Conversations with I AM
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Intro:
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
We’ve dedicated 2021 as our Year of Prayer. I want to continue to provide explanation and tools for prayer. The title of my message is, [Conversations with I Am].
Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Over the course of my life, I have had many conversations. I have started conversations and I have also ended conversations.
I have had good conversations and some that did not go as well. I have had conversations that I didn’t want to end, Bekah remembers, no you hang up first!
Up until the age of sixteen, most of my conversations were with relatives, church family, or friends. However, I learned a new dimension of conversations when I got my first job.
No longer was a son, sibling, or friend, I was a co-worker and employee. My first job was a JCPenney. They hired me a week after my sixteenth birthday.
My official position, Sales Support. I wore that title with honor, until I realized what it mean. Literally, I did ANY job no one else wanted.
After a year or so, I grew tired of looking in the stock room, taking jewelry armoires to people’s vehicles, and hanging up returned items. So I took the first opening in the Catalog department.
Who remembers the JCPenney Catalog?
A customer could look in the catalog, that only cost $3, show us the picture and we would place their order. I loved it, except that wasn’t my only responsibility.
Coupled with catalog orders was returns and customer service. Here is the secret of customer service, they always sent the UPSET people our way.
We would help them and try to get them to leave happily. However, we had repeat customers, and we remembered them because they normally had a problem we had to fix.
This didn’t fit and I need to return it or make an exchange. They overcharged me. I have not received my order. If you can’t fix this, I WANT to see your manager!
Eventually they would leave, normally only to return. Even though we knew the repeat customers, we never became friends, I do not remember their names, and I am sure they do not remember me.
How does this walk down memory lane connect to prayer?
If we are not careful, we can view prayer and God as a customer service department. In fact, I am convinced there are many Christians around the world who only pray when they have a problem.
When prayer is only about problems, prayer becomes one-sided. We have a need or situation and we come to God to meet it and then we go on until the next crisis.
Does God listen to our complaints? Sure.
Will He pay attention when we share our concerns? Yes.
But what is the purpose of prayer?
Remember, God gave humans something He withheld from the rest of creation. We have the ability to communicate through language.
Therefore, prayer is the means whereby we communicate with God. And communication generally happens through a conversation.
As we look at prayer, REMEMBER, it is not about flowery statements, trying to say the right words, or fulfilling a religious duty.
No, prayer is about God talking to me, and me talking to God. He speaks and I listen, I speak and He listens.
No matter what we face, the good, the bad, and the ugly, we can speak to God about everything. He is not there simply for tragedy, He also wants to share His joy, mercy, and peace with us!
Often when we think of power in prayer, I am guilty of thinking of the BIG prayers I’ve prayed. The moments where I have been enraptured in His presence through prayer.
While God does give us those encounters, He wants to build our lives on communication which will occur with MULTIPLE conversations throughout the day.
This morning, I want to look at an important conversation God had with Moses. Through this conversation, God revealed His plans to Moses, He listened to Moses’ questions, and He provided insight for Moses’ future.
Who wants to grow in your prayer life?
Who wants to have new encounters and deeper conversations with God?
Let’s look at Exodus 3 in three parts, [An Exciting Observation], [An Extraordinary Opportunity], and [An Unexpected Objection].
Let’s begin
1. An Exciting Observation
1. An Exciting Observation
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
To understand where Moses was, we need to recall how Moses got back to the desert. Remember God’s promise to Abraham that his descendents will the earth?
He fulfilled the promise. The genealogy went: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, twelve sons of Jacob, who all ended up in Egypt because of Joseph.
Eventually, God’s people ended up captivity and slavery in Egypt. Through a series of miraculous events, through born a slave, Moses was raised in the royal household.
However, he discovered his true identity, killed an Egyptian, and fled to the wilderness. He arrived in Midian at the age of forty. He married a Midianite and worked his father-in-law’s flock on the back of the desert.
By the time we get to Exodus 3, Moses is 80 years old. He had worked his father-in-law’s sheep for four decades. There is not much he had not seen in the desert. And there wasn’t much excitement in the desert.
Until one day, in the distance, he observed something peculiar. He noticed a bush, literally, a thorny shrub, was on fire. That was not strange, it was a desert and were millions of small bushes in the Midianite desert.
The exciting observation was that the bush did not burn. The bush would not stop burning. For Moses, this was an exciting observation.
But for us, there is an exciting observation in verse three. Moses decided to stop what he was doing and go see about the fire from the bush.
The following conversation between God and Moses happened for two reasons.
First, God tried to get Moses’ attention.
Second, Moses stopped everything and turned aside to go near the bush.
There are moments throughout the day where God wants to get our attention. If we will stay spiritually aware, we will listen when He attempts to speak to us.
For Moses, the conversation with I Am would not have occured had he not STOPPED long enough to focus on what God showed him.
Conversations with I Am ALWAYS begin by turning aside to see, listen, or speak to Him. And through prayer, God will provide...
2. An Extraordinary Opportunity
2. An Extraordinary Opportunity
4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
God desired to spend time with Moses, so He sought to get his attention. Moses turned aside to draw near to God. Once God noticed that Moses came closer, He spoke.
Moses, Moses. God called his name twice. Now think about it, this was the FIRST time Moses and God ever communicated. He did not see God, but the Lord revealed Himself in the burning bush.
Moses had an opportunity to enter the presence of God for the first of many times in his long life. Think about, he was eight years old and God spoke to him.
Now we need to notice, the bush was not special and the ground itself was not set apart. Everything had to do with GOD’S presence.
He revealed Himself in the bush
The ground was holy, because God is holy, and He was present.
However, God revealed to Moses the nature of holiness. To be holy means to be set apart. God is holy. Now, he called Moses to step on the holy ground in the presence of the Holy God.
For that moment, God wanted Moses’ undivided attention. He wanted Moses to separate himself from the distractions and have a conversation.
God revealed the extraordinary opportunity. For over 400 years, God’s people languished under the oppressive hand of the Egyptians.
God paid attention to His people. He watched their suffering and heard the cries of their sorry. He had a plan. He came down to deliver them from the Egyptians and bring them to a land that flows milk and honey.
I’d say Moses was intrigued. Perhaps he felt a little awkward knowing his relatives were in slavery while he roamed free. Surely he liked the idea of knowing they will experience freedom and get to inherit a perfect land.
But God did not want to share information with Moses, He had a plan for Moses.
10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
God planned to USE Moses! So far the conversation is fascinating, but it has been one-sided. God spoke to Moses, but now Moses had something to say.
3. An Unexpected Objection
3. An Unexpected Objection
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Moses spoke up, with what seems like an odd objection. Often when I read stories in the bible, and people object like Moses, my first thought is, Moses, keep your mouth shut and say YES LORD.
But I have read the whole story. Moses did not know they end, he was at the beginning. For him, it didn’t make sense. He had not been to Egypt for forty years.
He was an eighty year old man. It was nearly time, or past time, to retire. And now, God wants him to go back to the place he fled and take everyone with him?
I want us to notice something about prayer. God is NEVER shocked by our questions. He is NEVER taken off guard by our requests.
Why?
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
God knows what we’re thinking. He wants to help and speak to us. But we HAVE to open the door and share with Him what we’re facing, be it good or bad.
God knew Moses would feel apprehensive about returning to Egypt. So He was prepared to answer when Moses wondered, WHO AM I? How can I do that?
The Lord explained, I will be WITH you. And with my help, you and my people will worship me at this mountain. The conversation continued.
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Can we hear Moses in this prayer conversation? Okay God, you’re with me, but what do I tell them? Who do I tell them sent me? They will ask what is this God’s name? How do I answer?
In Israelite culture, a name meant something. It stood for the person’s character and identity. Remember, Jacob meant cheater, so God changed his name to Israel, which means favored of God.
Unlike us, whose parents named us, God never had anyone give Him a name, He named Himself.
God replied in a way only God can! He told Moses His name— I AM WHO I AM. His name, I AM, reveals a few facts about His character:
He is Eternal
He is Unchanging
He is Uncreated
He is Self-Existent
Who is He? HE just IS! He begins to reveal something about His nature to Moses. He IS EVERYTHING we need! He IS the ONLY God who has the power to work on behalf of His people, leading them to victory and freedom.
Moses had a few more questions.
In chapter four he wanted to know, how will they believe?
God answered, take your rod and throw it to the ground. Instantly it became a snake. He then instructed him to pick the snake up by the tail and the snake returned to a rod.
Finally, Moses asked one more question, how will I speak for I am not eloquent and I stutter. Once again, God had a plan, even though I want you to speak, if you think you can’t, you will speak to your brother Aaron and he will speak for you.
Every object Moses had, God fixed because He is I AM:
Moses thought, I can’t do this
God answered, let me do this through you
Moses thought I don’t know enough
God answered, You know me, that’s enough
Moses through, I don’t have the ability
God answered, My grace is sufficient
God listened to His objections, yet He confirmed His plan for Moses. I will be with you, I will use you, and I will set my people free through you!
Close:
Moses didn’t realize at the time, but his conversation with I Am set up a future for more people to speak to God and for God to speak to them.
God showed His love to Moses and for the future of His people.
He always wants to get our attention, for we always have His attention— He will create exciting observations
He always has a plan for us— He will reveal His exciting opportunities
He always wants to listen to us— even when others view it as an unexpected objection.
Remember. NOTHING surprises God, but for Him to work in and through us, we have to share our lives with Him, for He comes by invitation.
But in closing, I want us to notice something about prayer in regards to I AM!
8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.
God came down to deliver His people from bondage. He used Moses and Israel did leave Egypt. Even though they were free from slavery, they were still bound in sin.
In fact, every generation in history has dealt with bondage of sin. But about 2,000 years ago, God came down, not to visit a man, but He came in flesh, fully God and fully Man.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The GREAT I AM, took on flesh and began to speak like a human, for he was fully Human and fully divine.
He called people to follow Him. He showed them a new way of living. He allowed them to observe the Father’s plan for their lives. He gave them opportunities to let God use them in new ways.
But at different times, they had seeming unexpected objections. For instance, He promised to satisfy their spiritual hunger, but how could a Man give them spiritual food?
Remember, His name. I AM WHO I AM. So He told them:
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Some objected, what about the darkness in the world? What about sin’s grip on our society? The Man answered:
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Here is another objection, how can they overcome sin and meet the Father?
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
How about guidance in the confusion of life?
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Alright, what about death?
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
Fine, what about the way to eternal life and heaven?
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Another objection, what about when you leave? How will we stay connected in a world where we cannot see you?
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
And that was the disciples, the religious elite of the day objected for He provided a new way of living, how was that to work?
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
He is GREATER than our greatest hero and MIGHTIER over the worse sin!
So what about us?
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
In our walk with God, we have to believe that HE IS! He is LITERALLY EVERYTHING we need. Yet, He reveals Himself through CONVERSATIONS WITH US.
No matter what we face, He is I AM WHO I AM! So we can pray:
God my life is so great, how can it get better— I am the joy and lifter up of your head
God I feel sick,— I am your healing
God I need direction— I am your guide
God I need help— I am your helper
God I need strength— I am ALL powerful
God I need financial breakthrough— I am the owner of all the silver and gold
God I just need to know you are there— I am as close as the mention of my name.
God has everything we need BECAUSE HE IS everything we need. So talk to Him. Turn aside when He calls us by name. Do not be afraid to share our questions with Him.
But remember, He is not a customer service department, just there to listen to all of our problems. No, He is our friend. He wants us to know Him more.
He wants to be there in good and bad situations, always a constant presence in every aspect of Life!
And today He calls out to us:
I am hope, I am peace, I am joy, I am rest, I am your comfort and relief from your stress. I am strength, I am faith, I am love, I am power, I am your freedom, this very hour, I AM!