Exodus 3:7-10 (NIV) The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them…out…”
1. When God invites us, His invitation provokes a response.
Exodus 3:10-11 (NIV) So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people…out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
A crisis of belief is a turning point where you must make a decision.
Man says “Show me and I will trust you.” God says “Trust me and I will show you.”
2. There is often spiritual wrestling in the midst of a crisis of belief.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV) So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Luke 9:23-24 (NIV) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Common wrestling points we are confronted with:
Exodus 4:1 (NIV) Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”.
Exodus 4:10 (NIV) Moses said to the Lord, “I am slow of speech and tongue.”
“God doesn’t call you to get involved in His activity merely so that you can see what you can do. He calls you to an assignment that you can’t accomplish apart from His divine intervention. God’s assignments have God sized dimensions.”–Henry Blackaby
We can only hear and absorb the call of God if we are abiding. Abiding is essential to stop wrestling.
3. God’s invitation brings us to a decision that requires Faith and Action.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Luke 5:4-8 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV) By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Call to Action:
For Small Group Discussion:
Scripture to Consider: Jeremiah 32:27, Mark 9:24, Romans 8:35-39, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, John 21:20-21
Questions: