Let the Weak Speak
Part 14 – Moses – Faith and Patience (1)
Remember – the purpose of this series is to release the potential that is within us to build successful ministries, kingdom businesses, and to be world changers who really make a difference in this world. Although that will inevitably involve change we don’t need to panic because all of the change God requires from us is by way of exchange. And so we simply come to the place of exchange – the cross of Jesus Christ which is the gateway to the very Throne Room of God – where we have the opportunity to trade our weakness for his strength!
We are no longer wearing ourselves out chasing signs and wonders – we are signs and wonders and so we are destined to be the most exciting thing that is going on wherever we are!
Isaiah 8: 18
18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the LORD of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Joel 3: 9 – 10
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
IT’S TIME TO LET THE WEAK SPEAK! LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
We have been looking at some of the imperfect people listed in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” who “by faith” overcame their weaknesses when they allowed God’s strength to manifest in and through them!
Last time we looked at Joseph and saw that his weakness was man’s favour – beginning with his father Jacob treating him as his favourite. We also saw that Joseph – by maintaining a positive attitude of faith – exchanged the weakness of man’s favour for the supernatural strength of God’s favour.
The fear of man will always will always seek the favour of man and will have you flapping around like a chicken trying to keep everyone happy. But those who fear God will seek the favour of God and so they will avoid the flapping and wait upon his strength that will take them UP and involve and include them in his plans and purposes.
Remember – attitude determines altitude! Your attitude will either have you pecking around on the ground in a flap or it will take you UP and lift you above the storm like an eagle and give you a brand new perspective on every circumstance.
People who have a positive attitude of faith please God and so they attract his supernatural favour!
In this part of the series we are going to look at Moses.
Moses was a man of God extraordinaire. It would appear that faith was passed down the generations as Moses’ parents were not afraid of the king’s command that stated that all male Hebrew children were to be killed at birth, and so by faith they hid Moses for three months and then put him in an ark of bulrushes and placed it in the river where it was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Although faith must be personal it is infectious. When you hang around people with strong faith it can help your faith.
Hebrews 11: 23 – 29
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
Moses’ parents saw that he was a beautiful (goodly – KJV) child! Every parent thinks that their child is beautiful! And every parent’s desire is to protect and provide for their children. Remember – faith is activated, energised, expressed and put to work through love (Galatians 5: 6). And so, Moses’ parent’s faith energised by love cast out the fear of the king and gave them the boldness to confront their fear head on!
Remember what happened to Job – his greatest fear concerning his children came to pass. But Moses’ parents faith overcame their fear and safely placed Moses where he should have been in the greatest danger – in Pharaoh’s palace!
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
As Moses grew the call of God began to stir in him and so one day as he was walking among his Hebrew brethren he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses’ destiny was to be a deliverer of his people but the call of God can only be effective God’s way! Unfortunately, Moses allowed anger to rise up in him and he killed the Egyptian and buried him.
Hebrews 11 clearly states that is was by faith that Moses went out among his people and that he chose to identify more with them in their oppression than with the Egyptian luxury in which he had been raised. It doesn’t matter how much of this world’s goods we manage to accumulate or how many of life’s pleasures we experience if we miss our calling and fail to fulfil our destiny we have missed everything!
1 John 2: 15 – 17
15 Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. 16 Not everything that the world offers–physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life)–comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and 17 the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.
Later on, when Moses went out among his brethren again and saw a Hebrew hitting another Hebrew he asked him why he was fighting with his brother. The man then asked Moses what it had to do with him and was he going to the same to him as he had done to the Egyptian. When Moses realised that people knew about what he had done in killing the Egyptian he was afraid. In our messed up world bad news tends to travel faster than good news and so it wasn’t long before Pharaoh heard about what Moses had done and sought to kill him. When Moses heard this he took off!
Moses had the call of God stirring in him and somehow he knew that he was destined to be a deliverer of his people. But he also had a weakness in his flesh and it was his weakness that opened him up to fear. In regard to our fulfilling the call of God upon our lives timing is everything! Many people cut off the blessing of God and shipwreck their Divine destiny through allowing the same weakness to manifest in them. What was Moses weakness? Hang in there and you will find out!
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
The interesting thing is that Hebrews 11 says that it was by faith that “Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king”. Even though it appeared that Moses had blown his opportunity to be a deliverer of his people faith was still working in the midst of his fear. Deep down on the inside of him there was a sense that God wasn’t finished with him and so “He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (NLT). Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is supernatural! And so as Moses launched out from Egypt there was still a sense of destiny alive and kicking within him.
It doesn’t matter if we have blown it! If we submit ourselves to God and allow him to work correction in our lives then it doesn’t have to be the end! Moses first attempt at deliverance ministry was a complete disaster but it was only the first round!
The correction process in Moses’ life was a long one and involved forty years on the back side of the desert looking after someone else’s sheep! This scenario was absolutely perfect for the restoration of Moses and the correction of his weakness. What was Moses’ weakness? IMPATIENCE! Forty years looking after sheep will do a lot in teaching you patience!
You may have thought that Moses’ weakness was anger and you are right but the root of anger is impatience leading to frustration that manifests in anger. In order to prevent our weakness bearing it’s destructive fruit it is necessary to cut it off at the root. How many alcoholics have gone out drinking thinking, “This time I will be in control and I’ll stop before I get into trouble!” The only way for an alcoholic to beat his weakness is to cut out alcohol completely!
IT IS TIME TO LET THE WEAK SPEAK! LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
After forty years looking after his father-in-law’s sheep in a remote backwater Moses is called and commissioned by God to go back to Egypt and fulfil his destiny as a deliverer of his people. It’s been a long time since his first attempt at deliverance but Moses is still living in the shadow of his past failure and so he isn’t exactly chomping at the bit to go back to Egypt and have another go!
Moses asks the LORD who he should say has sent him and the LORD replies, “I AM WHO I AM…tell the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’”.
There was a message here for Moses also. The God who was stirring Moses’ heart forty years before hadn’t changed his mind about him. Even though Moses had blown it God’s strength manifesting in PATIENCE was sufficient to overcome Moses’ weakness of IMPATIENCE.
Romans 11: 29
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Our God is the God of NOW – yesterday’s disobedience is irrelevant! What will you do with his word to you today?
2 Corinthians 6: 2; Hebrews 3: 7 – 8
…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation…Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…
If it wasn’t for God’s patience none of us would stand a chance!
2 Peter 3: 8 – 9 (NIV)
8…do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Moses, however, wasn’t easily convinced concerning his second chance. His first argument was, “what if they don’t believe me?” Listen up here! The LORD said, “What is that in your hand?” When you take what is in your hand and place it in his hand it becomes supernaturally charged!
Romans 12: 1 – 2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Be transformed – undergo a metamorphosis – a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.
That is what happens when you are born again – when you are saved! You become a brand new creation! You become a sign and a wonder! You become the most exciting thing that is going on!
As I was meditating on this I saw something that I had never seen before. God gave Moses three signs.
The rod that was changed from one form to another. That represents salvation!
The hand becoming leprous and then being restored. That represents healing!
The water being turned to blood. That represents deliverance!
We need to understand that salvation, healing, and deliverance are in our hands! We have been given power over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10: 19)! People need to see us as the saved, the healed, and the delivered using the authority that has been given into our hands to resist sin, sickness, and oppression!
Moses’ next argument was that he was not eloquent and was slow of speech. It is possible that he had a stutter. He didn’t really fancy showing up in front of Pharaoh and opening his mouth to say,
“G-G-G-G-G-G-od s-s-s-s-s-ay-ay-ays l-l-et m-m-m-my pe-pe-pe-people g-go!” The LORD told him that he was the one who made Moses’ mouth and that he would be with him and teach him what to say. What an offer that was! But sadly, Moses passed up on that offer and kept arguing himself out of God’s blessing!
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
Listen up!
1 Peter 4: 10 – 12
10 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 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 dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God knows our weakness! He never asks us to do anything that he has not provided the ability to do! God knew Moses had a stutter and he knows our limitations too but he wants to be glorified in us!
Moses had done what a lot of us do and had allowed the pendulum to swing from impatience and impetuousness to a place at the other extreme where he was so laid back he was asleep!
A lot of people have tried faith and because things didn’t work right away they have gone over to the other extreme where they don’t believe that God can do anything much anymore!
Wake up the mighty men! LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
The place of balance is in understanding that God ALWAYS keeps his promises and never fails to fulfil his word but there is an added ingredient that we neglect at our peril.
Hebrews 6: 11 – 12
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Moses’ impatience had caused him to blow it first time around and now with his spiritual apathy and reluctance to respond to the call he was in danger of missing out again. His determination to have someone else speak caused him to miss out on the opportunity to see God’s power manifested in his impediment. How many of us miss out the same way because we say that we can’t speak when God has promised to fill our mouths!
I heard one minister testify that he had struggled with a stutter all of his life but as soon he obeyed God’s call to preach he was completely healed!
Mark 13: 10 – 11 (NLT)
10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
The good news is that God is not looking for perfect people because he knows better than anybody that there aren’t any! The LORD had made his mind up about Moses because he knew his potential and so he wasn’t about to be put off easily.
And it’s the same with us – he doesn’t focus on our imperfections but on our potential! He knows that if we surrender our weaknesses to him that his strength is more than sufficient.
From such a shaky start Moses went on to be declared by God to be the meekest man of his generation. Meekness is not weakness! In fact meekness could be defined as controlled strength! Meekness is submission – it is teachableness. Meekness is like the result you get when you break a horse so that you can control its strength and utilise its potential to serve you.
Psalm 51: 17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise.
Although it would appear that Moses’ forty years in the wilderness had reduced him to a new place of weakness he was actually in the perfect position to be effective in fulfilling his destiny. In James Chapter One it clearly states that we should be quick to hear and slow to speak. Faith comes by hearing and then faith speaks what it hears. It doesn’t even matter if it comes out in a stutter.
“G-G-G-G-G-G-od s-s-s-s-s-ay-ay-ays l-l-et m-m-m-my pe-pe-pe-people g-go!”
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!” “I-I-I A-A-AM S-S-STR-STR-ONG!”
Moses got the message and he refused to change it or compromise it or dilute it in the face of Pharaoh’s refusal to accept it. At the end of the ten-count God’s people were out and free!
28 By faith he (Moses) kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
God’s people came out of bondage by the power of the blood! And they still do! But it’s not just the blood of a spotless lamb any more – it is the blood of Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
Even if you have to stutter it out – or stammer it out – or even if you just whisper it out – it is time to take the word of faith in your mouth!
I-I-I-I A-A-A-M THE R-R-R-RIGH-RIGH-RIGHTEOUSNESS OF G-G-G-GGOD IN CHRI-CHRI-ST J-J-JE-JESUS!
B-B-BY THE S-S-S-STRIPES OF J-J-J-JESUS I-I-I-I-I AM TH-TH-THE HE-HEA-HEALED RE-SIS-RE-SISTING SIC-SIC-SICKNESS IN J-J-JES-JESUS N-N-NNAME!
I-I-I-I-I A-A-AM TH-THE DE-DE-DE-DELIVERED RESISTING O-O-OP-OPPRESSION I-IN THE N-N-NAME OF J-J-JESUS!
Don’t get impatient – don’t get frustrated – don’t quit and give up – God has a plan to prosper you and to give you hope – he has a purpose for your life and a destiny for you to fulfil!
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
Much more in Part Two!
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3yox9V That’s not just the best answer. It’s the bestest answer!