When I Am Speaks

Hello, Church Family.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we often overlook the sacred in the ordinary. We get so caught up in our routines and obligations that we miss the extraordinary moments God places right in our path.

Today, we explore Exodus 3:1-15:

Exodus 3:1-15 (NIV):

1 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 wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 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. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."

4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

And Moses said, "Here I am."

5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I am has sent me to you.'"

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

Here are some key sermon takeaways to explore:

When the Extraordinary Happens in the Ordinary:

In the midst of his ordinary task of tending sheep, Moses encounters an extraordinary sight—a burning bush that does not consume itself. This seemingly mundane moment becomes a divine encounter. God often shows up in the ordinary moments of our lives.

Are we attentive to His presence in our daily routines?

All Spaces Are Sacred:

When Moses approaches the burning bush, God instructs him to remove his sandals, for the ground he stands on is holy. This teaches us that all spaces can become sacred when God's presence is there. 

How can we cultivate a sense of reverence and holiness in our daily environments?

The Church is Gathered with Purpose:

In the Old Testament, we see the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness by night. This fiery pillar represented the very presence of God. This pillar of fire was a visible manifestation of God's presence and commitment to His people. Pastor Lynne likened the Church to the pillar of fire in this week's sermon. Just as the burning pillar represented God's presence and guidance for the Israelites, God's presence is actively at work in the gathered community of believers—the church. When we come together for worship, fellowship, and service, the Holy Spirit gathers us, and God's presence dwells among us. 

We are called to be like that burning pillar—filled with the presence of God and shining brightly with His mission. We are gathered not for our own sake but to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). This is our divine calling; through God's presence, we find the strength, guidance, and motivation to fulfill it.

As a member of the church, how are you actively participating in God's mission to make disciples and share His love with the world? What steps can you take to be more purposeful in this mission?

Take time to pray and seek God's guidance in your life. Ask Him to reveal His presence in the ordinary, empower you to fulfill His purposes, and make you a vessel of His love and grace.