Beyond the Predicament: Finding Christ in the Red Sea

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:06:29] If you are new to Watermark and you're in January 25th, right after the second service at 1130, we will have food provided. So if you have little ones, they'll be well taken care of. Your belly will be full. This will be, again, a great time for you to get to know some of the staff, get to know a little bit more about Watermark and what we are about here.
[00:07:18] Also, ladies, Secret Sisters sign-ups is happening now.
[00:07:23] If you are interested in having a Secret Sister and participating this year, you have a gift or an encouragement from a Secret Sister, and at the end of the year, there's a big reveal.
[00:07:34] So if it's something you're interested in participating in, make sure you register online by January 28th.
[00:07:41] Next up is the Chili Cook-Off, you guys.
[00:07:44] I'm so excited about it.
[00:07:45] As I said last week, we get a little competitive around here with that.
[00:07:49] looking at you Bannon's we got an internal competition going on there but Sunday February 1st from 5 to 6 annual chili cook-off if you have a favorite chili recipe maybe a super secret family recipe that you would like to enter into
[00:08:04] the competition you can register online to do that if you're like me and you're just coming for all the yummy chilies then no need to register to show up with your belly ready for some really tasty chili so obviously I'm very excited
[00:08:16] about this. February 1st is chili cook-off night. Lastly, Domestic Violence Awareness Workshop. We are having one on Saturday, February 7th from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. We'll have coffee and donuts provided. This is a great time to come get some resources, learn a little bit more of things
[00:08:39] there, getting some resources and some knowledge there to help you, to help folks in the community.
[00:08:44] So again, that'll be Saturday, February 7th from 9 to 11, and you can register online.
[00:08:49] All right, you guys, we're going to continue with worship.

[00:09:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:09:29] Oh, be the shadow you made a way across the great team.

[00:14:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:14:53] We thank you, Jesus, with our praise, with our song, with our celebration.

[00:18:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:18:54] Thank you, Jesus, for laying in what should have been our tomb.
[00:19:00] Thank you, Jesus, for offering each of us the opportunity to receive eternal life that comes only from the blood, the wonder working, the saving, the miraculous blood.
[00:19:19] God, we thank you so much for your son.
[00:19:23] We thank you for the Holy Spirit.
[00:19:26] May we never let a day pass where we don't worship you, where we don't ponder you in our hearts, where we don't think or read your scripture.
[00:19:38] May we not waste a moment of it.
[00:19:42] I think back to when the wise men visited Jesus when he was just a baby and they said they came to worship him.
[00:19:51] May that be our response.
[00:19:54] When we think of you, Jesus, may we worship you.
[00:19:57] May we be unable to do anything else until we have worshiped you.
[00:20:02] Thank you, Jesus, for the blood.
[00:20:05] Thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for the hope of an eternity, the hope of heaven that we get to look forward to.
[00:20:15] thank you for being our joy and our strength and our reason to sing we love you Lord it's in your name we pray amen well good morning what a great day to be

[00:20:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:20:53] in God's house today and especially at Watermark this is a big week for Watermark Church you know why maybe some of you saw the post the other day January 8 2008 is when Watermark Church held our very first worship service
[00:21:09] of us. Second Sunday in January 2008 was 18 years ago. Our church has grown up, right? You think about that. You have an infant and when they reach 18, it's like, wow, I can't believe my boy. I can't
[00:21:24] believe my daughter's 18 years old. And that's kind of how I feel today, right? As pastor of this church to see how far the Lord has brought us in those years. You know, it's pretty amazing when you look
[00:21:35] back and see what God has done. And I don't take enough time to do that. I should. But it's moments like this where I can. And I think about the fact that, you know, we started in Troutman Middle
[00:21:47] School in the cafeteria over there. Have any of you ever been there? You know, it's a school cafeteria. What can I say? And that's where we started. From there, we kind of moved along.
[00:21:57] In 2011, we bought this land, 22 acres sitting right here, and we paid for this land probably less than a quarter of what it's selling for today around us, which is remarkable.
[00:22:10] We probably couldn't afford this today.
[00:22:12] We bought it in 2011, we had it paid for by 2013, and then the Lord led us to build a home of our own.
[00:22:20] We spent eight years in the school, we moved in here in 2016, we paid for that by 2020-21, which is remarkable. And then we started another campaign to build phase three, which is the bridge
[00:22:32] over here. Some folks may be worshiping over there this morning, and we're already halfway paid for that, which is remarkable. It's amazing. So, you know, and I know I'm talking about the physical infrastructure the Lord has built here, but even more important, more amazing, is a spiritual
[00:22:53] infrastructure the Lord has built built here the lives that have been impacted the lives that have been changed as we have endeavored to make an impression and leave a mark for Jesus Christ that's what we've done that's what we will do for another 18 years and beyond amen all right
[00:23:10] that's what I'm about you know God honors obedience and God honors faith I think this church is a testimony to that at least it is in my life and for those of you who've been a part
[00:23:20] of it, it is for you too. Whether you've been here a week, a year, you know, five years, ten years, fifteen years, or longer, you know what that means. It's a powerful lesson that we learned last week,
[00:23:32] how obedience is honored by God, that He just does this again and again. And we see that in the Israelites' life, when God delivered the Israelite people from Egyptian captivity, where They had been enslaved for 400 years.
[00:23:48] You know, God spoke, the people obeyed, and lives were changed.
[00:23:53] Obedience and faith lead to life change, and I've been blessed to witness that again and again over the years as pastor of this remarkable church.
[00:24:01] So because of their obedience, because of their faith, the Israelites would continue to see God work in miraculous ways in their lives.
[00:24:10] It doesn't mean that faith came easy for them.
[00:24:12] They faced their own doubts, they faced fears, they faced insecurities, but when they kept trusting, when they kept obeying, God kept working.
[00:24:23] This is what God does.
[00:24:25] We see that again and again, and we continue to see it today as we unpack Moses' spectacular journey leading the Hebrew people, navigating life's challenges, following God's will.
[00:24:39] So after the Israelites marched out of Egypt following that final plague, which we covered last week, if you missed it, go back and listen.
[00:24:47] God had more life-changing lessons for them.
[00:24:50] He wanted them to know who He was.
[00:24:53] And He put them in a precarious position to do that.
[00:24:57] He backed them into a proverbial corner with no way out.
[00:25:00] And why would He do that?
[00:25:02] We'll find out today.
[00:25:04] You know, here's the truth.
[00:25:05] maybe you find yourself in your own predicament today and if not just wait because you probably will one day so here's the question is it possible that the Lord led you there is it possible that the Lord will lead you there into
[00:25:21] that precarious position into that predicament one day is he about to do something miraculous in your life maybe you don't think that God works like that that. Maybe you think if you get in a predicament that you'll get yourself out. Maybe you think
[00:25:39] people who find themselves cornered in life get there because of their own foolish choices.
[00:25:44] And you may not be wrong about that, but whether you think you or anyone else gets into that place in life because God calls it or because God allowed it, the question is, what are you going
[00:25:57] to do now? What are you going to do next? See, here's the truth. No matter where you are in life's journey, no matter where you are in your faith journey, I don't think you're here today
[00:26:09] or watching today by accident. I think the Lord has led you here. And I think he's led you here on purpose and for a purpose because he has much to teach you, to teach me today about how he works
[00:26:20] when we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. But before we dig into his word today, Let's pray.
[00:26:30] Father, I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be in your house.
[00:26:34] The house that you built.
[00:26:36] God, I'm so grateful for those who are here today who call this church home.
[00:26:40] God, for those who will call this church home in the years to come.
[00:26:44] God, we are so grateful for your miraculous work here.
[00:26:49] To you be the glory always, forever.
[00:26:52] God, I know that you have built this church on purpose and for a purpose.
[00:26:57] as a place where we can gather together to worship you.
[00:27:02] God, where we can hear from you as we dig into your word together.
[00:27:07] And God, I think you have a strong, a powerful, a life-changing word for us today, for every person in this room today.
[00:27:13] So I pray, God, that you would open our ears and our minds, our hearts, to receive exactly what you want us to today.
[00:27:20] God, speak to us today.
[00:27:22] Help us to understand why we might be in the predicament we find ourselves in.
[00:27:28] God, show us how you work.
[00:27:30] I pray it in Jesus' name.
[00:27:32] Amen.
[00:27:34] So have you ever found yourself in a predicament?
[00:27:36] I mean, who has, right?
[00:27:38] All of us has.
[00:27:40] A difficult situation with few, if any, options for a way out.
[00:27:44] You know, we have colorful ways of describing those predicaments, right?
[00:27:49] Maybe you found yourself, as I said, between a rock and a hard place.
[00:27:53] maybe you found yourself in a catch-22 or in a pickle or in hot water right maybe you found yourself in a place where you're darned if you do and you're darned if you don't maybe you have a more colorful way of saying that
[00:28:09] one of my favorites is you find yourself up a creek without a paddle you ever been there you know Thomas Paine smartly referred to these predicaments as times that try men's souls and they do i'm guessing you know something about that i think we all do
[00:28:28] because we've all been there some of you may be there today in a relationship or in a situation at work maybe you're there with your finances or even with your adult children it's not uncommon
[00:28:38] to find ourselves in a precarious predicament in life some because of our own poor choices and others because of the poor choices of another.
[00:28:49] But I want you to write this down and I encourage you to take notes if it serves you and I hope it will, that every predicament that we find ourselves in will be an opportunity for an important life lesson
[00:29:00] and an opportunity to see God work and probably both.
[00:29:06] You see, that's what we're going to see here today in Exodus 14.
[00:29:09] And if you've ever found yourself in a predicament or if you're in one right now And again, if you're not, just wait, because you may be at some point in your life.
[00:29:20] You're going to find great comfort and encouragement in this powerful passage in Exodus 14.
[00:29:26] The Israelites found themselves in a monumental, a remarkable, a historical predicament.
[00:29:32] And it would be the most celebrated event in Jewish history.
[00:29:38] There's some excellent life lessons in this story for us.
[00:29:41] you know the truth is we may find ourselves at that place in life where only a miracle will do you see that's where the Israelites found themselves and God showed up in a big way
[00:29:54] some of you are thinking you know what I could use a miracle in my life right now pastor I'm in a serious predicament and without God's help I don't see any other way out so let's see how God
[00:30:08] works in the life of the Israelites and how he might work in your life too.
[00:30:13] Now I want to be clear about something.
[00:30:16] Life in Egypt was all that this generation of the Israelites knew anything about.
[00:30:22] They had never lived outside of Egypt.
[00:30:25] In fact, life in Egypt was all the past 20 generations of Israelites knew.
[00:30:31] Do you think that over those 400 years, 20 generations, Egyptian culture and religion had influenced them?
[00:30:41] At least a little bit, maybe a lot.
[00:30:43] Of course it did.
[00:30:44] Even though these people had stayed together in community for the most part, no doubt Egyptian culture had rubbed off on them.
[00:30:53] I'm sure it had.
[00:30:54] So the first task God would have is teaching these Hebrew people a new way of life.
[00:31:01] a new way of thinking, a new lifestyle, which is why he led them straight into this predicament of epic proportions. So before we jump into Exodus 14, I want to take a look at the end of Exodus
[00:31:16] 13 to get some clarity of how the Israelites found themselves in this predicament. Or as Chuck Swindoll says in his commentary, between the devil and the deep red sea. That's another the way to say it. I appreciate so much what Chuck Swindoll writes in his commentary. I lean
[00:31:34] on that for this series. It's good stuff. So in verse 18 of Exodus chapter 13, it says this, so God led, and if you're, you know, following along in your outline, you're willing to circle
[00:31:49] that, I would. God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. 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
[00:32:01] fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night. So did you catch that? You know, I told you the circle God led. You see, this predicament was no accident. This was not poor
[00:32:15] navigation. It was not some misdirection. It was not a wrong calculation. Their predicament was by the Lord's leading. It was on purpose. It was for a purpose. You ever heard that? It was the Lord
[00:32:28] who led the Israelites straight into this tight spot. He led them toward the Red Sea. Now why would he do that? We're going to dig deeper into Exodus 14 to understand as we unpack that, but it
[00:32:42] seems clear to me that God knew they needed this Red Sea experience early in their journey. He had some vital lessons for his people have you ever thought about that that if God led the Israelites right into the Red Sea dilemma then maybe he led you into
[00:33:00] yours have you ever considered that and for the same reasons that he has something really important to teach you some vital life lessons and when you realize that you know what it does for us it helps us to see that experience
[00:33:14] completely differently some of you came in today came in today you were hemmed in by this predicament you're in but you're going to leave with a different mindset because instead of panicking maybe you would be wise to start praying to ask God to do what only he can do
[00:33:31] you see it's possible that God might very well be strategically positioning you for a miracle now I want you to be careful because that doesn't give you permission to be flippant or irresponsible or foolish so as to get yourself between a rock and a hard place. Anybody can do
[00:33:50] that in their marriage, in their career, with their finances. Don't test God by putting yourself into a predicament. But when God leads you there, it's because he has some vital lessons for you.
[00:34:03] But I want you to notice something again in Exodus chapter 13. Take a look at verse 21.
[00:34:09] 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.
[00:34:20] Think about that.
[00:34:21] How incredible that must have been for those people.
[00:34:24] They never had to think about where to go because God was leading them in every step of the way.
[00:34:31] Wouldn't it be awesome if God led you that way?
[00:34:35] If He led us that way?
[00:34:37] Have you ever had trouble discerning God's will?
[00:34:40] Anybody ever struggled with that?
[00:34:42] You know, trying to determine if the Lord is moving you in a particular direction or not can be challenging.
[00:34:51] Yeah, I've had that happen in my life multiple times.
[00:34:55] Like many of you, I want to follow God's will.
[00:34:59] Because I know that when I do, life works best for me because God has my best interest at heart.
[00:35:06] And the same is true for you.
[00:35:08] I think the challenge for us is that we don't have a cloud guiding us.
[00:35:13] We don't have a pillar of fire protecting us from wild animals, keeping us warm at night like the Israelites did.
[00:35:21] But that doesn't mean that God's not at work in your life.
[00:35:24] It doesn't mean that He's not at work in mine.
[00:35:26] It doesn't mean that He's not willing to guide us or protect us.
[00:35:28] In fact, His Word is clear that He will.
[00:35:31] There's a principle here that I don't want you to miss because some of you desperately need God's help right now in your life.
[00:35:38] You need that cloud to direct you.
[00:35:40] You need that pillar of fire to protect you.
[00:35:43] Here's the truth.
[00:35:44] Are you ready?
[00:35:45] Write this down.
[00:35:46] God is present with you just as He was the Israelites.
[00:35:49] So when you need Him, look up.
[00:35:53] Look up.
[00:35:54] Stop looking around at your predicament.
[00:35:56] Stop looking down in despair.
[00:35:59] Stop closing your eyes in fear and look up.
[00:36:02] Look up in faith.
[00:36:03] That's what they did.
[00:36:04] And God was right there.
[00:36:07] It's what they did over and over again for direction.
[00:36:09] It's what they did for protection.
[00:36:11] They looked up and when they did, they had no doubt that God was very much present in their lives.
[00:36:17] This story is a poignant reminder for you and me.
[00:36:20] You know what?
[00:36:22] And you might write this down.
[00:36:24] The Lord is present with those who know Him and who love Him.
[00:36:28] And He's ready to direct and protect you and me.
[00:36:34] That's what this story teaches us.
[00:36:36] Among many other amazing truths.
[00:36:39] So again, why would God lead them into this predicament at the Red Sea?
[00:36:45] You know, we get some insight in the very first verse of Exodus chapter 14.
[00:36:49] Look what it says.
[00:36:50] And we might just read this and keep going.
[00:36:52] But I don't want you to miss this.
[00:36:53] Then the Lord said to Moses.
[00:36:57] Now, remember who Moses is?
[00:37:00] You know, this is an 80-year-old man at this point.
[00:37:03] Now, I think about that.
[00:37:05] And I said, well, you know, he lived to be 120.
[00:37:07] So in our time frame, it might be more 55 to 60.
[00:37:12] It's kind of how old he feels, which is how old I am.
[00:37:16] But a guy who had enough grade would have developed some wisdom along the way.
[00:37:21] He had received a formal elite education in Egypt in the first third of his life.
[00:37:27] In the second third of his life, shepherding those sheep in the Midian Desert.
[00:37:33] Well, that's where God trained him.
[00:37:35] The Lord had prepared him for this critical season of leadership.
[00:37:40] Moses was uniquely, divinely, and providentially gifted for this.
[00:37:45] So let's see what the Lord said to him, which will give us more insight into why the Lord led them into this predicament.
[00:37:51] Take a look at verses 2 and following.
[00:37:53] Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi-hahara, between Migdal and the sea.
[00:38:02] They are to encamp at the sea directly opposite Baal Tzippan.
[00:38:07] Pharaoh will think the Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.
[00:38:12] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and he will pursue them.
[00:38:16] But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army.
[00:38:20] And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.
[00:38:23] So the Israelites did this.
[00:38:26] So the Lord spoke to Moses when the Israelites were in Etham and he told them to backtrack.
[00:38:32] to turn back. Now, if you look at this on the map, this is exactly what they did. It's going to put them in a precarious position. They would have enemy fortresses to the north. They would have
[00:38:46] a blazing desert to the south, Egypt to the west, and the Red Sea to the east. To be clear, they'd be the poster people for a predicament, right? Between a rock and a hard place. That is, unless
[00:39:00] the Lord did something miraculous, which is exactly what he had in mind. So the Lord knew that Pharaoh would hear about the Israelites seemingly wandering around aimlessly, looking confused, and he wouldn't be able to resist going after them, especially when he heard that they
[00:39:18] were camped out in this dead-end place. God's plan may have seemed foolish on the surface to Moses, might have to us too to direct them to such a vulnerable position.
[00:39:30] Yet Moses had walked with the Lord long enough to know that God would not let him or his people down.
[00:39:38] God had designed a perfect plan.
[00:39:41] This was not a plan to trap the Israelites.
[00:39:43] It was a plan to trap Pharaoh, to eliminate his threat to them once and for all.
[00:39:49] God was about to show the Israelites that he would fight their battles for them.
[00:39:53] you see all their lives to this point they had fought their own battles but now the Lord was ready to fight for them it was now time for the Israelites to trust the Lord to fight for them
[00:40:07] so all they would have to do is wait and trust but that's the hard part isn't it I mean some of you you know what I'm talking about because you need the Lord to fight a battle for you right now
[00:40:21] in your life, but you're having a hard time trusting him. You're having a hard time waiting for him. There's a vital lesson here for you. Do you see it? So now the plot thickens. Pharaoh
[00:40:35] reacts exactly as the Lord knew he would. Look at verse 5 and following. When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. And
[00:40:45] And they said, what have we done?
[00:40:47] We've let the Israelites go.
[00:40:49] We've lost their service.
[00:40:51] So he had his chariots made ready.
[00:40:54] He took his army with him.
[00:40:55] He took 600 of his best chariots along with all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.
[00:41:02] The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites who were marching out boldly.
[00:41:09] So here the Israelites are, obeying Moses' instructions, following the cloud that leads them straight into this predicament but at this point they don't realize something they're pinned in because even with the sea at their back they're thinking well
[00:41:25] we can always get out the same way we came in well there's a problem there you see everything changes in the distance they hear what sounds like thunder the ground pounding sound of hundreds of
[00:41:39] horses, pulling battle chariots filled with elite soldiers ready to deliver Pharaoh's angry wrath.
[00:41:47] Look at verse 9. The Egyptians, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops, pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-saphon. Not only could the Israelites hear Pharaoh and his vast army coming toward them,
[00:42:07] now they could see them. How do you think they felt? How would you feel? That's right. They were afraid. They were scared. They were terrified. Wouldn't you be? So look at verse 10. As Pharaoh
[00:42:23] approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians marching after them. They were terrified and they cried out to the Lord. You know, this is the first time that we see the Israelites crying out to the Lord in mass.
[00:42:39] First time you see it.
[00:42:40] First they looked up to Him.
[00:42:42] Now they cry out to Him.
[00:42:45] Something what a predicament will do for people, isn't it?
[00:42:48] At first they were walking out of Egypt without anyone staggering or faltering faithfully, following the Lord's lead in that cloud, basking in His guidance, His presence.
[00:42:57] But then trouble comes their way and fast.
[00:43:01] And they find themselves back into that corner.
[00:43:04] They have no way out.
[00:43:05] now they start to panic why because they're afraid and more than that they're terrified so they cry out to God have you ever been there you know some of you may be there today by the
[00:43:20] way here's a very important truth when you find yourself in a predicament it's never a bad idea to look up and a cry out to the Lord let him know that you need his help that you trust him
[00:43:34] to do what only he can do.
[00:43:36] Again, instead of panicking, maybe start praying.
[00:43:40] There's something else that can happen though.
[00:43:43] When we get backed into a corner, when we find ourselves in a predicament, it's not productive, it's not helpful.
[00:43:50] Do you know what we tend to do?
[00:43:52] Exactly what the Israelites do.
[00:43:55] You see, after they cry out to God, then we start looking for someone to blame, someone to point the finger at.
[00:44:02] see the Israelites did exactly that first they cry out to God and then they decided to blame the preacher they decided to blame the leader the coach look at verse 11 they said to Moses was it because there was no graves in Egypt
[00:44:19] that you brought us to the desert to die and what have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt Moses was an easy target wasn't he and everyone was ready to blame him. We told you so. We see it all the time in culture, don't we? We see it sometimes in the
[00:44:38] church. We want to blame somebody. We want someone to take the blame. And whoever is leading is usually the one who takes the blame. Look at verse 12. Didn't we say to you in Egypt, leave us alone?
[00:44:51] Let us serve the Egyptians. It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert. Wow. Think about that. And what are these folks saying? You know, we'd rather be
[00:45:04] slaves in Egypt than free people out here. It didn't take long for their perspective to shift dramatically. Did it? You see, fear changed everything. And for one reason. You know what happened? They stopped looking up. They were now looking around at their circumstances, at their
[00:45:22] predicament. They were looking at Moses to blame him. They weren't looking up. Isn't that what we tend to do? And we give the Israelites a lot of grief. But if we had been in their shoes, do you
[00:45:36] not think we might have done the same thing? We probably would have. In fact, we have. You see, God knows that predicaments are hard, that they are difficult to endure and seemingly impossible to navigate in a word, they are terrifying. Moses knew that too. He also knew that the Lord had led
[00:45:57] those people to that precarious place on purpose and for a purpose. The next two verses are some of the most encouraging and powerful in God's Word. Take a look. Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid.
[00:46:15] Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.
[00:46:19] The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
[00:46:23] The Lord will fight for you.
[00:46:25] You need only be still.
[00:46:29] Those are some of the most encouraging words written in God's Word.
[00:46:33] Some of you, you really need to hear them today.
[00:46:37] Some of you have friends, you have family members, people close to you who really need to hear those words.
[00:46:43] I want you to read it again.
[00:46:45] Don't be afraid.
[00:46:47] Stand firm.
[00:46:48] Watch the Lord deliver you.
[00:46:50] He will fight for you.
[00:46:52] Be still.
[00:46:53] Here's the truth.
[00:46:54] Write it down.
[00:46:55] When you're in a predicament, stay calm.
[00:46:58] Wait and watch God do what only He can do.
[00:47:04] That's kind of the opposite of what we tend to do.
[00:47:07] Isn't it?
[00:47:08] Naturally, we get terrified when we're in a predicament and as a result we don't stand firm we don't stand still we want to panic we tend to run we aren't interested in waiting or watching anything we either want to fight it ourselves or we want to take
[00:47:24] flight get out of there but that's where faith comes into play you know if you listen to me speak and some of you have for nearly 18 years chances are you've heard me say that faith and fear are mutually exclusive here's the truth when
[00:47:42] fear is present faith is absent but when faith is present fear will disappear amen the Israelites had only one option they had nowhere to turn nowhere to go the Lord had led them to this precarious place on purpose and for a purpose so
[00:48:03] they would have no doubt that he was within watch what the Lord does in verse 15 then the Lord said to Moses why are you crying out to me tell the Israelites to move on raise your staff stretch
[00:48:19] out your hand over the sea to divide the waters so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground I'll harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go after them and I will gain
[00:48:30] glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the angel of God who had been traveling in front of Israel's army withdrew and went behind them. The
[00:48:50] pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night, the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side. So neither went near the other all night long. Did you catch what happened here?
[00:49:10] You know, the text does a beautiful job of illustrating this, but let me make sure you get it. The Lord brought his cloud behind the Israelites and he dropped it to the ground so the Egyptians couldn't see the Israelites and continue to terrify them. And so that the
[00:49:25] israelites wouldn't be scared to death staring at that massive army about to overtake them so the lord knew how afraid they were and he wanted to ease their fears that's how compassionate how caring how loving our god is and then we read the most monumental event in the old testament
[00:49:47] the parting of the red sea it is to the old testament what the resurrection of jesus christ is to the New Testament take a look at verses 21 and following then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and all that night the Lord drove the sea
[00:50:03] back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land the waters were divided the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on the right and on their left imagine how spectacular that scene was right two
[00:50:21] mighty walls of water formed to clear a path miles long across that sea for the Israelites that mucky seabed dried completely by that strong east wind the Lord made a way where there didn't seem to be a way you see that's what he does
[00:50:41] again and again you might write this down if the Lord can part the Red Sea there is nothing in your life that he can't help you to overcome amen don't you ever forget that you know people will talk to me I heard this years ago
[00:50:58] and I believe it people will talk to me they will share something with me and I'll I'll say to them when it makes sense if the Lord can part the Red Sea you don't think he can help you with that to get past that to get over that
[00:51:17] because he absolutely can the Lord was doing what only he could do take a look at verses 23 and following the Egyptians pursued them and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea during the last watch of
[00:51:32] the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of the fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and he threw it into confusion he jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving and the Egyptians said let's get
[00:51:46] away from the Israelites. The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt. Yeah, the Lord was doing exactly what he promised he would do. And the Egyptians knew it too. The Lord always keeps his promises. And when his hand is protecting you, you might write this down, when he is making a way for
[00:52:07] you, when he is fighting for you, it will be evident for all to see. I've seen him work like that in my life. I've seen him work like that in the life of this church. It is impossible to miss
[00:52:21] and I'm so thankful for that. To God be the glory. Amen. Look at verses 26 and following.
[00:52:30] Then the Lord said to Moses, stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and the horsemen. Moses stretched out his hand over the
[00:52:40] sea. In a daybreak, the sea went back into its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and it covered the chariots and the horsemen.
[00:52:53] The entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea, not one of them, survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with the wall of water on the right
[00:53:06] and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. Think about that. That day not a single Egyptian lived.
[00:53:25] Not one Israelite was lost. Isn't it amazing what God can do without us? He didn't need the Israelites to do anything except to exhibit some faith, to be fearless, to stand still, to wait and to watch him work. And work he did in a miraculous, remarkable way. So maybe you're in
[00:53:52] a predicament today. Maybe you're up a creek without a paddle. Maybe you're between a rock and a hard place, or at least you feel like you are. And maybe you're exactly where the Lord wants you to be, you've got some options. You've heard me say it before. You might write it down.
[00:54:12] You can cower in fear or you can soar in faith. It's a lesson that God taught the Israelites again and again. It's a lesson he teaches you and me again and again. So I want you to consider what
[00:54:23] God can do in your life when you're between a rock and a hard place. When you're up a creek without a paddle, here are a few powerful truths to take with you today. Maybe, just maybe, God has
[00:54:36] you in that predicament to change you. Maybe He has you hemmed in to free you from something that has plagued you for years. A bad habit, a debilitating addiction, a poor attitude, a weak faith.
[00:54:52] Maybe He has you in this precarious place to do a mighty life-changing work in you. Will you let him change you? Maybe God has you in that predicament to challenge you, to challenge you to look up. Maybe you've been looking around at your circumstances. Maybe you've been looking down
[00:55:11] at despair, closing your eyes in fear, looking to blame someone. It's time to look up to him and faith to call on him, to trust him. Will you do that today? Or maybe, maybe God has you in that
[00:55:27] predicament that calls you to see his glorious work in your life. God wants you to see what only he can do. He may give you a powerful testimony. In fact, I'm sure he will of his miraculous work
[00:55:42] in your life so that you can tell others what he's done for you and what he can and will do for them.
[00:55:49] Some of you may say, look, I don't know if he'll do that for me, pastor. He's never done that before.
[00:55:57] You know what the truth is?
[00:55:59] The truth is He has.
[00:56:01] You see, we've all been in a predicament that we could never get out of on our own.
[00:56:07] Haven't we?
[00:56:08] We have all been cornered by sin and its eternal penalty of death and separation from a just and holy God.
[00:56:16] But just as God miraculously made a way to deliver the Israelites from an evil Pharaoh, He has miraculously made a way for you to be delivered from the evil of sin, from the separation it creates from You,
[00:56:31] our holy, our worthy, our just God.
[00:56:35] But there's only one way.
[00:56:38] There's only one path for You.
[00:56:40] And it is by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ. Amen?
[00:56:46] You see the correlation here?
[00:56:49] Between the greatest, the most monumental, historical event of the Old Testament, and the greatest, most monumental, historical event of the New Testament.
[00:57:01] The crossing of the Red Sea, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
[00:57:08] You see, this is the way God delivers you.
[00:57:11] This is the way He'll deliver me.
[00:57:13] Because if you don't know Jesus today, you can know Him.
[00:57:18] You can invite Him to save you by faith, to acknowledge the grace that God offers you through Him.
[00:57:25] You see, God wants to be present in your life for today and forever.
[00:57:30] And through Jesus Christ, you can know Him.
[00:57:34] You can be with Him.
[00:57:35] And He will be with you.
[00:57:37] I want to invite you to stand to your feet for just a moment.
[00:57:40] I'm going to pray with you and for you.
[00:57:43] And I acknowledge some of you may be in a tough place today, a tight spot.
[00:57:47] So I'll pray for you in this moment.
[00:57:49] Some of you may be ready to make an admission to God today and invite Jesus into your heart.
[00:57:58] Would you pray with me?
[00:58:01] Father, we are amazed by your word.
[00:58:04] We are amazed by your work.
[00:58:08] God, thank you so much for what you did in the life of the Israelite people.
[00:58:14] God, thank you for what you do in our lives every day.
[00:58:17] Thank you that you want to be present with us.
[00:58:21] God, forgive us where we've tried to make our own way, where we've tried to navigate our own path, where we have looked around and been overwhelmed and by our circumstances, God, when we needed to just look up
[00:58:33] and to trust You.
[00:58:35] And so, God, where those in this room are watching today are struggling.
[00:58:38] They're in a predicament.
[00:58:40] God, I pray that You would work in their lives.
[00:58:43] God, maybe a miracle is the only thing that will work for them.
[00:58:46] So, God, do what You do.
[00:58:49] We're going to trust You for that.
[00:58:52] God, thank You for saving us, for delivering us from sin's penalty of death.
[00:58:57] Thank You for what Jesus Christ did for us on Calvary's cross.
[00:59:01] Lord, maybe there's someone here today or someone watching today who for the very first time would just be honest with you and say, God, I'm a sinner in need of a Savior who I know is Jesus Christ.
[00:59:14] I know He died on Calvary's cross for me.
[00:59:16] His blood was shed there for me to pay my sin's penalty of death.
[00:59:23] He did that for me.
[00:59:24] God, You did that for me because You love me that much.
[00:59:28] God, by faith today, I accept Your grace.
[00:59:31] I acknowledge Jesus as my Savior.
[00:59:34] And Lord, I want to invite Him into my heart to lead me from this point forward.
[00:59:37] I don't know everything it means, God.
[00:59:40] But I know You'll teach me.
[00:59:42] So God, do that.
[00:59:44] Thank You for delivering me.
[00:59:47] Our Father, You are wonderful.
[00:59:49] You are worthy.
[00:59:51] Oh God, You are so good.
[00:59:53] In Jesus' name, amen.

[00:59:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:59:56] In this of mercy, Lord, with blood hearted me, My soul undeserving You're so good God, you're so, so, so

[01:01:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:01:17] Age to end Suffering, Calvary

[01:04:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:04:01] Fought for me Both now and forever You're so, yes you are

[01:04:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:04:41] Isn't he good?

[01:05:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:05:47] He's wonderful in every way.
[01:05:50] and He's worthy of our worship.
[01:05:52] He's worthy of our adoration.
[01:05:53] That's why you're here today because you want to hear from Him.
[01:05:57] You know, He has something to say to you.
[01:06:00] You know, all of us in this room are going to find ourselves in a predicament in life.
[01:06:06] You may even be there today.
[01:06:08] And I hope that what you've heard will encourage you when you find yourself in that tight place, in that tight space with no way out.
[01:06:18] You see, that's when God does His best work.
[01:06:22] That's when God calls on you to look up, to trust that He is present with you.
[01:06:28] And some of you God led into this place today or watching today to remind you of that, that I haven't left you, I haven't forsaken you, I'm with you, I'm very much present with you right now,
[01:06:39] and I will deliver you.
[01:06:42] Will you trust Him for that?
[01:06:44] I hope you will.
[01:06:45] And I hope you'll share this message with a friend or a family member There's someone close to you in your life this week because there's somebody you know who desperately needs to hear it.
[01:06:56] So share it with them.
[01:06:57] Guys, I want to thank you so much for being here today.
[01:07:00] If you need somebody to pray with you, to pray for you, we have Renew Ministry Shepherds with gold lanyards out on the bridge area.
[01:07:08] They'd love to sit with you and pray with you and encourage you if you need that.
[01:07:11] If you made a decision a while ago to invite Jesus to be Savior, Lord of your life, don't leave here today without sharing that with someone.
[01:07:18] I'd love to hear that from you and I'd love to talk with you about next steps not the least of which is being baptized here as a believer on January 23rd and by the way if you're
[01:07:31] here today you've never been baptized as a believer what are you waiting for come see me let's make that happen guys thank you again for being here today let's pray and we'll be on our way
[01:07:42] our fathers you are worthy you are wonderful God, you are so good in every way.
[01:07:51] You always have been.
[01:07:52] You always will be.
[01:07:54] God, all those years ago, we saw your work with the Israelites.
[01:07:57] We celebrate that today.
[01:07:59] God, we celebrate your work on Calvary's cross for us.
[01:08:04] And God, we pray that as we leave this place today, that you'll use us in any way that you will to make an impression, to leave a mark for Jesus Christ's sake.
[01:08:15] We pray it in His Holy, His Redemptive, His Glorious Name.
[01:08:21] And all God's children said, Amen.
[01:08:24] Blessing.