Class Lesson November 6, 2011

Hey Gang,

We begin a new 4 week series centered around the events in the life of Moses that can help us deepen our walk with God. The series is entitled, "Make Your Life Count."

Listen, all adults want significance in their lives; there is a part of each one of us that wants to know that our lives count for something beyond just getting through the day. Even many Christians, who might give mental assent to the truth that life has meaning because they'll go to heaven when they die, fall back into the typical approach of trying to find their significance through their careers, families, or other relationships. Life can have meaning now, and we can make a difference in the world around us now. This study is important because it leads us to see how God calls us and can use us in significant ways. This life of meaning and purpose comes as we deepen our walk with God.

Our 4 lessons are as follows:

1. Accept the Call
2. Stand for the Lord
3. Respond to Difficult Situations
4. Adopt the Right Perspective

Watch this video below by Matthew West entitled, " My Own Little World."

My Own Little World

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A 15 year old girl named Aly created a video of the song by Matthew West, "My Own Little World" and posted it on YouTube. People have been blown away! The response has been huge! Below is a letter that Aly got from a friend at school...Aly is making a difference!

In history, God called unlikely people to do great things:

1. Moses had murdered someone and had run away.
2. David was a shepherd boy when anointed king.
3. Rahab was a prostitute when she saved two Israelites.
4. A young boy with a couple of fish and some bread supplied the means for Jesus to feed the hungry masses.
5. Saul was sincere but sincerely wrong in trying to please established religious leaders by getting rid of Christians.
6. Peter denied Jesus but then became a courageous leader.

What made the difference for all these people was that God called them and they accepted their call. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done; you can become God’s person now. 

How do I know what God wants me to do?

1. We are all called for a holy and noble purpose. 
2. We were put on this earth to make a contribution.
3. God designed you to make a difference with your life in this world.
4. What matters most is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it.
5. It's not how long you lived, but how you lived.
   

God wants to use you too, but we have to stop making excuses for not accepting God's call.

 
Moses had lived what many of us would consider a full life before he heard God's call at the burning bush. As he encountered God, the Lord told him he was on holy ground. God called Moses and revealed Himself as the God of the patriarchs, holy, concerned, and intent on delivering His people. When God told Moses of his key role in this deliverance, Moses made excuses. When God promised to be with him, Moses asked God's name. God knew that the king of Egypt would not let the people go, but the Lord would deliver them. Moses claimed that he was not an eloquent speaker, but the Lord promised to help him speak. Moses and his brother, Aaron, told the people of God's promised deliverance, and the people believed.

Moses' Calling by God

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I. HEED GOD’S DIRECTION – EXODUS 3:1-6

Moses and the Burning Bush
1 Meanwhile Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest ofMidian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought: I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn't the bush burning up? 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses, Moses!" "Here I am," he answered. 5 "Do not come closer," He said. "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then He continued, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.


Prior to this, Moses went from Egyptian prince to nomad to shepherd. Describe the setting and circumstances of Moses’ life in Exodus 3. Why do you think God didn’t call Moses when he lived in the palace, when he already had position and influence?

•  God wasn't through preparing Moses for his calling of service.

What might this tell you about God’s plans for your life?

• God may still be preparing you for something great in His plan.

What did God instruct Moses to do, and why?

•  Removing one’s shoes was an act of reverence in biblical times.
•  When God met Moses at the burning bush, the place became holy ground.
•  Do you show this kind of reverence when you are in God’s presence?
•  What are some practical ways we can practice humility before God?

Would you say that Moses was looking for God or that God came looking for Moses?

• God came looking for Moses.

What are some ways God reveals Himself to us besides burning bushes?

• Circumstances in life, other people, the Bible, in prayer.

What danger is there for believers who take the holiness of God casually?

• I believe that there is grave danger in taking the holiness of God casually.
• Remember the time when one of David's men didn't treat the Ark of the Covenant with respect - he was struck down by God.

II. DON’T GO IT ALONE – EXODUS 3:10-15

10 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses asked God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 He answered, "I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain." 13 Then Moses asked God, "If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, 'What is His name?' what should I tell them?" 14 God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you." 15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.



What are some hang-ups empty nesters might have about accepting instructions from God?



Is there a difference in your calling to your profession and let’s say a pastor or full time minister’s calling? 

• A businessman has opportunities to show godly ethics and character in the workplace as a witness to people who may not ever give a pastor the time of day.
• Public school teachers work in a very real mission field right in a community.
• We should pray for each member to accept the unique call God has placed on their life.
• You are called to serve God. Growing up, you may have thought that being "called" by God was something only for missionaries, pastors, nuns, and other "full-time" church workers experienced, but the Bible says every Christian is called to service (Eph. 4:14; Rom. 1:6-7; 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:2,9,26; 7:17; Phil 3:14; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:3).
• Your call to salvation included your call to service. They are the same. Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service. A "non-serving Christian" is a contradiction in terms.

III. ACT IN GOD’S POWER – EXODUS 4:10-12

10 But Moses replied to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant —because I am slow and hesitant in speech." 11 The LORD said to him, "Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say."



The Israelites were God’s chosen people. Why would Moses have been concerned about convincing them? When is it tough to take a stand for God with the people who know us best?





What was Moses’ excuse? Do you think that was a real fear or was Moses just trying to get out of doing what God wanted him to do?

•  MOSES SIMPLY DID NOT WANT TO GO!

1. The previous excuses were simply a smokescreen attempt to hide this fact!
2. Now that the smokescreen is removed, God's impatience with Moses becomes evident
3. His anger was kindled against Moses – Exodus 4:14
4. Read verses 15-17 with an emphasis on the word "shall" to appreciate the anger of the Lord

• THE SAME IS TRUE WITH US TODAY!

1. Any and every excuse we could offer is only a smokescreen
2. We really would rather that God use someone else!
3. We really don't want to do what God has called us to do!
4. But brethren, the anger of the Lord is kindled against those who do not live up to their calling! -- If we have been making excuses, we need to repent!

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How important would you say it is for all believers to accept the unique calls God has placed on their lives? What danger do you create by refusing to faithfully serve God? Think about how Moses’ life would have been different had he embraced his excuses and refused to accept God’s call. How does our refusal affect us and others?



Three lessons to be pointed out here:

1. When God calls us into ministry or to do His work, he doesn’t say “This is the path…walk it!” Instead, he says (like He did to Moses) “I will be with you” (Ex.3:12)
2. When God calls, He also provides. Just as He provided Moses with the power to perform signs and wonders to convince the people (Ex.4:3-9), God has provided the Holy Spirit for us, to empower us as witnesses for Christ, to convince the people.
3. God can use anybody…whether they are slow in speech and tongue or they were previously murderers. Who would have thought God would use Moses? He was slow in speech, cowardly and was a murderer. But, God uses anybody and everybody!

It cost Jesus His own life to purchase your salvation. The Bible reminds us, "God paid a great price. So use your body to honor God" (1 Cor. 6:20). We do not serve God out of guilt or fear or even duty, but out of joy, and deep gratitude for what He has done for us. We owe Him our lives. Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured. In light of these incredible benefits, Paul concluded, "Because of God's great mercy ... offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service" (Rom. 12:1).

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me to do all that You call me to do. Amen

Devote yourselves this week to diving into this lesson and giving serious thought to what it means to be call of God. 

See you Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan