God Calls US To Go Forward
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TEXT: “The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” (Exod. 14:15).
INTRODUCTION: 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. Let us look at the command, “Go forward.”
---Give the Background Leading Up to This Point.
I. God is its source.
A. He draws up the plan of action (Phil. 2:12–13).
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
B. He removes the obstacles (Josh. 4:14–16 ).
Joshua 4:14-16 (ESV)
14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”
C. He never fails to keep His promise (Josh. 23:14 ).
14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
D. He completes what He begins (Phil. 1:6 ).
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
II. God has repeated it throughout the centuries.
A. To King Saul—“Now go and smite Amalek (1 Sam. 15:3 .) He went, but disobeyed God to his sorrow.
B. To Isaiah—“Go and tell this people” (Isa. 6:9 ).
9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
C. To Jeremiah—“Go … whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jer. 1:7 ).
7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
D. To Amos—“Jehovah took me … and Jehovah said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:15 ASV ).
15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
III. God has given it to us (Matt. 28:19 ). Jesus said, “Go”—and this is our business—into all the world; speak the gospel; baptize believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
CONCLUSION: God’s people are a people who are called to “Go.”; only the disobedient and faithless retreat. To retreat when God commands, “Advance!” is disastrous.