PROVISIONS OF GOD Ex. 34:8-10
INTRO:
Famous Violinist
Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, violinist Fritz Kreisler had an hour before his boat sailed. He wandered into a music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying. He then vanished and returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”
“What for?” asked Kreisler.
“You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.”
“I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician.
“You can’t put that on us. Come along to the station.,”
As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations. Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied? he asked. The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.
Isn’t it amazing that we can tell the world who we are, yet they will not be convinced until we show forth the fruits of righteousness!
We need revival in our hearts that will conform us to the identity of Christ!
Cannot happen until we know who we are in Christ: “if my people”
Moses share with us who those people are.
I. EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE
A. Notice how Moses addresses God.
1. Came to God in reverence.
2. Addressed Him as “Lord” = Adoni - root word means “to rule” “controller”, “sovereign”
God wants to be in control of our lives to bring us abundant life:
“I have come that they might have life, and that more abundantly”
John 10:10
Fullness of Joy: John 15:11 1“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
3. Asks God to be with them:
Hebrew gives us the picture of someone carrying another person.
Like the poem: “Footprints in the Sand”
When in my darkest hour I saw only one set of footprints - that’s
when You were carrying me.
B. We are His people who need to realize:
Josh 1:9 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
ILLUS: The Ultimate Answer to Lostness
An elderly gentleman was out walking with his grandson. “How far are we from home?” he asked the grandson. The boy answered, “Grandpa, I don’t know?” The grandfather asked, “Well, where are you?” Again, the boy answered, “I don’t know.” Then the grandfather said good-naturedly, “Sounds to me as if you are lost.” The young boy looked up at his grandfather and said, “Nope, I can’t be lost, I’m with you.” Ultimately, that is the answer to our lostness, too. We can’t be lost if He is with us.
II. EXIST IN HIS PARDON
A. Forgiveness is a great part of who we are:
Notice: “stiff-necked” - stubborn, and in trouble.
These are people constantly concerned with:
- Their Choice
- Their Comfort
- Their Control
B. Moses request was for forgiveness.
1. INIQUITY: Wickedness(NIV) root word “to make crooked”
God wants to take care of what makes us go astray.
He wants to cleanse our hearts and fill us with the Holy Spirit.
IT DOES NOT MAKE US INCAPABLE OF SINNING, IT MAKES US INCOMPATIBLE WITH SIN!
Psalm 23:3 3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Prov. 3:6 6In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.
2. SIN: missing the mark - an offense - habitual sinfulness
It is what holds us captive.
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Rom 7:17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
C. We are a people who can testify with Paul:
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
III. EMPOWERED BY HIS PRIVILEGES
A. Moses desires to be in the Family of God!
Rom 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
B. Listen to Paul in Ephesians: THE MESSAGE
THE GOD OF GLORY
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
III. EXPRESS HIS PERFORMANCE
A. Did you hear what Paul was saying God wanted to do in our lives as His children?
B. Here He tells Moses:
1. I PROMISE: “I make a covenant” a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement
Jim Garlow: “A covenant was an all-encompassing agreement between tow parties. Once a person entered into a covenant in the ancient Middle Eastern world, specifically the blood covenant, he or she could not be released from it.”
GOD BINDS HIMSELF TO US!! He will not break His promise.
2. MARVELS: Wondrous things.
Do you believe that God wants to work?
Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
3. FOR HIS GLORY
He wants to work in us so the world will see His power and glory.
We must remember, it’s not about us! It’s about Him!
CONCLUSION:
Lily Tomlin: “I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but now I see I should have been more specific.”
We say we are Christians, but for the sake of the world we need to be specific.
We need to show them we are people:
Who are in the presence of God
Who are forgiven
Who are His children
Who are an example of His wondrous works
