Embracing Inadequacy: God's Call and Presence
Summary
In today's message, I shared a personal journey of grappling with imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy, particularly in the context of my educational background and pastoral role. Despite speaking at prestigious events, I often feel like a fraud due to my lack of formal qualifications. This struggle is not unique to me; many of us feel unqualified in various aspects of our lives, whether it's in our careers, relationships, or personal endeavors. However, the story of Moses in Exodus offers profound encouragement. Moses, despite being a central figure in biblical history, also struggled with feelings of inadequacy. He was a fugitive, a murderer, and someone who doubted his own abilities. Yet, God chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, not because of his qualifications, but because God promised to be with him.
Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush is a powerful reminder that God often chooses the unlikely and the unqualified to fulfill His purposes. When Moses questioned his own worthiness, God's response was not to highlight Moses' abilities but to assure him of His presence. This narrative teaches us that our identity and worth are not defined by our achievements or failures but by God's call and presence in our lives. God sees beyond our insecurities and inadequacies and invites us to participate in His work, just as He did with Moses.
Furthermore, the act of Moses removing his sandals to stand on holy ground symbolizes the removal of barriers between us and God's holiness. It is an invitation to intimacy with God, where we can bring our vulnerabilities and be transformed by His presence. Similarly, Jesus' act of washing the disciples' feet in the New Testament echoes this theme of humility and service, reminding us that we are called to serve others with the same grace and love that we have received.
As we reflect on these truths, we are encouraged to embrace our weaknesses and trust in God's strength. We are invited to step out in faith, knowing that God equips those He calls. Let us carry the burdens of others in prayer, just as we have been encouraged to do with the prayer cards, and trust that God will work through us to bring healing and hope to those around us.
Key Takeaways:
- Imposter Syndrome and God's Call: Many of us struggle with feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome, believing we are unworthy of our roles or achievements. However, like Moses, God calls us not because of our qualifications but because of His purpose and presence in our lives. Our worth is found in His call, not in our credentials. [20:31]
- God's Presence Over Our Abilities: When Moses questioned his ability to lead, God assured him of His presence rather than highlighting Moses' skills. This teaches us that God's presence is more important than our abilities. Our identity and success are rooted in His promise to be with us. [38:42]
- Intimacy with God: The act of Moses removing his sandals to stand on holy ground symbolizes removing barriers between us and God's holiness. It invites us to bring our vulnerabilities to God and experience transformation through His presence. [34:57]
- Service and Humility: Jesus washing the disciples' feet is a powerful example of humility and service. We are called to serve others with the same grace and love that we have received, reflecting God's heart to the world. [51:43]
- Carrying Others in Prayer: We are encouraged to carry the burdens of others in prayer, trusting that God will work through us to bring healing and hope. This act of intercession is a powerful way to participate in God's work and demonstrate His love to those around us. [54:34]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [20:31] - Imposter Syndrome and Personal Insecurities
- [21:34] - College Dropout and Life Choices
- [22:26] - Unconventional Ministry Path
- [23:03] - The Gap in Learning
- [23:49] - Feeling Like a Poser
- [24:22] - Relating to Insecurities
- [25:54] - Vulnerability Exercise
- [27:42] - Introduction to Moses
- [28:37] - Moses' Background and Calling
- [30:23] - God's Response to Israel's Cry
- [31:31] - The Burning Bush Encounter
- [33:12] - Holy Ground and Intimacy with God
- [36:49] - God's Intimate Knowledge of Suffering
- [38:42] - God's Assurance to Moses
- [45:45] - Moses' Final Plea and God's Response
- [51:43] - Jesus' Example of Service
- [54:34] - Carrying Others in Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 3:1-12
- John 13:1-17
---
Observation Questions:
1. What was Moses doing when he encountered the burning bush, and how did he respond to God's call? ([31:31])
2. How does God reassure Moses when he expresses doubt about his ability to lead the Israelites out of Egypt? ([38:42])
3. What symbolic act does God ask Moses to perform at the burning bush, and what might this signify? ([33:12])
4. In the New Testament, what act of service does Jesus perform for His disciples, and how does it relate to the theme of humility? ([51:43])
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might God choose someone like Moses, who felt unqualified and insecure, to lead such a significant mission? ([38:16])
2. How does the act of Moses removing his sandals at the burning bush relate to the concept of intimacy with God? ([34:57])
3. In what ways does Jesus washing the disciples' feet serve as a model for how we should serve others? ([51:43])
4. How does the concept of "God's presence over our abilities" challenge our understanding of success and worth? ([38:42])
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unqualified or like an imposter in a role or task. How did you handle those feelings, and what might you do differently now in light of Moses' story? ([24:22])
2. Moses was asked to remove his sandals as a sign of reverence and intimacy with God. What barriers might you need to remove in your life to experience a deeper connection with God? ([34:57])
3. Jesus demonstrated humility by washing His disciples' feet. What is one practical way you can serve someone in your life this week with humility and love? ([51:43])
4. The sermon encourages carrying others in prayer. Identify someone in your life who is struggling and commit to praying for them daily this week. How can you support them beyond prayer? ([54:34])
5. Consider the areas in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you shift your focus from your abilities to God's presence and promises? ([38:42])
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of embracing our weaknesses and trusting in God's strength. What is one weakness you can embrace this week, trusting that God will work through it? ([49:45])
7. How can you create a habit of reflecting on God's call and presence in your life, especially when facing challenges or doubts? ([38:42])
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
---
Day 1: Embracing God's Call Over Credentials
Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome, believing they are unworthy of their roles or achievements. This is a common human experience, but it is important to remember that God calls us not because of our qualifications but because of His purpose and presence in our lives. The story of Moses is a powerful example of this truth. Despite his past and his self-doubt, God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses' worth was not found in his credentials but in God's call. This teaches us that our identity and worth are rooted in God's call and presence, not in our achievements or failures. [20:31]
Exodus 3:11-12 (ESV): "But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?' He said, 'But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.'"
Reflection: Think of a role or responsibility in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you shift your focus from your own qualifications to God's call and presence in that area today?
Day 2: The Power of God's Presence
When Moses questioned his ability to lead, God did not respond by listing Moses' skills or qualifications. Instead, God assured Moses of His presence. This teaches us that God's presence is more important than our abilities. Our identity and success are rooted in His promise to be with us, not in our own capabilities. This is a profound truth that can transform how we view our own inadequacies and challenges. We are reminded that it is not our abilities that define us, but God's presence and promise. [38:42]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Identify a situation where you are relying on your own abilities rather than God's presence. How can you invite God's presence into that situation today?
Day 3: Removing Barriers to Intimacy with God
The act of Moses removing his sandals to stand on holy ground symbolizes the removal of barriers between us and God's holiness. It is an invitation to intimacy with God, where we can bring our vulnerabilities and be transformed by His presence. This act of vulnerability and openness is essential for experiencing true intimacy with God. It requires us to remove the barriers that we have built up and to approach God with humility and openness. [34:57]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What barriers have you placed between yourself and God? How can you remove one of these barriers today to experience greater intimacy with Him?
Day 4: Serving Others with Humility
Jesus washing the disciples' feet is a powerful example of humility and service. We are called to serve others with the same grace and love that we have received, reflecting God's heart to the world. This act of service is not just about performing tasks but about embodying the humility and love of Christ in our interactions with others. It challenges us to put aside our own desires and to serve others selflessly. [51:43]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who could use an act of service today. How can you serve them with humility and love, reflecting the heart of Christ?
Day 5: Interceding for Others in Prayer
We are encouraged to carry the burdens of others in prayer, trusting that God will work through us to bring healing and hope. This act of intercession is a powerful way to participate in God's work and demonstrate His love to those around us. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that we can support one another through prayer. By lifting others up in prayer, we become conduits of God's grace and love. [54:34]
1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people."
Reflection: Identify someone in your life who is in need of prayer. How can you commit to interceding for them regularly, trusting that God will work through your prayers to bring healing and hope?
---
Quotes
1) "It's like somebody who begins to think, I really, really am not qualified to do the job that I'm doing. And someday you guys are going to figure it out and you're just going to be done with me, right? That's what imposter syndrome does. And I have felt this way for the better part of 23 years that I've been a pastor here at Riv and 30 years that I've been in some sort of ministry. Now, I don't have the time nor the desire to unpack that with you today. But this mug gives me a peek into the second thing you may or may not know about me. And that is that I am a college dropout." [20:31] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "And God heard their groaning and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the Israelites and God knew. God heard, God remembered, God saw, and God knew. And meanwhile, Moses was shepherding. The flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. And as Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire, but was not consumed. So Moses said, thought, I must go over and look at this remarkable sight." [30:23] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "I think that that is Hebrew for holy cow, what is that, right? So he sees this burning bush. Why isn't it burning up? And it would be way too easy to minimize this and just think God is using this burning bush like a flare gun to get Moses' attention. But I think it's much more than that. It's not just a special effect. I think God is giving Moses a glimpse into who he is. He is a God who heard. He's a God who remembered. He's a God who saw. He's a God who knew. He's a God whose heart was now burning inside for his people." [31:31] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Moses, the adopted grandchild of the Egyptian Pharaoh, the murderer who ran away because of the consequences of his sin, he couldn't bear to look at God. And God invites him, take off your shoes and let your feet touch the holiness. I want there to be nothing between us here. And Moses just couldn't even look at him. Why? Because Moses was thinking, who am I? And then the Lord, verse seven, said I've observed the misery of my people in Egypt and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors and I know about their sufferings and I've come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey." [35:33] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Moses' question to God is, who am I to do this? And God basically answers him by saying, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who you are. What matters is who I am. I will be with you. And the people that you are gonna go rescue, you're gonna come back here to this spot, to Horeb, to Mount Sinai, to this holy place that your feet are touching the ground. And you are all gonna worship me here. That's the play. And the only sign you need is I'm sending you." [39:13] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "In the simplest of terms, God says to Moses, I picked you, so just do it. And the rest of Exodus is God doing exactly what he said he was going to do. For me personally, the story of Moses is one of the most encouraging because it helps me remember that God just picks nobodies to do extraordinary things. Even when we are plagued with doubts and insecurities. And the cool thing is the author of Hebrews gives us an insight that Moses would not have even had." [47:22] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "It's almost impossible to read Exodus and think, man, Moses has his stuff together. It's almost impossible to read Moses and to say, what a man of faith. But the beauty of what God does in our lives is he takes, in the words of Jesus, faith the size of a mustard seed and he causes it to grow inside of us. Moses had faith somehow that looked forward to Jesus. He didn't know Jesus' name. He knew that there would be a Messiah one day." [48:57] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "At Mount Sinai, God invites Moses to take the dirtiest part of him and to touch holiness. In the upper room, Jesus, who is holiness incarnate, touches the dirtiest part of the disciples' feet to make them clean. And both are just an echo. They are a foreshadowing of what he is about to do on the cross when he takes the dirtiest parts of you and the dirtiest parts of me and the dirtiest parts of the whole world onto himself on the cross so that we would be made clean. And now all we bring, all we bring to the table, is accepting that news by faith." [51:03] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?