WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.160 I can't do it. I'm not the right person. I don't have the skills. Get someone else to do it. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:17.179 All of these thoughts ran through my head as Alyssa and I stood on the doorstep of Westmead 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:23.039 Hospital when our son Isaac had been born and we were about to leave the hospital. 00:00:23.900 --> 00:00:29.260 How could we be responsible for this person? Did the people in the hospital realise that we had 00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:37.579 no idea what we were doing? Now we've figured out most parts of what it means to parent, 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:45.340 at least parent small children, and we still have many left to learn. But in that moment, 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:54.120 Alyssa and I had a moment where we were filled with, plagued with doubts and fears. We can fear 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:59.180 failing because we're ill-equipped. We don't have the right knowledge. We can fear failing because 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:05.099 we think we're just the wrong person for the task. Maybe I don't want to fail, so I'll just say I'm not 00:01:05.099 --> 00:01:11.039 the right person. Alyssa, I'm not the right person to change a nappy. I don't know how to do that. 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.500 Unfortunately, she didn't let me get out of the one and I had to learn how to do that. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:23.700 But when somebody else asks for help, when somebody calls for help outside of our comfort zone, 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:32.540 we can respond, I can't do that. I don't know how. I'm not the right person. And I wonder if we can do 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:38.900 the same thing with God. God calls us to follow Jesus. He calls us into his family and he also 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:45.760 calls us out. He sends us out to love and serve other people. But I wonder if we can hear that call 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:54.820 of God and say, no. No, no, God, I'm not the right person to go out. I'm not equipped to share my faith. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:03.700 I can't help that person over there. God, send someone else. My friend needs help. They're grieving, 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:08.960 but somebody else can comfort them with the gospel. That person over there, they're asking for help. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:16.820 God, can you send someone else to fix this problem? And the reality is, we are all faced with situations 00:02:16.820 --> 00:02:23.860 like this. Moses was in a similar position, which Nolene has just read for us. Last week, 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:30.480 we started our series in the book of Exodus. And this book shows us that we are very ordinary, 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:38.939 but we have an extraordinary God. And Moses, he'd fled out of Egypt out of fear of Pharaoh. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:46.080 And he's fleeing his own people as well. And he's living in a place called Midian. He's been there 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:53.879 for around 40 years. He's gotten married, but he's still plagued by his past failure. He's lonely 00:02:53.879 --> 00:03:03.659 and lost. So much so that he names his son Gershon. Gershon means foreigner. This is how Moses is feeling. 00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:11.199 He's in a distant land. He's feeling like a foreigner. And into this context, God is going to call him. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:17.240 God's going to give him a new identity, not one based on being a prince in Egypt. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:27.420 But Moses, he's still plagued by his fear to follow God's call. And so as we have a look at chapters 3 and 4 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:35.340 today, we're going to see how God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And how he calls 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:43.599 and prepares and sends us out. So please, let's pray as we jump in. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, I thank you 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:53.039 that you, as I thank you every week, that you are a good and kind and loving God. God, help us to hear 00:03:53.039 --> 00:04:01.360 this morning about your love for us and about how you want to use us, Lord, because you are extraordinary. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:09.200 Amen. So today, we have three points. First of all, we're going to see an encounter with God. 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:16.340 Then we're going to see Moses called out by God. And then what it actually means to follow God's call. 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:21.360 An encounter with God, called out by God. And then what it actually means to follow, to follow that 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:29.960 call of God. So Moses is tending a flock of sheep on a mountain called Horeb. Its other name is Sinai. 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:39.319 And God appears in a burning bush. Now fire is something that we are all just instinctively 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:43.899 drawn to. I don't know, there's just something marvelous about fire. Have you ever been camping 00:04:43.899 --> 00:04:50.139 and you just want to sit around that fire, even though it's going to make you stink with smoke? 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:59.799 We're just instinctively drawn to fire. But also, we don't go and sit in the fire. We keep our 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:06.460 distance from fire. It is attractive, but it's also dangerous. It gets Moses' attention. 00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:15.540 And perhaps God is using a fire itself to draw Moses to him, but also remind him that there is 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:22.480 difference between God and man. Now Moses goes over thinking that this is a strange sight. This bush, 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:27.960 it should have been burnt up by an hour. But that's not the only strange thing about this bush. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:35.620 The bush starts speaking. God calls to Moses through this bush. And God reveals who he is. 00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:38.600 Have a look, Exodus chapter 3, verse 5. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:45.920 Do not come any closer, God said. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:52.140 Then he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:06:01.320 At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. God speaks to Moses. He reveals who he is. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:09.079 And this God is awesome, but also terrifying to behold. The space around the bush was holy because 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:15.980 God was speaking. And so when Moses hears it, he falls flat on the ground. He hides his face 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:27.039 because he is terrified. And there is a rightness to this response. God is not our mate. He is not our 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:35.280 buddy. He is not our friend. He's not even the type of God who's a vending machine that we put our 00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:44.200 prayers into and we get the things that we want out of. If we met this God face to face, we would fall 00:06:44.200 --> 00:06:50.840 in our feet just like Moses does. And look at what this God says in verse 7. The Lord said, 00:06:50.839 --> 00:07:20.599 God says he knows what has been going on for his people. His people have been enslaved in Egypt, 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:25.580 because there was a Pharaoh who feared them. God had blessed Israel. They had grown large 00:07:25.580 --> 00:07:33.820 and they'd been enslaved. And God says, I see your misery. I've heard your crying. I'm concerned 00:07:33.820 --> 00:07:43.180 about your suffering. And God has come down to deal with this situation. It is easy for us to take for 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:51.660 granted God being among us when we forget how above us he is. It's easy to take for granted that God would 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:59.480 come down when we forget how far he comes down and how awesome he is. He is so far above us. He is 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:08.920 holy and perfect. Moses couldn't even stand before God speaking through a bush, let alone God himself. 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:19.460 But this God who is different and holy and good and perfect and awesome, he also comes down. He is present. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:26.439 And the wonderful encouragement for Moses here is, I know your condition. I know the suffering you're going 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:33.700 through. This is a God who does not remain separate. He knows our problems. He rolls up his sleeves and he's 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:39.680 going to get involved. He has appeared to Moses in a bush to say, I'm with you. He's going to appear to 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:45.240 Israel in a pillar of smoke and a pillar of fire to say, I am with you. I know you're suffering. 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:53.000 And he ultimately appears as Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, who we get to encounter 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:58.240 through the words of the Bible to meet. And we get to meet this God face to face. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:05.740 And so God says he will do something. This God is going to get involved. He's going to deal with 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:12.940 this situation. Verse 10, so now go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:18.899 out of Egypt. God is going to deal with this situation. He's encountered Moses so that Moses 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:23.100 can be the one that God uses to deal with this situation. 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:31.720 God is going to use Moses to bring them out of slavery. And I can imagine at this moment, 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:38.620 Moses thinking, do you know what, God? I've tried that. I've tried to save Israel in the past. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:44.740 And look where it's gotten me. I'm in exile now in Midian. I've been here for about 40 years. 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:51.519 What Moses had done was he saw an Israelite being abused and beaten by an Egyptian. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:54.699 And so Moses got involved and he killed the Egyptian. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.039 And so Moses looks at the situation and goes, I've tried to save Israel before. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:06.759 It didn't do so well. And so Moses has five different excuses for God. 00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:13.519 This is our second point today, God's call to Moses. But Moses has five different excuses. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:22.759 He says he's unfit. He says he lacks knowledge. He's not going to be effective. He can't speak. 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:27.679 And do you know what? He just does not want to do it. Five different excuses of Moses. 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:30.259 We didn't read all of these out. We're going to have a look at these now. 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:35.559 But God answers these and his promises are wonderful. 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:38.879 And so we're going to go through Moses' responses here. 00:10:39.239 --> 00:10:42.119 But I wonder, as we do this, have a think. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:45.159 Which of these responses would I give to God? 00:10:45.359 --> 00:10:50.979 If God spoke to me right now through a burning bush or spoke to me over coffee through someone at church 00:10:50.979 --> 00:10:53.799 and said, hey, can you go and do this? 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.299 Can you go and love this person? 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.899 Can you go and speak the gospel to this person into their life? 00:10:59.079 --> 00:11:02.519 Which of these five excuses do we default to? 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:05.720 How do we answer God's call? 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.759 Do we say, I'm not the right person? 00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:10.759 I lack knowledge. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.939 You know, I don't have the words. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:17.120 Do you know, God, I could do that, but I'm not going to be effective. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:20.279 Or maybe, God, I just don't want to. 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:24.399 As we go through this, have a think. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.379 Which of these do I default to? 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.679 We'll come back to that at the end. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.819 First of all, we're going to see Moses' fear of failure. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.240 As him being unfit. 00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:37.299 He just thinks he's unfit for the role. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.139 Verse 11. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:40.559 Moses said to God, 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.980 Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.039 Who am I? 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:49.179 Now, the reality is, 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:51.960 Moses is the perfect person for it. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:55.360 He was raised in the Egyptian court. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.379 He knows the Egyptian situation. 00:11:57.379 --> 00:12:02.539 He knows how to deal with them politically because he was raised in that situation. 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.720 He's also an Israelite so he can speak for them. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.799 There is no one like Moses for this situation. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.720 And yet he says, 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.580 Who am I, God? 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.580 Who am I? 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:16.000 He feels inadequate for the task. 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:19.000 He's already tried to save Israel once before. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:21.440 He's had to flee Egypt. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.880 And he's saying, 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:25.220 God, you've got the wrong person. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.560 And God responds, 00:12:27.640 --> 00:12:29.020 I love God's answers here. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:31.100 God's answers are just truly wonderful. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:32.140 And what he does, 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.980 he actually doesn't answer the question, 00:12:34.520 --> 00:12:37.280 but also gives the best answer to the question. 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.500 Moses asks, 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.140 Who am I? 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.860 And God says in verse 12, 00:12:42.300 --> 00:12:43.980 I will be with you. 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:48.460 Your identity is a former child of the Egyptian royal family. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.539 That's actually not important. 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:52.379 Your identity as a lost son of Israel. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.240 That's not important. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.680 What is important is my identity. 00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:57.300 I am God. 00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:59.500 And I am with you. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.240 Despite God's promise that he'll be with him, 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:04.899 Moses is not convinced. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.680 He comes back to God with his second fear. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.259 Verse 13, 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.620 effectively asks, 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:13.620 Well, who are you? 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.899 Verse 13, 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:18.680 Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.060 The God of your fathers has sent me to you. 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:21.759 And they ask me, 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.940 What is his name? 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.820 Then what do I tell them? 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:28.700 Moses' first question was about his own fear of his identity. 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.620 Who am I to do this? 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:33.940 Now, in questioning God, 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:34.879 he says, 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.080 Well, who are you, God? 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.879 Who am I to explain who you are? 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.720 I don't have knowledge of who you are 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.960 to explain that to the Israelite leaders. 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:49.159 And God's response is one of the most studied parts of the Old Testament. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.960 God answers with his name. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.860 What is known as Yahweh. 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.639 Verse 14, 00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:58.420 God said to Moses, 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.200 I am who I am. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.320 That's the word Yahweh. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.080 This is what you are to say to the Israelites. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.379 I am has sent me to you. 00:14:09.660 --> 00:14:14.500 Now, this is a name that is meant to burst our definitions. 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:19.259 When we meet people and introduce ourselves, 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.779 we define ourselves by other things. 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.720 So, you know, 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:26.159 when I met, you know, 00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:26.779 Nick, 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.299 it's, 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:27.980 Hi, Nick. 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.059 I'm James. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.039 I'm a father. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.940 I'm a husband. 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:35.400 I'm a teacher, 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.180 an accountant. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:39.780 We communicate who we are 00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:42.180 by the things around us. 00:14:42.880 --> 00:14:44.800 We give ourselves titles 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:47.820 to help other people understand us. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.760 We define ourselves 00:14:49.760 --> 00:14:51.860 by other things. 00:14:52.880 --> 00:14:54.420 But God does not do that. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:58.720 His argument actually circles back on itself. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.779 I am who I am. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.139 God is not defined by anything else. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:08.139 He doesn't need to say, 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:08.560 you know, 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:08.960 for me, 00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:11.139 I am Alyssa's husband. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.700 I explain who I am 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.320 by reference to somebody else. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.279 God doesn't do that. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:15.879 He says, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.360 I am who I am. 00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:20.279 God, 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:23.620 he's not constrained by external factors. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:26.180 He doesn't depend upon other people. 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:29.620 And that means that when he makes promises, 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.299 he can keep them. 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:35.120 I am who I am 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.979 can also be translated as, 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.679 I will be who I will be. 00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:41.299 And so, 00:15:41.739 --> 00:15:45.599 in four out of five of Moses' questions and objections, 00:15:45.859 --> 00:15:46.759 God actually answers, 00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:49.779 I will be with you. 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:53.500 The God of the universe is with you. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:56.399 But this God of the universe 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.500 has also made himself known 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.580 to a specific group of people. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.679 Verse 15, 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.139 Say to the Israelites, 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.299 the God of your fathers, 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.440 the God of Abraham, 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.620 the God of Isaac, 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.480 and the God of Jacob 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:11.019 has sent me to you. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.419 This God, 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.820 who's not defined by other people, 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:15.559 has come to know and love 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.559 a particular people. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.440 This is not a new God. 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:20.720 This is the God of Israel. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.279 Moses had questioned who he was, 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.200 and then he had questioned who God is, 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.860 and now Moses asks, 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.160 well, 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:34.820 how are you going to be with me? 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.899 God has, 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.960 and God sets out this wonderful plan. 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:40.759 You're going to go and speak to the elders. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.460 They will listen. 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:43.800 Pharaoh, 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.440 his heart will be hardened. 00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:47.100 He won't want to let you out of Egypt, 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:49.620 but I will work miracles through you, 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.940 and you will go, 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.800 and you will plunder Egypt. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.759 You will have obstacles, 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.740 but no matter how big they are, 00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:58.920 you will get through them, 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.080 not because of you, 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.899 but because of me, 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.680 because I am is with you. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.620 Moses has heard God's wonderful plan. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.799 He has heard about who this God is. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.380 He's heard these assurances from God, 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:16.400 but he still isn't willing to give up. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.599 He fears that he won't be effective. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.699 He has his third fear here, 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:23.099 in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:27.019 What if they don't believe me, 00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:28.559 or listen to me, 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.099 and say, 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.980 the Lord did not appear to you? 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:34.240 Moses still has a lot of issues 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.419 trusting in God, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.639 and trusting in other people. 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.079 But more seriously, 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:42.059 he's just disagreed with God himself. 00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:43.539 God has said, 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.519 this is the plan, 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:45.659 this is what's going to happen, 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.820 and this is how it's going to work out. 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:49.480 And Moses stands back and goes, 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.600 I just want to, 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:52.900 God, 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.519 I just want to clarify point 2. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.580 I don't think that one's going to work. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.600 Can you imagine Moses' audacity here 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:00.680 to do that to God? 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:04.440 It appears that verbal assurances 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.700 are just not good enough. 00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:09.060 And so God gives him an immediate sign. 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.920 God says, 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.220 Moses, 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:12.680 throw down your staff that you've got. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.920 Moses throws it down, 00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:15.340 and it turns into a snake. 00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:17.200 And Moses runs away 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.460 out of fear of a snake. 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:20.299 God says, 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.799 go and pick the snake up by the tail, 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.960 and he picks it up by the tail, 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.779 and it turns back into a staff. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:28.799 God calls him to overcome his fear. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.500 And this shows that God is more powerful 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.059 than Moses' fear, 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:36.819 but it also validates his authority. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.480 You are sent by God, 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.759 you have my authority. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.500 God tells Moses to put his hand into his cloak, 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:45.779 and it comes out covered in leprosy. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.059 It goes back in, 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.619 and comes out clean, 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:52.259 because this God is in control 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:55.019 of life and death and disease. 00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:57.619 God promises Moses, 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.159 Moses, 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.939 take water out of the Nile 00:18:59.939 --> 00:19:00.779 and pour it out, 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.079 and it will turn into blood 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.479 because this God is in control 00:19:04.479 --> 00:19:05.779 of the Nile, 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:07.959 which gave life to the people of Egypt. 00:19:09.239 --> 00:19:10.639 These three signs 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:12.319 were to give confidence to Moses 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.459 that God is in control, 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:16.039 and that God was with him. 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:16.819 His name himself, 00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:17.599 I am, 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.299 is with you. 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:21.959 But somehow, 00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:24.379 Moses has a fourth excuse. 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.319 If you're not getting frustrated 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.619 with Moses at this point, 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:30.139 you are far more patient than I am. 00:19:30.199 --> 00:19:31.219 I'm getting quite frustrated 00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:32.119 with Moses here. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.019 His fear comes up. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.239 His fear is that he just, 00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.919 I don't have the right gifting. 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.939 I can't do this 00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:40.279 because I don't have the right gifting. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.779 Chapter 4, verse 10. 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:44.899 Moses said to the Lord, 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.119 pardon your servant, Lord. 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:51.679 I have never been eloquent, 00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.799 neither in the past 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.239 nor since you have spoken 00:19:55.239 --> 00:19:55.919 to your servant. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.819 I am slow of speech and tongue. 00:19:58.959 --> 00:20:01.259 I don't have the gifting of words. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.439 So somehow he has the ability 00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:05.279 to speak to a burning bush, 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:07.940 and that's been fine, 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.980 but he can't go and speak to Pharaoh. 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:13.019 He's seen a staff turn into a snake 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.680 and pick that up. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.259 He's turned his hand leprous and back, 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.019 and yet he says, 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.399 God, 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:20.960 I don't have the gift to do this. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.059 And God reminds him 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:24.639 that God is the one 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.619 who made mouths 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.859 and speech. 00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.699 Verse 12, 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.399 now go, 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:31.919 I will help you speak. 00:20:32.439 --> 00:20:34.000 I will teach you what to say. 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.159 Again, 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:37.319 God is promising 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.239 based on who he is, 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.679 I am with you. 00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:44.000 Moses' fifth 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.459 and last excuse. 00:20:46.719 --> 00:20:47.399 Verse 13, 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:51.039 send someone else. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:53.799 He's just unwilling. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.359 I just don't want to do this, God. 00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:00.759 God appears to have a tone of irritation, 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.159 if not rebuke, 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.079 in verse 14. 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.940 Then the Lord's anger 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.379 burned against Moses, 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:06.899 and he said, 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:07.920 what about your brother, 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.920 Aaron the Levite? 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.740 Verse 15, 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:11.019 you shall speak to him 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.619 and put words in his mouth. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.799 I will help both of you speak 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.639 and will teach you what to do. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:19.519 God is going to use Moses to speak. 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.619 Moses is going to be the one who speaks, 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:23.759 but Moses is going to speak to Aaron 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.500 and then Aaron will speak. 00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:28.059 And God's anger here, 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.359 it's tinged with mercy. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.259 He doesn't get rid of him. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:33.220 He doesn't use someone else, 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.319 but he appoints a spokesperson for Moses. 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:41.059 Moses could not shrink away from God any longer. 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:44.059 Someone else was going to do the talking, 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.980 but Moses was going to be the one 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.980 leading Israel out of Egypt. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.279 God has defeated every single one 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.440 of Moses' excuses. 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:56.500 Moses has been plagued by fear, 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:58.720 and that's influenced his desire 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:00.259 not to return to Egypt. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.200 And really, 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.779 this example of Moses 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:05.059 just highlights 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:07.700 how unimpressive people are 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:11.859 and how God chooses to use them anyway. 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:14.599 It's really wonderful here 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:16.279 because God doesn't encourage Moses 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:18.699 with nice words or platitudes. 00:22:19.219 --> 00:22:20.679 God doesn't say to Moses, 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:23.039 everything will be fine. 00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.959 You can do this. 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:26.219 Moses, actually, 00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:27.659 you're a great speaker. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.659 You've just got to start doing it. 00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:30.899 You're going to be great. 00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:32.159 You're going to go there, 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.000 and you're actually going to be really convincing. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.799 Pharaoh's going to hear you, 00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.979 and it's going to be awesome. 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.880 You can do this, Moses. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.860 I believe in you. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.019 God doesn't do that at all. 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:45.460 God doesn't try and puff him up at all. 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.779 This is not an issue of Moses 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.120 having more self-esteem. 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.700 This is an issue of Moses 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.680 having more God-esteem. 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:57.480 As Moses lists his list of excuses, 00:22:57.880 --> 00:23:00.120 I imagine the burning bush just nodding. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.099 Yeah. 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.019 Yeah, no, you are not gifted. 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:05.539 Yeah, you do really suck. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.039 You are quite unimpressive. 00:23:08.239 --> 00:23:09.179 No, that's right, Moses. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.879 You can't actually do this. 00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:14.379 But none of this depends on Moses. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:17.899 God's answers all the way through are, 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:19.779 I am with you. 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:23.719 This is all about God and not Moses. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:27.359 The joy of our God 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:29.599 is that when he calls us to follow him 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.879 and sends us out, 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:33.079 he doesn't leave us on our own. 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:36.459 God answers every single one 00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:37.519 of Moses' questions 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.519 with power and strength 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.559 that is from God. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.599 When God calls someone 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.899 like a prophet or Moses here 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:47.219 in this situation or us, 00:23:47.219 --> 00:23:49.639 he gives us our resources 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:51.779 to do what we've been called to do. 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:54.079 And God is with us. 00:23:55.959 --> 00:23:59.339 God uses unimpressive people 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:01.619 to do impressive things 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:04.179 because we are ordinary people 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:05.839 with an extraordinary God. 00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:08.299 This is how God calls people. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:12.599 He calls us to the same thing. 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:15.240 He calls us to follow and serve him. 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:17.879 He doesn't bring people into him 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:20.139 without also sending them out 00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:22.259 with love and compassion 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.939 and the words of the gospel. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:27.000 And he equips us 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.580 and resources us 00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:30.080 to be on about his ministry. 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:31.259 And most importantly, 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.559 he is with us. 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.660 So what does it look like 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.580 to follow God's call? 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:41.340 When Jesus is about to ascend to heaven 00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.420 after the resurrection, 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.700 he says in Matthew 28, 00:24:44.700 --> 00:25:11.779 Jesus sends his disciples out, 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:14.200 just like God sent Moses out, 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.559 go out against the authorities 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.279 of the land 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:19.940 because Jesus has all authority. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.980 Jesus calls the disciples to go 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.599 and promises, 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:26.420 I am with you. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:31.059 This is Jesus using God's name. 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.359 It's a direct reference 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:34.660 to Exodus 3. 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.940 God said, 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.779 this is who I am. 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:37.819 This is the name of God. 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.579 And Jesus said, 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:41.159 I am with you. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:44.159 You can go up against rulers 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.139 and nations. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.539 You can go up against 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.779 the Jewish church disciples. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.359 You will be persecuted. 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.720 You will share the good news 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.500 that I am alive 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:54.740 all because Jesus was with them. 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.519 Not only was he with them, 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:59.659 he also gives them what they need. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.659 They're given the Holy Spirit 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:03.980 so that they don't go out empty 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:06.079 and they don't have to go out 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.860 with fear like Moses was. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.339 Jesus said in Luke 12 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:11.680 that when they're confronted 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.420 with authorities, 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.299 don't worry how to respond. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.839 Don't worry about what you have to say. 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:19.120 The Holy Spirit will give you 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:19.880 the words to say 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:21.099 at the moment when you need them. 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.180 Moses was given a staff. 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:27.319 We have been given the Holy Spirit 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:30.519 equipping us 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:32.500 and enabling us to serve God. 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:35.019 He gives us the courage to speak 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.799 and he gives us the words. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.640 And yet, 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:41.819 despite God's call to us, 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.960 resourcing us through the power 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.720 of the Holy Spirit 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.160 and promises from Jesus 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.339 that he is still with us, 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:50.079 we can be like Moses. 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.440 Out of our fear, 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.180 we can say, 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.779 I can't do that. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.740 I'm not the right person. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:01.140 And our fear of the situation 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:03.200 can be larger than our fear of God. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.160 Our concern, 00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:07.520 as Kel said for us before, 00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:08.940 our concern will be, 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.360 oh, 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:12.560 what happens when I speak 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.540 these words about Jesus? 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.700 What happens when I just 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:16.259 drop that into a sentence? 00:27:17.540 --> 00:27:19.140 How are they going to respond? 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.320 These problems we face 00:27:22.320 --> 00:27:24.759 are larger than our God 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:26.259 in our eyes too often. 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:30.019 I asked you earlier 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.420 how you'd think you'd respond 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.039 if you were in Moses' shoes. 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.839 Which one of those 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.940 do you think you'd default to? 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:40.299 Do you think you would 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:42.099 just say, 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:42.839 oh, 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.960 I can't do this, 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.879 I'm not the right person, 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:47.200 I don't have the knowledge? 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.079 Maybe, 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.400 maybe you don't. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.379 And so, 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.879 do you know what, 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.160 as Kel has encouraged us, 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.880 we need to have information, 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.820 and we need to have tactics. 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:58.900 And so, 00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:00.540 come along to the 00:28:00.540 --> 00:28:01.700 How to Share Your Faith course 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.680 starting in a couple of weeks. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.240 Because, 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:06.420 we will have those then. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.800 God has worked salvation 00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:10.440 through Jesus, 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.700 and when we are saved, 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:12.560 we are called 00:28:12.560 --> 00:28:13.440 to go out 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.240 to serve Him. 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.580 We're called to 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:17.140 serve each other with love, 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.900 to serve the world. 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:21.640 And God wonderfully 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.460 gives us all 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.200 different gifts. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:25.340 calls some of us 00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:25.960 to preach 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.460 on the stage 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.120 like this, 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.240 and He calls some of us 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.880 to preach 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.059 over coffee, 00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.460 over the fence, 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.480 to our neighbours. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.039 Some 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.819 to go out 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.779 to other nations 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.380 to love 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:41.220 and serve people, 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.140 and some to go 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.019 across the road 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.000 to serve 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.480 and love 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.039 other people. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.779 He calls 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.460 all of us 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.299 to give 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.620 out of compassion. 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:51.819 He calls 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.339 some of us 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.299 to evangelise 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.239 with a capital E, 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.879 to congregations 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.939 of 10,000 00:28:56.939 --> 00:28:57.759 in stadiums 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.000 like 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.579 has happened 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.199 years ago. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:00.979 But He calls 00:29:00.979 --> 00:29:01.639 us all 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.879 to evangelise. 00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:05.119 And so, 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.079 a question is, 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:06.739 well, 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.699 how do I know 00:29:08.699 --> 00:29:09.099 what God 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.799 has called me to? 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.839 I don't want 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.079 to do the wrong thing. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:13.500 You know, 00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.719 it was easy for Moses. 00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.579 He had God speak 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.179 directly to him 00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:16.959 through a burning bush. 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.860 Where's my burning bush? 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.079 God, 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.319 I want to know 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.880 what you want me to do. 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.840 Tell me what to do. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.539 We all have a desire 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.620 to be purposeful 00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:29.019 and to make a difference. 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.100 Let me encourage you, 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.980 start where you are. 00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:35.519 God has placed you 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.500 where you are 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.519 for a reason. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.579 He wants you there 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.900 and you can make 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.860 a difference for God 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.440 where you are. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.880 So begin where you are. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.779 If you are a parent, 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.960 disciple your kids. 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.319 Imagine the impact 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.399 you can have 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.160 through your kids 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.839 and your kids' 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.619 friendship group, 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.680 let alone 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.019 your kids' 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.500 friends' 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.099 parents. 00:29:58.619 --> 00:30:00.039 If you are at school, 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.859 the impact you can have 00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.720 on friends 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.539 and teachers. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.700 If you are part 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.559 of a family, 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.639 if you have friends, 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.420 ask God, 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.160 God, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.819 you have me 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.799 in this situation 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.599 where I am. 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.619 It is unique 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.319 to me. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.139 How can I 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.599 be serving 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.359 and loving 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.699 these people here? 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.639 God, 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.519 how are you 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.419 calling me 00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:25.119 right now 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.740 to do this 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.599 in this situation? 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:28.099 Even before we think, 00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.319 oh, 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.939 God's calling me 00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:29.719 to go overseas, 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.879 which is quite difficult 00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:32.519 at this moment. 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.439 God's calling me 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:34.019 to go and serve 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.519 another people. 00:30:34.699 --> 00:30:35.399 How is God 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:35.939 calling us 00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:36.839 to serve the people 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.459 he has placed 00:30:37.459 --> 00:30:38.279 around us now? 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:41.139 And yet, 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:44.019 even when we know 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.359 exactly what we are 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:45.960 to do, 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.319 we can still struggle. 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:52.759 In the 2013 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.259 Superman film, 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.440 Man of Steel, 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.139 I'm not sure 00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:56.759 if you've seen it. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:00.200 It's a fine movie 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.960 if you like Superman. 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.519 In this movie, 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:04.700 Superman is confronted 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:06.420 with a large challenge. 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:06.980 He's got to go 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.860 and fight the villains. 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:10.120 But he's wracked 00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:10.820 with fear 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:11.840 of what he should do. 00:31:12.300 --> 00:31:13.140 He doesn't know 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.900 what he should do. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.880 And he goes to church. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.960 It's really interesting 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.039 that Superman 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.759 would go to church. 00:31:19.060 --> 00:31:20.019 He goes to church 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.140 and he talks 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.259 to the pastor there. 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:24.920 And he's trying 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.100 to work through 00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.900 his doubt 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:27.880 and his fear 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.860 and to understand 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.420 what he needs 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.160 to do next. 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.120 What is he called 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.960 to do to fight 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:32.400 these villains? 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.700 And it's quite 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.800 interesting 00:31:34.800 --> 00:31:35.600 because this is a guy 00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:36.019 who has 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.379 all of the skills. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.180 He can fly. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.440 He's bulletproof. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:43.220 He's got laser eyes. 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.779 And yet, 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:47.359 he's still sitting 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.639 in a position of, 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.019 I don't know 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:51.480 what I should do next. 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:56.019 We can have 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.220 all the gifting. 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.119 We can have 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.039 all of the ability. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.339 And we can just sit there 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.879 like Moses' 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.480 very first 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.260 and last response 00:32:04.260 --> 00:32:04.760 and go, 00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.360 who am I? 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.920 And I just 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.640 don't want to do it. 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:13.300 We can have 00:32:13.300 --> 00:32:14.180 all the training 00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.140 in evangelism 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.140 and discipleship 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:16.600 and care 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:17.280 and compassion. 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:19.080 We can sit 00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:19.600 with Kel. 00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:20.880 We can get 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.480 all the words. 00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.260 We can know 00:32:22.260 --> 00:32:23.620 how to evangelize. 00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.400 We can have 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.220 the ability 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.000 to do it 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.740 and we can 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.440 also just 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:28.900 pull back 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.440 and say, 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:31.039 I don't want 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.619 to do it. 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.079 God 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.660 sends someone else. 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:37.319 What helps us 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.259 in that situation 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.460 is not more knowledge. 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:41.000 It is not more training. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.819 It's not more self-esteem. 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.220 It's not more courage. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.359 I just need to pull up 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.319 my socks and do it. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:48.299 It is not more self-esteem. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.039 It is more 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.000 God 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.939 esteem. 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.460 The insurmountable, 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:55.039 unfathomable, 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.700 incalculable 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.259 God 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.799 encounters us 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.480 in Jesus. 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.579 The Jesus 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.159 we see 00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.779 in the Bible. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.220 We can know 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.960 him not because 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.019 our minds 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.339 can understand 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.960 the infinite 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.179 but because 00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:09.339 he made himself 00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:09.960 low. 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.339 Bound by skin 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.179 and muscles 00:33:13.179 --> 00:33:14.319 and bone 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:14.879 which could be 00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:15.879 pierced and whipped. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.359 This God 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.960 chooses us 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.700 unimpressive people 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.019 to achieve 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.299 his extraordinary work. 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.460 He finds us 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:28.379 I'll describe 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.379 I'll talk about me 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.059 because I don't want to say 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.919 you're all unimpressive 00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:31.460 and ordinary 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.159 even though I think 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:32.679 I already have. 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.220 He finds people 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.179 like me 00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:36.700 ordinary people 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.339 and says 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:38.779 I am 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.799 with you. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.299 I have got this. 00:33:42.939 --> 00:33:43.759 It actually doesn't 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.740 depend on you. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:46.299 I have got this. 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.839 got this. 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:49.339 You follow me 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:51.139 when I call you 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:52.200 obey me. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.819 In the coming weeks 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.579 we're going to see 00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.379 that God does 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.899 some amazing things 00:33:57.899 --> 00:33:58.559 through Moses. 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.079 But he also 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:02.220 promises to do 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.419 amazing things 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.059 through us. 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.399 That he would 00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.400 first of all 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.119 save us. 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.000 God's plan for us 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.519 is that he would 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.219 sanctify us. 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.480 He is making us 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.280 more like Jesus 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.900 today. 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.900 And God also 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:18.000 chooses to use 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.079 people like us 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.940 to do his amazing 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.199 miraculous work 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.719 of seeing people 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.639 saved to come 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.380 to know and love him. 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:28.179 When we trust him 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.340 and know he is 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.900 with us 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:31.519 we can obey 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.099 his call. 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.300 Let me pray. 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:37.080 dear heavenly 00:34:37.080 --> 00:34:37.480 father 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.860 I thank you so 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.460 much that 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.660 you do choose 00:34:40.660 --> 00:34:41.440 to use 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:43.380 unimpressive 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:44.800 normal people 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.760 like us. 00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:46.800 Lord 00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.400 that is 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.340 in and of 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:48.720 itself 00:34:48.720 --> 00:34:49.300 a wonderful 00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:49.780 miracle. 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.960 Lord 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.519 you have done 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.060 so much 00:34:53.060 --> 00:34:53.600 for us 00:34:53.600 --> 00:34:54.200 in Jesus 00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:54.900 and Lord 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.519 we want 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.240 to see 00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:56.920 you do 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:59.560 wonderful miracles 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.460 in our lives 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.860 and through 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.259 us. 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.739 Lord 00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:03.420 help us 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.400 to hear 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.039 your call 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.880 to listen 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.699 to what you 00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.360 have to say 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:08.820 to us. 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.759 Make it 00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.299 obvious 00:35:11.299 --> 00:35:13.460 so that 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.099 we can 00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.500 obey. 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:14.980 Lord 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:16.699 with our 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.219 fears 00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:17.880 with our 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:19.880 desires 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.480 to pull 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.920 back 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.860 and avoid 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.599 doing this 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.000 Lord 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:25.360 don't give us 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:25.840 courage 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.599 give us 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.539 trust in you 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:28.840 Lord. 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:29.880 Amen.