Untitled Sermon (22)

SEEKING GOD’S DIRECTIONS

INTRODUCTION

SO MANY OF US SEEK GOD ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE OR THEIR IS NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO.

ISRAELITES FOUND THEMSELVES IN SLAVERY FOR OVER 430 YEARS IN EGYPT.

WHAT THE ISRAELITES DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT GOD ‘S PLAN WAS BIGGER THAN THEM.

GOD HAVE A WAY OF SHOWING US THAT EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES , HE IS ABLE TO REDEEM US FROM THEM AND SET US FREE.

THERE ARE 3 THINGS I LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.

DETOURS IN YOUR LIVES.

DEAD ENDS IN YOUR LIVES.

DRY PLACES IN YOUR LIVES.

LET’S BEGIN WITH DETOURS.

DETOURS ARE THE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT ARE TAKEN DUE TO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

EXODUS 13:17-18 “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.”

THE ONE THING CHRISTIANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD WILL NEVER LEAD US INTO DANGER, BUT WHAT GOD WILL DO ,IS GIVE US A ALTERNATE ROUTE TO GO AROUND IT.

LIFE DETOURS SHOULD NOT STOP WHAT GOD HAVE FOR YOU.

WHEN YOU WALK IN THE PATH OF THE LORD, YOU WON’T FEAR WHAT MAN OR WOMAN CAN DO UNTO YOU.

GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE AND WHAT YOU CANNOT HANDLE.

TO MANY OF US RATHER TAKE SHORT CUTS TO GET WHERE WE GOING TO.

THAT’S WHEN TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO US.

GOD SEEN THAT THEIR WAS A SHORTER ROUTE TO THE LAND OF THE CANAANITES, BUT WHAT GOD SEEN WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE WOULD DISTRACT OR DISCOURAGE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL FROM GOING FORTH.

WHAT GOD SEEN THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WAS NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE WHAT THEY WAS ABOUT TO FACE.

A LOT OF TIME WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE FACT THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT’S BEST FOR US.

NUMBERS 14:11 “And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?”

WHEN GOD TAKES YOU A ROUND ABOUT WAY, YOU ARE DEVELOPING HISTORY WITH GOD. BUT WHEN YOUR JOURNEY IS SHORT WITH GOD YOU ARE MOST LIKELY NOT TO SEEK HIS DIRECTIONS WHEN THINGS BECOME DIFFICULT IN YOUR LIFE.

2.

DEAD ENDS IN YOUR LIVES IS THE PLACE OF FRUSTRATION, FEAR AND THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOUND THEMSELVES IN A PLACE OF FEAR THEY CRIED OUT TO THE LORD.

THE PROBLEM WITH US IS WE CAN ONLY SEE THE DOOR THAT IS CLOSING , BUT NOT THE DOORS THAT HAS BEEN OPENING. IF ONE DOOR SHUT, SURELY OUR GOD CAN OPEN UP ANOTHER DOOR. WHEN YOU HAVE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM GOD YOU CAN OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT.

JOSHUA 24:7 “And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.”

THEN IT’S THOSE DRY PLACES THAT ENTER INTO OUR LIVES WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES COMPLAINING NOT REALIZING WHAT THE LORD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US.

YOU RATHER STAY IN BONDAGE, INSTEAD EXPERIENCING FREEDOM.

BUT IF YOU SEEK GOD FOR HIS DIRECTIONS, HE WILL SHOW YOU THAT DRY PLACES LEADS TO ELEVATION.

DRY PLACES TEACHES YOU TO TRUST GOD NO MATTER HOW THE SITUATION MAY TURN OUT.

EXODUS 14:13-14 “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

WHEN GOD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES FOR YOU, YOU DON’T HAVE TO RAISE A HAND.