Exodus: The Story Changes

Last: Battle with Amelekites

Moses key in the battle.

Ron Burgundy:

…I’m kind of a big deal.

Delivered from river

burning bush

Pharaoh’s court

Miracles/Curses

Red Sea

Water

Hearing from God

Obviously Moses is an instrument of God. It’s easy to see how he might begin to believe that “yes, yes, i’m kind of a big deal”

Do you ever fall into this?

Feeling like it all depends on you? You would love to share the load, but who would I share it with?

Feeling like you can’t say no, because no one else will say yes?

2 burdens:

That you are a big deal and have to

That you are supposed to be a big deal so you try to

These are lies that we tell our selves. In the same way, Moses had accepted that he was the key to this whole exodus thing.

We find him in

Exodus 18:13 NIV84

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.

Seemed as right as breathing for Moses to be the go to guy...

From our point of view it is easy to see this is a bad idea.

Daughter in a rip tide…seemed right…but very wrong and if you could get away from it a little you could see it.

But Moses was right in the middle of it and couldn’t see it…he got caught up in the craziness of it. The reality was for Moses, that he couldn't keep it up. As much as he wanted to, as much as he felt like he had to…he couldn’t.

but it took someone else to see it.

Exodus 18:17 NIV84

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.

You are going to wear yourself out…for what?

Exodus 18:24 NIV84

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

With this, we get a major shift in the story. That’s how the story of our lives are too. One change sets off a series of changes.

For the Israelites, this new structure of leadership paved the way for an encounter with God.

And just like Moses learned at the burning bush, an encounter with God changes everything.

Chapter 19 serves as a preamble to the Law of God which follows in the next few chapters, much like the preamble in our constitution, it sets the groundwork.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Exodus 19:1–7 NIV84

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.

Moses up and down the mountain.

Over the next several weeks we are going to look in detail at these journeys of Moses.

But today I want to draw you attention to just 3 things here.

First we see that.

God always redeems people to himself.

Exodus 19:4 NIV84

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

We are just beginning to see how this plays itself out in the lives of the Israelites, but we already know how it works a bit.

Changed people change.

(eventually)

A change of heart always comes to those who are saved.

Romans 8:28-31

Romans 8:28–31 NIV84

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

You might say that redeemed people gather to connect.

Gather to Connect.

Connecting is one of our highest values as disciples. We gather to connect our lives with his.

Here is where we have to do a personal inventory. I ask you this because I love you. Do you feel connected?

May 24th was Aldersgate day fro us as Methodists. When John Wesley realized as a pastor for many years that his heart was changed.

For the first time he knew that he was a child of God.

I know people who say you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian....I say, if God has changed your life, why wouldn’t you want to be with other changed people.

I love Jesus, just not the church. That’s his bride. How can you be OK with me and not my wife. You can’t. If you don’t like my wife, we are definitely not OK.

If you don’t sense changes in your heart. IF you don’t sense your live being drawn to his. IF you are growing in connection to God…then maybe you aren’t.

Being an american doesn’t make you a Christian.

Second, we are going to see that.

There’s no mystery to a God pleasing life.

Exodus 19:5 NIV84

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

Word given to show us what a God pleasing life looks like.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Saved to serve.

this should bring us joy. I am struck sometimes that Christians are some of the saddest looking people I know. When we sing it should be a time of praise...when we give, or serve, or help, or cook, or clean, or work, or rest, it should be a time of celebration.

Third, we see that when the people move from slaves to judges....when they find their freedom, God changes the mission.

The mission changes...after they have been set free.

The apostle Paul put it this way.

Exodus 19:6 NIV84

you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Up until this point, God had been telling us that this was all about setting them free because he heard their cries. That they were going to a land of milk and honey because I AM was their God.

But now God speaks of their mission is to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

That’s the way sanctifying grace works.

2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Salvation always precedes holiness. We can’t be holy without God’s salvation.

God saves you…then gives you a mission.

Redeem your pain...now to tell someone.

An encounter with God changes everything. For sure that's what what our world needs

Watching the news last night and I saw that Ireland, one of the last nations where abortion was very limited, is moving to legalize it.

The world is changing right before our eyes.

But just as much as the world needs an encounter with God, so do we.

Lest we get caught up thinking that we are kind of a big deal. That people ought to celebrate us…when it’s God.

We have to change too.

Establish a church in Rock Hall

There was a time when our churches were a place where Christians gathered...now we need to be a people that gathers

Now to transform Rock Hall