Testify through your weakness

Introduction

Last week we saw that no matter how you’ve messed up and how broken you are, God can still save you, forgive you, and use you mightily. God knows that we are not perfect and he knows where we are weak, and He desires to use us even in our weaknesses and in situations where are weaknesses are evident, counting against us, and God still prevails in our lives. This is part of our testimony, is God using us and loving us in spite of us at times. And using us in ways that doesn’t make sense to us all of the time, but through faith He will accomplish His purposes through His redeemed children.

God uses us past our own abilities

2 Cor 1:8-9 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” and 2 Cor 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.”

John 15:5 apart from God we can do nothing, and we would do well to understand that and rely upon Him in all moments. When we do that…somehow we are more willing, more ready, and more trusting in His power and not our own.

God either uses us past our own natural abilities, or he shows us our inadequacy so that we have to rely upon His presence and strength. Moses didn’t believe he could do anything that God had told him to go and to do. Moses felt that he was inadequate. He felt like he would fail, just like the first time that he tried to lead the Israelites. So he fled to Midian and lived there for 40 years, getting married, having two kids, but God had a different plan for Him. Even then, Moses questioned God.

God gives us grace even when we question Him

God had promised Moses in Exodus 3:18 “And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let u go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’” but Moses still decided to question God’s plan in Exodus 4:1 and continues to doubt Him in 4:10. (Ex. Dad promises you will go to disneyland next month) Even through Moses’ doubt of God’s promise, God still delivered.

Watchman Nee “The meeting of need is not dependent on the supply in hand, but on the blessing of the Lord resting on the supply.”

God graciously gave Moses three signs even in the weakness and lack of faith to strengthen him for a difficult confrontation with the Egyptian pharoah and the Israelites.

You might be thinking “This is cool and all, but God hasn’t done any miracles for me. How can I know that He will use me when I haven’t seen any miracles?” 1. He gave us the inspired account of these miracles to show us His power 2. He gave us reliable testimony of the most powerful miracle in history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. That testimony is so certain Paul was willing to rest all of the Christian faith on that truth (1 Cor 15:12-19)

However, Moses continued to question and test the Lord in His integrity to Moses and the people of Israel.

Don’t let your humility turn to unbelief

Moses goes from humility to unbelief. God gave Moses a crazy amount of confirmation that if he trusts in God’s power, even the mighty Pharoah will not be able to stand against him. Then Moses raises a further objection in Exodus 4:10. This is funny because 40 years earlier Moses was a man of power in words and deeds. (Acts 7:22) Then Moses continues on AFTER God tells him He will be with his mouth, and teach him what to say. But Moses’ response: “Here I am Lord; send someone else!”

The Lord calls you to do something beyond your ability, His presence and power are sufficient. Don’t make up excuses for why you can’t serve Him.

Conclusion

God wants us to rely on Him for what he calls us to do.

God gives us grace when we don’t deserve it and still chooses to use us.

God’s power is sufficient, and His presence is the key to freedom, power, and the place where we gain our strength and see great things happen. Put your faith in Him. Don’t make excuses and get in the game.