Seeing Victory

Intro:

Life is full of battles.

We battle:

Fear

Doubt

Worry

Addiction

Sin

The Flesh

We fight against an enemy that we cannot always see and one that is smarter than we are.

It is unfortunate, but true, that the Devil knows what he is doing and he does it well enough, he often leaves us feeling defeated by the battles he brings to us.

Every day, it seems we are fighting battles.

Every day, it seems we are loosing ground in some way or another.

So it begs the question, how do we see victory?

How do we overcome the devil and the temptations that he places before us?

Israel

Israel has fled Egyptian captivity.

In an epic display of His power and might, God had sent plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Their water was turned to blood.

They were overwhelmed by frogs.

They were irritated by a swarm of gnats.

They were further irritated by a swarm of flies.

Their livestock was dead.

They were covered with boils.

Hail had rained down on them.

Their crops had been destroyed by locusts.

They were covered in total darkness.

Death had come and taken all their firstborn.

Pharaoh finally had given in and let God’s people go.

Israel had been delivered by the hand of God.

They had obeyed every command of the Lord and their lives had been spared in Egypt.

God had brought them through some treacherous times and they had seen what He could do.

Our Own Testimony

Like Israel, if you have been saved, you have the testimony this morning that God has brought you from something trechous.

God has spared you from wrath,

God has removed condemnation from you,

God has delivered you from sin,

God has kept you from death,

God has robbed you from the grave,

And, if you are saved, you know that no matter how you were living before it took God’s handiwork and an absolute miracle of Grace to save you.

Yet, like we will see of Israel today, when our backs are up against the wall,

When it seems there is no way out,

We forget the God that we serve and what He is able to do.

Exodus 14:1-12

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’

Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

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?”

So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him.

Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

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.

Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?

Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Israel’s Response

Even after watching all that God had done.

Even after seeing God move.

Even with assurance after assurance that God is in control,

Israel was still afraid,

Israel was still worried,

Israel was still certain that they would face death and defeat.

Trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea,

Where else could they go?

What else could they do?

So they said to Moses, Since there was no grave ini Egypt, you brought us to the wilderness to die.

Why didn’t you just leave us in Egypt?

Why didn’t you listen when we said, leave us alone and let us just serve the Egyptians?

It would have been better for us to continue serving Egypt than to be brought out here to die.

Our Response

Doesn’t this sound like us?

Doesn’t Israel sound like a Baptist Business Meeting?

We’ve done all we can do!

We’ve tried everything!

Nothing is working!

It would have been better to just stay the way we were and let it all dry up and die!

Sounds just like us doesn’t it?

Even obeying the Lord,

Even being who He called us to be,

Even serving in the role that He called us to serve in,

Circumstances change.

Life gets messy.

Things happen.

People happen.

Sometimes it feels like:

We’ve been faithful,

We’ve been obedient,

We’ve seen God move,

We’ve seen God save,

We’ve seen God deliver,

Yet we still face defeat.

Yet we still want to throw in the towel and give up.

Because it seems that no matter how hard we try, we still can’t find victory.

I’m reminded of Paul, Paul tells us that he had a thorn in his flesh that he prayed three times for God to remove and still that thorn remained.

Oh that we could all have the joy that Paul had when the Lord responded to his plea for deliverance.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

God wasn’t going to remove the thorn, but He was going to use Paul as a display piece of His power and glory.

Paul said, “I’ll boast in my infirmities”

I’ll keep the thorn so that God can get the glory.

Church, that is real victory!

When you see the trials you face as opportunities for the strength of God to fight for you and

The glory of God to shine through you.

That is true victory.

So, how do we get there?

How do we see that true victory?

There are 4 things that I want you to see in these verses this morning and then I am going to take my seat.

With the Lord’s help this morning, I want to give you the recipe for victory.

Exodus 14:13-14

13. And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

14. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Through Moses, the Lord told Israel 4 things.

These four things make up the ingredients in the recipe for victory.

#1 Do Not Be Afraid

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand.”

The words “fear not” appears 11 times in Scripture.

The words “Do not be afraid” appear 48 times,

The words “Do not fear” appear 51 times.

That’s 110 times that the Lord says: “I’ve got you”.

We don’t have to be fear, for He is with us and He is victorious.

If He can defeat:

Sin

Death

Hell

The Grave

There is nothing that we can face in this life that He cannot handle.

We don’t have to be dismayed, for He is with us.

He is a personal Savior.

Always present.

Always near.

Always seeing.

Always hearing.

Always knowing what is best.

Always working.

Always moving.

When we are weak, he is strong, All our help comes from the Lord.

There has never been nor will there ever be an enemy that the Lord can’t defeat or a battle that the Lord cannot win!

It’s impossible to fear when we realize just who it is that is on our side and fighting for us!

When we are falling, He will hold us, we are in His hand and no one can pluck us from His hand.

Leaning on the Everlasting arms of Jesus, we will never fall.

Secured in His hand, we are safe from every foe.

The world cannot take away our salvation.

Battles might leave scars, but they cannot take away our salvation.

The devil may be loud, but he cannot take away our salvation.

Moses told Israel, Do not be afraid.

Trust in the Lord and know that you are well taken care of.

#2 Stand Still

Psalms 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

The greatest sermons that we will ever hear preached are not preached by men, but by the Holy Spirit in those moments when we are still.

We sing that old song: “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

The loudest shout in our lives doesn’t come from our mouth, it comes from those silent moments when we are still.

Those moments of silence in the car,

Those moments of silence in a tractor,

Those moments of silence when we are in a room alone.

Those moments when we sit in silent meditation in the presence of God and know that He is God.

I can’t count the number of times I have gotten in my car and driven to this church and lost the whole trip.

I can’t count the number of hours I’ve lost with some form of music playing, my mind void of thought, and my heart set on the throne.

Sometimes the greatest weapon that we have in our arsenal is silence.

Sometimes we just need a moment in the throne room alone with our Lord.

That can come anywhere.

I’ve often knelt at altars just like this one, I had plenty of petitions to bring to the Lord, but instead of talking, I just knelt there silently and let the joy of the Lord surround me, the peace of God comfort me, and the Glory of God shine on me.

Moses told them to stand still.

#3 See the Salvation of the Lord

Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- faith!”

Faith overcomes the world.

If you have faith, you can’t loose any battle that you are facing.

Faith wins over fear.

Faith wins over sin.

Faith wins over the devil.

Faith wins over temptation.

Faith overcomes the world.

It’s comical that we come to church on Sunday mornings and sing Victory in Jesus at the top of our lungs while on the inside we are doubting that God can do what it is that we need Him to do right now.

You have already won!

By faith, you can give your victory speech before the battle ends!

By faith, you can rejoice before you ever see how the Lord is going to bring you out!

By faith, you can shout triumphantly knowing that God is a Waymaker!

See the salvation of the Lord.

Look behind and see what He has already saved you from and rejoice.

Look around and see what He kept you from and rejoice.

Look ahead and know that whatever you can see He will save you from and whatever you can’t see He’s already moved out of the way.

See the Salvation of the Lord.

#4 Obey

Exodus 14:15-18

15. And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

16. 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.

17. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

18. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

You have to understand something this morning,

If you hear nothing else from this message, hear this.

You cannot continue to live in sin and see the victory of the Lord.

You cannot continue to disobey God and see victory.

If God, in His Word says to no, the answer is no.

If God, in His Word calls something sin, resist the temptation to do it.

Flee from sin.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Many of the battles that we face, not all, but many are battles of our own making as a result of our own disobedience to the Lord’s commands.

The devil is enough,

The world is enough,

Why make it harder on yourself by continuously rejecting God’s truth and neglecting His statues.

Broken fellowship, if not repaired leads to loss.

If your fellowship with the Lord is broken this morning, I assure you, He did not in any way break that fellowship.

A holy, sinless God, did not sin to push you away from HIm.

If there is sin in your life, it is your sin alone.

Repent of that sin and turn back toward God.

Obey Him and see His victory.

Exodus 14:21-29

21. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

22. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

23. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24. Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

25. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”

27. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

29. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Conclusion

God is not in the business of neglecting His people.

Not once, in any story or circumstance can you find where God was not faithful.

Your struggles get His attention.

Your battles get His strength.

You were and are worth His all.

And He willfully gives you His all.

Isreal had to:

Learn not to be afraid.

Stand still.

See the Salvation of the Lord.

Be obedient to the Word of God.

When these things were mixed together in their hearts, in their minds, and evident in their lives, they saw victory.

Invitation

What battles are you facing today?

What war is raging in your life?

Don’t be afraid.

The Lord sees you and sees your battle.

Be still.

The quietness of the presence of God is unlike any weapon you may face.

See God’s Salvation.

If you are not saved this morning, I have great news.

He is here and you’re what He’s here for.

All you have to do is believe Him by faith and you will be saved.

If you are saved this morning, remember what the Lord saved you from and rejoice in Him.

Praise is another great weapon.

Praise silences the voice of the enemy.

Praise shakes the foundation of the greatest strongholds,

Praise brings victory.

And obey!

In just a few moments we are going to partake in the Lord’s Supper.

The Bible gives strong warning against taking it unworthy.

The only requirement to take this cup and this bread is that you are a Christian.

If you are a Christian, your heart should be prepared.

Prepare your heart by repenting and turning back toward God.

Mix it all together, and you too, can see victory in your life!

Revival starts tomorrow!

Let’s go into revival not just singing, but living sweet Victory in Jesus!

Communion Service

I want to again remind you that you do not have to be a member here to partake in the Lord’s supper.

It is a privilege that is reserved, not for the members of this church, but for all who are saved.

In preparing for His death and eventual resurrection, the Lord instituted this sacred sacrament as a means of remembrance.

Remembering HIm.

Remembering His life.

Remembering His death.

Remembering His broken body and

Remembering His shed blood.

His body remembered by bread that is broken.

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.”

PRAYER

1 Corinthians 11:23.For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24. and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Take bread.

His blood remembered by a cup shared.

Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

PRAYER

1 Corinthians 11:25. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Take bread.

In Matthew’s Gospel when he is recounting the night that the Lord first instituted the Lord’s Supper, in verse 30 he tells us that after the meal before the went to the Mount of Olives, they sang a hymn.

I want to invite you to stand together with us and sing the first and last verses of There is Power in the Blood.

Once we have sang, you are dismissed.