Pass The Torch

Intro

-Exodus was written by Moses.

-God gave him the job of leading the exodus out of Egypt.

Exodus means, to designate deliverance or grant safe passage.

Exodus 1:6–21 NKJV

And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

To pass the torch we must .....

Refuse to be the “who did not know” generation

Exodus 1:8 NKJV

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

-Joseph literally went from second in command, to the new King not knowing Joesph.

Exodus 1:11 NIV

So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

Your generation is faced with a great responsibility of passing the torch of Christianity. It wont be easy, and there will be persecution.

Matthew 10:16 NIV

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

- We are being sent out like sheep amongst wolves, be wise!

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

It only takes a generation for Christianity to “not exist”, don’t be the who did not know.

Realize that Persecution equals Growth

Exodus 1:12 NIV

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites

Those that were truly committed to Christ, stayed the course.

Illustration of trying to stay the course in difficult situations, driving late at night…etc.

Romans 5:3–5 NIV

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

This is why persecution equals growth.. When we workout we breakdown our muscles to only have them grow back stronger.

Fear God

Exodus 1:21 NKJV

And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

Fearing God, is a fear that has the upmost respect for Him that we don’t want to disappoint him. We want to honor him no matter what.

Coaches fear. Went to sleep hearing their voices. I wanted to do well, so I did not disappoint them.

We should all strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Unfortunately we are more concerned about what the world thinks of us than what God thinks of us.

the midwives feared God more than they feared Egypt. They feared God more than they feared culture. They wanted to please Him more than they wanted to please culture.

Who do you want to please? Who do you fear?

tell me what you spend the majority of your time doing I’ll show you who you want to please, and I’ll point out who you really fear.

So, how do you pass the torch?

By refusing to be the “who did not know “ generation (go into all nations) Matthew 28

By realizing persecution equals growth

By fearing God. The bible says, that fearing God is the beginning of all wisdom.