I Am Not Qualified
Exodus 6:28-30; 7:1-7 And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am [a]of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?” So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My [a]armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did. 7 And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.
The Lord speaks to Moses and gives him an assignment. Moses says, “I am not qualified” to do this thing you want me to do. God sends a companion to go with Moses. Pharoah will withstand the plan that Moses is trying to accomplish. As Moses is obedient to his assignment, God gets the glory and it sets people free.
(1) God gives you an assignment.
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
A ministry of the Holy Spirit is to lead us and guide us into all truth and to direct us into the assignment that God has for each of us.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in [a]Asia.
Most of you have heard our testimony of how Ps Matt and I got together. I had a vision from the Lord of the two of us building a church, brick by brick.
Your assignment may or may not be what you think you are gifted in or what you want to do: Jonah was called to Ninevah, Abraham called to go to an unknown land, Joseph called to Egypt, a young shepherd boy called to be king, a Jewish girl called to be queen to save her people, Rahab called to let down a scarlet thread, Ruth was called to go with Naomi, Deborah called to go into battle with Barak.
No matter how big or how small in your eyes, your assignment is important and has lasting consequences.
Acts 9:4-6 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Now it may not be as drastic as Paul’s calling, but God is speaking to you to do something- what is it and will you obey His command? Maybe it is to quit your job and stay home to take care of your family? Or to homeschool your children? Maybe God is telling you to speak to your neighbor and share the gospel? Maybe He is speaking to you to turn from bad company and go to a diff group of people? Write a book? Start a new ministry in the church? Maybe HE has called you to fight abortion or go to another country to stop sex trafficking. Invent an app to prevent suicide or start a family counseling office? These are all examples from people I know personally. I do not know what He has called you to do, but HE has given each of us an assignment. What has HE called you to do?
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [a]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [b]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Your assignment is not your purpose. Our purpose is to live a life that brings glory to God. Our assignment is that which God gives us to do. Some people are called to another nation. Some are called to stay where they are. Some are called to a group of people. Some are called to politics, like Daniel and Esther. Maybe your assignment is to hold up someone else’s arms? Moses had two men hold up his arms while Joshua and the rest of the army fought the battle below. Who was more important?
Why do you care what another is called to do? People get so bent out of shape if you are not doing things the way they would do them. Who are you to attack another’s assignment? We will all answer to the Lord
You only have grace for your assignment- you set yourself up for a fall when you get out of the grace God has given you to operate in. You have no grace to take on another’s assignment. Miriam and Aaron found out the hard way- Mariam was put outside the camp with leprosy. It is pride
Psalm 131:1 Lord, my heart is not [a]haughty, Nor my eyes [b]lofty. Neither do I [c]concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too [d]profound for me.
David didn’t concern himself with things that were not his to be concerned with. One of the OT commendations of David’s mighty men was that were able to keep rank.
1 Chronicles 12:32-33 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; 33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks;
These men understood their rank and assignment; which is only possible through humility and being content with what God has asked you to do. Listen to Jesus:
John 21:21-22 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I [a]will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Keep your eyes on your own race and stay in your lane. Stick to your assignment.
(2) You are not qualified. Moses said, “I am a man of uncircumcised lips”
“Uncircumcised,” is used in Scripture to note the unsuitableness there may be in anything to answer its proper purpose; as the carnal heart and depraved nature of fallen man are wholly unsuited to the services of God, and to the purposes of his glory. Matthew Henry
This is the same sentiment Isaiah had when he was called to be a prophet and went before the Lord
Isaiah 6:1-5 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am [a]undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
This is the proper response of a sinful man to the King. I am not qualified to even be a doorkeeper in His kingdom, much less speak for Him. When you finally get to the point of realizing that you are not qualified- that is when God can use you mightily. Because then it is NONE of you and all of Him.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
I know I am not qualified. I have a sordid past. I know my wretchedness apart from the Lord. I do not think of myself more highly than I ought. But thanks be to God it is not on my qualifications, but on His righteousness and ability to use a willing vessel. Ps Matt and I come from different sides of the track, and this was hard for him in the beginning until God spoke a word to him:
Acts 10:15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has [a]cleansed you must not call common.”
God is looking for a bunch of unqualified people. I should not be standing before you today- I should be dead in a grave awaiting hell. You see today a person that has been pressing for 30 years to seek Him and know Him- my faith is not in myself, but in the finished work of the cross. You didn’t see me in my beginning stages. I was a wreck. I was at the altar every Sunday and Wednesday crying. I would have a bad thought and think I was cast away. But I began to mature and grow in my faith. I spent hours a day in prayer and hours a day reading my Bible- getting to know Him, His character and His Word. I had people tell me I couldn’t be in ministry or be used by Him because of my past. I had a pastor tell me I was a worse sinner than him because of my past. I kept pressing like Paul.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul was not qualified- he said of himself that he was the “chief of all sinners because he persecuted the church”. We are in good company. God called me to this assignment- not man. I can either accept it or reject it.
Our confidence is not in ourselves. It is not in our talents, or our abilities; it must be solely in The Lord. We never can trust ourselves too little, or our God too much. I can do nothing by myself, but I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. When you come to this knowledge, then you are fit for the Master’s purposes.
(3) The enemy will withstand you. V. 4 Pharaoh will not heed you
We have three enemies: satan, the world and our flesh
Anytime you set out to do anything for God, including repenting and turning from the world and your sinful ways; the enemy will withstand you. Satan comes immediately to withstand you
Matthew 4:1-3 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
Mark 4:15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
WE must recognize the attacks of the enemy. WE should not be ignorant of his devices. The more often the devil comes at you, the more you’ll begin to recognize what’s he’s up to and how he comes against you and you can tell him to flee. HE not only comes to kill, steal and destroy; he causes division and discouragement. 2019- the enemy doesn’t have to kill me to get the victory over me, he only has to render me ineffective for the kingdom
The world will always come against you- they don’t understand us. They do not understand why we do what we do.
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
Anytime you share your vision with someone from the world, expect that they will try to stop or discourage you. We had so many people tell us to not start a church- we were not only unqualified, it was too hard. Do not cast your pearls before swine. Be careful who you share your vision with. I want people who will encourage and support me in what the Lord has called me to do.
Lastly, your own stinking flesh can hinder you
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
We can be our own worst enemy. Crucify the flesh. Fear- Sometimes you have to do it afraid and step out of the boat, trusting in God. Don’t let fear dictate your obedience to do what the Lord is calling you to do. Sin- Control your thought life and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. You will never accomplish anything is you get stuck in your wrong thinking. Offenses, unforgiveness and bitterness will hinder your ability to do anything for the Lord. Walk in the Spirit and you will walk in victory
God has a great assignment for you so don’t ever let anyone or anything stop you from obeying the Lord’s commands. Attacks are real- but should they really come from our brothers and sisters in Christ? Accusations are from the enemy- he is the accuser of the brethren. Be sure you are not working on his side.
Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
Jesus rebuked Peter in front of all the disciples, “Get thee behind me Satan” because Peter didn’t understand Jesus assignment and therefore was trying to hinder Him from going to the cross. Do not be a stumbling block! BE careful that you are not an enemy that is withstanding God’s assignment.
(4) God sends someone to go with you.
What a beautiful thing that God doesn’t send you out alone. Elijah thought he was alone, but God had others who had not bowed down to Baal, then he had Elisha. Elisha had his servant. Abraham had Sarah. Noah had his sons to help build the Ark. Moses had Aaron and Miriam. David had Jonathan and his mighty men. Nehemiah had Ezra. Jesus sent out his disciples by two. Paul had Silas. Aquila had Priscilla. Ps Matt had me. God sent more families to help. God sends someone to help you! You do not have to do it alone. In fact, men your wife is your help mate. Women- are you helping or hindering your husband?
Are there times you have to do it alone? Sure. Sometimes no man will stand with you. But ask for help and God will provide. WE are not meant to do it alone. Of course, he is always with you; but Ps Matt could not build this church alone. I was sent to help We needed other’s help. God places you in the BODY- not on an island.
So, let others help you. When God sends help, take it. We need our brothers and sister in Christ. I remember our first retreat at Lakeview- I planned and did everything. I was wiped out. Shelly and others offered to help, but I didn’t need help. I could do it all on my own. LIES!
It is pride that you cannot ask for help. Repent of your pride, admit your weakness and receive help.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Let people help you!
(5) Obedience brings glory to God and sets people free
Moses obedience, in spite of not being qualified and his fears, set Israel free from 400 years of bondage.
The apostle Paul’s obedience set millions of gentiles free, and his work continues to this day
Acts 26:12-19 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will [a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I [b]now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified[c] by faith in Me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Greater works can we do. When you step out in faith and are obedient to what the Lord is calling you to do- He gets all the glory and people are set free.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
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