August 4, 2008

Text: Exodus 8

THE MANY DIFFERENT VOICES THAT ARE IN THE WORLD

1. The Voice of the Lord    (Cf. Exodus 8:1-5)

2. The voice of Pharaoh    (Cf. Exodus 8:8, 15)

3. The voice of the Magicians of Pharaoh    (Cf. Exodus 8:18-19)

4. The voice of Moses    (Cf. Exodus 8:9)

CHALLENGES

1. To distinguish these voices

2. To discern the voice of God above everything else

3. To decide to obey the Lord's voice alone

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD'S VOICE

1. Consistency

a) With what He has spoken earlier

b) With the Mission He has declared

c) With His Being (character)

2. Clarity

a) He will declare

b) He will explain

c) He will guide/teach

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VOICES OF THE WORLD

1. Pharaoh

a) Deception/Guile
He will use the correct form of language    Exodus 8:8
But his heart would not be in what he says

b) Hardened heart
It is hidden except to God    Exodus 7:22-23; 8:15, 9b

c) Unyielding

d) Manipulative

e) Cunning

2. Magicians

a) Caught up with their own powers    Exodus 7:22; 8:7

b) But they knew their own limitations    Exodus 8:19

3. The Voice of Moses
"Accept this honour of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only"    Exodus 8:9

a) Still naive

b) Still inexperienced

POWER OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER
"Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh.
And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh.
So the LORD did according to the word of Moses."    Exodus 8:12-13a

1. Intercession

a) Crying out to the Lord

b) Strength of this prayer:-

    i) In faithful obedience to the Lord

    ii) In faith

2. God hearing and answering
"According to the word of Moses"    Exodus 8:13a