Outline:
Introduction
Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
God’s Favor
God Can Use Your Passion
You May Have to Leave Your Comfort Zone
Make the Most of the Your Waiting Period
God Will Use What You Learned in Your Waiting Season
The Burning Bush
Scriptures:
Acts 7:22-36
Exodus 2:7-9
Acts 7:22
Exodus 2:11-12
Hebrews 11:24-25
Exodus 2:16-22
Jeremiah 29:4-13 P
Exodus 3:1-3
Introduction
Acts 7:22-36
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw [it], he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold [it], the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 [Saying], I [am] the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send [to be] a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
Moses’ real Hebrew father was “from the house of Levi” and his mother was also a Levite
The Levites were the priests in Jewish culture
This means that Moses was born into the priestly class of Israel
So Moses went from
Priesthood
Palace
Pasteur
To the front porch of the Promised Land
We will examine Mose’s journey to discovering his purpose, and see what it can teach us about our own journey.
Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
The two greatest days in your life are:
the day you were born
the day you figure out why you were born
– – Mark twain
The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason
If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God
Your calling is the purpose that God created you for
It's the end goal of your assignment on earth
It is how you serve his purposes in the world
A Christian’s Callings
Christians have
General callings
A Unique calling
General Christian Assignments
All Christians are called to:
To Love God
Love your neighbor
Make disciples
Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification
Unique Calling
You were given unique
Natural ability
Acquired skills
Spiritual Gifts
Personality
Desires and preferences
Life experiences
All of this makes you uniquely qualified to serve others, and to glorify God
Don’t compare your calling to others
In this series we will discover:
What a purpose is
Why it matters
What makes you unique
How your life experiences have prepared you for your calling
Methods to uncover your purpose
How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose
Throughout this next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose
God’s Favor
Exodus 2:7-9
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a woman for you who is nursing from the Hebrew women, so that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.
Moses‘s mother put him in a basket and set them down the river
Pharaoh's daughter found him
Pharaoh's daughter decided to keep him as her own
Moses’s sister, knowing that it was Moses, asked if she wanted her to give her to one of the Hebrew women to nurse him
God gave Moses favor from the family that was trying to kill him
you don’t need favor with everyone… You only need favor with the right one
Moses’ mother got to raise him
And she got paid to do it
Application
When you look back over your life, can you remember a time when you received favor from God?
Often time we don’t see God‘s hand in our lives until we reflect back on it
Are there times when you think
“I could’ve been killed doing that”
“ I'm glad I didn’t marry them“
“ I really dodged a bullet“
“ I don’t know why they gave me that position“
Mose’s Life In the Palace
Acts 7:22
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
So I was wondering:
How did pharaoh‘s daughter pop up with a son without having had a baby bump?
In ancient Egyptian royalty, high-ranking women adopting orphans, taking in the children of deceased relatives, or bringing in foreign noble children to be raised in the royal nursery was a recognized practice. Because she was the Pharaoh's daughter, she possessed the absolute authority to declare, "He became her son," and name him Moses, and the court would have had to accept her royal decree without question.
Moses was a royal prince
His lifestyle was one of the most privileged, luxurious, and powerful in the entire ancient world.
Egypt was a global superpower at the peak of its wealth and military dominance. Growing up as a "King's Son", Moses would have enjoyed absolute immunity from the hardships of ordinary life and access to elite institutions.
Moses his life would’ve entailed:
Education at the Kap (The Royal Nursery)
an exclusive palace academy
He would have been taught by royal tutors and high priests to master
hieroglyphics
hieratic script
foreign languages used in international diplomacy
He would have studied
mathematics
civil law
astronomy
geography
military strategy
state religion
High-Ranking Leadership Paths
Moses would have been fast-tracked into one of three powerful careers:
The Military
martial arts
archery
advanced chariot warfare
Royal princes often served as high-ranking generals or commanders of pharaonic divisions.
The Priesthood
High Priest to a major state deity (like Ra or Amun)
giving him immense spiritual authority, custody over sacred texts, and control over massive temple wealth and lands.
Civil Administration:
He could have served as a supreme vizier or royal overseer, managing
the treasury,
agricultural distribution
monumental building projects
Absolute Luxury
Exemption from Labor
The finest meats, fine wines, honey, and fresh fruits
The best physicians
Personal Servants
fan-bearers, scribes, and guards.
His own Estate
sprawling villa with lush gardens, pools, and agricultural
He would have worn
the finest pleated linen,
heavy gold jewelry
cosmetic enhancements reserved exclusively for the ruling class.
God-like Social Status
In ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was viewed as a living god on earth.
Commoners and even high-ranking officials would have been required to bow or prostrate themselves in his presence.
God Can Use Your Passion
Moses Killed an Israelite
Exodus 2:11-12
11 Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his fellow Hebrews and looked at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 So he looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck and killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand.
perhaps your purpose will be related to your passion
Moses overtime, developed a burden for the Israelites
Have you ever seen someone hurting someone else?
What did you do about it?
Did you step in to stop them?
It doesn’t appear that Moses was trying to talk to the man.
It says Moses “looked around first“
He wasn’t looking around to see who else could help
He was looking around to make sure there were no witnesses
… For what he was about to do
Moses knew what he was about to do before he even approached the man
Moses developed a passion
Moses must’ve seen Israelites being mistreated his whole life
But at some point, it began to frustrate him
Moses’ unique frustration was for the plight of his people
I believe this is part of the reason that God chose Moses
Application
What group of people does your heart ache for?
Whose enemy do you want to protect them from?
Who’s pain do you feel?
Who’s tears make you cry?
You May Have to Leave Your Comfort Zone
Moses Left the Palace
Hebrews 11:24-25
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, 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 pleasures of sin# for a season;
# The "sin" in Hebrews 11:25 is the temptation to choose worldly ease, wealth, and safety by deserting God and His community when following Him becomes costly.
— bible hub
Moses left the palace
Esther, Daniel and Joseph’s destiny required them to be in the palace
Moses and Nehemiah had to leave the palace
Moses had to leave the palace and become a shepherd before he found his purpose
Or before his purpose found him
You may have to leave the palace to fulfill your purpose
You may have to leave the job that you prayed for
Abraham had to leave from his parents house to go to a land he didn’t know
You have to exit one season to enter another
It’s easy to follow God’s plan when it brings you worldly success
When it aligns with the desires of your heart
But will you follow God’s plan
When it requires you to give up your worldly success?
Will you trust God when he asked you to sacrifice Isaac?
Sometimes, in order to find your purpose
You have to leave the palace
You have to leave… The comfort zone
The comfort zone is the place we settled for that’s less than your calling
The comfort zone… can be the failure zone
Even though it feels like comfort
The comfort zone was never the place you were meant to stay
if you are not working to become more than you are… You will resent the struggles of life
If you are not growing… You will be complaining
If You don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel
“There is no perfect time to leave
You have to take the time that is… And make it perfect”
You often have to leave one season to enter another
Application
Some of you have a good job and it is paying the bills
You don’t love it,
… but you don’t hate it enough to do anything about it
… other than complain
… Every day
It’s not your dream job
You Took the first job that you could get… And then just stayed there
Year after year after year
It pays the bills
You know that it is not your calling
… but it’s safer to keep doing what you know
Than to risk failing at something else
Flower Quote
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Surrender your worldly goals
Sometimes we have to set aside our own plans and make room for God’s
Many of us
Have a five year plan
new years resolutions
Have goals on our refrigerators
Do those plans include God?
Questions to consider
Can you look back at your life and see some seasons that you stayed in too long?
God was calling you to leave, but you were comfortable.
Do you have goals that you said that may be interfering with God‘s plan for your life?
Make the Most of the Your Waiting Period
Moses’ Life in the Wilderness
Exodus 2:16-22
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. 18When they came to their father Reuel, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” 19They said, “An Egyptian saved us from [t]the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20So he said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him [u]to have something to eat.” 21And Moses was willing to live with the man. And he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. 22Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him [v]Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
Who Was Reuel/Jethro?
As the Priest of Midian, Jethro was not just a religious figure; he was the political and spiritual chieftain of a powerful nomadic clan. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his second wife, Keturah.
Jethro is consistently portrayed in the Bible as a man of deep wisdom.
We saw that Jethro was a wise leader who advised Moses on governance structure
In Exodus 18: 13-24
He advised Moses not to try every judicial case, but to appoint others
Moses immediately listened to his father-in-law, establishing Israel's first judicial system based entirely on Jethro's counsel.
What Life Was Like for Moses in Midian
He lived in tents woven from goat hair
ate
milk,
cheese,
and dates,
Spent his days under a blistering sun.
He was tending Jethro's flocks, not his own.
For forty years, Moses was financially and socially dependent on his father-in-law.
Make the Most of the Season You Are In
Moses was used to living in a palace, but now he is in the dessert
We don’t see Moses
longing for the days of the palace
Praying to God to make him privileged again
Sowing seeds to become rich
He went on with his life
He got married, got a job, raised a family
He wasn’t waiting in sorrow
We also don’t see Moses searching for his purpose
Moses wasn’t even looking for a wife!
He was being a protector
Jethro just gave him his daughter as a reward
He just accept it what LIFE offered him
“ I guess I’ll start a family now”
Probably doing the same routine day after day
For 30 or 40 years
Moses accepted his current season and enjoyed it
Some of you need to learn to be content with what you have
Just because your neighbor has a Tesla truck, doesn’t mean God wants you to have one
Just because you have the desire in your heart, doesn’t mean that it’s from God
Just because your pastor said you were gonna move into abundance, doesn’t mean that it is God‘s plan
Jeremiah 29:11
Who can recite Jeremiah 29:11?
This is one of the favorite verses of the prosperity preachers
It is used as evidence that God wants you to prosper
But let’s look at the context
Biblical Context
The Jewish people had just been forcefully uprooted from their homeland and dragged into captivity in Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar (around 597 BC).
The temple was compromised, their city was falling apart, and they were living as prisoners of war in a pagan empire. They were deeply traumatized, homesick, and wondering if God had abandoned them completely.
The Jewish prophets prophesied that they will be delivered from Babylon soon.
Jeremiah 29:4-13
4“This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their [a]produce. 6Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease. 7Seek the [b]prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD in its behalf; for [c]in its [d]prosperity will be your [e]prosperity.’ 8For this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst or your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to their interpretations of your dreams which you dream. 9For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.
10“For this is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11For I know the plans that I [f]have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for [g]prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
The prophets were telling the Israelites that the captivity in Babylon would only last a year or two
That God was about to prosper them
That their freedom was near
That God was going to deliver them
Jeremiah, in this passage, is actually revealing to them that those are false prophets
And false prophecies
God said: “I know the plans I have for you”
And that plan is for you to stay in exile even though you want to be free
God is saying that exile is going to continue for another 70 years
Even though they are praying for their freedom
Even though their prophets are telling them that things are going to get better soon
Don’t plan on leaving any time soon
God is saying Go ahead and
Build houses
Start a family
Pray for peace for your enemies
Forget about that dreams that you had
Many of you will be dead by the time this season ends
He’s telling them to enjoy the season.
Live your life You are in right now.
Sometimes God will say that even though this isn’t the promised land
Even though this isn’t the dream you had
Make the best of of it
Some of you need to learn to be content with what you have
Remember that coveting is a sin
My 3rd Layoff Story
I was an independent consultant
I took a three month assignment that turned into 3 1/2 years
They kept extending me
Three months, six months, six months,…
Stopped looking for a job
In the middle of December
My boss called me into his office
You’ve been complaining that you didn’t have any time
Selfish Dreams
Some of you have had dreams that weren’t from God
Just because a prophet told you that that’s what God wanted doesn’t mean it’s true
Does it align with Jesus’ teaching
That’s why we need to stay in prayer
We can’t just “follow our hearts”
Follow the culture
Follow your friends and parent’s dreams
There is nothing wrong with being prosperous
There’s nothing wrong with setting goals
Financial, health, relationship
But don’t seek prosperity over purpose
Application
God didn’t want Moses to try to return to the palace
God didn’t want Moses to figure out how to free the Israelites
Some of you need to enjoy where you are right now.
If you are living in one room, you need to live like a king in that one room.
Don’t wait to be blessed with a palace
enjoy the season that you’re in.
whether you know it or not…you are already on a journey
Do you do your best at your job today?
If you are faithful to the things in your life right now, they will lead you inadvertently to your purpose
Enjoy the present moment
Being fruitful for where you are… is the seed for destiny
This season is training you for tomorrow?
God Will Use What You Learned in Your Waiting Season
Moses led 700,000 Israelites
He had learned leadership
HIs Egyptian grandfather was a ruler
His father-in-law was a leader
He learned spirituality
He was taught in Egyptian spirituality
His Jewish mother who raised him taught him about the Torah
Jethro was a descendent of Abraham and a priest
Moses spent 40 years in the Palace
Pharoah, whose daughter had taken him in, had passed away by the time Moses returned
I often wondered how a shepherd just walked into Egypt and said I want to see Pharaoh
Why didn’t they just kill the guy
How did he want waltz and get the privilege of being in Pharaoh‘s presence
Moses question God about everything
What if they don’t believe me
What if I can’t speak well
What if the people don’t follow me
But he never asks: “what if they don’t let me in to see Pharoah“
Moses spent many years in the Royal schools
It is likely that the current Pharoah would’ve been a classmate of Moses
Many of the people in the royal court probably recognized Moses
They had to bow when he walked by
God used Moses’ journey
Moses spent 40 years living in tents with the Midianites
His desert season with the Midianites
Gave him endurance
Taught him the geography of the wilderness
He built the endurance by being a Shepard in the desert for 40 years
Guess what wilderness they ended up wondering in
..the exact same wilderness he spent 40 years in with Jethro
the tents of Jethro taught him how to be a shepherd—both of animals and, eventually, of people.
God used Moses’ journey to prepare him for his purpose
The Burning Bush
Exodus 3:1-6
1Now Moses was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the [a]west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of [b]a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed. 3So Moses said, “I must turn aside and see this [c]marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” 4When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6And He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Moses his journey started At 80 years of age
It’s never too late for God to show up with your purpose
Your Purpose Is Not About You
God didn’t say “I have heard your prayers and have come to answer them“
I will give you a child
I will return you to the palace
I’m going to give you some better sandals
God told Moses “I have heard the cries of my people and have come down to rescue them“
Moses was like: “ok cool!!”
… wait, why you tellin me?!!
Maybe Moses was praying for the Israelites
“oh… I was asking you to do it”
… Not me
Application
You’ve been praying for God to fix a systemic issue
maybe God is waiting on you to do something
Coworker picking up trash story
Some of you may be hearing from God because your prayer time is only focused on your personal problems
“If God answered all of your prayers would the world change, or just your world?”
Spend some time listening for what God wants you to do
What Are You Giving Your Attention To?
So Moses said… “somebody’s burning trees”
Moses could have seen the bush
Went and took a selfie with it
Kept on walking
3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!”
The narrator made a point to tell us Moses his inner thoughts
He’s drawing our attention to it for a reason
Moses decided to turn his attention to the burning bush
He altered his plans because he noticed something unusual
He took a detour
Application
Some of you are missing miracles because you are too focused on your to do list
You aren’t on the look out for the miraculous
What are you giving your attention to?
Netflix?
The news?
Social media?
Psychologist say that what you give your first 45 minutes after waking has a huge impact on your mental health
If you watch the news in that period you will have more anxiety and sadness in your life
What you give your attention to determines your
Mood
Beliefs
future
What you give your attention to can dictate whether or not you discover your purpose
Outro
Moses had probably walked that path hundreds of times
but today it was different.
Today it was holy
Ordinary places become holy when God shows up.
The burning bush is God trying to get your attention.
The burning bushes might be
A door that keeps opening
A message that keeps coming to your heart
Your burning bush might be
A passion you can’t ignore
A unique frustration that bothers you more than most others
A skill or talent that the church could use
A spiritual gift that you haven’t fully utilized
A burden in your heart
Part of your personality that can serve the Kingdom
The question isn’t is God speaking… The question is will you step closer to the burning bush?
purpose is often found on the other side of curiosity and obedience
The most important factor in determining your purpose… Is a relationship with God
Are you spending time with God?
And How much of that time… do you spend listening?
Instructor: Michael Leadon
References
Time to Step Into Your Purpose
Myron Golden
Finding your unique design and purpose
Pastor Ayo, Ajani
Moses: discovering your purpose
New Church 247
Moses and the burning bush
Bible truth for life.
Watching the news in the morning
https://www.facebook.com/reel/806749842404561/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e
Extra
Exodus 18: 13-24
13And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a [k]dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear out, both yourself and [l]these people who are with you, because the [m]task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19Now listen to [n]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [o]You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the [p]disputes to God, 20then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21Furthermore, you shall [q]select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [r]of hundreds, [s]of fifties, and [t]of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [u]endure, and all [v]these people also will go to [w]their places in peace.”
24So Moses listened [x]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.
