Take your Bible-reading to a deeper level as you learn to recognize what your loving and all-powerful Father is communicating to you personally. Dr. Stanley maps out sixteen specific characteristics of a word from the Lord that will help you understand His directions. This practical message will grow your faith, inspire your Bible study, and ready you for service.
sometimes people won’t say well then
I’ve read the Bible but I just don’t
seem to understand it I can’t I would
read it more often if I understood it
well what I’d like to do is in this
passage of Scripture give you an idea
how to get more out of whatever you’re
reading in the world of God because
oftentimes we read it a little quickly
and we think we’re going ought to tell
me exactly what I need to know right now
and I want you to turn if you will to
the 3rd chapter of Exodus and I give you
though idea what’s happened before the
passage we going to read
you’ll recall that Moses kill an
Egyptian and as a result he spent 40
years on the other side of the desert
from Egypt and became a herdsmen and so
he had a great downfall in his life so
now this passage of Scripture begins
with Moses was pastoring the flock of
Jethro his father-in-law the priest of
Midian and he led the flock to the west
side of the wilderness and came to Horeb
the mountain of God on Mount Sinai and
then you know the part about the burning
bush and how God worked in his life and
how suddenly he saw and heard and felt
something that absolutely changed his
life so I want us to look at what
happened to him and I want us to look at
it in light of how you and I read the
scripture and not just the matter of
what it says but how do we read the
scripture and because the question you
not always want to answer is God what
are you saying to me you know I could
read any part of this but if I’m just
reading it external in and have no heart
in it most of it wouldn’t make sense at
times but I want you to understand how
to read the Bible reading narratives
that you could say well I’ve read that
before and I know what
happens but the big question is what
happened to you when you read it what
did God say to you had it had what
happened to you and most people don’t
read the Bible with that in mind they’re
looking for something for God to say
something to them but the question is
what is God saying to you in that
passage so remember Moses is on the
backside of the desert 40 years ago he
killed an Egyptian he’d been banished
he’s hurt and sheep now I think most any
of us would learn something within 40
years and so here he is doing what he
never would have dreamed he would have
been doing and so the first word I want
you to write down is the word personal
if you read the Word of God only as a
narrative and you sort of exclude
yourself from the environment and you’re
just talking about something that
happened years ago
you’ll miss God’s personal message in
your life so we read it asking the
question God what are you saying to me
and in this particular passage after God
having dealt with him at the burning
bush I want you to think about this he
says in the tenth verse and I’ll read a
few verses therefore come now and I will
send you to Pharaoh so that you may
bring my people the sons of Israel out
of Egypt but Moses said to God Who am I
that I should go to Pharaoh and that I
should bring the sons of Israel of Egypt
and he said certainly I will be with you
and this shall be assigned to you that
it is I who have sent you when you have
brought the people out of Egypt you
shall worship God at this mountain so
he’s in this setting man he God has
spoken to him so the next one I want you
to jump down this specific God doesn’t
speak in generalities everything about
that is specific God says therefore I
will send you and you are to bring my
people the sons of Israel
our vision and so naturally he has a
question think about this when you read
the Word of God do you read it with with
God’s message to you in mind
his verse specific he said I have a
mission for you 40 years in the backside
of the desert
now y’all is speaking to him the next
word is an encouragement because anytime
God gives us a word of something he
wants us to do or how to do it
oftentimes he gives us a word of
encouragement because he knows we need
so when I think about that I look at
this tenth verse therefore come now and
I will send you to Pharaoh so that you
may bring my people the sons of Israel
out of Egypt it was a word of Awesome
encouragement think about this that was
his idea 40 years ago when he killed one
Egyptian he had the wrong means wrong
time everything about it was wrong and
now 40 years later God says all right
you ready and so he says I’m gonna send
you to Pharaoh so that you may bring my
people the sons of Israel of Egypt but
Moses said to God Who am I Who am I that
I should go to Pharaoh and that I should
bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt
and so the words encouragement because
oftentimes God will say something to us
in his word and usually he professes it
sometimes with encouragement sometimes
afterwards but God always wants us not
only to listen but to believe that when
he’s speaking to us you said well I
don’t know if anybody got spoken to how
would I believe him we believe God
speaks to us because He is God and
because he’s the God of love and how
does he encourage us he doesn’t just
encourage us by giving us things that’s
what most people think well look how
wonderful God is look what he gave me or
what about the time you were sick what
about the time you were going too
difficult in hardship pain sovereign
loss what did he hide love you then yes
he did so what I want you to say is in
these narrow
there’s truth the things that God wants
to say to us
that oftentimes we overlook the next
word is serious this is serious business
the burning bush was God’s Way of
miraculously getting Moses attention
attention from anything and everything
else that he had ever thought of and
reminding him that he’s the God of
Abraham Isaac and Jacob and that God is
still there that he hadn’t left him in
40 years though he is suffering from the
result of doing things his way and so
what does he say he says therefore come
and I will send you to Pharaoh Moses
said to him
Who am I certainly I will be with you
God says what an encouragement order
that is listen to that he didn’t just
say I’m gonna be with you he said
certainly that is resting this make sure
you know this I will be with you and
this should be the sign to you that it
is I who brought you the people out of
Egypt you shall worship God in this
mountain God always wants to watch this
carefully he wants us to understand when
he’s speaking to us walking God speak to
us anywhere anytime yes he could but I
think God wants to speak to us
oftentimes we’re not listening but our
minds are on other things our attention
is on other things
God loves you Jesus died for you and you
God intends for you to listen to him
because he has something to say to you
nobody’s beyond the voice of God because
he’s always calling always to get our
attention and so little by little he
speaks to Moses so what did God do to
get his attention he started a fire in
this bush that was not consumed he knew
exactly how to get Moses attention he
was a herdsmen he’d seen lots of bushes
he’d been in lots of situations but he’d
never seen a bush burned
that was not consumed in the burning now
listen carefully
sometimes God may say something to you
show you something send you somebody do
something in your life that you know
that it has to be God how many times
have I heard people say well you know I
want that but I had to be God had to be
good one it was something unusual God
spoke through a person that maybe you
don’t even like or he did something in
your life that you didn’t particularly
like he took something away from you or
gave you something but he got your
attention God always wants our attention
he wants our attention because he is
speaking to us he wants the best for us
heal God as if we listened to him but if
I’m not listening and paying no
attention I’m not gonna follow the will
of God so the next word is command now
it’s wonderful to listen to God and it’s
wonderful to think how wonderful God is
and had gracious and good he is but when
he gives the command what does he expect
one word what is it you got it obedience
and so listen to what he said in the
tenth verse he said therefore come now
and I will send you now that’s the part
I think all of a sudden really got his
attention it’s one thing to see the
burning bush maybe God speaking to
somebody but he said I’m sending you to
Pharaoh yes Pharaoh in Egypt mm-hmm the
Pharaoh that cast you out is dead but
there’s another Pharaoh I’m sending you
to Pharaoh so that you may bring my
people the sons of Israel out of Egypt
totally unbelievable halka sinned
send me there see me there to take 2
million people out of Egypt when Egypt
is armed like an armory god yeah I must
I must have misread that God say that
again come down and I will send you to
Pharaoh so that you may bring my people
the sons of Israel out of Egypt Moses
said to God just what you and I would
say what would we say Who am I
Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh
that I should bring the sons of Esau
bishop that is God you you knocked on
the wrong door you you have you have the
wrong person you rang somebody’s a
doable but not me I’m a fugitive I’m an
enemy as far as Egypt is concerned you
listen to God you don’t but you don’t
put God in the box when God says I want
to send you somewhere all I want you to
do something means what he says
now inescapable write that word down
inescapable when God chooses to do
something in your life when he chooses
to use you in a certain way to speak to
someone to win them to Christ or to do
something count whatever it might be
it’s inescapable that is an odds of God
he doesn’t change his mind because you
don’t like him because you think you
can’t afford it because you don’t know
what somebody will say well you don’t
you question their particular review
point that’s not the issue
God says I’m gonna send you I’m sending
you to Pharaoh and when God listen when
God says this is what I’m gonna do
you you don’t change God’s mind so the
next word is frightening you say well
why do I use the word frightening well
verse 11 but Moses said he got Who am I
and he said certainly I’ll be with you
and this should be the side to you in
desire who have sent you when you
brought the people out of Egypt you
shall worship God at this mountain and
so was he frightened yes the do you and
I ever have a right to be frightened
when God tells us to do something I’ve
heard many people say over the years
when God called me to preach I said
absolutely not I can’t
scared to death I couldn’t stand up in
front of anybody I couldn’t remember
anything and I know I’d forget people
are frightened and so what was God’s
answer this this is an awesome answer
what was God’s answer so look at verse
13 then Moses said to God behold I’m
going to the sons of Israel
and I will say to them the god of your
father’s has sent me to you now they may
say to me what’s his name this was the
answer just tell him I am sent you what
I am just tell them that I am Who I am
and thus you shall say to the sons of
Israel I am has sent me to you I am has
sent me to you what would you have said
to that who is I am the great I am
that’s who he is he’s a sovereign God of
the universe and he introduced himself
to Moses by saying you tell him that I
am the maker of all things the one true
God has sent you to free my people out
of Egypt the hell could God have said so
much he could have said well I have
armies are this any other but if when he
said I tell them that I am said Here I
am I am Who I am the sovereign God of
the universe in control of all things
therefore I sent you what should that
say to him well first of all they would
understand that but he said that’s what
you had to say to them
he also made him a promise he said I’m
going to send you and I’m gonna be I’ll
be with you and this is me this should
be assigned to you so remember this
whenever God tells us to do anything we
have the promise of his assistance his
presence his power his his whatever we
need he’s there God what never sends you
empty-handed to do a task when you trust
the Jesus Christ your personal Savior
what happened to you one thing that
happened to use this he came into your
heart to dwell and the Holy Spirit who
now inhabits you speaks through you has
all the answers you and I need to be
obedient to God he says I’m gonna be
with you you and I can write this down
you can write this
this verse that is that God will always
be with you no matter where you go where
he sends you what goes on in your life
he says I will never leave you nor
forsake you have you ever felt forsaken
by God I have once forsaken by God was i
believing in yes I was but the
circumstances I felt forsaken I knew he
hadn’t forsaken me but I felt it but I
found that I also realized I don’t live
by my feelings I live by the truth the
truth of the word of God and so
therefore I could claim his presence so
he made a promise I’ll be with you and
then he was his word of assurance to
them he said in verse 19 but I know that
the king of Egypt will not permit you to
go except under compulsion so I will
stretch out my hand strike Egypt with
all my miracles which I shall do in the
midst of it and after that he will let
you go think about that he said well I
don’t think God would be that clear to
me yes he would
I’ll tell actually our God will be he’ll
be clear enough that you understand what
he’s recording of you God would never
tell you to do something where that
happened you understand how and you know
reminding you that he will aid you in
the process of word of assurance then
the requirement is another word remember
what he said to him at the burning bush
who is his requirement he said I want
you to take off his shoes I want you to
recognize just listen I want you to
recognize you’re standing on holy ground
not on shoe leather not on sandals on
holy ground
it’s you me God says the fire and holy
ground
there is a reason and so he said take
his shoes off now once in a while when
working in our life he’ll require
something of us and we thanks foolish so
Lord I don’t I don’t need to do that if
God tells you to do something that man
he won’t do he won’t tell you did
something wrong but he may require of
you something that appears to be foolish
to you let’s say if God spoke to my
heart about something and he said to me
I want you to give him that sport coat
well Lord he you know I’m not mourning I
have and the sons it may not fit him
give him the sport coat I can argue all
day
I may have 24 coat so it may be my last
one but the important thing is we obey
God and do what he says soon as simple
as it may be and he said to him what did
I say take off your shoes do what I tell
you to do and many people miss the will
of God because before God brings them to
the be thing that will make a difference
in their life he takes some say he takes
a step by step then he says what’s the
goal the goal is real clear the goal is
to set my people free
God will never tell you to do something
for which he does not have a reason a
purpose or goal and listening carefully
that the sooner you and I are willing
and ready and able to obey Him and
simple things little things then what
will he do he will test them with larger
things and greater tests and Greta says
but with each one comes a blessing many
people live the whole Christian life
this heaven God’s best because their
faith only got three feet long when God
had intention a mile long
trust me for big things trust me trust
me for all that I can do for you and yet
we limit him because because we can’t
see our way clear he doesn’t tell what
was this and here’s what you do as for
as long as you can see you way clear
know then his reassuring who are listen
he says
he says I’m going to stretch out my hand
in this 23rd
I will stretch out my hand and strike
Egypt with all my miracles which I shall
do in the midst of it and after that
they’ll let you go God’s awesome promise
and what’s the promise if you’ll notice
in all these passes the promise is his
presence his wisdom his power God’s
working if somebody asks you does God
change what would you say well most of
you don’t have any idea let’s just think
about this for a moment
does God change in his character what
about his power there’s no change in
anything God is omniscient he knows all
things he doesn’t know some things today
in something the moretz the way we
operate
he knows all things he has all power and
when he says I will be with you and he
says here’s what I’m going to do I know
that I gonna let you go I’ll stretch out
my hand and strike Asia with all my
miracles which as you do in the midst of
it and after that he will let you go
they will let you go I will grant this
people favor in the sight of the
Egyptians and it shall be that when you
go you will not go empty-handed
he says look not only am I not only am i
gonna free you but here’s what you’ll
happen when you leave you’re gonna have
their gold and silver and pots and pans
and everything that Egyptians treasure
you’re taking it with you they took a
lot of faith for man in sandals and now
in bare feet to believe that God would
use him on all those Egyptians with all
their might and power and chariots and
soldiers and a bunch of Hebrews headin
toward a sea across the sea free from
Egyptian bondage forever it took faith
it took obedience to God now he said
what do you want you list all these
words up here because I want you to
think about it when you read a passage
of Scripture
ask yourself some questions ask yourself
some questions God what does this say to
me you can ask him anything
he will share with you what you need to
know to be obedient to him in other
words God is so willing to fill us up
with himself
and to meet every single need of our
life they will trust it and this passage
is a wonderful passage about a man who
40 years on the other side of the desert
had nothing what does that say that
forgiveness but what does it say about
chastisement what does it say about
being disobedient to you and paying the
consequences there’s some sins that are
very very very costly let’s put
ourselves in that passage thing what I
think what was that burning bush I’ll
tell you why because Moses who would
never have believed out of the blue we
would say that God would speak to him 40
years later as a mere Shepherd and tell
him they go back and beat Pharaoh
challenged him and then personally leave
all of the Hebrews out of Egyptian
bondage
without firing a shot nobody believed
that but that’s exactly what God did
well you may know in your heart God’s
been speaking to you and you’ve been
putting it off maybe you’re not even
really sure what God is saying but would
you be willing to say to him today Lord
I don’t know what you’re saying but I
humbled myself before you and I’ll make
it my priority to listen to you quietly
listen to you until I hear what you want
me to do if you’ve never trusted Jesus
Christ as you say yeah I can answer that
question he wants you to ask him to
forgive you of your sins place your
trust in him rely upon him and watch him
begin to work in your life
things you would never dream over you
know what God will do far more in your
life than you expect if you will ask him
well why she carefully ask him and obey
him step by step
it all ends up in obeying God trusting
him no matter what he says and watch it
work amen father we thank you for being
who you are being patient with us
helping us through those difficult times
we know that we will never see a burning
bush as Moses saw it we don’t need to we
don’t need a bush we just need the cross
and what we see at the cross is your
love goodness mercy kindness generalized
to help you know it’s all there
we say thank you for loving us thank you
for forgiving us teaches the truth teach
us how to walk in it and teach us how to
be obedient and we pray that you’ll use
each of us to bring yourself glory and
honor and Lord not that we would bring
people out of bondage by the thousands
but one at a time with a personal
testimony of your grace in our life in
Jesus name Amen amen
you