"Serve With What You Have"

April 23, 2023

FBC Baxley

am service

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Jeff Baxley, surgery, Melinda Hand,

Welcome radio and online guests…

*It’s ok if you’re broken, unfaithful, lost, we are too and we are here seeking God’s will and way and plan.

We are all prodigals here…

Some rescued….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: “Serve With What You Have”

Scripture Passage: Exodus 4:1-8

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.

4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—

5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign.

PRAY

Three Points:

First, God Needs People

Second, God Supplies… Even when we make excuses

Third, What is in Your Hand?

Introduction

What a comedown Moses suffered!

At one time, he enjoyed the possibility of sitting on the throne of Egypt.

In the Scripture reading, he was looking after sheep in the desert, removed from civilization.

What had caused his circumstances? He had tried to run ahead of God.

Can you picture the mother of Moses, during those formative years, whispering to him that he should remember he was a Hebrew and someday God would raise up someone to deliver the Hebrews from bondage?

As time went on, Moses felt the deepening impression that he was the one whom God had chosen to do the job.

The mistake he made was that one day when he saw an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew, he killed him and buried his body in the sand.

Later on, in fear, he fled the land.

What a terrible price we often pay for our impatience and hotheadedness!

God had not forgotten Moses, and here before the burning bush he was ready at last to thrust Moses into the service he had planned for him.

God also wants you to serve… Maybe that is as a deacon.. His servant here…

God works all things together for good to those who love him, and even the forty years’ discipline in the desert served as a great school for the man who would later lead his fellow Hebrews throughout this very area.

I. God needs people to do his work.

Of course, God could have reached down with his strong hand and rescued his chosen people any way he desired. There is no limit to what God can do!

Yes, God could send angels to send his message of salvation through the sky if he wished. But he doesn’t want to do it that way! God uses people to do his work. Aren’t you glad?

An old story, tells how, when Jesus returned to heaven, all of the hosts turned out to greet him.

He explained to them the plan of salvation, how he had died and had risen from the grave, and that now salvation was possible for all the world.

They were all rejoicing until one angel said, “But, Jesus, how will the world know what you’ve done?”

He replied, “I told my friends to tell others. Then they will go on telling others, and the message will be told around the world.”

The angel asked once more, “But suppose they don’t do it? Suppose they are too busy or too careless—what then? How will the world know about you?”

Jesus paused a moment, looked down, then raised his eyes and said, “They’re my friends. They won’t disappoint me. I have no other plan!”

Stewardship is our acceptance of the responsibility to do what God has planned for us.

Of course, it involves material possessions. We cannot do everything that needs to be done ourselves.

We can, however, give our money so that those who can give full-time service may be able to devote themselves completely to the Lord’s work.

We are not exempt from volunteer work, but it does enable us to have a share in the full-time work of those whom God has chosen for this ministry.

II. God supplies…even when we make excuses.

Most of us are like Moses. We hold back from accepting responsibility.

Notice the excuses Moses gave and how God answered them. When the call first came, Moses seems to have had an identity crisis.

He asked, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11).

God didn’t tell him who he was but instead promised to be with him and guide him.

The same is true for us…we will never discover the full truth about ourselves until we commit to the Lord the abilities we possess.

Next Moses wanted to be assured of authority for his work.

God gave him a new revelation of himself (3:14), insisting this was all of the credentials he needed.

When Moses insisted further that the people would not believe him or listen to his voice, God worked two miracles for him.

We need to learn a lesson about miracles right here.

God will provide the miracle if we need it, but he will only do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

When Moses voiced his lack of eloquence, God promised to be with him, which he had already assured him he would do in a previous statement.

Moses’ final excuse/plea was that God send somebody else.

At this point, Aaron suddenly appeared.

An interesting, scene took place.

God promised Moses that Aaron would be his spokesman.

You may wonder if Moses suddenly realized that if he did not accept God’s call, God might turn to Aaron.

This is not stated in the text, of course, but it may have crossed Moses’ mind. At any rate, Moses was now ready.

Most of the time, Excuses are not the real reasons why we hold back and refuse to accept God’s will for our lives.

The chief problem involved with stewardship is that it means we accept responsibility, and few people are eager to do it.

Remember, God will supply as you commit!

III. What is in your hand?

Moses’ rod has become a symbol. Like David’s small sling, what we have, little though it may be or seem, can be used tremendously if we will give it, without reservation, to the Lord.

The small boy had only five loaves and two fish, but he gave them to the Master.

Someone has suggested that the boy went home and told his mother of the miraculous feeding.

When he had finished, he said, “Mother, I wonder if he could do the same if I gave him everything I have.” Of course, God can do with us far more than we can ever do ourselves.

What can God do with what is in your hands?

Conclusion

What motivated Moses to a life commitment?

Two things seem to have merged. First, he saw the need. Second, he knew that, in God, he had resources available.

These two things will lead us to engage our stewardship.

God will take care of us if we are faithful in doing our duty, whether it be the bringing of financial gifts for God’s work to be carried on or by laying ourselves on the altar for service—or both.

First, God Needs People

Second, God Supplies… Even when we make excuses

Third, What is in Your Hand?

Deacon Voting Comments:

Vote for those you see on Sunday evening and Wednesday evening

Vote for those you see signs of spiritual growth consistently

Vote for those you have witnessed doing ministry and sharing their faith

Vote for those who are biblically qualified

If you are called…accept… be willing…you left your name on the least…serve and serve well...

PRAY

Invitation

“Are you born again?”

Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?

“Have you surrendered/repented to Jesus