February 24 & 25, 2007
While I’ve moved past Moses in my new series of studies, I want to follow up on last week’s lesson with this installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy. It is sad that the first recorded action of Moses, the great deliverer, was a mistake. Moses attempted to do God’s will his own way. After attempting the right thing the wrong way, he had to run for his life. It took forty years and the work of God in his life to get him really ready for service. As I think of what God used to bring him to a place where he was ready to really serve the Lord, I think of our church and how God can use us to honor him by leading people to deliverance.
In Exodus 3, we see how God used Moses’ environment and experience to prepare him for ministry. Moses was in a desolate location, engaged in a demeaning vocation. But God met him in that desert. Imagine the solitude and discomfort he endured. It was a time for reflection. He had plenty of time and space to learn that he couldn’t do God’s work his own way. The principle for us is that brokenness often precedes faithfulness.
There in the desert, Moses served as a shepherd. He had once been in a key role in the Egyptian court. Now he was wandering in obscurity. He was in the limelight but it clicked off. He was moved from center stage to back burner. Imagine how he felt! He was out in the middle of nowhere, forgotten due to his failure. Moses had already been a leader, now he had the chance to become a servant. During that dry time he learned to lead gently with patience and to meet the needs of stubborn hearts.
Last weekend I talked about God’s perspective, power and purpose. All this not only applies to us as individuals, but it has great application to our church body. We have been called to deliver people from bondage and bring them to a place where they can learn what it means to be free in Christ. There was a time when going forward with big plans might have been premature. We had to do some waiting in the wilderness and allow God to prepare us for His plans. I believe the page has turned and we are now in a new chapter in our church’s life. In fact, the chapter is Exodus chapter 3! We are looking right into the face of the clear call of God. The bush is burning, the time is ripe, and we have a great opportunity. God has issued His call: “I want you to go!”
In Exodus 3, we see how God used Moses’ environment and experience to prepare him for ministry. Moses was in a desolate location, engaged in a demeaning vocation. But God met him in that desert. Imagine the solitude and discomfort he endured. It was a time for reflection. He had plenty of time and space to learn that he couldn’t do God’s work his own way. The principle for us is that brokenness often precedes faithfulness.
There in the desert, Moses served as a shepherd. He had once been in a key role in the Egyptian court. Now he was wandering in obscurity. He was in the limelight but it clicked off. He was moved from center stage to back burner. Imagine how he felt! He was out in the middle of nowhere, forgotten due to his failure. Moses had already been a leader, now he had the chance to become a servant. During that dry time he learned to lead gently with patience and to meet the needs of stubborn hearts.
Last weekend I talked about God’s perspective, power and purpose. All this not only applies to us as individuals, but it has great application to our church body. We have been called to deliver people from bondage and bring them to a place where they can learn what it means to be free in Christ. There was a time when going forward with big plans might have been premature. We had to do some waiting in the wilderness and allow God to prepare us for His plans. I believe the page has turned and we are now in a new chapter in our church’s life. In fact, the chapter is Exodus chapter 3! We are looking right into the face of the clear call of God. The bush is burning, the time is ripe, and we have a great opportunity. God has issued His call: “I want you to go!”
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