God Encounters

Canvas Church : San Diego

God Encounters 

"One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:1-12 NLT)

This shows us that God can show up whenever, however, & where ever he wants. God does this throughout the bible. This is an invitation. He gets his attention & draws Moses in then he began to reveal some things to him. God doesn't reveal everything right away. 

"Take your shoes off this is holy ground." Moses was just invited in on this intimate relationship. "Come inside, friend." People back then wore sandals or no shoes at all so upon entering someones house it was customary to wash your feet & not trek dirt through someone's house. 

1) It's an invitation to Grace. Moses is a murderer! He didn't earn anything, he is running for his life. AND HE IS OLD (like 80), he wasn't "qualified". "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. "(Ephesians 2:8 NLT) God wants you to know it's not about you? It's about him. He can choose who ever, where ever, when ever!

And the very way we enter into this relationship is the same way it is maintained. BY GRACE.! 

2) Then once your intrigued: An invitation to purpose. No prerequisite necessary. He lays out a plan & a purpose to Moses ..to free his people. 

That plan is still the same today by the way. 

God says here's who you are and I'm going to put purpose behind it. You lead sheep awesomely Moses so now I want you to lead my people. 

3) An invitation to fulfillment. This entire plan had NOTHING to do with Moses personally. It wasn't about him at all. Verse 10 is the moment where Moses finds fulfillment, from the moment he was shoved down the river in the basket God had a plan for him. 

"Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10 NLT)

You often have to confront the things in your past in order to walk through to your future & your fulfillment. 

Verse 12 God made Moses a promise. Come back & stand in this same place & worship me with my people, confirming that IT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED! God never fails. 

God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12 NLT)

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)