Encountering God (2)

I was praying about where to go and where to study to find-out what I should bring you as the word of God. In that time God brought to my attention Moses and the burning bush. As the back story, Moses was born Jewish by birth. His mother, in fear for her son’s life, place Moses in a basket and sent him up river. Pharoah at the time was killing Jewish children. The queen found the baby fostered Moses. Moses grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had the best schooling, the best clothes, lived in the palace and wasn’t a slave like the rest of the Jewish people were. Despite all this Moses had a growing desire to fix the injustices done to Israel.

Exodus 2:11 ESV

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.

If you been around the bible at all you know that God has a purpose and plan for your life. God was raising Moses to lead Israel out of captivity. Except Moses took the feelings given to him by God and attempted to do it his way.

We run into issues when we try to take our life and do life by our terms. The hard reality is this:

Your life is not your own

If you believe in God or you don’t believe in God your life is controlled by an outside force.

The bible tells us that we indeed either Serve God or Satan. There isn’t an in between. You are either walking out God’s will or your falling prey to Satan’s will for your life. Even if you don’t believe in God this reality is true. Everyone looks for the matrix, or big brother, or the man. But reality is you don’t live for yourself.

Moses could not be Egyptian and Jewish at the same time. If he were to live as an Egyptian he would have to ignore the inward call to bring Israel out of Egypt. He would be in battle with himself everyday. If we lived for God he would have to leave Egypt and the ways of Egypt behind.

Some of us aren’t seeing the fullness of God in our lives because we are trying to cling to the world and to God at the same time. We are trying to endulge in the pleasures of the world while we enjoy the blessings of God, but you cannot have it both ways.

The bible states

you will love one and hate the other.

Moses’ issue is this:

Moses didn’t know God and didn’t know how God wanted him to serve

We know Moses stood in the injustices

Exodus 2:17 ESV

The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.

Moses had his calling. He stood up for people who couldn’t stand up for themselves, but he hadn’t a clue how to walk it out.

Some here have their calling, but have been messing things up because they haven’t a clue how to walk it out.

Some have figured out to walk out their calling, but don’t know God and therefore aren’t using their gifts the way God intended. They maybe successful, but that success is only temporary. To know God’s calling you first must know God.

It isn’t about what you do, but Who is working through you as you do it.

No sinner recognizes the throne of God as being valid. He rejects the right of God to rule over him. He may talk about God, appeal to God, and use the name of God, but will not obey God. But when a sinner repents and is born again, he leaves the old world—the province that revolted—and move into the kingdom of God under His rule. this is how simple it all is

The hard truth Moses had to realize is that just because you know of God it doesn’t mean you are Saved. Just because you pray to God doesn’t mean you are saved. Just because you say there is a God doesn’t mean you are saved.

You must submit to the authority of God in your life.

This will be evident through the actions you take.

Matthew 7:20–21 ESV

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Only by doing the will of God the way God intended it to be done do we share in the salvation of God.

So

How do you submit to God’s authority?

By following His word. We understand that we cannot do this in our own power, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can and will follow the plan God laid out for us.