Not Everything is a Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1–4 NKJV

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.” 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.”

Moses was raised as a son of, and in the palace of, the mightiest ruler in the known world.

He became a murderer because of unchecked anger management issues at around 40 years of age.

Moses found himself tending sheep in the middle of nowhere being a nobody for about 40 years.

Moses had this personal introduction with God through an eye-catching supernatural phenomenon at one of the lowest points of his life.

All of this was an attention-grabbing setup for God to tell Moses who He is to Moses and to the Israelites who were God’s people in bondage.

The Great “I AM”:

Exodus 3:14 NKJV

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.’ ”

Whatever our needs and shortcomings in life, God through Jesus Christ is our provision.

Whatever we need, God IS!

God’s very Name’s & Titles range from Almighty, to Everlasting, to God of Peace, Provider, Avenger, Savior, Healer, etc.

Some Things Need to Burn Completely!:

Most things offered to God were completely disintegrated or destroyed - especially by fire.

A Case Study of Abraham & Isaac (Genesis 22):

Genesis 22:9–18 NKJV

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Idols and gods, other than “I AM,” that we trust in for our hope and future need to burn completely!

Exodus 20:3 NKJV

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Each one of the 10 plagues of Egypt was targeted at taking down a false-god of the Egyptian people.

Idols and gods are things that we trust in, turn to, and rely upon to get our desired result instead of turning to “I AM” to be all we need to do His will.

When we determine that God can do more with our surrender than He can with our ambition we can really do great things & we will aggressively surrender.

Matthew 7:19 NKJV

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NKJV

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

I remember how I used to chase relationships & pursue marriage (for the wrong reasons) and the day I gave up and said in my heart, “I give up. I’m done with girls & marriage and all of that - I just want to serve you, Jesus”

Then Jesus brought Pastor Jolie into my life - I was totally not interested!!!

You can’t game God!

Lay it on the altar!

Your Life Can Be a Burning Bush:

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:11–12 NKJV

11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

“I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn.”― John Wesley (Maybe)

Romans 12:1 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Our life is meant to be a spectacle for the world to take notice of the one who has set our life on fire for His Divine purpose of rescue.

Just One Thing:

Let the things that need to be removed from your life burn completely & let the things that remain burn brightly for the cause of Christ.

Discussion Questions:

Who did you use to look up to, but they screwed up and you lost faith in them?

What is the biggest way in which your realize God as “I AM” in your life? Share a little with your group.

Please Read Matthew 7:19 and 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and share what these verses say to you. How can you apply these verses personally.

If you’re willing, please share if you see anything not yielding “good fruit” in your life and how you may choose to handle those things in response to this sermon and the Bible’s instructions.