Promise Requires Process

Opening Illustration

We cannot assume that starting the car is the end of the trip.

Following Jesus (leaving Egypt) is the beginning of a journey. If you view the beginning of the journey as reaching the destination you will become incredibly frustrated…

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The promised land

God had given them the promise of a land that would flow with milk and honey.

Exodus 3:17 NKJV

and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

Notice that God quickly redirects there attention from what He is calling them out of to what He is calling them into.

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Why are you following Jesus?

We have a tendency to follow him based on what He’s saved us from.

LIVING FOR JESUS BASED ON WHAT HE’S SAVED US FROM IS DEPENDENT UPON PERFECT RECOLLECTION OF THE PAST

LIVING FOR JESUS BASED ON WHERE HE’S TAKING US TO IS DEPENDENT UPON HEARING HIS PROMISES AND TRUSTING HIS PLAN

The badness of sin is not nearly as strong of a motivation towards righteousness as the kindness of God.

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The Promise Requires A Process

We start to follow Jesus for the PROMISE.

You cannot gain access to the PROMISE if you are unwilling to submit yourself to the PROCESS.

The nation of Israel left Egypt for Canaan…but Canaan did not border Egypt.

They had to travel several miles.

What God shows you is rarely received rapidly.

GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO GIVE YOU FINISHED PRODUCT WITHOUT A FILTERING PROCESS.

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GOD ONLY CREATED A PLANT, TREE, OR FRUIT ONE TIME…

Inside those things, he put seeds. Because God only allows finished products to be experienced by those who are willing to invest in processes.

Exodus 13:17 NKJV

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

God did not lead the Israelites through the land of the Philistines because he knew that they would be turned off and turned back by the insertion of war.

You are not ready for your promise until you are ready to fight.

Wilderness seasons are intended to create the grit that is necessary to possess the promise that God has for us

If you want to separate yourself from the rest of your generation…GET SOME GRIT!

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The wilderness is made bearable because God’s presence guarantees it.

They were patient and able to bear their wilderness season because they had the pillar of fire leading them and the pillar of cloud guarding them.

Exodus 14:5 NKJV

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

The enemy is not just going to accept that you have decided to pursue the promised land of serving Jesus…HE WANTS YOU BACK.

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Exodus 14:10 NKJV

And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

The children of Israel lifted their eyes…and saw Pharaoh and his army chasing after them.

Which way did they have to be looking in order to see Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. They had to be looking towards Egypt.

They looked back!

Why would you look back when the only thing that is behind you is slavery and mistreatment?

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When God’s promise seems impossible.

We start looking back when what we’re looking forward to looks less and less possible.

The children of Israel come to a place where they have a mountain on either side of them and a large body of water in front of them.

It seems impossible that they will get beyond this first point.

They just got started an it seems like they’re finished.

Exodus 14:15–16 NKJV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The message of God to the children of Israel was for them to keep walking…even when it looked impossible.

__________ They kept walking

Moses lifted the rod

The cloud stood behind them to make them unseeable

When they all got across the cloud went before them again.

The miracle that directed them destroyed their enemy.

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The promise should be our motivation

The promise will require a process

The promise will rarely seem possible

But know that God always keeps his promises.

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Why do you follow Jesus?

Why does God not give us the finished product of His promises immediately?

What are some instances from your life where God has required a process in order to receive His promise?

What were some of the biggest challenges of going through that process?

Are there any promises of God in your life that seem impossible right now?

Share a time that God has done the impossible on your behalf.

What are the promises of God that you are having a hard time keeping in focus right now?