God basically lays out the whole story in chapter 3: Moses was the one chosen to lead, God would move with miracles and wonders, the people would plunder the Egyptians, and they would worship at the very mountain Moses was standing on right then. What a spoiler for us!

In Exodus 3:14 He also shares His name: “I AM” with Moses.

This week, we are going to look at some of the names God uses in the scriptures to reveal Himself. Christianity Today describes it like this: “Often pronounced as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’, ‘YHWH’ is the promised name of God revealed to Moses when he asked what name he should give to the Israelites: “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). It is the name of God that Jesus uses during his earthly ministry – the great “I am”. It refers to the eternal nature of God; unlike us, who become, he always is. The name is too holy to be spelt out in full in the Jewish culture, hence why the Hebrew abbreviates to YHWH. The name suggests that he is a present God who is accessible, offers deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3)”

Read Psalm 25:1-11

• What do you learn about who God is from this section?
• How does God being eternal, but also being completely present to you today, impact you in real ways?

We’ve covered a lot of ground this week.

Read Exodus 3:1-22

God promises Moses that He will be with him and that Moses will worship God.

We have that same opportunity this morning. Spend some time praying (look back at the format from Thursday), and preparing your heart to be with the body!

Finally, Blackaby says that God speaks to us through the church- His people.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-27

• What stands out to you about the body of Christ from this passage?
• Why do you think God has interconnected us in such intimate ways?

As we all fall under the headship of Jesus –

read Ephesians 4:1-16– we each have His wisdom to offer each other.

• Are you in a Home Group? Why or Why Not?
• If you are, how have you seen others around you speak into your life and circumstances?
• What are some practical steps you could take today to be more attached to the body at Riverside?

So daily we can put ourselves in front of His word asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Daily we can pray and listen for the Holy Spirits voice speaking to us.

We can also examine the circumstances around us. God often uses our circumstances to show us where He is already at work and point out ways that we can join Him in that work.

He also challenges us to know the truth about Him so that we can stand upright in the midst of terrifying circumstances.

Read Luke 7:11-17

• In what ways can you relate to the hopelessness of this situation?
• What do you learn about who God is from this story?
• While we are never guaranteed a certain outcome, we can know who God is in the midst of the dark.

Read John 6:1-15

• How would you see the circumstance if you were the disciples?
• We know the ending, but I love the disciple’s simple obedience. They knew Jesus and they obeyed, trusting Him.
• What circumstance are you facing today that you need to hear from God about? Pray and ask Him.

Another way that the Spirit speaks to us is through prayer. Prayer is a conversation. You speak to God and He speaks back to you. He wants to know us and to talk to us. It’s a relationship. He uses the Holy Spirit that indwells us to speak to us and to teach us. Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to adjust us to God’s ways.

Read John 16:12-15

• What do you learn about the Holy Spirit and His relationship to you from these verses?

We are going to just spend some time praying, being guided by Jesus’ words. His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. I pray right now as I am typing that that would be our desire- “Lord, teach us to pray.”

• On a separate piece of paper, write out some thoughts on the sentences that follow- spend some time praying:

Oh Father, I adore you today for your greatness and Your….

Father, help me desire with all my heart for Your kingdom to be brought here…

Father, here are my needs for today….

Father, I confess these sins…

Father, I feel tempted here…

Father, help me to be forgiving, and lead me in Your good paths…

Scripture is clear that:

• The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (once a person has trusted Jesus to pay the penalty of their sins)
• The Holy Spirit teaches us and speaks to us words from the Father.
• He expects us to obey and follow- like sheep.

One of the ways that the Spirit speaks to us is through:

The Bible.

• Read 2 Timothy 3:14-16
• What is the Bible used for in our lives?

• Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-15
• How does the Spirit help us to understand the Bible?

Blackaby says:

• I read the word of God- the Bible.
• The Spirit of Truth takes the word of God and reveals truth.
• I adjust my life to the truth of God.
• I obey Him.
• God works in and through me to accomplish His purposes.

Which of the above statements bring you the most trouble to work out in your life?

What are two practical steps you could take to get the word more rooted in your life?

Read Exodus 3:1- 4

This is an amazing picture of God reaching into Moses’ ordinary day and speaking from a bush.

• How does God speak to you in your ordinary day?

• Read John 8:47; John 14:26; and John 16:13-14

• What do these scriptures say about God speaking to us, His children?

Read John 10:27

• How do we know when it is God speaking?

Henry Blackaby, in his study entitled, “Experiencing God,” says that God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit using:

The Bible

Prayer

Circumstances

The Church

• Which of these methods is most familiar to you? Why is that?
• Which is least familiar to you? Why?
• We are going to spend the next several days looking at each of these areas. Pray that we become a people who listen well to the Lord, who want to hear His voice.