thing in here i quit what's the purpose of the story the purpose of the story is chapter 8 verse 22 i hope you'll look at this mark this in your bible go to chapter 8 verse when you gotta mark this in the story see when you listen to me look up this way just a second when you read these bible stories you got it's not about the lice and it's not about the it's not about what the boils that are going to come and it's not about the blood it's it there's a purpose behind the story and the purpose behind the story is god is screaming i'm god i'm god i'm god and there is no other i'm god i'm god egypt you'll know i'm god that's the whole purpose that's why god's willing to use losers like me and you that's why nobody like me teach a song why he'd let a nobody lead music in this church why he'd let a nobody take up the offering in our church why he'd let people like us uh uncircumcised lips share the gospel because he's looking at us it ain't about them anyway it's about me so look at what it says if you went in chapter 8 verse 22 i will sever in that day the land of goshen and
[43:45] the which my people dwell that no swarms of flies shall be there and you need to put a circle around this to the end this is the reason this is the reason to the end thou mayest know that i am the lord thou mayest know i am the lord and it's a funny thing he says here he doesn't say i'm the lord of the hebrews he said i am god in the midst of the land that's who i am i'm god verse 23 and i will put a division between my people and thy people do you know that he is god do you worship him as though he were really this powerful god will show his power he'll be glorified he'll be worshiped the world needs to know how great our god is so let me just close it all up for you this way he's a great god if you believe that say amen he ought to be served by his people if you believe that say amen now i'd like to ask you what part of serving you're doing one of the beautiful things about a church is there's a thousand things that need to be done in a church and you may say i don't have enough time and you may say i don't feel connected to my church i just don't feel connected you don't feel connected because you don't connect you don't come to church to connect you come to church to serve and when you serve you'll feel connected and you may be feeling like i i just i'm afraid to get involved and i'm afraid to try i don't think i can that's exactly where moses was but god used him to write five books of the bible he's a great man of god but it's really not him he's a man of a great god and you may be thinking but i don't have the authority and i don't have the experience and i don't have the know-how and i'm not sure that i can do great stuff we don't do anything in our own power and our own ability we do it all in god's power you may say well people might not listen they certainly don't listen to moses this is not a story of moses winning every argument this is a story of every time moses comes back out of the palace and when he walks out the leaders of israel say all right moses how'd it go hey mo what happened mo said well he said he let us go but time i got to the front gate he'd already changed his mind things aren't working but here's the key you need to get actively involved in helping train missionaries and helping train young people and helping win people to christ and helping invite people and helping share the gospel because we have one major goal that the world will know that he is god that the world will know that he is god he is god in the land he is god in the land there's so much false christianity there's so much junk done in the name of jesus there ought to be a place where a bunch of people would band together and say we know he's god and we're going to work like it's really true we're going to act like it's really true we're going to sing like it's true you ought to populate the choir and practice like you've never practiced because he's god and he's worth it you ought to be singing specials because you are a singer and you have the ability you're a little bit nervous and you're afraid to approach the guys that say you could and you would but you could if you just say he's god you can play an instrument you ought to be playing an instrument you can clean a building you ought to be cleaning a building you can invite your neighbor you ought to be doing it because he's god he's god he's god he's god he wants the world to know this message was recorded at vision baptist church in alfred georgia for more information log on to www.visionbaptist.com where you can find our service times location contact information and more audio and video recording