Moving Forward

Exodus 14:10-14 14Jan18/27Dec20

Moving Forward

(Welcome slide) Sometimes change is difficult, uncomfortable, we get into a routine quickly. (job, school, relationships) Many people don’t like change, not excited to leave the comforts and security of routine; yet at the same time, so many will agree when it comes time to express desire to see improvements, growth, the removal of a habit or how to strengthen a relationship, most importantly, everyone must seek to strengthen their relationship with God.

Surveys say 50% of the population makes new year’s resolutions, they claim they are going to make a change in their life for the better. But, because of being comfortable with the norm, the feeling of safety, comfort, satisfaction with routine, even if it is not truly a good situation, the fulfillment of resolutions is minimal.

There are often hills, mountains, cliffs, and pot holes during this journey. On your own it can be a difficult to overcome and remain motivated through all that you may encounter as you push forward.

Often when one encounters difficulty they stop progressing and choose to find contentment right where they are at. Or maybe, they decide to turn around and go back to the comforts of where they began.

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon said: Going forward supposes difficulty. You will find sometimes the path to be steep and uneven, rugged and rough. None but the brave go forward. The way, though right, is not always smooth and pleasant, charmed with music and song and perfumed with the fragrance of flowers, but much of a contrary kind.

As a child of God As a child of God, however, you are not to sit still, you are not to be content or comfortable in your routine, not satisfied with the way things are, after all God has done for each of us, we must never be comfortable with what we have done to glorify Him or satisfied with what we do to share His love and forgiveness to the world.

The question we all must ask ourselves, have I become content, satisfied with my relationship with God. No one is warranted to say, I have done enough, I am good right here. You cannot profess true obedience and faith in the commands of God and not push forward. Contentment leads to complacency, and complacency kills; complacency kills people, businesses, churches, relationships with other people and God, complacency kills whatever it gets a hold of.

Exodus 14:10-15 (NIV2011) 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.

V10 The Israelites encountered a mountain of difficulties as they pushed forward in the desert, they began to look back to where they had developed a nice comfortable routine, there is nothing inherently wrong with LOOKING back with the goal of LEARNING lessons, looking back longing for the good old days IS wrong.

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years, (Gen 15:13), it goes without saying they were miserable, treated horribly, happy to be released. (Ex 1: 13-14) BUT…400 years is enough time to develop a routine, to become comfortable, content with the accepted norm even if it is a miserable situation. As is common, when facing a difficult situation moving forward, it is easy to want to turn around.

Consider all the Israelites Consider all the Israelites had witnessed God do, the plagues, God’s protection of the Israelites, God’s dealing with Pharaoh, the fact Pharaoh initially let them go. They knew God’s power and the promises He made to them. With all they had seen, look at their words when they encountered difficulties and discomfort. “was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” “What have YOU done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” “Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?”

when the going got tough When the going got tough, God’s chosen people decided to be condescending and rude to Moses, display a lack faith in God’s commands as they forgot all God had done for them. They found it better to be content as slaves, than to place their faith in God and to move forward when God said move.

Don’t we do this today, find ourselves content in the situation that has become the norm, “I know a change must be made, I know God has said to GO, to DO, to change, but…I also know it will bring difficulties, it will take me out of my comfort zone, do I really NEED to move?” YES, if you have truly accepted God as your personal Savior, there is no option to say NO. Disobedience is a sin, and sin results in eternal death.

How many relationships have become stagnant because of contentment? How many husbands and wives, families hardly speak anymore because they have neglected to take the time to maintain their relationship out of contentment, they have become stagnant; how many Christian’s have become stagnant in their relationship with God because of contentment, all is good just the way it is, why move, why change?

Look around in every single town in America, how many churches have become stagnant, ineffective, or even closed because the members, the elders, even the pastors became comfortable, content with the norm, the way things have always been, professing to be faithful obedient children of God, seeking lost souls despite any and all trials, difficulties, and lack of comfort. Yet literally standing still doing nothing for God.

The Israelites forgot all God had done when confronted with difficulties causing them to waver in their trust, faith, dependence in God’s power and faithfulness. Today, Christian’s all over the world likewise forget, falling prey to difficulties, and cling to comfort and routine when they must pray, listen, and push forward. When you accept God as your Savior it entails moving forward, you do not build a relationship by sitting still, you communicate, grow, move, and to possess a relationship with God, it must be understood that true obedience and reliance on God requires pushing FORWARD.

V13 The Israelites cried out, not to God, but in fear, they blamed Moses for their situation. Moses said, do not be afraid, stand firm, the Lord will fight for you, just be still. When you pray, you must listen to what God is telling you to do…God does not always want you too JUST be still. God may tell you to wait, but don’t take that as stand still forever, when He says move, move.

Moses cried out to God, as we all must do in times of trouble, we must seek direction on what to do. At times though, God wants you to act, stop waiting for the answer that you have already received.

Exodus 14:15 (NIV)15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.

Joshua 7:10 (NIV2011) 10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

God wanted action, He commanded them to move.

V15 God told Moses to tell the Israelites to MOVE ON. God protected the Israelites, He guided them, but this process also required faith and action on the part of the people. Today, are you comfortable, are you content with the norm, are you satisfied with the way things are?

Conclusion:

Everyone one has the same command, to glorify God in all that we do, to go, to seek lost souls. God blessed you with the talents and gifts that you need to fulfill your purpose in His kingdom. Being a Christian is not a guarantee of a trouble-free comfortable life. But God does promise to be there with you every step of the way, to guide, strengthen, and protect. You are to seek His guidance on where to go and what you are to do, but this also entails the need to act, to do, to push forward, to move when He gives the command to go.

The question is, are you too comfortable where you are at, are you satisfied in your relationship with God just as it is now? It is impossible to simply stand still, eventually trials and storms will begin to push you backward. God will not move away from you, but if you will not continue to move closer to Him, you will move away from HIM. Contentment leads to complacency and laziness, and it WILL kill your relationship with God. Do not leave here today if you do not know for a fact you are right with God. You do not know for sure that you have tomorrow, only God knows just how long you have in this world, now is the time to be secure in your relationship with Him.