The Things They Couldn't Do - 7/27/08pm

“But I wouldn’t know what to say!”

Moses
Moses saw the burning bush and talked to God. God gave him direction. And what did Moses do? He made excuses. But once he obeyed anyway, what happened?
Exodus 3:1-12 The Burning Bush
Exodus 4:10-17 Slow of speech

Paul
We often read the reasoned, sometimes blunt letters of Paul. It appears that perhaps he was not so impressive in person. It seems that he was not a great orator. But did he let that stop him?
II Corinthians 10:9-11 Paul was impressive in person
II Corinthians 11:6 Paul not a trained speaker

“I can’t talk to those people!”

Jonah
Jonah was given a task that he didn’t like. He was ordered to go to Nineveh and teach the people there. He held nothing but hate in his heart for the people of Assyira though, so he tried to avoid his duty.
Jonah 1:1-3 Ordered to Nineveh, flees for Tarshish
Jonah 3:1-6 Nineveh repents
Jonah 4:1-3 Jonah is angry

Peter
Peter was a Jew. And what we see is that he held on to some of that, and tended to avoid gentiles, even after they too began following Christ.
Acts 10:9-29 Peter’s vision of a large sheet and animals
Galatians 2:11-14 Peter rebuked by Paul for avoiding gentile believers

“I can’t do this on my own!”

Barak
Barak didn’t feel like he could win, if he went without Deborah. What we see, however, is that because he didn’t take initiative, that the honor went to someone else, to his shame.
Judges 4:1-10 Barak will only fight if Deborah will go with him
Judges 4:12-22 The Lord gives victory, Jael kills Sisera


Elijah
Elijah felt like he couldn’t continue because he was all alone in his service to God. God showed him that he was never alone: God was with him. And Elijah continued to serve God until the day he was taken.
I Kings 19:1-9 Elijah gives up
I Kings 19:10-18 Elijah is “shown the Lord” and given further instructions

“I can’t forsake the Lord!”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
Nebuchadnezzar had decided that when the music played, everyone must bow and worship the idol he had created. Yet, three men refused to do so, choosing to follow the Lord instead
Daniel 3:13-18 They refuse to bow, putting trust in the Lord
Daniel 3: 19-27 The Lord protects them

Stephen
Stephen, the Bible says, chose to preach and teach instead of stopping like the Jews wanted him to do. Even though it cost him his life, he preached. His entire attitude was one of refusing to forsake the Lord.
Acts 6:8-15 Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin
Acts 7:51-60 Stephen finishes his sermon and is stoned