Turning Your Warm Twig Into A Burning Bush
November 17, 2002 (1 of 1)
Exodus 3:1-12 FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker
TEXTUAL SERMON
Introduction:
A Show clip of "The Ten Commandments."
a Burning Bush
b I want that! I’m no Charlton Heston. More like a pre-mortem Chris Farley.
*You don’t have to be like Charlton Heston to be like Moses.
*Look at Moses as a Plain duck wandering the desert.
*Ducks don’t belong in the desert. We’re going to see how this duck got out of his desert today.
B Today’s message is "Turning Your Warm Twig Into A Burning Bush"
EX 3:1 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 desert 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."
a God worked through a plan duck in the desert like Moses. (ETS)
b God wants to use plain people like us to do an awesome work in Chester. (ESS)
C I want you to make yourself available to service to God. (Objective)
a What would have happened if God wouldn’t have sought out Moses? Would Moses have ever left the desert? Led the Israelites out of Egypt? Climbed Mt. Sinai?
b What’s keeping you in the desert? (Probing Question)
T.S.: Let’s look at two sparks that can ignite your warm twig into a burning bush.
I The first spark that can ignite your warm twig into a burning bush is...seek His purpose.
A God had purposed more for Moses than raising sheep in the desert. (vv:10)
[10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
a God said, "Moses, I didn’t build you to stay in the desert with a bunch of smelly, unappreciative, and stubborn sheep."
-"I built you to stay in the desert with a bunch of smelly, unappreciative, and stubborn people."
*God built Moses to go into Pharaoh’s Palace (the enemies command post) and demand that the captive children of Israel be set free.
b God has purposed great things for you!
*God has built you to go into the Pharaoh’s Palace (enemy territory) to demand that the enemy set the captives free.
[34] Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. [35] Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -John 8:34-36 NIV*
B Who was seeking who in Exodus 3? Was Moses seeking God or was God seeking Moses? (vv:2/3)
[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."
a God came looking for Moses before Moses came looking for God!
*Moses had to turn from what he was doing in order to see what God wanted him to do. "I will go over and see...." *God chose Moses!
b God is still seeking His chosen to "go over and see" what His purpose is for them.
We must turn away from what we believe is our purpose and turn to what God has purposed for us.
C Props (Hot Air Popcorn Popper)
a Pop a small amount (Begin popping during beginning of point)
Have a member taste the popcorn and have them evaluate it.
Needs salt,butter...(Salt/Butter/Hot sauce...all add taste, make a difference)
MT 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth...."
MT 5:14a,16 "You are the light of the world.... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven
b God has purposed for you and me to be Salt/Light/Hot Sauce in a world that is missing sweet taste of Jesus!
T.S.: God has a clear and present purpose for us, but he also has for us a place.
II The second spark that can ignite your warm twig into a burning bush is...Know Your Place. (vv:1,5)
3:1 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 desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. [5] "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
A Moses started down in the desert but he was going up to the mountain of God.
a Moses’s desert wasn’t only a physical location, it was also a spiritual location. (Acts 7:19-29)-Don’t print in bulletin
His failure/rebellion/sin drove him into the deserts of Israel to hide. They also sent his soul in a desert.
b Have you ever said, "Lord, I believe I’m made to be somebody." You try to do something and it failed, fouled up or was less than what you expected. Disheartening. Desert!
That desert is where God met Moses and that’s where God will meet you because God wants to take you to the mountain. You can’t go where God wants you to be and stay where you’re at.
B When Moses got to the mountain of God, something had to go. (Shoes. Why?)
a SHOES!! What’s up with that?
The shoe’s represent the dirt, crud, sin that Moses had picked up along the way. (Dirt, Crud, Sin has no place in the presence of God. Admit, Confess, Repent Sin!!)
The shoe’s represent something that was fashioned by Moses’ own hands.
God is saying "Moses, I want you to take off what you’ve made and stand on what I’ve made." He made Holy Ground for You!! The Lord’s not impressed with our accomplishments. Get rid of everything you did in your own strength.
b How do shoe’s help you walk? (Without fear. Stub my tow, step on glass, Secure, etc.)
When I take of my shoes, I immediately walk a lot more carefully.
That’s why God has asked us spiritually to "remove our shoes."
Respond more slowly with my wife.
I’m a little slower to speak when I’m ticked off.
I conscience of what I’m watching, listening too.
A believer who learns to walk with God and come into His presence daily takes off his shoes before the Lord!!!
Conclusion:
Moses was a plain duck in the desert that God used in a mighty way. God wants to use plain people like us to do an awesome work in Chester. (ESS)
A We’ve looked at two sparks that ignite our warm twigs into burning bushes.
a Seek HIS purpose (What does God want you to do? Salt/Light)
b Know YOUR place (Barefoot and on Holy Ground)
B I want you to make yourself available to service to God. (Objective)
a You can do what ever you want to, fulfill your own purpose, live life like your in control...or seek God’s purpose for your life.
b You can run through life with no regard to growing as a believer. You’ve said a prayer, been forgiven and not you can do anything you want. No. Your built to walk on Holy Ground. Take of your shoes...stay a while!
C What’s keeping you in the desert?
Leonardo da Vinci is remembered as the master who painted the Mona Lisa.
a Millions have viewed this masterpiece but very few realize that what they’re looking at is actually the fourth attempt.
b X-ray technology shows that there are three completely different versions of the same subject under the final portrait.
*This portrait shows the determination of a man who would not stop until he got it right!
*Moses was 80 when he took of his shoes and walked on holy ground.
(He could have quit, laid back....but instead...he turned his warm twig into a burning bush....you can too!)
*80/40/20/12....it’s not too late and it’s not to early.
Let’s pray. (If your ready to make yourself available to service to God, I’m going to ask you leave the comfort of your pew and come to the security of an alter and I want to pray you.)
Prayer (Have congregation recite with me) (Do Not Print)
Lord,/you have a plan for me today/ a place for me to go/ I can’t do it on my own/ I can’t get there on my own/ I need your strength & power/ to do your purpose./ I’m not content/ to have my soul stay in this desert./ I want to go up on your mountain./ I’m taking of my shoes/ I’m walking carefully/ I’m walking slowly/ I’m on holy ground you’ve made for me./ I want to walk with you/ and go where ever you lead./ In Jesus name, Amen. (Those at the alter may go back to their pews)
*Add secondary evangelistic appeal in-between first and second verse.
***Notice: I have used Sermon Central sermons for a VERY long time. If this or any of my sermons are similar to a sermon that is already on Sermon Central by another pastor or teacher....chances are I have used it. Actually, there is probably absolutely nothing in this sermon that hasn’t been preached before! If I used your sermon and haven’t given you credit, please write me and I’ll give you credit by name. I have in no way intentionally withheld credit to any work I’ve used/borrowed from. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I HAVE "USED" YOUR WORK IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD A SUPER SERMON! I prefer to preach with an outline and just rearranged your sermon. My intent is to make sermons relevant and easy for outline guys to use. If you use MY work, feel free to claim it. I do not care!! Simply realize that I have borrowed from other preachers, too.
Mike Fogerson, Pastor, Chester’s First Baptist Church
