Well, hello and
welcome to Pillars of Faith.
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I want to thank all
of you for joining us.
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As we continue in
this five part series
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with Pastor John Lomacang.
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The title of his series
is the Anatomy of the Crisis.
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You know,
something that I believe,
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it was pastor alone,
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our Pastor Murray, C. A. Murray,
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said concerning these messages
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that are coming to us
through Pillars of Faith
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is a word for
today in today's world.
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So I want to encourage
all of you to get you Bibles,
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open them up, follow
along with Pastor Lomacang,
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as he brings you
this fifth message,
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the title of the message today
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is Solving the Christian Crisis.
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Now crisis number one
was the crisis in heaven.
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The second message was
the crisis in the garden.
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The third crisis was
the crisis in the family,
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thus fourth one was
the crisis in the heart,
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and today we're looking
at the Christian crisis.
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So get your Bibles,
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follow along because all of
us need to have hearts purged,
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we need to have clean hands
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and we need to put our self
in right relationship with God,
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and I want to
remind you once again
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that the scriptures declare
that faith comes by hearing,
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and hearing by the Word of God,
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I want to encourage you to get
this whole five parts series.
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Listen to it over and
over, it will build your faith,
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it will encourage you and
it will give us clean hands
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and pure hearts as we
stand before the Lord.
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But before we have
Pastor Lomacang come
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and bring this
last dynamic message,
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I would like to share
with you the scripture reading,
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the scripture
reading is out of Exodus 3:2
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and the scripture says,
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"And the Angel of
the Lord appeared to him
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in a flame of fire
from the midst of a bush.
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So He looked, and behold,
the bush was burning with fire,
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but the bush was not consumed."
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You know, Jesus
didn't come to consume us,
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He came to ignite us,
He came to bring us life
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and that life more victoriously.
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So as Pastor Lomacang is coming,
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I would like to
pray and ask the Father
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by the power of His Spirit
to ignite every one of us.
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How many of you would
like to be ignited tonight
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by the power of God's word,
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that the world
will watch us burn
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for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus,
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praising You and
thanking You Lord
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for the power
that is in Your word
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to change us, to conform
us to Your image and likeness.
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We ask You, oh God today
that as this word goes forth,
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it will ignite us,
it will bring fire,
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that it will breathe
breath of life upon that word
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that is with in us.
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Stir up those gifts so
God that are within us,
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that we would be a
vessel of honor in Your kingdom.
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We pray now for
Pastor Lomacang as he comes
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that You'll stir up
that gift that is within him,
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that the word will come
forth with might and with power
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and it will change
us all into Your image
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and into Your likeness.
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Now I would like for us
to welcome Pastor Lomacang,
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the pastor of the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist church.
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My Pastor and my friend, I
welcome you, Pastor Lomacang.
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Thank you, Mollie.
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Thank you for that
wonderful introduction again
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and welcome again friends
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to the final in
a five part series
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of the Anatomy of Crisis.
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We thank you so
much for tuning in
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and for those of
you who are kind enough
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to join us here locally
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for the
unfolding of this message.
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This message, the
final in the five part series
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is one that
particularly pulled out of me
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something that I
know was not in me
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but something that I
know was only revealed to me
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by Lord through His word
and through His Holy Spirit.
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It is a powerful
revelation of how any crisis,
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in particular how the
crisis in the Christian life
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can find resolution.
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How the crisis in
the Christian life
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can come to a
point of being solved.
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And if you have
been serving the Lord
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for a number of years
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or if your desire is to
give your life to Jesus,
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you'll find a
housed in this message
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the answer to the crisis
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that you may be
presently facing.
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I know Mollie prayed
for me and but I believe
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that I need to ask the
Lord to take this message
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and bring it in a way
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that will find in each
of your hearts fertile soil,
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a ground where God can
plant deeply in your heart
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and in your life,
the plan He has for you.
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Let's pray together.
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Loving Father in
heaven, as we open Your word,
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we pray that
You open our hearts,
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that the work that You
have started will be continued
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for Your glory
and for Your honor
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in Jesus name surely I pray.
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Amen.
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Solving the Christian Crisis.
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Now if you've
been a church member
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any length of time
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or a part of any kind
of a fellowship, you know,
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that there is no such
thing as a perfect church.
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Matter of fact the
only perfect church
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is an empty church, a
church with no attendees,
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the chairs may be
perfectly symmetrical,
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the walls may be
perfectly square,
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the windows may
be perfectly clean
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but anytime one or
two people join a church,
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the perfection of that
church goes out the window.
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There is no such thing
as a perfect Christian,
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no matter how long
you've been a member
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of any fellowship,
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there is no
perfection in any of us.
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The perfection only comes
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because of the
presence of Christ in our lives
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but this sermon in particular,
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if I can give it a second title,
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if I could give it another title
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other than solving
the Christian crisis,
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I would give it this one.
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Based on the scripture reading,
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let me read the
scripture once again
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and here's the second title
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that I would
introduce to this message.
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Exodus 3:2, "And the Angel
of the Lord appeared to him..."
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That is to Moses.
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"In a flame of fire
from the midst of a bush.
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So He looked,
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and behold, the bush
was burning with fire,
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but the bush was not consumed."
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I read that
story many, many times.
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I've read the Bible
through once before,
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my wife and I on our
second round through the Bible
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and I've crossed
the road of this passage
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on several occasions
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but on this particular occasion,
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I can tell you
from my experience,
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there are times that you
are confronted with the reality
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that God's word is inspired
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because you have what I called
the all of a sudden experience.
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All of a sudden
something you read
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many, many times
before suddenly comes to life.
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Something that seemed
to have been a quandary
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is now solved,
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something that was mysterious
is all of a sudden resolved.
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The Lord turns on
what I may refer to
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as a halogen light
of spiritual proportion
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and brings out
something that was missed
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by your human eyes in the past.
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And so hold on my
brothers and sisters,
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I believe that
what God reveal to me,
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He's gonna reveal to
you through this message
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entitled Solving
the Christian Crisis,
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a.k.a the burning bush.
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You see Moses was arrested.
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They're on the mount,
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when he went up to
receive the commandments of God.
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Moses was arrested
by an unusual spectacle.
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Now the burning bush was
unusual in and of itself.
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A bush burning
before the eyes of Moses.
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He stood, captured by a sight
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but what captured him
more than anything else
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was not a bush that burnt,
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because I'm sure that
Moses in his many years,
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in the third
section of his life,
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40 years in Egypt,
40 years as a shepherd.
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Now 40 years beginning
his third stint of 40 years
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to be the
leader of God's people.
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I'm sure that in all that time,
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he has seen a bush burn before
but what arrested his minds,
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what became to him
an unusual spectacle
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is that the bush was burn,
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the phenomena was
the bush was burned
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but the bush was not consumed.
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It was ignited, it was
on fire, it was flaming
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and Moses waited to see
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whether or not the
bush would be consumed
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but to his
surprise, it was burned
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but it was not consumed.
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Some people have made attempts
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to solve this apparent quandary,
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this unexplainable phenomena.
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In the book Holman
illustrated Bible dictionary,
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page 244,
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listen to what is said
by a Bible commentator.
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Some attempts had been
made to explain the phenomena
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by claiming that
the bush had foliage
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of a billion fiery
colors, some people say
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or that it's leaves
reflected the sunlight
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of an unusual manner.
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They say, what they
actually saw was a strange tree
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with strange leaves
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or the sunlight hit
the tree at a strange angle
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that made it look
like it was on fire.
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But I like what
they continue to say,
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it is best however to
regard the burning bush
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as a unique act of God.
00:10:08.64\00:10:12.31
You see, friends, let me
begin to unfold the story
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as I walk through this,
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the uniqueness of this bush
was not that it was different
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from any other
bush on the planet,
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there were similar
trees that had no leaves,
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that had no foliage.
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That had nothing in
and of itself to boast,
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but God shows a bush
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that seemed to be of
no visible importance
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to reveal and
reflect the glory of God.
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The burning bush became an
anti-typical representation
00:10:37.50\00:10:41.80
of the exalted God.
00:10:41.84\00:10:43.81
The attractive,
the unattractive nature
00:10:43.84\00:10:46.27
was a forecast,
hear me carefully,
00:10:46.31\00:10:48.78
of how Jesus would be revealed.
00:10:48.81\00:10:52.28
You see in the Old
Testament, God used may examples
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to forecast the coming of Jesus.
00:10:55.58\00:10:58.15
In the Garden of Eden,
He said to Adam and Eve,
00:10:58.19\00:11:00.69
He said I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
00:11:00.72\00:11:03.49
and thy seed and her seed.
00:11:03.53\00:11:05.49
He put the devil on notice,
00:11:05.53\00:11:07.60
I'm gonna put enmity
between your seed and her seed.
00:11:07.63\00:11:11.27
The seed he referred to Jesus
00:11:11.30\00:11:12.73
as will bruise and
crush the serpent's head
00:11:12.77\00:11:15.84
but in the process,
Jesus' heel will be bruised.
00:11:15.87\00:11:18.97
He said, I'm gonna, this
seed is going to crush your head
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and then through
the ceremonial services,
00:11:22.44\00:11:24.98
Jesus was now
anti-typically represented
00:11:25.01\00:11:28.38
or typically
represented in the lamb.
00:11:28.42\00:11:31.35
He was the lamb slain
00:11:31.39\00:11:33.02
from the
foundation of the world.
00:11:33.05\00:11:34.39
So when Jesus came in,
00:11:34.42\00:11:35.76
in the antitype the lamb of God,
00:11:35.79\00:11:38.56
those who had been involved
00:11:38.59\00:11:40.20
in the services
of the sanctuary,
00:11:40.23\00:11:42.46
the anti-typical lamb,
00:11:42.50\00:11:43.83
they knew right away
that this was the Christ.
00:11:43.87\00:11:47.00
The symbol was the
lamb, the symbol was the seed
00:11:47.04\00:11:50.41
but amazingly enough,
00:11:50.44\00:11:53.17
the
unattractive nature of Jesus,
00:11:53.21\00:11:56.24
the work He does in
our lives was typified
00:11:56.28\00:11:59.35
through an
unattractive burning bush
00:11:59.38\00:12:03.18
that was ignited
to the glory of God,
00:12:03.22\00:12:05.22
yet it was not consumed.
00:12:05.25\00:12:06.72
Notice the words
of Isaiah the prophet.
00:12:06.76\00:12:08.12
Isaiah 53:2-3,
00:12:08.16\00:12:11.43
"For He shall grow up before Him
00:12:11.46\00:12:13.56
as a tender plant
00:12:13.60\00:12:16.60
as a root out of dry ground.
00:12:16.63\00:12:21.14
He has no form or comeliness.
00:12:21.17\00:12:24.17
And when we see Him,
00:12:24.21\00:12:26.98
there is no beauty
that we should desire him.
00:12:27.01\00:12:30.15
He is despised
and rejected by men.
00:12:30.18\00:12:33.92
A Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief."
00:12:33.95\00:12:37.59
If you listen to that
passage very carefully,
00:12:37.62\00:12:39.59
every
particular of that language
00:12:39.62\00:12:41.59
used by the Prophet
Isaiah describes a burning bush,
00:12:41.62\00:12:44.99
unattractive, no
glory, no form, no beauty,
00:12:45.03\00:12:50.07
nothing to be desired
00:12:50.10\00:12:51.93
but on the opposite to
be despised than rejected.
00:12:51.97\00:12:56.04
What would you do if
somebody gave you a plant
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and it was dried up.
00:12:58.11\00:13:00.01
No flowers, no
leaves and they said to you,
00:13:00.04\00:13:03.24
"I love you so much,
I've brought you a plant."
00:13:03.28\00:13:05.41
And they put that
plant in your hand
00:13:05.45\00:13:07.78
and it was nothing
but a dried up bush,
00:13:07.82\00:13:10.59
buried in soil.
00:13:10.62\00:13:12.55
You would say,
"How can you love me
00:13:12.59\00:13:13.92
with a plant that
appears to be dead."
00:13:13.96\00:13:16.42
How can you express
your love with the plant
00:13:16.46\00:13:18.43
that seems to have no
leaves, no flowers, no roses,
00:13:18.46\00:13:22.13
nothing at all to describe
the way you feel about me
00:13:22.16\00:13:25.83
and you'll say to
them, "I do love you."
00:13:25.87\00:13:28.34
You see friends
amazingly enough,
00:13:28.37\00:13:29.87
God said to me
when we come to Jesus,
00:13:29.90\00:13:33.51
we often come in a
very unattractive manner
00:13:33.54\00:13:36.04
and God does
miraculous things through that
00:13:36.08\00:13:39.55
which is often
rejected by the natural eye.
00:13:39.58\00:13:42.85
In one of my favorite
books Desire of Ages, page 23,
00:13:42.88\00:13:45.85
paragraph 2, listen
to what inspiration says.
00:13:45.89\00:13:49.62
God's glory was
subdued and his majesty whaled
00:13:49.66\00:13:55.90
that the weak vision of
finite man might behold it.
00:13:55.93\00:14:00.64
His glory was whaled,
00:14:00.67\00:14:02.24
His greatness and
majesty were hidden
00:14:02.27\00:14:05.21
that He might draw near
to sorrowful and tempted man.
00:14:05.24\00:14:08.91
So the Lord did not
come, if this tree was filled
00:14:08.94\00:14:11.71
with the most
gorgeous divine plants,
00:14:11.75\00:14:14.28
somebody would
say "Wow, wow, wow."
00:14:14.32\00:14:17.25
We could expect a beautiful
glorious well clothe Messiah
00:14:17.29\00:14:21.19
when He shows up,
but when Jesus showed up,
00:14:21.22\00:14:24.59
He didn't have any
kind of form that man said,
00:14:24.63\00:14:26.90
"Hey, this is the kind of
guy that I want to follow,
00:14:26.93\00:14:29.40
look at the way He dresses.
00:14:29.43\00:14:30.90
Look at the kind
of car He drives,
00:14:30.93\00:14:32.47
look at the kind
of big account He has.
00:14:32.50\00:14:34.04
Look at His fame and
fortune and notoriety."
00:14:34.07\00:14:36.44
Jesus did not
come to wealthy men,
00:14:36.47\00:14:39.04
He came to every man,
00:14:39.07\00:14:40.74
from the poorest
to the wealthiest.
00:14:40.78\00:14:42.68
He came in such a form,
00:14:42.71\00:14:44.55
that He had nothing
to recommend Himself
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.98
to humanity.
00:14:47.02\00:14:48.35
He came humble, a burning bush,
00:14:48.38\00:14:50.29
and so the simplicity
of the revelation of God
00:14:50.32\00:14:54.39
does not equal a simple God.
00:14:54.42\00:14:57.46
Let me say that again.
00:14:57.49\00:14:58.83
The simplicity of
the revelation of God
00:14:58.86\00:15:01.46
does not equate to a simple God.
00:15:01.50\00:15:04.80
You see in this burning bush,
00:15:04.83\00:15:06.37
it was a prefiguring
of the coming of Jesus
00:15:06.40\00:15:09.00
but don ever
mistake for any moment
00:15:09.04\00:15:11.64
that Jesus is a
simple God, not at all.
00:15:11.67\00:15:14.54
That's why I was
often offended by
00:15:14.58\00:15:16.54
there's a
particular denomination
00:15:16.58\00:15:17.91
that says that
Jesus is not really God,
00:15:17.95\00:15:20.25
He's a second God.
00:15:20.28\00:15:22.32
He's a mighty God
but not an almighty God.
00:15:22.35\00:15:25.72
If He's not a mighty
God, how could He save us?
00:15:25.75\00:15:28.09
If He's not our
creator, how can He redeem us?
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.76
How can He pay the
price of our redemption
00:15:30.79\00:15:33.26
when He Himself as some
allude to was created Himself.
00:15:33.29\00:15:37.27
That's not
supported by God's word.
00:15:37.30\00:15:39.07
In him was life, and
the life was a light of man,
00:15:39.10\00:15:42.07
un-borrowed life,
un-derived, He found His glory
00:15:42.10\00:15:46.54
in none other than
the glory of the Father
00:15:46.57\00:15:49.21
and He shared from
the very beginning.
00:15:49.24\00:15:51.85
You see God use an ordinary bush
00:15:51.88\00:15:55.02
to reveal an extraordinary God.
00:15:55.05\00:15:58.32
The Bible says, the
angel of the Lord appeared.
00:15:58.35\00:16:03.56
The angel of the Lord appeared.
00:16:03.59\00:16:06.76
That comes from the
Hebrew word Jehovah,
00:16:06.80\00:16:09.53
it means the self existing one.
00:16:09.56\00:16:12.50
This bush and when Moses,
00:16:12.53\00:16:14.84
I can take
myself back to the spot
00:16:14.87\00:16:17.41
when Moses look at this bush,
00:16:17.44\00:16:20.44
it appeared as though
the fire came form nowhere
00:16:20.48\00:16:23.65
but from the bush.
00:16:23.68\00:16:25.41
It appeared as though
the bush produced the fire,
00:16:25.45\00:16:29.48
yet the fire more
glorious than the bush
00:16:29.52\00:16:32.22
did not consume the bush.
00:16:32.25\00:16:34.59
That's why the simplicity
of the revelation of God
00:16:34.62\00:16:37.39
does not equal a simple God.
00:16:37.43\00:16:39.53
When Moses began to
investigate the bush,
00:16:39.56\00:16:42.93
grab this, the bush
began to investigate Moses,
00:16:42.96\00:16:47.17
because God's presence was
resident in the burning bush.
00:16:47.20\00:16:52.07
Look at Exodus 3:3-4.
00:16:52.11\00:16:54.84
Look at Exodus
3:3-4 the Bible says,
00:16:54.88\00:16:58.68
"Then Moses said,
00:16:58.71\00:17:01.15
'I will now turn aside
and see this great sight,
00:17:01.18\00:17:05.19
why the bush does not burn.'"
00:17:05.22\00:17:08.29
It was ignited but not consumed.
00:17:08.32\00:17:10.56
So when the Lord saw,
that it turned aside to look,
00:17:10.59\00:17:15.36
God called to him
from the midst of the bush
00:17:15.40\00:17:20.20
and said, "Moses, Moses."
00:17:20.24\00:17:23.30
He said, "Here I am."
00:17:23.34\00:17:25.67
You see it was from a
seemingly worthless bush
00:17:25.71\00:17:30.48
that Moses was
reminded of his worth.
00:17:30.51\00:17:33.48
He was also reminded
00:17:33.52\00:17:34.85
that he was in the
presence of divinity.
00:17:34.88\00:17:36.72
A seemingly worthless bush,
00:17:36.75\00:17:39.02
when the voice of
God began to be heard,
00:17:39.05\00:17:41.82
Moses was reminded
00:17:41.86\00:17:43.83
that he was in the
presence of divinity.
00:17:43.86\00:17:48.53
Exodus 3:5-6 notice this...
00:17:48.56\00:17:51.23
"Then He said..."
00:17:57.41\00:17:59.21
God said to Moses, "Do
not draw near this place.
00:17:59.24\00:18:05.11
Take your sandals off your feet,
00:18:05.15\00:18:07.98
for the place where
you stand is holy ground."
00:18:08.02\00:18:14.02
The place where
this bush was burning
00:18:14.06\00:18:16.52
was described as holy ground.
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.46
How could the ground be
holy except the presence of God
00:18:18.49\00:18:22.86
was reveled in that bush?
00:18:22.90\00:18:24.97
Take your sandals off...
00:18:25.00\00:18:27.44
And He says in verse
6, "Moreover, He said,
00:18:27.47\00:18:30.71
"I am the God of your
Father, the God of Abraham,
00:18:30.74\00:18:33.51
the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob."
00:18:33.54\00:18:36.54
And Moses hid his face,
00:18:36.58\00:18:40.45
for he was afraid
to look upon God."
00:18:40.48\00:18:44.55
The burning bush,
the presence of God.
00:18:44.59\00:18:47.26
You see God
also instructed Moses
00:18:47.29\00:18:49.16
that they are
to be a difference.
00:18:49.19\00:18:52.56
Moses' behavior changed
00:18:52.59\00:18:54.53
in the presence
of this burning bush
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.63
but God also told Moses
00:18:56.67\00:18:58.70
that there
should be a difference
00:18:58.73\00:19:00.84
in our behavior and attitude,
when we are on holy ground,
00:19:00.87\00:19:06.07
which brings me to a
very important point.
00:19:06.11\00:19:08.54
You know, when
you come to worship,
00:19:08.58\00:19:10.95
we should not only
reverence the God of worship
00:19:10.98\00:19:13.08
but we should
reverence the house of worship.
00:19:13.11\00:19:16.42
The attitude that
we display in church
00:19:16.45\00:19:18.95
is a gage of our
reverence towards God.
00:19:18.99\00:19:21.99
Notice He said,
take of your shoes
00:19:22.02\00:19:24.66
for the ground on
which you stand is holy.
00:19:24.69\00:19:27.16
When we come into the
house of God to worship,
00:19:27.20\00:19:28.80
we should treat the house of God
00:19:28.83\00:19:30.47
as though the
presence of God were here,
00:19:30.50\00:19:32.23
and by the way, He
promises to be here.
00:19:32.27\00:19:34.44
Wherever two or
three are gathered,
00:19:34.47\00:19:36.40
I'm there in their midst.
00:19:36.44\00:19:38.37
So when we come to
worship, when we come to pray,
00:19:38.41\00:19:41.28
when we come to sing,
00:19:41.31\00:19:42.64
when we come to
offer our gifts to God,
00:19:42.68\00:19:44.71
we should always come
with an attitude of reverence,
00:19:44.75\00:19:47.75
for the Lord is always in
the presence of His people,
00:19:47.78\00:19:52.32
His holy ground.
00:19:52.35\00:19:53.86
We should teach our children
to respect it as holy ground.
00:19:53.89\00:19:57.23
Our family members
00:19:57.26\00:19:58.59
to dress as though they
come to honor a holy God
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.76
in this place of
worship, a holy place,
00:20:01.80\00:20:04.27
a holy God, holy ground.
00:20:04.30\00:20:06.70
The church is not a playground
where reverence is absent.
00:20:06.74\00:20:09.70
When we come to worship,
00:20:09.74\00:20:11.07
we should
remember that God is here,
00:20:11.11\00:20:12.47
that church is not a club
where we purchase a membership.
00:20:12.51\00:20:15.84
We don't join a church
because it agrees with us,
00:20:15.88\00:20:18.28
but because it agrees with God.
00:20:18.31\00:20:20.22
That's why when
I preach sermons,
00:20:20.25\00:20:21.72
I don't preach sermons,
00:20:21.75\00:20:23.55
I don't find subjects to tickle
the fancy of our membership,
00:20:23.59\00:20:28.22
I sometimes preach to myself
00:20:28.26\00:20:31.73
because every
sermon should remind us
00:20:31.76\00:20:33.80
that God is much
holier than we are,
00:20:33.83\00:20:36.63
the ground upon
which we stand is holy,
00:20:36.67\00:20:38.63
the presence of God is there.
00:20:38.67\00:20:40.70
The church is a rescue mission
where sin bound are set free.
00:20:40.74\00:20:44.37
The church is a surgical
room where the sin is removed
00:20:44.41\00:20:47.18
and the sinners are made whole.
00:20:47.21\00:20:48.68
The church is a school
00:20:48.71\00:20:50.38
where we unlearn sin
and we learn righteousness.
00:20:50.41\00:20:55.35
So when you come,
00:20:55.38\00:20:56.72
come recognizing
the presence of God,
00:20:56.75\00:20:58.55
come knowing
that the Lord is there
00:20:58.59\00:21:00.72
to do a work in your life
00:21:00.76\00:21:02.09
and through your
life and for your life
00:21:02.12\00:21:04.19
that cannot be
done anywhere else.
00:21:04.23\00:21:07.30
But look at the point,
00:21:07.33\00:21:09.46
the bush was not
burning anywhere else
00:21:09.50\00:21:12.63
but on the mountain
where God met with Moses.
00:21:12.67\00:21:16.27
You'll find in the
fellowship of worship things
00:21:16.30\00:21:18.64
that you'll never find outside
of the fellowship of worship,
00:21:18.67\00:21:23.21
and the reverence
that God calls for
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.48
should be the
reverence that God receives.
00:21:25.51\00:21:27.92
Look at Hebrews
12:28-29, the Bible says,
00:21:27.95\00:21:31.89
"Therefore,
since we are perishing,
00:21:31.92\00:21:34.36
since we are receiving..."
00:21:34.39\00:21:36.12
Sorry, "A kingdom
which cannot be shaken,
00:21:36.16\00:21:39.73
let us have grace,
00:21:39.76\00:21:42.36
by which we may
serve God acceptably..."
00:21:42.40\00:21:46.20
How?
00:21:46.23\00:21:47.57
"With reverence and godly fear.
00:21:47.60\00:21:50.17
For our God is
a consuming fire."
00:21:50.21\00:21:55.34
Our God is a consuming fire.
00:21:55.38\00:21:59.98
Another one of
my favorite books,
00:22:00.02\00:22:01.35
the faith I led
by this quotation
00:22:01.38\00:22:03.35
brought to me an understanding
00:22:03.39\00:22:04.72
of the deeper
content of this text.
00:22:04.75\00:22:07.19
It says, "God is high
and holy and to the humble,
00:22:07.22\00:22:10.56
believing soul,
His house on earth,
00:22:10.59\00:22:13.96
the place where His
people meet for worship,
00:22:14.00\00:22:16.83
is as it were
the gate of heaven."
00:22:16.87\00:22:21.10
Moses understood that
00:22:21.14\00:22:22.54
when He came into
the presence of God,
00:22:22.57\00:22:23.97
he understood that
there should be a difference.
00:22:24.01\00:22:26.24
He understood that
where he came to meet with God
00:22:26.27\00:22:29.04
should be
different than his house,
00:22:29.08\00:22:31.45
the street, the
store, the marketplace
00:22:31.48\00:22:35.05
when we come bringing
harder reverence to God,
00:22:35.08\00:22:37.52
we receive from God the
presents that He promises
00:22:37.55\00:22:40.32
can only be received
by His awesome presence.
00:22:40.36\00:22:44.19
That's why, friends,
00:22:44.23\00:22:45.56
the Lord calls us not
just to keep the Sabbath
00:22:45.59\00:22:47.76
but the Lord calls us
to reverence the Sabbath.
00:22:47.80\00:22:50.50
Leviticus 19:30, the Lord says,
00:22:50.53\00:22:54.24
And you will
shall keep my Sabbath
00:22:54.27\00:22:55.80
and reverence my
sanctuary, for I am the Lord."
00:22:55.84\00:23:01.04
Not only should we
reverence the sanctuary of God
00:23:01.08\00:23:02.98
but we should also
reverence the Word of God.
00:23:03.01\00:23:05.91
We should also
reverence the Word of God.
00:23:05.95\00:23:08.02
You see when I was raised
my mother always said to me
00:23:08.05\00:23:10.89
and I have learned this
through the years from people
00:23:10.92\00:23:13.02
that have a wonderful
relationship with their Bible.
00:23:13.05\00:23:15.62
This is my travel Bible
smaller than my, my home Bible.
00:23:15.66\00:23:18.89
My home Bible is bigger
and thicker, much heavier
00:23:18.93\00:23:21.53
but as you know the limitation
of the weight on the planes
00:23:21.56\00:23:23.97
so I carry my smaller Bible,
00:23:24.00\00:23:26.40
it makes it easier to
carry it in my bag pack.
00:23:26.43\00:23:30.07
But the size of the
Bible should never be equated
00:23:30.11\00:23:33.48
for its insignificance.
00:23:33.51\00:23:35.34
Some people have large Bibles
that when they open the pages,
00:23:35.38\00:23:38.91
they just fall in place.
00:23:38.95\00:23:41.82
The Bible should always
be handled with reverence.
00:23:41.85\00:23:44.79
I don't throw my
Bible on the ground
00:23:44.82\00:23:46.52
or put other books
on top of my Bible.
00:23:46.55\00:23:48.22
It's the closest
book to me at all times.
00:23:48.26\00:23:51.06
The Bible, the
only thing on earth
00:23:51.09\00:23:52.76
that still
contains the spoken word,
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.33
the inspired Word of God.
00:23:55.36\00:23:56.93
We should reverence this book
00:23:56.97\00:24:00.14
because this is the only
book the devil is upset with.
00:24:00.17\00:24:03.67
This is the only
book he tried to destroy
00:24:03.71\00:24:05.41
during the Dark Ages.
00:24:05.44\00:24:06.94
This is the only book
00:24:06.98\00:24:08.31
that emperors
have tried to stamp out
00:24:08.34\00:24:10.31
and tyrants have
tried to destroy.
00:24:10.35\00:24:13.01
But this is the only book
00:24:13.05\00:24:14.38
that still endures
against every attack,
00:24:14.42\00:24:16.99
against the living Word of God.
00:24:17.02\00:24:19.35
Reverence God's
word. The reason is clear.
00:24:19.39\00:24:25.46
The attitude that we
display toward God's word
00:24:25.49\00:24:29.43
is the attitude that
we have towards the God
00:24:29.46\00:24:33.00
of his word.
00:24:33.03\00:24:35.30
That's why when we
come to the church,
00:24:35.34\00:24:37.44
let's come not thinking
that we come to a lecture hall
00:24:37.47\00:24:40.81
where the messages are graded.
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.54
The Word of God is
not to be examined by men
00:24:42.58\00:24:45.18
but men ought to be
examined by the Word of God.
00:24:45.21\00:24:48.72
The church need
not keep apologizing
00:24:48.75\00:24:51.79
for preaching straight.
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.15
God never told us to preach
because people agree with it.
00:24:53.19\00:24:56.66
In 2 Timothy 4:2-5
listen to what the Lord says,
00:24:56.69\00:25:00.86
He says to us,
"Preach the word!"
00:25:00.90\00:25:04.93
Once again He says what?
00:25:04.97\00:25:06.30
Preach the word,
be instant in season,
00:25:06.33\00:25:10.34
and out of
season' reprove, rebuke,
00:25:10.37\00:25:13.88
exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine, He says,
00:25:13.91\00:25:18.25
for the time will come,"
00:25:18.28\00:25:19.61
and I believe the time has come,
00:25:19.65\00:25:21.32
"when they will not
endure sound doctrine."
00:25:21.35\00:25:25.89
Let me pause and say something.
00:25:25.92\00:25:27.32
There is some churches that
say they don't teach doctrine.
00:25:27.36\00:25:29.62
If you are part of a church
that does not teach doctrine,
00:25:29.66\00:25:32.93
they don't use God's word
00:25:32.96\00:25:34.30
because when you
open the Word of God,
00:25:34.33\00:25:35.66
doctrine simply means teachings,
00:25:35.70\00:25:37.80
understanding
the truth about God,
00:25:37.83\00:25:39.87
understanding the
truth about His character,
00:25:39.90\00:25:42.10
understanding the
truth about His revelation,
00:25:42.14\00:25:44.11
understanding the truth
about His will for your life.
00:25:44.14\00:25:47.68
They say that we
don't teach doctrine
00:25:47.71\00:25:49.41
so that they can attract you
00:25:49.44\00:25:50.78
to an empty mindless
meaningless sabotaging,
00:25:50.81\00:25:55.98
icing only Christian experience,
00:25:56.02\00:25:58.82
anything that has no depth,
00:25:58.85\00:26:00.59
it's nothing that can
anything to your life.
00:26:00.62\00:26:02.52
Anything that shallow
can never reveal to you
00:26:02.56\00:26:05.73
the deep things of God.
00:26:05.76\00:26:08.26
Don't settle for shallow things,
00:26:08.30\00:26:09.83
preach the word.
00:26:09.86\00:26:11.23
The Bible says,
"For the time will come
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.54
when they will not
endure sound doctrine,
00:26:13.57\00:26:15.54
but what will they do?
00:26:15.57\00:26:17.61
But after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves
00:26:17.64\00:26:21.94
teachers, having itching ears
00:26:21.98\00:26:27.02
and they shall turn away
their ears from the truth
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.82
and shall be
turned unto fables."
00:26:29.85\00:26:32.29
But watch, He says to
this young man Timothy,
00:26:32.32\00:26:34.96
"But watch thou in all
things, endure afflictions,
00:26:34.99\00:26:39.36
do the work of an
evangelist, and then He says,
00:26:39.39\00:26:42.36
make full proof
of thy ministry."
00:26:42.40\00:26:44.93
You see the only one
00:26:44.97\00:26:46.30
that we will give
account to is God,
00:26:46.33\00:26:48.34
the one that is
called us to ministry.
00:26:48.37\00:26:50.67
The only one that
we are accountable to
00:26:50.71\00:26:52.74
is the one in whose word,
00:26:52.77\00:26:55.04
His will for our
lives is revealed,
00:26:55.08\00:26:57.68
so if people don't like it,
I would say respectfully tough.
00:26:57.71\00:27:01.98
I am more
concerned about the God
00:27:02.02\00:27:03.35
that can give me eternal life
00:27:03.39\00:27:04.72
than the men that cannot
take away my eternal life.
00:27:04.75\00:27:07.39
So I'd rather be persecuted
by man for telling the truth
00:27:07.42\00:27:11.29
than prosecuted by God for
avoiding telling the truth.
00:27:11.33\00:27:14.76
If truth brings me to
a place of unpopularity,
00:27:14.80\00:27:17.47
the popularity that I seek
is only hearing these words,
00:27:17.50\00:27:22.07
well done thou good
and faithful servant.
00:27:22.10\00:27:24.54
I am not concerned about men
00:27:24.57\00:27:26.17
and how they
feel about God's word.
00:27:26.21\00:27:28.04
God is called us
to be men of the hour,
00:27:28.08\00:27:30.15
men of the word.
00:27:30.18\00:27:32.21
But the modern church
wants to do all it can
00:27:32.25\00:27:35.62
to avoid affliction.
00:27:35.65\00:27:37.32
But I'm gonna tell you this.
00:27:37.35\00:27:38.72
There is no such
thing as a polite gospel.
00:27:38.75\00:27:41.59
The Bible is not
the Q-tip of the spirit,
00:27:41.62\00:27:44.03
the Bible is the two-edged sword
00:27:44.06\00:27:45.79
of the spirit.
00:27:45.83\00:27:47.16
Don't soften it, preach
it as God has written it,
00:27:47.20\00:27:50.97
amen somebody.
00:27:51.00\00:27:52.73
We have arrived
at a time in history
00:27:52.77\00:27:54.10
when the church
is being threatened
00:27:54.14\00:27:55.90
for standing for righteousness.
00:27:55.94\00:27:58.11
The devil is warning us
00:27:58.14\00:27:59.47
that if we keep
preaching against the kingdom,
00:27:59.51\00:28:01.18
against his kingdom we
are going to get in trouble.
00:28:01.21\00:28:03.91
I thought about that once,
00:28:03.95\00:28:05.28
you know somebody
once send me a letter
00:28:05.31\00:28:07.02
and matter of fact, I
met with one of my friends
00:28:07.05\00:28:10.85
and colleagues in
ministry and he said to me,
00:28:10.89\00:28:13.09
he said to me, "John,
00:28:13.12\00:28:14.46
are you staying out of trouble?"
00:28:14.49\00:28:15.82
I said no, why should I.
00:28:15.86\00:28:17.43
And though he
snickered for a moment, he said,
00:28:17.46\00:28:19.73
now really, are you
staying out of trouble?
00:28:19.76\00:28:21.46
I said no, I am not
staying out of trouble.
00:28:21.50\00:28:23.53
I am always in trouble.
00:28:23.57\00:28:24.90
I said as the matter of fact,
00:28:24.93\00:28:26.27
as the preacher it's
good to be in trouble.
00:28:26.30\00:28:27.90
Jesus was always in trouble,
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.90
the apostles were
always in trouble,
00:28:29.94\00:28:31.77
the disciples
were always in trouble,
00:28:31.81\00:28:33.58
the prophets were
always in trouble.
00:28:33.61\00:28:35.24
Any time you stand
for the kingdom of God,
00:28:35.28\00:28:37.71
you cannot avoid trouble.
00:28:37.75\00:28:40.35
You got to know where you stand.
00:28:40.38\00:28:42.15
You have to know
for whom you stand
00:28:42.18\00:28:44.42
and when you stand on
the side of immortal God,
00:28:44.45\00:28:47.46
you have no fear for mortal man.
00:28:47.49\00:28:50.43
Joshua made it very clear
00:28:50.46\00:28:52.79
when the Amorites
came up against Israel
00:28:52.83\00:28:55.00
and threatened Israel.
00:28:55.03\00:28:56.83
They thought that they
could stamp out the men of God
00:28:56.87\00:28:58.60
but notice what
Joshua 10:24-25 says
00:28:58.63\00:29:01.80
about how
useless it is to fear men
00:29:01.84\00:29:06.17
that can do nothing against you.
00:29:06.21\00:29:07.61
Joshua 10:24
and 25, notice this,
00:29:07.64\00:29:11.81
"So it was,
00:29:11.85\00:29:13.18
when they brought
out the kings of Joshua
00:29:13.21\00:29:15.72
or to Joshua,
00:29:15.75\00:29:17.32
that Joshua called
for all the men of Israel,
00:29:17.35\00:29:20.69
and said to the
captains of the men of war
00:29:20.72\00:29:22.86
who went with him, "Come near,
00:29:22.89\00:29:26.13
put your feet on the
necks of these kings."
00:29:26.16\00:29:29.66
And they drew near
00:29:29.70\00:29:31.03
and put their
feet on their necks."
00:29:31.07\00:29:33.64
Verse 25 of Joshua 10,
"Then Joshua said to them,
00:29:33.67\00:29:38.24
'Do not be
afraid, nor be dismayed'
00:29:38.27\00:29:42.44
be strong and of good courage,
00:29:42.48\00:29:44.51
for thus the Lord
will do to all your enemies
00:29:44.55\00:29:49.75
against whom you fight."
00:29:49.78\00:29:51.75
What God promises is
when you stand on His word,
00:29:51.79\00:29:55.72
God will stand on those
that stand against His word.
00:29:55.76\00:29:59.46
When you stand for the right,
00:29:59.49\00:30:00.90
God will stand against those
who stand against of right.
00:30:00.93\00:30:04.33
When you stand for the light,
00:30:04.37\00:30:05.83
God will fight against those
who fight against the light.
00:30:05.87\00:30:08.14
Don't worry about the
people that are against you
00:30:08.17\00:30:09.97
because the Bible
says, they that are with us
00:30:10.01\00:30:13.01
are more than
they that be with them.
00:30:13.04\00:30:15.78
You're always on
the side of right
00:30:15.81\00:30:17.35
when you stand on
the side of light.
00:30:17.38\00:30:19.88
Joshua 10:21, Joshua said again,
00:30:19.91\00:30:23.89
"Not one moved his tongue
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.15
against any of the
children of Israel."
00:30:26.19\00:30:29.02
And I like that in Mathew
00:30:29.06\00:30:30.39
the converted tax
collector said it.
00:30:30.43\00:30:32.33
"Upon this rock,
Jesus said I build my church
00:30:32.36\00:30:35.13
and the gates of hell together
shall not prevail against it."
00:30:35.16\00:30:40.07
When we stand on the rock,
the ones that are gonna come,
00:30:40.10\00:30:43.41
the waves are gonna to come,
00:30:43.44\00:30:44.77
the powers of hell are
gonna be unleashed against us
00:30:44.81\00:30:47.38
but it cannot bring down a house
00:30:47.41\00:30:50.18
built on the
enduring rock Christ Jesus.
00:30:50.21\00:30:53.28
Praise the Lord for that.
00:30:53.31\00:30:55.12
Certainly not just
reverence God's house
00:30:55.15\00:30:59.59
and not just God's word
00:30:59.62\00:31:01.09
but one more thing that's
missing in today's society,
00:31:01.12\00:31:03.93
we should reverence or
honor those that represent God.
00:31:03.96\00:31:07.90
You know the attitude
we display toward those
00:31:07.93\00:31:10.00
that God chooses
indicates our reverence to God.
00:31:10.03\00:31:13.70
In the parable of
the rich man and Lazarus,
00:31:13.74\00:31:15.50
Jesus made that point,
00:31:15.54\00:31:16.97
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees
for ignoring the word of Moses,
00:31:17.01\00:31:22.48
the prophet.
00:31:22.51\00:31:23.85
Look at Luke
16:31," But He said to him,
00:31:23.88\00:31:28.28
'If they did not or do not
hear Moses and the prophets,
00:31:28.32\00:31:32.19
neither will they be persuaded
00:31:32.22\00:31:34.79
though one rose from the dead.'"
00:31:34.82\00:31:37.49
He said, I sent
prophets, you persecuted them.
00:31:37.53\00:31:41.03
I spoke through
my servant Moses,
00:31:41.06\00:31:43.16
you ignored him.
00:31:43.20\00:31:44.53
If you won't hear Moses,
00:31:44.57\00:31:45.97
if you won't
honor my representative,
00:31:46.00\00:31:48.20
there is no way that
you are gonna honor me.
00:31:48.24\00:31:50.31
And I tell you
friends, he was exactly right
00:31:50.34\00:31:53.04
because the very ones
that He called to honor Moses,
00:31:53.07\00:31:56.24
that did not honor Moses,
00:31:56.28\00:31:57.75
that persecuted the
prophets were the very ones
00:31:57.78\00:32:00.08
that called for the
persecution of Jesus.
00:32:00.12\00:32:03.52
That's why Stephen,
00:32:03.55\00:32:05.45
at the closing
moment of his life,
00:32:05.49\00:32:07.59
he rebuked the religious leaders
00:32:07.62\00:32:10.06
for their
indifference to God's attempt
00:32:10.09\00:32:13.90
to win their hearts.
00:32:13.93\00:32:15.26
Stephen said,
00:32:15.30\00:32:19.37
" Which of the prophets
did your fathers not persecute?
00:32:19.40\00:32:22.27
And they killed
those who foretold
00:32:22.30\00:32:24.97
of the coming of the Just One,
00:32:25.01\00:32:26.57
of whom you now
have become the betrayers
00:32:26.61\00:32:30.65
and the murderers."
00:32:30.68\00:32:32.18
They murdered Jesus
00:32:32.21\00:32:34.75
because they ignored
the messengers of Jesus.
00:32:34.78\00:32:38.52
That's why Paul,
that faithful apostle,
00:32:38.55\00:32:41.86
he says to us in 1
Thessalonians 5:12 and 13,
00:32:41.89\00:32:46.86
"And we urge you, brethren,
00:32:46.90\00:32:48.23
to recognize those
who labor among you,
00:32:48.26\00:32:51.10
pray for your preachers,
00:32:51.13\00:32:52.60
pray for your
leaders, pray for your elders,
00:32:52.63\00:32:55.20
pray for your
deacons and deaconesses,
00:32:55.24\00:32:56.87
pray for your administrators.
00:32:56.91\00:32:58.67
Don't take the
self-centered position
00:32:58.71\00:33:01.51
that your opinion is
greater than the people
00:33:01.54\00:33:04.48
that God has chose.
00:33:04.51\00:33:06.55
Never put
yourself in that category.
00:33:06.58\00:33:09.08
"We urge you, brethren,
00:33:09.12\00:33:10.45
to recognize those
who labor among you,
00:33:10.49\00:33:12.89
and are over you in
the Lord and admonish you.
00:33:12.92\00:33:16.39
And verse13, "And to esteem them
00:33:16.42\00:33:19.83
very highly in love
for their work's sake.
00:33:19.86\00:33:24.00
Be at peace amongst yourselves."
00:33:24.03\00:33:26.87
You see, when I
continue to study
00:33:26.90\00:33:31.17
the message of the burning bush.
00:33:31.21\00:33:33.17
Something that jumped
out of me was amazing.
00:33:33.21\00:33:35.94
This apparently worthless bush
that had no glory of its own,
00:33:35.98\00:33:41.65
why would God
chose such an instrument
00:33:41.68\00:33:45.92
to reflect His righteousness,
to reflect His glory,
00:33:45.95\00:33:49.16
to say to Moses
you are on holy ground,
00:33:49.19\00:33:51.53
to say to Moses you
are in the presence of God.
00:33:51.56\00:33:53.73
Why would God
not use a rose bush?
00:33:53.76\00:33:57.90
Why would God not use a tree
00:33:57.93\00:34:00.24
filled with avocados or mangoes?
00:34:00.27\00:34:02.77
Why would God not use a vineyard
00:34:02.80\00:34:07.28
filled and replete with nothing
00:34:07.31\00:34:09.14
but juice filled
grapes of every hue?
00:34:09.18\00:34:12.65
Why would God use a bush
00:34:12.68\00:34:14.98
that seem to have no
properties of any attraction.
00:34:15.02\00:34:20.66
You see for the benefit of those
00:34:20.69\00:34:22.12
scratching their heads,
00:34:22.16\00:34:23.49
there is an
epiphany in the burning bush.
00:34:23.53\00:34:25.56
What is an epiphany?
00:34:25.59\00:34:27.30
Just for those of
you who don't know.
00:34:27.33\00:34:29.36
An epiphany is a
sudden intuitive perception of
00:34:29.40\00:34:34.47
or insight into the reality
00:34:34.50\00:34:37.14
or essential
meaning of something,
00:34:37.17\00:34:39.67
usually initiated
by a simple homely
00:34:39.71\00:34:43.78
or common place
occurrence or experience.
00:34:43.81\00:34:46.78
In other words,
00:34:46.82\00:34:48.25
there is another
message from the burning bush.
00:34:48.28\00:34:51.25
The message that the
Lord brought to me and I say,
00:34:51.29\00:34:54.22
I thank you
Lord for the message.
00:34:54.26\00:34:56.22
You see, it begins to border
on why we are, what we are,
00:34:56.26\00:35:02.53
what we were when He
found us, when God found us.
00:35:02.56\00:35:05.83
What we used to be
when Jesus called us.
00:35:05.87\00:35:08.77
What we felt we were
when He discovered us.
00:35:08.80\00:35:11.74
What we had when He
rescued us to what we are today.
00:35:11.77\00:35:15.28
To God be the glory.
You see here is the point.
00:35:15.31\00:35:18.68
Follow my
reasoning very carefully.
00:35:18.71\00:35:20.28
If Jesus is the light
of the world and He is,
00:35:20.32\00:35:24.35
and He calls us to be the light
of the world which He does.
00:35:24.39\00:35:29.86
Could it be that when
God used the burning bush
00:35:29.89\00:35:34.96
to prefigure the
presence of the coming Messiah,
00:35:35.00\00:35:38.43
that Jesus
chooses bushes like us
00:35:38.47\00:35:43.77
to reflect the glory and
the righteousness of Jesus.
00:35:43.81\00:35:48.04
Could it be...
00:35:48.08\00:35:49.41
Could it be that God calls
us in our uncompleted form,
00:35:49.44\00:35:54.72
in our form of
lacking ability and skill,
00:35:54.75\00:35:58.82
in the dried
places of our inability
00:35:58.85\00:36:01.82
or disqualification,
God looks at us as we are,
00:36:01.86\00:36:05.53
but He doesn't leave
us the way He finds us.
00:36:05.56\00:36:07.80
You see the
experience of the burning bush
00:36:07.83\00:36:10.67
is anything but simple.
00:36:10.70\00:36:14.54
What was happening
to the burning bush
00:36:14.57\00:36:16.60
was anything but homely.
00:36:16.64\00:36:18.54
What was reflected
through the burning bush
00:36:18.57\00:36:20.34
was anything but common place.
00:36:20.38\00:36:23.31
The most powerful
revelation of God,
00:36:23.35\00:36:25.81
the most powerful
revelation of God's dream for us
00:36:25.85\00:36:30.62
is revealed in the
message of the burning bush.
00:36:30.65\00:36:34.82
I was amazed when
I thought about that
00:36:34.86\00:36:36.42
because I look back at
my life, three months old,
00:36:36.46\00:36:39.33
abandoned by my
mother and my father,
00:36:39.36\00:36:41.56
in the home of
people that are strangers.
00:36:41.60\00:36:44.00
Later on we grew
into our relationship.
00:36:44.03\00:36:45.97
Later on they became
mother and father to me.
00:36:46.00\00:36:48.57
I met my dad for the
first time at 13 years old,
00:36:48.60\00:36:50.84
my mother for the first
time when I was almost 26.
00:36:50.87\00:36:53.44
I was nothing but a
bush. I had no anger.
00:36:53.48\00:36:56.21
I had no home and
wish to find my identity
00:36:56.24\00:36:59.11
but the
abandonment that God allowed
00:36:59.15\00:37:01.45
became the first
step in this burning bush
00:37:01.48\00:37:05.35
that would one day begin
00:37:05.39\00:37:06.89
to produce fruit
to the glory of God.
00:37:06.92\00:37:09.99
He sees us in our condition
but He does not leave us there.
00:37:10.03\00:37:13.40
He sees us in our
brokenness, in our barrenness,
00:37:13.43\00:37:16.13
and He says, I can use
this bush to reveal my glory.
00:37:16.16\00:37:20.07
Praise the Lord somebody.
00:37:20.10\00:37:21.64
You see the most
powerful revelation
00:37:21.67\00:37:23.77
of God's dream
for you, my friend,
00:37:23.81\00:37:26.47
is revealed in the burning bush.
00:37:26.51\00:37:29.24
Look at the questions.
Look at the questions.
00:37:29.28\00:37:32.35
How could God
that is so profound
00:37:32.38\00:37:35.05
choose a bush that is so common?
00:37:35.08\00:37:38.19
How could a God
that is so abundant
00:37:38.22\00:37:41.69
select a bush that is so barren?
00:37:41.72\00:37:44.69
I remember when I
started singing years ago
00:37:44.73\00:37:47.60
when I was a teenagers,
00:37:47.63\00:37:49.23
there in the
home when my family,
00:37:49.26\00:37:51.63
the family I was raised
in from the West Indies,
00:37:51.67\00:37:53.57
they would play calypso music.
00:37:53.60\00:37:56.00
And I would hear my
uncles' voices resonating
00:37:56.04\00:37:58.11
as they sang
worldly calypso music,
00:37:58.14\00:38:00.54
and in my room I
would hum along with them,
00:38:00.58\00:38:02.34
and I always thought
that I had a good voice.
00:38:02.38\00:38:04.58
I always thought that
I could sing very well
00:38:04.61\00:38:06.15
until one day God said to
me, buy yourself a tape recorder
00:38:06.18\00:38:09.18
and tape your own voice.
00:38:09.22\00:38:10.72
Listen to what
you really sound like.
00:38:10.75\00:38:12.65
You see sometimes we
think we are something
00:38:12.69\00:38:14.62
when we are nothing,
00:38:14.66\00:38:16.06
and sometimes God has
to pull on our coattail
00:38:16.09\00:38:18.03
and says, "Examine yourself
00:38:18.06\00:38:20.20
to see whether or
not you are in the faith.
00:38:20.23\00:38:22.83
If you think your
gift is something,
00:38:22.86\00:38:25.30
start examining your gifts.
00:38:25.33\00:38:26.90
If you think your
work is something,
00:38:26.94\00:38:28.50
examine your works.
00:38:28.54\00:38:29.87
Don't glorify in
what you think you have.
00:38:29.90\00:38:32.54
Examine what you think you have.
00:38:32.57\00:38:34.91
So I bought a tape deck
and to my surprise, my brother,
00:38:34.94\00:38:38.78
to my surprise when I
listened to that tape recorder,
00:38:38.81\00:38:41.52
I said, Lord have mercy.
00:38:41.55\00:38:42.88
I thought I was on key.
I was anything but on key.
00:38:42.92\00:38:45.59
I was all around
the key. I was off key.
00:38:45.62\00:38:48.12
I was off the
note, and the Lord said,
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.56
I have given you a rough gift.
00:38:50.59\00:38:51.93
I have given you
a burning bush gift,
00:38:51.96\00:38:54.30
take that gift and develop
it to my glory and my honor.
00:38:54.33\00:38:57.63
I did not at that moment
understand what that all meant.
00:38:57.67\00:39:01.54
But I came to
discover years later
00:39:01.57\00:39:03.37
because I took that
voice that God had given to me.
00:39:03.41\00:39:05.91
I began to sing for the world.
00:39:05.94\00:39:07.61
I began to play guitar in
bands that played worldly music.
00:39:07.64\00:39:11.31
I would sing, use
my voice at parties.
00:39:11.35\00:39:13.68
I would sing for secular events
00:39:13.72\00:39:16.12
not knowing that the
Lord found me as a dried bush
00:39:16.15\00:39:20.02
and He wanted to take that gift
00:39:20.06\00:39:21.62
and develop it
just for His glory.
00:39:21.66\00:39:26.26
What did I do?
00:39:26.29\00:39:27.93
I thought I was adequate.
I thought I was profound.
00:39:27.96\00:39:30.80
I thought I was
where I should be.
00:39:30.83\00:39:32.40
I thought I had arrived
and the Lord was looking at me,
00:39:32.43\00:39:34.90
you're nothing
but a burning bush.
00:39:34.94\00:39:36.81
You see, friends, I
ask you the question again.
00:39:36.84\00:39:38.94
How could a God
who is so profound
00:39:38.97\00:39:41.08
choose a bush that is so common?
00:39:41.11\00:39:43.14
You may be at a
place in your life,
00:39:43.18\00:39:44.98
where you look back
on where you came from
00:39:45.01\00:39:47.22
and you say to God be the glory.
00:39:47.25\00:39:48.95
If I'd only
known, if I'd only known
00:39:48.98\00:39:51.89
that God could
do this through me,
00:39:51.92\00:39:53.86
I would have
given God the chance
00:39:53.89\00:39:55.49
to do whatever
He called me to do.
00:39:55.52\00:39:57.39
But the problem is we don't
see ourselves as God sees us.
00:39:57.43\00:40:01.73
We see ourselves in
our own human abilities
00:40:01.76\00:40:05.10
that's why
whenever God calls you,
00:40:05.13\00:40:06.57
be careful to say I can do that,
00:40:06.60\00:40:08.94
'cause it's not
us that do it anyway.
00:40:08.97\00:40:10.64
It is God who
works in us both to will
00:40:10.67\00:40:12.94
and to do of his good pleaser.
00:40:12.97\00:40:14.68
It is God who says,
the work I began in you,
00:40:14.71\00:40:17.05
I will complete it.
00:40:17.08\00:40:18.41
It is God who says to us,
00:40:18.45\00:40:20.22
I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
00:40:20.25\00:40:23.79
God is the one
that pulls the strings.
00:40:23.82\00:40:26.35
God is the one that
fills us with His spirit.
00:40:26.39\00:40:28.79
God is the one that says
to us it is not by might,
00:40:28.82\00:40:32.09
nor by power but by my spirit.
00:40:32.13\00:40:34.63
Praise the Lord somebody,
00:40:34.66\00:40:36.50
I look my life
today where I was,
00:40:36.53\00:40:38.67
that little boy on the
streets of Brooklyn, New York,
00:40:38.70\00:40:40.37
that little boy that
involved in street life
00:40:40.40\00:40:43.51
and fighting gangs
fights and living in clubs
00:40:43.54\00:40:46.68
and disco halls, and drinking,
and gambling, and partying,
00:40:46.71\00:40:51.01
and hustling.
00:40:51.05\00:40:52.38
And I look at myself
today and I say, Lord,
00:40:52.41\00:40:54.08
you saw me as a
burning bush but to Your glory,
00:40:54.12\00:40:56.42
You have allowed these fruits
to show just for Your glory.
00:40:56.45\00:40:59.69
How could God who is so profound
00:40:59.72\00:41:02.09
choose a bush that is so common?
00:41:02.12\00:41:04.69
I want to tell you today,
00:41:04.73\00:41:06.13
when your life is
in the hand of God,
00:41:06.16\00:41:07.50
you are not common,
00:41:07.53\00:41:08.86
you are a fruitful
tree in the making.
00:41:08.90\00:41:10.80
You may just have roots,
your branches may be empty,
00:41:10.83\00:41:14.14
but God is about to
turn your life inside out
00:41:14.17\00:41:16.37
for His glory.
00:41:16.40\00:41:17.74
How could God
that is so abundant
00:41:17.77\00:41:19.24
select a bush that is so barren?
00:41:19.27\00:41:21.28
You may say I
don't have anything.
00:41:21.31\00:41:22.71
I cannot sing,. I cannot preach.
00:41:22.74\00:41:24.65
I can't give a Bible study.
Oh, brethren, let me stop you.
00:41:24.68\00:41:27.55
Sister, let me prevent
you from self destruction,
00:41:27.58\00:41:30.39
it's not what you do,
00:41:30.42\00:41:31.75
but if there is
thirst to willing heart,
00:41:31.79\00:41:34.16
if there is
thirst to willing heart,
00:41:34.19\00:41:35.82
you are accepted
according to what you have
00:41:35.86\00:41:37.63
and not according
to what you don't have.
00:41:37.66\00:41:39.89
God can turn you into
a vessel for His honor.
00:41:39.93\00:41:42.76
He can fill you with the spirit.
00:41:42.80\00:41:44.77
And the glory that
will be revealed in you
00:41:44.80\00:41:47.34
is not your glory but the
glory that resides in God alone.
00:41:47.37\00:41:53.61
How could the
inadequate reflect the divine?
00:41:53.64\00:41:57.91
How could the
homely reveal the heavenly?
00:41:57.95\00:42:01.48
You see the story
of your life and mine.
00:42:01.52\00:42:03.65
I want to say this very clearly.
00:42:03.69\00:42:05.15
The story of your life and mine
00:42:05.19\00:42:08.42
is not that we
have a great heritage
00:42:08.46\00:42:11.86
but that we have a great God.
00:42:11.89\00:42:15.10
The story of my
ministry and your ministry
00:42:15.13\00:42:18.00
is not in our training but
it's in our transformation.
00:42:18.03\00:42:20.97
The story of our accomplishments
00:42:21.00\00:42:22.97
and our goals
is not in our plans
00:42:23.00\00:42:25.61
but in God's plans.
00:42:25.64\00:42:27.18
You see it's not
where you came from
00:42:27.21\00:42:29.01
but it's what God always
envisioned that you can be.
00:42:29.04\00:42:32.41
Look at 1 Corinthians
1:26-29 a powerful passage,
00:42:32.45\00:42:36.58
a powerful verse helping us
to see that we are the bushes
00:42:36.62\00:42:40.42
that are called to
reflect the glory of God.
00:42:40.46\00:42:43.86
Paul says, for you see,
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.59
verse 26-29 of 1
Corinthians Chapter 1,
00:42:46.63\00:42:51.97
"For you see your
calling, brethren,
00:42:52.00\00:42:55.60
that not many wise
according to the flesh,
00:42:55.64\00:42:59.17
not many mighty, not
many noble are called."
00:42:59.21\00:43:02.94
God is not looking for people
that think they're qualified.
00:43:02.98\00:43:05.68
He is looking for
people that are humbled.
00:43:05.71\00:43:07.42
God is not
looking for men and women
00:43:07.45\00:43:08.95
that think they
got it all together.
00:43:08.98\00:43:10.69
Now let me just
point and pause right here
00:43:10.72\00:43:12.75
for a brief moment
before I go to verse 27.
00:43:12.79\00:43:15.69
It's important to get education
00:43:15.72\00:43:17.69
but don't ever think
your education can go on
00:43:17.73\00:43:20.96
and make you successful without
the divine presence of God.
00:43:21.00\00:43:24.93
It's important to get a degree,
00:43:24.97\00:43:26.63
but remember the
most important degree
00:43:26.67\00:43:28.10
you need is a BA, Born Again.
00:43:28.14\00:43:31.94
It's important to
get a doctorate degree
00:43:31.97\00:43:33.78
or master's degree,
00:43:33.81\00:43:35.14
all the things you
desire to accomplish,
00:43:35.18\00:43:36.88
but remember, it is not
what you fill yourself with
00:43:36.91\00:43:39.91
but only when
you're filled by the power
00:43:39.95\00:43:42.22
and the presence
and the spirit of God
00:43:42.25\00:43:44.15
that your life
can be transformed.
00:43:44.19\00:43:45.95
I want to talk to
the young ladies today.
00:43:45.99\00:43:48.32
You may be in a
home that you feel
00:43:48.36\00:43:49.69
that your value
has been diminished
00:43:49.72\00:43:51.46
but God can turn
your life around.
00:43:51.49\00:43:52.99
I want to talk to
the young men today.
00:43:53.03\00:43:54.60
You may be in a home
where you are ignored,
00:43:54.63\00:43:56.50
where you're overlooked,
00:43:56.53\00:43:57.87
where you seem to
come back to the...
00:43:57.90\00:43:59.67
You seemed to end
about the back of the line.
00:43:59.70\00:44:01.54
God is gonna turn that
young man's life around,
00:44:01.57\00:44:03.97
that young lady's life around
00:44:04.01\00:44:05.41
if you simply realize that God
has a plan for you young man,
00:44:05.44\00:44:10.41
for you young lady.
00:44:10.45\00:44:12.48
You may be stuck
in a dead end job
00:44:12.51\00:44:15.25
wondering where
tomorrow is gonna be.
00:44:15.28\00:44:16.62
Let me tell you my testimony.
00:44:16.65\00:44:17.99
When I was working
down in the Wall Street
00:44:18.02\00:44:20.32
at one of the bank
and insurance companies.
00:44:20.36\00:44:22.62
I remember working
for an insurance company
00:44:22.66\00:44:24.26
and they said to
me, they said to me
00:44:24.29\00:44:26.43
that starting from
now on twice a month
00:44:26.46\00:44:29.33
we are going to call
you to work on Saturdays.
00:44:29.36\00:44:32.67
Now I was not in the
church as I should be,
00:44:32.70\00:44:35.00
but I remember the importance
of keeping the Sabbath holy.
00:44:35.04\00:44:37.94
It's amazing I am living sinful
00:44:37.97\00:44:39.31
but I am keeping
the Sabbath holy,
00:44:39.34\00:44:40.74
help me Lord.
00:44:40.78\00:44:42.31
I didn't forget that,
00:44:42.34\00:44:43.68
I would not work on the Sabbath
00:44:43.71\00:44:45.05
even though I had
nobody to tell me not to,
00:44:45.08\00:44:46.78
but God had
placed it in my heart
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.98
when I was a young man.
00:44:49.02\00:44:50.35
My mother put that
there and the Bible says,
00:44:50.39\00:44:52.09
if you train up a child
00:44:52.12\00:44:53.49
in a way he
should go when he is old,
00:44:53.52\00:44:54.89
he will not depart
from it, so I knew that.
00:44:54.92\00:44:57.63
But they scheduled
me to work on Sabbath
00:44:57.66\00:45:00.13
and I said to my
supervisor, I am not showing up.
00:45:00.16\00:45:02.60
He said but you have
to. I said I don't have to.
00:45:02.63\00:45:04.33
I am not gonna be here.
00:45:04.37\00:45:05.70
He said but
you're obligated to do.
00:45:05.73\00:45:07.44
I said I am not gonna be here.
00:45:07.47\00:45:09.27
He scheduled me,
I didn't show up.
00:45:09.30\00:45:11.01
Monday morning he
called me into the office,
00:45:11.04\00:45:12.44
he said you didn't come.
00:45:12.47\00:45:13.81
I said is that
a surprise to you,
00:45:13.84\00:45:15.18
I told you I wouldn't be here.
00:45:15.21\00:45:16.88
I told you I am not coming.
00:45:16.91\00:45:18.25
He said but it's your
responsibility, it's your job.
00:45:18.28\00:45:20.72
I said my
accountability is to my God.
00:45:20.75\00:45:23.69
He said you have
one more chance, John,
00:45:23.72\00:45:25.12
in two more weeks we're
gonna schedule you again.
00:45:25.15\00:45:27.46
I said let me tell you,
00:45:27.49\00:45:28.82
let's not, let's
not waste the time.
00:45:28.86\00:45:30.39
I felt like the Hebrews
in front of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:45:30.43\00:45:32.49
Let's not waste time here,
00:45:32.53\00:45:33.86
in two more weeks I'm
not gonna show up at all.
00:45:33.90\00:45:36.06
At that time they
scheduled me, I didn't show up.
00:45:36.10\00:45:38.90
I got fired on Monday morning.
I got fired on Monday morning.
00:45:38.93\00:45:42.84
Now some folk would say,
00:45:42.87\00:45:45.64
if you have a job
unless you are wealthy
00:45:45.67\00:45:48.78
you cannot afford to get fired.
00:45:48.81\00:45:50.71
Let me tell you the real story.
00:45:50.75\00:45:52.91
If you have a job,
00:45:52.95\00:45:55.05
your wealth is not
based on what you have.
00:45:55.08\00:45:57.45
The Bible says our God
is rich in houses and land.
00:45:57.49\00:46:01.56
He owns the cattle
on a thousand hills.
00:46:01.59\00:46:04.13
The earth is the Lord's
and the fullness thereof.
00:46:04.16\00:46:06.93
The gold and silver is mine.
00:46:06.96\00:46:08.56
And the Lord even
says if I will hungry,
00:46:08.60\00:46:11.33
I wouldn't even tell you.
00:46:11.37\00:46:13.74
So don't be fearful
that men may threaten you
00:46:13.77\00:46:16.50
to compromise the
truth of God's word.
00:46:16.54\00:46:18.37
When somebody says to
abandon your principles
00:46:18.41\00:46:21.48
and truth of God's
word to sustain your life,
00:46:21.51\00:46:23.68
that's the worst
decision you can make.
00:46:23.71\00:46:25.95
But when you
stand for what is right,
00:46:25.98\00:46:27.45
God will sustain you.
00:46:27.48\00:46:29.08
Look at 1 Corinthians
1:27 back to the burning bush,
00:46:29.12\00:46:34.39
God will provide for you.
00:46:34.42\00:46:36.42
The Lord says, "But God
00:46:36.46\00:46:38.73
has chosen the
foolish things of the world
00:46:38.76\00:46:41.06
to put to shame the wise,
00:46:41.10\00:46:43.16
and God has chosen the
weak things of the world,
00:46:43.20\00:46:46.70
the bushes of the world,
00:46:46.74\00:46:49.20
to put to shame the
things which are mighty.
00:46:49.24\00:46:52.54
And the base
things of the world,
00:46:52.57\00:46:55.04
that seem are unimportant,
00:46:55.08\00:46:57.18
and the things
which are despised,
00:46:57.21\00:46:59.65
God has chosen.
00:46:59.68\00:47:01.52
If you're despised
God is calling you.
00:47:01.55\00:47:04.05
If you seemed to be
overlooked and ignored,
00:47:04.09\00:47:05.79
God is calling
you and here is why,
00:47:05.82\00:47:08.39
and the things which are not,
00:47:08.42\00:47:11.36
to bring to nothing
the things that are,
00:47:11.39\00:47:14.33
that no flesh should
glory in His presence.
00:47:14.36\00:47:19.30
I want to tell you, friends.
00:47:19.33\00:47:20.67
The only flesh that receives
glory is the human flesh
00:47:20.70\00:47:25.21
that has been
consumed by the power
00:47:25.24\00:47:27.38
and the presence
of that divine God,
00:47:27.41\00:47:30.85
that burning bush.
00:47:30.88\00:47:32.21
Oh, I'll tell you one day
00:47:32.25\00:47:33.58
that burning bush
is gonna produce fruit.
00:47:33.62\00:47:35.52
That burning bush,
00:47:35.55\00:47:36.89
that's one of my
sermons I preached before
00:47:36.92\00:47:38.45
is gonna to begin to
produce 60, 30 or 100 fold
00:47:38.49\00:47:41.39
not because of
his or her abilities,
00:47:41.42\00:47:43.56
not because of
his or her education,
00:47:43.59\00:47:45.33
not because of
his or her intellect,
00:47:45.36\00:47:47.10
but because of the
power and the presence of God
00:47:47.13\00:47:49.10
in that person's life.
00:47:49.13\00:47:51.03
Well, I'll tell you
today, the glory of God
00:47:51.07\00:47:54.17
was revealed in
a bush that burned.
00:47:54.20\00:47:57.77
Let's look at that text again,
00:47:57.81\00:47:59.14
the one we began the story with,
00:47:59.17\00:48:00.64
the one I began my sermon with.
00:48:00.68\00:48:03.35
And the Lord, and the angel
of the Lord appeared to him,
00:48:03.38\00:48:07.78
Yahweh appeared to
Moses in a flame of fire
00:48:07.82\00:48:12.12
from the midst of a bush.
00:48:12.15\00:48:13.96
So he looked and behold
the bush was burning with fire
00:48:13.99\00:48:20.56
but the bush was not consumed.
00:48:20.60\00:48:24.03
You see the
title of this message
00:48:24.07\00:48:25.77
was solving the
Christian crises.
00:48:25.80\00:48:29.14
How do we solve
the Christian crises?
00:48:29.17\00:48:31.51
How do unfruitful Christians
00:48:31.54\00:48:34.94
become fruitful workers for God?
00:48:34.98\00:48:38.05
How do
unproductive church member
00:48:38.08\00:48:39.61
sitting in
church from week to week
00:48:39.65\00:48:41.58
become active in
the field of God's work?
00:48:41.62\00:48:43.75
How do people that seem as
though they have no calling,
00:48:43.79\00:48:46.59
no gifts, no abilities,
00:48:46.62\00:48:48.69
all of a sudden
become effective,
00:48:48.72\00:48:50.49
vibrant excited
workers in the kingdom of God.
00:48:50.53\00:48:54.16
The bushes of the congregation,
the bushes of your family.
00:48:54.20\00:48:57.97
The burning bushes
00:48:58.00\00:48:59.33
that seemed to have
no ability of their own,
00:48:59.37\00:49:01.54
how do they get placed,
00:49:01.57\00:49:05.57
where they become valuable
in the sight of humanity?
00:49:05.61\00:49:08.78
You see the
question is, very careful.
00:49:08.81\00:49:10.95
How will the Lord
appear to the world
00:49:10.98\00:49:13.55
except He lights a fire in us.
00:49:13.58\00:49:17.09
Now get this.
00:49:17.12\00:49:19.02
Jesus was revealed in the bush,
00:49:19.05\00:49:22.26
the glory of God
appeared to Moses,
00:49:22.29\00:49:25.46
but there is another glory
that the world needs to see.
00:49:25.49\00:49:27.40
The world needs to
see the glory of God.
00:49:27.43\00:49:30.97
And here is the
point, my friends,
00:49:31.00\00:49:32.40
the only way that the
world will see the glory of God
00:49:32.43\00:49:35.94
is if we let God light us
up for the glory of His name,
00:49:35.97\00:49:41.21
for the glory of His kingdom,
for the work of His kingdom,
00:49:41.24\00:49:44.51
for the majesty of the holy one.
00:49:44.55\00:49:47.22
That's why He says in the Bible,
00:49:47.25\00:49:48.58
let your light shine before men,
00:49:48.62\00:49:50.52
let your light
so shine before men
00:49:50.55\00:49:53.39
that they may
see your good works
00:49:53.42\00:49:55.66
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
00:49:55.69\00:49:59.03
The glory belongs to Him.
00:49:59.06\00:50:01.00
But God has called us to
be the bushes of the world,
00:50:01.03\00:50:04.17
to allow Him to light us up.
00:50:04.20\00:50:05.87
How will they
know the love of God
00:50:05.90\00:50:07.94
except Jesus is
reflected in us and through us?
00:50:07.97\00:50:13.74
You see when you
love the unlovely,
00:50:13.78\00:50:15.58
when you accept those
who have been caste away,
00:50:15.61\00:50:17.71
when you put your arms around
00:50:17.75\00:50:19.08
those who have been pushed away,
00:50:19.11\00:50:20.65
when you lift the
burden of somebody
00:50:20.68\00:50:22.38
who is down on his last cent.
00:50:22.42\00:50:25.35
Jesus is letting your
bush reflect His glory.
00:50:25.39\00:50:29.69
When you stand for
those things that are right,
00:50:29.72\00:50:31.79
though the heavens fall.
00:50:31.83\00:50:33.16
When you take the
stand that seems odd,
00:50:33.19\00:50:35.86
but you do it
for the glory of God,
00:50:35.90\00:50:37.57
your light is
reflecting of the glory of God.
00:50:37.60\00:50:40.60
How will the world
hear about salvation
00:50:40.64\00:50:43.61
except they hear it through us?
00:50:43.64\00:50:46.24
You see our pit fall is to think
00:50:46.27\00:50:49.01
that we were chosen
because we were special.
00:50:49.04\00:50:53.55
We became special
when we were chosen.
00:50:53.58\00:50:56.92
Let me say that again.
00:50:56.95\00:50:58.39
The pit fall to many of us
to think that we were chosen
00:50:58.42\00:51:01.49
because we were special,
because we were qualified,
00:51:01.52\00:51:04.13
because we were gifted.
00:51:04.16\00:51:06.13
But the reality of the
story is we became special
00:51:06.16\00:51:10.27
when we were chosen.
00:51:10.30\00:51:12.60
The Lord made us
special by His character,
00:51:12.63\00:51:15.10
by His righteousness,
by His glory, by His gifts,
00:51:15.14\00:51:18.97
by His ability, by
His light, by His power,
00:51:19.01\00:51:22.28
by His Holy Spirit,
not by anything of our own.
00:51:22.31\00:51:26.18
We were just bushes
until Jesus came in.
00:51:26.21\00:51:29.45
And so people hear of salvation,
00:51:29.48\00:51:31.22
they can see the love of God,
00:51:31.25\00:51:32.62
they can see the
fire of God's kingdom
00:51:32.65\00:51:34.49
only as we allow Him
00:51:34.52\00:51:36.16
to consume our humanity
that His divinity may be seen.
00:51:36.19\00:51:40.30
You see when Jesus
found us, we were dry bushes
00:51:40.33\00:51:45.10
with no glory to speak
of and no fruit to brag of.
00:51:45.13\00:51:48.50
But listen to John 15:16
00:51:48.54\00:51:51.17
as I begin to
close this message.
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.38
Jesus made it clear
as He said to Moses,
00:51:53.41\00:51:56.04
He called Moses to
lead the children of Israel
00:51:56.08\00:52:00.35
against a recalcitrant pharaoh
00:52:00.38\00:52:03.45
and an army of Egyptian soldiers
00:52:03.49\00:52:06.02
that were born on
the most powerful army
00:52:06.05\00:52:08.92
in the then known world.
00:52:08.96\00:52:10.29
How could this one man
who couldn't hardly speak
00:52:10.33\00:52:14.53
fulfill the commission of
God with his brother Aaron,
00:52:14.56\00:52:17.77
and his sister Miriam,
how could they do that?
00:52:17.80\00:52:20.84
Listen to what the
Bible says John 15:16,
00:52:20.87\00:52:24.67
the Lord says to us
today, you did not choose me
00:52:24.71\00:52:28.91
but I choose you,
that's good news friend.
00:52:28.94\00:52:31.85
You didn't choose
me, John, I chose you.
00:52:31.88\00:52:34.28
You didn't choose
me, Terry, I chose you.
00:52:34.32\00:52:37.15
You didn't choose me,
Danny Shelton, I chose you.
00:52:37.19\00:52:40.26
You didn't choose
me, whomever you may be.
00:52:40.29\00:52:42.12
God chose us that you He
said should go and bear fruit,
00:52:42.16\00:52:48.56
and that your
fruit should remain,
00:52:48.60\00:52:50.77
that whatever you ask the Father
00:52:50.80\00:52:53.44
in My name He
will give it to you.
00:52:53.47\00:52:56.91
You see, friends,
it's not what we can do
00:52:56.94\00:52:58.44
but it's what God
promises He can do.
00:52:58.47\00:53:00.84
It's not our
choice, it's his choice,
00:53:00.88\00:53:03.08
so don't shy away from a
God who sees you as you can be
00:53:03.11\00:53:08.22
and not just as you are.
00:53:08.25\00:53:10.12
One of my favorite verses in
the Bible have become 1 John 3.
00:53:10.15\00:53:14.12
I want to share this with you.
00:53:14.16\00:53:15.49
It's not in my script
but I want to share it to you
00:53:15.52\00:53:17.03
because it's a powerful passage.
00:53:17.06\00:53:19.13
1 John 3:1.
00:53:19.16\00:53:21.33
Behold what manner of love
the Father has bestowed on us,
00:53:21.36\00:53:25.60
that we burning
bushes should be called
00:53:25.63\00:53:29.24
children of God!
00:53:29.27\00:53:30.87
Therefore the
world does not know us,
00:53:30.91\00:53:33.17
because it did not know Him."
00:53:33.21\00:53:35.24
But I like the second verse,
00:53:35.28\00:53:36.78
"Beloved, now we
are children of God
00:53:36.81\00:53:40.62
and it has not
yet been revealed."
00:53:40.65\00:53:42.98
You see people see us as bushes,
00:53:43.02\00:53:44.79
it has yet not been revealed
we shall be the Bible says,
00:53:44.82\00:53:47.49
but we know that
when He is revealed,
00:53:47.52\00:53:53.16
you see when we see Jesus again,
00:53:53.19\00:53:55.03
we're not gonna
see Him crucified.
00:53:55.06\00:53:56.73
We're not gonna
see Him tormented.
00:53:56.77\00:53:58.20
We're not gonna see Him
in Pilate's judgment hall.
00:53:58.23\00:54:00.24
We're not gonna see
him with thorns of crown,
00:54:00.27\00:54:02.70
a crown of thorns on His head.
00:54:02.74\00:54:04.07
We're not gonna see
Him nailed on a cross.
00:54:04.11\00:54:05.87
We're gonna see
Him in unsolid glory.
00:54:05.91\00:54:08.18
We're gonna see Him reflecting
divine, beauty and radiance
00:54:08.21\00:54:11.21
that we have never
seen with human eyes before.
00:54:11.25\00:54:13.65
And so the same
is true about us.
00:54:13.68\00:54:16.55
People may see us now,
but the Bible assures us
00:54:16.58\00:54:20.32
that when Jesus is
revealed, we shall be like Him,
00:54:20.36\00:54:25.06
for we shall see Him as He is.
00:54:25.09\00:54:27.56
One day a burning bush
00:54:27.60\00:54:29.46
is gonna look like
the crucified savior
00:54:29.50\00:54:31.60
risen again glorified
and never to die again.
00:54:31.63\00:54:35.40
And so my brother and sisters,
here is the simple formula.
00:54:35.44\00:54:38.34
If you died
yourself, if you died of sin,
00:54:38.37\00:54:40.94
you can live to
the glory of God.
00:54:40.98\00:54:42.61
But if you live to sin,
00:54:42.64\00:54:44.35
you will die
and the glory of God
00:54:44.38\00:54:46.51
will never be
revealed in your life.
00:54:46.55\00:54:49.95
The fact of the matter is
00:54:49.98\00:54:51.52
only Jesus can
turn barren bushes
00:54:51.55\00:54:55.96
into flourishing fruit trees.
00:54:55.99\00:54:58.73
In ministry we can get caught up
00:54:58.76\00:55:01.80
in trying to be so many
things but now listen carefully.
00:55:01.83\00:55:07.40
I used to want
to be this and that
00:55:07.44\00:55:08.94
but now all I want
to be is a burning bush
00:55:08.97\00:55:13.58
ignited for the
glory and the honor of God.
00:55:13.61\00:55:17.11
You see, I spent so many
years trying to avoid the fire,
00:55:17.15\00:55:21.85
but I finally
realized that we're called
00:55:21.88\00:55:24.79
to embrace the fire,
00:55:24.82\00:55:26.59
the fire that
consumes everything about us,
00:55:26.62\00:55:29.39
every thought about
us, every action from us,
00:55:29.42\00:55:32.53
every dream of
ours, that God's glory,
00:55:32.56\00:55:35.43
that God's dream,
that God's vision,
00:55:35.46\00:55:37.63
that God's plan,
that God's purpose,
00:55:37.67\00:55:39.83
that's God's
future can be revealed
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.94
not only in us but through
us for others and for us.
00:55:41.97\00:55:46.17
And so today I
embrace the burning fire.
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.24
I used to run from it.
00:55:49.28\00:55:50.65
And, friends, when you run
from what God is trying to do,
00:55:50.68\00:55:53.78
you never become like Him.
00:55:53.82\00:55:55.55
But the fact of the matter is
00:55:55.58\00:55:57.72
the fire that God has
kindled in the burning bush,
00:55:57.75\00:56:00.49
get this now, let's
go back to the bush.
00:56:00.52\00:56:02.42
The bush was not
burned up, but it was on fire.
00:56:02.46\00:56:05.33
You see the fire will refine us
00:56:05.36\00:56:08.00
and consume whatever
does not reflect Christ.
00:56:08.03\00:56:12.90
Oh, friends, the fire will not,
00:56:12.93\00:56:15.44
the fire of God
is not to destroy us
00:56:15.47\00:56:18.07
in the fires of hell.
00:56:18.11\00:56:19.67
But the fire that Jesus
wants to ignite in our lives
00:56:19.71\00:56:23.04
is that the glory
of God might be seen.
00:56:23.08\00:56:25.18
Jesus did not come,
He said that in John 3:17
00:56:25.21\00:56:28.75
"For God sent not his Son
00:56:28.78\00:56:30.49
into the world to
condemn the world,
00:56:30.52\00:56:32.75
but that the world
through him might be saved."
00:56:32.79\00:56:36.32
Today, you want
to be a burning bush
00:56:36.36\00:56:37.89
for the glory of God.
00:56:37.93\00:56:39.26
You want to be a plant
reflecting the glory of God.
00:56:39.29\00:56:41.33
Remember these two
very important phrases.
00:56:41.36\00:56:44.13
Jesus did not
come to burn us up,
00:56:44.17\00:56:47.97
but He came to light us up.
00:56:48.00\00:56:50.07
Hallelujah.
00:56:50.11\00:56:51.44
He did not come to burn
us up, he came to light us up
00:56:51.47\00:56:55.71
that the world may
see in our ignited lives,
00:56:55.74\00:56:58.91
the glory of the
incorruptible God.
00:56:58.95\00:57:02.42
So don't get, don't get
caught up in what you are
00:57:02.45\00:57:06.62
but grab the vision
that God has for your life.
00:57:06.65\00:57:08.72
And one day you
will see yourself
00:57:08.76\00:57:11.33
the way He has always seen you.
00:57:11.36\00:57:13.90
The mission of
Jesus is not to consume us
00:57:13.93\00:57:18.60
but to ignite us.
00:57:18.63\00:57:19.97
I pray that all of the bushes
watching this program one day
00:57:20.00\00:57:22.97
will embrace the fire of God
00:57:23.00\00:57:24.91
that the glory of
God will finally be seen.
00:57:24.94\00:57:27.58
God bless you.
00:57:27.61\00:57:28.94