Introduction: Exo. 3:11-12, 4:1-2, 4:10-15 (God wanted Moses to take a leading role in getting the children of Israel out of Egyptian captivity. Moses had no confidence in his ability to handle the task. God showed him he would be with him and help him complete the task. Life is like this for us. We sometimes tremble before the things we are called upon to do for God. We realize we can t do all we need to do. Though we can t, God can. Be sure that God will see to it we are able to do what we must do.)
1. Filling A Special Work In The Church: (Whether it be elder, deacon, evangelist, teacher or some other work in the church, it challenges us. It might be you feel inadequate to the task. These examples show how we must do what we can with what we have.)
1. Paul: 1 Cor. 2:1, 2 Cor. 10:10, 11:6 (Paul had some kind of difficulty with his speech. It appears he was not an eloquent orator or that his speech sounded uneducated. However, there is no question of how effective he was in God s work.)
2. David: 1 Sam. 17:31-37 (David was just a young boy. It appeared he was not up to the task before him, but with a few stones and much faith in God he defeated Goliath and eventually became king.)
3. Elijah: 1 Kings 19:9-12, 18 (Elijah was discouraged and in hiding. He felt so outnumbered, that everyone else wanted to serve idols and he was the only faithful one left in Israel. God showed Elijah that sometimes his presence and blessings are seen in the smaller things of life, such as Elijah s small voice. God further showed Elijah he was not alone and so he was able to pursue his work as a prophet.)
2. Being A Good Wife To A Special Worker: (Embracing the role of wife to an elder, deacon or a preacher is an enormous challenge. The scriptures supply examples of women who were limited in their abilities, ambitions and opportunities, but they did what they could.)
1. Zipporah: Exo. 4:24-26 (It appears Moses had neglected to circumcise one of his sons. According to Gen. 17:14 this was a serious breach of covenant. God appears to have smitten Moses with illness as a penalty for this. To save his life and comply with God s will, Zipporah circumcised her son. She did what she had to do, even when it was very unpleasant.)
2. Rebecca: Gen. 24:67 (When she became Isaac s wife, she was able to fill a void left by the death of his mother. This is not something easy to do, but her tender affection gave him comfort after such a difficult loss.)
3. Ruth: Ruth 2:1-4, 10-12, Ruth 3:10-11 (By her loyalty and work ethic, she demonstrated her worthiness as a faithful woman. Ultimately she was rewarded with the faithful affections of Boaz as her husband.)
4. Priscilla: Acts 18:24-26, Rom. 16:3-4 (Priscilla stepped in when it was appropriate for her. She could not teach in the assembly, but she made a real difference outside the assembly. Her influence was such that her husbands name is not mentioned without hers. As a couple they were beloved of the church for courage and faith which she had as much as Aquila.)
3. Being A Faithful Christian: (Sometimes we feel like Christianity demands more of us than we can deliver. The following examples show us how people can persevere beyond their normal abilities and inclinations.)
1. Peter: Lk. 5:4-10 (When Peter saw the power of Christ he felt unworthy and wanted Jesus to separate from him. Jesus reassured him not to fear. With Christ s help, Peter would become a fisher of men.)
2. Christ s Invitation: Mt. 11:28-30 (When Christ invites us to live the Christian life, he is not asking the impossible of us. He offers an easy yoke and a light burden, compared to that of sin. Though the path is often fraught with difficulty, it is not impossible to live up to God s expectations and be a good Christian.)
4. Some Positive Thoughts: (The previous observations encourage us, but they are specific in nature. These general thoughts should help us all, no matter what you need to accomplish for the cause of God.)
1. Fearfully And Wonderfully Made: Ps. 139:14 (David celebrated the fact God made man with great strength and potential. This is to the praise of God and not man. God made us with much greater strength and abilities that we sometimes realize.)
2. With God All Things Are Possible: Lk. 18:24-27 (We must remember that if God wants us to do something, he can make it possible for us to do it.)
3. I Can Do All Things Through Christ: Phil. 4:13 (Paul had a "can do" attitude, realizing he could do whatever he needed through Christ.)
4. Not Wrong To Realize Your Inadequacies: 2 Chron. 1:8-12 (It is okay to realize areas where we are weak or inadequate. Solomon felt inadequate to be king of Israel. Realizing that led him to pray for wisdom. Realizing our weaknesses can help us a great deal. Concentrating on them too much, however, can cause us to doubt when we should have faith.)
5. God Gives The Increase: 1 Cor. 3:5-9 (We must remember that good result does not necessarily rely on our skilled performance. God gives the increase and blessings. It can be done through our hands when we in faith seek to accomplish his purpose.)
Conclusion: (God has shown us abundantly that we can accomplish what he needs us to. Often we accomplish, with God s help, much more than we ever thought possible. We need to just focus on being the type of person he wants us to be. Then we can watch in amazement as he carries to heights we never dreamed possible. This is about faith and confidence, not in ourselves, but in God that he will supply what we need to do his will. God will not necessarily stir creation with his miracle stick, but when we obey his will good things happen.)