God's Command /Go Foward 12-13-22

Exod 14:15

“The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward”

Illustration: Directionless

There is a story of Albert Einstein on a train. Everyone is his car recognized him and knew who he was. Prior to the train leaving the station, the conductor made his routine inspection to ensure that each passenger had their tickets. The conductor noticed Einstein fumbling through his things, in his pockets, and papers. When the conductor reached him, Einstein admitted that he had lost his ticket and could not remember his stop! "That's no problem Mr.Einstein," the conductor replied, "we know who you are." Einstein responded, "I know who I am too, but I do not know where I am going!" (Many people in life do not know where they are going...whether to heaven or to hell; let alone what God's purpose for them is.) Paul J. Bowen

INTRODUCTION: Just like Mr. Einstein we to can be not knowing where we are going. Church tonight there is no neutral with God we are either headed in the right direction or in the wrong direction. God us wants to moved forward get going get moving. Sometimes in life we face some things that don’t make sense sometimes it seems like the devil has the upper hand and that the odds of succeding are stacked against us.

Just like in life we can have things moving forward in our lives life is good then all of a sudden life takes a adverse turn and we can react just like the Iraselites in out text the bible saids that they were delivered from 400 years of bondage now they are be blessed by God they

were headed to the promise land but now things have gotton pretty bad they reach a point of major obstacle in the way of their jounery.

The obstacle being the Red Sea which laid in front of them and then behind them was Pharoah chariots and army marching towards them.

They are in a tough situation they began to panic in out of that panic they begin to voice their fear to the man of God. So Moses goes to God and God simply tells them in verse 15:

Why do you cry to me? tell the people to go Forward

So the question we have is why did God respond in this matter ?

The answer is that they already knew what they needed to do they needed to take action and move foward

Prayer for the moment was complete. Now it was time to move. For some months God’s plan had unfolded as Moses served as God’s man in Pharaoh’s court. Next was God’s final act against Pharaoh—his destruction but Israel’s deliverance. Everything was ready for God to move and fullfill his plan against Pharoah and his army.

Let us look at the command, “Go forward.”

Forward - 1. in the direction that one is facing or traveling; toward the front.

2. onward so as to make progress; toward a successful conclusion.

As people of God we must understand who God is and what He wants to do with our lives. We must recognize him in times that don’t make sense to us. Just because circumstances are not favorably does not mean that they are not favorable towards God’s plan being fullfill in our lives.

So when life takes these turns and we find ourselves struggling to do the right thing we have to know who is the source of our lives. Let’s look at some elements that will help us out tonight..

Element One: God is our source.

Ilustration: Being Ready

On March 11, 2011, a massive 9.0 earthquake and the resulting tsunami wreaked unimaginable destruction on the northeastern coast of Japan. News reports noted that Japan has been the site of the greatest number of earthquakes in any country of the world, and its people have had the most complete and consistent preparation for earthquake survival ever in human history. A woman who was in an upper-story office was interviewed in the first day following the quake. She recounted that the office trembled, and then began to shake, but she had felt that kind of thing before. The movement, however, did not stop, but increased. Equipment was toppling, the ceiling was caving in, and the woman was unable to stand up. She poignantly commented, "I suddenly realized I had no PLAN of escape in mind. I did not know what to do at all."

Note: This woman had no plan of action:

A. God draws up the plan of action for our lives.

Phil. 2:12–13

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

i

B. He removes the obstacles (Josh. 4:14–16.

King James Version Chapter 4

16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan

Here in this scripture this is another crossing that the children of Irasael l had to face. Again God has a plan of action he tells the priest to put their feet in the Jordan river.

The Jordan River appears many times within the scriptures. It often refers to a freedom that comes after a long season of adversity and waiting.s. It often refers to a freedom that comes after a long season of adversity and waiting.

The Jordan River appears many times within the scriptures. It often refers to a freedom that comes after a long season of adversity and waiting.

Crossing the Jordan is a turning point on the way to freedom. The waters of the Jordan represent freedom from oppression, breakthrough, and deliverance.

C. He never fails to keep His promise (Josh. 23:14).

King James Version Chapter 23

14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

IIlustration: List of God’s Promises

God’s Promises

His presence - “I will never leave thee” (Heb. 13:5)His protection -"I am thy shield” (Gen. 15:1)His power -"I will strengthen thee” (Isa. 41:10)His provision -"I will help thee” (Isa. 41:10)His purposes - “Thoughts of peace, and not of evil” (Jer. 20:11)

D. He completes what He begins Phil. 1:6

King James Version Chapter 1

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Notes: The Apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives.

How does God complete his good work in us? We find the answer in Christ's words: "Abide in me." Jesus taught his disciple to remain in him:

John 15:4-5

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The word abide is a verb.

It is active. Abiding in Christ is not a feeling or a belief, but something we do. It means to “remain” or “stay” and entails far more than the idea of continued belief in the Savior. John 15:5 further illustrates this abiding relationship with a parallel relationship of a vine and a branch.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives.

Second Element: The Lord Issues These Commands To Go We Must Follow and Obey His Instructions

Here are some examples of God issues commands to go forward take action.

A. To King Saul—“Now go and smite Amalek (1 Sam. 15:3.) He went, but disobeyed God to his sorrow.

King James Version Chapter 15

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

B. To Isaiah—“Go and tell this people” (Isa. 6:9).

C. To Jeremiah—“Go … whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jer. 1:7).

D. To Amos—“Jehovah took me … and Jehovah said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:15 ASV).

God is very instuctional with his commands and we as children of God must learn to follow his directions and the way He wants it fullfilled.

Article - THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

One of the most helpful skills in life is the skill of following directions. The ability to accurately follow direction will help you become more successful at any given task. Following directions helps you to avoid unnecessary and costly mistakes. Making sure you are paying attention to instruction is crucial, and nowhere is this truer than in the workplace.

Always follow steps carefully, know what you are supposed to do, and understand the best practices when interpreting account scripting and dispatch instructions found on the info pages. In the answering service industry, without directions to follow, our business would be chaotic.

Here are some reasons why following instruction is so important in our business: Instinctively, failing to follow directions can cost the company clients. Therefore, you are trained to follow direction which provides a focal objective so that every account and every call is complete according to the client's specification. Learning how to follow directions thoroughly in the workplace builds performance skills efficiently.

Thoroughly understanding how a process works through instruction allows for satisfaction from our clients and their customers. Also, it leaves room for improvement so you can prevent future account/call/dispatch mistakes.

Sometimes, directions can cause confusion, especially when they are complex. When going through an account's processes, make sure you fully understand before moving on to the next step. Fully understanding one step before moving on to the next will lessen chances of making mistakes. No one is perfect. In fact, perfection is not the expectation. We can, however consistently strive towards perfection as the goal is not perfection itself; rather the goal is a high percentage accuracy which is a much more realistic target.

Third Element: God has Given Us a Directive

Directive - an official or authoritative instruction.

We must go forward in his kingdom business of reaching souls and church planting.

Matthew 28:19

King James Version Chapter 28

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.

Before ascension Jesus issued what has come to be called The Great Commission. A “commission” is “an authoritative command; a directive; a command.” When Jesus spoke these words directly to His disciples, and indirectly to us, He was giving the church her marching orders. He was telling exactly what He expected us to do in His physical absence.

The disciples took the Lord’s command seriously. They went into the world and shared the Gospel of Jesus and thousands upon thousands were saved by the grace of God. Their message was so powerful and their witness so effective that their critics accused them

of “turning the world upside down”, Acts 17:6.

King James Version Chapter 17

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

That was then, and this is now! What was given as The Great Commission has turned into what some have labeled The Great Omission. When something is “omitted”, it is “left out, undone, neglected”. Instead of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth as the Lord commanded, the modern church won’t even take the Gospel to the end of the street.

Consider the following: 95% of all Christians have never won a soul to Christ. 80% of all Christians do not consistently witness for Christ. Less than 2% are involved in the ministry of evangelism. 71% do not give toward the financing of The Great Commission.

These statistics are sad because they reveal the true state of the modern church. We are satisfied to be saved, but we are not motivated to see others come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Somehow we have come to believe that the end of our responsibility is to come to church a couple of times a week, pray when we can, read the Bible every now and then, and live a life that is slightly cleaner than the world around us. We have forgotten the truth that Christianity is a militant, activist faith.

Our calling is not to endure to the end; but to storm the very gates of Hell, Matt. 16:18.

King James Version Chapter 16

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In this scripture we see three important facts:

Fact 1: “My church.” The church is Christ’s not man’s. Fact 2: “I will build.” Christ builds the church.⇒ Fact 3: “The gates of hell shall not prevail.” Christ Himself protects the church.

This was a great compliment to Peter and also a great responsability not just Peter but to all belivers the keys of the kingdom.

Matthew 16:19 KJV 1900

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Meaning of the Keys.

Matthew-II: Chapters 16:13–28:20 (King James Version) A. The Messiah’s Dramatic Revelation of Himself and His Church: Peter’s Great Confession, 16:13–20

great responsibility to believers for the church. The steward of the house is given the keys or the responsibility for the house. The steward has the responsibility to close (bind) and to open (loose) the house. The key is the gospel, the message of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is the business of the steward to proclaim and teach the Gospel. By proclaiming and teaching, he opens the door; by not proclaiming and not teaching, he shuts the door.

Note: the keys are not the keys to the church but to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven that is the point. Peter was the first man to preach the gospel and open the door to Israel at Pentecost (Ac. 2:38–42) and to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (Ac. 10:3–48).

In Closing: It’s time to go forward for the Lord it’s time to reach our destinies now it’s the time to unlock the power of the gospel to the lost.

Our orders are not to sit by while the world drops off into Hell; our orders are to go into the world and tell them the good news of a crucified and risen Savior Who specializes in saving souls, and in changing lives and eternal destinies.