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Commissioned By God

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God’s Word for Life

New Devotionals

As we open a new quarter of teaching at New Life Rector, we have brand new devotionals for everyone this morning!

If you got off track last quarter on the devotional or the bible reading plan at the top, start fresh and let God speak to you every day through His Word!

New Series: The Revelation of God

In our new series, “The Revelation of God,” we will look at four different places in Scripture that reveal who God is.

And we are going to let the Word show us God’s majesty and power.

Today, our title is “Commissioned By God”, and we will focus our eyes on Exodus 3.

Lesson Connection

There was a young man who had just recently been converted.

He knew the Lord had called him to a certain ministry, but he had no idea what the details of that were.

All he knew was that he needed to prepare.

So, being about college age and new to the faith, he asked his pastor to help him find the best fit for college, one that would prepare him for his calling.

He made his selection and worked hard until the fall semester to be sure he was financially able to pursue a theology education.

As he went on this journey, he began to understand the Lord was also calling him to pursue a business education followed by seminary.

People - well-wishers - asked questions and became discouraging of it.

But for him, the calling was sure; he took the dive into this education plan that lasted more than a decade.

It was a unique decision that confused many.

But it truly did prepare him for his calling.

His Bible college experience grounded him in the faith.

The business degree helped him manage his ministry with good business principles and gave him the needed understanding to have a bi-vocational ministry.

The seminary experience gave him the credentials he needed to become a military chaplain, ministering to those who suffered from moral injury after taking human lives in combat.

Then, the military sent this chaplain back to college for a counseling degree, leading to a license as a counselor, as well.

But at the beginning of this long journey, this young man never could have dreamed of the ministry the Lord had called him to.

God uniquely qualified him with a total of eleven years of college and firsthand mentoring by great Apostolic leaders.

All of that really happened.

And it was a unique calling that required unique preparation for a unique ministry.

Moses’ Great Commission

After leaving Egypt, Moses lived the next forty years with honor and integrity.

He was faithful to his father-in-law, faithful to God, and faithful to his family.

But he got here through some odd circumstances.

God didn’t ask Moses to murder the Egyptian who was fighting his Hebrew brother, but because of this incident, God put Moses in a place where God could use him for His glory.

God prepares the heart for divine engagement.

A Turning Point in Israel’s History

So something was changing for Israel, here.

Israel had for a long time enjoyed the benefits of living in the land of Goshen.

Remember Goshen???

It was a prime land for farming and ranching.

For many years they had enjoyed this privilege because of Joseph, who had favor with Pharaoh.

But, God knew that one day a pharaoh “which knew not Joseph” would eventually come to the throne of Egypt and would enslave the Hebrew population (Exodus 1:8).

God also knew that 430 years after the Israelites entered Egypt, Moses would lead them out of Egypt.

So what appeared to be a Hebrew shepherd having a conversation with a flaming bush was actually a turning point in Israel’s history, as well as the world’s history.

The smallest moments in the presence of God will send ripples through our world!

God Spoke to Moses

So, Moses is shepherding his flock on Mount Sinai, and God speaks to him.

God informs Moses that this was a significant occasion and that the ground upon which he stood was holy.

He had been pampered as royalty in Egypt, receiving the best training as a youth that was possible, enjoyed the best of health, and had extraordinary writing and leadership ability… and with all of that, now he had a humble response:

And God then assured him that not only would he be successful, but he and the Hebrew nation would one day worship on the very mountain he was standing on.

Again - just a small moment here on the mountain with a burning bush - but how you respond in small moments with God is going to determine the if the greatest moments take place or not!

God Equipped Moses

But here’s what’s really important to understand… God not only spoke to Moses - He equipped Moses for what He was calling him to!

Whether Moses felt overwhelmed, unworthy, or simply compelled to be humble in the presence of God, we can’t really be sure.

Moses made several objections to the Lord, and the Lord quickly responded to each one.

“Who am I?” Moses objected.

The Lord stated:

Moses again objected, “Who shall I say sent me?”

The Lord came back at that with a revelation for him: “I AM THAT I AM.”

And he identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:14-15).

And, you know, Moses, let me assure you that the children of Israel are going to listen to you.

But Pharaoh… Pharaoh will be stubborn.

But that’s okay… because I am going to smite Egypt with all My WONDERS.

Moses raised a few other objections (Exodus 4) and God gave him a short tutorial about features he never realized his shepherd’s rod had, how to cure leprosy, and how to turn water into blood.

And then God reminded him of who had made his mouth and tongue.

Sometimes we need God to remind US of just who made OUR mouth and tongue.

And yes, Moses stirred God’s anger, but God was patient with him; eventually Moses accepted his commission.

And the fact is, even though God called Him to something as he walked in, when he walked out he was equipped to get the job done!

God Has Commissioned Us to Lead People Out of the Slavery of Sin

In the same sense as all of this happened with Moses, God has commissioned all of us to lead people out of the slavery of sin and into the promised land.

A lot of times this commission is framed as some sort of individual task, implying that we somehow “win someone to the Lord” on our own.

But this thinking doesn’t reflect the Bible, and it’s actually not common practice in our day.

Some people seem to have a gift of evangelism and simply slip their sickly into the harvest and out come sheaves.

But the truth is: this appearance and belief can give us a false reality.

There are not specially gifted people among us who can all by themselves regularly lead others to repentance, teach Bible studies, persuade people to be baptized, and influence people to receive the Holy Ghost.

They couldn’t do their jobs without a publishing house to create the Bible study, artists to make the charts, businessmen contributing substantial sums of money to a church facility, faithful saints to maintain the church structure, cooks for special events, and those with the gift of hospitality to engage visitors and take them out to eat, and much more!

Everyone’s gifts and talents make the Great Commission happen!

Joshua’s Great Commission

So now let’s move to Joshua for a minute...

Joshua was commissioned by Moses to:

Another Turning Point in Israel’s History

Moses’ ministry was coming to an end, and he announced that publicly.

At 120 years of age, he was no longer capable of leading the fight.

We know that Moses was forbidden from personally entering the Promised Land because of an act of disobedience; but he was allowed to see it.

Moses was now charged to hand over the mission to Joshua.

No longer was the Promised Land simply a promise - it would soon become a reality under the leadership of Joshua.

It was at this moment when both Israel’s focus and leadership changed.

What had gotten them to this point would not successfully take them to the next point of their journey.

It required a change of leadership.

God Spoke to Joshua

So the Lord spoke to Joshua to engage in a renewal of the covenant of circumcision for the people.

They were the generation that would conquer the Promised Land.

And Joshua’s willing response prepared the nation for the promise.

Now, check this out… what’s pretty amazing is that the end of Joshua 5 tells us the angel of the Lord was telling Joshua - just like the Lord had told Moses - to loose his shoes because he was standing on holy ground.

He then assured Joshua that the Lord would conquer Jericho, including its king and all the mighty men of valor (Joshua 6:2).

And in addition to all of this, He gave Joshua a divine strategy to conquer the city.