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Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000076S
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00:06 Sermon #S040 - When God Disrupts Your Contentment - (Part 1)
00:20 Pastor Snell: Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 24. When you get there, lemme hear you say Amen. 00:23 [ Congregation: Amen] 00:25 Now one of the things I do want to say, just as a foundation for the message today, 00:27 how many of us understand that the key to happiness is to live a life of service? 00:35 [ Congregation: Amen] 00:36 Okay, some of you all seem like you don't believe it, 00:38 like I need somebody to be clear that the key to the happiness is not just in how much you receive, 00:44 how much you possess, but in how frequently you allow yourself to be a blessing to somebody else. 00:51 [ Congregation: Amen] 00:52 Amen. Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 24. 00:57 When you get there, say, pastor, I'm here. 00:58 [ Congregation: I'm here] 01:00 The Bible says, by faith, Moses when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 01:07 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin is steaming 01:16 the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 01:22 For he looked toward the reward by faith, he forsook Egypt, 01:27 not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 01:35 Now go over, if you don't mind, to Exodus chapter three will read a a fair amount, not all of it, 01:41 but just enough to kind of give you context today. Exodus chapter three, and we'll begin together at verse number one. 01:46 That's the first second book in the Bible. Exodus three and verse one, when you get there, just say, pastor, I'm there. 01:52 [ Congregation: I'm there] 01:54 Exodus chapter three and verse number one, the Bible says, now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, 02:01 his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the desert 02:06 and he came to ho the mountain of God 02:09 and the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. 02:16 So he looked and beheld the bush was burning with fire, but the bush, somebody check this out, is on fire, 02:26 but it's not consumed. Then Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great site, why the bush does not burn. 02:36 So when the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the burning bush and said, 02:43 Moses, Moses. And he said, here I am. Then he said, do not draw near this place. 02:48 Take your sandals off your feet for the place where you stand is holy ground. 02:54 We still believe we ought to reverence God every now and then that we ought to show some deference to our great king. 03:01 When you approach God, even in your private worship, realize you're not calling your homeboy or your homegirl. 03:06 Like we talking to the omnipotent one, the ancient of days. 03:10 Then the Bible says here in verse six, moreover he said, I am the Lord, the God of your father, the God of Abraham, 03:16 the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God. 03:22 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry 03:28 because of their taskmasters. 03:30 For I know the Bible says their sorrows Now slip back over to Exodus chapter two in verse 11. 03:39 Exodus chapter two in verse 11. Again, we're just providing some context for our story today. 03:45 Exodus two, in verse 11, the Bible says before Moses gets to Midian, 03:50 now it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren 03:55 and he looked at their burdens and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 04:00 So he looked this way and that way and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 04:08 And when he went out the second day, behold two Hebrew men were fighting and he said to the one who did wrong, 04:15 why are you striking your companion? Then he said, to who made you prince and judge over us? 04:21 Do you intend to kill me as you kill the Egyptian? So Moses feared and said, surely this thing is known. 04:27 And when Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses, but Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh 04:34 and dwelt in the land of Midian and he sat down there by the well. 04:39 Then the Bible says here in verse number 16, the priest of Midian had seven daughters and they came 04:45 and drew water and they filled the trust to water, the father's flock. 04:49 Then shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered the flock. 04:56 Verse 19, when they get home, they tell their dad all about it. 04:59 They say, an Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherd 05:02 and drew enough water for us and also watered the flock. 05:06 So he said to his daughter, so where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? 05:11 Call him that he may eat bread. 05:13 Verse 21. Then the Bible says, then Moses was content to live with the man and he gave Zepora his daughter to Moses. 05:26 Verse 21, the Bible says then Moses was content to live with the man and he gave Zepora his daughter to Moses. 05:35 Today, saints, I want to talk to you for a little while under the subject, 05:38 when God disrupts your contentment, let's pray together. 05:48 Father, would you allow a palatable anointing to settle over today's service. 05:59 Father, I'm asking in the name of Jesus Christ that you would give us a sensitivity to your voice 06:06 and the courage to act according to your divine will. 06:11 Father, I'm praying that you would help raise up a generation that does not live by sight, 06:17 but teach us, oh God, how to walk by faith. Father, I believe that you have a special work for many, yay, 06:25 all of us to do. And so Father, give us Lord the dexterity, Lord, the elasticity of spirit to be willing to pivot, 06:32 Lord, wherever you move us. So Lord, would you hide me in the shadows of the cross that Jesus alone might be seen, 06:39 that Christ alone would be heard. And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone be praised. 06:44 We ask this in the name of him who is all together lovely. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray all things, 06:50 let God's people say together. Amen and amen. 06:53 [ Congregation: Amen] 06:55 You may be seated in the house of the Lord again today we are talking under the subject when God disrupts your 07:06 contentment. 07:11 Sometimes when we look at the call of Moses, sometimes we assume that this is where God begins with Moses, 07:24 when in truth God shows up to preserve what is left. In other words, 07:30 there is something in inside of Moses that is on the verge of dying. 07:36 If God does not intervene at this moment, you see the problem is too often we see Moses as this benign docile, 07:46 stuttering, shepherd when the truth is we forget who Moses actually was. You see Moses was actually a militant, 07:56 bold, weaponized advocate for the Hebrew people. 08:00 You see, Moses does not emerge as some disquieted soul from an oppressed people. 08:07 Moses leaves his unoppressed position to begin to advocate for an oppressed children of Israel. 08:16 In other words, this fight is not necessarily his. And yet Moses identifies himself with the afflicted in Egypt 08:26 and it's crazy because the Bible says that he reaches a point where he refuses to be called the son of Pharaoh's 08:34 daughter and he would rather suffer affliction with the people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. 08:43 And it's crazy because Moses gets to a place where he can no longer enjoy his personal comforts as long as he is in 08:52 close proximity with somebody's pain. And let me just say this to the church, 08:58 that there is something wrong with your religious journey. There is something broken with your spiritual construct. 09:05 There is something wrong inside if you can enjoy your comfort when you are close to somebody else's pain. 09:13 In other words, church, I need you to know that something is dying inside of you when you see other people's 09:21 problems as somebody else's problem. Remember now that James says that pure and undefiled religion is this, 09:31 is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. 09:38 And other words, friends, 09:40 your religion is incomplete if all of it does is create a religious covid mask to keep you from being infected 09:49 by the world. 09:50 I need you to know good religion has a level of advocacy to it. 09:55 In other words, good religion is not just about my personal sinlessness, 10:01 good religion causes me to pour into your brokenness. [Congregation: Amen] 10:06 And it's crazy because I'm not sure if Moses has been born again. 10:10 I don't know exactly where he is in his walk with God. 10:13 But it's crazy because in his natural devices he comes to the conclusion that there is something wrong for me 10:21 to have all these resources and all these benefits and all this opportunity 10:27 and I hoard it without addressing somebody who is suffering. 10:32 And see friends too often the issue is that our lives reflect the trends of secular culture 10:39 where we don't begin to embrace the missionary tenets of Jesus Christ. 10:44 You see, too often, even Oakwood students choose a career instead of embracing God's call. 10:52 Too often the aim of young couples is to build an empire as opposed to advancing a kingdom. 11:00 And what happened is our goal is to live these very comfortable 11:05 and safe survival-based lives where the only risk we take are for our own benefit. 11:13 And for many today I need you to know the missing part of your walk with God is an active level of advocacy. 11:22 Let me say it again that the missing part of your walk with God is an active level of advocacy. 11:28 Now the reason some are indifferent is because when you hear the term advocate, 11:33 you think it means that you have to join an organization or a cause or get a certain title. 11:39 But how many of us know that when you are in close proximity to suffering, 11:44 that you don't have to have a title to be an advocate. In other words, 11:50 when you live a life that is dedicated to service, it makes you an advocate for your fellow man. 11:57 You see how many of us know that if you have resources you can be an advocate for the poor, 12:02 that you can be an advocate for children, that you can be an advocate for those with cancer, 12:08 you can be an advocate for the immigrant, you can be an advocate for the missing. 12:14 Is there anybody that knows you can be an emotional advocate, that you can be a spiritual advocate, 12:20 that you can be a financial advocate. And the thing I need somebody to know is that Jesus said, 12:28 you are more blessed to be able to give than to be able to receive. I see you all are not with me. 12:34 See how many of us know that sometimes our praise is incomplete 12:39 because the greatest blessing is not just in what I receive, 12:44 I need you to know that you are sure enough blessed when you are in a posture to be able to give. 12:51 In other words, your greatest blessing is not the ride that you drive, 12:56 but sometimes the greatest blessing is the ride you can give to somebody walking. 13:02 Sometimes the greatest blessing is not the check that you cash, but sometimes it is the check that you write. 13:10 Sometimes the blessing is not the hookup that you got, but sometimes the blessing is the hookup that you gave. 13:18 And see how many of us understand that the greatest promises in scripture are for the advocates 13:24 and those who choose to be a blessing. See, Proverbs 28:27 says that those that give to the poor lack nothing. 13:34 But those who ignore their cries receive many curses. In Proverbs 19:17, 13:41 the Bible says those that have pity on the poor lend to the Lord and the Lord is going to reward them. 13:49 Does not Matthew 6 say When you give it shall be given back to you. 13:55 Good measure, press down, shaken together and running over. 13:59 There's an even better promise for Jesus says, when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. 14:07 When I was naked, you gave me clothes. And when I was in prison you came and visited me. 14:13 And the rightious say, when did we do those things? And Jesus says that what you've done to the least of these, 14:20 you've done it also unto me. Enter into the joy of thy Lord. [ Congregation: Amen] 14:25 And what I need somebody to know is that your testimony is incomplete. 14:30 If it's only about what I receive, your testimony's not complete. 14:35 You can tell, you can testify about what you've given. Ah, let me say it this way. 14:41 See how many of us know that the blessing you receive is a bag of fruit, 14:45 but the blessing you give is a bag of seeds. 14:49 Okay, let me preach to somebody on this side that the blessing you give is a bag of fruit that is consumed in one week 14:56 or one month. But the blessing you give is a bag of seed that's going to bless you not just for this season 15:04 but for generations and generations to come. You all not with me. Let me say it this way. 15:10 It's crazy because 13 years ago when I first moved here to Huntsville, 15:14 there's a senior citizen in this community that just for some reason showed great favor to Gianna and myself 15:21 and she would often do things for our kids. And it's crazy, Dr. Doulan, 15:25 she would go so far out of her way that it made us feel a little uncomfortable and strange 15:31 because we had not really done any ministry acts toward us. And so we were on the verge of saying, 15:37 we don't want you to overdo it or do something to harm yourself. 15:40 And she made it very clear that Pastor, this is my duty. And she began to tell the story. 15:47 Now if you've been around here a little while, you may know my wife's grandfather, 15:52 Richard Norman who used to work in the accounting department. And when he was working there, 15:57 he would do very kind acts for folk who are trying to get into school. 16:02 And he helped this woman get all her kids through Oakwood. 16:05 And it's crazy that because granddaddy blessed 30 years ago, guess what? His granddaughter is getting blessed. 16:13 His great-grandkids are getting blessed because of a seed he sow 30 years ago. 16:19 And what I'm saying to somebody today, when you give you sow generational blessings that are going to bless you 16:28 and your children and your posterity. And let me be clear, there ain't nothing wrong with eating the fruit, 16:35 but don't eat the fruit and throw away the seed. 16:38 See, you are supposed to bury the seed so it can bless somebody else. So you all hearing me today friends? 16:46 [ Congregation: Amen] 16:47 And so friends, as we go through this story, 16:49 there's some just some a few basic faith principles I want to share with us today. 16:54 Now as we look at the story of Moses specifically early on before the burning bush, 17:00 there are some mistakes Moses makes you see the first mistakes is he tries to fight the battle using the wrong weapons. 17:08 But the second mistake Moses makes is he anticipates appreciation. 17:15 See, the word says that there was a time where Moses now is ripening into this freedom fighter, 17:22 it is becoming clear that he can no longer sit silently and watch the affliction of his people. 17:29 And so the Bible says that he sees an Egyptian dealing very harshly with a Hebrew. 17:35 And the Bible says that your boy Moses is trying to cover his steps. 17:39 The Bible says he looks to the left and he looks to the right to make sure that no one is looking. 17:45 And the Bible says that he goes and he smites the Egyptian dead and buries his body so that no one will notice. 17:54 But I need you to be clear that God does not allow the violent act to be covered. 18:00 So that soon thereafter Moses goes back out again and he finds two Hebrews in conflict with one another 18:08 and Moses is now taking on a deliverer posture. He is saying, man, we can't fight against one another. 18:15 We've got to use our power to fight against the man. In other words, Moses tries to function as a broker of peace. 18:24 He is trying to bring collaboration and see the problem is Moses anticipates that because he killed the Egyptian, 18:34 that he's got a credibility with his brethren that they will appreciate what he has done. 18:40 But do you notice that when he calls them to oneness, they don't turn with celebration, 18:47 they turn around and say, who made you judge over us? Are you going kill us? 18:54 And they say it in earhart us out of the Egyptian guards, are you going to kill us like you killed the Egyptian? 19:03 In other words, I need you to see how this thing goes because Moses checks and looks things out. 19:09 And he does it in such a way when he kills the Egyptian that the only ones who will know is the Egyptians that are 19:15 being harmed and the Hebrews that are rescued. And so the only way the Egyptians know is if those who are rescued out, 19:26 the one who rescues them. And it's crazy because Moses risked his physical life in tussling with the Egyptian. 19:36 He risked his position in Egypt by taking aside with the Israeli people. 19:42 But isn't it amazing how those that you help the most, oh God, have a way of turning on you the quickest? 19:53 Oh you all going to get quiet in here. 19:55 Isn't it amazing friends how some of the ones that you pour the most into have a way of taking the most from you? 20:06 And see this friends is very critical counsel for the church because if you anticipate appreciation, 20:13 your sacrifices will cause you to become bitter. And see, one of the things, 20:18 even as I'm espousing the need for us to live as advocates, 20:22 how many of us know that advocates don't have a life of appreciation? 20:26 All right, see, I need you to get to a place where friends of mine, when you function as an advocate, 20:33 your cause has to be your currency. See, if you are an advocate, your cause has to be the currency 20:42 and not the subjects of the cause because sometimes the subjects will always appreciate your sacrifice 20:50 and some will give up on the cause because sometimes we deal with some sketchy subjects along the way. 20:57 And see, one of the things I want to encourage us is that we've got to get to a place where we draw fulfillment 21:04 from our work where we get fulfillment from our assignment where you get to a place where you find joy in your task, 21:13 not in the response of the people your sir - am I preaching to anybody today? 21:17 [ Congregation: Amen] 21:19 Because see, I need you to understand that if a teacher or an educator signs up to be an educator for appreciation, 21:25 [ Congregation: Laughing] how many of us know you ain't going to last very long? 21:29 Am I telling the truth today? In other words, teachers, 21:32 am I lying that sometimes the students you help the most are the ones that appreciated the least? 21:40 [ Congregation: Yes] 21:42 And sometimes it's the parents of the kids that you trying to help that show up at the school with a durag on their 21:48 head trying to side with the child that they know is wrong, am I preaching to anyone?. 21:55 I mean that sometimes it is the patient that the nurse helps the most, that tries to abuse them the most, 22:03 that sometimes it is the one the social worker gives the most to that takes the most from them. 22:10 That sometimes is the business owner. The one they try to hook up is the one that turns around and tries to scam them. 22:17 And even as a pastor, I can attest that the ones that you're trying to help the most are the ones that bruise you 22:25 the worst. And see, one of the things I need somebody to get is that the truth is that we cannot live this life 22:32 looking for appreciation down here. Am I preaching anybody today? 22:36 Truth is that your spouse will not always appreciate your sacrifices. 22:41 That your children won't always appreciate your sacrifice. That your boss will always appreciate your sacrifice. 22:49 That sometimes in the church your sacrifice will always be appreciated. 22:54 And what I want to encourage somebody to do is to make sure that you don't abandon your assignments 23:01 because you don't be fulfilled thoroughly appreciated. 23:05 And see, one of the things I need somebody to get is that if appreciation is your fuel, 23:11 your tank going to always be on empty. If gratitude is what feeds you, guess what? 23:18 You going to always be hungry? Come on and say amen with the pastor today. 23:21 [ Congregation: Amen] 23:23 See the thing I need somebody to get about service is that service is not emotional. 23:28 Service is principled. It is why the book of Colossian says whatsoever your hands find to do to do it with all your 23:40 might as if you are working unto God and not unto man. Are you all hearing what I'm saying? 23:46 And see what Paul is teaching us is that you got to render serving acts unto God, 23:52 not unto people that may or may not appreciate it. 23:56 So that even the work you do on your job, your excellence is not unto your boss. 24:02 Your excellence is unto your God. Let me say it to you all on this side. 24:06 In other words, wife, your duties as a wife is rendered unto God and not just unto your husband. 24:13 In other words, husband, your excellence is unto God, not just unto your wife. 24:19 And see, when you minister unto God, guess what? 24:23 Your service doesn't fluctuate based upon whether or not they say thank you or appreciate you. 24:29 Your excellence is all on the endcline because you know that the God who sees in secret 24:35 [ Congregation: Amen] 24:36 when he comes, he's going to reward you openly. 24:39 And see this is the thing I need to say because some of us are feeling like, oh no pastor, it ain't right. 24:44 Folk ought appreciate me more. And yes they should. 24:47 But let me ask you a question so you can get out of your feelings for a moment. 24:52 What if God only blessed people that show a requisite amount of appreciation? 25:04 Oh yeah, I'm bowling yo alley right now. 25:06 What if God only blessed folk that showed gratitude in a way that's commensurate with his goodness toward us? 25:15 But do I have seven folk that are thankful that even though we lack gratitude, 25:21 God is not sitting on his throne with his mouth poked out and his arms folded up and his fists clenched saying, 25:29 I ain't going to bless them until they give me the right amount of praise. 25:33 Is there anybody that knows that you forgot to give thanks for a multitude of mercies that your mind could not even 25:41 perceive that God is so faithful that his blessings are too many to count? 25:47 And the good news is that when we forgot to say thank you, God still provided. 25:53 He gave protection when we didn't say thank you for protecting me. 25:58 He still kept us when we didn't say thank you for keeping me. 26:03 We still blessed us when we didn't say thank you for your blessings. 26:07 We get ours and we keep on moving. But thank God that he keeps on blessing. 26:13 [ Congregation: Clapping] 26:16 Thank you so much for joining us for the Breath of Life Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell! 26:23 We hope and pray that you have been blessed by this third message in the sermon series entitled “The Pivot.” 26:31 Join us next week for Part Two of the message entitled “When God Disrupts your Contemptment" You don't want to miss it! 26:41 Have you ever wondered why life is so painful? Have you ever questioned whether or not the pain will ever end? 26:49 Have you ever just stood in need of some hope? I want you to know that trouble won't last Always. 26:56 This summer, Breath Of Life Ministry will be coming to Seattle, Washington, 27:02 where I'll be preaching a two week revival under the theme “Almost Home.” 27:06 These messages are designed to teach us that this world and its horrors are passing away. 27:13 We'll be meeting from July 16 through July the 30th each night at 7 p.m., 27:19 with the exceptions of Tuesday and Thursday evenings. 27:23 I'll be joined in partnership by gospel recording artist Karen Clark Sheard, Jonathan Nelson, Lucinda Moore 27:31 and Tamara Bodie. Dinner is going to be served each night from 6 to 7:00 pm 27:37 and there'll be special programing for your little ones between the ages of four and ten years old. 27:44 The services are going to be held at the Emerald City Community, SDA Worship Center. 27:49 It's an in-person event only, so you've got to come in person. For more information, 27:55 go to our website at www.BreathofLife .TV. I look forward to seeing you where we're going to have great food, 28:03 great fellowship and the Word of God. I need you to know that this world and its horrors are passing. 28:09 And Dorothy said it best that there is no place like home. 28:21 (Breath of Life Theme Music) 28:44 [END] |
Revised 2023-07-06