A Very Thankful Christian 2020
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon: A Very Thankful Christian 2020 (Ex. 2.23-3.15)
Intro:
We are living in difficult times. Some may argue the most difficult of our lifetimes.
· World- Covid—Election---Unrest---divided.
· Our own lives---illness, family issues, financial,
· Churches- attendance, children/youth, missions giving, camps and conferences and fellowships—
o We need face to face, eye to eye, and hand to hand.
2. The Hebrew people were facing serious problems --- about 4000 years ago.
Describe the situation---
· Famine, Joseph ---Israel (Jacob) brought family to Egypt.
· Given a great location in Goshen (Archeological evidence)
· Multiplied and prospered.
· New King felt threatened by them---Slavery
· Killed new born sons.
· Moses---raised in pharaoh’s house, came to know his heritage, and murdered Egyptian.
· Ran---40 years in wildnerness
Hebrew Bondage grows worse---terrible.
Moses life---essentially hiding in the wilderness for 40 years.
Think about this---the Hebrew people’s situation of slavery had been going on for about 100 years!
By the time Moses was born, the people had probably already been in bondage for 10-20 years.
Moses was 40 when he ran to the wilderness—so that 50 to 60 years.
Then it was another 40 years before God appeared to Moses—100 years!
Hear me this morning---God’s timing is so different than our timing. But his timing is always right.
SUDDENLY and unexpectantly and miraculously, Moses encounters the LORD and nothing would ever be the same again---not for Moses—Not for the Hebrew People—not for the world.
That’s what happens when God moves in history in his timing---And this is why I am thankful----So I say----
I. Be Thankful: God has not changed!
Times may be changing (you may have changed) but God has not changed!
The same God then that restored Moses and rescued the Hebrew people from their Bondage—is the same God we are worshipping here today!
The same God who rescued Noah and his family from the flood---is the same God we worship today.
The same God who used a man like Elijah to rid the land of Israel from Baalism during that time---is the same God we worship today.
God has not changed. And it even reveals this in the text.
a. He is the great I Am. (3.14)
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’
i. The one who was and is and always will be.
ii. Also the one who is and causes all things to be.
iii. There is a definiteness to the name so that the people could come to know Him personally but there is also a vagueness, leaving it open for future revelation of Himself.
iv. Giving someone your name in those days was a sign of personal relationship.
b. He is THE LORD (3.15)
15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
i. LORD-YHWH-This is where we get the name Yahweh or Jehovah by adding vowels to the letters, Hebrews had only consonants. We really do not know how to pronounce it because the Jews stopped speaking the name out loud for fearing to take His name in vain.
ii. God of History
iii. God of the living! Hope of life after death!
1. Luke 20.37
37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”
c. Conclusion:
i. No matter what is going around us in our world today. No matter what is happening you personally in your own life. No matter what struggles your church may go through-GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.
ii. He is the eternal God who was and is and is to come!
iii. God has not changed, He is the God of history and the God of the future. He is still on his throne; he is still in control. He is not surprised by what is happening. He is not up there wringing his hands wondering what to do! He is in control. He always has been and he always will be! Our actions and the actions of others have consequences good and bad and we have to live with those. But we can rest in the fact that God is in control.
1. Illus: God Gave or the Lord Gave, or He gave (98 times in the Bible).
2. He gave them into their hands, and He gave a Spirit of Boldness, The Lord gave authority, God gave them a spirit, God gave them up, God gave favor, Lord gave some king into another king’s hand.
3. Favorites and has had the most impact on history of the world: For God so loved the world that HE GAVE his only begotten son. God gave the right to become children of God, and God gave us His grace by a Holy Calling before the ages began.
iv. I don’t know a lot about music but they tell me—A is an A.
James 1.1717 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
SO----If you know what that means----that the God who we read about in this text is the same today. And that means---we have a lot to be thankful for---
II. Be Thankful---God is paying attention.
24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
God hears and sees everything going on in the world and in our lives.
He is paying attention---his eyes and ears are fixed on his people and what is going on.
Yes----God sees and hears everything---
But what is he looking for? What is he listening for?
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart towards him.
Ex 2.24--And God heard their groaning
1. I wonder how long it took for them to finally get to the point where they humbled themselves enough to groan and cry out to God. They loved it in Egypt...in fact it didn’t take long after it got uncomfortable in the wilderness to want to go back.
How bad does it have to get for us to humble ourselves before God and groan and cry out to him?
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
In other words----we can pray and he hears but he is listening for a true heartfelt cry to him. What is the measure of a true heartfelt cry to him----humility (Humble themselves)---Repentance (seek his face and turn from wickedness---Turn to him and away from sin)
Notice this verse does not say—if the heathen in the land will humble themselves and pray---it says when the people called by His name---Christians---when Christians will humble themselves and pray and seek his face and turn from THEIR wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chron. 16.9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and for throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart.
III. Be Thankful ---- God has not forgotten you.
A. God did not forget the Hebrew people.
Ex 2.24-25- And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Ex 3.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their task masters. I know their sufferings,
My people---he remembered His convenant with them---the convenant he had made with Abraham. But, listen—this does not mean that he forgot the convenant and now all of a sudden he remembers and does something about. No—he is all knowing ---he doesn’t forget anything. And that is really what the word means---not that he forgot and now he remember---it means---look---Hebrew people might feel like he forgot---Moses may have felt like he forgot---and
Sometimes in our lives we can begin to feel like God has forgotten about us---but listen---—he hears—he see---and he remembers and he knows! God has not forgotten you!
· He is paying attention! He cares!
1 Peter 5:6-7- 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Proper time—God’s timing.
· He was dealing and working in two places at the same time. Moses in the wilderness being prepared and the Hebrew people in Egypt.
1. 2.23ff. No chapter headings
Preparing the Hebrew people and he was preparing Moses.
See---he was Preparing both for His amazing work.
Key---Listen----He is never just working on you!
B. God did not forget Moses he has not forgotten you and me. We can learn some things from this interaction between God and Moses.
1. God calls us by name.
Story tell ....
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
· 2x---in Hebrew culture---This was a term of endearment.
Paul:
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
God still calls by name---not audible but to the soul. We know that we know that we know---he is speaking to us and we know that he knows us.
B. God wants us regardless of past failures.
God knew who Moses was and what he had done. Moses was murderer and deserter.
He chose him anyway.
Paul:
1 Tim 1.12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
No matter what we have done, where we have been, God still loves us, seeks us—he wants us. He wants you.
C. God takes extraordinary measures to get our attention.
Look what God did---He created this strange burning bush----
But Moses had to give his attention before God took the next step. God made the initiative with a supernatural experience. Moses however had to make the decision to stop the path he was on, take time, and go investigate this bush. Notice, God did not call him by name until he saw that Moses had turned aside to investigate.
---He knows your name! Hear him calling you! Stephen, Stephen!
---He calls you, regardless of your past mistakes.
---He has taken extraordinary steps to get your attention.
What?----Came to earth---lived sinlessly, served selflessly, died sacrificially and he was raised triumphantly. What more does he need to do?
Will you turn to investigate the man hanging on the cross---will you turn to see about this empty tomb? Oh he has taken extraordinary measures to get your attention.
He still does---sometimes---things happen in our lives, in our circumstances, in our nation, and in our world that just don’t make sense to us---perhaps God is taking extraordinary measures to get our attention!
Will we answer like Moses, “Here I am!”?
And look what happened to Moses---
He was restored to fellowship and service to God.
Acts 7.22-Wise and mighty and words and deeds
Ex. 3.1-Doesn’t have his own flock
3.11-Who am I 4.10-Slow in speech and slow in mind
Wasted Years
· Yes they are gone but Value in the next 40
· God used those years to turn a brash 40 year old who thought he could take on the Egyptian army single handedly to a humble servant who depended on God.
· God also used those years to let Moses learn about the wilderness, the dangers, watering holes, the terrain. Why? Now he is the most prepared person in the world to lead the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.
· Yes, the 40 years that were lost, were lost forever there are consequences for our decisions, but God was able to use them and even better to pour the value of those 40 years into the next 40 years! But it only happened after Moses went to where God was and into his presence.
See him later: Not just restored to former place
· Leading the people across the Red Sea
· Marching in front of the tabernacle
· Face glowing as he has just come down the mountain carrying tablets that have been engraved by God Himself!
No longer just a rat race! No more vicious circle of life! He had purpose! He was making a difference! He was finally doing the will of God.
If you feel like you are in a rat race, just spinning your wheels, living with the consequences of mistakes from your past and you need help getting back on track, you just need to discover what you need. It is not another sermon, book, song, or podcast. What you need is a fresh encounter with God almighty! Position yourself to be in His presence. How? Prayer and Reading the Bible. Seek him and you will find him.
I wonder—at age 80---I wonder---if Moses didn’t think God could use him anymore.
If we ever get to a point that we think that then we are wrong.
· No matter Age!
· What you have done!
· What has been done to you!
· It is not about when or how you start, it is about how you finish!
IV. Be Thankful! God still Saves!
God rescued Moses and restored him to fellowship with God.
God rescued the Hebrew people from bondage---you know the story well.
Moses obeys God and confronts Pharoah to Let Me People go.
After 9 disastrous plagues on Egypt, God is going to send the 10th and final. The angel of death---will pass through Egypt and the life of every first-born male will be lost. UNLESS—they kill a lamb without blemish—a perfect sacrifice and take the blood and put in on the door posts and the across the top of the doorway.
That night it happened---all those covered by the blood of the perfect sacrifice were saved.
The next day, Pharoah let them go—but after they left, pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them.
So God opened the red sea so the Hebrews could pass through and once they were through, the sea came crashing down on their enemies and cut them off from their enemy forever.
They traveled through the wilderness. The Spirit of God was with them in the form of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. They just had to follow him---trust him—and obey him.
Eventually—after much failure and discipline ---they came to edge of the promised land---God parted the Jordan river and they passed through to the promised land once and for all.
God saved them from their enemy---continued saving them in the wilderness as they learned God’s will for them---and finally saved them at the end.
God does the same for us.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and all who will believe on him will be covered by the blood of the lamb. They will be saved from sin and judgement of God.
Jesus rose from the dead—when we accept Christ---we too are risen with Christ and our enemy—death is defeated and cut off from us.
We are not in the promised land yet---But the spirit of God—the Spirit of Christ—the HS is with us---in us---guiding us. All we have to do is trust and obey.
One day---we will come to the edge of the Jordan---God will part those waters and we will cross over once and for all into the promised land.
God saves us---he continues to save us---and one day, he will finally save us.
Do you know this savior? Do you know Jesus Christ—the great I Am.
If you do----arent you a very Thankful Christian---He hears, he sees, he remembers and he knows!
Praise God---He is the great I Am!
Lets Pray
Sermon: A Very Thankful Christian 2020 (Ex. 2.23-3.15)
Sermon: A Very Thankful Christian 2020 (Ex. 2.23-3.15)
Intro:
We are living in difficult times. Some may argue the most difficult of our lifetimes.
· World- Covid—Election---Unrest---divided.
· Our own lives---illness, family issues, financial,
· Churches- attendance, children/youth, missions giving, camps and conferences and fellowships—
o We need face to face, eye to eye, and hand to hand.
2. The Hebrew people were facing serious problems --- about 4000 years ago.
Describe the situation---
· Famine, Joseph ---Israel (Jacob) brought family to Egypt.
· Given a great location in Goshen (Archeological evidence)
· Multiplied and prospered.
· New King felt threatened by them---Slavery
· Killed new born sons.
· Moses---raised in pharaoh’s house, came to know his heritage, and murdered Egyptian.
· Ran---40 years in wildnerness
Hebrew Bondage grows worse---terrible.
Moses life---essentially hiding in the wilderness for 40 years.
Think about this---the Hebrew people’s situation of slavery had been going on for about 100 years!
By the time Moses was born, the people had probably already been in bondage for 10-20 years.
Moses was 40 when he ran to the wilderness—so that 50 to 60 years.
Then it was another 40 years before God appeared to Moses—100 years!
Hear me this morning---God’s timing is so different than our timing. But his timing is always right.
SUDDENLY and Unexpectantly and miraculously, Moses encounters God and He would never be the same again and neither would the Hebrew people.
I. Be Thankful: God has not changed!
Times may be changing (you may have changed) but God has not!
a. He is the great I Am. (3.14)
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’
i. The one who was and is and always will be.
ii. Also the one who is and causes all things to be.
iii. There is a definiteness to the name so that the people could come to know Him personally but there is also a vagueness, leaving it open for future revelation of Himself.
iv. Giving someone your name in those days was a sign of personal relationship.
b. He is THE LORD (3.15)
15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
i. LORD-YHWH-This is where we get the name Yahweh or Jehovah by adding vowels to the letters, Hebrews had only consonants. We really do not know how to pronounce it because the Jews stopped speaking the name out loud for fearing to take His name in vain.
ii. God of History
iii. God of the living! Hope of life after death! Luke 20.37
c. Conclusion:
i. No matter what is going around us in our world today. No matter what is happening you personally in your own life. No matter what struggles your church may go through-GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.
ii. He is the eternal God who was and is and is to come!
iii. God has not changed, He is the God of history and the God of the future. He is still on his throne; he is still in control. He is not surprised by what is happening. He is not up there wringing his hands wondering what to do! He is in control. He always has been and he always will be! Our actions and the actions of others have consequences good and bad and we have to live with those. But we can rest in the fact that God is in control.
1. Illus: God Gave or the Lord Gave, or He gave (98 times in the Bible).
2. He gave them into their hands, and He gave a Spirit of Boldness, The Lord gave authority, God gave them a spirit, God gave them up, God gave favor, Lord gave some king into another king’s hand.
3. Favorites and has had the most impact on history of the world: For God so loved the world that HE GAVE his only begotten son. God gave the right to become children of God, and God gave us His grace by a Holy Calling before the ages began.
iv. I don’t know a lot about music but they tell me—A is an A.
James 1.1717 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
SO----If you know what that means----that the God who we read about in this text is the same today. And that means---we have a lot to be thankful for---
II. Be Thankful---God is paying attention.
God hears and sees everything going on in the world and in our lives.
He is paying attention---his eyes and ears are fixed on his people and what is going on.
Yes----God sees and hears everything---
But what is he looking for? What is he listening for?
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart towards him.
Ex 2.24--And God heard their groaning
1. I wonder how long it took for them to finally get to the point where they humbled themselves enough to groan and cry out to God. They loved it in Egypt...in fact it didn’t take long after it got uncomfortable in the wilderness to want to go back.
How bad does it have to get for us to humble ourselves before God and groan and cry out to him?
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
In other words----we can pray and he hears but he is listening for a true heartfelt cry to him. What is the measure of a true heartfelt cry to him----humility (Humble themselves)---Repentance (seek his face and turn from wickedness---Turn to him and away from sin)
2 Chron. 16.9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and for throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart.
III. Be Thankful ---- God has not forgotten you.
A. God did not forget the Hebrew people.
Ex 2.24-25- And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Ex 3.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their task masters. I know their sufferings,
My people---he remembered His convenant with them---the convenant he had made with Abraham. But, listen—this does not mean that he forgot the convenant and now all of a sudden he remembers and does something about. No—he is all knowing ---he doesn’t forget anything. And that is really what the word means---not that he forgot and now he remember---it means---look---Hebrew people might feel like he forgot
Sometimes in our lives we can begin to feel like God has forgotten about us---but listen---he remembers—he sees—he hears---and he remembers! God has not forgotten you!
· He is paying attention! He cares!
1 Peter 5:6-7- 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
· He was dealing and working in two places at the same time. Moses in the wilderness being prepared and the Hebrew people in Egypt.
1. 2.23ff. No chapter headings
Preparing the Hebrew people and he was preparing Moses.
See---he was Preparing both for His amazing work.
Key---Lisiten----He is never just working on you!
B. God did not forget Moses he has not forgotten you and me. We can learn some things from this interaction between God and Moses.
1. God calls us by name.
Story tell ....
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
· 2x---in Hebrew culture---This was a term of endearment.
Paul:
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
God still calls by name---not audible but to the soul. We know that we know that we know---he is speaking to us and we know that he knows us.
B. God wants us regardless of past failures.
God knew who Moses was and what he had done. He chose him anyway.
Moses was murderer.
Paul:
1 Tim 1.12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
No matter what we have done, where we have been, or what we have intended---God still loves us, seeks us—he wants us.
C. God takes extraordinary measures to get our attention.
Look what God did---He created this strange burning bush----
But Moses had to give his attention before God took the next step. God made the initiative with a supernatural experience. Moses however had to make the decision to stop the path he was on, take time, and go investigate this bush. Notice, God did not call him by name until he saw that Moses had turned aside to investigate.
---He knows your name! Hear him calling you! Stephen, Stephen!
---He calls you, regardless of your past mistakes.
---He has taken extraordinary steps to get your attention.
What?----Came to earth---lived sinlessly, served selflessly, died sacrificially and he was raised triumphantly. What more does he need to do?
But he did do more: He sent the HS to empower believers to live for Him and he established His church.
Will we answer like Moses, “Here I am!”?
And look what happened to Moses---
He was restored to fellowship and service to God.
Acts 7.22-Wise and mighty and words and deeds
Ex. 3.1-Doesn’t have his own flock
3.11-Who am I 4.10-Slow in speech and slow in mind
Wasted Years
· Yes they are gone but Value in the next 40
· God used those years to turn a brash 40 year old who thought he could take on the Egyptian army single handedly to a humble servant who depended on God.
· God also used those years to let Moses learn about the wilderness, the dangers, watering holes, the terrain. Why? Now he is the most prepared person in the world to lead the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.
· Yes, the 40 years that were lost, were lost forever there are consequences for our decisions, but God was able to use them and even better to pour the value of those 40 years into the next 40 years! But it only happened after Moses went to where God was and into his presence.
See him later: Not just restored to former place
· Leading the people across the Red Sea
· Marching in front of the tabernacle
· Face glowing as he has just come down the mountain carrying tablets that have been engraved by God Himself!
No longer just a rat race! No more vicious circle of life! He had purpose! He was making a difference! He was finally doing the will of God.
If you feel like you are in a rat race, just spinning your wheels, living with the consequences of mistakes from your past and you need help getting back on track, you just need to discover what you need. It is not another sermon, book, song, or podcast. What you need is a fresh encounter with God almighty! Position yourself to be in His presence. How? Prayer and Reading the Bible. Seek him and you will find him.
I wonder—at age 80---I wonder---if Moses didn’t think God could use him anymore.
If we ever get to a point that we think that then we are wrong.
· No matter Age!
· What you have done!
· What has been done to you!
· It is not about when or how you start, it is about how you finish!
IV. Be Thankful! God can Save you!
God rescued Moses and restored him to fellowship with God.
God rescued the Hebrew people from bondage---you know the story well.
Moses obeys God and confronts Pharoah to Let Me People go.
After 9 disastrous plagues on Egypt, God is going to send the 10th and final. The angel of death---will pass through Egypt and the life of every first-born male will be lost. UNLESS—they kill a lamb without blemish—a perfect sacrifice and take the blood and put in on the door posts and the across the top of the doorway.
That night it happened---all those covered by the blood of the perfect sacrifice were saved.
The next day, Pharoah let them go—but after they left, pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them.
So God opened the red sea so the Hebrews could pass through and once they were through, the sea came crashing down on their enemies and cut them off from their enemy forever.
They traveled through the wilderness. The Spirit of God was with them in the form of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. They just had to follow him---trust him—and obey him.
Eventually—after much failure and discipline ---they came to edge of the promised land---God parted the Jordan river and they passed through to the promised land once and for all.
God saved them from their enemy---continued saving them in the wilderness as they learned God’s will for them---and finally saved them at the end.
God does the same for us.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and all who will believe on him will be covered by the blood of the lamb. They will be saved from sin and judgement of God.
Jesus rose from the dead—when we accept Christ---we too are risen with Christ and our enemy—death is defeated and cut off from us.
We are not in the promised land yet---But the spirit of God—the Spirit of Christ—the HS is with us---in us---guiding us. All we have to do is trust and obey.
One day---we will come to the edge of the Jordan---God will part those waters and we will cross over once and for all into the promised land.
God saves us---he continues to save us---and one day, he will finally save us.
Do you know this savior? Do you know Jesus Christ—the great I Am.
Old Stuff:
1. Testimony
2. Context of passage
a. Brief History—Came to know his calling
b. Detailed murder account and results
c. 40-year-old ran-grace of God
d. Now 80-Herding sheep (lowest) Dreams of youth were gone, had squandered his God given calling and purpose. One bad choice!
e. Illus: Texas Stadium demolition
i. 1971, 38 seasons, 65000April 11, 2010-Casey Rogers25 seconds
ii. Months to clean and earthquakes
f. How often does this happen in our lives?
i. One quick decision, one act of poor judgment, and our world comes crashing down. Moses probably thought like many of us do, If could just roll back time and do things over again. He wouldn’t have made THAT decision, on THAT day, and with THAT person. He wouldn’t have gone THERE, done THAT, said that, or failed to do or say one thing or another. But now it is too late for me.
1. Is. 41.10: Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2. Jer. 29.11-13: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Blood of the Lamb
· Jesus is the Great I Am: John 8.58,
· He is the spotless lamb of God. He laid down willingly
· Etc
b. Parting of the Red Sea-resurrection.
· First of the resurrected
c. All you have to do is believe and trust. What does this look like?
· Think of the cross and the tomb as the burning bush
· You have two choices-turn aside to it and investigate or keep going the same direction you are now.
· He has made the initiative and the next step is up to you. If you feel his tugging on your heart, that is His spirit trying to get your attention. Will you come to Him today?
· If you come you are making the decision to turn from the sinful direction of your life today, asking forgiveness for the things you have done and follow Him for the rest of your life.
Intro:
1.Challening times—most diffcult of our lifetime some may argue.
· World- Covid—Election---Unrest---divided—children in school.
· Our own lives---illness, family issues, financial
· Churches- attendance, children/youth, missions giving, camps and conferences and fellowships—
o We need face to face, eye to eye, and hand to hand.
2. The Hebrew people were facing serious problems --- about 4000 years ago.
Describe the situation---
· Famine, Joseph ---Israel (Jacob) brought family to Egypt.
· Given a great location in Goshen (Archeological evidence)
· Multiplied and prospered.
· New King felt threatened by them---Slavery
· Killed new born sons.
· Moses---raised in pharaoh’s house, came to know his heritage, and murdered Egyptian.
· Ran---40 years in wildnerness
Hebrew Bondage grows worse---terrible.
Moses life---essentially hiding in the wilderness for 40 years.
Think about this---the Hebrew peoples situation of slavery had been going on for about 100 years!
By the time Moses was born, the people had probably already been in bondage for 10-20 years.
Moses was 40 when he ran to the wilderness—so that 50 to 60 years.
Then it was another 40 years before God appeared to Moses—100 years!
Hear me this morning---God’s timing is so different than our timing. But his timing is always right.
SUDDENLY and Unexpectantly and miraculously, Moses encounters God and He would never be the same again and neither would the Hebrew people.
I. Be Thankful: God has not changed!
Times may be changing (you may have changed) but God has not!
a. 3.14: I am who/that I am: The great Eternal One!
i. The one who is and will be.
ii. Also the one who is and causes all things to be.
iii. There is a definiteness to the name so that the people could come to know Him personally but there is also a vagueness, leaving it open for future revelation of Himself.
iv. Giving someone your name in those days was a sign of personal relationship.
b. 3.15: LORD-YHWH-This is where we get the name Yahweh or Jehovah by adding vowels to the letters, Hebrews had no consonants. We really do not know how to pronounce it because the Jews stopped speaking the name out loud for fearing to take His name in vain.
c. Exodus 3:15-
i. God of History
ii. God of the living! Hope of life after death! Luke 20.37
d. Conclusion:
i. No matter what is going around us in our world today. No matter what is happening you personally in your own life. No matter what struggles your church may go through-GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.
ii. He is the eternal God who was and is and is to come!
iii. God has not changed, He is the God of history and the God of the future. He is still on his throne; he is still in control. He is not surprised by what is happening. He is not up there wringing his hands wondering what to do! He is in control. He always has been and he always will be! Our actions and the actions of others have consequences good and bad and we have to live with those. But we can rest in the fact that God is in control.
1. Illus: God Gave or the Lord Gave, or He gave (98 times in the Bible).
2. He gave them into their hands, and He gave a Spirit of Boldness, The Lord gave authority, God gave them a spirit, God gave them up, God gave favor, Lord gave some king into another king’s hand.
3. Favorites and has had the most impact on history of the world: For God so loved the world that HE GAVE his only begotten son. God gave the right to become children of God, and God gave us His grace by a Holy Calling before the ages began.
iv. I don’t know a lot about music but they tell me—A is an A.
James 1.1717 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
SO----you know what that means?----that the God who we read about in this text is the same today. And that means---we have a lot to be thankful for---
II. Be Thankful---God hears and God Sees.
God hears and sees everything going on in the world and in our lives.
He is paying attention---his eyes and ears are fixed on his people and what is going on.
God sees and hears everything---
But what is he looking for? What is he listening for?
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart towards him.
Ex 2.24--And God heard their groaning
1. They had to want to leave, I wonder how long it took for them to finally get to the point where they humbled themselves enough to groan and cry out to God. They loved it in Egypt...in fact it didn’t take long after it got uncomfortable in the wilderness to want to go back.
How bad does it have to get for us to humble ourselves before God and groan and cry out to him?
2 Chronicles 7:14 who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
In other words----we can pray and he hears but he is listening for a true heartfelt cry to him. What is the measure of a true heartfelt cry to him----humility (Humble themselves)---Repentance (seek his face and turn from wickedness---Turn to him and away from sin)
2 Chron. 16.9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and for throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
God is listening and looking for a sincere heart.
III. Be Thankful ---- God has not forgotten you.
A. God did not forget the Hebrew people.
Ex 2.24-25- And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Ex 3.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people
My people---he remembered His convenant with them---the convenant he had made with Abraham. But, listen—this does not mean that he forgot the convenant and now all of a sudden he remembers and does something about. No—he is all knowing ---he doesn’t forget anything. And that is really what the word means---not that he forgot and now he remember---it means---look---Hebrew people might feel like he forgot---but listen---he remembers—he sees—he hears---and he remembers! God has not forgotten you!
who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
· He saw-heard-he remembers and he knows: He is paying attention! He cares!
1 Peter 5:6-7- 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Ex 3.9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
· He was dealing and working in two places at the same time. Moses in the wilderness being prepared and the Hebrew people in Egypt.
1. 2.23ff. No chapter headings
Preparing the Hebrew people and he was preparing Moses.
See---he was Preparing both for His amazing work.
He is never just working on you!
B. God did not forget Moses.
1. God Called Moses and he called him by name (3.4)
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
· 2x---in Hebrew culture---This was a term of endearment.
Paul:
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
2. God Called Moses regardless of past failures.
He knew who he was and what he had done. He chose him anyway.
Paul:
1 Tim 1.12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
3. God called Moses and He took extraordinary methods to get his attention.
But Moses had to give his attention before God took the next step. God made the initiative with a supernatural experience. Moses however had to make the decision to stop the path he was on, take time, and go investigate this bush. Notice, God did not call him by name until he saw that Moses had turned aside to investigate.
---He knows your name! Hear him calling you! Stephen, Stephen!
---He calls you, regardless of your past mistakes.
---He has taken extraordinary steps to get your attention.
What?----Came to earth---lived sinlessly, served selflessly, died sacrificially and he was raised triumphantly. What more does he need to do?
But he did do more: He sent the HS to empower believers to live for Him and he established His church.
Will we answer like Moses, “Here I am!”?
God remembered the Hebrew people and He remembered Moses and he remembered his promises.
God knows who you are, what you have done, what has happened, what your circumstances are and exactly what you need.
IV. Be Thankful--- God can restore you!
b. Acts 7.22-Wise and mighty and words and deeds
c. Ex. 3.1-Doesn’t have his own flock
d. 3.11-Who am I
e. 4.10-Slow in speech and slow in mind
f. Wasted Years
· Yes they are gone but Value in the next 40
· God used those years to turn a brash 40 year old who thought he could take on the Egyptian army single handedly to a humble servant who depended on God.
· God also used those years to let Moses learn about the wilderness, the dangers, watering holes, the terrain. Why? Now he is the most prepared person in the world to lead the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.
· Yes, the 40 years that were lost, were lost forever there are consequences for our decisions, but God was able to use them and even better to pour the value of those 40 years into the next 40 years! But it only happened after Moses went to where God was and into his presence.
g. See him later: Not just restored to former place
· Leading the people across the Red Sea
· Marching in front of the tabernacle
· Face glowing as he has just come down the mountain carrying tablets that have been engraved by God Himself!
h. No longer just a rat race! No more vicious circle of life! He had purpose! He was making a difference! He was finally doing the will of God.
i. If you feel like you are in a rat race, just spinning your wheels, living with the consequences of mistakes from your past and you need help getting back on track, you just need to discover what you need. It is not another sermon, book, song, or podcast. What you need is a fresh encounter with God almighty! Position yourself to be in His presence. How? Prayer and Reading the Bible. Seek him and you will find him.
V. Be Thankful--- God can use you!
j. Moses didn’t think God could use him anymore.
k. If we ever get to a point that we think that then we are wrong.
· No matter Age!
· What you have done!
· What has been done to you!
· No second class servants of God!
· It is not about when or how you start, it is about how you finish!
VI. Be Thankful! God can Save you!
God rescued the Hebrew people from bondage---you know the story well.
After 9 disastrous plagues on Egypt, God is going to send the 10th and final. The angel of death---will pass through Egypt and the life of every first-born male will be lost. UNLESS—they kill an lamb with a blemish—a perfect sacrifice and take the blood and put in on the door posts and the across the top of the doorway.
That night it happened---all those covered by the blood of the perfect sacrifice were saved.
The next day, Pharoah let them go—but after they left, pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them.
So God opened the red sea so the Hebrews could pass through and once they were through, the sea came crashing down on their enemies and cut them off from their enemy forever.
They traveled through the wilderness. The Spirit of God was with them in the form of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. They just had to follow him---trust him—and obey him.
Eventually—after much failure and discipline ---they came to edge of the promised land---God parted the Jordan river and they passed through to the promised land once and for all.
God saved them from their enemy---continued saving them in the wilderness as they learned God’s will for them---and finally saved them at the end.
God does the same for us.
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and all who will believe on him will be covered by the blood of the lamb. They will be saved from sin and judgement of God.
Jesus rose from the dead—when we accept Christ---we too are risen with Christ and our enemy—death is defeated and cut off from us.
We are not in the promised land yet---But the spirit of God—the Spirit of Christ—the HS is with us---in us---guiding us. All we have to do is trust and obey.
One day---we will come to the edge of the Jordan---God will part those waters and we will cross over once and forall into the promised land.
God saves us---he continues to save us---and one day, he will finally save us.
Old Stuff:
3. Testimony
4. Context of passage
a. Brief History—Came to know his calling
b. Detailed murder account and results
c. 40-year-old ran-grace of God
d. Now 80-Herding sheep (lowest) Dreams of youth were gone, had squandered his God given calling and purpose. One bad choice!
e. Illus: Texas Stadium demolition
i. 1971, 38 seasons, 65000April 11, 2010-Casey Rogers25 seconds
ii. Months to clean and earthquakes
f. How often does this happen in our lives?
i. One quick decision, one act of poor judgment, and our world comes crashing down. Moses probably thought like many of us do, If could just roll back time and do things over again. He wouldn’t have made THAT decision, on THAT day, and with THAT person. He wouldn’t have gone THERE, done THAT, said that, or failed to do or say one thing or another. But now it is too late for me.
1. Is. 41.10: Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2. Jer. 29.11-13: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Blood of the Lamb
· Jesus is the Great I Am: John 8.58,
· He is the spotless lamb of God. He laid down willingly
· Etc
l. Parting of the Red Sea-resurrection.
· First of the resurrected
m. All you have to do is believe and trust. What does this look like?
· Think of the cross and the tomb as the burning bush
· You have two choices-turn aside to it and investigate or keep going the same direction you are now.
· He has made the initiative and the next step is up to you. If you feel his tugging on your heart, that is His spirit trying to get your attention. Will you come to Him today?
· If you come you are making the decision to turn from the sinful direction of your life today, asking forgiveness for the things you have done and follow Him for the rest of your life.