The Passover and the Principle of Obedience: A Theological Review

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Glory, Hallelujah Lift His Holy Name up Glory, Hallelujah Lift His Holy Name up
[00:00:32] The Lift is Holy, Game of Glory, Hallelujah The Lift is Holy, Game of
[00:00:56] Give Him praise in the sanctuary Give Him praise He is great and mighty Give Him praise
[00:01:14] Every nation rise and sing For the Lord has done great things Give Him praise Give Him praise In the sanctuary Give Him praise
[00:01:36] He is great and mighty Give Him praise Every nation rise and sing For the Lord has done great things Give Him praise The Lamb that was slain His blood over

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let's give Him the praise that He deserves this morning.
[00:02:15] Only Jesus deserves this praise.
[00:02:18] God, we thank you for the King above all kings, the one who has conquered death, who has given us eternal life.
[00:02:25] We give Him our praise.
[00:02:27] Jesus, we give you our praise.
[00:02:29] All together we do.
[00:02:38] We give in praise!
[00:02:44] We give in praise!
[00:02:53] We give Him praise, we give Him praise

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Lift His Holy Name up Glory Hallelujah Lift His Holy Name up Glory Hallelujah
[00:04:00] Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia

[00:04:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Amen!
[00:04:26] What a great way to get 2026 started this Sunday morning.
[00:04:28] Good morning, Watermark!
[00:04:30] My name is Sarah Stapleton, and I've got a couple of announcements for us this morning.
[00:04:34] First one, directly after this service, we're having a Christmas cleanup.
[00:04:38] So if you're able to stay, we've got lunch will be provided, and we're going to clean up the Christmas decorations and get things back to kind of normal around here.
[00:04:47] So if you're able to stay, we would love any extra helping hands.
[00:04:50] On Sunday, January 11th, following the second service, we'll also have another lunch, and there will be a common sense session.
[00:04:58] If that is something you're interested in, you can find more information online.
[00:05:02] You can also register online, so this will be a great way to kickstart your new year.
[00:05:06] On Friday, January 23rd from 530 to 7, we are having a worship and baptism night.
[00:05:13] If you are interested in getting baptized or you would like to have more information about that, then you can reach out to Pastor Joel.
[00:05:20] Otherwise, just plan to come and have a lovely night of singing and praise and a great time together.
[00:05:26] Testing the water.
[00:05:27] If you are new or newer to Watermark, then this is a great time to come and learn more about us as a church to get to meet some of our staff.
[00:05:36] So on Sunday, January 25th, directly following Second Service, we'll have lunch and childcare provided.
[00:05:43] So you'll have the kiddos taken care of, you'll have your belly full, and you can come and learn a little bit more about us here at Watermark.
[00:05:49] Also, lastly, Chili Cook-Off.
[00:05:51] Our annual Chili Cook-Off is coming up in February.
[00:05:54] It is the first of February, and it'll be from 5 to 6.30.
[00:05:59] If you're new here, let me tell you a little bit about this.
[00:06:01] We get really competitive.
[00:06:02] I don't get competitive because I can't cook.
[00:06:04] I just like to try everybody's chili that brings it and gets really competitive.
[00:06:08] So if you have a favorite chili recipe or a super secret family recipe that you love,
[00:06:14] Please register to be able to compete in that.
[00:06:16] If you're like me and cooking's not your thing, just come.
[00:06:19] There's going to be a lot of chili to enjoy.
[00:06:20] So we will do that together on February 1st.
[00:06:24] Alright, with that y'all, we're going to continue in worship.

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
I won't forget the wonder of how you brought Deliverance, the exodus of my heart Cause you found me, you freed me Held back the waters from my release, oh Yahweh

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
You're the God who fights for me Lord of every victory Hallelujah, Hallelujah You have torn apart the sea You have led me through the deep Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[00:07:38] This cloud-piped day is a sign that you are with me And fire by night is a guiding light to my feet Cause you've found me, you've freed me Held back the waters for my release, oh Yahweh You're the God who fights for me, Lord of everything
[00:08:12] You have torn apart the sea You have led me through the deep Hallelujah, Hallelujah You're the God who fights for me Lord of everything
[00:08:41] You have torn apart the sea, You have led me through the deep, Hallelujah
[00:09:25] You stepped into my Eden You took me by the hand You marched me out in freedom Into the Promised Land Now I will not forget You I'll sing of all You've done Death is swallowed up forever
[00:09:48] By the fury of Your love You stepped into my Egypt And You took me by the hand And You marched me out in freedom Into the Promised Land Now I will not forget You I'll sing of all You've done Death is swallowed up forever
[00:10:20] Lord the God who fights for me, Lord of every victory, Hallelujah, Hallelujah You have torn apart the sea, You have led me through the deep, Hallelujah
[00:10:49] of every victory Hallelujah, Hallelujah You have torn apart the sea You have led me through the deep Hallelujah, Hallelujah
[00:11:40] You stepped into my Egypt You took me by the hand You marched me out in freedom Into the Promised Land Now I will not forget You I'll sing of all You've done Death is swallowed up forever

[00:13:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind

[00:13:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
I know there is peace within your presence I speak Jesus I just want to speak the name of Jesus Till every dark addiction starts to break
[00:13:51] Declaring there is hope and there is freedom I speak Jesus Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life

[00:14:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over fear and all anxiety
[00:14:43] To every soul I'm captivated by depression I speak Jesus Your name is power Your name is healing Your name
[00:15:08] Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life
[00:15:35] Shine through the shadows, burn like a fire Shout Jesus from the mountains, Jesus in the streets

[00:15:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Jesus in the darkness all for every enemy And Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Shout Jesus from the mountains Jesus in the streets Jesus in the darkness all

[00:16:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows
[00:17:05] Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is life Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows

[00:17:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind Cause I know there is peace within your presence I speak Jesus I speak Jesus

[00:18:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Lord, we speak the name, your name, the name that is above every name.
[00:18:20] Lord, there will be a day where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord, you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
[00:18:32] Lord, until that day comes, we wait with anticipation, with hope of the things to come.
[00:18:41] Lord, help us to persevere in our walk with you.
[00:18:45] Lord, help us to grow in grace and knowledge and in truth.
[00:18:50] Lord, be with Pastor Joel as he brings your word this morning.
[00:18:54] It's in Jesus' name we pray.
[00:18:56] Amen.
[00:18:57] You may be seated.

[00:19:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Well, good morning.
[00:19:24] It's great to see everybody here today.
[00:19:26] So glad you're here.
[00:19:27] Wow, it's a full house today.
[00:19:29] I think we only have a few seats empty, so I'm really glad that you came.
[00:19:33] And what a great place to be, right?
[00:19:35] On this, the first Sunday of the new year, to be in God's house, and especially here at Watermark Church.
[00:19:41] So we welcome you.
[00:19:42] We welcome those of you who are watching from home.
[00:19:45] We're glad that you're with us.
[00:19:46] You know, I'm excited about this series that we're kind of renewing today.
[00:19:51] We started this series back in the fall.
[00:19:53] We called it Moses, Navigating Life's Challenges and Following God's Will.
[00:19:59] So we're reprising that for the second half of this series today.
[00:20:03] Look, who doesn't need some insights about how to navigate God's will and life's challenges in the new year ahead and I think we've got some great insight to start with today as we begin 2026 and don't worry if you're new to Watermark, if this is your first Sunday here
[00:20:20] and you missed the first half of this series it's okay you're going to be able to jump right in so no problem there plus if you want you can go back and listen to the first half online you know one thing a new year offers us is a chance to really turn the page on the past year and in many ways a new year marks for us a fresh start a new beginning a new lease on life
[00:20:43] The only problem is that just because the calendar has turned the page to a new year doesn't mean that our lives will automatically or immediately or dramatically change.
[00:20:54] Because unless you and I make some conscious God-honoring decisions, then we'll carry bad habits and crippling tendencies and poor choices with us into this brand new year ahead.
[00:21:06] and some of you know exactly what I'm talking about because your life hasn't been going that great at least in the recent past and if you're honest you've been struggling in some key areas maybe you've made some poor choices some bad decisions that have landed you in a place you'd rather not be right now
[00:21:25] Maybe you've chosen your own way and charted your own course, directed your own path instead of going God's way and following His plan and His path for your life.
[00:21:37] I would encourage you to write this down if you're going to follow in your outline.
[00:21:41] It's a very good and important truth for us that the consequences of doing life your way instead of God's way will make life difficult at best and disastrous at worst.
[00:21:54] And that's the truth.
[00:21:56] The good news is that the Lord is willing to guide you in this new year ahead.
[00:22:00] That He wants to help you to navigate life's challenges and to follow His will moving forward.
[00:22:07] I think the biggest obstacle that we face in doing that is really our own sin, which separates us from Him.
[00:22:15] And that sin cripples us, it enslaves us, and it keeps us from following God's will for our lives.
[00:22:22] But God can, God will deliver you from that sin.
[00:22:26] Whatever is holding you captive and keeping you from experiencing the abundant life that He has for you.
[00:22:33] So today, as we walk through Exodus chapter 11
[00:22:38] We're going to see how God delivers the Israelites from captivity in Egypt where they had been enslaved for hundreds of years, 400 plus years.
[00:22:46] And throughout this powerful story of the Exodus, there is one central theme that emerges.
[00:22:52] In fact, you can't miss it.
[00:22:54] You know what it is?
[00:22:56] It's obedience.
[00:22:58] Over and over again today you will see God speak, people obey, and then lives changed.
[00:23:04] Here's another truth.
[00:23:06] That obedience leads to life change.
[00:23:10] And here's the truth.
[00:23:10] If you're ready to see God work in your life in the new year ahead, if you're ready to experience lasting life change in your life, there is one word, there is one action, there is one critical decision that will make or break your year ahead.
[00:23:25] It's obedience.
[00:23:27] And some people like to find a word for the new year.
[00:23:30] Maybe you're one of those people.
[00:23:31] You've chosen a word.
[00:23:32] Somebody told me on the way out, I'm one of those, and she shared with me what her word was.
[00:23:37] And some of you may have picked a word that's going to kind of, you know, guide your theme for this year.
[00:23:42] Here's a word to consider and maybe add it to yours.
[00:23:45] Obedience.
[00:23:46] Obedience in the new year ahead.
[00:23:48] Listening to what God says.
[00:23:50] Responding in obedience and leaving the results to Him.
[00:23:53] I wonder,
[00:23:55] I wonder what your life would look like if you were fully committed to obeying the Lord every day and in every way in 2026.
[00:24:05] Here's the truth.
[00:24:06] No matter where you are in life's journey,
[00:24:08] No matter where you are in your faith journey, I don't think that you're here today or tuned in today by accident.
[00:24:14] I think the Lord has led you here on purpose and for a purpose.
[00:24:19] I think He has much to teach you and me today about one life-changing word, one strategy, one plan moving forward.
[00:24:29] Obedience.
[00:24:31] But before we dig into His Word, let's pray.
[00:24:35] Father, I'm so grateful for this chance to be in your house with all of these people on this first Sunday of the new year.
[00:24:44] God, I'm grateful for the opportunity to worship you, to offer you the praise that you so richly deserve.
[00:24:50] God, you have rescued us from our Egypt.
[00:24:54] You've rescued us from the sin that plagues us, for those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus, the Savior and Lord.
[00:25:01] I pray that as we turn the page on a new year, God, that you would speak to our hearts today.
[00:25:07] Lord, that you would challenge us where we need to hear from you.
[00:25:11] God, we pray that our ears, our eyes, our hearts would be open to what you have to say to us today.
[00:25:18] God, teach us something fresh and new about obedience.
[00:25:22] What it would mean to obey you in the new year ahead.
[00:25:27] We pray all of this in Jesus' holy and precious name.
[00:25:30] Amen.
[00:25:32] So we're going to take a look at Exodus 11 and 12 today.
[00:25:35] And if you want to follow along in your Bible, you're certainly welcome to do that.
[00:25:39] If you were able to get a bulletin on your way in, you should have an outline in that bulletin.
[00:25:44] And if you track along with me, most of the text that I'll cover today is there.
[00:25:48] So you can take notes as you kind of follow along.
[00:25:51] You may also write down some of the salient truths, the applications that I share with you.
[00:25:57] And one thing about
[00:25:58] When you're covering narrative in God's Word, which by the way, most of God's Word is narrative, when you're covering these stories, they don't set up like, here are three points in a poem, like a lot of pastors will try to prepare.
[00:26:12] What this teaches for us are a number of truths, of applications that will make our lives work.
[00:26:19] And so as I go through this, I'm going to point out some truths that God has for us here, and if it serves you, I encourage you to write these things down.
[00:26:27] So when we left Moses last in the fall, he and his brother Aaron were trying desperately to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelite people go.
[00:26:37] In fact, God had brought nine debilitating, really terrifying plagues on Egypt, any of which should have been enough to convince Pharaoh to release the Hebrew people from slavery, the slavery they had endured for hundreds of years.
[00:26:54] But Pharaoh was as stubborn as they come.
[00:26:58] And no matter the pain that was inflicted on his country or on his people, he would not relent.
[00:27:04] He would not release the Israelites.
[00:27:07] So we're going to begin reading here in verse 1 of chapter 11.
[00:27:10] Now the Lord had said to Moses, I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt.
[00:27:17] and after that he will let you go from here and when he does he'll drive you out completely so tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold
[00:27:30] Now the Lord has a plan and this last plague would get the job done once and for all but then in verse 2 God says that the Israelites are to ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold which on the surface seems like an an odd ask right why would the Lord want them to do that
[00:27:51] and there are a couple of explanations one simple one may be again they have been slaves in Egypt doing all of the Egyptians dirty work for 400 plus years so this is a little back pay for that maybe
[00:28:03] But I think even more importantly, as we'll learn later in this series, is that God has a plan for that silver and gold.
[00:28:11] It would be a part of their tabernacle, or their tent of meeting, the place of worship, where they would meet with God Himself, the God who would deliver them from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.
[00:28:23] And even though they had no idea what God's plan was, there was only one acceptable response.
[00:28:30] What was it?
[00:28:32] Obedience, right, to obey.
[00:28:35] In verse 3, the Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.
[00:28:46] Now, when you read that, and especially if you remember earlier in this story, it wasn't so long ago that Moses was anything but highly regarded.
[00:28:57] and especially among his own people in fact the Hebrew people got really angry with Moses when he came in initially and demanded from Pharaoh that that they be released from captivity and Pharaoh got pretty mad and doubled down
[00:29:14] In fact, if you remember, he made them start gathering all of their raw materials for their brick making and he didn't reduce their quotas at all.
[00:29:24] So if it was possible, he made their lives even more miserable than they already were.
[00:29:31] So the Israelite people were pretty angry with Moses about that.
[00:29:36] In fact, they kind of were furious toward him and at that point Moses was despised, he was loathed, and he was all alone.
[00:29:46] Now think about that for a moment.
[00:29:49] That's not a place that anyone wants to be.
[00:29:51] Maybe you've been there in your life.
[00:29:54] But here's the truth.
[00:29:55] You know what Moses didn't do?
[00:29:58] Moses didn't give up.
[00:30:00] He didn't give in.
[00:30:02] He never threw in the towel.
[00:30:04] He remained steadfast and he remained obedient.
[00:30:08] So what did God do as a result of that?
[00:30:11] He rewarded Moses for his faithfulness, for his obedience.
[00:30:16] He caused Moses and his people to be favored by the Egyptians.
[00:30:21] Here's an important truth.
[00:30:23] Remember, I promised I'd give you some.
[00:30:25] Here's one you might want to write down.
[00:30:27] The Lord loves to bring favor on his obedient servants.
[00:30:33] He does.
[00:30:34] In fact, in Proverbs, we read this in verse 7 of chapter 16.
[00:30:39] When a person's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
[00:30:47] That's pretty cool, right?
[00:30:49] I mean, the Lord will do that in your life.
[00:30:52] When you're obedient to Him, especially when it's not easy, especially when it's not popular, or when it's not convenient for you to do that.
[00:31:02] Here's a couple of questions that I would ask you to consider in the new year ahead.
[00:31:05] Think about this.
[00:31:06] Will you be obedient to the Lord?
[00:31:08] Even when initially it doesn't make you popular.
[00:31:12] It doesn't make you adored.
[00:31:14] Will you stand with Him?
[00:31:16] Will you take a stand for Him when some turn up their noses or roll their eyes at you?
[00:31:24] Because it can happen.
[00:31:25] In fact, it will.
[00:31:26] Because here's the truth.
[00:31:27] Obedience, pleasing the Lord, isn't always easy.
[00:31:31] Not in culture.
[00:31:32] Not in this world.
[00:31:34] In fact, it takes strength.
[00:31:35] It takes courage to do that.
[00:31:37] But God honors obedience.
[00:31:39] And one way He does that is to bring favor on His obedient servants.
[00:31:45] So after Moses had found that favor with the Egyptians, including Pharaoh's court, it was time to go to Pharaoh, who did not like hearing what Moses had to say.
[00:31:54] You know, there will always be some who will stand against you, and some that may be powerful and have loud voices.
[00:32:01] Pharaoh was one of those.
[00:32:02] So while others were in favor of Moses, Pharaoh was not.
[00:32:07] And Moses shared five hard truths with Pharaoh which Pharaoh promptly and unsurprisingly rejected.
[00:32:14] Here's what happens in verses 4 and following.
[00:32:17] Then Moses said,
[00:32:19] This is what the Lord says about midnight I'm going out into the midst of Egypt and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones all the firstborn of the cattle as well so there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt such as there has not been before and such as there shall never be again
[00:32:46] But not even a dog will threaten any of the sons of Israel, nor anything from person to animal, so that you may learn how the Lord distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.
[00:33:01] So there are five really hard truths here for Pharaoh and the Egyptian people.
[00:33:06] Did you catch them?
[00:33:07] The first is this, about midnight something big is going to happen.
[00:33:10] It's big.
[00:33:12] All the firstborn in Egypt are going to die, including Pharaoh's firstborn.
[00:33:17] There's going to be unprecedented distress and heartache throughout the country of Egypt.
[00:33:23] Yet, Israel would be protected.
[00:33:27] And then after that, oh, there will be an exodus.
[00:33:31] I can assure you of that.
[00:33:33] In verse 8,
[00:33:34] And all these servants of yours, Moses said, will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, Go out, you and all the people who follow you, and after that I will go out.
[00:33:46] And he left Pharaoh in a heat of anger.
[00:33:50] You know, Moses didn't pull any punches there, right?
[00:33:52] It was a very heated exchange between him and Pharaoh.
[00:33:56] The time for patience was over.
[00:33:58] This plague would definitely be the last and Moses delivers this message with a lot of power and with resolve.
[00:34:06] But he also makes clear that after this plague the Israelites are absolutely going to go out of Egypt.
[00:34:13] And with those final words Moses went out from Pharaoh.
[00:34:16] He's filled with righteous anger.
[00:34:18] There's no doubt Moses had had enough of Pharaoh's obstinance, of his foolishness.
[00:34:24] And now the tragic consequences that he was about to bring on his entire nation.
[00:34:30] Now, that couldn't have been an easy message for Moses to deliver, right?
[00:34:36] To, at that point, the most powerful man in the world.
[00:34:39] No matter how angry Moses must have been, yet Moses did it.
[00:34:45] And for one primary reason.
[00:34:47] Why?
[00:34:49] Obedience.
[00:34:50] God told him to.
[00:34:52] So after Moses had dealt with Pharaoh, it was time to turn his attention to his people, to prepare them for what was to come.
[00:35:00] He had some important instructions for them.
[00:35:02] And how do you think they're going to respond?
[00:35:05] They'll cooperate.
[00:35:07] Why?
[00:35:07] One word.
[00:35:09] Obedience.
[00:35:10] You see this recurring theme in this story?
[00:35:13] You might write this down.
[00:35:15] To follow God's will, obedience is always required.
[00:35:21] The truth is, without obedience, you and I, we're on our own.
[00:35:25] Some of you are realizing that.
[00:35:26] Maybe for the very first time, you're realizing why you're struggling so much in some really critical areas of your life, and maybe in life in general.
[00:35:36] Others of you are realizing why your life has been kind of a hot mess lately.
[00:35:42] You've lacked obedience, choosing your way over the Lord's way, and you're experiencing the consequences of that.
[00:35:49] You know, maybe God has brought you here today at the start of a brand new year so that you'll recognize that, so you'll understand that.
[00:35:58] Here's the truth.
[00:35:58] You can choose obedience going forward.
[00:36:03] That's your decision.
[00:36:05] So since they would be leaving Egypt after all those years, the Lord wanted the Israelites to establish a memorial.
[00:36:13] So in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12, the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron in Egypt, This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
[00:36:23] So the event that was to follow would be so monumental.
[00:36:28] that the Lord wanted their annual calendar to begin with this month moving forward.
[00:36:33] And now I want you to notice the really specific instructions the Lord offers in verses 3 and following.
[00:36:41] Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
[00:36:49] If any household is too small for a whole lamb, then they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are.
[00:36:56] You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
[00:37:02] The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect.
[00:37:08] I think that's important.
[00:37:10] And you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
[00:37:14] Many of you have heard this passage before, right?
[00:37:16] And you've heard this.
[00:37:18] It's the Lord's instruction for what will become known as the Passover.
[00:37:22] And if you're familiar with the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, you also know that those events occurred, not by accident, during the Passover.
[00:37:33] And why is that?
[00:37:35] because Jesus would become the ultimate sacrificial lamb whose blood would be shed for you and me on Calvary's cross and for all who believe by faith we would be redeemed, reconciled, able to enter God's heaven because of his blood being shed for us.
[00:37:57] He paying our penalty, sin's penalty of death.
[00:38:02] So look at verses 6 and following.
[00:38:04] Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, these are the lambs, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
[00:38:13] Then they are to take some of the blood and to put it on the sides and tops of the doorframe of the houses where they eat the lambs.
[00:38:21] Now again,
[00:38:22] Many of you have heard this story and you've heard it many times.
[00:38:25] Some of you, maybe this is the first time you've heard it and you're wondering, what is all this about?
[00:38:29] But for others of you, again, you've heard it a lot and the problem with having heard it a lot is sometimes we can just gloss over it.
[00:38:37] But I want you to take a second to just kind of
[00:38:40] Let this sink in because for the Israelites this was the first time they had heard this instruction so it was all new to them none of them had ever prepared a lamb in this way none of them had ever gathered the blood of that lamb to be used in a specific way as
[00:38:59] you know described here no one understood the significance of spreading that lamb's blood on the two doorposts the lintel of their home they had never prepared for an exodus before in fact let's be clear no nation had ever gathered up all their belongings and prepared to leave a country where they had lived for 400 years all in one single night
[00:39:23] Yet God, in all of His wisdom, designed a plan that would require just one thing from them.
[00:39:30] What was it?
[00:39:32] Obedience.
[00:39:33] You're getting it.
[00:39:34] God never gave them an option.
[00:39:36] He never asked for their buy-in.
[00:39:38] He didn't ask for their opinion, their consideration.
[00:39:42] He simply told them what to do and what would happen when they did.
[00:39:46] Here's the truth.
[00:39:48] I might write it down.
[00:39:50] God commands and God expects
[00:39:54] Obedience.
[00:39:56] You may not always understand what God's up to in your life.
[00:39:59] You may not be able to see what He sees.
[00:40:01] In fact, I can guarantee you, you won't.
[00:40:04] God doesn't ask for your input or your consideration on His commands.
[00:40:09] Again and again, throughout His Word, God makes very clear what He wants you, what He wants me to do.
[00:40:15] And He expects us to do it.
[00:40:16] When we do, life works.
[00:40:19] When we don't, it doesn't.
[00:40:23] Here's what happens in verses 11 and following.
[00:40:26] This is how you're to eat it, this meal.
[00:40:29] With your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, your staff in your hand.
[00:40:34] Eat it in haste.
[00:40:35] It's the Lord's Passover.
[00:40:37] On that same night I will pass through Egypt.
[00:40:40] I will strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.
[00:40:49] I am the Lord.
[00:40:50] This blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are,
[00:40:54] and when I see the blood I will pass over you no destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt so God tells the Israelites how they're to eat what will be the Passover meal you understand the Passover now right you spread this blood on these doorposts either side of the door on the lentil when I see the blood I will pass over it and you will not you will be spared no death will come to your home
[00:41:24] So God wanted His people to be ready to move that night.
[00:41:28] He had specific plans about how they would eat that night.
[00:41:31] This wouldn't be a casual, conversational kind of meal.
[00:41:35] This wouldn't be a meal that they would eat in their pajamas.
[00:41:38] It's not a meal that they're going to eat while lounging around.
[00:41:41] This was a meal to be eaten fully dressed and ready to get out the door and quickly, without hesitation.
[00:41:47] God wanted His people, again, ready to move that night.
[00:41:50] And He had specific plans for this meal too.
[00:41:53] So that meal would take on a special meaning for them and later for us as Christ followers.
[00:42:00] So God says in verse 14, This is the day that you're to commemorate for the generations to come.
[00:42:06] You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord, a lasting ordinance.
[00:42:12] So the Lord continues to offer these detailed instructions.
[00:42:16] And then he tells them in verse 25 and following, When you enter the land that the Lord will give you, as he promised, observe this ceremony.
[00:42:24] And when your children ask you, What does this ceremony mean to you?
[00:42:30] Then you tell them,
[00:42:31] It's the Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians.
[00:42:41] And then the people bowed down and they worshiped.
[00:42:45] You know, I think this story really helps us to understand a vital truth that I don't want any of us to miss.
[00:42:51] And I would encourage you to write this down.
[00:42:53] That parents and grandparents have a keen responsibility to help our children to understand why we do what we do to honor God.
[00:43:03] It's important.
[00:43:04] You know, the truth is that our children, our grandchildren are going to look to us, they're going to look to me and to you to answer some very important, maybe simple, faith questions.
[00:43:14] Questions like, why don't we pray before we eat a meal?
[00:43:17] You know, why not just dig in?
[00:43:19] Maybe a question like,
[00:43:21] Why do we go to church?
[00:43:23] My friend's family never goes.
[00:43:25] Why do we go?
[00:43:26] Or why do people get dunked in that water at church?
[00:43:30] What's that about, right?
[00:43:32] Or what are those crackers and juice that are served sometimes in worship service?
[00:43:38] And how can I get some of those, right?
[00:43:41] Or who is Jesus?
[00:43:43] And what does He mean to you?
[00:43:46] You know, when those questions come your way in this new year, and I think they will, I want you to be ready.
[00:43:52] I don't want you to brush them off or pass them by.
[00:43:54] They are golden and precious opportunities for you to help your children understand why we do what we do to honor God.
[00:44:02] They give us a chance to pass along faith values, to instill faith practices that will help them to grow in their own faith journeys.
[00:44:09] You know, I got a call last week from my six-year-old grandson.
[00:44:13] You know what he said to me?
[00:44:14] He said,
[00:44:18] He said, I want to get baptized.
[00:44:21] You talk about, you know, one of those moments, right?
[00:44:26] I said, man, that's amazing, buddy.
[00:44:28] I said, I want to talk to you a whole lot more about that.
[00:44:31] Well, talk about that.
[00:44:32] I'd love for you to be able to take that step.
[00:44:35] It's a very important faith step for you.
[00:44:37] And so I'm looking forward to sitting down and chatting with him more about that and what that means.
[00:44:42] And as soon as he's ready and...
[00:44:44] He and I are sure about that and He'll be baptized and I hope that some of you will be here to celebrate that with Him and with our family.
[00:44:52] And by the way, there are already a number of people who are committed to being baptized as believers here on January 23rd.
[00:45:00] And if you're here today and you say, I've never been baptized as a believer and I'm a believer, I'm a follower of Jesus and I want to be baptized.
[00:45:08] then you can take that step on that day you can come see me talk to me reach out to me i'd love to talk with you more about what that means and why it's important it it's a vital ordinance for us in fact we have two ordinances that we observe in the christian church one is baptism for believers the second is
[00:45:27] The Lord's Supper, Communion, which we'll take today.
[00:45:31] You know, it's clear that the Lord wants us as parents and grandparents to help our children understand why we do what we do to honor Him.
[00:45:39] And when those opportunities come your way in this coming year, I want you to seize them.
[00:45:45] I want you to take that opportunity to instill those vital faith values in your children.
[00:45:52] So what did the people do after Moses instructed them on the importance of this ceremony?
[00:45:58] Well, they bowed down and they worshipped him.
[00:46:01] And then look at what happens next.
[00:46:03] The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
[00:46:10] There it is again.
[00:46:11] Obedience.
[00:46:14] You see it?
[00:46:15] It's hard to miss the theme of obedience in this story, right?
[00:46:18] You see what I'm talking about?
[00:46:20] Sadly for his people, Pharaoh would not obey.
[00:46:23] So he and his nation would suffer greatly.
[00:46:27] But the Israelites did obey and they would be delivered miraculously.
[00:46:32] They'll make history.
[00:46:34] Pharaoh will become history.
[00:46:37] You know, it seems so clear, doesn't it?
[00:46:39] You might write this down.
[00:46:40] Disobedience leads to despair and to disaster, but obedience leads to a life that works.
[00:46:51] Why do we sometimes struggle with obedience?
[00:46:54] What's the problem?
[00:46:55] Why do we veer off track?
[00:46:56] Why do we make our own way?
[00:46:58] Why do we follow our own path?
[00:47:01] Have you thought about that?
[00:47:03] Could it be pride?
[00:47:05] We know better.
[00:47:06] Could it be selfish ambition?
[00:47:10] Could it be vain conceit?
[00:47:12] You know the Bible has something to say about all of those things and nothing good.
[00:47:17] The problem is sometimes we think we do know better than God and we're unwilling to yield to Him.
[00:47:23] You know what the Bible says about pride?
[00:47:25] In Proverbs 16, 18 it says, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
[00:47:34] Now some of you, you've been wrestling with disobedience for whatever reason and maybe pride, I know better than God.
[00:47:40] Maybe God has brought you here today on this first Sunday of a brand new year to challenge you, to ask you, are you going to spend another year disobeying me?
[00:47:49] Are you going to spend another year doing your own thing and charting your own course?
[00:47:54] Are you ready to do my will, my way?
[00:47:59] Because if we learn anything from this remarkable story in God's Word, it's that obedience pays off and disobedience doesn't.
[00:48:07] I mean, let's face it, those Israelites didn't have a full understanding of what God was up to.
[00:48:12] They didn't know the significance of the lamb or the smearing of the blood around that door.
[00:48:17] They didn't understand the importance of marking this monumental moment.
[00:48:20] They didn't get it, not yet, but they did it anyway.
[00:48:25] And why?
[00:48:27] because God instructed them to.
[00:48:30] They obeyed and soon they'd be glad they did.
[00:48:33] I'll say it again.
[00:48:34] Obedience pays off.
[00:48:36] Disobedience doesn't.
[00:48:39] So in verse 29, At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
[00:48:53] So God did exactly what He said He would do and no one was spared from the king to the prisoner and all would suffer for Pharaoh's disobedience.
[00:49:04] In verse 30, Pharaoh and all his officials, all the Egyptians got up during the night and there was loud wailing in Egypt for there was not a house without someone dead.
[00:49:17] It's tragic, isn't it?
[00:49:19] I mean it's hard to imagine the heartbreak that was in Egypt yet over in Goshen they're eating roasted lamb and bitter herbs and preparing for a coming exodus and I'm sure they were hugging their little ones just a little bit tighter that night having heard that wailing coming from the Egyptians
[00:49:38] Pharaoh wasted no time calling Moses and Aaron in.
[00:49:42] In verse 31, during the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and he said, Up, leave my people, you and the Israelites.
[00:49:50] Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.
[00:49:52] Take your flocks, your herds, as you have said, and go.
[00:49:57] Pharaoh didn't hesitate.
[00:49:59] Get your stuff and get out.
[00:50:01] Now, all the Egyptians, they echoed the same thing.
[00:50:04] Hurry, lest we all die.
[00:50:06] And since the Israelites were obedient, they were ready to go, there was no delay.
[00:50:11] They left Egypt with the gold and silver that God had told them to ask for.
[00:50:16] In verse 37, there were about 600,000 men on foot besides women and children.
[00:50:22] Scholars estimate that about 2 million Israelite slaves marched out of Egypt that night.
[00:50:30] But let's be clear.
[00:50:32] When these people left there, when they stepped out into that night, there were some logistical matters that had not yet been addressed.
[00:50:40] Not the least of which was, what are we going to eat?
[00:50:43] Or where are we going to get fresh water?
[00:50:45] Or how are we going to deal with medical issues?
[00:50:48] Or where are we going to go to the bathroom?
[00:50:50] Right?
[00:50:51] There were some logistics that had not yet been considered.
[00:50:54] Yet, all of these people obeyed without question.
[00:51:00] Why?
[00:51:02] Well, they must have believed that if God was able to preserve them from the death that was raging all around them, that surely God would take care of them as they journeyed into that night.
[00:51:14] Here's the truth, and write it down.
[00:51:16] Obedience spawns great faith.
[00:51:20] And God honored their faith.
[00:51:22] You see, He took care of them as only He could.
[00:51:24] In fact, the Psalmist tells us more about exactly how God took care of them.
[00:51:29] In Psalm 105 we're told, He brought out Israel laden with silver and gold and from among their tribes no one faltered.
[00:51:39] I want you to think about that.
[00:51:40] Two million people.
[00:51:42] And no one faltered, no one stumbled.
[00:51:45] They all marched right out of Egyptian captivity.
[00:51:48] God gave all of them health and stamina for that journey.
[00:51:52] And not only that, but He illuminated the path before them.
[00:51:56] In verse 39, He spread out a cloud as a covering and a fire to give light
[00:52:02] At night, and everyone left that night rejoicing, praising God for what He had done for them.
[00:52:09] Look at verse 43.
[00:52:11] He brought out His people with rejoicing, His chosen ones with shouts of joy.
[00:52:18] Praise the Lord!
[00:52:21] Isn't that awesome?
[00:52:22] I mean, rather than trepidation, there was exhilaration.
[00:52:25] Instead of fear, there was faith.
[00:52:27] There was no questioning, only praising, and all for one reason.
[00:52:33] Obedience.
[00:52:34] Obedience changed their lives.
[00:52:36] These people would be delivered from the Egyptians who had enslaved them for centuries because they were obedient to God's call, to God's instruction, to God's will.
[00:52:49] Obedience changed their lives and it will change yours too.
[00:52:56] So I'm going to ask you some questions to think about as we begin this new year.
[00:53:01] Will you commit to obey the Lord?
[00:53:04] and the New Year ahead.
[00:53:05] To obey Him in every area of your life.
[00:53:08] Every day and in every way.
[00:53:11] Look, maybe there's some area of your life right now where you just kind of kept it off limits from God.
[00:53:17] Would you surrender even that part of your life to Him?
[00:53:20] Would you surrender to Him your time and your talents and your treasures?
[00:53:26] Maybe you've been reluctant to follow His will, to allow Him to direct your path, to chart your course in your life.
[00:53:35] Would you surrender to His leadership?
[00:53:37] Right now, fully trusting Him.
[00:53:41] Listen, maybe there's an area of sin in your life and you know it's holding you back.
[00:53:47] You desperately need His strength to withstand the temptation that you face every single day.
[00:53:53] You're ready to surrender to Him.
[00:53:57] You need His Holy Spirit to go to work in your life.
[00:54:00] So give it to Him.
[00:54:02] Ask Him to deliver you.
[00:54:04] Maybe you're ready to invite Jesus to save you.
[00:54:07] You know you're a sinner in need of a Savior.
[00:54:10] And to this point, you've been trying to do life on your own.
[00:54:14] And you realize that it's wrong.
[00:54:18] You realize what Jesus did for you.
[00:54:21] What this meal that we're about to partake of actually means.
[00:54:26] You see, the bread in this meal that many of you will take in just a moment represents His body that was broken for you on Calvary's cross.
[00:54:36] The juice represents His blood that was shed for you.
[00:54:41] You see, He's the ultimate.
[00:54:44] Sacrificial lamb, the perfect lamb without blemish.
[00:54:48] And He went to Calvary's cross because He loved you.
[00:54:56] Because He wanted a relationship with you.
[00:54:59] That He was willing to sacrifice Himself for you so that you could be made right with a holy and a just God who judges.
[00:55:09] And God looks at you and He says, I know you're a sinner.
[00:55:12] And He's waiting for you to say, I know I'm a sinner.
[00:55:16] And I'm in need of a Savior.
[00:55:18] Who is Jesus Christ?
[00:55:20] And so I surrender my life to Him.
[00:55:22] By faith I accept Him as my Savior, as my Lord.
[00:55:27] And if that's you today, then welcome to God's family.
[00:55:31] You can pray to receive Him right now.
[00:55:33] Amen.
[00:55:34] And I hope that many of you will.
[00:55:37] So in just a moment we'll come.
[00:55:40] This is an act for believers.
[00:55:42] So if you're a believer here today, you're welcome to come and partake of this meal, which again represents His body broken for you, His blood shed for you.
[00:55:51] And as you come, I want you to come if you're a believer and have been for a long time.
[00:55:56] I want you to confess your sins, to be honest with God about where you've failed Him in the past.
[00:56:03] Your desperate need for forgiveness and your desire to repent, to turn from that sin, to change, to live a renewed, refreshed life in Christ.
[00:56:16] Will you do that?
[00:56:17] I want to invite you to stand to your feet and I'm going to pray for you.
[00:56:23] And when I finish praying, then I invite you to this table.
[00:56:27] And again, if you're a believer, you're welcome here.
[00:56:29] And I would just say that the people on each side, the two end sections, would you move toward the wall and then take communion from the tables.
[00:56:38] There in front of your section and then walk back on either of these aisles to your seat For those of you in the center sections, you move to the middle and then move this way to either table and move back to your seats up that aisle Does that make sense?
[00:56:53] We're all heading in the same direction
[00:56:55] Also, you can take communion in either way.
[00:56:58] We have cups here that have prepared bread on top and the juice, and you can take that and then take it back to your seat and celebrate communion there.
[00:57:09] Or there is bread that's broken for you.
[00:57:12] You can take a piece and then dip it into the juice and take it there.
[00:57:17] Whichever you choose is fine.
[00:57:19] It represents, again, the sacrifice Christ made for us.
[00:57:23] We do this in remembrance of Him.
[00:57:25] Let's pray.
[00:57:28] Father, we love you.
[00:57:30] We thank you so much for what you've done for us.
[00:57:34] God, it's awesome to be able to read Your Word and to see the correlation between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the New Covenant that we have in Christ.
[00:57:44] How that Passover celebration then, the ordinance that was established early on with the Israelite people now transfers to us in the New Covenant with Jesus and what He has done for us as a sacrificial lamb.
[00:57:57] God, we thank you for the opportunity to remember him now.
[00:58:01] The sacrifice that he made for us.
[00:58:03] God, we don't take that for granted.
[00:58:06] God, we know he paid a great price that our sins might be forgiven.
[00:58:11] So Father, we confess those sins to you.
[00:58:14] We turn from them.
[00:58:17] We commit to walk in your path in the days ahead.
[00:58:22] Father for anyone in this room or watching today who is ready to make that decision to say simply to you I'm a sinner in need of a Savior I know Jesus died for me I want to surrender my life to him by faith I want to invite him to be my Savior to be my Lord I don't know everything that means but God I know you'll teach me
[00:58:45] And so, God, I pray that you'll save me now.
[00:58:49] Thank you for loving me that much.
[00:58:52] God, you are wonderful.
[00:58:56] Jesus, you are worthy of our praise and adoration.
[00:59:00] We worship you and we honor you now, in Jesus' name.
[00:59:06] Amen.
[00:59:08] Won't you come?

[00:59:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you for watching!

[00:59:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
I am an instrument of exaltation And I was born to lift your name above all names You hear the melody of all creation But there's a song of praise that only I can bring

[00:59:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Who else is worthy?

[00:59:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Who else is worthy?
[01:00:03] There is no one, only you, Jesus.

[01:00:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Who else is worthy?
[01:00:13] Who else is worthy?

[01:00:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
There is no one, only you, Jesus.
[01:00:28] I love the ages Yet You chose to make my heart Your dwelling place You healed my brokenness Showed me Your glory So I have songs to face Not even angels sing Who else is worthy?
[01:00:56] Who else is worthy?
[01:01:04] There is no one, only Jesus.
[01:01:07] Who else is worthy?
[01:01:12] Who else is worthy?
[01:01:18] Jesus Who else is worthy?
[01:01:42] Who else is worthy?
[01:01:42] There is none, only you Jesus Who else is worthy?
[01:01:43] Who else is worthy?
[01:01:44] There is no one
[01:02:19] God Anointed One Who was and is and is to come Seated on the throne above Holy, Holy, Righteous One Who Shed His Blood You proved to us the fount of love Jesus Christ, we lift it up
[01:02:46] The Lamb of God anointed one He was and is and is to come Seen in all the throne above Holy, Holy The righteous one who shed His blood He proved to us the Father's love Jesus Christ be lifted
[01:03:14] There is no one, only you, Jesus No else is worthy, no else is worthy There is no one, only you, Jesus
[01:04:01] There is no one, only you Jesus Who else is worthy?
[01:04:23] Who else is worthy?
[01:04:24] There is no one, only you Jesus

[01:04:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen.

[01:04:47] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[01:04:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
You know the answer to that question, don't you?
[01:04:53] Who else is worthy?
[01:04:55] There's no one else who's worthy.
[01:04:57] And if He's worthy of our worship, then He's also worthy of our devotion in every way and every day of our lives.
[01:05:05] My challenge for you in this new year ahead is will you commit to being fully obedient to Him?
[01:05:12] Making obedience a
[01:05:14] I know it's true.
[01:05:32] So I encourage you to walk in His way this year, to make an impression, and to leave a mark for Jesus Christ's sake.
[01:05:38] And by the way, if you made a decision just a few minutes ago to invite Jesus to save you from your sins, to be Savior and Lord of your life, then I welcome you to God's family.
[01:05:49] Amen?
[01:05:53] And I would encourage you, don't leave this place today without sharing that with someone.
[01:05:57] You can come and see me, I'll talk with you more about that.
[01:06:00] You can see one of our Renewed Ministry Shepherds wearing the gold lanyards there in the bridge.
[01:06:05] They'd love to pray with you and encourage you.
[01:06:07] If you have any other needs in your life and you would like someone to pray with you, those Renewed Ministry Shepherds are here to encourage you and pray with you.
[01:06:16] I'd like to pray with you now, and then we'll be on our way.
[01:06:20] Our Father, I thank You again so much for the opportunity to be in Your house.
[01:06:25] God, to be able to worship You, to be able to look to Your Word for direction, for insight.
[01:06:30] And God, it is so clear that You want us to obey You in every way,
[01:06:37] And every day.
[01:06:39] And God, where we haven't, we seek your forgiveness.
[01:06:42] And we ask for you to guide us going forward.
[01:06:46] God, that we might navigate life's challenges and follow your will for our lives.
[01:06:52] God, we want to make an impression.
[01:06:53] We want to leave a mark for Jesus Christ in 2026.
[01:06:57] So use us in any way that you will.

[01:07:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And we'll do it in the powerful, the redemptive, and the glorious name of Jesus.
[01:07:05] And all God's children said, Amen.
[01:07:08] Blessings.