Called to Commitment

TEXT: Exodus 3:1-6, 3:10-12

Exodus 3:1–6 (NLT)

1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.

2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.

6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:10–12 (NLT)

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

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

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

INTRODUCTION

A. Background

1-Moses presents one of the most persuasive lessons on commitment to God. God challenged him to a seemingly impossible commitment in his life.

a- God is not satisfied with "just" Saints. He wants us to live under the Lordship of Christ.

2- Moses’ life and call:

a- 40 years old when he saw a fellow Hebrew being mistreated by an Egyptian. Moses was not yet ready for God's call.

b- He fled Egypt and tended sheep for 40 years on the back side of the Midian Desert.

c- When he was 80 years old, God called him from the mist of the burning bush.

1) Many times you and I fail to hear God because we're too busy doing "our own thing".

3- Moses Answers God's Call

a- It was a call to awesome responsibility:

1) To lead, be statesman, guide, counselor, and Judge of Israel.

b- It was a call to return to Egypt and deliver God's people.

B. Bewildered

1- We have been blessed with every physical and spiritual blessing, and yet are not making an impact on the lost world around us.

a-The reason is: We lack the key-total commitment to Christ.

2- Why are we not committed?

a-To answer that, we must handle four basic questions:

I. WHO IS GOD? (Exodus 3: 6,13-15).

A. He is The God of the FOREFATHERS (Exodus 3:6, 13)

Exodus 3:6 (NLT)

6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:13 (NLT)

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

1. The God of the OLD TESTAMENT FOREFATHERS.

a. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

2. The God of the NEW TESTAMENT FOREFATHERS

a. Peter, John, James and Paul

B. He is THE GREAT "I AM"

(Exodus 3:14)

Exodus 3:14 (NLT)

14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

1. The ever living, ever present God

a. He ever lives to intercede for us

(Hebrews 7:25)

Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)

25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

b. He is ever present with us for comfort and strength

(Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

(Hebrews 13:5,8)

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

C. HE IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (Exodus 3:15)

Exodus 3:15 (NLT)

15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

1. His name speaks of His power

a. "YHWH Elohim" = Lord, God of all POWER

2. His creation speaks of His power

a. He "created" - made what we see from nothing (man invents from what is, God creates from what is not)

II. WHO AM I? (Exodus 3:12)

Exodus 3:12 (NLT)

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

A. You are somebody

1. Because God created you

(John 1:3)

John 1:3 (NLT)

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

a. illustration: Plaque "I am me and I am good because God don't make no junk!"

b. When God finished creation--all was according to His plan—He announced it was "good"

2. Because He accepted you in Jesus

(Ephesians 1:6)

Ephesians 1:6 (NLT)

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

a. He sent His only begotten Son to die for you--You are somebody to God!

(1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

3. Because He lives in You

(John 14:16-17)

John 14:16–17 (NLT)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

a. The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers your life.

III. TO WHOM DO I BELONG? (Exodus 4:1-12)

Exodus 4:1–12 (NLT)

1 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”

2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.

3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.

5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease.

7 “Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body.

8 The Lord said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign.

9 And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.”

10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?

12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

A. You belong to God

1. This was a lesson Moses had to learn the hard way.

a. God reminded Moses who had made him and to whom he belonged.

2. You and I belong to God

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NLT)

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

a. By right of creation

b. By right of redemption

IV. WHY AM I HERE? (Exodus 3:10-12)

Exodus 3:10–12 (NLT)

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

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

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

A. God had Moses on earth for a purpose

1. He had a task for Moses to perform; that is why his life had been spared as an infant.

B. God has a purpose for you being alive.

1. To Glorify God (I Cor 6:20b)

1 Corinthians 6:20b (NLT)

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

2. To Lead others to Glorify Him

(Ephesians 1:11-12)

Ephesians 1:11–12 (NLT)

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

CONCLUSION:

Do you believe the Bible--God's Word? I believe you do ...We've looked at the four basic questions that have to do with your commitment to Christ... In light of the Scriptural Answers: what could possibly allow you to live your life as you please when that is totally foreign to the word of God?

Why not pray as songwriter Judson W. Van DeVenter

"All to Jesus I surrender, make me Savior, wholly thine;

Let me feel thy Holy Spirit, truly know that thou Art mine.

I Surrender All, I Surrender All;

All to thee, my blessed Savior, I Surrender All."

Or video of “I Surrender All”

By Clay Crosse

Lyrics

Verse 1

I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land Raising strong and mighty fortresses that I alone command But these castles I've constructed by the strength of my own hand Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand

In the middle of the battle I believe I've finally found I'll never know the thrill of victory 'til I'm willing to lay down All my weapons of defense and earthly strategies of war So I'm laying down my arms and running helplessly to Yours

Verse 2 If the source of my ambition is the treasure I obtain If I measure my successes on a scale of earthly gain If the focus of my vision is the status I attain My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain

So I lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown And should You choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay down I surrender all the triumph for it's only by Your grace I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise

Bridge Everything I am, all I've done, and all I've known Now belongs to You, the life I live is not my own Just as Abraham laid Isaac on the sacrificial fire If all I have is all that You desire I surrender all

Chorus I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams Though the price to follow costs me everything I surrender all my human soul desires If sacrifice requires That all my kingdoms fall I surrender all

Songwriters: David E. Moffitt / Regie Glenn Hamm I Surrender All lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group