College Hour

Exodus 4:1-17

When we come to this chapter we see an unwilling witness receive all that he needs to stand for God in a wicked world. Moses represents the reluctant leader who could do all that God commands but in his unbelief is disobedient in spite of what God wants him to do. We can learn today that God has also given us everything that we need to be a witness for him in the earth. All we need to do is to obey him and trust him.

Reason # 1

¹But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The LORD never appeared to you’?”

²Then the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.

³“Throw it down on the ground,” the LORD told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

⁴Then the LORD told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.

⁵“Perform this sign,” the LORD told him. “Then they will believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”

Note:

• Moses gets the opportunity to believe in God before anyone else
• Moses gets to see that God can use whatever he puts in his hands
• Moses gets to see the power of God before anyone else
• Moses gets to decide if he will believe before anyone else
• This verse is not about snakes, but rather the power of God to give life and to take life

Reason #2

⁶Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease.* ⁷“Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the LORD said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. ⁸The LORD said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign.

Note:

• Once again we see that this sign is for Moses first, then for the others.
• The miracle is done on Moses, so that he will never forget what God can do
• It’s not about the skin disease it’s about the power of God
• Moses gets to see the diversity of Gods power and to trust God before anyone else
• Moses gets to experience Gods power in a new way
• Moses gets to see how God can work personally to help others in need.

Reason # 3

⁹And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.”

Note:

• Once again Moses gets the opportunity to believe in God before anyone else
• Moses gets to see that God can use whatever he puts in his hands to display HIS power

¹⁰But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

¹¹Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? ¹²Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

¹³But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”

Note:

• Here we see the reluctance of the messenger. Moses in spite of what he has seen the Lord do, refuses to obey his command
• Moses because of unbelief will not accept the Lords task as an opportunity to join Him in ministry
• Moses wants to use his speech impediment as an excuse but God is not interested in his excuses

Reason # 4

¹⁴Then the LORD became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. ¹⁵Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. ¹⁶Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. ¹⁷And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”

Note:

• Here we see a new sign. God shows Moses that he can bring his brother without Moses even when Moses doesn’t know where he is.
• It’s a miracle because Moses hasn’t seen Aaron in years.

Question:

1. What have you learned about Moses in this lesson?
2. How is unbelief detrimental to the believer?
3. Why is it so hard for Moses to believe in what God has to say

[caption id="attachment_554" align="aligncenter" width="135"] Noe Hernandez[/caption] Noé’s Prize for Running the Race Philippians 3: 13-14 (A Sermonic reflection on the life of  a believer) 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Introduction: Today we are fortunate to celebrate the life of a good man. Noé Hernandez will forever be remembered in our hearts and minds, as God’s servant in this community. We all have great memories of his smile, laugh, generosity, service and contribution to the work of the Kingdom, here at FPU. When I personally think of Noé, I am filled with gratitude for the relationship we shared in Christ. Noé was a brother that could be counted on to share the good news of Jesus on this campus. I’m grateful for his ministry in College hour, in life groups, in one on one student mentoring, prayer events and staff interactions with those he came into contact with. However I am more grateful for the ministry he has caused this moment. It’s because of Noé, that we are opening the word of God today. His memory calls us to look at scripture and examine our own lives. Noé, like the Apostle Paul was on a journey. That Journey cause him to live a certain way, walk a certain way, talk a certain way and be remembered in a certain way. Like Paul Noé’s life had two things; it had purpose and it had passion. According to the text; Paul understood what was important in life. This brought him purpose. “13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; Notice that Paul in a breath of Humility, could say, I haven’t arrived yet as a servant of God… In other words, I’m not all that I should be, or all that I want to be. I have not arrived in any way, but that’s okay. After all he had accomplished as an Apostle he was still humble enough to say I haven’t made it yet… This reminds me of Noe! He was a humble man…filled with life’s wisdom, steeped in knowledge about many things, but humble enough to walk with men, and share what he was learning along the road of life. Paul goes on to say… but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” 1. Paul didn’t dwell on the past. 2. Paul kept reaching for what was to come. Note: In forgetting what was behind,… 1. Paul was forgetting pedigree 2. Paul was forgetting birth right 3. Paul was forgetting academic ability 4. Paul was forgetting heritage 5. Paul was forgetting cultural benefits 6. Paul was forgetting religious norms 7. Paul was forgetting past sins 8. Paul was forgetting past failures 9. Paul was forgetting past mess up’s 10. Paul was forgetting ministry mistakes In forgetting what was behind, he selected to reach forward to what was ahead of him. The picture he uses is that of a runner in a race straining forward, leaning with every ounce of his strength to that which is ahead while he is running. Before Paul was the blessed privilege of getting more of Christ. Before Paul was the blessed privilege of more responsibility in the Kingdom. Before Paul was the blessed privilege of the Christian life and the progressive pursuit of Christ likeness: • Serving the poor • Loving the widows • Serving the elderly • Preaching the word • Worship of God • Life in community • Character development • Freeing the captives • Clothing the naked • Healing the sick Paul in this next verse sees himself as a runner pressing toward the goal. He was fixed on finishing and receiving the reward for running well. This is a picture of Noé’s purpose in the Christian life!He had a purpose for the manner in which He was living! • He had a purpose for serving at FPU • He had a purpose for studying theology • He had a purpose for caring for His dad • He had a purpose for providing for his sons • He had a purpose for loving his queen • He had a purpose for sharing his faith • He had a purpose for doing what he did • He was living unto God while he had the chance [Noé and Paul were similar in Christian purpose] Noé found meaning and ministry in the following things; Being a worship leader, entrepreneur, painter, chef, literary teacher, a leather worker, story teller, artist, mime, Gardner, mechanic, handyman, Carpenter, Librarian, Scholar and an Ordained Minister… Here in this next verse we find the secret of his passion in life. 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. • Here Paul says that he was pressing (press; to pursue in a hostile manner) • Paul was living in pursuit of Christ • Paul was aimed at reaching the mark I press toward the mark is a reference to the white line that marked the ground in the stadium from the starting place to the goal, on which all runners were obliged to keep their eye upon as they ran. Some scholars believed that the word mark means a watchman. (Only used here in the New Testament.) Who is Jesus himself to who we must continually look at as we run [Heb. 12:2] 1. Paul wanted to run well 2. Paul wanted to finish right 3. Paul wanted the watchman to take notice of his efforts to do things the right way, according to the standards that were required of him. “So he pursued in a hostile manner the mark” With everything in him he went after Jesus! The race that Paul was in was a difficult race… 1. It was a race that must be endured through storm, trial, and suffering. 2. It was a race that could not be ran without ups and downs. 3. It was a race that could not be ran without hardship and turmoil. 4. It was a race that could not be ran without pain and problems. 5. It was a life lived out with purpose and passion. According to this verse, Paul was pressing toward the mark that he might receive the prize. The prize was the reward which God from above calls us by Christ Jesus, to receive. According to scripture the believer who serves faithfully will be awarded a crown at the end of our life… I believe that this is"The prize"... the "crown of righteousness"…This will be offered to those who have received the high calling of God in Christ. Once gain, according to scholars, a crown was bestowed in an earthly race when the goal was reached. Oh beloved friends and family…Noe understood this biblical truth… • The High Calling is that which is heavenly… • The high calling is that which is pointed to a crown of life… • The high calling is from the Savior Himself… • Jesus is the caller, summoning the cal-lee to obtain what he or she is undeserving of obtaining… • Jesus is the caller who also is the watchman, who also is the giver of the crown, who also is the righteous-Judge of those who finish well. • Jesus is also the prize Himself who all are running to see. In closing… I believe that Noé’s pursuit was to see Jesus… I believe that Noé’s calling was to pursue Jesus... I believe that Noé’s Passion was to worship Jesus… I believe that Noé’s purpose in life was to become like Him who had called him to follow…. According to this passage, there were three things the apostle desired to do; 1. Paul desires to look upon the one who was crucified one Friday night at the Hill called Calvary 2. Paul desires to see the one who died for the sins of the world. 3. Paul desires to know Him who was raised from the dead on the first day of the week (early Sunday morning) And now Noe gets to see him because his desire is every believer’s desire… Noe gets to be in His presence, because every believer wants to be in Christ presence… Noe gets to worship His savior up close and personal, because every believer wants to worship Christ up close and personal…Noe gets what he finally longed for to be in the presence of the Lord. Noe was a good and faithful servant, he has left us a legacy to follow…to live a life of purpose and to live a life of passion and to live a life that is in pursuit of Christ. Rest in Him, Man of God...Job well done!    

What the world needs today is more biblical men. (Men that God could Use) Biblical men who believe the bible are rare and hard to come by. Every now and then you run into a fellow who is crazy for God and feels as if God can do anything but fail. Dr. Henry Blackaby, one of the greatest minds in Baptist circles commenting on this passage says that “Caleb’s faith in God never wavered though everyone around Him doubted. God had convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the promise land that God had in store for them. But the people were intimidated by giants that possessed the land and the fortified cities.” (Numbers 13: 28-33) According to biblical history it was the people’s unbelief that forced this soldier “Caleb” to wait for 40 years in the wilderness before He finally entered into the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God’s power. Sometime good men have to suffer because of the unbelief of others. Sometime good men have to wait on the blessing of God because the congregation is saddled with unbelieving hearts. Sometime good men can’t move forward in ministry, because unbelief will hold them back. Caleb in today’s charge is a picture of the Man of God who has faith in God. Caleb represents a soldier with a great determination to follow and obey the will of God. Caleb is a picture for us of a man with God’s vision and heart, who believed that with God he could not fail. The Amazing thing about this verse is, he kept the word of the LORD. He did not allow the disobedience of a previous generation to stop him from completing the assignment once given to him by his GOD. This was a man who was committed. This was a man who was focused. This was a man who understood GOD”S sovereign rule and reign in life. It was after Joshua had become Israel’s leader, and God had given them the Promised Land. Caleb his fellow soldier and friend came and appeared to him as an older man (40 years later). When God was dividing up the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains (They were seeking a life of ease). Caleb came in and asked for the MOUNTAINS! This request was abnormal; he was up in age and he should have asked for the easy assignment. He should have asked for the least amount of work, then went on into retirement. But Caleb’s heart was the heart of a soldier for God. He wanted what nobody else wanted, the place where the enemy of the Lord might still be hiding. At this time in the story, the Israelites had driven the enemy into the mountains and there they built fortresses to fight against Israel. But this did not intimidate Caleb-He wanted the challenge, and he wanted the Lord to be glorified and praised. Caleb was a man’s kind of man, who belonged to the faith club! He saw what couldn’t be seen! He believed what couldn’t be imagined. He wanted what was best for God’s people and what would honor God the most. Caleb did not trust in his own strength but he trusted in God’s presence. He knew that with the Lord on his side, there was nothing he couldn’t do. Caleb longed to see the LORD work in power; I believe he knew he would less likely see God work if he settled in the easy places in the new land! Caleb chose a place where he would have to trust God; A hard place, a difficult place, an uncomfortable place. His assignment was not for the weak at heart. Henry Blackaby said; “If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s power displayed to enable you to take the mountain.”

• The man who wants to please God ought to think like this.
• The man who wants to please God ought to be driven by the impossible.
• The man who wants to please God ought to love living in the abnormal and long to see God do miracles through Him.

Having faith was no problem for Caleb! Trusting in the power of God’s might was not an issue! God knew what kind of man he had in his hands with Caleb, and I believe he was pleased to no end at what this old man desired! As a modern day Caleb your responsibility is to seek out the mountain type assignments. The mountains of opportunity. The mountains of service, evangelism, discipleship and faith in order that you may witness God doing great things through your life that can only be explained by HIS presence and HIS Grace. So go ahead and ask God for the hard assignments, and watch Him give you the desires of your heart! Dr. Wilson, Univ. Pastor

[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Dr. Angulus Wilson[/caption]

Today’s text begins as an actual prayer. It is the prayer of the Apostle Paul for the churches scattered through Ephesus. He is in prison writing this letter. As he sits down in prison, confined for preaching the gospel he’s got the churches on his mind.

These churches were special to the Apostle. They had a grip on his heart and special place in his mind. He loved Ephesus, and thought of her often. She was sentimental to him,  sacred and special to him. Here we get a glimpse of the awesome relationship that he had with her. Paul’s thoughts for them are revealed in his prayer request for their spiritual growth and development in Christ.

• Paul asks God to give them the spirit of wisdom
• Paul asks God to give them the spirit of Revelation and knowledge of Him
• Paul asks God to give them eyes of understanding

Paul desired that they would know the hope of God’s calling and know the riches of God’s glory that is reserved for the inheritance of the saints in God. Paul ends up meditating in this verse on what God had already gave to the Church (Jesus) and he is caught up in the revelation of Christ Power, Position and Pre-eminence.

The Apostle wants the church to know the power of Christ. (The power that God the Father raised Jesus His Son with from the dead.)

He is writing to you and I also, that  we would know that Christ power supersedes whatever is affecting us today. In Jesus we have the answer to the problems of this old world.

• In Jesus we have the assurance of heaven
• In Jesus we have the hope that all will be alright
• In Jesus we have the assistance in the time of need
• In Jesus we have the assurance after awhile every thing will be alright

Paul is encouraging the Saints with the good news of Christ everlasting Power. God has set him (Jesus) at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion. Jesus is seated in the heavens as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

1. His seat there indicates his glory,
2. His seat indicates that the work of redemption has been completed.
3. His Seat indicates he is in Charge
4. His seat indicates that he has made all things well
5. His seat indicates there is no greater power any where in the universe
6. His seat indicates that HE IS GOD

In short these verses remind us that Jesus has all power. According to this passage all things have been placed under his feet, and God the Father has given him to be the head over all things to the church. I don't know about you, but I am a member of His church. He has all authority over my life, and I am glad today that Jesus is the head of my life. When I get to heaven I am going to tell Paul thank you for writing this letter, and for teaching me about prayer.

Because he prayed like this for the Ephesians, I want to pray like this for you. I’m So glad that somebody prayed for me, aren’t you? I love you and I love being your Pastor!

For Christ and His Kingdom

[caption id="attachment_522" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Dr. Angulus Wilson[/caption]

One of the greatest things known to the body of Christ is Prayer. Prayer is the catalyst for spiritual growth, spiritual intimacy, building tighter and closer relationships, and opening up the eyes of our spiritual understanding. When a brother or a sister prays for you, it is one of the sweetest things a saint could ever give or offer of themselves. There are 15 powerful things about prayer that every believer needs to remember, and here they are;

• Prayer is the friend of the believer,
• Prayer is a confidant in the times of trouble.
• Prayer helps you to get through trials and tribulations.
• Prayer helps you in seasons of confusion and dismay.
• Without prayer, the child of God could not make it in tough times.
• Without prayer, the child of God would be hopeless
• Prayer enables the believer to hope and trust in the God of heaven and earth.
• It is prayer that assures us that all will be o.k when it looks like life is about to drive us crazy.
• It is prayer that unites the believers together
• It is prayer that drives the enemy away.
• It is prayer that strengthens the saint.
• It is prayer that God hears and answers.
• It is prayer that supports you in missions.
• It is prayer that creates in you the ability to understand.
• It is prayer that the believer cannot live without.

Did you know that when the church of Jesus Christ is praying for you, it is a blessing that supersedes all of the hidden treasures of life? When we pray for one another we are requesting for our God, who made the entire human race to intervene for us and to do some great act of grace that we are in need of.(I don’t know about you, but I love it when the saints pray)

I am your University Pastor, and I love to pray for you.

For Christ and His Kingdom