Sermon Notes: "Who Me?"

Today's sermon was reminiscent of several other posts I've have written recently. (not sermon notes)  I don't think the Pastor was aware of this when he planned his message for today.  But I do think God was aware of it, and He apparently is trying to drive home a point.  Is it for me? Or maybe it is for you?  Let's check it out and see what message we each discover in today's sermon.

So here we go with today's sermon notes based on Exodus 3:1-14, entitled, "Who Me?"

In today's scripture lesson we find Moses tending the flock of sheep that belonged to Jethro, his father-in-law.  And while he was doing this rather mundane, possibly boring task, suddenly The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush! (see verse 2)

"So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed."

And in verse 4, God called to Moses from the midst of the burning bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

5 -6:  Then God said, "Do not draw near this place.  Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."  "Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

And in verse 6, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

Then God said to Moses,

"I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt,

and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters,

for I know their sorrows."

And as we skip down to verse 10, we see that Moses has received his call from God....God tells him that He will send him to Pharaoh to bring God's people Israel out of Egypt.

But Moses replies,

"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh..."

Basically, Moses is saying what probably most of us would say if God asked us to do something so unbelievable, outlandish, and possibly even dangerous:

"Who, ME?

Moses has bought into the notion that he's a "nobody"...trying to pass the buck onto someone else...he doesn't think he's qualified enough, not a good enough speaker, just a lowly shepherd over his father-in-law's flocks...

But this call from God applies to all of us... not just the clergy, or the learned, or the eloquent of speech...

I Corinthians 1:27-28 tells us:

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, 

and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..."

"Be all you can be..."  You are chosen for God's Army...and He asks you to be all you can be for Him.

Jesus came to:

• Preach the gospel to the poor
• to heal the broken-hearted
• to proclaim liberty to the captives
• recovery of sight to the blind
• to set at liberty those who are oppressed
• and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

(see Luke 4:18-19 and Isaiah 61:1)

And we, as His disciples and church are expected to carry on that same mission today... and Jesus promises to be with us always, even unto the end of the age...(see Matthew 28:18-20)

God promised Moses in Exodus 3:12...

"I will certainly be with you..."

God is the God of the bush that is not consumed...

Your call may have something to do with justice, love, care of others...

If the task is incompatible with God's Word then it is not from God at all...

• Jesus tells us in John 15:5

"Without Me you can do nothing..."

God chooses imperfect people to do His work here on earth...

• David went out of his way to break practically all of the Ten Commandments
• Peter was impulsive and brash...
• Jacob stole his brother's birthright...

Leave room in the list for  your name...

God's power is made perfect in our weakness...

• "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness..." (II Corinthians 12:9)

We aren't perfect.  

• Is God calling you?
• Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37)
• God will be with you no matter what

We have to go...so...

• Trust in God

When Moses got back to Mt. Horeb, God said, "I'm going to do this...", and it happened.

God is calling each of us to do something special through Him and for Him.

Make a list of people you want to touch with the gospel of Christ this week...

God is in control...

• Lean on God...
• Follow Him...
• Trust Him...
• Pray...

What do you see in this lesson that God is saying to you? And what is your response to God?

Is it, "Who, Me?"  or is it, "Here I am, Lord."

I know I am truly trying to pay attention to what God may be asking of me...and am also trying to be more willing to respond, "Here I am, Lord, send me."

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given.  I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously.  Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said.  Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear...  That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts.  So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Sermon Notes: FUMC Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 7/22/2018

Healing In His Wings

Malachi 4:2 "But to you who fear My name (says the Lord of Hosts), the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."

 I know you are probably wondering what this little teapot and cup with a butterfly has to do with the above verse and story below.  I will tell you in a minute.

"The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, 

and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."

Interesting terminology.  I love it...and I claim it by faith on behalf of my dear friend Sharon, who has been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, (and she has never smoked a day in her life) and she begins chemotherapy tomorrow. 

 

My hubby and I with our friend Sharon last week. 

The vision that imagery conjures up in my mind is one of complete health, mighty in strength and vitality; restored in every way to a full, long, and happy life. Wow! Thank you, Jesus, for this picture You have engraved in my heart right now! I pray that it will be true in every way for my friend Sharon. (Although I think she’d probably prefer not to “grow fat like stall-fed calves”…Ha Ha. Just injecting a little humor here, which I believe Sharon will appreciate). 

My friend Sharon is a remarkable woman in every way. I will not even begin to try and list the ways here because it would take too long.  But last week, we went to visit Sharon in her home to pray and spend a little time just trying to encourage her as she faces this battle for her life...and what does she do?  She gives me a gift.  Yes...she gives me a gift.  The little "teapot and cup for one" shown above she had found in a thrift store somewhere and thought of me, and wanted me to have it. I was speechless!  But as I looked more deeply into this lovely little teapot, I discovered another gift...the butterfly in the bottom of the cup and also on the outside with the flowers... a butterfly! To many the butterfly is a symbol of healing, of new life, of resurrection...a thing of beauty created by our Lord to brighten our days and give us hope when we feel hopeless!

And as I looked at this wonderful gift, I knew that God wanted me to have it so that I would be reminded to pray for Sharon every day...and to have hope for her healing, and to have confidence on her behalf that indeed, "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings"....and my friend Sharon shall "go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves"!!

I know that many of you have had your own battles to win, challenges to face, and triumphs to celebrate.  There are some of you who also have family members and friends battling serious illnesses, overcoming tragedies, and who may be learning to walk by faith through treacherous terrain. Perhaps this verse and this little story will be encouraging to you today.   And possibly you may be the one who can share this hope and encouragement with others around you. Christ has come into the world with "healing in His wings"...that's what Christmas is all about...Christ came not only to save us from our sins, but also to heal us from our wounds and illnesses and broken hearts.

Luke 4:18 (and also Isaiah 61:1-2)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me 

to preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed;

to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Be blessed today, my friends!

Christ has come with "healing in His wings".