01/09/24 // Has Potential // Neal Garratt

School reports - Has Potential
Moses - Has Potential
Exodus 3+4 - The beginning of the story of Moses
3:1-15, 19-22, 4:1-17
What I love about this story is that God sees potential in Moses – even though Moses doesn’t see it in himself at this point!
FIVE times he argues with God about being sent
3:11 – Who am I to do this?
3:13 – What do I say when they ask who sent you?
4:1 – What if they don’t believe me/listen to me?
4:10 – I am not good with words – I get tongue tied and my words get tangled
4:13 – Lord please send someone else!
Finally is v14 The Lord gets angry with Moses – You know if this was me I would have got angry earlier and I would be like – Don’t worry I’ll do it myself – If you want something done properly do it yourself – You obviously don’t want to do this so I will find someone who can! Gods patience is so wonderful here towards Moses and he can work with people who are not full of themselves and need help – who are unsure of their own abilities and calling – that’s us by the way! God does not give up on Moses but declares he will be with him and give him the words to say. God says the same to us!
Often the Lord has more faith in us that we have in ourselves! We are quick to write ourselves off but God sees potential in us for him to work with.
Are we not exactly the same as Moses when God asks us to step out for him, at group, at work, in the street and at Church?
What is our first response so often?
Please use someone else!
Who am I to do this?
What do I say – Help!
What if they don’t listen?
I am no good with words!
These so often are the cries of our heart which stop us from stepping out with God and yet he wants to work with us in partnership to bring his truth and glory to the Church.
We must also remember that the enemy knows our concerns and will try to stop us stepping out with God – he will say all of these things and more to keep you quiet!
Examples in my own life
Singing – Starling and Nightingales
Catalyst – Interpretation
Quiet times – I can’t say that – who am I to say that? What if its wrong? What if I look stupid?
I am sure you can all think of examples in your own lives – I had a prophetic word/scripture/ tongue or interpretation at group or on Sunday but I didn’t bring it.
God could have defeated the Egyptians by himself without any bother – and yet he chooses to work in partnership with us to do his work on earth – what an amazing truth this is – just think about this for a moment!
You are invited into partnership with God to see his purposes fulfilled in the Church, in the community and in the earth – Just as he partnered with Moses to set his people free in Egypt. This is not just for elders – it’s for the whole church, the spirit gives gifts not us!
1 Corinthains 12:11
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
2 Corinthians 5:18
Ambassadors – Explain – Embassy – Same as homeland – The rights of the sending country stay the same at the Embassy in a different country.
Italians – Guns, Cigarettes and mobile in meetings! How? Because they are ambassadors in a foreign country. This is our calling – we are Christ’s ambassadors in this foreign county with all the rights of the sending country at our fingertips – and where is the sending country – Heaven –
Phillippians 3:20
To Finish
Matthew 10:19-20
Don’t let your spiritual report say “Has potential” let it say “Have fulfilled their potential”
Questions for groups:
1.Can you relate to Moses and the excuses that he gives to God – aren’t we just the same sometimes?
2.What stops us from stepping out – It may be different for each person?
3.Have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador for Christ? Does the understanding of an ambassadors role help in realizing our potential in Christ?
4.Fear verses faith – this affects our live so much – what can we do to increase our faith and decrease our f

01/09/24 // Has Potential // Neal Garratt

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