Transcript Document
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A quote from a communist –
“If I believed, as millions say they do, that a knowledge and practice of Christianity in this life influenced destiny in another world, Christianity would be to me everything. I would cast aside earthly thoughts as vanities and earthly feelings as follies. Christianity would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I would labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for tomorrow and eternity alone. Earthly consequences would never stay my hands nor seal my lips. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a lifetime of effort. I would go forth and preach Christ to the world, and my theme would be, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul”. 6
How many people have I helped lead to Christ?___
Do I ever pray FERVENTLY that I might become a better soul winner?_____ DO I SINCERELY TRY to help that prayer be answered? _____
Am I generally embarrassed to converse with people about Christ? _____ Have I offered the following excuses for NOT trying to lead others to Christ? - “I am
not the preacher” - “I don’t know what to say“ – “I am not Able” - “People won’t believe me” - “Others are better at it than I” -
10 Exodus 3:10-12 (NKJV) Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
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Exodus 3:10-12 (NKJV) 12 So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
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40 years earlier Moses was “royalty,” (Heb. 11:24), but at the time an 80 year old shepherd – Ex. 3:1 God’s response – “I will certainly be with you.” – (Ex. 3:12) 11
Have you ever used the “who am I” excuse?
Thinking that we are insufficient for the task –
talented enough - educated enough – experienced enough – etc) (Not
Will God be with us? – 2 Cor. 3:5; Mat. 28:20; Acts 4:13; Rom. 8:31; Phili 4:13 12
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Moses knew that IF he went to the children of Israel, there were bound to be questions: Such as, "Who is this God who sent you to us?“ And perhaps, "Why are we to leave this country we have come to consider our home for over 400 years?" 14
Have you ever used the “What shall I say?” excuse?
I don’t know enough – (What do you know?) God has told us what to say – (2 Tim 3:16,17) What are you doing to increase your knowledge & experience? – (1 Pet 3:15) 15
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Exodus 4:1 (NKJV)
Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' " 16
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Exodus 4:2-9 (NKJV)
So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." . . . 5 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, . . . has appeared to you." 17
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Exodus 4:2-9 (NKJV)
Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." . . . 8 "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 18
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Exodus 4:2-9 (NKJV)
And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land." 19
Now that he knows what to say, he balks saying they may not listen. God equips him with three signs: The ROD into a serpent - 4:2-5 His hand turns leprous - 4:6-8 Water would turn to blood when poured out - 4:9 20
Do we allow the fear of failure to keep us from trying? - Rom 1:16; Luke 9:26 What if they don’t believe? Who are they really rejecting? - John 12:48; Luke 10:16 Has God provided enough evidence? - John 10:34-36; 20:30,31; Heb 4:12; 1 Cor 3:6 21
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Moses points to his weaknesses as reasons why he is the wrong man for the job . . .
Was God not aware of Moses’ abilities? – Ex. 4:11,12 God had already arranged for Aaron to be his spokesman (4:14-16,27).
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Can we use our weakness or lack of ability as excuses to not do what we can? – Mat. 25:14-30; 1 Cor 2:1,3,4; 2 Cor 12:7-10 Can we communicate that which we are really interested in? – Acts 4:19,20; Acts 8:4 Teaching God’s word doesn’t require a lot of talent – but interest & enthusiasm – Acts 10:24,33 25
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Exodus 4:13-16 (ESV)
But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."
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Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses . . .
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Exodus 4:13-16 (ESV)
and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. . . . I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. . . .
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Moses simply did not want to go! - The previous excuses were simply a smokescreen attempt to hide this fact! God's anger was kindled against Moses - Exo 4:14a Read verses 15-17 with an emphasis on the word "shall" 28
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Exodus 4:15-17 (NKJV)
Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs." 29
Is God’s anger kindled against you? – (Mt 25:14-30) Are we more Like Moses or Isaiah? – (Isaiah 6:8) Are our excuses merely smokescreens for the real problem – “we do not want to?” – (Rom. 1:15,16) 30
1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)
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For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
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With Moses we know the rest of the story He did what God commanded – God used Moses to save Israel
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What will be the rest of your story?
Will you do what God expects you to do? Will you allow God to use you?
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Or will we continue to make excuses for NOT doing what we should in the kingdom?
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Charts by Don McClain
Prepared February 2-4, 2012 Preached February 5, 2012 West 65 th Street church of Christ P.O. Box 190062 Little Rock AR 72219 501-568-1062 Prepared using PPT 2010 Email – [email protected]
More PPT & Audio Sermons: http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/donmaccla/2010SermonPage.html
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)
Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)
and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)
And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' come.' 20 Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)
So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.'
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)
And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' 23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
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Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV)