Have A Go

[00:00:00] For those who don't know me, I'm Stuart Lester. I'm a part of the team here at Summerhill. [00:00:07] I'll start with the question, who here has been a member of a team? [00:00:12] Maybe a sporting team, a work team, or you may be a part of a volunteering team who helps other people. [00:00:22] Being a part of a team can be a great experience. [00:00:27] You feel like you're a part of something bigger than yourself, and it can be really rewarding. [00:00:34] As you think about being a team member, how do you think it would go if you, as a team member, decided not to participate? [00:00:46] That you would dress up in the uniform, you'd put on your gear, you would come out with the team, and then you would stand and watch? [00:00:55] How do you think that would go? [00:00:57] What do you think your team members might say? [00:01:02] Some years ago, I played a horse board called Polo Cross, and in Polo Cross, we only have a team of six. [00:01:08] You only have three on the field at any given time from your team, you have three of the opposition. [00:01:15] So how do you imagine that would go? [00:01:19] There's only three of you there, and one of you decides not to do much. [00:01:23] I know with some of the guys I played with that wouldn't last very long. [00:01:28] So I'm pretty sure that for any of us who have been a part of a team, if we decided not to participate, it wouldn't go well. [00:01:41] As a member of a team of any sort, there is an expectation that you will participate. [00:01:48] So this morning we're going to look at our responsibility as Christians as to how we participate with God, into His will and into his plan for our lives. [00:02:05] Have you ever considered the fact that God doesn't need us? [00:02:11] I know that's a shock to some of us, But it's true. [00:02:20] He created us, and His Word tells us that he created us in his image. [00:02:29] I didn't know this, but probably every mom and doctor does that incredibly. God produces a heartbeat in us at around five weeks after our parents come together. [00:02:46] We are as small as a grain of rice, and he causes this little group of cells to pulse, and our heartbeat begins. [00:03:00] King David, the author of Psalm 139, may not have known this detail, but he did recognize the authority of our amazing Creator when he wrote in verses 13 and 14, for you created my inmost being. [00:03:19] You knit me together in my mother's womb. [00:03:22] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [00:03:26] Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. [00:03:33] God provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. [00:03:41] He provides family, shelter, transport, work, clothing and money. [00:03:47] Everything we need to sustain and enjoy and thrive in life. [00:03:54] It's not surprising that when we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. [00:04:07] God is self existent, self sustaining and self sufficient. [00:04:13] In today's terms, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit could genuinely exist fully off grid. [00:04:28] God doesn't need us, but remarkably, he wants us as a part of his team. [00:04:38] Not because we are so awesome, loving, obedient, God seeking or faithful. [00:04:46] Not because we do any of these. To the contrary, we often do none or even we do the opposite of these. [00:04:56] The reason God wants us is because he loves us. [00:05:03] He simply loves you. [00:05:10] We Read in Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love. [00:05:15] I have drawn you with my loving kindness. [00:05:20] God loves us not because we are good, but because he is good, loving and kind. [00:05:31] Some weeks back I shared a message on transformation offering this question. Have you been changed? [00:05:38] Has your journey with Christ transformed you, who you are, what you do and how you speak? [00:05:46] This morning I would like to focus on why. Why change? [00:05:51] What is the purpose of that transformation? [00:05:55] A great pastor has said transformation is God's work, but participation is our responsibility. [00:06:04] And if you've been listening, of course, that's our own. [00:06:07] Pastor Steve Fitzallen said those words a couple of times. [00:06:13] Transformation is God's work. [00:06:16] From gotquestions.org if you'd like to google up Got questions? If you've ever got questions about faith or the Bible, they're a great resource to to answer some of those questions they write in the Bible. Transformation means change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to one that pleases God. [00:06:42] And we Read this in Romans 12:2 do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. [00:06:52] Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. [00:07:00] When we decide to follow Jesus, he helps us understand what is in our lives that we need to leave behind. [00:07:10] That is the patterns of this world and what we need to step into. [00:07:15] His good, pleasing and perfect will. [00:07:22] He empowers us and builds us into the men and women he has created us to be. [00:07:28] So our transformation is from God that leaves us with the responsibility to participate, to join with Christ in His incredible plan for us. [00:07:44] Participate is an action word. [00:07:48] We need to do something. [00:07:50] Turn up, step in be willing to work, to move. [00:07:55] Put simply, have a go. [00:08:00] As servants of God, participation in his work is mandatory. [00:08:05] Our actions, words and even thoughts are evidence of our participation in the Gospel. [00:08:15] In the Bible, there are many men and women who took their participation in the faith with great responsibility. [00:08:22] Men like Paul, the great apostle, faced huge opposition in seeking to share the Gospel of Christ being stoned, put in prison and shipwrecked. [00:08:34] Mary, Jesus own mother, who faced some of the deepest sorrow a woman could endure knowing her son from his miraculous conception, incredible life, most cruel death, and finally his resurrection. [00:08:52] All because she believed faithfully in God. [00:09:00] And there are many more, like Elijah, Jeremiah and Job. [00:09:05] But this morning we will consider the servant leader and prophet Moses. [00:09:11] Moses is referred to as Servant more than anyone else in the Bible. [00:09:19] The concept of servant is summed up well in this quote from General Bruce C. Clark, an army officer who served In World War I, World War II in the Korean War. [00:09:35] Rank is given you to enable you to better serve those above and below you. [00:09:45] It is not given for you to practice your idiosyncrasies. [00:09:54] We read Moses story in the Book of Exodus, beginning in chapter three. [00:09:59] Moses is an Israelite. [00:10:02] His people are being held captive in a foreign country, as Fiona has alluded to. [00:10:08] He has gotten into some trouble in Egypt, so he's taken off to a place called Midian, where he meets a girl. [00:10:14] He gets married and is working for his father in law as a shepherd looking after the sheep. [00:10:20] Things are at peace for Moses until this day. He is leading the sheep up on a mountain to find feed, and quite unexpectedly, he sees a burning bush that doesn't burn down. [00:10:37] He goes to look at it, just to hear the voice of God speaking from the bush. [00:10:44] God asks Moses to return to Egypt and to lead his people out of captivity. And God reassures Moses by saying, I will be with you. [00:10:54] Seems simple enough. [00:11:00] But Moses doesn't want to go. [00:11:03] And when we don't want to go, we start to make excuses. [00:11:09] Firstly, I am nobody, and says, who am I that I should go? God answers by explaining just how it is going to unfold. [00:11:17] Secondly, Moses says, what if they don't believe me? [00:11:20] God answers this time showing Moses three miracles he will be able to do that will prove he was sent from God. [00:11:29] Thirdly, Moses tries, O Lord, I have never been eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue. [00:11:37] This time God answers with a little frustration. [00:11:42] Who gave man his mouth? [00:11:45] Who makes him deaf or mute? [00:11:48] Is it not I, the Lord? [00:11:50] I will help you speak. [00:11:54] But Moses said, o Lord, please send someone else to do it. [00:12:03] Then the word says the Lord's anger burned against Moses. [00:12:10] Many of you are parents and you've asked one of your children to take a certain course of action because it's in their best interest. [00:12:21] And the answers may be something like, I don't want to do that, or but Mum, I want to ride my bike out on the street. [00:12:34] Or dad, I'm 15, I can wear what I like. [00:12:43] Or I'm 18, I just want to drive over to my mate's place and have a few drinks with my friends. [00:12:53] When you see the dangers and you know the hurt that can come from these actions, how do you feel? [00:13:08] Isn't it because you love them that you need them to understand? [00:13:15] Like God with Moses? Perhaps they need to see you get that passionate before they truly understand. [00:13:27] Or maybe you remember disagreeing with your parents on what you wanted to wear, where you wanted to go and who you wanted to go with. [00:13:44] Did you ever think of your parents? You may have even said this out loud, if you love me, you would let me. [00:13:56] And did your parents sometimes get angry? [00:14:02] Maybe like a loving God? [00:14:04] Loving parents will get angry if they can see their child may get hurt, deeply embarrassed or badly injured. [00:14:16] How you express that anger is another topic for another day. [00:14:21] But yes, God does get angry. [00:14:24] Recently a good friend told me of a fridge magnet she'd seen on a fridge and it said, Jesus is coming back and he's not happy. [00:14:43] It is interesting that one of the ways many people in our society today reject the good news of Jesus Christ. [00:14:54] And they say, if God is the God of love and he loves me, he would happily allow me to live like this, or he would let me do this as a child doesn't see the danger of their disobedience. [00:15:12] Moses could not see at this point how important the task he was trying to avoid was. [00:15:20] A whole nation was going to be saved through his obedience. [00:15:24] It wasn't about him or his limited understanding of what was needed. [00:15:30] God had a history changing role for this humble man, but he did require an obedient participant. [00:15:42] Thinking over your life right now, are you participating with God in his big picture plan or are you looking on? [00:15:54] Are you serving obediently? Or could you be frustrating the Lord's plans with some well rehearsed excuses? [00:16:05] Our attitude to the service of Christ should be the same as his attitude is for service to God the Father. [00:16:13] We read in Philippians 2, 5, 8. [00:16:17] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in Very nature. God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing. [00:16:30] Taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. [00:16:55] Sadly, I find it ever so easy to have a plan in my head as to where I believe God is leading. [00:17:06] So much so that, like Moses, I stopped listening to what God is saying. [00:17:13] Some years ago, I found myself between jobs. [00:17:18] I had been reassured that in the next few weeks a position I had been offered would become available. [00:17:24] I finished up the old job just before Christmas and was looking forward to the new one starting in the new year. [00:17:31] But days turned into weeks. [00:17:36] In the meantime, I saw another position advertised and thought that it would be good. [00:17:42] Then I thought, no, that's fine, I'll wait. [00:17:47] A week or so later I met a mate whom I rarely see. But he mentioned he had a friend who had this job going and that if I was interested, I should give him a call. [00:17:56] It was the same company I had seen advertising. [00:18:00] I rang the guy and had a chat. It sounded pretty good. [00:18:04] I said, thank you, but I'll probably leave it for now. [00:18:09] Guess what? [00:18:13] Another week or so later, another friend mentioned the same company. We're looking for an operator now. You would think at this point. [00:18:27] A grown Christian man would see when God has a plan for you and you should consider it seriously. [00:18:37] But not this one. [00:18:41] Eventually I started the first job and God was kind. [00:18:49] But sadly that business got sold and I lost my job. [00:18:55] Who would have thought? [00:19:00] We need to listen. [00:19:04] We need to be prepared to listen and not think we know what God wants. [00:19:10] But be very careful. We wait. [00:19:13] Listen. [00:19:16] When God calls us to participate in his service, he never leaves us alone to fulfil that service. [00:19:23] From Exodus 4 we read how God empowered Moses by giving him three miraculous signs to perform before Pharaoh. [00:19:31] Firstly, from verse 2, when God turns Moses staff into a snake and back into a staff. [00:19:38] Secondly from verse 6, he makes Moses hand leprous and then restores it. And thirdly, down in verse nine, we read, but if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. [00:19:55] The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground. [00:20:02] Now, as if these miraculous signs weren't enough, the Father again reminds Moses in verse 12. [00:20:10] Now go. [00:20:12] I will help you speak and will teach you what to say, as God did for Moses in this story. In the Old Testament we are blessed equally by the promises of the New Testament. [00:20:25] For John the Apostle tells us in his book from chapter 14, verse 15, if you love me, you will obey what I command, and I will ask the Father and He will give you another counsellor to be with you forever. The Spirit of truth. [00:20:43] As God was with Moses, the promised Holy Spirit is with you and I who have put our faith in Christ. [00:20:51] And he will provide us with the power and strength we need to serve him obediently. [00:21:00] As Christians, when we find ourselves floundering in some difficulty, a sudden loss, a negative diagnosis or worrying situation that just doesn't seem to have an end, we are blessed to have the healing and restoring power of the Holy Spirit available. [00:21:21] From Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. [00:21:37] Looking forward, how is God asking you to participate in his mission, his plan right now? [00:21:52] We never know what God has in store for us, but we all know that if we don't move, it is very hard for the Lord to redirect us. [00:22:05] As they say, it is difficult to turn a stationary ship. [00:22:10] The Book of Exodus is the incredible story of God's faithfulness and power at work in the lives of his people. [00:22:18] We read in chapter 14, verse 31. And when the Israelites saw the great power of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in His. Moses, Moses his servant. [00:22:32] And again from 3311, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. [00:22:42] This reluctant and fear filled servant, shepherd of sheep, would not only lead a nation out of slavery, but would also have one of the closest relationships with God recorded in scripture. [00:22:56] And this because he became the obedient participant of God. [00:23:05] To finish up this morning, may I share with you how transformation, God's work followed by participation in his will has changed my life. [00:23:23] This Christmas Day, this one coming 20 years ago, I came into this church for the first time and not really knowing why. [00:23:38] The life I had lived for the prior 40 years had left me washed out and lost. [00:23:43] With few close friends and with no real purpose. [00:23:48] I had tried many things and ways to find fulfilment and hope successfully. Riding competition horses had filled much of my life, but left a deep stain of arrogance and pride. [00:24:07] Drinking and playing the fool had diminished my integrity in the eyes of many. [00:24:17] Being married was a real positive in my life, but arrogance and selfishness destroyed that. [00:24:32] Walking away from a loving wife. [00:24:38] And the Deep desire for a sexual relationship proved very destructive. [00:24:44] The culmination of these things left me wondering, is this all there is to life? [00:24:52] I had seen during my life some people whom I admired for their humility and integrity and knowing they were Christians sometimes wondered, could I ever be like that? [00:25:09] It was at a particularly low point that I spoke to a Christian friend and asked why he appeared to have it all together. [00:25:17] He said it was his faith. [00:25:22] This got me thinking. [00:25:24] Maybe this faith thing could change me into a decent man. [00:25:32] He also explained the reality as to how I had been living my life and how that it was destroying me that I needed to submit my life to Christ. [00:25:48] At first I wasn't convinced, but realized soon after I am a sinner and that sin condemns us to death. [00:26:01] And the only way I could be free of this condemnation was to understand that Christ paid the price for my sin, that I needed to repent, turn from my old ways and receive Christ by faith. [00:26:18] My salvation was not a dramatic one or a one off event, but a steady learning from God's word, solid preaching and discipleship training from godly men and women. [00:26:36] As I look back at the life I used to live and the result of that lifestyle and of the decisions made God's saving grace, his work transformed my life. [00:26:54] From seeking fulfilment in alcohol, sport and relationships, I now have contentment, direction and hope in Him. [00:27:09] I have many regrets, none heavier than the hurt I caused my family and other people. [00:27:20] The lost opportunities to serve Christ and to know his love, mercy and forgiveness many years earlier. [00:27:32] Since participating in the call of God on my life, it has been and continues to be challenging. [00:27:40] But God in His grace is teaching me every day to trust him, listen to him and learn from Him. [00:27:49] But the greatest benefit is that I know for certain that I have eternal life. [00:28:00] Friend, Jesus has paid a huge price for your salvation. [00:28:07] Suffering a torturous death. [00:28:10] It is in his grace and his grace alone that you are saved. [00:28:17] How is God asking you to participate? [00:28:22] Is he calling you to commit your life to Him? [00:28:26] No more excuses. [00:28:31] Or maybe he's calling you, as Brian mentioned earlier, to step onto leadership. [00:28:38] No more excuses. [00:28:43] Or maybe simply asking you to share your salvation story with someone this week with no more excuses.