Let God Lead You

Exodus 13:21–22 NLT

21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

Background

Children of Israel were suffering in slavery

God delivered them called through a man named Moses

it took a lot to set them free, 10 plagues

But eventually they got their freedom through the blood of a Lamb

Then Pharaoh said you all can go, in fact get out

They just left slavery in Egypt, and are on their way to the promised land in Canaan

They have left prison and are on their way to promise

they left where there were, but they have not arrived where they are going

and there is a wilderness they must travel

When we accept Christ, it’s the same thing

it took the blood of The Lamb, The Lamb of God to set us free

we leave the slavery of sin and head our way to a promised land

the promised land, a new home

Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled . . .

We have a promised land

but we must travel through this wilderness of life to get there

Be encouraged God will lead you through this wilderness called life . . . but we need to LET God lead us.

This verses says that The Lord went ahead of them

Describe situation with cloud and tabernacle

When the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether it was day or night, or whether it was one day, or a month, or a longer time, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, until they saw the cloud move

God’s people learned to trust and depend completely on God’s leading.

We must do the same:

we need good “follow the leader skills”

So Where he goes, we go

When he moves, we move

the ultimate “Simon says”

if we are used to living of life of always being on the move, going from this to that and that to this . . . but God says stay right here for a while . . . . we’ve got to stay right here for a while

or if we are used to living of life of staying put, today is this and tomorrow will be this, this week will be like last week . . . . but God says its time to move on. . . we’ve got to pack up and go, make that change

don’t keep moving because you are used to moving, don’t keep staying because you are used to staying . . . fix your eyes on God and be ready to let God lead you

Let God lead you since He knows what’s ahead

Exodus 13:17 NASB95

17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

God took them the long way around, the road less traveled, but the Lord had his reasons, there were not ready to fight

Some of us are complaining about our journey with the Lord, when actually he has kept us out of danger

I see that my life is filled with detours

I see others are taking faster routes, shorter routes

I see God is not giving me shortcuts for me, but long-cuts

but what you don’t see is that God is protecting you from dangers unseen

some things you weren’t ready for, not prepared for

So let God Lead you

Don’t frustrate God and have Him feel like a parent dealing with a hard headed kid trying to run into the dangerous street

I know you see your friends over there, but there are some dangers you don’t see . . . I going to need need you to wait, bet still, walk to the corner first

let God lead you, he knows what’s ahead

Let God lead you because He leads with a purpose and a plan

He is guiding you, not just hanging out with you, just chilling with you, he is leading with purpose

He is not that friend that says, “I don’t have anything in mind, what do you want to do” . . . pre-ordained

God leads with a purpose and a plan, so even if God leads you to a place of crisis, he has purpose, he has a plan

in fact, one time God led the people to a trap, they were trapped by the Red Sea, and he explained to Moses . . .

Exodus 14:4 NLT

4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.

you know somebody in that camp thought, “camping right here might not be so wise”

cause if . . . let’s just say . . . Pharaoh or anybody else for that matter . . . attacks . . . risky

but the Bible says that camped there as they were told

some of you have followed the guidance of the Lord and camped in situations that don’t look to secure

others are saying, “that’s risky!

oooh, I don’t know!

Man, I couldn’t do it

they don’t understand that you’re being guided

they don’t understand that you’re following the Lord’s leading and plan

you know it’s risk, but you’re just camping where you’ve been told

your camping has purpose

be encouraged that God won’t let you down!

if he led you to it, He will bring you through it!

he is not leading you, just to leave you

yes you are taking a chance . . . on the Lord! (He’s faithful)

but let’s go back to the word planned, God said, “I planned this” . . .

Let God lead you because He can lead you to miracles

God doesn’t say, “Oh, he/she needs a miracle, let me get on it”

God leads you to miracles that are already there, already in place, already set up

When Elijah caused fire to come down from heaven, he said, “I am doing this at your word”

in the New Testament, Jesus, asked Philip “Where are we to buy bread, to feed this large crowd?” and the Bible says that he was testing him, for He knew what He was intending to do.

God plans miracles!

miracles are God’s surprise parties

the time is planned in advance

the place is planned in advance

the situation is planned in advance

the people, gifts, food

the only thing left to do is get the guest of honor and lead them to it

and for a good surprise party, the guest of honor has no idea what’s about to happen

they think it’s just another normal day/nothing out of the ordinary

and it’s even better if you make it seem like a bad day

“you need to rush home, the pipes burst”

“we really need to talk, meet me at the restaurant”

then they walk in and “surprise!”

oh the look on their face, shocked by the turn of events

the look on their face, when they realize how much you care

but if they had paid attention, they would have known that something was up

people acting weird, becoming unavailable (so they can get to the party)

the timing of the day seems off

roadblocks kept popping up (trying to steer you to the party, “don’t go to the mall - bomb scare”)

I’m here to encourage you that one day, you are going to wake up and think, it’s just another normal day

it might even begin as a bad day

but oh the joy when you walk in on your miracle, “surprise”!!!

the look on your face, shocked by how quickly God turned it around, made a way, brought you out

how thankful you’ll be when you realize again that God knows and God cares

but if you pay attention, you will see that God is up to something

some folks are acting weird, folks unavailable

people left you, who should stayed with you

people let you down, who you thought would be there for you

the timing seems off - it seems that God is too late, the time for rescue has passed

roadblocks keep popping up - the devil is trying to block your way

you oughta pay attention, because you are in for the surprise of your life

a miracle that is only a surprise to you! . . .not God because he is a miracle party planning God!

some of you are on miracle road and you are not even aware of it, because miracles are planned in advance . . . so let God lead you

back to the main verse

Exodus 13:21 NLT

21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.

He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud,

Let God lead you during the day

Even when you can see, you still don’t know which way to go

even in the good times, you need guidance from the Lord

you might be rolling along pretty good, but you need guidance from God

and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire.

Let God lead you during dark times

And there will be some dark days

at night time, it was a pillar of fire, God will provide the light through the night

he won’t always take away the night, but will lead you through it

But the same God that led you through the day will lead you through the night

so it might be dark in your life, and many of us don’t like to travel at night, but if God is moving, keep traveling through the night

it might be rough, but if God is moving, keep moving

you might want to give up, but if God is moving, keep moving

Let God lead you in good times and in bad times

Exodus 13:22 NLT

22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

Let God lead you because You can count on the Lord to lead

He is faithful to lead, day and night

Even when we are not faithful, he is faithful

another verse explains it this way

Nehemiah 9:19 NLT

19 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night.

if you are his child, he IS out front leading you

the only question, “Are you following?”

if you are, follow with faith . . . follow with peace

someone says, “it doesn’t feel like God is leading” . . .”it doesn’t feel like I am going anywhere”

Hint: don’t confuse moving with leading

God can lead by making people wait

God can guide by making people wait

God can bless people by making them be still for a while

wait until the cake is done and you will really enjoy it

wait until the software finishes downloading so that the program will run right

But how does God lead us?

I don’t see a pillar of cloud during the day or a cloud of fire by night

You have to be looking for God (like they did)

It will be obvious (big pillar)

let me give three ways that God leads you:

God guides you with the Bible, that’s big!

remember, these people did not have a Bible at all

all they had was a shepherd and a cloud

while we would be amajzed at the cloud

they would be amazed at the Bible

we have the Old Testament and the New Testament

read it, learn it, mediate on it, be taught how to interpret it

answers to many of your questions are in here!

what do do, what not to do

who to marry, who not to marry

how to respond to various situations

how to treat people

how handle being treated badly

how to prioritize

what to say, what not to say

but you have to look for it

and when you do the leading is obvious

God guides you with Personal revelation

now he won’t contradict what God is written, for he is God

he will help you understand the word even better

His Holy Spirit will reveal something to you - give you vision, put a passion in you, you will feel a calling

an encouragement to stake a step of faith

those instructions that tell you which way to turn

that feeling that this person or situation is not good for you

the knowledge to know what to pray for!

but you have to be looking - this is where your prayer life comes in

God uses His church

that’s fellow Christians

especially those you are called to serve with, fellowship with, grow with

the Bible describes us as one body with many members, we all have our roles, gifts working together, for OUR good

some revelations about God’s leading will only come to serving with other Christians, working with other Christians

getting a timely word through a sermon ,or Bible study, or fellow member

they way you look for God - is to serve through His church

God guides you through circumstances

God let the people get trapped by the Red Sea because he was leading them to that miracle

God will close doors

some of your “failures” were really just arrows

God will also open doors, but you’ll need the faith go go through it

if you only have one option, that is God leading you!

if Circumstances are pushing you to make a change, then make a change . . . . if they are keeping you from making a change, then don’t leave the camp!

And you will find at least three or four in agreement.

Word, Personal revelation, Church, Circumstances

The key is to follow him

let God lead you!