Title: Five Common Responses of Those Whom God Uses Meta: Who am I? You say, "I have got this weakness in this area." God says, "Yes I know, I made you like this. I gave you that weakness." God is saying that He is in control of both your gifts and limitations. God tells us to go ahead and do that which He is prompting us to do and He promises to be with us. Tags: humility,Moses,Exodus,Exodus 3:11-4:13,God 1 00:00:00,626 --> 00:00:04,110 Let's open our Bibles to Exodus. 2 00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:08,870 I don't have a long message this morning. 3 00:00:08,870 --> 00:00:10,453 But I did want to share something 4 00:00:10,453 --> 00:00:13,360 along the lines of what we've looked at. 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,218 Exodus 3 6 00:00:17,218 --> 00:00:19,546 Our brother and sister have shared something 7 00:00:19,546 --> 00:00:21,525 about their labors among the students 8 00:00:21,525 --> 00:00:24,521 there in Bucharest. 9 00:00:24,521 --> 00:00:27,420 And you might be saying, 10 00:00:27,420 --> 00:00:30,460 well, that's fine for them, 11 00:00:30,460 --> 00:00:34,689 but God would never use me like that 12 00:00:34,689 --> 00:00:37,222 to see people saved. 13 00:00:37,222 --> 00:00:42,394 And I want to speak to you briefly this morning 14 00:00:42,394 --> 00:00:46,790 on five common responses 15 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:49,688 of those whom God uses. 16 00:00:49,688 --> 00:00:53,016 Five common responses 17 00:00:53,016 --> 00:00:55,614 of those whom God uses. 18 00:00:55,614 --> 00:01:02,903 The first response is in Exodus 3:11. 19 00:01:02,903 --> 00:01:04,748 "But Moses said to God, 20 00:01:04,748 --> 00:01:06,518 'Who am I?'" 21 00:01:06,518 --> 00:01:08,066 That's the first response: 22 00:01:08,066 --> 00:01:09,529 Who am I? 23 00:01:09,529 --> 00:01:12,236 Second, in v. 13, 24 00:01:12,236 --> 00:01:13,626 the end of the verse, 25 00:01:13,626 --> 00:01:14,816 "Now they may say to me, 26 00:01:14,816 --> 00:01:16,090 'what is His name?' 27 00:01:16,090 --> 00:01:17,405 What shall I say?" 28 00:01:17,405 --> 00:01:18,841 So, the second response is 29 00:01:18,841 --> 00:01:20,386 What shall I say? 30 00:01:20,386 --> 00:01:23,790 Third, in Exodus 4:1, 31 00:01:23,790 --> 00:01:26,056 "What if they will not believe me?" 32 00:01:26,056 --> 00:01:27,966 That's the third question that comes up. 33 00:01:27,966 --> 00:01:30,053 What if they won't believe me? 34 00:01:30,053 --> 00:01:33,387 And then the fourth one in v. 10, 35 00:01:33,387 --> 00:01:36,765 "Please Lord, I have never been eloquent." 36 00:01:36,765 --> 00:01:40,192 And then finally in v. 13, 37 00:01:40,192 --> 00:01:44,798 "Please Lord, send someone else." 38 00:01:44,798 --> 00:01:47,103 It's amazing, isn't it? 39 00:01:47,103 --> 00:01:50,139 So, first of all, who am I? 40 00:01:50,139 --> 00:01:52,583 This is the question that 41 00:01:52,583 --> 00:01:55,552 ought to come to our minds 42 00:01:55,552 --> 00:01:57,225 when we think in terms of 43 00:01:57,225 --> 00:01:58,433 trying to reach out. 44 00:01:58,433 --> 00:02:00,204 I know that any time 45 00:02:00,204 --> 00:02:05,328 we think of witnessing to someone at work, 46 00:02:05,328 --> 00:02:07,990 or any time the students 47 00:02:07,990 --> 00:02:12,574 think of going out and doing outreach on campus, 48 00:02:12,574 --> 00:02:14,885 any time you think of initiating 49 00:02:14,885 --> 00:02:16,818 to go over to a neighbor 50 00:02:16,818 --> 00:02:18,465 and talk to them about the Lord. 51 00:02:18,465 --> 00:02:22,613 The first question is, "who am I?" 52 00:02:22,613 --> 00:02:25,544 And it's almost what you'd call 53 00:02:25,544 --> 00:02:29,248 a prerequisite for being used by God: 54 00:02:29,248 --> 00:02:31,800 To realize that we're nothing. 55 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,273 You remember there was a time 56 00:02:33,273 --> 00:02:36,385 when Moses did not feel that way. 57 00:02:36,385 --> 00:02:39,230 You go back to chapter 2 of Exodus, 58 00:02:39,230 --> 00:02:41,927 verses 11-15. It says, 59 00:02:41,927 --> 00:02:43,406 "It came about in those days 60 00:02:43,406 --> 00:02:44,767 when Moses had grown up 61 00:02:44,767 --> 00:02:46,400 that he went out to his brethren 62 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,692 and looked on their hard labors, 63 00:02:48,692 --> 00:02:51,279 and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew - 64 00:02:51,279 --> 00:02:53,300 one of his brethren - 65 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:54,855 so he looked this way and that, 66 00:02:54,855 --> 00:02:56,806 and when he saw there was no one around, 67 00:02:56,806 --> 00:02:58,236 he struck down the Egyptian 68 00:02:58,236 --> 00:03:00,283 and hid him in the sand. 69 00:03:00,283 --> 00:03:01,828 And he went out the next day, 70 00:03:01,828 --> 00:03:03,254 and behold, two Hebrews were 71 00:03:03,254 --> 00:03:04,461 fighting with each other, 72 00:03:04,461 --> 00:03:05,845 and he said to the offender, 73 00:03:05,845 --> 00:03:08,466 why are you striking your companion? 74 00:03:08,466 --> 00:03:10,705 But he said, 'who made you 75 00:03:10,705 --> 00:03:13,021 a prince or a judge over us? 76 00:03:13,021 --> 00:03:14,386 Are you intending to kill me 77 00:03:14,386 --> 00:03:16,605 as you killed the Egyptian?' 78 00:03:16,605 --> 00:03:18,304 Then Moses was afraid 79 00:03:18,304 --> 00:03:21,313 and said, surely the matter has become known. 80 00:03:21,313 --> 00:03:23,123 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, 81 00:03:23,123 --> 00:03:26,088 he tried to kill Moses, 82 00:03:26,088 --> 00:03:29,470 but Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh 83 00:03:29,470 --> 00:03:31,321 and settled in the land of Midian 84 00:03:31,321 --> 00:03:33,674 and he sat down by a well." 85 00:03:33,674 --> 00:03:36,783 So, here's Moses trying to 86 00:03:36,783 --> 00:03:39,526 take matters in his own hands 87 00:03:39,526 --> 00:03:42,462 and thinking that he was able to do something 88 00:03:42,462 --> 00:03:44,927 for his people in his own power, 89 00:03:44,927 --> 00:03:47,093 and it utterly failed. 90 00:03:47,093 --> 00:03:49,372 Now, you can imagine the impossibility 91 00:03:49,372 --> 00:03:51,058 of him going in and trying to 92 00:03:51,058 --> 00:03:53,946 kill off the Egyptians one man at a time 93 00:03:53,946 --> 00:03:55,848 to try to deliver Israel. 94 00:03:55,848 --> 00:03:57,348 God had much bigger things 95 00:03:57,348 --> 00:03:58,980 planned for him. 96 00:03:58,980 --> 00:04:01,229 Let's turn to Acts 7. 97 00:04:01,229 --> 00:04:05,284 You see here in Acts 98 00:04:05,284 --> 00:04:09,673 that Moses did realize 99 00:04:09,673 --> 00:04:13,515 something of what God was calling him to do 100 00:04:13,515 --> 00:04:18,642 early on. 101 00:04:18,642 --> 00:04:24,616 It says in v. 22, 102 00:04:24,616 --> 00:04:27,272 "Moses was educated in all the learning 103 00:04:27,272 --> 00:04:28,845 of the Egyptians, 104 00:04:28,845 --> 00:04:31,181 and he was a man of power 105 00:04:31,181 --> 00:04:34,180 in words and deeds." 106 00:04:34,180 --> 00:04:36,517 He was a man of power in words. 107 00:04:36,517 --> 00:04:38,202 Now contrast what we're going to be 108 00:04:38,202 --> 00:04:39,712 looking at, 109 00:04:39,712 --> 00:04:43,321 when he says, "I can't speak." 110 00:04:43,321 --> 00:04:44,653 "He was a man of power 111 00:04:44,653 --> 00:04:47,816 in words and deeds. 112 00:04:47,816 --> 00:04:50,674 But when he was approaching the age of 40, 113 00:04:50,674 --> 00:04:52,759 it entered his mind to visit his brethren, 114 00:04:52,759 --> 00:04:53,768 the sons of Israel, 115 00:04:53,768 --> 00:04:55,085 and when he saw one of them 116 00:04:55,085 --> 00:04:56,232 being treated unjustly, 117 00:04:56,232 --> 00:04:57,910 he defended him and took vengeance 118 00:04:57,910 --> 00:04:58,959 for the oppressed 119 00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:01,177 by striking down the Egyptian. 120 00:05:01,177 --> 00:05:03,913 And he supposed that his brethren 121 00:05:03,913 --> 00:05:07,467 understood that God was granting them 122 00:05:07,467 --> 00:05:09,543 deliverance through him, 123 00:05:09,543 --> 00:05:11,623 but they did not understand." 124 00:05:11,623 --> 00:05:14,236 So he evidently had some inkling 125 00:05:14,236 --> 00:05:16,329 of the calling he was going to have, 126 00:05:16,329 --> 00:05:18,489 but they didn't understand it. 127 00:05:18,489 --> 00:05:20,595 "When the following day he appeared to them 128 00:05:20,595 --> 00:05:22,230 as they were fighting together, 129 00:05:22,230 --> 00:05:24,596 and he tried to reconcile them in peace, 130 00:05:24,596 --> 00:05:26,160 saying, 'Men, you're brethren, 131 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,441 why do you injure one another?' 132 00:05:28,441 --> 00:05:30,404 But the one who was injuring his neighbor 133 00:05:30,404 --> 00:05:31,847 pushed him away saying, 134 00:05:31,847 --> 00:05:35,757 'Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 135 00:05:35,757 --> 00:05:37,166 You do not mean to kill me 136 00:05:37,166 --> 00:05:39,014 as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, 137 00:05:39,014 --> 00:05:40,225 do you?' 138 00:05:40,225 --> 00:05:41,446 And at this remark, 139 00:05:41,446 --> 00:05:43,397 Moses fled and became an alien 140 00:05:43,397 --> 00:05:45,208 in the land of Midian, 141 00:05:45,208 --> 00:05:48,509 where he became the father of two sons, 142 00:05:48,509 --> 00:05:50,350 and after forty years had passed, 143 00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:51,612 an angel appeared to him 144 00:05:51,612 --> 00:05:53,097 in the wilderness of Mt. Sinai 145 00:05:53,097 --> 00:05:56,656 in the flame of a burning thorn bush. 146 00:05:56,656 --> 00:05:58,107 And when Moses saw it, 147 00:05:58,107 --> 00:05:59,759 he began to marvel at the sight, 148 00:05:59,759 --> 00:06:01,947 and as he approached and looked more closely, 149 00:06:01,947 --> 00:06:04,380 there came the voice of the Lord. 150 00:06:04,380 --> 00:06:06,254 'I am the God of your fathers; 151 00:06:06,254 --> 00:06:07,466 the God of Abraham, 152 00:06:07,466 --> 00:06:08,568 and Isaac, and Jacob,' 153 00:06:08,568 --> 00:06:11,020 and Moses shook with fear 154 00:06:11,020 --> 00:06:13,530 and would not venture to look. 155 00:06:13,530 --> 00:06:15,229 But the Lord said to him, 156 00:06:15,229 --> 00:06:17,105 'take off the sandals from your feet. 157 00:06:17,105 --> 00:06:19,061 For the place on which you're standing 158 00:06:19,061 --> 00:06:20,871 is holy ground. 159 00:06:20,871 --> 00:06:22,894 I have certainly seen the oppression 160 00:06:22,894 --> 00:06:24,562 of My people in Egypt 161 00:06:24,562 --> 00:06:26,004 and have heard their groans 162 00:06:26,004 --> 00:06:29,081 and I have come down to deliver them. 163 00:06:29,081 --> 00:06:32,577 Come now and I will send you to Egypt.'" 164 00:06:32,577 --> 00:06:35,364 Now v. 35, "This Moses, 165 00:06:35,364 --> 00:06:37,465 who they disowned, 166 00:06:37,465 --> 00:06:38,639 saying 'who made you 167 00:06:38,639 --> 00:06:41,003 a ruler and a judge?' 168 00:06:41,003 --> 00:06:44,502 is the one God whom sent to be 169 00:06:44,502 --> 00:06:47,098 both a ruler and a deliverer 170 00:06:47,098 --> 00:06:50,463 with the help of the angel who appeared to him 171 00:06:50,463 --> 00:06:53,219 in the thorn bush." 172 00:06:53,219 --> 00:06:57,895 So, Moses started out 173 00:06:57,895 --> 00:06:59,797 in his own strength, 174 00:06:59,797 --> 00:07:01,142 and after forty years, 175 00:07:01,142 --> 00:07:02,886 he's saying, "Who am I?" 176 00:07:02,886 --> 00:07:04,419 And God had him to the place 177 00:07:04,419 --> 00:07:05,600 where he needed to be. 178 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,638 Well, back in Exodus 3. 179 00:07:08,638 --> 00:07:15,060 What is God's answer to the "who am I" question? 180 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:18,402 Well, we have the answer in v. 12. 181 00:07:18,402 --> 00:07:20,846 Moses says in v. 11, 182 00:07:20,846 --> 00:07:22,271 "Who am I?" 183 00:07:22,271 --> 00:07:25,136 In v. 12, He said, 184 00:07:25,136 --> 00:07:28,795 "Certainly, I will be with you." 185 00:07:28,795 --> 00:07:31,246 So the answer to the "who am I" 186 00:07:31,246 --> 00:07:34,421 is not, "you're somebody." 187 00:07:34,421 --> 00:07:38,413 But it's "you're nobody, but I will be with you." 188 00:07:38,413 --> 00:07:40,687 So God agrees with Moses - who am I? 189 00:07:40,687 --> 00:07:42,965 Well, you're nobody. 190 00:07:42,965 --> 00:07:45,100 But I will be with you. 191 00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:47,231 And as Brother Ravenhill used to say, 192 00:07:47,231 --> 00:07:51,111 "one man with God is a majority." 193 00:07:51,111 --> 00:07:52,263 That's what happened 194 00:07:52,263 --> 00:07:55,415 when Moses went in with God's power. 195 00:07:55,415 --> 00:07:57,808 He was a majority. 196 00:07:57,808 --> 00:07:59,109 "I will be with you." 197 00:07:59,109 --> 00:08:01,685 What an unspeakable comfort this is. 198 00:08:01,685 --> 00:08:03,467 "I will never leave you 199 00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:06,771 nor will I ever forsake you." 200 00:08:06,771 --> 00:08:08,903 "Lo, I am with you always, 201 00:08:08,903 --> 00:08:12,774 even to the end of the world." 202 00:08:12,774 --> 00:08:15,126 That is the confidence that we have 203 00:08:15,126 --> 00:08:16,935 and the answer that we have 204 00:08:16,935 --> 00:08:18,531 for the "who am I" question. 205 00:08:18,531 --> 00:08:19,822 Think of this: 206 00:08:19,822 --> 00:08:22,077 You say who am I do to this? 207 00:08:22,077 --> 00:08:23,861 Well, you're nobody. 208 00:08:23,861 --> 00:08:26,932 But God says, "I will be with you." 209 00:08:26,932 --> 00:08:28,446 Second question then: 210 00:08:28,446 --> 00:08:29,687 "What shall I say?" 211 00:08:29,687 --> 00:08:31,408 Verse 13 212 00:08:31,408 --> 00:08:32,869 "Now they may say to me, 213 00:08:32,869 --> 00:08:33,821 'What is His name?' 214 00:08:33,821 --> 00:08:36,654 What shall I say to them?" 215 00:08:36,654 --> 00:08:37,573 In other words, 216 00:08:37,573 --> 00:08:38,846 some things may come up 217 00:08:38,846 --> 00:08:41,203 that I don't know how to answer. 218 00:08:41,203 --> 00:08:43,474 And what will I do then? 219 00:08:43,474 --> 00:08:47,922 And notice God's answer in v. 14, 220 00:08:47,922 --> 00:08:49,553 "God said to Moses, 221 00:08:49,553 --> 00:08:50,818 'I Am Who I Am,' 222 00:08:50,818 --> 00:08:51,720 and He said, 223 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,939 'Thus you shall say.'" 224 00:08:53,939 --> 00:08:55,361 He gives him instructions. 225 00:08:55,361 --> 00:08:56,820 And then v. 15, 226 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:58,390 "God furthermore said to Moses, 227 00:08:58,390 --> 00:09:01,184 'Thus you shall say.'" 228 00:09:01,184 --> 00:09:04,366 V. 16, "Go and gather the elders of Israel, 229 00:09:04,366 --> 00:09:05,780 and say to them..." 230 00:09:05,780 --> 00:09:07,691 He tells him just what to say. 231 00:09:07,691 --> 00:09:10,302 And v. 18, "They will pay heed 232 00:09:10,302 --> 00:09:12,108 to what you say. 233 00:09:12,108 --> 00:09:13,962 And you with the elders of Israel 234 00:09:13,962 --> 00:09:15,388 will come to the king of Egypt 235 00:09:15,388 --> 00:09:17,684 and you will say to him..." 236 00:09:17,684 --> 00:09:21,113 And then He tells him what he should say then. 237 00:09:21,113 --> 00:09:22,303 So in other words, 238 00:09:22,303 --> 00:09:25,117 God will tell us what to say 239 00:09:25,117 --> 00:09:27,073 in plenty of time to say it, 240 00:09:27,073 --> 00:09:29,122 if He wants us to say it. 241 00:09:29,122 --> 00:09:32,898 He'll show us what we're supposed to say. 242 00:09:32,898 --> 00:09:35,082 Matthew 10. 243 00:09:35,082 --> 00:09:36,830 The Lord gave this assurance. 244 00:09:36,830 --> 00:09:39,007 Verses 19-20 245 00:09:39,007 --> 00:09:41,109 "But when they deliver you up, 246 00:09:41,109 --> 00:09:42,637 do not become anxious about 247 00:09:42,637 --> 00:09:45,347 how or what you will speak. 248 00:09:45,347 --> 00:09:48,399 For it shall be given you in that hour 249 00:09:48,399 --> 00:09:49,850 what you are to speak. 250 00:09:49,850 --> 00:09:52,307 For it is not you who speaks, 251 00:09:52,307 --> 00:09:54,080 but it is the Spirit of your Father 252 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:55,264 Who speaks in you." 253 00:09:55,264 --> 00:09:57,311 So here again, Jesus deals with this 254 00:09:57,311 --> 00:09:59,506 "what shall I say" question. 255 00:09:59,506 --> 00:10:01,451 And He says, "don't be anxious 256 00:10:01,451 --> 00:10:03,227 about how or what 257 00:10:03,227 --> 00:10:05,863 you will speak. 258 00:10:05,863 --> 00:10:09,042 Because it will be given to you." 259 00:10:09,042 --> 00:10:10,720 So here you are, 260 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,097 you feel like God wants you 261 00:10:12,097 --> 00:10:13,315 to witness to that guy 262 00:10:13,315 --> 00:10:14,768 that you're working with, 263 00:10:14,768 --> 00:10:16,578 and the thought comes into your mind, 264 00:10:16,578 --> 00:10:17,835 Who am I? 265 00:10:17,835 --> 00:10:19,583 And God says, 266 00:10:19,583 --> 00:10:21,287 that's not going to work, 267 00:10:21,287 --> 00:10:23,026 because you're nobody, 268 00:10:23,026 --> 00:10:24,157 but I'm with you. 269 00:10:24,157 --> 00:10:25,209 Well, what will I say? 270 00:10:25,209 --> 00:10:26,977 Well, I'll tell you what to say. 271 00:10:26,977 --> 00:10:29,330 So that won't work either. 272 00:10:29,330 --> 00:10:30,750 Alright? 273 00:10:30,750 --> 00:10:32,299 Number 3 274 00:10:32,299 --> 00:10:34,695 Chapter 4:1 275 00:10:34,695 --> 00:10:37,418 What if they won't believe me? 276 00:10:37,418 --> 00:10:39,164 "Then Moses answered and said, 277 00:10:39,164 --> 00:10:41,478 'what if they will not believe me 278 00:10:41,478 --> 00:10:44,502 or listen to what I say?'" 279 00:10:44,502 --> 00:10:47,190 And then notice the particular form 280 00:10:47,190 --> 00:10:48,772 that the unbelief takes. 281 00:10:48,772 --> 00:10:50,098 "They may say, 'The Lord 282 00:10:50,098 --> 00:10:53,818 has not appeared to you.'" 283 00:10:53,818 --> 00:10:56,130 Unbelief always tells you 284 00:10:56,130 --> 00:10:58,555 that nothing real has happened to you. 285 00:10:58,555 --> 00:11:01,339 There isn't any God that's appeared to you. 286 00:11:01,339 --> 00:11:03,465 You may have had some religious experience, 287 00:11:03,465 --> 00:11:06,302 but there's never been any real, objective God 288 00:11:06,302 --> 00:11:07,835 who has appeared to you 289 00:11:07,835 --> 00:11:10,069 and spoken to you. 290 00:11:10,069 --> 00:11:13,222 And there's really nothing in this message 291 00:11:13,222 --> 00:11:15,335 that you have to share. 292 00:11:15,335 --> 00:11:16,868 And see, this really has to do 293 00:11:16,868 --> 00:11:20,223 somewhat even with your testimony. 294 00:11:20,223 --> 00:11:24,646 Unbelief says God hasn't appeared to you, 295 00:11:24,646 --> 00:11:27,550 and here you are proclaiming 296 00:11:27,550 --> 00:11:30,076 that God has appeared to you, 297 00:11:30,076 --> 00:11:31,419 and that they can be saved 298 00:11:31,419 --> 00:11:35,368 through this message that you're proclaiming to them. 299 00:11:35,368 --> 00:11:39,309 Well, what's the answer to this problem 300 00:11:39,309 --> 00:11:42,653 of "they won't listen or believe me?" 301 00:11:42,653 --> 00:11:44,641 Well, the answer lies in 302 00:11:44,641 --> 00:11:48,488 being in possession of the power of God - 303 00:11:48,488 --> 00:11:49,678 the rod of God, 304 00:11:49,678 --> 00:11:50,921 the presence of God. 305 00:11:50,921 --> 00:11:52,233 God's being with us. 306 00:11:52,233 --> 00:11:54,219 Now in this case, 307 00:11:54,219 --> 00:11:56,073 v. 2, "The Lord said to him, 308 00:11:56,073 --> 00:11:58,216 'what is that in your hand?' 309 00:11:58,216 --> 00:11:59,833 And he said, 'a staff.' 310 00:11:59,833 --> 00:12:01,934 And then He said, 'throw it to the ground.' 311 00:12:01,934 --> 00:12:03,295 So he threw it to the ground 312 00:12:03,295 --> 00:12:04,877 and it became a serpent 313 00:12:04,877 --> 00:12:07,535 and Moses fled from it." 314 00:12:07,535 --> 00:12:09,568 And it goes on down in v. 5, 315 00:12:09,568 --> 00:12:12,046 "that they may believe that the Lord, 316 00:12:12,046 --> 00:12:13,246 the God of their fathers, 317 00:12:13,246 --> 00:12:14,451 the God of Abraham, 318 00:12:14,451 --> 00:12:15,665 the God of Isaac, 319 00:12:15,665 --> 00:12:16,843 and the God of Jacob 320 00:12:16,843 --> 00:12:18,359 has appeared to you." 321 00:12:18,359 --> 00:12:20,130 So specifically along the lines 322 00:12:20,130 --> 00:12:21,563 of what he was doubting, 323 00:12:21,563 --> 00:12:25,362 or he thought they would doubt, 324 00:12:25,362 --> 00:12:30,735 God says He gave him this rod of God 325 00:12:30,735 --> 00:12:32,945 and these signs. 326 00:12:32,945 --> 00:12:34,901 And so in this case, 327 00:12:34,901 --> 00:12:37,801 God gave Moses various 328 00:12:37,801 --> 00:12:39,307 miraculous signs, 329 00:12:39,307 --> 00:12:40,316 one after another, 330 00:12:40,316 --> 00:12:42,363 to overcome the powers of darkness. 331 00:12:42,363 --> 00:12:44,716 And He will still do that in our day 332 00:12:44,716 --> 00:12:46,301 when it's necessary. 333 00:12:46,301 --> 00:12:48,779 That's what happened in the revival 334 00:12:48,779 --> 00:12:52,778 in South Africa and (unintelligible). 335 00:12:52,778 --> 00:12:55,814 Those people were in gross darkness 336 00:12:55,814 --> 00:12:59,321 and under all kinds of demonic power, 337 00:12:59,321 --> 00:13:01,695 and all kinds of evil. 338 00:13:01,695 --> 00:13:03,748 And in that particular revival, 339 00:13:03,748 --> 00:13:05,964 there were all kinds of physical healings, 340 00:13:05,964 --> 00:13:07,140 blind people healed, 341 00:13:07,140 --> 00:13:10,333 and all kinds of deliverances. 342 00:13:10,333 --> 00:13:11,753 Unusual. 343 00:13:11,753 --> 00:13:13,516 I got a tape from one of the men 344 00:13:13,516 --> 00:13:15,084 that was used in that revival 345 00:13:15,084 --> 00:13:17,214 about healing, 346 00:13:17,214 --> 00:13:19,245 and I thought, well, I'm going to hear 347 00:13:19,245 --> 00:13:21,158 a lot about these miraculous healings 348 00:13:21,158 --> 00:13:23,424 that took place in this revival 349 00:13:23,424 --> 00:13:24,917 in (unintelligible). 350 00:13:24,917 --> 00:13:26,886 Actually, the entire message 351 00:13:26,886 --> 00:13:28,501 was teaching them the difference 352 00:13:28,501 --> 00:13:29,665 between a witch doctor 353 00:13:29,665 --> 00:13:31,388 and a regular doctor. 354 00:13:31,388 --> 00:13:32,946 When you're dealing with people 355 00:13:32,946 --> 00:13:35,623 that are coming out of deep darkness. 356 00:13:35,623 --> 00:13:37,042 And many times, God does 357 00:13:37,042 --> 00:13:39,789 special miracles because that's what's needed. 358 00:13:39,789 --> 00:13:42,203 That's what was needed here in Egypt. 359 00:13:42,203 --> 00:13:44,879 You realize that these Egyptian magicians 360 00:13:44,879 --> 00:13:47,583 duplicated several of the miracles. 361 00:13:47,583 --> 00:13:51,358 They turned their staffs into snakes 362 00:13:51,358 --> 00:13:52,937 which is incredible. 363 00:13:52,937 --> 00:13:55,294 So when you read about Egyptian religion 364 00:13:55,294 --> 00:13:56,524 in history books, 365 00:13:56,524 --> 00:13:58,247 it's more than just a religion. 366 00:13:58,247 --> 00:14:00,336 There was all kinds of demonic power 367 00:14:00,336 --> 00:14:01,763 in that religion, 368 00:14:01,763 --> 00:14:03,472 and God came up against it 369 00:14:03,472 --> 00:14:05,260 with signs and wonders. 370 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:07,339 Sometimes He does that. 371 00:14:07,339 --> 00:14:11,296 Sometimes, He overcomes unbelief 372 00:14:11,296 --> 00:14:13,695 without any physical miracles 373 00:14:13,695 --> 00:14:16,522 or signs at all. 374 00:14:16,522 --> 00:14:18,445 Some of you have heard the account 375 00:14:18,445 --> 00:14:20,473 of the Hebrides Revival in Scotland 376 00:14:20,473 --> 00:14:23,887 in the late 1940's. 377 00:14:23,887 --> 00:14:25,668 There was a group of men, 378 00:14:25,668 --> 00:14:28,300 I think maybe 9 or 13, 379 00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:31,414 highly educated atheists, 380 00:14:31,414 --> 00:14:33,366 and they called for Duncan Campbell 381 00:14:33,366 --> 00:14:34,577 and they said please come 382 00:14:34,577 --> 00:14:36,018 and counsel with these men. 383 00:14:36,018 --> 00:14:38,659 We're afraid they're going to lose their minds. 384 00:14:38,659 --> 00:14:42,623 And those men were all crumpled up, 385 00:14:42,623 --> 00:14:44,832 broken, sobbing, weeping before God, 386 00:14:44,832 --> 00:14:47,018 crying out for mercy. 387 00:14:47,018 --> 00:14:48,641 There wasn't any physical miracle. 388 00:14:48,641 --> 00:14:51,596 It was just the power of God. 389 00:14:51,596 --> 00:14:55,218 He came and convicted them. 390 00:14:55,218 --> 00:14:59,836 Always, it's the presence and power of God alone 391 00:14:59,836 --> 00:15:01,804 that can overcome unbelief. 392 00:15:01,804 --> 00:15:03,171 Apologetics can't do it. 393 00:15:03,171 --> 00:15:04,794 Preaching can't do it. 394 00:15:04,794 --> 00:15:06,930 Even miracles can't do it. 395 00:15:06,930 --> 00:15:10,329 You see that in the Gospels 396 00:15:10,329 --> 00:15:12,483 where Jesus would perform those miracles 397 00:15:12,483 --> 00:15:14,150 and they'd seek to kill Him. 398 00:15:14,150 --> 00:15:18,219 Only the power and presence of the Holy Spirit 399 00:15:18,219 --> 00:15:22,770 can convince even the elect that God is real. 400 00:15:22,770 --> 00:15:24,110 And in this case, 401 00:15:24,110 --> 00:15:27,807 Moses is concerned that the people won't believe him - 402 00:15:27,807 --> 00:15:30,130 the people he's come to deliver. 403 00:15:30,130 --> 00:15:31,546 And they wouldn't have 404 00:15:31,546 --> 00:15:34,746 except that God kept on 405 00:15:34,746 --> 00:15:37,149 until they were convinced. 406 00:15:37,149 --> 00:15:40,168 So to the question "what if they won't believe me?" 407 00:15:40,168 --> 00:15:42,344 God says I'll take care of that. 408 00:15:42,344 --> 00:15:44,543 You proclaim the message of deliverance 409 00:15:44,543 --> 00:15:45,419 to the people 410 00:15:45,419 --> 00:15:47,686 and I'll do to Pharaoh whatever's necessary 411 00:15:47,686 --> 00:15:51,351 to cause him to let them go. 412 00:15:51,351 --> 00:15:54,704 And eventually they will come to the place 413 00:15:54,704 --> 00:15:56,561 of believing Me. 414 00:15:56,561 --> 00:16:00,381 I love this testimony of our sister 415 00:16:00,381 --> 00:16:06,252 that she hears the song - 416 00:16:06,252 --> 00:16:09,141 God's able to do that just in a song: 417 00:16:09,141 --> 00:16:10,573 Open your heart to realize 418 00:16:10,573 --> 00:16:14,512 this is what I've been missing all my life. 419 00:16:14,512 --> 00:16:16,809 And God reveals Himself. 420 00:16:16,809 --> 00:16:21,383 So, what if they won't believe me? 421 00:16:21,383 --> 00:16:23,566 Well, they won't until I do 422 00:16:23,566 --> 00:16:27,497 whatever's necessary for them to believe you. 423 00:16:27,497 --> 00:16:29,517 That's what God said. 424 00:16:29,517 --> 00:16:32,152 Alright, number 4, v. 10: 425 00:16:32,152 --> 00:16:33,650 "I've never been eloquent" 426 00:16:33,650 --> 00:16:34,842 "Please Lord..." 427 00:16:34,842 --> 00:16:38,141 He's very polite about this. 428 00:16:38,141 --> 00:16:41,486 "Please Lord, I've never been eloquent, 429 00:16:41,486 --> 00:16:46,033 neither recently nor in time past, 430 00:16:46,033 --> 00:16:50,007 nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant. 431 00:16:50,007 --> 00:16:52,883 For I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." 432 00:16:52,883 --> 00:16:54,789 Now, it's different than what Stephen 433 00:16:54,789 --> 00:16:56,210 said about him back in Acts. 434 00:16:56,210 --> 00:16:58,844 He said he was mighty in word. 435 00:16:58,844 --> 00:17:01,421 But this is his appraisal of himself. 436 00:17:01,421 --> 00:17:03,381 And notice, he says I have never been... 437 00:17:03,381 --> 00:17:05,165 You know, you have this excuse, 438 00:17:05,165 --> 00:17:06,415 well, I never... 439 00:17:06,415 --> 00:17:08,829 That's just the way our family is. 440 00:17:08,829 --> 00:17:11,110 We've never been very outgoing. 441 00:17:11,110 --> 00:17:12,602 Or we've always been shy. 442 00:17:12,602 --> 00:17:15,056 Or whatever it is. 443 00:17:15,056 --> 00:17:16,921 And that's what he's saying here. 444 00:17:16,921 --> 00:17:19,411 I've never been eloquent. 445 00:17:19,411 --> 00:17:25,872 And so it boils down to this: 446 00:17:25,872 --> 00:17:30,147 Lord, I don't have the necessary gifts and abilities 447 00:17:30,147 --> 00:17:32,406 to do what You're calling me to do. 448 00:17:32,406 --> 00:17:34,597 That's what he's saying. 449 00:17:34,597 --> 00:17:36,892 I don't have the necessary gifts and abilities 450 00:17:36,892 --> 00:17:38,202 to do this. 451 00:17:38,202 --> 00:17:39,818 It's not my ministry. 452 00:17:39,818 --> 00:17:41,680 I'm not called to do this. 453 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,684 Well, You're calling me to do it, 454 00:17:43,684 --> 00:17:46,028 but I don't have what it takes to do it. 455 00:17:46,028 --> 00:17:47,974 And so what's God's answer? 456 00:17:47,974 --> 00:17:49,994 V. 11, "The Lord said to him, 457 00:17:49,994 --> 00:17:53,218 'Who has made man's mouth? 458 00:17:53,218 --> 00:17:56,636 Or Who makes him dumb or deaf? 459 00:17:56,636 --> 00:17:59,784 Or seeing or blind? 460 00:17:59,784 --> 00:18:02,558 Is it not I, the Lord?'" 461 00:18:02,558 --> 00:18:03,770 In other words, God says, 462 00:18:03,770 --> 00:18:06,736 I'm in control both of your gifts 463 00:18:06,736 --> 00:18:09,245 and your limitations. 464 00:18:09,245 --> 00:18:11,061 He says I make the ones that 465 00:18:11,061 --> 00:18:13,785 are dumb and deaf. 466 00:18:13,785 --> 00:18:17,340 So, you say, I've got this weakness in this area. 467 00:18:17,340 --> 00:18:18,619 God says, yeah, I know. 468 00:18:18,619 --> 00:18:20,855 I'm the One that made you like that. 469 00:18:20,855 --> 00:18:22,734 I gave you that weakness. 470 00:18:22,734 --> 00:18:25,129 And so He's saying, 471 00:18:25,129 --> 00:18:27,885 I'm in control of all those things. 472 00:18:27,885 --> 00:18:32,189 And He says here in v. 12, 473 00:18:32,189 --> 00:18:34,791 "Now then, go." 474 00:18:34,791 --> 00:18:35,953 I'm in control of that. 475 00:18:35,953 --> 00:18:37,571 I'm in control of your weaknesses 476 00:18:37,571 --> 00:18:38,806 and your strengths, 477 00:18:38,806 --> 00:18:40,201 now then, go. 478 00:18:40,201 --> 00:18:41,409 Isn't that a good word? 479 00:18:41,409 --> 00:18:43,282 Now then, go. 480 00:18:43,282 --> 00:18:44,870 Go ahead and do that thing 481 00:18:44,870 --> 00:18:47,252 that I'm prompting you to do. 482 00:18:47,252 --> 00:18:48,517 Now then, go... 483 00:18:48,517 --> 00:18:55,541 v. 12, "Even I will be with your mouth 484 00:18:55,541 --> 00:18:57,563 and teach you what you're to say." 485 00:18:57,563 --> 00:18:59,360 I'll be with you. 486 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:01,709 And I'll be with your problem area 487 00:19:01,709 --> 00:19:03,039 and help you in that 488 00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:06,885 and strengthen you in the area where you're weak. 489 00:19:06,885 --> 00:19:09,076 So God's words are 490 00:19:09,076 --> 00:19:11,229 I'm in control of all that. 491 00:19:11,229 --> 00:19:14,065 And I'll be with you. 492 00:19:14,065 --> 00:19:16,523 Now then, go. 493 00:19:16,523 --> 00:19:18,955 And then the last one, 494 00:19:18,955 --> 00:19:22,563 "Please send someone else." 495 00:19:22,563 --> 00:19:30,202 v. 13, "Please Lord, now send the message 496 00:19:30,202 --> 00:19:33,718 by whomever Thou wilt." 497 00:19:33,718 --> 00:19:35,810 And at this point, 498 00:19:35,810 --> 00:19:39,663 humility starts to become unbelief and sin. 499 00:19:39,663 --> 00:19:41,477 And actually, it probably started 500 00:19:41,477 --> 00:19:42,914 a lot sooner than this. 501 00:19:42,914 --> 00:19:44,577 But here God shows His displeasure 502 00:19:44,577 --> 00:19:47,592 at Moses' excuses. 503 00:19:47,592 --> 00:19:50,161 And it's time for him to get going, 504 00:19:50,161 --> 00:19:57,600 to do what God has told him to do. 505 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,558 And he said, v. 14, 506 00:20:01,558 --> 00:20:03,988 "The anger of the Lord burned against Moses, 507 00:20:03,988 --> 00:20:06,235 and He said, 'Is there not your brother Aaron, 508 00:20:06,235 --> 00:20:09,099 the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. 509 00:20:09,099 --> 00:20:12,274 Moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you.'" 510 00:20:12,274 --> 00:20:13,989 He was already on the way. 511 00:20:13,989 --> 00:20:15,665 You see, God had already provided. 512 00:20:15,665 --> 00:20:16,932 "And when he sees you, 513 00:20:16,932 --> 00:20:19,697 he will be glad in his heart." 514 00:20:19,697 --> 00:20:21,596 So God's saying go ahead, 515 00:20:21,596 --> 00:20:23,466 press forward in confidence 516 00:20:23,466 --> 00:20:26,224 that I will provide whatever you need, 517 00:20:26,224 --> 00:20:28,331 even if it's an Aaron to help you 518 00:20:28,331 --> 00:20:31,889 in your calling. 519 00:20:31,889 --> 00:20:38,106 So, what an encouragement. 520 00:20:38,106 --> 00:20:39,414 Who am I? 521 00:20:39,414 --> 00:20:41,964 Answer: I'll be with you. 522 00:20:41,964 --> 00:20:43,747 What shall I say? 523 00:20:43,747 --> 00:20:46,235 Answer: I'll tell you. 524 00:20:46,235 --> 00:20:47,867 What if they won't believe me? 525 00:20:47,867 --> 00:20:50,483 Answer: I'll convince them. 526 00:20:50,483 --> 00:20:52,280 I don't have the gifts required. 527 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:53,975 Answer: I'm in charge 528 00:20:53,975 --> 00:20:56,109 of both your gifts and your limitations. 529 00:20:56,109 --> 00:20:58,714 Now then, go. 530 00:20:58,714 --> 00:21:00,645 Please send someone else. 531 00:21:00,645 --> 00:21:03,947 Answer: It's time to stop the excuses, 532 00:21:03,947 --> 00:21:05,911 and start obeying. 533 00:21:05,911 --> 00:21:08,069 I'll take care of every shortcoming you have 534 00:21:08,069 --> 00:21:09,824 and I'll use other people 535 00:21:09,824 --> 00:21:11,672 who have gifts that you don't 536 00:21:11,672 --> 00:21:15,902 in order to make up for your deficiencies. 537 00:21:15,902 --> 00:21:21,931 So, now then, go. 538 00:21:21,931 --> 00:21:23,798 Well, let's pray. 539 00:21:23,798 --> 00:21:26,579 Father, we're so grateful 540 00:21:26,579 --> 00:21:28,876 that You're the One that determined - 541 00:21:28,876 --> 00:21:32,364 You said You heard the cry of Your people 542 00:21:32,364 --> 00:21:33,481 there in Egypt, 543 00:21:33,481 --> 00:21:37,585 and You determined to release them 544 00:21:37,585 --> 00:21:40,586 from the power of Pharaoh 545 00:21:40,586 --> 00:21:43,527 and from the heavy burdens. 546 00:21:43,527 --> 00:21:45,315 And Lord, we're so thankful 547 00:21:45,315 --> 00:21:48,311 that You are the One that initiated salvation 548 00:21:48,311 --> 00:21:49,596 and You're the One Who goes 549 00:21:49,596 --> 00:21:52,785 and serves notice to Pharaoh 550 00:21:52,785 --> 00:21:54,912 to let Your people go. 551 00:21:54,912 --> 00:21:57,339 And we thank You for what You're doing 552 00:21:57,339 --> 00:21:58,831 all over the world. 553 00:21:58,831 --> 00:22:01,991 We thank You, Lord, for these precious souls 554 00:22:01,991 --> 00:22:04,649 that You've saved there in Romania 555 00:22:04,649 --> 00:22:06,839 among these students. 556 00:22:06,839 --> 00:22:12,063 Lord, You said, "They shall be Mine, 557 00:22:12,063 --> 00:22:17,055 in that day when I gather My jewels together." 558 00:22:17,055 --> 00:22:22,416 Lord, we pray that You'd help us - 559 00:22:22,416 --> 00:22:25,014 help us to have a burden for our neighbors, 560 00:22:25,014 --> 00:22:26,825 for our co-workers. 561 00:22:26,825 --> 00:22:27,849 Open our mouths. 562 00:22:27,849 --> 00:22:30,188 Help us, Lord, to speak out 563 00:22:30,188 --> 00:22:33,044 and to rely on Your power 564 00:22:33,044 --> 00:22:35,497 to do what we can't do. 565 00:22:35,497 --> 00:22:37,244 Please help us, Lord, 566 00:22:37,244 --> 00:22:41,314 not to procrastinate in these things 567 00:22:41,314 --> 00:22:43,216 and to make excuses, 568 00:22:43,216 --> 00:22:45,335 but to realize that You've said 569 00:22:45,335 --> 00:22:46,265 You'll be with us, 570 00:22:46,265 --> 00:22:48,888 and You'll use us 571 00:22:48,888 --> 00:22:50,318 in the salvation of souls. 572 00:22:50,318 --> 00:22:53,259 We think of what You said to Peter, 573 00:22:53,259 --> 00:22:56,322 "Follow Me, and you will catch men." 574 00:22:56,322 --> 00:22:58,581 Not just that you'll fish for men, 575 00:22:58,581 --> 00:23:00,775 but that you'll catch men. 576 00:23:00,775 --> 00:23:03,009 We thank You for this great privilege, 577 00:23:03,009 --> 00:23:04,094 In Jesus' name, 578 00:23:04,094 --> 00:23:06,855 Amen.