The Cloud Is Moving

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."

Exodus 13:18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

Exodus 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, "God will certainly come to help you. When He does, you must take my bones with you from this place."

Exodus 13:20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.

Exodus 13:21 The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.

Exodus 13:22 And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning Southpointe, We are so glad that you chose to join us this morning.

I want to talk to this morning about moving with God.

This is so great, God show us the trinity at work.

The Word of God said that the Lord went before there by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, so they could go by day and night.

But what is so great here is the Covenant God, the promising God, the One who heard the groaning of Israel, the One who raised up a deliverer for them now is reminding us of God, the Father, who heard and responded.

But through this deliverance we also we the Lamb without spot and blemish, slain and its blood sprinkled on the door post given protection and deliverance from the avenging angel which is showing us God the Son.

But now the Pillar of Cloud is given to Israel for their guidance across the wilderness speaks to us of God the Holy Spirit.

Just for a side note, I want you to notice the Cloud was not given to Israel until they had been delivered from Egypt.

And First the Lamb was slayed, the the giving of the cloud.

This is also the order of the New Testament, First, the death of the Lamb of God, followed by His resurrection and ascension and then the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

That the Word of God said Is:

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future.

The people of God, then and now, should follow the cloud! Follow the Lord; follow the leading and guiding of His Presence and His Holy Spirit.

There in verse 21 of our text, It was not simply a cloud, but rather it was the Lord going “ahead of them" in a pillar of cloud and fire.

When that pillar of God was moving, it meant that God was moving.

For what purposes? verse 21 “to guide them verse 18 “So God led the people...” verse 21“The Lord went ahead of them...”•

The Holy Spirit is out front leading.

That’s where we want the Lord in our lives — “ahead” of us, leading us, directing us, not following after us cleaning up the damage caused by our bad headstrong decisions.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Look at verse 21:

Exodus 13:21 He provided light at night with a pillar of fire.

God is light; this world is full of darkness. Look to God and His Word, the bible, to give light to your paths in this life.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

So let’s look at the ways that the Holy Spirit work in our lives.

The appropriate place for the pillar of cloud and fire was “in front of the people.”

That’s always where the Lord should be — in front! Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, not to run and be following their human-inspired feelings.

2. The Holy Spirit is my shield!

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Let’s look at:

Exodus 14:8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.

Now look at verses 19-20:

Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

Exodus 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Sometimes the glory cloud (the Lord’s presence) moves around “behind” us to shield us from our enemies. And as the cloud did, sometimes the Lord’s presence brings us light and them darkness — “darkness to the one side and light to the other”.

The Holy Spirit will blind our enemies and bring spiritual insight to His people.

3. The Holy Spirit show up when I pray!

Romans 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Look at these verses:

Exodus 33:7 It was Moses' practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.

Exodus 33:8 Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside.

Exodus 33:9 As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.

The pillar of cloud came down as Moses prayed unto the Lord.

God is always willing and waiting to hear our prayers. Be men and women of prayer, you will find yourselves consistently in step with God’s cloud.

4. The Holy Spirit filled the temple.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Again look at these verses:

Exodus 40:33 Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar. And he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work.

Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

Exodus 40:35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

The cloud of God speaks of the glory of God upon His Tabernacle.

In The New Testament, the tabernacle/temple is the individual believer

1 Cor 6:19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

Now we know this that the church is filled with individual believer who are filled with God’s glory, so the church is filled with God’s glory.

1 Cor 3:16 Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Now before we go look at one more verse:

Exodus 40:38 The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.

The cloud and the pillar of fire were with Israel throughout all their journeys.

Hebrews 13:5 For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."

There is no time in your life, good or bad, joyful or sad, in victory or defeat, when the Lord abandons you.