Kiss the Wave

Intro

Story of Nahshon

Jewish rabbinical history waters did not immediately part

Nahshon went in and when he was up to his head, the waters parted

Incredible story of courage and faith

If you want God to do the super…then you have to do the natural.

For Nahshon it was one step of faith when everything seemed to be crumbling around him

Do you ever have days like that? When it seems like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place?

I’ve heard it said that there are days when decades happen.

Fought traffic, fought kids, laid off at work, bad health diagnosis, all before 3pm

Those are the times when you age very quickly

How do you react in those times?

“I’ve learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

Transition: Moses shows us how we can do this in the events leading up to the parting of the Red Sea.

Bible

Exodus 14:10–14 ESV

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Transition: Moses gives us three valuable lessons that we can apply to our own lives.

Application

1. Face Your Fear.

Psychologists say we are born with only 2 fears

Fear of falling and the fear of loud noises

The rest of the fears are learned

If it is learned it can be unlearned

Faith is the process of unlearning fear.

1 John 4:18 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Fear is like a virus

Your spiritual immune system gets stronger each time you face a fear

This is why the church community is so important

The church community creates a herd immunity against fear

2. Stand Firm

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT

13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

Change your question from “How do I get out of this?” to “What have you come to teach me?”

“Everybody wants a miracle, we just don’t want to be in a situation where we need one.”

3. Hold Your Peace.

Be a non-anxious presence

Tom Shaw example

Jesus demonstrated this

John 14:27 NLT

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Conclusion

What fear do you need to face?

What wave do you need to kiss?

What is God trying to teach you in your struggle?

The first step is always the most difficult step.

If you want God to do the super…then you have to do the natural.