Lessons from Moses: Vices, Obedience, and Divine Purpose
Summary
In today's message, I shared the journey of Moses, a man chosen by God, yet deeply flawed. The story of Moses is a powerful reminder that being chosen by God does not exempt us from personal struggles and vices. Moses was uniquely designed for his mission, surviving against all odds as a child, which was a testament to his divine selection. However, his life was marked by impulsivity, anger, and disobedience, which ultimately hindered him from entering the Promised Land. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of managing our vices and submitting to God's authority.
Moses' life illustrates that our vices can prevent us from fully realizing God's promises. Despite his anointing and the miracles he performed, his inability to control his anger and his reluctance to obey God's commands led to significant consequences. God had to alter His plans, using Moses' brother Aaron as a spokesperson because Moses resisted God's call. This highlights the critical need for obedience and submission to God's will, as our vices can lead to missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.
The story of Moses also emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing our patterns of behavior. Moses' anger and disobedience were not isolated incidents but recurring issues that ultimately cost him the chance to enter the Promised Land. This serves as a reminder that unchecked vices can become barriers to our spiritual growth and the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives.
Furthermore, the narrative of Moses challenges us to consider the impact of our actions on others. Moses' inability to enter the Promised Land meant that Joshua, his successor, had to lead the people into the land. This underscores the importance of character and obedience, as our actions can influence the lives of those we lead and mentor.
In conclusion, the life of Moses is a profound lesson in the balance between divine calling and personal responsibility. It calls us to examine our own lives, identify our vices, and strive for obedience and submission to God's will, ensuring that we do not miss out on the promises He has for us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Divine Selection and Survival: Moses' survival as a child amidst a decree to kill male Hebrew infants was a sign of his divine selection. This reminds us that our survival through life's challenges is often a testament to God's purpose for us. Recognizing this can inspire us to seek and fulfill our divine assignments. [03:20]
2. The Danger of Unchecked Vices: Moses' impulsivity and anger were recurring issues that ultimately prevented him from entering the Promised Land. This highlights the importance of identifying and managing our vices, as they can hinder us from experiencing God's promises. [19:50]
3. The Importance of Obedience: Despite being chosen, Moses' reluctance to obey God's commands led to significant consequences. This teaches us that obedience and submission to God's will are crucial for fulfilling our divine purpose. [10:15]
4. Impact on Others: Moses' actions affected not only his destiny but also the lives of those he led. This underscores the importance of character and obedience, as our actions can influence the lives of those we mentor and lead. [31:01]
5. Balancing Giftedness and Responsibility: Moses was highly gifted yet struggled with personal flaws. This serves as a reminder that our gifts must be balanced with responsibility and submission to God to avoid missing out on His promises. [32:46]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:56] - The Origin of Zion Church
- [02:05] - The Moses Factor
- [03:20] - Chosen and Protected
- [04:44] - Moses' Impulsivity and Anger
- [06:30] - Consequences of Actions
- [07:53] - God's Call and Moses' Resistance
- [10:15] - The Struggle with Obedience
- [12:57] - Disobedience and Its Costs
- [14:53] - Anger and Breaking Commandments
- [16:23] - The Balance of Giftedness
- [17:40] - Leadership Challenges
- [19:50] - Missing the Promise
- [22:03] - The Cost of Uncontrolled Vices
- [23:08] - Seeing but Not Entering the Promise
- [25:55] - The End of Moses' Journey
- [27:52] - The Fight Against Vices
- [30:01] - The Legacy of Moses
- [31:40] - The Unique Relationship with God
- [32:46] - The Call to Submit Vices
- [33:39] - A Prayer for the Anointed
- [34:54] - The Need for Grace
- [35:50] - The Battle with Vices
- [38:41] - The Role of a Culture Changer
- [39:42] - The Flow of Obedience
- [40:23] - Strength to Resist Temptation
- [41:08] - Opening Doors for Others
- [42:34] - The Importance of Character
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Life of Moses
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 2:11-15
2. Exodus 3:1-14
3. Numbers 20:7-12
---
Observation Questions:
1. In Exodus 2:11-15, what actions did Moses take that revealed his impulsivity and anger? How did these actions affect his life? [04:44]
2. According to Exodus 3:1-14, how did Moses initially respond to God's call at the burning bush, and what reasons did he give for his reluctance? [07:53]
3. In Numbers 20:7-12, what specific instructions did God give Moses regarding the rock, and how did Moses' actions differ from these instructions? [17:40]
4. How did Moses' actions in Numbers 20:7-12 ultimately affect his ability to enter the Promised Land? [19:50]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Moses' survival as a child, despite the decree to kill male Hebrew infants, suggest about God's purpose and protection in our lives? [03:20]
2. How do Moses' repeated struggles with anger and disobedience illustrate the potential consequences of unchecked vices in our lives? [16:23]
3. In what ways does Moses' story highlight the importance of obedience and submission to God's will, even when we feel inadequate or resistant? [10:15]
4. How does the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua demonstrate the impact of personal character on fulfilling God's promises? [31:01]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt chosen or protected by God in a challenging situation. How did that experience shape your understanding of God's purpose for your life? [03:20]
2. Identify a vice or recurring behavior in your life that may be hindering your spiritual growth. What steps can you take to address and manage this issue? [19:50]
3. Consider a situation where you struggled with obedience to God's call. What were the reasons for your reluctance, and how can you overcome similar challenges in the future? [07:53]
4. How can you ensure that your actions positively influence those you lead or mentor, rather than becoming a stumbling block for them? [31:01]
5. In what ways can you balance your gifts and talents with personal responsibility and submission to God to avoid missing out on His promises? [32:46]
6. Think of a person or group you are leading or mentoring. How can you model obedience and character in a way that inspires them to pursue God's promises? [31:01]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to submit your vices to God's authority and seek His guidance in overcoming them? [39:42]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Selection and Purpose
Moses' life is a testament to divine selection, as he was chosen and protected by God from infancy. Despite a decree to kill male Hebrew infants, Moses survived, highlighting God's purpose for him. This divine selection is not just about survival but about being uniquely designed for a mission. Recognizing this in our own lives can inspire us to seek and fulfill our divine assignments, understanding that our existence is not by chance but by divine intention. [03:20]
Exodus 2:2-3 (ESV): "The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the riverbank."
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt protected or guided in a way that seemed beyond coincidence. How might this experience point to a divine purpose in your life?
Day 2: The Danger of Unchecked Vices
Moses' impulsivity and anger were recurring issues that ultimately prevented him from entering the Promised Land. Despite his anointing and the miracles he performed, these unchecked vices hindered him from experiencing God's promises. This serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of identifying and managing our vices. Left unchecked, they can become barriers to our spiritual growth and the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives. [19:50]
Proverbs 25:28 (ESV): "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Reflection: Identify a vice or recurring issue in your life that you struggle to control. What steps can you take today to begin managing this vice with God's help?
Day 3: The Importance of Obedience
Despite being chosen, Moses' reluctance to obey God's commands led to significant consequences. His disobedience resulted in missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential, as God had to alter His plans and use Aaron as a spokesperson. This teaches us that obedience and submission to God's will are crucial for fulfilling our divine purpose. Our reluctance to obey can lead to significant consequences, not only for ourselves but also for those we lead and influence. [10:15]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with obedience to God. What practical steps can you take to align your actions with His will today?
Day 4: Impact on Others
Moses' actions affected not only his destiny but also the lives of those he led. His inability to enter the Promised Land meant that Joshua had to lead the people into the land. This underscores the importance of character and obedience, as our actions can influence the lives of those we mentor and lead. Our personal struggles and vices can have a ripple effect, impacting others in ways we may not fully realize. [31:01]
1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV): "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."
Reflection: Think of someone you lead or mentor. How might your actions or character be influencing their journey? What changes can you make to ensure you are a positive influence?
Day 5: Balancing Giftedness and Responsibility
Moses was highly gifted yet struggled with personal flaws. This serves as a reminder that our gifts must be balanced with responsibility and submission to God to avoid missing out on His promises. Being chosen or gifted does not exempt us from personal responsibility. Instead, it calls us to a higher standard of character and obedience, ensuring that we do not miss out on the promises God has for us. [32:46]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: Reflect on a gift or talent you possess. How can you use this gift responsibly and in submission to God to serve others and fulfill His purpose for your life?
Quotes
1. "When I started this church, some of you may not know this story, but I called the church, this church wasn't called Zion Church at the beginning. It was called the Love and Worship Outreach Center. And that's what I thought it was supposed to be called, the Love and Worship Outreach Center. Let me explain it. I always wanted this to be a church where people felt loved, no matter what their condition, what their issue is, whatever their situation, that they would feel loved. And then worship was, I wanted the words to represent what you would get if you came. And I'm a worshiper. I love worship, almost to a fault. Sometimes when I'm worshiping, I feel like preaching is an interruption." [00:00:09] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And one of the signs of his being chosen was early in his life, actually at the beginning of his life, there was a hit out on all children his age, all male children. The Pharaoh at that time where he was born, every Hebrew woman that had a son, they would kill the baby. And though all male babies around his age were being killed, he survived. One of the reasons why you know you're chosen is because of what you survived. Let me talk to somebody over here. I said, one of the reasons why you know you're chosen is because of what you survived." [00:02:22] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And some of you made it farther than anybody in your family. That ain't cute. That's chosen. You've been chosen. That's why you've been able to accomplish the things you've accomplished. And with being chosen, we see that one of the things that happened was his life was protected. Some of you should have been in cars that crashed and people died or should have been in situations where you got killed. And some of you should have been out before the shooting started or God just protected you. And something happened to the other children in the family. And you said, that didn't happen to me. It's only because God covered you. Amen. You understand what I'm saying?" [00:03:27] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Because like all of us, he may be anointed and gifted and called, but he also has shortcomings and vices. And we see it first show up in his life. Now, you got to understand what I'm about to read to you today is only highlights of his life or lowlights of his life. It's not the totality of his life. These are flaws that show up in his life because he got caught doing them. How do you know that there's some stuff you did that ain't nobody catch? They still don't know it was you, right? Yeah. Anybody glad that your stuff ain't in here and they preaching about you?" [00:04:16] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So now he's on the run and it was all triggered by his anger and impulsivity. Any angry people that snap, you got a snap ability. We must snap ability Kirk out. What do they call it now? Huh? Crash out. Just crash out people. Amen. You crash out, say stuff. Then you come back later and say, my bad. Snap, right? That's, this is his behavior. So we get to chapter three. Of Exodus. And then we're introduced to a new vice that he has. In chapter three, we get to chapter three. And now check this out. God comes to him and appears to him in the form of a burning bush. And God is saying, you're my guy. I'm calling you." [00:08:53] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If God tells you to do something, and you don't do it, or you fight him, that's called disobedience. So now we got a person who's clearly got an anger problem, who will snap and kill somebody, and somebody who also won't respond in submission to the call of God on their life. So here's what God does. God has changed his whole plan up. So verse 14, the Lord became angry with Moses and said, all right, what about your brother Aaron, the Levite? I'm going to have to do this another way. I know he speaks well, and look, he's on the way to meet you. He would be delighted to see you." [00:11:02] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And I'm saying something more than politics. Something more than racism or discrimination. What can keep you from your promise more than anything. It's your own uncontrolled vices. God said, you can't go now. Let me show it to you. Deuteronomy chapter 32. So this is what God says. The same day, the Lord said to Moses, Deuteronomy 32, 48, go to verse 49, go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I'm giving to the people of Israel, because I want you to see it." [00:22:13] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And I'm not saying that everybody that dies early in life or dies young in life died because they were disobedient. Jesus died at 33 and was perfectly righteous. But you know if I'm talking to you. See, whoever I'm talking to right now, all the Moseses listening to me right now, this is what you have to say, Pastor, with me? I'm so gifted and so wild, this thing can go either way. I can serve God the rest of my life, possibly. Or I can get off track and be so far out there, you never knew I knew him." [00:28:22] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "you go hard for god or go hard for the devil you just go hard and i'm saying that is the fight you gotta fight i understand that fight and this is the this is the thing about it every time you win a battle against your vice you get promoted i'm telling you this is how you this is how it works when you fight that thing and you win and you submit to god you get promoted but you know what you get promoted into a new battle but it's the same vice the vice never changes you're gonna fight the same devil at every level you go to so if you're about to watch this if you're not tempted by money and corruption that's not what's going to tempt you it's the same stuff that's been tempted you who understands what i'm talking about you understand what i'm talking about" [00:29:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Joshua now gets to go where Moses can't go because Moses has the vision, but Joshua has the character. And it's a trip when you have mentored somebody, and they walk where you were supposed to go because you was too wild to go. So he was cool with being too wild. If you read the story of Joshua, he never wanted to be one. Even when they told him he was going to be one, he was fighting it. But he was forced to be one because one was wild. Are you a wild one? Ooh, that was so good. I want to write that. Are you a wild one? Because if you're a wild one, two will have to replace you." [00:31:01] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Nov 04, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?