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The Legacy of Your Life

The Vision needs a midwife

Today we still yearn to know why we are here and where we came from
Stephen Hawking-a brief history of time

8 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” 11 So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; 16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. Exodus 1:8-21 NASB

1. God had a vision - and it was BIG

Now look towards the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him, so shall your descendants be.
Then he believed in the Lord, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness

Now look towards the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him, so shall your descendants be.Then he believed in the Lord, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness Genesis 15:5-6 NASB

God want us thinking big, or at least hanging around with those who think big.

We read:

The Whole earth will be filled with the glory of God
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end
I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

We have a big vision
- To reach our entire city
- To bring Scotland to Jesus
- To play a part in every nation on earth
- To see this church and its extensions become huge and significant

2. Don’t go making bricks for Pharaoh

God didn’t put you here to build up the devil’s kingdom or build any company pyramids.
He put you here for HIS church and His Kingdom. Why give your life to making those bricks?
A job isn’t big enough for you

3. God needs midwives

When God gives a vision, it has to be both protected at birth, and helped to be born.
I find it remarkable that the Holy Spirit made sure that Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15) were mentioned by name.
They were helping God’s dream of a big nation come to birth.
You and me are the midwives, we have to bring this vision to birth.

Shiphrah = Brightness
Puah = Glitter or brilliance

So Brilliance and Brightness kept bringing babies into the world

We, this church are Brilliance and Brightness!!

When we serve and get involved, when we attend and support, when we give sacrificially -we are Brilliance and Brightness, we are bringing the vision to birth

4. God never forgets those who step up

So, God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty. And it came about that because the midwives feared God, that He established families for them

So, God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very mighty. And it came about that because the midwives feared God, that He established families for them Exodus 1:21-22 NASB

5. Don’t let the devil stop you!

The devil will kill your dream and visions at birth if he can, or will come along while it still immature. Pharaoh went to kill every boy up to 2 years of age. But Moses survived.
When Jesus was born-Herod tried to do the same-but the prince of heaven, the saviour of this world was born