This tree looks beautiful and lush at the top. It is still growing and thriving. We enjoy the shade of this tree and birds play in its lush green branches.

But this oak tree is hollow. It has nothing at its core and is dying from the inside out. That is why many of us are so stressed, we are dying from the inside out because there is nothing inside that can sustain us!

You may wonder how you can accomplish a task without the task consuming you? How can a person burn and burn and not burn up?

Exodus 3:2
2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

Like Moses at the burning bush, the only way to burn and not be consumed is to have God in you!

Exodus 3:3, 4
3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

Moses had a curiousity about God and went for a look. He saw something strange, interrupted his schedule and met God face to face.

So here we see several things:

• God can inhabit anything without causing its destruction, and
• We must be willing to interrupt our schedule to seek out God (or in this case the unexplained)

But there is a third, more powerful thing that we need to realize. There wasn’t anything special about the bush! God can use any old bush!

Oh, but you don’t understand, “I’m old and worn out and I’ve served my time.” or “You don’t understand, I’ve sinned to much to be of any good” or “You don’t understand I’m too much in debt to do anything.”

Jesus doesn’t ask you to commit to a task, He asks that you commit to Him. He’ll handle the task.

If you are willing, God will handle it!

God is the great “I AM.” You and I are the great “I AM NOT. “

It is God’s job to make us what He’d have us to be.

When Jesus Christ gets a hold of you, even if you are burned out, God can resurrect you! Those of us in Christ will coexist with God for all eternity and never burn out!

We must understand that apart from Jesus Christ, you and I are nothing! God is in the business of using and filling with joy the hopeless failures! Moses, Abraham, Jacob, David, Elijah. All hopeless failures at one point. And when they had nothing left,that’s when God the father got a hold of them!

Moses didn’t listen for forty years! He wasn’t burned out, He just wasn’t ready to go yet! It is not the bush that sustains the flame, it is Jesus Christ in the bush!

Deuteronomy 33:16
16 With the precious things of the earth and its fullness,
And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.
Let the blessing come ‘on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.’^[a]

So, in order to get out of the present tense, we need to focus on the great I AM. He’s not just the great I WAS or the great I WILL BE but rather, the great I AM. He’s here now! HE’s working now! Jesus doesn’t just give you strength, He is your strength.

Just like any old bush would do for God to flame up to Moses, any old person will do if you’re surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Step 3 to Get out of the Present Tense
As we travel back to God and away from the worries of the world, recommit yourself to Him. If you do not know Jesus Christ, read Romans Chapter 8. E-mail me, I’ll be happy to answer your questions. There is some great information here that you can read also. Spend time reconnecting with Jesus. Forget about the TASKS you think he’s called you to do. This is a commitment to Him first. Do you remember who He is?

Lord, forgive us for thinking it is about us. Help us reach to you and depend on You. We love you, in Jesus name. Amen.