God Is For You

Pre-sermon Reading

Psalm 56:8–10 NKJV

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word),

Introduction

Narrative (Moses’ Burning Bush Encounter)

What does it take to get your attention?

For example, when you are pushing your cart through Walmart, do you notice what is going on around you, or are so you focused on finding what you need that you really don’t pay attention to your surroundings?

Are you so focused on your phone or your shopping list that, if someone were to go streaking through the store right past you, would you even notice?

Here’s another example: say you are out fishing at the reservoir - minding your own business when, through the corner of your eye, you see flames. When you take a closer look, you realize a small Russian Olive tree is on fire. You consider calling 911… “Wait! What? I see flames, but the tree isn’t actually burning.”

Would you turn back to your fishing and think nothing of it? I would want to take a closer look.

If a voice called out from that burning tree, “Curtis! Curtis!” — I’m pretty sure I would get pretty worked up

In Exodus 3, Moses comes upon a phenomenon that he wanted to investigate

Exodus 3:1–3 ESV

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

PRAYER

It was no accident that Moses happened upon that burning bush…God had chosen Moses from birth — saving him from being killed as an infant. Pharaoh feared the large Hebrew population — he wanted to slow their growth down, so he put out an order to have Hebrew sons killed at birth.

Long story short — To protect him, his mother nestled the infant Moses into a small basket and set him adrift in the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the baby and adopted him as her own.

Do you think maybe God was involved in this series of events?

As an adult, Moses knew he was of Hebrew descent and was aware of how harshly Pharaoh treated the Hebrew people

It turns out, Moses had some passion…and a hot temper

Exodus 2:11–12 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. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

But his own people did not appreciate what Moses did — they saw him as a stuck-up, rich prince, who did not deserve their respect

When Pharaoh discovered that Moses murdered an Egyptian, he wanted to have him killed — so Moses, brave young fellow that he was, ran away to the desert of Midian, where God blessed him with a wife and family, as well as a new career - shepherd. It’s like he went into the witness protection program - from prince to shepherd: new life, new wife, no strife — just sheep and desert.

Over the next 40 years, the king of Egypt died and the misery of the Israelites became completely unbearable — they cried out to God

Exodus 2:24 ESV

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

I cannot imagine living without the knowledge that God is with me — even when I can’t see or feel Him

This is a vital truth believers must internalize as they grow in Christ — He is with you…sometimes you feel it, other times you simply believe and live accordingly, regardless of what you might see or not see.

Big Idea: When you wonder if God really cares about you, lean into this truth: God is always for you!

Transitional: Once you understand God is truly with you, it becomes more than a slogan — it becomes your lifeline and hope no matter what seasons you face

Because God is for Me, He is Always With Me

He was with humankind from the moment He breathed life into Adam’s lungs

He was with Adam’s descendants

He was with Noah and his family

He was with all people — some rejected Him…others sought to know Him

Exodus 3:5–6 ESV

Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And 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 at God.

God is with you before you know Him

Psalm 139:13–14 ESV

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

God is with you and calls out to you by name

Exodus 3:4 ESV

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Application

We walk by faith…not by sight

Never forget — God is always with you

Transitional: The God who is for you is always with you…and He cares deeply!

Because God is for Me, He Knows and Cares about Every Detail of My Life

God hears the cry of our innermost being

Exodus 3:7–8 (ESV)

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 taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey...

The deepest feelings — the cries that you never verbalize — the ones you suppress and try to ignore

God sees and knows every part of you…every hour of every day

Psalm 56:8–9 NKJV

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

He collects your tears in a bottle — the imagery is highly intimate and emotional

He records them in His book — He doesn’t forget --- He doesn’t minimize — He simply knows, sees, and cares

Every hurt, every doubt, every fear, every loss - great or small

He hurts when you hurt — He cares so deeply — beyond our understanding

God doesn’t forget the smallest sparrow — the very hairs on your head are numbered

You are much more valuable than multitudes of sparrows (Luke 12)

Application

He cares about every detail — even the ones other people might laugh at

In His perfect timing…He comes riding in on the white horse

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

The most important thing, eternal life through Christ, has already been set into motion — we don’t have to wait for Him to rescue us from bondage

Transitional: God is for you — He is with you — He cares about every part of your life — He doesn’t want you to get too comfortable

Because God is for Me, He Makes Big Moves in My Life

After 40 years of tending sheep and raising a family, Moses was probably quite comfortable — He was thinking about retirement, when his children and grandchildren would care for him

Exodus 3:10 The Message

It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”

If you haven’t discovered this fact yet — Let me remind you...

Do NOT get comfortable or complacent

God can and will make big moves in your life — because He is for you…He partners with you to see His work done on this earth

Develop an expectant mindset

Exodus 12:11 ESV

In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.

Application

Deliverance is just around the corner

Don’t miss out — be ready

God is prepping you right now for a big change — a big move — an uncomfortable journey

If He is for you…then any move or challenge He brings your way is a good thing — have faith!

Develop a humble and contrite heart — pliable in God’s hands

CONCLUSION

If you are unsure about God’s love and care for you, lean into this truth: God is always for you!

Illustration

Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (9-229: Overcoming All Distractions (Knowledge of God))

It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. She had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than fifteen hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit … only one-half mile from her goal.Later she said, “I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land, I might have made it.” It wasn’t the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to fail. It was the fog.Many times we too fail, not because we’re afraid or because of the peer pressure or because of anything other than the fact we lose sight of the goal. Maybe that’s why Paul said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). And so it is with the knowledge of God. There are many distractions that leave us in a fog. It is vitally important that the believer not lose sight of his one great goal: that of knowing God, of knowing Him personally, of growing in the knowledge of Him more and more.

Don’t let the fog of life distract you from the burning bush appointments God has for you

Take-Aways

God was for His people — and through Jesus, those who believe upon Him are also God’s people.

God is for you…He is for me — He loves us with an everlasting love

Are you aware of God’s voice?

Do you pay attention to the burning bush experiences He brings your way?

Before the burning bush experience, Moses was in a fog — then God got his attention and Moses was converted right there on the back side of Mt. Horeb, in the desert

Acts 9 — God got Paul’s attention — He was converted right there on his way to arrest and persecute Christians

The most important burning bush experience is coming to know the Savior…who came and opened the door for us to have a personal relationship with God

As you follow Christ and realize He is for you and with you, you will be more alert to burning bush experiences: His voice, His holiness, and the importance of following His lead no matter what.