Sunday Sermon

Fire Assurance Dave Shaner January 11, 2004

Introduction: Have you ever been asked to do what seemed impossible? God doesn't ask us to do something where His presence is unnecessary.

Text: Exodus 3:1-12

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

God rarely works without human instrumentation. What does it mean to be called and used by God?

I. God often conceals the most ____________ calls in ____________ tools.

A. Moses wasn't seeking an encounter with God that day.

B. God is not limited to a special time or place to do His work.

II. God always reveals enough about ____________ to expect an ____________ response.

A. Acts 7:2-3

To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'"

B. Three things God reveals about Himself:

1. I AM ______________.

Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent.

I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

- Leviticus 9:23-24; 10:1-3; 11:45

2. I AM ______________.

During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.  - Exodus 2:23-25

3. I AM ______________.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  - Romans 5:8

III. God never appeals apart from the ___________ of his ____________.

A. God never calls and leaves but calls and leads.

B. God has a history of using people with blemishes.

Conclusion: When you have been in the presence of God, devils tremble. We are all just bushes, but any bush will do when God is in the bush.

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