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Only God Can Set You Free

Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 5:1-2 NLT

God is the only one that can set you free

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. Exodus 20:2-3 NLT

Without God, you will place yourself in bondage

Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. Numbers 11:4-6 NLT

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Proverbs 26:11 NLT

Without God, you could lose everything that really matters

“Go back to Pharaoh,” the LORD commanded Moses. “Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, the hand of the LORD will strike… Exodus 9:1-3 NLT

Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. Exodus 7:13 NASB 1995

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go. Exodus 7:13-14 NASB

Jesus asked them: … Are your hearts hardened? Mark 8:17 NIV

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts… Hebrews 3:7-8 ESV

With God, I can unlock my potential

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 NLT

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent… Exodus 4:10 ESV

With God, I can rewrite the end to my story

So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. The LORD buried him […] but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever […] There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. The LORD sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:5-8;10-12 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few moments to breathe deeply and slow down, offering to Jesus any burdens from your day. Invite God into this time, asking God to help you be real with yourself and Him during this reflection. As you reflect back on your life, what do you wish you could change about your past? Are there any patterns or behaviors that still have a pull on you? Are there any patterns of thought or behavior that you continue to return to, even though you know they aren’t God’s best for you? Ask God to remind you of their burden so that their buzz doesn’t take too much space in your heart. Now invite God to show you how, through your surrender, He might be re-writing the ending of your story. What do you sense God calling you to? Practice surrendering your sins and your fears to God so that He can do the work He desires to do in you. As you sense God in this time, write your reflections in the space below, sharing with your group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, (link found on the top of sermon notes). Use this time to examine God’s call on your life and the obstacles that get in the way of responding to that call. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: The things that made Pharaoh great also made him weak. Where have you seen a strength of yours get turned into a weakness?
  3. REAL WITH SELF: When you consider your life as a whole, what are you most afraid of losing? How can you invite God into that fear; how might He want to speak into it?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: Read Hebrews 3:7-8 ESV. Have there been times when you heard God’s voice? What was that like? How can you intentionally soften your heart to God's voice so you can be in tune with it more regularly?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: We worship a God who changes our story–physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. What parts of your story has God already changed? What parts do you still need Him to change?
  6. TAKE ACTION: “Who am I, God, that you would choose me to _______?” is a question we all ask. Moses had plenty of excuses and fears–he was afraid of his lack of knowledge, afraid of rejection, afraid that he wasn’t a good speaker, but God’s answer was simply: I will be with you. How is God calling you to stand up and speak/serve/model him? What steps could you take this week to enter into that calling?