Josh McGuire - To Minister Like Moses | Austin CFC | 2023-06-04
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that 'ministering' means attending to the needs of someone, rather than holding a specific position. He draws parallels between Moses ministering to Israel and Jesus teaching that serving the least among us is equivalent to serving Christ. The message encourages the congregation to consider how they can serve or attend to the needs of God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Who wants to be a minister?The speaker poses a rhetorical question about who wants to be a minister, shifting the common perception from an official church or government position to attending to the needs of others.
Ministering to the LordReading from Ezekiel about the Levites ministering in the sanctuary, the speaker highlights the incredible privilege of human beings being able to attend to the needs of the Creator.
Moses as a model ministerMoses is introduced as a powerful example of a minister who interceded for the people and spent forty days with God on Mount Sinai, resulting in a radiant face and gentle spirit.
The necessity of BrokennessBefore Moses could be used by God, he had to experience Brokenness, defined as putting no confidence in the flesh and realizing that apart from God we can do nothing.
The miracle of the leprous handGod showed Moses a sign by turning his hand leprous and back again, teaching him never to forget the inner rottenness of human flesh so he would not look down on others.
What do you have in your hand?God asks Moses what is in his hand, teaching us to start with what we have instead of focusing on what we lack, but warning that leaning on these tools can make them bite like serpents.
Striking the rock instead of speakingMoses eventually fell into the trap of putting confidence in the staff itself by striking the rock twice out of frustration rather than simply speaking to it as God commanded.
Refusing to lean on money or talentsThe church must rely on the Holy Spirit rather than financial resources or human talents, lest those assets become idols that eventually destroy them.
Testimony on aging and breakingA visiting brother shares how God used the passage of time and physical aging to break his youthful self-confidence and teach him total dependence.
Jacob leaning on his staffAnother brother reflects on Hebrews 11, noting how Jacob ended his life worshiping God while leaning on his staff after his self-reliance had been completely broken.Hebrews 11:21
Yielding to God in our current circumstancesA final speaker encourages the congregation to embrace difficult circumstances as God's training ground, yielding their will to His in order to be prepared as true ministers.
