R252 The Rod of Moses

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton in today's message on the rod of Moses. He is so excited about today's message and I must say I've heard it already, and I cannot wait to share with you.

It's taking us of the book of Exodus as we open God's word and remind ourselves about Moses and his walk with God challenge you and I and how we find her need to obey God's power doing this another were available for you Dr. Don Wilton to remind you our phone number 86689 got it down stored in your cell 866-899-WORD 9673 would love to pray with you and connect with resources. You'll find many of those resources on our website as well. Tewonline.org he that's TE WR online.org now Dr. Don Wilton would you like your Bibles this morning and turn with me to the book of Exodus, the Old Testament Exodus chapter 3 in Exodus chapter full and I'm going to invite you to turn there with me to Exodus chapter 3, then Exodus chapter full subject this morning is the rod of Moses, the rod of Moses may begin today by asking two of the most important most critical questions that I believe Christian men and women off in today's day and night number one. What in the world is happening in our world. What is becoming of the world. What is becoming of the world materially what is becoming of the world morally. What is becoming of the world ethically what is becoming of the world internationally.

What is becoming of the world into racially what is becoming of the world.

More importantly than any of these spiritually. It's a question which all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ to be offscreen because of our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. But then there's a second most important question what difference can I make in this world today. I wonder if there's anyone here this morning who has kind of felt sort of lost in the shop a little bit you know I'm just kind of a little bit lost in the shuffle, and I look at this magnificent choir whom I love so very dearly and so very much. I think of all the people who sing and I think of just how precious and how important every single voice is and when you get every voice you get the kind of beautiful sound that comes forth the orchestra protocol with the different instruments everybody playing their part.

There are two very important questions as we begin to look at the rod of Moses this morning. Number one, what about the world in which I live. Number two. What difference can I as an individual.

Make in this world in which I find myself let's consider for a moment, the Israelites and God's servant Moses. I want you to turn with me to Exodus chapter 3 and I'm going to read the first eight verses, then we going to turn over to chapter 4 and I'm going to read just the first three verses, just what the Bible says. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to hologram the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in the flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that even though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses school. I will go over and see the strange sight, why the bush does not burn up. When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush. Moses. Moses. Moses said Jeremiah Lord, I wonder how many times we read about that in Scripture. I wonder how many times throughout history, God has cool Moses. Moses from within the fabric of these holiness what God requires of us is to lay the rod down.

This was the beginning of that journey for God's servant Moses here I am, verse five. Do not come any closer.

God said take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Then he said I am the God of your father the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. At this Moses did he space because he was afraid to look at God.

The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.

I have seen in other words, they model the ethical their physical that interracial that cultural the international this spiritual dial-in month. I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt.

I have heard him crying out because of their slave drivers and I'm concerned about their suffering. So as a result. In verse eight I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus chapter 4 verse one Moses Johnson.

But what if they do not believe me or listen to me and say the Lord did not appear to you then the Lord said to him, Moses, what is that in your hand. A rod, he replied.

The Lord said to him, throw it down on the ground. Moses slowed down on the ground made the Lord right he's good upon our hearts. The Bible tells us that God said and did three things with regard to the print predicament that Israel found themselves in. It's all right there in verse seven. If you look at it with me. Number one I have seen your predicament I have seen your predicament and as Moses began to beg for the people of Israel who were in bondage in Egypt could be mistreated. Good been beaten down into submission. God reminds him. In verse seven I have seen their predicament.

I have not any seen their predicament.

I have heard their cry.

I have not any seen and heard their cry, but I know about the problem and in verse seven that would know my friend. It means in the Hebrew Old Testament. I literally understand the very depth and the fabric of every single part of man's breakup of the depth of his misery of every petition that he has everything that man ever thought about.

I know, and I understand all about you is that great. Can you imagine that was the children of Israel in such bondage for so many years and yet God the God Jehovah reached down from heaven and he said I'm not any see you but I hear you and I know you and on that basis and because of who I am I in verse eight, am going to deliver you and I'm not only going to deliver you from the bondage, but I'm going to live deliver you to that freedom in the land which flows with milk and with honey. So the question becomes how in the world that God deliver the children of Israel.

Remember the first question that office today, my beloved friends. What about the world and what about me. How do I fit into the rules predicament. How did God deliver the children of Israel from bondage. How did God do it well.

We might say that God decree as the king as the King of the universe. Of course he decree he decrees throughout history that God out there that God order Pharaoh to let him go is the commander-in-chief as the general of the Armed Forces. Of course, on them to be set free.

Did God hate these wishes to the children of Israel as the ruler as the one who was in charge of course God dictated. He decreed and he and he dictated that God come to earth in order to make a difference. Of course he did. The Bible says he was born in a manger and he grew up upon the said and then he suffered any blade and he died and he rose again and he was exalted to be seated at the right hand of the father did God die in order to set them free. Of course he did for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but should have eternal life. But there was one thing that God did. My friends, that stands in this accountant begins in Genesis and is recorded right throughout the annals of antiquity. God reached down from heaven and he chose a man and he chose a woman and he chose a you and he chose of me and he said down, down, and when you put the pot down and you pick it up again you going to pick up the road of Almighty God. And when you pick up the rod of God. I want you to know based upon blind and you will never be able to even imagine what I am maybe going to be able to do even through your life because I'm in control all yes my friend, God still uses people in Luke chapter 6 chapter 15 the Bible says two men by one wing to heaven. The other man went to hell.

The man in hell. Realizing his predicament begged God to send someone back from the dead, so as to kill those who are still alive that they needed to repent the basin and Abraham said from heaven itself. I can't send anybody back from the dead, because that is not God's chosen method of evangelism. So what is God's chosen method of evangelism in Luke chapter 15 the Bible says that Abraham said to this man, rather than sending someone back from the dead, you have got Moses and you got the prophets make them hear them. Moses referring to the law of Moses when he found out it was written upon his heart because of the rod of God in the presence of God as result of his encounter with the burning bush and the presence of the holiness of God. The prophets are you and me. Those of us who are given the opportunity by the grace of God to tell others about the delivery that every person, every man, woman, boy and girl upon the face of the earth can enjoy because of the cross of Christ.

Yes friends, I'm here to announce to you today that what began in Exodus chapter 3 has continued throughout history, God still uses people.

It is biblical it is historical it is factual it is unmistakable and it is mind-boggling.

The joyful if this such a word you know why because people touch our forgive the interruption, but we have people ready to touch the lives of the other end of our phone line and website right now Dr. Don's entire message.

The rod of Moses will complete that in just a moment. So don't go away production on what you know when you go to our website, TE, W online.org forgiveness, phone. It's our goal to encourage you at The Encouraging Word. Our phone numbers 866899673.

Many folks are calling and asking for the free hard copy of our daily Encouraging Word is a wonderful devotional comes out every quarter.

Would love to send it to you for free if you call and ask for it at 86689. Again, that's 866899673 but you can also sign up for an immediate delivery so to speak. Every morning Dr. Don since this out and sign up for the daily Encouraging Word devotional on our website as well@tewronline.org yes of course it's free and it's available right now online@tewonline.org.

Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton Encouraging Word God has used men and women and boys and girls, young and old, rich and poor from every walk of life laid their lives down to be picked up again as long let you down.

My brother laid down my sister and pick it up again as the rod of God so it was the God came to his servant Moses. I think that you would agree with me that Moses had great difficulty in accepting this child all the Bible says he was scared. The Bible says, these bones began directly within them.

The Bible says he began to stutter and stammer. I don't know what it was that bothered him. The Bible teaches us that he had four major difficulties with the: the challenge of God. Perhaps part of these difficulty in the first place lay in accepting who he wall number one he's difficulty Moses difficulty.

According to chapter 3 in verse 11 lay in accepting.

He was liquid.

Verse 11 yes what the Bible says but God said to Mike Moses said to God, whom I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Lord. The prophet Isaiah came into the presence of the throne room and he beheld the unmatched supplies glory and the radiance of Almighty God and he said his I am a man of unclean lips, perhaps he's greatest difficulty my friend lies at the heartbeat of exactly what God tells us about ourselves that we are sinners saved by the grace of God.

This confident this impulsive Moses had learned great blessings and humility.

But now he had to learn the greatest lessons of all that the Jost shall live and who by faith I don't understand how that God could reach down from heaven and save a Richardson like me, you see what Moses was saying my friends he was saying. It is biblically and spiritually impossible.

God, that you could call me and say come, I'm going to use you.

I'm really use you use you. I'm going to use you can use me. God I miss.

I'm condemned to die. I'm useless.

I'm hoping this I'm unclear you cannot come into the presence of the burning bush. How can I come into the presence of the holiness of God's greatest difficulty in laying the rod down was the difficulty of accepting who he was.

Danny's greatest difficulty. Perhaps in the second place lay in knowing what he has to say.

He's difficulty if he God's total which was knowing who he was in the presence of the holiness of God.

He second difficulty in verse 13 was knowing what to say live in verse 13 with me the other Bible says God said to Moses said to God, suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you and they all asked me what Izzy's name Lord, what is my genocide. I don't know what to say how do I describe you to them. You know what God said. He said thank you. You won't be able to describe me to them.

You just tell them I am century you know that in the Hebrew language. The word Jehovah has got no vowels.

You cannot pronounce the name of God any more than Exodus chapter 3 tells us that we can stand in the presence of God anymore than Exodus chapter 15 and onward that you can go into the mountain and you can see the radiant glory of Almighty God. Moses laid Ron up on the mountain said Lord just let me see your face.

Can you imagine what that would do for me and God said to him, Moses, you cannot look upon the face of God and live. I and that's why you cannot even pronounce my my little look at my face. You cannot tolerate the holy radiance and the majestic nature of an awesome God.

You cannot do it but I tell you I'll place you in the cleft of a rock and not just parse you by, and God costing by placing his hand over his eyes. The Bible says the radiance and the glory of God permeated the life of God's servant Moses, so that when he came down from the mountain. These face shone with the radiant glory of a man being in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

What was God trying to say to him global.

I don't even know what to say God was saying to him, Moses more than words. I am undefined, I will be what I would be yeah he designates himself as the absolute God acting with unfettered ability and self dependence. This is the God who needs nobody because he is everybody. This is the God who is upon his throne is the God who right ear institutes himself and inaugurates himself as the God of the history of salvation. What was he say he was saying to Moses. Of course you don't know what to say. Moses all that I am shall be manifested throughout the ages to come, culminating in the in human passages that blacktop and replay of the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation and right throughout the history of the God of grace and what I can upload but the pool who have great difficulty is knowing what to say but there was 1/3 great difficulty. Lord, Lord, perhaps a play in his own inadequacy.

Look with me at chapter 4 verse 10 chapter 4 verse 10. He's great difficulty lay in his own inadequacy. Moses said to the Lord all Lord I have never been eloquent, neither in the pasta nor since you spoken to your servant.

I am slow of speech, Lord, I'm slow time. I cannot do these things wonder there's someone here this morning who would say to me possible. I feel so inadequate. How could God ever take a person like me. I'm not a public speaker.

I don't sing like a bird or an angel. I don't have a lot of money to give.

I'm just a nobody. I want you to know what God was telling the Moses is that he can take any person who is a nobody and make them some money not because of the amount, but because of what they do not because of the amount they do, but because of the principle with which they do God said to his servant Moses laid down down when you pick it up. I'll hand you the rod of Almighty God. Perhaps he's difficulty lay in accepting who he was. Perhaps he's great difficulty lay in knowing what exactly it was. He had to say that Patsy's great difficulty lay in these inadequacy, but perhaps he's greatest difficulty my friends lay in being believe it lay in being believe chapter 4 verse one Moses Johnson, what if they do not believe me or listen to me and say Lord, the Lord did not appear to you then the Lord said to him, what is that in your hand. Moses Rodney said throw it down Moses, what is that in your hand. Moses abroad, he said my life, my possessions, who I and my inadequacies. Everything that I am my family my children my bank balance my phone my job my status my privilege, my struggles my ups and my down lay it down Moses laid down Moses put down Moses there been so many times in my life my friends as a young people as a young person when God said to me Don Wilton for the rod down down. I remember getting out of the Army and being so miserable and God said, Don Wilton down.

I remember chasing around after that beautiful go today is been my wife with a paw stating his and God was saying to me through the rod down down but surely Lord being vice president of the college having a beautiful home having motorcars having athletics, having children, so down but surely low, surely Lord I'm a seminary professor, surely Lord I'm preaching in faraway places. Surely Lord you don't want me to go to Spartanburg so the sun down, down commitments and integrity commitments, Lord, what about my family moving icon pack up Canada's down so down so so the rod down so the room was thrown down and God came by and he said okay son not believe now believe that you mean business with me pick it up again soon pick up the rod and I stooped in fear and trepidation, I picked up the wrong and the rod became the rod of God, it became the rod of God. You see, when Moses rod became the rod of God, he led the children of Israel from bondage into freedom. He parted the Red Sea, he destroyed the armies of the Pharaoh. He struck the rock for people dying of thirst, and came gushing forth. He held up his rod supported by Aaron and he conquered the marauding tribes and the enemies with the rod of God. He did the people from the land of bondage into the land that flowed with milk and honey.

And God says down down so the rod down powerful teaching and sometimes we forget how God's living word is not just a history lesson. It's a lesson and following God, obeying him and perhaps letting go of something in her hand that we need to let go and let God. You're listening to Dr. Don Wilton's teaching and and as we do so.

It's our goal to let you know that were available for you if some of these teachings about questions and you'd like to have someone pray with you, call us right now are numbers 866899 word that's 866-899-9673 would love to speak with you to pray with you and go to God's book, the Bible itself, God's Encouraging Word for those answers. But you know the first step of understanding God's will for life is to say yes before Dr. Wilton teaching now as he come to the studio.

Open your hearts to what Dr. Don is going to share next are you ready to give your heart to flock to the Lord Jesus Christ so happy to hear that wanting to pray this prayer on very and I know that the Lord Jesus came God on the cross so that I might be forgiven today. I repainted myself. I confess my sin. And I invite you to come into my heart into my life in Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that pray for me. The first one welcome to the family of this is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying how very important this is.

We can talk to Nick Rice, you can begin this wonderful if you prayed with Dr. to go welcome to the family got welcomed back the dedication wonderful resources. Dr. Wilton want you to have to call us and let us know 866-899-WORD is our phone number Chinatown Stewart yourself, 866-899-9673 or you can meet us online as well. At tewonline.org he that's TW online.org invite you there discover more of who we are.

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