THE PLACE WHERE YOU STAND

Text: Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Intro: Oh, how the mighty are fallen! One who has known 40 years of luxury and power in Pharaoh’s court has now experienced 40 years of humiliating, degrading boredom, tending another man’s sheep! The scenery is boring, the sheep are dull, stupid creatures and the future is bleak, promising nothing better.

We can imagine Moses passing the empty hours indulging himself in one of our favorite pastimes; “What if I had------?”

When the greatest change of his life does occur, God doesn’t transport him to some exotic paradise, a fine temple or a lofty mountain top. No bands play and no trumpeter’s sound.

The desert is still bleak, dry and dreary. His clothes are still the rough, colorless robes of the shepherd. There is neither sword nor scepter in his hand; only the long, rough crooked stick which is his shepherd’s rod. Only one thing changes in the entire, miserable scene; THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS RECOGNIZED!

We see three options open to Moses as the burning bush appears:
1. He could ignore it and continue in self-pity or plans of his own.

2. He could observe it from a distance and perhaps have nothing to show for it but a curious tale to tell around the winter hearth.

3. He can approach and experience God’s presence to the fullest.
Having chosen the third, his life took on a new meaning. It started where he was and under his present circumstances!

I. A Normal, Human Occupation - Day Dreams
A. Themes of fairs, and exhibits are always the nostalgia of a partially remembered yesterday or fantasies of tomorrow; never the dreary reality of today. Why? We want to escape from illness, utility bills, inflation, friction in all manner of human relationships from both inside and outside the home.
We can conveniently forget the problems of yesterday and imagine them all solved in the future; but we are positive that anything would be better than today!

B. In our churches, try to recall or recapture the exciting spirituality of the past. (forgetting the bad things about it,) Brush Arbors were GREAT! Did anyone ever tell you of the stifling dust, the heat if services started early and the cold if they lasted too long; and the mosquitoes in between? Did they tell you about the smoky lanterns and the hoodlums yelling from the shadows?
OR:
Dream of the excitement of the future. The rapture; the millennial reign; the heavenly city. Forget about the judgment when we shall all give account of every deed done in this body. (Too many professed Christians care little that they will be in the presence of Christ then, for they refuse to acknowledge His presence now. They are more concerned with temporalities and would be happy to corner the mineral rights to the Holy City.)
Both past and future are meaningless if we aren’t willing to recognize God’s presence in the dreary, monotonous trouble-filled present.
TODAY can and should be an exciting challenge for His churches.

II. In ALL Things, learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future, but LIVE TODAY! You ARE standing on Holy Ground!!!

1. Objection; But Moses had some exciting preparation; Schooled in Egyptian Universities; raised in the courts of Pharaoh, etc.
Answer: How many Pharaohs have YOU confronted lately? How many wise men and scientists have you debated? Your past experience has prepared you to deal with the people you move among. GOD DID NOTHING MORE THAN THIS FOR MOSES….

2. Objection: But Moses had a rod with miraculous power!
Answer: What is that in YOUR hand? A book? A Bible? The Word of God!
A. Rod Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou hast magnified thy Word.
Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Endued with power
Lu 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
All Power given unto me -
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

3. Objection: But MY life doesn’t seem to have any power to influence others.
Answer: Then take off your shoes! Make contact with God with nothing between you. Quit trying to protect yourself from God!

4. Like Moses, you might have to give up sheepherding; the monotonous security of the desert and step out into the unknown by faith. But remember, His life was never dull again! He took off his shoes and made contact with God on Holy Ground. He had many heartaches and trials in his remaining years, but many victories too. He never again walked alone in boredom, for God was his constant companion from that time until they went together up Mt. Nebo where God buried him. For the rest of his life, Moses walked on Holy Ground.

5. Are you ready for that kind of challenge?

1. Young Person: Bored with school and parental direction? You are standing on Holy Ground!

2. Parents: Is raising your children a drag? They are an heritage from the Lord and you stand on Holy Ground!

3. Married life getting you down? It is sanctioned by God and you are standing on Holy Ground!

4. Job a monotony? Every day and every person you meet, places you on Holy Ground!

5. Your place in the Lord’s Church is the same dreary thing year after endless year? Then take off your shoes and wiggle your toes on Holy Ground!

Don’t wait for exciting events - Get excited about the presence of the Lord now and the events will come to pass! Don’t wait for further preparation;
RIGHT NOW:

YOU’RE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND

The way was steep and rocky,
With pitfalls all around.
The Lord said, “Take your shoes off,
You’re treading Holy Ground.”

“But, Lord, you can’t be serious,
I need them for protection;
Satan’s snares are all around,
Defying all detection!”

“Stones and thorns and clever traps
Surround me everywhere.
I’m sure I’d be defeated soon
If my feet were bare!”

“Just trust me, child, take off your shoes,
The path is clearly marked.
Your Saviour blazed this trail for you,
Long ‘ere you embarked.”

Then I laid aside my heavy shoes
And the path beneath my feet,
Instead of feeling rocky,
Felt soft and warm, and somehow, sweet!

Looking down, I knew the answer;
For, right there, where I stood,
I saw the Saviour’s footprints;
Each outlined with His blood!

If your path is hard to travel,
Filled with pitfalls, thorns and snares,
And your burdens seem more heavy,
With toilsome pains and cares;

Then loose your shoes and place your feet
Where His footprints are found.
You’ll find that walking where he walked;
You’re treading Holy Ground!

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