Good Morning people and welcome to the house of one and only living God!
Today we are going to learn about a very important subject, and that is, “How God confronts us?”
And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 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.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
Exodus 3:3-5
Illustration: There was a man who wanted to visit Europe to visit few places he heard in the Bible or mentioned in theological books. The time when he was to leave he was excited to see these few places. There he met John Wesley while on his tour and God brought conviction to his heart. The exposition of Martin Luther King suggests this incidents and told that John Wesley’s heart was warm. Later this man, he went to Italy, Greece, then Germany. While visiting he noticed most of the places have turned into shrines and he was disappointed. However, he realized that all the things happened during that time, the work of Church was done which was a simple setting and that men made decisions concerning God’s will. God spoke and men heard the voice of God. It is about a man making decisions. And understand this, when God speaks with you, it depends on you how you hear and respond.
People are concerned about 3G, then 4G and then 5G. But remember, that Big G is coming soon! Take care of your attitude. If you have a bad attitude, no matter what God is speaking to you in the Church or in general, you will never be able to actually listen what God is speaking.
God is speaking and moving, but are you aware? Most of us in today’s time would have seen the burning bush, what would have been your first reaction? I am pretty sure, most of us would have ignored or even tried to doze off the fire.
Irish Preacher Joseph M. Scriven rightly wrote in his hymn in 1855, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus!”
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
1 Chronicles 16:11
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
If you are God’s children, you will hear the voice of God. As a pastor of the Church if I ask when did you hear the voice of God last time, what would be your response? Moses in chapter 3 not just heard the voice of God but also responded and communicated with God.
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:11
In one of the prison poems by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity’s role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic. He writes, “Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell’s confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house.
He once wrote… “Who am I? They often tell me I would talk to my warden freely and friendly and clearly, as though it were mine to command. Who am I? They also tell me I would bear the days of misfortune equably, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win. Am I then really all that which other men tell of, or am I only what I know of myself, restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness, trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation, tossing in expectation of great events, powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, faint and ready to say farewell to it all. Who am I? This or the other? Am I one person today, and tomorrow another? Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others, and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling? Or is something within me still like a beaten army, fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved? Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!”
God confronted Moses, an ordinary man, you are no exception! Moses was ordinary, however he was obedient and obedience is one of the Christ like character. Paul describes Jesus as obedient even while dying on the Cross.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8
Illustration: Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354 – 430) was an Algerian-Roman philosopher and theologian of the late Roman / early Medieval period. He is one of the most important early figures in the development of Western Christianity, and was a major figure in bringing Christianity to dominance in the previously pagan Roman Empire. He responded when God confronted him.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20
God confronts each and every one of us. The bush of Sinai had a significance because God spoke, a man responded and commitment was made. Similarly, when God will speak, will you respond and make a commitment to walk with Him with conviction?
If you feel you are not able to hear God or due to some reasons, and you are not able to respond to God, then I request you to open your hearts out to God. He is able and He is merciful. God with His Holy Spirit will help you communicate with Him and bring a conviction in your heart. Gid will confront you and change your life.
We thank you for joining us today, may God bless you all!