(The only lights in the sanctuary were those on stage, an there was a graphic of a burning campfire flickering on the screens)
This morning we’re going to be worshipping around a campfire - and since the Elders wouldn’t let me burn an actual fire on stage, you’ll just have to put up with this imagery campfire on the screens. At camp, kids would end their days by sitting around a campfire and singing campfire songs like this one… (sing along with me)
“Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; Give me oil for my lamp I pray – Hallelujah; Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; Keep me burning till the break of day. (CHORUS): Sing Hosanna, sing hosanna, sing hosanna to the King of Kings (repeat) - (VERSE) Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; Give me oil for my lamp I pray – Hallelujah; Give me oil for my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; Keep me burning till the break of day.”
KEEP ME BURNING, BURNING, BURNING.
But, how can I do that? How can I keep burning for God? Well, Hebrews 12:29 tells us that “our God is a consuming fire.” My God is the consuming fire that keeps me burning.
You know, there’s something ABOUT FIRE in scripture that tells us about our God. In the Bible, it’s amazing how much God used FIRE to relate to His people.
For example, sometimes God used fire as a warning of His power & His judgment. When Israel had come to Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 commandments. “Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in FIRE. The smoke billowed up like smoke from a furnace, (and) the whole mountain trembled violently.” (Exodus 19:18) And in Hebrews 12:21 we’re told that the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
Later, when Nadab and Abihu (two of the sons of Aaron the High Priest) disobeyed God by using the wrong kind of fire on the altar of incense, we’re told “FIRE came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.” Leviticus 10:2
And even Jesus described the torment of hell by telling us that it was better to enter heaven without a hand or an eye than to be thrown into hell, “where their worm does not die, and the FIRE is not quenched” (Mark 9:48)
So sometimes God used fire to warn of His power and of His judgment. But other times God used fire to symbolize His presence and protection. When GOD led Israel out of Egypt, He was always visible to them - visible by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of FIRE by night. And the Israelites found comfort in the fact that God was always there with them… by cloud and by FIRE.
In the New Testament, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came into the upper room and settled on the Apostles in the form of TONGUES OF FIRE. And from that day on the Apostles KNEW God was always there with them. And they boldly preached to everyone … about Jesus.
And this morning - our text tells that Moses had come upon a BUSH that was on FIRE but didn’t burn up. The angel of the LORD appeared to (Moses) 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." Exodus 3:2-3
Now notice – the burning bush didn’t frighten Moses. He was intrigued by it. He was drawn to it. (PAUSE) Now - fire CAN be dangerous… but there’s also something about fire that’s comforting.
ILLUS: According to researchers: “The sight of flame activates the emotional center of the brain. The flickering of flame promotes relaxation and reduces stress. Studies indicate that watching a fire can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, which contributes to an overall sense of calm and wellbeing.” (https://northeasternchimney.com/why-do-we-like-to-stare-at-fires/#:~:text=The%20sight%20of%20flame%20activates,sense%20of%20calm%20and%20wellbeing.)
That’s why people love campfires and fireplaces. There’s warmth there, and comfort and fascination. And… in this particular case (with Moses) where there was fire, there was… God!
God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And (Moses) said, "Here I am." Then (God) said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground … 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 upon God. Exodus 3:4-6
ILLUS: Now, if you’ve ever been to Church camp you might remember that almost every evening the campers gather at a campfire where they sing songs of praise to God. Kind of like this one (if you know it, sing along)
“I love you Lord, and I lift my voice – to worship You, oh my soul rejoice. Take joy my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear” (2nd time acapella)
So, you’d sing songs like that… and then you’d hear a message about God’s love for you and about how you could please Him, and how you could serve Him.
You see, campfires are different than a normal church service. There’s an air of mystery with a campfire. It’s almost personal - almost as if God is closer to you… at that fire. And that’s kind of what Moses was experiencing there. There was a campfire (the burning bush) and, of course, there was God there. And it’s at that campfire that God got personal. God called him by name: “MOSES, MOSES” because God knew His name. And then God informed Moses that THIS was a time of worship: God said “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you’re standing is Holy Ground.”
You know, worship (if you do it right) is a highly personal thing. God knows that you are here. He knows your name; He knows where you are sitting. And He’s looking at you to see, if you realize that the place where you’re at is a holy place. You don’t have to take off your shoes, but you need to realize that it’s as if it’s just you and God here in this building. Only you know the words of your prayers; Only you know what the words of the songs you sing mean to you; Only you know what you’re thinking about - when you take communion. It’s as if it is just you sitting in presence of God. It’s just you and God. And that’s what makes worship, worship. It’s just you in the presence of God. That’s what one camp song says to us: we need to forget about ourselves… and focus on God.
“Let’s forget about ourselves and magnify His name and worship Him. (2xs) Let’s forget about ourselves and magnify His name and worship Christ the Lord. Worship Him, Christ the Lord.”
This place where you’re sitting… is holy ground. It’s a place where you can focus on God. And when your worship works for you… you know that you’re in God’s presence.
Now, when God met Moses at the burning bush He didn’t just focus on worship - God focused on WHY Moses was there in worship. God had gotten Moses’ attention so that He could give him a mission. God told Moses “I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10
You see, Moses was standing on holy ground - worshipping God - so he could be prepared to do a ministry. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us “Let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
When worship works the way it ought to work - we come together to be with the church so that WE stir each other up to show love to each other, and to do good works, and encourage one other.
The LORD said to Moses, ‘Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let my people go, that they may SERVE me.” Exodus 9:1
The problem in the United States is that worship is not seen as serving God. It’s seen as a spectator sport, where people come to worship to be entertained. And then they go home and don’t do anything with God until the next Sunday. Too often folks don’t come to SERVE GOD because they really aren’t ON FIRE for Him. They don’t burn with passion for Him.
But when folks are on fire for God - His FIRE lights their candle. Which reminds me of another campfire song:
“This little light of mine; I’m gonna let it shine. (Repeat) Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Won’t let Satan (pfff) it out, I’m going to let it shine (repeat). Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Shine all over Logansport, I’m gonna let it shine (repeat). Let it shine, let it shine, let shine.”
ILLUS: A young girl once told her minister. “I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign.” The preacher thought about that and then said – “Tell me, where do we put lights?” Exasperated she replied “What has that to do with it?” “Never mind that… just answer my question: ‘Where do we put lights?’” “Well, I suppose in dark places,” she replied. “Yes, and that is why you have been put in that factory where there is such spiritual darkness and where there is no other Christian to shine for the Lord. God put you there so YOUR light would shine in a dark place.”
CLOSE: Now, let’s review. We’ve come here today to be in the presence of a God who is a consuming fire. And when we truly worship Him we stand on HOLY GROUND. This is a personal time for us - a time when it’s almost just God and us. And because worship can be a highly personal time… there are people who think that they don’t need to be with a bunch of people to REALLY worship Him. They don’t need church… they can worship God anywhere. I mean, Moses was all alone with God at the burning bush. If it was good enough for him, it should be good enough for us. But of course, that’s foolish. As Christians we need each other. We feed off of each others’ fiery love for God.
ILLUS: A preacher was visiting with a member who hadn’t been to church for a couple months. It was a chilly evening and the preacher found the man at home alone, sitting in front of a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace… and just sat down and waited to be scolded for not being in church.
But the preacher didn’t say anything… he just made himself comfortable. And in the silence, he looked thoughtfully at the flames of the burning logs. After a few minutes, he took the fire tongs and carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all by itself. Then he sat back in his chair… still silent. Eventually that lone ember’s flame went out. It became cold and lifeless as it slowly lost its glow. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. And just before the preacher was ready to leave he picked up that cold, dead ember and he placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow… catching on fire from the burning coals around it.
When the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I’ll be back in church next Sunday.” (John MacArthur)
INVITATION.
