A Look Back at Sundays Sermon: Stephens Speech Part 3 [Moses, an Imperfect Leader] (Acts 7:20-33) Acts 7:20-33 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?

search=Acts+7%3A20-33&version=NIV Last week through Stephens speech the church learned that Joseph became an instrument of God even in the midst of his pain, sorrow and change. Joseph was a great leader, but there is not such thing as a perfect leader. Joseph had to learn to believe in God and to trust him. This week in Stephens speech to the Sanhedrin, he speaks about Moses. The very man they said he was talking against. Moses was the son of Levi. He was born at a difficult time but God was present. The Pharaoh had ordered all the newborn Hebrew babies to be killed. No matter what happens in your life or your relationship with God, He is always present. It requires faith in a society that doesnt want to use faith. God always provide a rescue. Moses is rescued by the princess of Egypt and was raised in all the wisdom of the Egyptians in the house of Pharaoh. Moses became powerful in speech and action. One day he intervenes and kills an Egyptian. Moses thought he was the savior but he didnt know God. Because of what he did, Moses flees to Midian but he is not accepted by his own people. This was the first forty years of his life. The second forty years of Moses life he was running from God. It wasnt until he had an encounter with God that he realized who God was. If you call yourself a Christian then you must have an encounter with God. A lot of the times people know about God, sometimes know him in their hearts but their mouths dont speak it. Once you have an encounter with God, your life is never the same. If you think being a Christian is ideal you are wrong. Its hard and requires change but God uses change to bring you closer to him. God doesnt believe in religion. Its about embracing imperfect people and loving them. God has called Moses but he wasnt ready to answer the call. Even if you stray from God himself, he has your back. How many times has God had to pull you back? In the last forty years of his life, Moses finally answered the called and leads his people. He gets his people out of Egypt, the only world Moses knows. Talk about a huge change! They dwelled in the desert for forty years due to the

peoples hard hearts and not being willing to listen to him. So Moses finally answers Gods call, leaves his comfort zone to lead people who dont want to be led. Change is hard. Although Moses was a great leader he had his flaws. Leaders are not perfect and yet they are supposed to be in control of themselves, their family and their surroundings. Leaders are going to let you down and they will disappoint you. Do not put you faith in them but in the one who will never fail you, Jesus Christ. True leaders honor peoples right to believe or not to believe in Moses case. A true Godly leader will submit to Gods will. What was Stephen saying to the Sanhedrin when referring to Moses? The Sanhedrin was trying to honor Moses by saying he was speaking against him and yet they did not believe in him. They also loved the law and keeping it, if it benefited them but they did not love the giver of the Law. Stephen was also telling them that Gods will be done and that they can choose to be flexible and adapt to the changes or be set in their own will. As we have learned in the past weeks change is going to happen whether you want it or not. It is important to remember that God allows change so that you can become closer to him in the process. Through the change it is important to discern what is happening and that comes from maturity in the Lord. Maturity is not how long you have been in the church or given your life to Christ, it is being able to go to God in the midst of the changes and ask him to see things through his eyes or to ask how it is his will. Are you helping the change or blocking it in your life? Traditions also came up in this part of Stephenss speech. The church should break traditions for the sake of the Gospel. Dont continue doing things just because you always have. Leaders are imperfect, remember that the next time one of your leaders lets you down. God is the only one who will always be there. Pastor Danny ended his sermon with this scripture: Many are the plans in a mans heart but it is the Lords purpose that prevails.Proverbs19:21
In His Love, Nicole