Sermon Tone Analysis

·       For anyone to experience a new Beginning in life we have to begin with an evaluation.

We have to be able to orientate ourselves.

Firstly where we came from, then, where we are presently and finally where we are going.

It would be impossible to orientate ourselves with something that is always changing!

A compass would be useless if the earth changed position all the time, navigation by the stars would be useless if the stars alway moved around.

If continents moved, maps would be a waste to make etc…

 

·       Not only in the natural would it be hard to find your way but in the paths of Life, in your soul, in your spirit.

Just like we depend on an unchanging envirorment around us we need to depend on an unchanging eternal orientation point!

*Rev 1:8*

8 *I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty*.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

He is both the Creator and the Redeemer and the Final Judge of all things.

*Isa 44:6*

6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; *I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.*

·       I am the first and the Last!

We are willing to admit he is the beginning and the end, *but we want to be the middle!*

·       Tradition show us this frame of mind.

Baptism in the name of God as a baby and burial in his name at the end, But there is little talk or teaching about the God of the Middle!

·       *Unless we grasp the Eternal Presence of God we will not grasp who he really is*!

 

 

*Exod 3:11-14*

11 And Moses said unto God, *Who am I*, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

·       *It seems each time God asks us to do something we immediately go internal and ask who am I ?*

* *

12 And he said, Certainly *I will be with thee*; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

·       *God doesn´t even answer his question, he simply says what he will do!*

 

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name?

what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, *I AM THAT I AM*: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, *I AM hath sent me unto you*.

Exodus 3:11-15

                I.

He objects his own inability for the task he was called to (v. 11): *Who am I?* He thinks he is unworthy of the honour, and not equal to the task.

He thinks he needs *courage*, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh, he thinks he needs *skill*, and therefore cannot bring  the children of Israel out of Egypt; *they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly unable to help themselves; it is morally impossible to bring them out.*

1.    Moses was the fittest of any man living for this work, eminent for learning, wisdom, experience, valour, faith, holiness; and yet he says, Who am I?

·       Note, The more fit any person is for service commonly the less opinion he has of himself: see <Judg.. 9:8>, etc.

 

                II. God answers this objection, v. 12.

1.

He promises him his presence: Certainly *I will be with thee*, and that is enough.

·       Note, Those that are weak in themselves can still see miracles, being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; and those that lack confidence in themselves can be confident in God.

*God's presence puts an honour upon the worthless, wisdom and strength into the weak and foolish, makes the greatest difficulties as nothing, and is enough to answer all objections.*

III.

He begs instructions for the executing of his commission, and has them, thoroughly to furnish him.

He desires to know by what name God would at this time make himself known, v. 13.

 

1.

A name that denotes what he is in himself (v.

14): I am that I am.

This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies,

 

(1.)

That he is self-existent; he has his being of himself, and has no dependence upon any other: the greatest and best man in the world must say, By the grace of God I am what I am; but God says absolutely-- and it is more than any creature, man or angel, can say-- I am that I am.

Being self-existent, he cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient, and the inexhaustible fountain of being and bliss.

(2.) that he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever; he will be what he will be and what he is; see <Rev.

1:8>.

(3.) that he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature, and not a man that he should lie.

Let Israel know this, I AM hath sent me unto you.