Sermon on Sunday 10 November 2019 by Pastor Justin
God reminded me of the Israelites being delivered out of Egypt after 430 years as slaves. They were in the wilderness. Who was the one guiding them, holding their hands, despite their disobedience? Exodus 13:21-22 - By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
But the Israelites complained to Moses. Exodus 14:13-14 - 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. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:15-16 - Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."
God knows exactly what situation you are in right now. All God needs is for you to trust, to have faith. Without faith, you cannot please God. Your job is not to look to the future but look close where the God's hand is near. Fix your eyes upon the author and the finisher of your faith, your Lord Jesus Christ. He will shield you, He will uphold you. In life we do not notice many things. But God is always watching over us.
He is our Father. He wants to protect us. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus taught us how to pray. The Father will always care for His children.
Your role is to always keep close to the Lord. Fix your eyes upon Him. Don't look to far - it is too dim. Live moment by moment, because He guides you.
We will go as we are led. We will go where we are led. You will go only when you are led. God is holding on to you step by step. If He says detour, you detour. If He says stop, you stop. It is our Father's pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). He will lead us to the place when He wants us to go there. Picture Him embracing you, protecting you. The grace of God holds us firmly.
Psalm 37:23 - The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
He makes sure that every step we make are the right steps, for all those who are righteousness, all those who are godly. He knew us even before we were born. We are empty vessels to do His will. You cannot be fearful. You are a soldier of the cross. Whatever situation you are in right now, have full faith. He is holding your hand. You are the object of His favour and love.
Psalm 37:24 - Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
The bible tells you that you will stumble. James 1:2-3 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. When you obey, that is evidence of your faith. When God gives you a burden, you pray back to Him. This is called praying in the spirit.
We are all sinners. We struggle, stumble and trip. 1 John 1:8 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Galatians 6:1 - Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2 Samuel 12:13 - Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die." This doesn't mean that you can keep sinning. You are dead to sin. Your old man is dead on the cross. You are alive in Christ. Your new man will not want to sin. You have spirit that dwells in you that makes you not want to sin.
But when you sin, come back to God. 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3 points to remember
1. The Divine Predestination
He delights in all details of your life. He will make sure you walk on the right path. Do not fear.
1 Samuel 2:9 - He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails."
King David went through a horrible situation. But God will raise you up. He will strengthen you.
Psalm 40:2 - He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
The Father is at hand (Philippians 4:5). He is near you. He is always by your side. God will use people who are confident in the Lord. We are not confident in ourselves, but the key is to have confidence in the Lord.
2. The Divine Delight
He delights in protecting His people. God will fortify the gate for you.
Psalm 147:11-15 - The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat. He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
Always remember that you are a new creation. You will be renewed like an eagle (Psalm 103:5). He delights in every detail of your lives. God enjoys watching us grow, each time we are faced with difficult circumstances, each time we try again and again. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. The Divine Support
Though we stumble, we will not fall. Look upwards. God will never allow us to be struck down or destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
If you fall, arise again. Again and again. Proverbs 24:16 - For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
He will catch us. Psalm 145:14 - The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.
Summary
1. Fight on! For He will guide your feet.
2. Press on! For nothing can separate us from the love of God.
3. Walk on! For the Lord holds you by the hand.
God will never put you in an unbearable situation. Never. But He allows you to be in a situation that seems unbearable. Why? So that you can run back to Christ. If today you have a difficult situation, run to Jesus. It is always Jesus and nothing else.
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