WHEN GOD CALLS YOU THERE IS NO EXECUSE NOT TO SERVE HIM Our text for today is Exodus 4:1-17.  Moses is still in front of the burning bush arguing with God about going back to Egypt.  So far the conversation has gone like this: God tells Moses to take off his shoes.  Then God tells Moses, "I have seen the suffering of my people and heard their cries, and I am going to save them."  So far so good.  No argument here.  MOSES PROTEST But then God tells Moses, "I am sending you to Pharaoh to lead my people out of Egypt.  Go!"  Moses protests, "Who am I to do this job?"  God answers, "It is not who you are, but who I am.  I will be with you!"  Moses protests again, "But who are you?  What is your name compared to Pharaoh's name, especially in Egypt?"  God answers, "I am who I am, and I will strike Pharaoh and he will let you go!  I am and Pharaoh is soon to be not! WHAT IF THE PEOPLE DON’T RECEIVE ME? This brings us to 4:1 where Moses offers yet another protest, "What if the Israelites don't believe that you have appeared to me?"  As persistent as Moses is in his reluctance, God is even more persistent in the call of Moses.  God responds to Moses by giving him three signs to demonstrate that the LORD has indeed appeared to him. WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND? First, God asks Moses what is in his hand.  It is his staff, a wooden stick which Moses used in his care of the sheep as well as to give himself greater stability as he walked the desert terrain.  Moses literally leaned upon his staff for support and survival.  It was his tool, his technology, which enabled him to do his job of sheep herding.  Yahweh proceeds to tell Moses to throw it down, to release it.  Yahweh wants Moses' staff.  The LORD wants what is in Moses' hand, no matter how important it is to Moses.  This is typical of the LORD.  God wants what is in our hands, no matter how important it is to us. WE ARE LIKE MOSES. DEPEND ON OUR FINANCE. DEPEND ON OUR INTELLIGENCE. DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY. (UNABLE TO SPEAK WELL) DEPEND ON MEN. NOT DEPENDING ON GOD. THERE IS A SNAKE IN OUR OWN SELF EFFORT. Moses throws down his staff and when it hits the ground it turns into a snake.  One thing you can be sure of: being a shepherd in the desert, Moses knew snakes.  Moses starts to run from it – he no longer has his staff to protect him from it.  But the LORD tells Moses to pick up the snake – by the tail.  Moses the desert shepherd would know that the last way to pick up a snake is by the tail; it could curl up and bite you.  The way to pick up a snake, should you have occasion to do so, would be to use your staff to pin it to the ground by the back of the neck and pick it up there, so that it cannot twist and curl and bite.  2ND SIGN THAT GOD GAVE MOSES. God then gives Moses a second sign.  He tells Moses to put his hand inside his clothing next to his chest.  Moses does so, and then pulls out his hand only to discover that he now has a leprous skin disease.  Leprous skin diseases were considered social diseases.  Not only were they thought to be contagious, but also defiling.  A person with leprosy was isolated from the group, even family.  To have leprosy was to be a social outcast.  Moreover, leprosy was considered a sign of divine judgment.  Not only was the leper rejected by society, but also was deemed to be cursed by God.  Thus, Yahweh demanded not only what was in Moses' hand, but Moses' hand as well, and thereby his social life.  God’s skin claim amounted to a social claim. TOTAL OBEDIENCE. Yahweh then told Moses to put his hand back next to his chest.  If I were Moses I would be holding that hand as far away from myself as possible.  But Yahweh told him to put it on his chest, next to his heart.  Again, Moses fearfully obeyed.  When he pulled it back out of his garment he discovered that his flesh had been restored.  Now Yahweh not only had Moses' staff, hand, and social life, but also Moses' whole body and being.  Again, this is typical of Yahweh.  When the LORD calls, the demand is for our tools, hands, and heart, our total existence. THE 3RD SIGN The third sign is not yet acted out.  Moses will have to wait till he gets to Egypt to perform this one.  He is to take some of the water from the Nile and pour it on the ground.  It will turn to blood.  This sign enables us to see another dimension present in the first two signs.  The purpose of these three signs is to create faith in the Israelites that Yahweh has appeared to Moses and that the message of deliverance is true.  WAIT FOR THE POWER ABOVE. Luke 24:49 New King James Version (NKJV) 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[a] until you are endued with power from on high.” WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU CAN DO NOTHING. WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU CANNOT MINISTER. (THERE WILL BE SELF EFFORT IN YOU) WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT NO MIRACLE CAN BE MANIFESTED. WHAT ARE THE 3 SIGNS THAT FOLLOWS BELIEVERS? These Signs Follow Believers After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus declared that signs would follow those who believed in Him. MARK 16:17-18 NKJ 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on CAST OUT DEMONS ACTS 16:16,18 NKJ 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. Speak With Tongues ACTS 2:4 NKJ 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ACTS 10:46 NKJ 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ACTS 19:6 NKJ 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied Remove Snakes The word translated take up in Mark 16:18, referring to serpents, is the same Greek word translated be removed in Mark 11:23. The meaning is not to play with snakes, but rather to remove them. We find an example of this in the life of the Apostle Paul in Acts 28:5. ACTS 28:3-6 NKJ 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. GOD CALLED MOSES :THE SAME WAY HE IS CALLING YOU. DO NOT SAY I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH. DO NOT SAY SEND SOMEONE ELSE. DO NOT SAY I CANNOT. DO NOT SAY I AM NOT CLEVER ENOUGH. JUST SAY LORD IF YOU CALL ME EQIUP ME WITH YOUR POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU WILL BE EQUIPED AND DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE LORD.

CONFESSION & CLEANSING

}It is not sin conscious.

}Church we are all ways grace conscious.

}But, nevertheless we must look into areas that there might be sin.

}David prayed this prayer

}Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

}CONFESSION & CLEANSING

}

}Grace is guarding your Christian walk.

}Romans 6:1-4

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}Dead to Sin, Alive to God

}6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

}

}DON’T BE DECEIVED.

}Deception means to believe that something is right when it is wrong.

}The prophet Jeremiah warned us how the easily the human heart is deceived.

}Jeremiah 17:9

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

}

}Is it Possible for anyone to be deceived –even a Christian?

}Yes. There are many Christians still saying that under grace God will forgive if I still continue to sin. And they are continuing to sin.

}  1 John 1:8,9

}8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

}Three Areas for Deception.

1.Thinking we have no sin – and thus do not need God’s forgiveness.

2.Thinking that we don’t need to confess- that if we do sin, we aren’t required to do anything about it; that God will either overlook it, or forgive us even if we don’t face it or tell Him about it.

3.Thinking we won’t be forgiven- that God will not really forgive us even when we do confess our sin.

}LADY  CAUGHT IN ADULTERY.

}John 8:1-11

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

}2 Now early[a] in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught[b] in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded[c] us that such should be stoned.[d] But what do You say?”[e] 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.[f]

}7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up[g] and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,[h] went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,[i] “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?[j] Has no one condemned you?”

}11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

}And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and[k] sin no more.”

}

}WHAT WAS THE STRENGTH HERE NOT TO SIN?

1.NO CODEMNATION

2.ACKNOWLOGEING JESUS AS LORD.

3.THAN THE POWER NOT TO SIN IS GIVEN BY JESUS.

4.REPENTANCE.

5.GRACE WAS GIVEN.

}DECEPTION SPOILS FELLOWSHIP

1.Those who believe they never sin at all will keep having problems caused by their sin. But they won’t know why they have the problems- or why their lives are in constant turmoil.

2.Those who sin but do not repent or confess their sin to God- thinking He will forgive them can become hard of heart.

}Hebrews 3:13

}New King James Version (NKJV)

}13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

}BE SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

}We should ask God daily to make us very sensitive to His Holy Spirit to warn us when we are in danger.

}He will let us know very quickly if we sin against His love or truth.

}We will receive more than just comfort we will receive His wise instruction and direction.

}

}

}REPENTANCE BUILDS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

}MATTHEW 3 :7 &8

}7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming?

}8 Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart)

}

}YOU ARE GOD’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

}Since you are His sons and daughters

}He cares for you.

}He loves you.

}He intercedes for you.

}He is not sin conscious but grace conscious.

}He want you to be free.

}He do not want you to worry.( worry is sin)

}YOU ARE SET FREE

}John 8:36

}If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

}Sin is no more your master.

}You are special.

}Just say to God I am sorry.

}He hears you.

}He loves you

}God bless you.

}

ABRAHAM AS A GREAT FATHER. FINDING A BAD FATHER IS NOT HARD. – 1 Kings 22:52; the men of Israel, Psa. 78:8, 78:57, Jer. 9:14. These Scriptures, along with many others, give glaring proof that there are bad fathers all about. In our day, the bad father is not hard to find. They are everywhere. However, finding that man who stands out as an example of what a good father ought to be is a hard animal to track down. GOD DECLARED ABRAHAM AS GOOD FATHER. About 3,500 years ago, God looked down on Abraham and declared him to be a good father. If a person will take the time to look at the life of Abraham, the reasons for this glowing assessment become abundantly clear. Today, we are going to look at Abraham’s life and see God’s idea of what makes a great father. GOD’S PLAN FOR ABRAHAM A Great Dad Is A Man Who: IS IN LINE WITH GOD’S PLAN God’s call on the life of Abraham. He is called, at the age of 75, to leave behind home and family and set out for God, Gen. 12:1. As far as we know, there was no hesitation on the part of Abraham. He simply responded in faith to God and set out to follow Him. Abraham’s call was to be the Father of a great nation, Gen. 12:2. Abraham answered that call and followed the Lord. ABRAHAM WAS A MAN OF PRAYER. A MAN OF PRAYER Abraham was a man of prayer. This is seen in that every time Abraham moved, he erected an altar to God and there he sacrificed and prayed, Gen. 12:8; 13:4; 21:33. He prayed about many things, such as the impending demise of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18, but he also prayed about his children. AS A FATHER ARE YOU PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN DAILY? He prayed about God’s promise of a son – Gen. 15:1-6 He prayed for the welfare of Ishmael – Gen. 17:18 There is, to my mind, no greater blessing that a child can have than to know that their father is praying for them! Fathers should make it a practice to pray for the children daily. Pray for their salvation, their protection, pray for them that they will be used of the Lord for His glory. Whatever the object, just be sure to pray for them daily! Let them know you are praying for them too! IS A MAN OF GREAT PERSUASION Of all Abraham’s accomplishments and achievements, his faith stands head and shoulders above the rest. Abraham is chronicled in the bible as a man of faith. In Gen. 15:6, the Bible says, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." In Hebrews 11:8-11, 17, the writer stresses the faith of Abraham. Abraham’s faith was that which made him a child of the King, Rom. 4:22. He was persuaded that God’s way was above any other way. ARE WE REALLY A GREAT DAD? SUICIDE STORY. The father gave his son everything he wanted. He became a great doctor. Highly educated in this field. But the only one thing he failed to do is to spend time with his son and guide him in the things of God. This young son of his fell in love with a girl and happened to be his friend also fell in love with the same girl. He committed suicide. The father said I gave everything hoping everything will be okay. But what has happened? ASK,THIS QUESTION ARE YOU A GOOD FATHER? Men need to be aware that what our children see us do, they are apt to do as well. ( An old anti-smoking commercial from the 60’s showed a father and a son walking together. The father picked up a rock and threw it, the son did the same thing. The father whistled the son copied him. The father fished a cigarette from a pack and lit it up and began to smoke. The commercial ended with the boy looking from the father to a cigarette pack he found in the road. The message was crystal clear; what our children learn from dad, they will replay in their own lives!) ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BAD FATHER. A man in Chicago made it a practice to stop in the bar for a drink or two on his way to work. One morning as he walked toward the bar in the newly fallen snow, he heard a small voice behind him saying, "Daddy, I'm A' coming in your steps". It was the voice of his young son as he tried to place his feet in his dad's footprints in the snow. The man cried out to the Lord: "Oh, God, if my boy is coming in my steps, by Your help, I'll track them in another direction." Dad put God first. Matthew 6:33 New King James Version (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Dad are you seeking God? Is your Child looking at you as Godly Father? Do you want your Child to be a great woman or man of God? Do you want to have Godly children and grand children? Well start now. Do not regret later. You will see your Children’s children blessed. Abraham was a man who enjoyed the great and abundant blessings of the Lord. God blessed him in many ways, including: Being the father of Israel from which came the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. He blessed him with a land called Canaan which became his and his descendants forever. 3. He blessed him with a son named Isaac to whom Abraham passed along the blessings of the Lord. Gen. 25:5, "And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac." That one verse tells it all! He received from the Lord and passed it along to the next generation. Isaac was blessed to have a father like Abraham in his life! ABRAHAM WAS MAN WITH A GRACIOUS PERSONALITY The incident which occurred between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot, Gen. 13. Abraham was willing to allow Lot to take his choice of the land and Abraham would be content with whatever was left over. In chapter 21, there was a conflict between Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael. Again, Abraham displayed a gracious spirit and in spite of what were very difficult circumstances, he sought to be kind and generous to everyone involved, Gen. 21:14. James 3:23 James 2:23 New King James Version (NKJV) 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[ And he was called the friend of God. Few men have ever reached the spiritual stature of this great man. However, men in our day could be more like him, and we could possess these qualities that he possessed if we would only allow the Lord to have His way and work His will in our lives! Let’s face it, we need godly fathers and men who will mold small lives into great ones for the Kingdom. We need men who will change society by giving the next generation great examples to imitate. Close: Are you what God wants you to be today? When we are the men we can be, our children will become the children they should be. They will be a blessing and the Lord for His glory will use them. They will be like this little boy who walked by his father and said, ""Papa, when you go to heaven, will you take me with you?" "Why, son?" the father replied. "Cause I want to go with you" was the child's simple, earnest reply. He loved his father, respected him and wanted to spend his life with him. That kind of love and respect is earned! It is not bought nor is it natural. It is the result of a father or a man who invests his life in the lives of children! I

HEIRS OF GOD. Our Spiritual Condition Before Adoption. Galatians 4:1-7 (New King James Version) 4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of[b] God through Christ. A New Creation The New Testament Greek word for “adoption” is Huiothesia. This is a compound of the root words for “son” and “a placing”. When the Bible uses “son” the term includes both male and female gender. The “son ship” for both male and female believers that the full inheritance from God is received by every person who is saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Roman Adoption Roman family the father absolute head and ruler. (He is the boss of his family) Roman legal adoption process was completed by ceremony of conveyance. What happens here is: All prior relationship or loyalties were severed. All former debts and obligation were cancelled or paid by the new family. The adopted person will be made an heir to the new father’s estate. The adopted son was also under the completed authority of his new father Has the right to discipline. Become accountable for the actions of the adopted son. Was considered the owner of all the adopted person’s possesions and life. Purpose of the Law. Paul forcefully argues that no one can be justified by the law(Gal 3:10-14,21,22.) Romans 3 :9-28. It is impossible for human to completely obey all the law. The Law can never save us or restore us to our place as sons of the Living God. We can never be Sons under the law. The Law had a purpose. The purpose was to reveal us to our sin and our need of a Savior Who could fulfill the requirements of the redeem us. Gal 3: 19-22 Paul then uses the Roman characteristics' of adoption to further show how God used the law. Scripture states that “before faith(salvation) came” we were “kept under guard” by the law and the “law was our tutor.” (Gal 3:23,24) Roman household practice. In Roman households it was common to have and adult steward or guardians who was responsible to discipline and care for the children. Thus Paul contrasts being “kept under guard” by a steward( the law) with our new position as sons upon our salvation. Galatians 3:26 New King James Version (NKJV) Sons and Heirs 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. NO more under the guardianship of the Law. The Greek word Paul used for son in Galatians 3:26 “ Huios.” Notice that it is the same root word for “adoption”( huios/thesia, son/placing) WHY DID PAUL USED THIS WORDS? Paul’s use of this word reveal to us that the moment we are born again we are no longer under the “guardianship” of the law.(Gal 3:25, Romans 7:6) Rather , we are placed by God’s sovereign action as full sons in God’s family. In other words at salvation God places us in the position of a matured son. Adoption: A Free Gift. Galatians 4:3 New King James Version (NKJV) 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. The word “elements” used by Paul has two meaning in the New Testament. It describes both the elementary principles of Old Testament law and the pagan religious practices of Gentiles.( see Galatians 4:8-11, Colossians 2: 16-23) Jewish law and Pagan religion. Jewish law and pagan religion expressions would seem to have little in common. However what they both did in practice was to try and replace true salvation by faith in Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit with rituals, traditions and customs of men. (Gal 3:1-9) But neither the rituals of the law nor the practice of pagan religion could bring anyone salvation. WHAT HAPPENS IN SALVATION? Thus Paul was not saying that we only earn our spiritual son ship as we mature in Christ. Paul’s word is clear in its meaning. Instead, when we receive Christ as our Savior at salvation the “child” immediately becomes the son. We are place in a mature position in full relationship with the Father as a full heir. It is a free gift. This gift empowers us to fulfill god’s will and bring more glory to His name. Hallelujah! God’s Perfect Timing. Paul goes on in this passage to reveal God’s action in the flow of human history. Prior to the coming of Christ, one could only choose to serve either a false pagan religion or the Jewish Law. And neither could bring salvation or restore one to God. But at the right moment when the “fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son” so that the Son would fulfill the law(Matt 5:17,18) and make salvation by faith in Him possible. Fully Sons From the Moment of Salvation. The Roman Adoptions needs a witness. The same applies at Salvation the Holy Spirit becomes a witness for you. Galatians 4:6 New International Version (NIV) 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.” WHEN YOU ARE SON YOU RECEIVE EVERY BLESSINGS. John 17:21-23 New International Version (NIV) 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. NOW YOU ARE SONS OF GOD. Like the Roman Adoption : All prior relationship or loyalties were severed. No more going back to old habits. You are dead to sin but alive to God. Jesus lives in you. All former debts and obligations were cancelled. Jesus paid for your sins 2000 years back it is settled. You are sons to the Kingdom of God. N o more debts cancelled. The adopted person was made an heir to the father’s estate. This is Great News you are made an heir to your heavenly Father’s estate. The adopted person experienced a more full relationship with the adopting father . Learn more about our Loving Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The more you know Him your life will be transformed. Amen.