Entanglement in the Wilderness

Vision 2018: Forward Entangled in the Wilderness Scripture Introduction: I. The Exodus A. After 10 plagues on Egypt, Pharaoh surrendered to the final option which was the original command from Yahweh, “Let my people go.” a. Egyptian Pharaohs were looked at as gods, yet in Exodus 12:32 we find this Pharaoh asking Moses to pray for blessing. He had seen the power of the true, Living God-Yahweh & recognized He is greater than Pharaoh, therefore he was “broken.” (temporarily) b. The people of Egypt were ready to get the Hebrews out of town to the point they surrendered their precious metals, expensive clothing & other things Israel needed for the journey. B. Romans 5:1 & 9 teaches justification by faith & the blood of Jesus Christ. a. We are not to “continue” in sin in fact we are commanded not to allow sin to reign Romans 6:12. The decree over the born again is, “You are no longer slaves” Romans 6:6 because we died with Christ on the cross & “shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” Though once slaves to sin, we are delivered, but must conquer that “desire” to go back. b. We were born in the character of death, but born again in the righteousness of life, the life of Christ. Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death… C. We are going to look at the journey of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s bondage. a. From the time they left Egypt until they crossed over to the Land of Promise, there were 42 stops. These are certainly similar if not symbolic of life as well as your spiritual expedition from the time you are saved. b. These 42 seasons are some very short amount of time from a few hours to a few weeks while some were longer seasons. Every season in life is a time of teaching from your loving Heavenly Father. Exodus 12:42 (BIBLE) Exodus 12:42On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. NLT II. The Way Out Exodus 14:10 says, "They cried out to the LORD." This was the right thing to do. Though their prayer was right their words were wrong because what they "said" to Moses expressed doubt & unbelief. How often do we pray & speak as they did? Pray believing God for salvation of a family member, healing, financial increase etc. & speak something completely opposite to people. Remember the application: A. Born Again, Freed Exodus 12:37-39 a. 430 years to the day since Israel came to Egpyt, just as God had told Abraham. Born again you are freed from the constraints of slavery & emerge triumphant. Generation after generation, all they had known was Egypt's bondage & now they are free. What celebration when a sinner is forgiven, loosed from their past & set free. Do you remember the feeling of liberation? Then share that joy with those bound! b. When you are born again, brought out of bondage & liberated by the blood of Jesus Christ you are given gifts, treasures just as Israel was given possessions of the Egyptians. Exodus 12:35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. NLT B. The Path, the Journey a. The LORD did not lead Israel down the expected route or the sensible path, He chose the road which would bring Him the glory. b. The shortest & most common way from Egypt to Canaan was along the coast. "It had good, easy roads, it was a trade route so food & water could be bought. But the dangers of the way were too great, though they could not see them. God anticipated dangers they could not see." C. He will Pursue a. Satan never wants to lose a soul. Just as Pharaoh mounted his army against the defenseless Israelites to capture them & bring them back to Egypt's bondage Satan will mount an attack to try & regain control of a person who has been born again. However, just as Yahweh had other plans with Israel, so He does with every person who yields their life to Christ. b. The chariots of Egypt were the most modern, sophisticated weapons of the modern-day warfare. Israel only had boldness. No weapons. No skills. No warriors. Israel had every right to fear & panic, it appeared they were sitting in a trap & the only escape route was blocked by the Egyptians. D. God will Provide a. The pillar of cloud by day & fire by night was the Shekinah presence of the Almighty, it was His Divine dwelling place of the presence of God with Israel. Now we have the Word of God & His Spirit Who goes with you night & day. b. The Word says neither Israel nor the Egyptians crossed over to the other side. Exodus 14:20The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night. NLT E. Deliverance is Promised a. You can be delivered from your past, that thing that held you bondage for so long maybe it is a generational curse. It will bring it's worst to destroy you, but God has made a way of escape. Listen for instructions from the Book! b. Look at their mindset through vs. 13 better to be a corpse than die, praying through to deliverance. F. Deliverance in Darkness a. Their deliverance came in the dark if night. Through the night they walked across on the dry sea bed of the Red Sea. God's Shekinah gave them Light during their deliverance. b. Even after this experience they still dealt with stuff, but never the Egyptians again. III. Communion A. But just before dawn Exodus 14:24But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. NLT a. Paul says in Romans 7:23 there is a war going on inside, then he cries out in prayer Romans 7:24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! b. The difference, you can look to Jesus (Author, Finisher) & know that He is your deliverer. B. SERVE Communion Luke 22:19And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 21But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. NKJV C. The reason we can do this is because of the resurrection of Christ. - He asks us to: * Repent * Live by Faith * Be Baptized * Be Filled with His Spirit Conclusion: PRESENT THE GOSPEL FOR SALVATION – EVERY WEEK – AND THE NEED TO COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST