Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and Sunday evening, April 04, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
JESUS; THE GREAT “I AM” MOSES MET
AT THE BURNING BUSH
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Exodus3:1-14
Text: Exodus 3:14
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Introduction: Undoubtedly one of the most unusual experiences of Moses’ life up to that point occurred in this chapter. He came upon a bush that was burning, but was not consumed. Moreover, as Moses turned aside to investigate, the LORD spoke to Moses from the burning bush and proclaimed that He had a mission for Moses, to deliver God’s people from the slavery of Egypt. Timid Moses, afraid that he would not know how to explain to the Israelites this divine task, asked, “What shall I say to them?” when the Israelites asked God’s name. The Lord spoke the words of our text:
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
What an unusual name! “I AM!” Why would God call Himself such a name?
We are told that the name, Jehovah, can mean “God is.” God not only was and shall be, but ALWAYS IS. The name God used at this time, and He has
many names throughout the Bible, showed His eternal nature. God is the God of NOW.
Moreover, I believe this is ALSO a type, or prophetic picture, of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask you to think with me now, forgetting for this hour the activities of the world, and focusing on the passage before us, seeking help from God Almighty to reveal to us the truth of the passage. We are going to look for JESUS in Moses’ call and in God’s revelation of Himself to Moses.
Remember that Jesus said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The book of Exodus, the second book of Moses, is one of those scriptures that testifies of JESUS, for Jesus said later in the same chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Moses wrote of JESUS. Our Lord met with two of His disciples after His resurrection,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Today we’re going to look into this passage and see if God will show us something that is written about our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This morning’s message is titled:
JESUS; THE GREAT “I AM” MOSES MET AT THE BURNING BUSH
In the call of Moses, notice three elements:
1. The bush – representing the people under persecution. The Israelites were persecuted, even as fire represents trials, but they were not destroyed. They are still not destroyed today!
2. The burning – the power of preservation and purification through the persecution in preparation for the Promised land. Fire is associated with purification and preservation; see Psalms 12:6-7; Malachi 3:2 (the refiner’s fire); etc.
3. The Baptist – Moses wasn’t a Baptist as you and I or, nor was he even a New Testament Christian. However, according to 1 Corinthians 10:2, he WAS BAPTIZED after leaving Egypt:
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
You may still be wondering where we can find Jesus in the passage. Well, first recognize that the voice in the burning bush is the REVELATION of
God’s PERSON to Moses. Likewise, Jesus is the revelation of God’s person:
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
God revealed Himself to Moses in a VOICE, and God revealed Himself to mankind over 2,000 years later as THE WORD:
Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
I believe this voice that spoke with Moses, preserving the bush that was burning, is the same voice that had fellowship with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the midst of the burning fiery furnace:
Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Oh, my friend, these HEBREWS were in the midst of a FIRE but were not consumed, because of the presence of the SON OF GOD in their midst. What were they doing? They were WALKING WITH JESUS! Four men were WALKING in the fire! Today if you are going through some fiery trial, you may not SEE Him, but JESUS is there with you, walking you through.
Through shady green pastures so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along,
Where the waters’ cold flow bathes the weary one’s feet
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the FIRE, but all through the blood!
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
God leads His children THROUGH the fire! He’ll get you THROUGH to the other side even as He got the three Hebrew children out of the wilderness. He’ll also lead you through or by means of the fire, even as He led the children of Israel by night by a pillar of fire!
I’m saying to you that the I AM who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush is JESUS!
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 18:4-6 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
On a number of occasions Jesus said, “I am.” We will only have time to briefly touch on some of them, but let’s rejoice as we look together at Jesus, the great I AM who preserved the bush in the midst of the fire.
I. JESUS SAID I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE JESUS IS THE ANSWER TO THE FAMINE OF YOUR SOUL
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
A. He is the “holy” bread
B. He is the heavenly bread
II. JESUS SAID I AM THE DOOR JESUS IS THE ACCESS TO SALVATION
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
A. He provides access to God’s pardon in salvation
B. He provides access to green pastures in salvation (Psalms 23:1-2)
C. He provides access to guaranteed protection (eternal security) in salvation
1. As with Noah – “the LORD SHUT him in” (Genesis 7:16)
III. JESUS SAID I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD JESUS IS THE AFFECTION OF GOD GIVING HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP
John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
A. He was crucified for us in love – Romans 5:8
B. He claims us in love
IV. JESUS SAID I AM THE LIFE JESUS IS THE ABILITY TO BE A CHILD OF GOD
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
A. His promises are life – John 6:63
B. His presence is life – 1 John 5:12
V. JESUS SAID I AM YOUR MASTER AND LORD JESUS IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THE BELIEVER
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
We yield to His authority, and
A. As Master He commands and controls as a master does his servant
B. As Master He counsels as a master (instructor) does his student
VI. JESUS SAID I AM THE TRUTH JESUS IS THE ABSOLUTE BY WHICH ALL PROCLAMATIONS ARE JUDGED
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest
overcome when thou art judged.
A. All righteousness is measured by Him
B. All religions are measured by Him
C. All reasoning is measured by Him
VII. JESUS SAID I AM THE WAY JESUS IS THE AVENUE TO THE FATHER
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
A. He shows the path
B. He supplies permission
VIII. JESUS SAID I AM THE RESURRECTION JESUS IS THE ASSURANCE OF LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
A. He is the promise of it – John 14:19
B. He is the pattern for it
1. We shall be like Him! – 1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21; Romams 8:23,29
IX. JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE JESUS IS THE ABIDING POWER FOR THE FRUITFUL LIFE
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
A. We must depend completely on Him
B. We must draw continually toward Him and from Him
1. Abiding in him practically, as we are positionally
X. JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD JESUS IS THE ADVERSARY OF DARKNESS
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Thank God, we don’t have to walk in the darkness:
A. Of damnation
B. Of doubt
C. Of discouragement
D. Of deception
E. Of defilement
We can walk in HIS LIGHT!
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church |