Dr MJ du Plessis Reformed Church Bellville 21 August 2005 (morning Scripture NIV

REFORMED CHURCH BELLVILLE: SUNDAY 21 AUGUST 2005: MORNING SERVICE

Let us commence this meeting with God by declaring openly to one another and to God:
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Beloved grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, through the mighty working of God the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Psalm of praise: Psalm 73:1+7+11+12
Confession of faith: Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, or us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was Incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.

And we believe one holy catholic* and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

After the reading of the Law we confess our guilt and pray for forgiveness and a new life before God with Psalm 51:3
Law
Psalm 51:3

Prayer:

Doxology
Worship
Confession of sins
- Forgiveness
·Gratitude
Prayer for the need of the congregation for the church, the authorities and the sinful world and appeal to God's promises.
General prayer
Enlightenment from the Holy Spirit for the sake of the ministry of the Word.

Psalm: 27:1+6
Scripture: Exodus 3
Text: Exodus 3:10

"So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

It is written in Romans 8 that the Lord called us to believe because He predestined us and that through His grace we are enabled to respond to this calling with faith and that because of this we are eventually sanctified by Him. (Romans 8:28-30)

This passage we must apply to all spheres of life.

The Lord calls all true believers to fulfill a particular calling.
The Lord calls us all while we live to cherish the interests of His church – which is logical for we are the church.

In this sermon we shall consider this:

The fact that the Lord calls us to be true believers and to glorify the Lord with all our abilities.
We may not disregard this calling nor may we despise it.

Between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses the circumstances in which the Israelites lived in Egypt changed dramatically.

We shall disregard the relationship that existed between the Israelites and the Egyptians.
Let us consider the issue of God's concern for His elect as described in this history.
Note how the Lord devotes attention to this and provides rescue by calling people and their obedience to this call.

We could say that the church was in crisis (remember that the Israelites represented the church of God).

A situation developed that threatened the survival of the church in the sense that all the members of the church were killed at birth.
The church therefore could not grow and would decline and eventually perish.

Note, congregation, that the church of those days suffered two crises:

A crisis of faith
A crisis of survival

The Lord was concerned about this situation and provided rescue. See how He does it:

Out of the tribe of Levi a boy is born.
This tribe would later become the tribe of priests – Moses.
Moses is destined to be educated in the palace of Pharaoh.
In this way the Lord provides that Moses acquires the education and experience he will need to be able to lead the chosen people (the church) out of the land of the heathen.

In the palace Moses' talents are developed.

He receives the best education available at the time.
He also receives military training – which he would later in the desert pass on to the Israelites.

Initially Moses was not acceptable to the Israelites as a leader.

He was the only surviving boy baby of the Israelites.
For all practical purposes he was an Egyptian.
The Lord provides that Moses shall kill an Egyptian and fall out of favour with Pharaoh and be compelled to flee from Egypt.
This incident showed the Israelites that with Moses blood was thicker than water. He remained an Israelite – he was one of them.

This brings us to Horeb where the Lord called Moses.

God Himself calls Moses.
This by itself is a remarkable event – at that moment God had last appeared to somebody 400 years ago and that was to Jacob when he was on his way to Egypt.
It was when he was at Beersheba where he offered sacrifices to the Lord.
The Lord appeared to him and promised Jacob that He would make him into a great nation in Egypt. (Genesis 46:1-4)

The Lord appears to Moses in a fire.

Moses does not immediately recognize God.
He goes closer to examine the strange sight.
He cannot understand why the fire does not consume the bush.

Some commentators explain the meaning of the fire as being symbolical of God's righteousness and holiness when He calls people.

God's holiness is also made plain when He tells Moses not to come closer.
This brings us to an important issue in considering the matter of calling.
There is a great distance between ourselves and God – a distance that we cannot remove.

This distance emphasises the obedience we must show when God calls us. This distance is further emphasized when God tells Moses who He is. "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Israel and the God of Jacob". (Verse 6)

With this the Lord tells Moses that He is the God of history.

From eternity to eternity God is there and He determines every event in history.
It also emphasizes to Moses the immense greatness and almight of the Person calling him.
This should fulfil Moses with fear should he not answer to his calling.

God then commands Moses: Go and fetch my people. "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt". (Verse 10)

This is an important matter. God calls Moses to fetch His church.

In this call God reveals the crisis in which His church finds itself and also His concern and love for this people whom He chose.
Brothers and sisters, how do we deal with our calling that is very similar to this calling of Moses?
The question is directed to all of us who are called to the faith.

Moses is unwilling.

He is in opposition – without cause.
He does not want to do what God calls him to do.
His face is still hidden in fear but he raises objections.

The meaning of being called by God passes him by.

He approaches the situation from his human perspective.
He does not want to go to his people to rescue them for God from the Egyptians.

Listen to his objections.

He is unworthy.
He is not eloquent.

Note what he fails to consider.

He fails to consider that it is God who sends him and who will give him the power to do His work.
He fails to recognise that he must do his work with God's power.
Consider this – do we not underrate or despise the power of God when we, because of all kinds of human reasons and considerations, do not carry out a particular command from God?

God is patient, and when Moses raises an objection the Lord encourages him:"I will be with you".

The Lord gives him a sign – go and fetch the people and you will worship Me here at this mountain.

But Moses remains unconvinced.

Who must he say sent him, what is God's Name?
God answers him – tell them "I Am has sent me to you".
The Lord also reveals to Moses that He has already prepared the people – "The elders of Israel will listen to you". (Verse 18)

Eventually Moses begs the Lord to send someone else to do his work. "O Lord, please send someone else to do it". (Ex 4:13)

The Lord then is angered. Aaron, Moses' brother can speak. Moses must go.

Moses' objections are reported in detail to show man's sinfulness. Man does not argue with God.

When considering one's calling there is only one issue to consider and that is whether it is God who is calling.
If that is the case one answers the call because God has already made it possible for you to do the work.

It also becomes clear that God does not like it that people question His call. By doing so His holiness and almight is questioned.

To understand the issue of calling or a command from God properly we look at what we are taught in our confession about the calling of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Belgic Confession Article 21)

His task was to reconcile with God those whom the Father had given Him. (John 17)
We believe that Jesus Christ was confirmed by an oath to be a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
He presented Himself in our place before His Father, appeasing God's wrath by His full satisfaction.
This He did by offering Himself on the tree of the cross where He poured out His precious blood to purge away our sins as the prophets had foretold.

Note – the Lord Jesus never doubted whether He would be true to His calling or not. From the beginning to the end He was obedient!

What was the content of the calling (command) that God had given Him?

It is written that the punishment that brings us peace was upon the Son of God.
By His wounds we are healed, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and he was numbered with the wicked. (Isaiah 53:5, 7+9)
He was condemned as a criminal by Pontius Pilate though he had first declared Him innocent.
He restored what He had not stolen. (Ps 69:4)
He died as the righteous for the unrighteous. (1 Peter 3:18)
He suffered in body and soul feeling the horrible punishment caused by our sins and His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. (Luke 22:44)
He exclaimed "My God my God why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:26)

All this He suffered for the forgiveness of our sins.

Together with the apostle Paul we justly say that we speak only of Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)
We consider everything as rubbish for to know Christ Jesus, our Lord surpasses everything in value. (Philippians 3:8)
In His wounds we find complete comfort.

We have no need to seek or invent any other means of reconciliation with God than this only sacrifice, once offered, by which the believers are perfected for all times. (Hebrews 10:14)

This is also the reason why the Angel of God called Him "Jesus" that is "Saviour", because He would save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

We who are now saved owe God one thing only, that is, complete obedience whatever He demands of us or when He calls us to serve in His service.

What is your calling?
Have you found it?
How do you answer your calling before God?
Amen

Closing Prayer
Closing Psalm: 33:1+5
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn His countenance to you and give you peace.
Amen

Dr MJ du Plessis
Reformed Church Bellville
21 August 2005 (morning
Scripture NIV