Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Today we come back to my topic on Spiritual warfare.

I thought about sharing a different message with you today, it being home coming and all.

Then I thought, the life of the church and its people are important.

We must know how to live and act in a world that is hostile to us, with the enemy, the ole devil who seeks to steal our hearts and minds away a little at a time.

We must be careful and diligent as we live in front of God.

I would remind you that the Devil is always on the look out, always searching and always seeking to devour us, to ruin our name and to tarnish the name of Jesus.

We must be careful!

So today we come back to the topic of Spiritual warfare, and with it lets go to the Old Testament book of Exodus.

Exodus is an important book my friends, for it is in Exodus that we begin to witness the fact that God fights for us.

He loves us and desires to protect us.

I want you to know that just as He called those believers in the Old Testament to come and follow Him, to trust Him and to enter into a covenant with Him, God has done the same for us.

He came and called us into the light, saved us and has entered into a new covenant with us by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for our sins.

In the Old Testament the covenant was ratified with blood and so this new covenant is as well.

This one by the precious blood of Jesus.

So we must live and walk in front of God, but understand the devil is out there and he seeks to harm us.

Live for God, trust Him and let him fight your battles, amen!

Lets go to Exodus chapter 14, look at verses 10-14

This is a good picture for us to see as the children of God, the reason being that we so easily forget what God has done in our past, and when faced with the difficulties of the present we grow afraid instead of trusting in the Lord.

So lets begin with this thought today.

1.

The Difficulty of Fear....

If there is one thing I believe the Devil enjoys using against the children of God, it is fear.

Fear is a tricky weapon of the devil, it stops and immobilizes the person, it can keep them from following the Lord in obedience.

It can keep God’s children from peace and enjoying the reward and victory of the Lord.

If you are here today and you are a born again child of God, what do you have to be afraid of?

Now think with me for a moment, Who gives life?

God, Who knows your life?

God.

Who knows the number of your days?

God.

God will fight for us, help us and love us enough to redeem us from the curse of sin? God.

Then my friends fear not!

But lets go to our story her in the biblical text of Exodus.

The children of Isreal have seen God at work, my gracious they have seen 10 different plagues come down on Pharoah and his kingdom.

Each time he hardened his heart against God, each time God won the victory.

Now this last plague was especially horrific, the first born of every man or beast has died except those in the land of Goshen, the children of Israel ho were obedient to the Lord’s command and placed the blood of a lamb on the door posts of their home.

Those homes the death angel would pass over and they would be spared....

But that night even Pharaoh’s own son would perish as did many others, a great cry was heard over the land and finally Pharaoh told them to leave.

So they left Egypt… and now they have come to the Red sea.... but suddenly in the moment the children of Israel realize that Pharoah has come after them, he did not keep His word.

Pig-huh-high-roth Bay-ugh - Zee-fun

Pharoah and the other Egyptian leaders realize they have just let their entire slave force walk out, they have no one to work and do all that needs to be done there, especially the making of the bricks and the massive building programs.

Now with the sight of Pharaoh, the Children of Israel are afraid and fear the worst… and they start complaining and crying out in fear.

Look again at our passage, :10-12

Do you hear the fear and frustration in their voice, What was it Moses.. did you bring us out here because there were not enough grave in Egypt?

Man, they is so cold....

You see fear had already crippled them, they were afraid and talking against Moses, really my friends against God.

There words essentially say, we do not trust you, and we no reason to change our minds...

Fear is a tool of the devil, man was never meant to be afraid as they lived in front of God.

Sin makes a mess of everything , it ruins our life and walk in front of God.

Let me ask you a question… What are you afraid off?

What keeps you from trusting God, from taking Him at His word?

Consider that question.... now ask yourself is that bigger or stronger than God?

The answer is NO.

Now lets move on......

2. The Lord’s Command....

The children are like us, they have been through a lot, they are wore down and honestly they are tired.... now listen to this my friends, here is the most opportune time for the devil to attack you.

When you are wore out, down and out… or just checked out… that is when you can expect an attack from the devil against you and or someone close to you.

Now the children of Israel, they are encamped by the Red Sea, this huge body of water...

Now one has told them what happens next.. and suddenly they realize that Pharaoh and his entire army are in pursuit, they have come to strike them and take as many as they can back into captivity...

At the sight of this, the people cry out…, we just looked at verse 10-12 a few moments ago, they are fearful, they have lost all courage and trust… they done know what to do...

Now look at verses 13-14

exodus 13-14

Look at that response… Fear not and stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord....

Exo

Why could he have such strength in a time of such challenge… here is what I think.

He never took His eyes off God.

Now you might look at me and say, pastor that is convenient, that is a simple answer but I tell it is true.

Here is why I say it, God’s presence was with them.

Listen the presence of God was right there, Moses never look His eyes off God.

He was there and He would deliver them.

Verse 14, Moses told them the Lord would fight for them…

Now listen carefully my friends, no matter the battle, the Lord is the one who fights for His people.

Moses reminded them Pharaoh might be coming but it is not your fight, the Lord would fight for them.

They only needed to be silent and see the salvation of the Lord has He delivered them.

Here is an exceptional truth my friends....

The children of Israel had to learn to let God be their Warrior.

The one who would fight their battles...

The same is true for us, we are not able nor are we capable.

But the Lord is and He will.

The children of Israel didn’t know what to expect, but they could trust God to lead them out

to enjoy His victory.

Now move forward just a minute… Verses 15-18

Here is the plan for success my friends.... follow the Lord’s command.

The sea is in front of them, they are on the shore line… the Lord tells them to move forward and you Moses lift up your staff and stretch your hand over the sea to divide it and the people will go forth on dry ground...

Wow...

Now I want you to know, Moses isn’t necessary to the miracle, but he is a visible sign for the people to see and have their faith boosted if you will.

But Moses stood there and raised up His staff and his other hand and the waters moved back… and the people began to cross ....

Here is one of the greatest miracles of the Bible, God driving back the water of the Red Sea so that His children could cross on ground made dry by God which only minutes ago had been years under water.

The people thought the impossible… they felt as if they were going to perish.

They had water in front of them and all of Egyptian army behind them…

The people thought the impossible… they felt as if they were going to perish.

They had water in front of them and all of Egyptian army behind them…

All Moses told them to do was fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, this day He will fight for you.

Friends when the battle comes, we are powerless but thanks be to God that He will fight for us and He is all powerful

Friends seeing no way past your obstacle with your physical eyes, can you trust Jesus, refuse to do anything but stand for Him and keep moving in the direction He is leading you!

Why have I asked you this.....????

Because the devil wants you to give up, stop and forget about the truth of what lies in front of you as a child of God.

Now lets move to my last thought for today...

3. Victory Won

The Children of Israel thought they would loose their life this day… it seemed impossible.