Teaching Notes
According to Webster’s dictionary, a bush is a large area (such as in Australia or Africa) that has not been cleared and that is not used for farming. Example of usage in a sentence: She recently spent several weeks in the bush.
Moses had walked by many bushes while in the desert, but when God wanted to kick-start a rebellion he started with an ordinary bush!
Moses and the Burning Bush
Exodus 3:1-22, NLT
1 “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.”
Note: Moses didn’t just marry into any old family he married into a priesthood!
2 “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.”
Note: I love the biblical descriptions. There’s a difference between just a fire and a BLAZING CRACKLING FIRE!
God’s fire does not consume us! It doesn’t consume true Christians. See Daniel 3:23
Daniel 3:23-26, NLT
23 “So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, ‘Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,’ they replied. 25 ‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. ‘I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!’ 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’”
How many of you have been set on fire for the Lord! Amen.
Now back to Exodus 3
Exodus 3:3-9
3“’This is amazing,’ Moses said to himself. ‘Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.’ 4 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.”
Note: As we draw near to Him, he draws near to us! It wasn’t until Moses drew near that God called Moses.
5 “’Do not come any closer,’ the Lord warned. ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 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.
7 “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. 8 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. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.'”
Note: It’s time for a rescue operation! It’s time, but yet it’s been 400 years of this oppression!
Did you know that as a believer you can bend time!? See John 2: 1-12
The Wedding at Cana
John 2:1-14, NLT
1 “The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’ 4’Dear woman, that’s not our problem,’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come.’
Note: Jesus doesn’t lie.
5 “But his mother told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’
Note: Faith was released by Mary, the mother of Jesus.
6 “Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, ‘Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.’ So the servants followed his instructions.
9 “When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 ‘A host always serves the best wine first,’ he said. ‘Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!’ 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
Note: As we read this first miracle Jesus says “It’s not my time!” Sooo, is Jesus lying? No, it was not His time, so what happened? Time was bent! God is the author of time! If you take a piece of paper and draw a straight line and put 2 dots along the line far apart. The first dot represents the time of now. The second dot represents the time of the future event. Now, we know Jesus doesn’t lie, so if it’s not his time, then why did the miracle happen? Faith can bend time as it did here! Bend the paper so both dots are now on top of each other. Bending time draws you into a new season. Faith allows acceleration. What am I saying? You don’t have to be in a season of lack anymore. You don’t have to be in whatever season you’re in. Use your faith to accelerate into your next season! C’mon, God! What I’m trying to say is the Hebrews did not have to wait 400 years. Although God knew the offspring of Abraham would not extend their faith and would be afflicted for the 400 years according to Genesis 15:13, they didn’t have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years! It was unnecessary. Just activate your faith and trust God just like the Centurion! Jesus was about to WALK TO THE CENTURIANS HOUSE, BUT IT’S UNNECESSARY WHEN YOU ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH!(Mathew 8:5-13)
Back to Exodus
10 “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
Note: God chose a murderer to lead his people. Would a man do that? “Can I get a murderer? Yes, you there, can you lead?” Man doesn’t qualify you, but God does. You don’t even qualify you, God does!
11 “But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?’”
Note: Every Christian asks themselves this! “Who am I ? Who am I, Lord, to do your calling?” But you must quickly get out of this phase and realize it’s not about you. It’s not about if you are qualified. God is the one who qualifies you! Now, step out! Step out, my Moses and Mosesettes! Women can be called just as men!
Also noted, God called Moses; he didn’t call Aaron! Moses and God would have been enough, but since Moses asked, God granted it unto him.
Back to Exodus
12 “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.'”
Note: God intended for his people to always remember him as the hero in their life, but it was not so because people soon forgot, and they looked to the left and to the right and got distracted and fell and worshipped idols. Then they wanted kings like other people did. Their eyes were on the world too much. How do you think God felt?
13 “But Moses protested, ‘If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?’ 14 God replied to Moses, ‘I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.’ 15God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.'”
Yahweh is God’s name for ALL generations, so what is God’s name to you in this season?
- El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
- Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
- Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
- Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
- Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace)
- Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
- Elohim (God)
For the city of Nazareth, they saw Jesus as “a carpenter,” and so that’s exactly what they got, a couple of chairs and tables. But if you see Him as your Healer, if you see Him as Jehovah Rapha let the healing pour out right now in the mighty name of Jesus! Receive it now! I’m writing prophetic words that have power in the name of Jesus! If you read this next year, these words still have power. If you read this in the next 100 years, guess what? These words STILL HAVE HEALING POWER AMEN!
Continue in Exodus
19 “’But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. 20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. 21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. 22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.’”
So when they left on God’s mission, they had provision, amen.
You know, when I left California, when God first started to call me out from there, I had godly provision! Yes, that’s right. Even the landlord GAVE me and my wife money! The landlord gave us money! They wanted to bless us! They knew the power of giving! Our neighbors gave us money for our trip as well! As I left, God provided! Utah. As I was leaving Utah, this very ministry, through many of you, GAVE and it allowed me and my family to travel here to Virginia Beach!
Recap
- Rebellion: When God wanted to kick-start a rebellion, he started with an ordinary bush! Some of you out there have bushes in your family. People that seem tp just not be where they’re supposed to be in the Lord. Keep praying, because God will honor your prayers, and he will light that bush on fire. And it just might provoke you to jealousy because they’re moving farther with God than you are! Amen. Some of them will be saved early; some won’t be saved until their deathbed, but you know what? At least the Lord got them!
- Draw near: As you draw near to God, He’ll draw near to you. God didn’t call out to Moses until he drew near to the bush.
- You can bend time by faith: It wasn’t Jesus’ time, yet time bended. It was like time fast forwarded to the appointed time and IT BECAME JESUS’ TIME DUE TO FAITH!
- Who am I?: Every Christian asks themselves this. Get over it; it’s not about you! It’s about you stepping out in faith. God uses murderers, gangstars, strippers, thieves, rocks, donkeys, etc. Theres no limit on God! God loves to use your weakness for His Glory!
- Who is God to you in this season?: God has many facets. Call upon the one you need. Which name of God do you need in your life?
- Step out: As the Hebrews stepped out in faith and left Egypt, God provided!
- What can you do?: Are you tired of the same ol same ol? If you want something different, then you have to DO SOMETHING different in order to get a different result. Why not “try” God. By try, I mean TRUST GOD! Let God lead you onto your next journey! Let God be the hero of your life!
I truly love you all,
Pastor/Coach Jeno
