Untitled Sermon (14)

A Day to be Remembered

Exodus: When God Declares War

Exodus 11:1-12:28

Introduction

Since the early days of the New Testament church, believers have held onto the promise that Jesus Christ would return and take us out of this sin cursed world.

This promise and hope also brings with it a challenge and encouragement for us to be faithful to spread the message of salvation to everyone we can.

Many in our day have laid down their Bibles and taken up the banner of popular causes or the philosophies of society. They no longer stand for truth and righteousness. While these ideologies may sound nice and caring, if they are not rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are not pointing people to the only true answer for the problems they face - their sinful condition.

These compromises that supposed believers have made have fueled the fires of the skeptics who hear true Bible believers give a warning and respond with condescending tones and sharp criticisms. Peter told us to expect that to happen as time goes on:

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Although they scoff, their response does not change the fact that Jesus will return and take His Church out of this world.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The skeptic’s mean spirited attacks on godly people and the work of God will not change reality.

Psalms 103:8-9 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He is longsuffering. He is merciful. But there comes a time when God knows that arguing, pleading, and debating must stop and judgment must take place. He will not remain angry forever, but He will judge sin. He desires that we all, before He sends the judgment, repent and turn to Him.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If we repent, His forgives and we experience the grace of God and His cleansing power removing the stain of sin from our lives.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

IF we DO NOT repent, we will face the judgment of God.

Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

"Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.” Jonathan Edwards - “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

In our study of the book of Exodus, we have seen God’s promises to His people that He will deliver them from slavery in Egypt. We have seen God working powerfully to show that He is and that His power is greater than all the gods of this world - particularly those of Egypt.

Knowing that God’s promises are true, and knowing that He has the power to do what He promises, the author of Hebrews tells us this about Moses:

Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses believed God and was steadfast in his commitment because of the promises of God.

Exodus 11:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

God had sent 9 plagues on the people of Egypt and on their gods. Each time, Pharaoh rebelled and several times he tried to negotiate or offer a compromise. Now, God says that He will send one final plague. After this, Pharaoh will let Israel go.

Even though God knows Pharaoh’s heart, He still offers the opportunity for him to avoid this final plague. We see the

Warning Given

Exodus 11:4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

God is merciful. He owed Pharaoh nothing, but gave him a chance. Pharaoh responded with a hardened heart and refused to let Israel go - choosing to face the judgment to come.

Many through the years have disregarded the warnings of the people of God as they lovingly and boldly warned them to turn from their sin or from their religion and turn to Christ.

It breaks my heart to see the hardness that even affects children. Just a couple of weeks ago, a young girl in our after school Bible club went to her friend and invited her to come to Good News Club the next week to learn about Jesus. She offered her friend a flyer so her mom could sign her up. The young friend looked at her and said, “I don’t want that!”

So cold! So hard! So unreasonable! She would not even take a moment to see what it was or to learn more. You may say, “Well, that’s just kids being kids!”

But that spirit and attitude comes from a cold, cynical heart of sin and rebellion against God!

Whether young or old, it is important to realize our standing before God and turn to Him in repentance. Scripture tells us that God

Acts 17:30 … now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Jesus said:

Luke 13:3 … except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

There is a warning given because judgment is coming!

But God, Who is rich in mercy shows us the

Salvation Offered

Exodus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

“You don’t have to know much when you come to Christ. You don’t have to know the whole Gospel. You don’t have to know the Bible. You just come like you are.” Billy Graham, 1993 Crusade, Pittsburgh, PA

Having trusted Jesus as our Savior, it is so important that we remember what Jesus has done for us. It is important to live our lives in grateful dedication to Him and submission to His Word.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Next, we see the

Remembrance Instituted

Exodus 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

“… observe this thing…”

Remember what He Did

Exodus 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

In the New Testament, Jesus instituted a similar observance for the church. We call it Communion, the Lord’s Table, or the Lord’s Supper. This is an ordinance that Christ gave the Church. It is to be observed by the Church. It is a remembrance of what Jesus has done for us and a commitment by us to live a life in honor of His sacrifice.

Luke 22:14-20 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Paul picks up the account and tells us:

1 Corinthians 11:26-31 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Are you living a holy life? Does your life honor Jesus Christ? He says examine yourself. Have you been born again? Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, these elements - the bread and cup - mean nothing to you. But to us who are saved, who have been cleansed by His blood and set free from sin, this means everything!

We are not saved by receiving the bread and cup, but we are partaking in this remembrance knowing that His body was broken for us and His blood was shed to cleanse us from sin.

I plead with you today. If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, would you do that right now?

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

After receiving Jesus as your Savior and faithfully walking with Him, It is imperative that you

Teach Your Children

Exodus 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.

Mark 10:13-14 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Sit down with your children regularly to read the Word of God to them and tell them what God has done.

You could have special items that remind you of what Jesus has done in your life and family. Bring them out from time to time and rehearse in the ears of your children how that God worked when it seemed nothing was going to work out. Share with them the answered prayers, the miracles, the provision, all of it! Tell them of His faithfulness!

Then…

Worship the Lord

Exodus 12:27 … And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

Psalms 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Worship was important to Jesus as He was about to go and give Himself as a sacrifice for us. We should put a high priority on worship as well. Let’s lift our voices to honor Jesus Christ and proclaim His mighty acts among His people!Conclusion