Hope like no other
Reaches to me
Lord, we thank you for John
and ask that you will empower him now as he speaks to us
that we will be open to his message and its challenge for our lives
Amen
When I saw my photo at the beginning it was a real inspiration to keep going to the gym
They say when you look like your passport photo it's time for a holiday
When I look like that I think it's probably time for the morgue
Just imagine this
That I get back from church
just after this service
and I've been broken into
For those of you who have been to my house
you'd wonder how would you know you've been broken into
But the doors are jarred, the locks
broken
and
even worse than that
the perpetrator's still in the house
and I've been going to the gym
so I quite fancy myself
in this confrontation
and I guess I've got
four options
I guess the first is
knowing I keep my cricket bat in the cupboard
just by the door
that I get it out
and set about the man
and show
what all the weight training in
Virgin Active has done
to my bodily strength
I would show him vengeance
my first option
My second option is
that I would get my phone
out of my pocket
and I would dial 999
and say
Dear Police Scotland
probably be a bit more hasty than that
please could you send someone round
I'm in the middle of being burgled
and that would be justice
getting what they deserve
Thirdly perhaps
I'd trap them in the kitchen
and I say
you know
you really shouldn't be doing this
this is my house
not yours
this is my things
not yours
please leave
and we'll say no more about it
that would be
mercy
the perpetrator
wouldn't get what he did deserve
but what if I did this
I said
excuse me Mr. Perpetrator
his name actually led to this crime
and I said
do you know
I can see you're under a pretty difficult
you're having a pretty difficult time
why don't you just sit on the sofa
and I'll have a quick tidy up
and then we'll share my
M&S microwave meal for one
and we'll watch the football together
and then perhaps we'll have an afternoon snooze
which is really what Sunday afternoon's for
and then
perhaps you could come back tomorrow
and we'll have breakfast
and
do you know I've got a spare room
why didn't you just move in
and perhaps we can
hang out together
that would be grace
that he would get something
that he absolutely
doesn't
deserve
what we looked at
at the opening video
unmerited favour
God's
unmerited kindness
towards us
that
the perpetrator
did nothing to deserve it
and yet
you pour out grace
into his life
as
we
come and land in
Exodus 3 and 4 today
the absolute passage
hinges on this kind of grace
on the fact that God
has dealt far more kindly
with Moses
than he deserves
that God has
reached out to Moses
and done for Moses
what he doesn't deserve
the big headline
of these passages
is this
God steps forward
in grace
God steps forward
in grace
God repeatedly deals
more kindly with Moses
and his people
than any of them
deserve
and this is very different
to people's conception
of God
that if people think
about God at all
he's some kind of
headmaster
like an evil version
of Rosemary
who sits in the sky
and waits for us
to trip up
so that then he can
call us up
and give us detention
and punish us
that he's some kind
of cosmic scorekeeper
that we're trying to
keep the good stuff
outweighing the bad
but what we see
revealed in this passage
is that he's kind
and he's gracious
and he's repeatedly
stepping forward
towards us
treating us far more
kindly
than we deserve
so if you've got a Bible
please turn with me
to Exodus chapter 3
Exodus is the second
book of the Bible
if you're not used
to dealing with the Bible
then the big numbers
they're the chapters
so you're looking
for big number 3
and we're going to
start reading in verse 1
which is a little number
1
you might need
your reading glasses
for
and Moses' life
has been one
of two halves
when we dip into
Exodus 3
he's about 80 years old
is anyone here
80?
exactly 80
close to 80
Gordon and Finlay
about their kind of age
and it's been a life
of two halves
40 years spent in Egypt
40 years in Midian
40 years as the son
of a Pharaoh
40 years looking
after some sheep
and we meet Moses
and the one thing
you'd say about his life
is that it's an epic fail
it's an epic fail
he's a failed prince
a murdering fugitive
a lowly shepherd
he has a broken spirit
and he's in the back
of beyond
the Scottish equivalent
of Alua
and you can imagine
that he's saying
to himself
every day
if only
if only I hadn't
killed that Egyptian
if only I hadn't
covered it up
if only I hadn't
had ideas
above my station
then it might have
been really different
40 years
looking after sheep
no way back
alienated from God
alienated from God's
people
which is always
the result of sin
alienation from God
alienation
from God's people
epic fail
living in the light
of what might
have been
nothing he can do
alone
in the wilderness
with nothing
but sheep
to keep him
company
we're at
Moses lowest
moment
just when he's
thinking this is
all there is
God initiates
God steps
forward
towards Moses
in grace
God steps
forward
towards him
in the desert
so let's read
the first six
verses
together
there's a sermon
outline which you
might find
helpful
says this
now Moses
was tending
the flock
of Jethro
his father-in-law
the priest
of Midian
and he led
the flock
to the far
side of the
wilderness
and came to
Horeb
the mountain
of God
there the
angel of the
Lord appeared
to him
in flames
of fire
from within
a bush
Moses saw
that though
the bush
was on fire
it did not
burn up
so Moses
thought
I will go
over and see
this strange
sight
way the bush
does not
burn up
when the
Lord saw
that he
had gone
over to
look
Moses
God called
to him
from within
the bush
Moses
and Moses
said here
I am
do not
come any
closer
God said
take off
your sandals
for the place
where you are
standing is
holy ground
then he said
I am the
God of your
father
the God
of Abraham
the God
of Isaac
and the God
of Jacob
at this
Moses
hid his
face
because he
was afraid
I guess
it's one
of probably
one of the
most famous
stories in
the Old
Testament
and I
think what
we see
is that
God steps
forward
towards
Moses
and God
shows his
nature
God
shows his
nature
what he's
like
to Moses
I mean
here's the
first thing
he reveals
himself as
a bush
I mean
unless you're
dead keen
and green
finger
bushes are
just quite
normal
God
could have
revealed himself
as anything
he could have
revealed himself
as the most
resplendent
magisterial
figure that
Moses could
ever dream
of
and yet
he comes
as a
humble
bush
a bush
admittedly
that's on
fire
which is
always
the Old
Testament
symbol
that God
is
present
but a
bush
is
pretty
humble
for the
God
who
created
absolutely
everything
in all
the world
including
the humble
shrub
the second
thing we see
is that
God reveals
himself as
holy
he says
to Moses
don't come
any closer
because the
ground you're
standing on
is holy
ground
not because
this little
backwater
area of
round Horeb
was particularly
sacred
it was because
God was
present
and therefore
this ground
is holy
ground
as God's
absolute
perfection
seeps into
the very
surrounding
area
then we see
that God
reveals himself
as faithful
look at how
he introduces
himself
I am the
God of your
father
the God of
Abraham
the God of
Isaac
and the God
of Jacob
God is
saying I've
been faithful
to all your
descent
all your
ancestors
I've been
faithful to
all the
patriarchs
I am the
God who's
been here
who hasn't
moved
and then we
see also that
he's a God
who is
personal
Moses
walks up to
the bush
and the bush
calls him by
name
Moses
Moses was in
a place where
he thought
everyone had
forgotten about
him
where nobody
cared
where nobody
was sending
him a Christmas
card
and he walks
up to the bush
and the bush
says Moses
Moses
that God
knew who
Moses
was
God
initiated
and stepped
forward
towards Moses
all in grace
that Moses
couldn't find
his way back
to God
and God's
people
but God
steps forward
in grace
to find
Moses
now I don't
know what
you look for
in prospective
friends
I don't know
what you're
kind of looking
for for people
that you want
to hang out
with
but I find
that someone
who was
humble
who was not
full of
themselves
who was
leading a
godly
life
somebody
who was
faithful
and somebody
who was
personal
who knew
me
I'd want
to be
their
friend
this is
the god
who meets
Moses
in the burning
bush
and says
Moses
I'm here
and I've
got a job
for you
not because
you deserve
it
but because
I'm that
gracious
then god
reveals
shares his
plan
with Moses
the next
three
verses
the lord
said I
have
indeed
seen
the
misery
of
my
people
in
Egypt
I
have
heard
them
crying out
because
of their
slave drivers
and I
am convinced
about their
suffering
so I
have come
down to
rescue
them from
the hand
of the
Egyptians
and to
bring
them up
out of
that land
into a
good and
spacious
land
a land
flowing
with milk
and honey
the home
of the
Canaanites
Hittites
Amorites
Perizzites
Hivites
and Jebusites
and now the
cry of the
Israelites
has reached
me
and I
have seen
the way
the Egyptians
are oppressing
them
so now go
I am sending
you to
Pharaoh
to bring
the Israelites
out of
Egypt
I don't know
as you read
that but it
seems a little
bit repetitive
doesn't it
it seems that
God is almost
saying the same
thing twice
look at verse
7
and look at
verse 9
there's not a
great deal of
difference there
that God
reveals his
plan
that he's
come down
to give
his people
an inheritance
seen the
misery
he's heard
them crying
he's concerned
about them
and he says
it twice
in verse
7 and
verse 9
but verses
8 and
10 are
quite different
in verse 8
God says
I have come
down to
rescue my
people
and in
verse 10
God says
to Moses
I'm sending
you to
bring my
people out
that's a
cosmic shift
isn't it
that God
is so
gracious
that he
could
swat the
pharaoh
like that
and lead
the people
free
but his
grace is
so sufficient
that he
can include
Moses
in his
sovereign
plan to
rescue
his people
Moses is
in the
wilderness
with no
way back
and God
steps forward
to him
in grace
and reveals
his nature
he
then steps
forward
to him
and says
I've got
a job
for you
I've got
a job
for you
God
steps
forward
you think
you've
messed up
here this
morning
one too
often
one too
many black
marks on
your record
you think
there's no
way back
great
encouragement
from the
first 10
verses of
Exodus 3
is there's
always a
way back
because God
is always
the God
who steps
forward
says I
know
everything
that's
gone
before
I know
all the
mistakes
and the
mess ups
I know
all of the
problems
and the
failings
and I
love you
anyway
and I'm
stepping
forward
towards you
to use
you
to welcome
you
to equip
you for
the work
that I
have
well then
we get to
the real
meat of
the story
you think
that this
is going
to be the
best day
of Moses
life
new purpose
a second
chance
a life
changing
mission
to be
the
rescuer
of God's
people
but Moses
is thinking
to himself
where did I
put my
shoes
because I
want to
run away
we see
don't we
that God
Moses
has a lot
of doubts
if you go
to the cinema
perhaps you
grew up
with Disney
and the
prince of
Egypt
Moses
has a
really
impressive
leader's
jaw
he's like
beautiful
or if you're
a bit older
and you saw
the ten
commandments
with Charlton
Heston
playing
Moses
I mean
cheekbones
you could
cut yourself
on
if you've
been to
see
or unfortunately
been to
see
Exodus
Gods
and Kings
Christian
Baal
impressive
and the
opinion we
have so
readily
is that
Moses
was a
born
leader
and I
think what
we see
here is
that
he wasn't
he was a
little bit
scared
God's
grace
equipped
Moses
for the
work
to do
he makes
five massive
excuses
look at
chapter 3
verse 11
with me
but Moses
said to
God
who am I
that I
should go
to Pharaoh
and bring
the Israelites
out of
Egypt
Moses
says I'm
not worthy
I'm not
worthy
to go
I'm a
nobody
I'm a
lowly
shepherd
then look
at with me
at verse 3
chapter 3
verse 13
Moses
said to
God
suppose I
go to
the Israelites
and say
to them
the God
of your
fathers
has sent
me to
you
and they
ask me
what is
his name
then what
shall I
tell them
Moses
second
excuse
I don't
know
enough
I don't
know
enough
they're
going to
find me
out
they're
going to
ask me
questions
that I
don't
know
the answer
to
look with
me
at chapter
4
verse 1
Moses
answered
what if
they do
not
believe
me
or
listen
to
me
and
say
the
Lord
did
not
appear
to
you
Moses
says
I
don't
want
to
be
rejected
I
don't
want
to
turn
up
with
this
great
message
and
people
say
I
don't
want
to
hear
get
out of
here
you're
just
insane
look at
chapter 4
verse 10
Moses uses
his most
polite
English
Moses
said to
the Lord
pardon
your
servant
Lord
I
have
never
been
eloquent
neither
in the
past
nor since
you have
spoken
to your
servant
I am
slow
of
speech
simply
says I
can't
do
it
I
can't
do
it
and
then
chapter 4
verse 13
but
Moses
said
pardon
your
servant
Lord
please
send
someone
else
fifth
excuse
he
makes
I
don't
want
to
send
someone
else
instead
five
massive
excuses
I'm
not
worthy
I
don't
know
enough
I
don't
want
to
be
rejected
I
can't
do
it
I
don't
want
to
send
someone
else
Moses
steps
back
and we're
going to
see that
God
steps
forward
in grace
towards
him
I
don't
know
Moses
sounds
a lot
like me
most of
the
time
those
excuses
don't
particularly
sound
alien
I
may
have
used
most
of
them
most
days
for
different
things
that God
has asked
me to
do
at the
very
center
isn't
it
the
fear
of
man
Moses
is
full
of
himself
they
all
start
I
still
looking
to
himself
can't
see
beyond
his
own
ability
and
his
own
destiny
Moses
steps
back
and God
steps
forward
and he
reminds
him of
six
massive
things
look at
chapter 3
verse 12
and God
said
I will
be with
you
I will
be with
you
Moses
says
who am
I that
I should
go
and God
doesn't
answer
God
simply
says
I'll
be
with
you
you're
in my
corner
and I'm
the sovereign
God
in me
is everything
that you
need
as you
go to
Pharaoh
it is not
you going
to Pharaoh
it is me
going to
Pharaoh
and I
make
Pharaoh
look like
an ant
I'm
with
you
then look
at the
second half
of the
verse
and this
will be
a sign
to you
that it
is I
who have
sent you
when
you have
brought the
people out
of Egypt
you will
worship
God
on this
mountain
that's the
kind of
mission I
want to
go on
one where
God says
not if
you manage
it
or not
perhaps
you'll
manage
it
he says
when
you've
done
it
you'll
worship
me
on
this
mountain
there's
a real
promise
in
that
Moses
I've
heard
your
excuses
this is
what I'm
going to
do
says
God
I'm
going to
promise
you're
on the
winning
team
real
assurance
verse 13
chapter
33
verse 14
God said
to Moses
I am
who I
am
this is
what you
are to
say to
the
Israelites
I
am
has
sent
you
God
reminds
Moses
and reveals
a bit
more of
his
person
says
I am
who I
am
my name
is
I
will
be
what
I
will
be
this
is
a
name
that
sums
up
everything
we
need
to
know
about
God
it
is
the
absolute
meanness
of
God
it
is
the
foundation
of
everything
it
is
the
very
bedrock
of
reality
that
God
says
I
am
me
everyone
else
finds
their
place
in
this
world
depending
on
where
I
am
but
I
am
me
there
is
no
one
like
me
I
am
utterly
distinct
I
am
eternally
sufficient
I
am
absolutely
immutable
I
will
not
change
I
created
everything
I
am
me
I
am
who
I
am
there
is
these
four
letters
that are
called
the
tetragrammaton
YHWH
that we
sometimes
translate
Jehovah
we
sometimes
use the
word
Yahweh
it's
when the
word
Lord
is
big
in
your
Bible
that's
who
we're
talking
about
the
God
who
is
who
he
is
who
was
what
he
was
and
who
will
always
be
what
he
will
be
the
God
who
is
absolutely
everything
we
need
who
is
the
very
center
the
very
reason
the
soul
and
circumference
of
everything
that it
means
to be
anything
God
says
I am
who I
am
he then
tells
Moses
a little
bit more
of his
plan
in
verses
18 to
20
he starts
to map
out a bit
more
what it's
going to
look like
that you're
going to
go to
the elders
and they're
going to
listen
and then
you're
going to
have
them
and you're
going to
go to
Egypt
and they're
going to
listen
and I'm
going to
win
and God's
people
the Israelites
who have
been in
slavery
they're
going to
be
free
and they're
going to
come to
this place
and they're
going to
worship
me
God
reminds
Moses
of his
plan
then I
love this
bit this is
probably the
most dramatic
bit of the
prince of
Egypt for
me
verses
2 to
9
then the
Lord said
to him
what is
that in
your
hand
a
staff
he
replied
the
Lord said
throw it
on the
ground
Moses
threw it
on the
ground
and it
became
a
snake
and he
ran
from
it
then the
Lord
said to
him
reach out
your
hand
and take
it by
the
tail
so Moses
reached
out
and took
hold
of the
snake
and it
turned
back into
a
staff
in his
hand
this
said
the
Lord
is
so
that
they
may
believe
that
the
Lord
the
God
of
their
fathers
the
God
of
Abraham
inside
your
cloak
so
Moses
put
his
hand
into
his
cloak
and
when
he
took
it
out
the
skin
was
leprous
it
had
become
as
white
as
snow
now
put
it
back
in
your
cloak
he
said
so
Moses
put
his
hand
back
into
his
cloak
and
when
he
took
it
out
it
was
restored
like
the
rest
of
his
flesh
then
the
Lord
said
if
they
do
not
believe
you
or
pay
attention
to
the
first
sign
they
may
believe
the
second
but
if
they
do
not
believe
these
two
signs
or
listen
to
you
take
some
water
from
the
Nile
and
pour
it
on
the
dry
ground
the
water
you
take
from
the
river
will
become
blood
on
the
ground
God
reminds
Moses
of
his
power
and
he
gives
them
these
three
examples
of
his
power
the
staff
that
goes
to
a
snake
the
hand
that
becomes
leprous
and
then
not
and
then
the
water
of
the
Nile
becoming
like
blood
now
this
isn't
God
showing
off
his
party
tricks
these
are
very
deliberate
miracles
the
first
one
of
Moses
having
control
over
the
snake
the
actual
snake
is
a
cobra
and
the
cobra
is
the
symbol
of
the
pharaoh
what
a
great
example
of
God's
power
over
the
most
powerful
man
in
Egypt
that
Moses
can
put
him
down
and
pick
him
up
whenever
he
wants
leprosy
was
absolutely
ravaging
Egypt
at
this
time
huge
leper
colonies
outside
the
big
city
and
Moses
says
your
pharaoh
he
can't
deal
with
leprosy
look
at
me
leprosy
no
leprosy
no
leprosy
no
leprosy
but he
did that
on the
walk
all the
way
to
Egypt
and
then
this
idea
of the
Nile
and
the
water
turning
to
blood
the
Nile
is
synonymous
with at
least
three
of the
biggest
Egyptian
gods
Moses
says
I can
do
with
the
Nile
whatever
you
want
because
your
gods
are
absolutely
nothing
this
is
this
is
God's
perseverance
verse
13
Moses
says
pardon
your
servant
please
send
someone
else
and
God
gets
angry
because
Moses
will
God
will
deal
with
Moses
failings
was
going
to
go
down
and
your
brother
Aaron
is
already
making
tracks
to
intercept
you
on
the
way
to
Egypt
God
perseveres
Moses
is so
weak
and feeble
with his
five
excuses
and God
says
I can
overcome
all of
it
I want
to give
you
such
a
big
view
of
me
that
you
see
nothing
of
yourself
and
have
real
confidence
as
you
go
to
do
this
work
what's
the
way
to
deal
with
the
fear
of
man
that
Moses
has
have
a
big
view
of
God
I
can't
do
it
God
can
I'm
not
able
but
God
is
sufficient
this
is
how
gracious
God
is
in
dealing
with
his
servant
God
towards
Moses
in
his
grace
let's
just
finish
up
shall
we
chapter
4
verse
18
it's
all
going
so
well
but
it's
about
to
take
a
surprising
turn
then
Moses
went
back
to
Jethro
his
father
in
law
and
said
to
him
let
me
return
to
my
own
people
in
Egypt
to
see
if
any
of
them
are
alive
Jethro
said
go
and I
wish
you
well
now
the
Lord
had
said
to
Moses
in
Midian
go
back
to
Egypt
for
all
those
who
wanted
to
kill
you
are
dead
so
Moses
took
his
wife
and
sons
put
them
on
a
donkey
and
started
back
to
Egypt
and
he
took
the
staff
of
God
in
his
hand
the
Lord
said
to
Moses
when
you
return
to
Egypt
see
that
you
perform
before
Pharaoh
all
the
wonders
I
have
given
you
the
power
to
do
but
I
will
harden
his
heart
so
that
he
will
not
let
the
people
go
then
say
to
Pharaoh
this
is
what
the
Lord
says
Israel
is
my
firstborn
son
and
I
told
you
let
my
son
go
so
that
he
may
worship
me
but
you
refused
to
let
him
go
so
I
will
kill
your
firstborn
son
at
a
lodging
place
on
the
way
the
Lord
met
Moses
and
was
about
to
kill
him
but
Pharaoh
took
a
flint
knife
cut
off
her
son's
foreskin
and
touched
Moses
feet
with
it
surely
you
are
a
bridegroom
of
blood
to
me
she
said
so
the
Lord
let
him
alone
at
that
time
she
said
bridegroom
mountain
of
God
and
kissed
him
then
Moses
told
Aaron
everything
the
Lord
had
sent
him
to
say
and
also
about
the
signs
he
had
commanded
him
to
perform
Moses
and
Aaron
brought
together
all the
elders
of the
Israelites
and
Aaron
told
them
everything
the
Lord
had
said
to
Moses
he
also
performed
the
signs
before
the
people
and
they
believed
and
when
they
heard
that
the
Lord
was
concerned
about
them
and
had
been
their
misery
they
bowed
down
and
had
seen
their
misery
they
bowed
down
and
worshipped
verse 24
is a
real
surprising
turn
God
has
gone
to
such
great
lengths
to
get
Moses
ready
and
then
in
verse
24
God
says
God
appears
because
he
wants
to
kill
Moses
I've
been
wrestling
with
this
all
week
why
does
God
want
to
kill
Moses
I
think
there's
three
things
that
show
Moses
has
lingering
unbelief
despite
the fact
that God
has been
so gracious
Moses
still
doubts
here's
the first
look
what he
says
to
Jethro
let
me
return
to
my
people
to
my
own
people
in
Egypt
to
see
if
any
of
them
are
still
alive
saying
this
is
a
bit
of
a
wild
goose
chase
I
don't
really
trust
that
there's
anyone
worth
saving
secondly
he
takes
his
wife
and
sons
I
don't
know
if
trying
to
do
diplomacy
with
the
greatest
man
with
the
most
powerful
man
there
is
in
Egypt
is
particularly
a
thing
for
wife
and
sons
perhaps
it
indicates
that
Moses
thinks
he's
just
going to
go back
to
Egypt
and
settle
with
Zipporah
and
Gershi
perhaps
that's
what it
is
but we
see
later
on
in
the
story
that
Moses
will
send
Zipporah
and
her
sons
away
because
it's
too
dangerous
and
yet
he
decides
quick
mode
of
transport
because
he's
so
desperate
to
get
there
lingering
unbelief
and
then
he's
failed
to
prepare
properly
that
even
his
own
son
does
not
bear
the
sign
of
circumcision
to
show
that
he's
in
a
relationship
with
God
it's
very
kind
of
half
hearted
and
therefore
God
intercedes
and
says
let's
sort
this
out
before
we
go
any
further
do
we
see
that
even
in
this
God
is
to
reveal
Moses
is
lingering
unbelief
so
they
can
sort
it
out
before
they
get
to
Egypt
and
I
think
the
best
response
we
get
from
anyone
is
in
verse
31
that
Moses
and
Aaron
come
to
the
elders
and
they
gather
them
and
they
hear
and
they
believe
and
they
see
and
they're
amazed
and
they're
full
of
hope
and
how
do
they
respond
they
bow
down
that
symbol
of
submitting
of
saying
God
you're
in
control
and
I'm
not
and
then
they
worshipped
him
because
of
his
grace
towards
them
so
we
come
into
land
with
this
that
God
is
stepping
forward
towards
each
of us
in
grace
as
he
did
Moses
we
see
the
wrath
of
God
is
averted
through
the
shedding
of
blood
as
Zipporah
performs
this
emergency
surgery
on
Zipporah
and
yet
that
points
even
more
to
wrath
averted
from
a
holy
God
through
the
shedding
of
blood
of
his
son
and
therefore
God
has
ultimately
stepped
forward
in
grace
towards
us
in
the
person
of
his
son
that
God
has
ultimately
revealed
what
he's
like
in
the
Lord
Jesus
in
ultra
high
definition
he's
shown
us
exactly
what
he's
like
he's
not
only
revealed
his
plan
to
us
he's
fulfilled
his
plan
for
us
in
the
Lord
Jesus
he
sent
his
son
down
to
rescue
his
people
and
he
did
it
all
by
himself
meaning
that
all we
can
do
is
live
in
grace
he
saves
us
completely
so
he
can
stop
making
excuses
and
he
sends
us
on
mission
to
make
much
of
him
all
by
his
grace
God
is
stepping
forward
towards
each
of us
this
morning
in
his
grace
to
reveal
more
of
himself
to
give
us
a
bigger
view
of
who
he
is
and
what
he's
done
in
the
Lord
Jesus
so
that
we
might
be
sent
out
with
real
confidence
in
him
God
is
saying
I'm
stepping
forward
towards
each
of
you
what
does
this
look
like
well
maybe
it's
this
that
you
feel
you've
made
a
mess
a
catastrophic
mess
of
life
God
this
morning
says
I've
stepped
forward
towards
you
in
grace
come
to
shrink
that
gap
and
bring
you
back
perhaps
you've
got
real
fear
of
man
and
those
excuses
you
make
all
the
time
well
let's
get
a
really
big
view
of
God
and
see
that
his
grace
is
sufficient
number
three
perhaps
there's
real
lingering
unbelief
God's
told
you to
do
something
and
yet
you
hold
back
because
you
don't
really
trust
him
perhaps
today
is
the
day
whereas
he
steps
forward
towards
you
in
grace
you
step
forward
towards
him
and
say
yes
let's
do
this
not
because
I
can
but
because
you're
able
but
perhaps
you're
not a
Christian
here
today
and
all
this
is
sound
very
interesting
but
has
absolutely
nothing
to do
with
you
well
let me
say
this
that
God
is
real
and
that
he's
stepping
forward
towards
you
in
the
person
of
his
son
so
that
you
might
know
him
and
love
him
and
serve
him
forever
and
he's
done
everything
possible
he's
shown
you
what
he's
like
in
the
person
of
his
son
he says
my
son
is
the
exact
representation
of
who
I
am
so
in
getting
to
know
him
you
see
who
I
am
that
I
am
humble
and
faithful
that
I
am
holy
and
I'm
personal
and
I'm
calling
each
of
you
by
name
and
he's
saying
I've
got a
purpose
and a
plan
for
your
life
as
I
did
for
Moses
so
get
on
board
trust
my
grace
love
my
son
do
what
the
Israelites
did
bow
down
and
worship
him
why don't
we just
have a
minute
silence
and
then
I'll
pray
father
god
thank
you
that
you're
a
god
who
wants
to
be
known
father
I
pray
that
you
would
know
us
this
morning
that
you
would
love
us
this
morning
that
you
would
reveal
yourself
more
to
us
this
morning
father
that
you
would
pursue
us
this
morning
in
your
grace
and
you
would
use
us
this
week
all
by
your
grace
to
make
much
of
your
son
father
come
and
dominate
all
of
our
lives
father
may
we
stop
making
excuses
may
we
stop
doubting
your
sufficiency
but
lord
may
all
of
our
lives
be
lived
bowing
before
you
and
worshipping
you
with
everything
you've
given
us
father
bless
us
richly
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
amen