EX 18-19: MEETING WITH GOD

Pastor Sherard

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PREPARE OUR SOULS TO SEE THE LORD MORE CLEARLY

INTRODUCTION

FIRST 50 DATES - EVERY DAY, SHE MET HIM AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND EVERY TIME, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH A DIFFERENT SIDE OF HIM

SHE WAS THE SAME, BUT EACH TIME HE MET HER AGAIN, HE FELL IN LOVE WITH A DIFFERENT SIDE OF HER.

YOU CANNOT EVER BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH GOD BECAUSE IS LIKE THE OCEAN - VAST

EVERYDAY IS SWEETER - SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE

BUT YOU CANNOT MEET THE LORD UNTIL YOUR SOUL IS PREPARED TO MEET HIM

GOD ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS COMING DOWN

Exodus 19:11 ESV

and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

WHO IS THIS GOD YOU ARE TO MEET

---- HE IS FRIGHTFULLY BEAUTIFUL- AT THE SAME TIME:

THIS GOD IS COMING

---- HE IS SCARY AND SECURE - A THE SAME TIME: THIS GOD IS COMING

THIS GOD IS COMING

-----HE RESPONDS IN THUNDERS OF INTIMACY: THIS GOD IS COMING

THIS GOD IS COMING

HE IS YOUR NOW AND YOUR NEXT

“NEXT” IS “NOW” CARRIED OVER TO TOMORROW: THIS GOD IS COMING

THIS GOD IS COMING

I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU THIS MORNING?

ARE YOU READY YET

THEY ARE ALREADY HIS PEOPLE - THAT IS WHY HE DELIVERED THEM FROM EGYPT.

THIS MEETING IS A SPECIAL MEETING - A MANIFESTATION OF HIS POWERFUL PRESENCE

SEE THIS INTRODUCTION IS ONE OF GREATER INTIMACY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY HIS PEOPLE. HE IS GIVING THEM A DEEPER GLIMPSE INTO WHO HE IS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AN EXPERIENCE THAT FLOODS THEIR SOULS WITH A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF THIS GOD THEY HAVE MET THROUGH MOSES

HERE IS THE REALITY: THIS SAME GOD,

GOD WE HAVE MET IN JESUS - WHO IS GOD

I. ACCEPT THE REALITY THAT FREEDOM BRINGS NEW FRUSTRATIONS

INTRODUCTION OF THE POINT

IRAEL HAS JUST SEEN SOMETHING MARVELOUS AND WONDERFUL: THEY HAVE SEEN

THE TEN JUDGEMENTS OF GOD ON THE SO CALLED GODS OF EGYPT

THE GRAND EXIT FROM EGYPT WITH ALL OF THEIR GOODS AND SOME OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE

THE GRANDE DEMONSTRATION OF THE RED SEA PARTING AND WALKING IN THE MIDTS OF THE SEA, WALLED BY THE WATERS

THEN, THEY TURN AROUND, AND SEE THEIR ENEMIES DROWNED IN THE SEA

THEY HAVE SEEN THE EXTRAORDINARY AND NOW, THE ONE THING THEY LONGED FOR IS HERE: THEY ARE FREE.

BUT FREEDOM HAS VALUES.

IN OTHER WORDS, FREEDOM COMES AT A COST AND, THEREFORE, FREEDOM HAS SOME EXPECTATIONS REGARDING WHAT IT TAKES TO... “STAY FREE.” AND SOMETIMES, THIS NEW PLACE OF FREEDOM WILL NOT ACCEPT ALL THAT YOU DID TO GET FREE.

ISRAEL WAS IN EGYPT AND NOW THEY ARE FREE IN MIDIAN BUT MIDIAN - IN ALL OF IT’S NOT BEING EGYPT - CANNOT BE LINVED IN LIKE IT IS EGYPT. ISRAEL GOT TO MIDIAN AND STILL TRIED TO OPERATE LIKE THEY WERE IN EGYPT AND WHO WOULD BLAME THEM.

YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW!

FREEDOM

FREEDOM PRINCIPLE #1: DO NOT LET THE NEW FRUSTRATIONS IN YOUR FREEDOM MAKE YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT FREE

THIS IS WHAT THEY THOUGHT WITH THE NEW CHALLENGES THAT COME WHEN THEY WERE FREED

THAT IS WHY THEY GRUMBLED … AND THAT IS WHY THE GRUMBLING WAS TOWARDS GOD.

THEIR FRUSTRATION WAS WITH THEIR FREEDOM BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR FREEDOM MEANT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

THAT IS HOW WE ARE. WE ALWAYS GO BACK - NOT BECAUSE BACK LOOKS GOOD, BUT BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES - THE NEW CHALLENGES - DUE OUR FREEDOM MAKE US THINK WE HAVE NOT LEFT EGYPT AT ALL.

SO THEY WANTED TO GO BACK

Exodus 16:3 (ESV)

“Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE REASON YOU STILL STRUGGLE WITH SIN IS BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THAT FAITH AND BAPTISM WASHED EVERYTHING OFF!

BUT NOW YOU HAD NEW TEMPTATIONS TO SIN. STUFF YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT, FELT OR EVEN BELIEVED WERE IN YOU.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN - JESUS HAS BROUGHT YOU OUT TO THIS WILDERNESS TO DIE OR MORE INTENSIFIED TEMPTATION IN A SIN DOES NOT MEAN THAT SIN STILL HAS A GRIP ON YOU

NOT TO MENTION, YOU HAD THE OLD STUFF FEEL LIKE IT INTENSIFIED. ITS THE SAME TEMPTATION TO LIE, BUT NOW IT FEEL LIE EXTRA STRENGTH TEMPTATION

NOW IT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FREED AT ALL! LIKE YOU HAVE NOT MADE PROGRESS;

BUT THEY WERE FREE BECAUSE THEY WERE GOD’S PEOPLE AND GOD WAS THEIR WARRIOR GOD

YOU, IF YOU HAVE BELIEVED AND TRUSTED IN CHRIST ALONE FOR YOUR SALVATION - IF YOU HAVE LEFT THE WAY OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HAVE SUBMITTED TO HIM TO RECEIVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS - YOU ARE FREE.

THE GOSPEL IS YOUR FREEDOM

1. YOUR SOUL HAS BEEN FREED IN JESUS BY JESUS

JESUS SAYS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 8 - THESE WORDS:

John 8:31 (ESV)

...“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

John 8:36 ESV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO

John 8:24 ESV

I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

2. YOUR LIFE IS BEING FREED FROM SINFUL PATTERN BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 ESV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

FREEDOM PRINCIPLE #2: It Is Useless to Use Old Schemes In New Situations

TRYING TO USE EGPYT WORK IN MEDIAN

SO PREOCCUPIED WITH GETTING OUT OF EGYPT THEY NOW DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FUNCTION – THIS IS ANOTHER CHAOS (AND IF NOT CAREFUL) ANOTHER SELF IMPOSED SLAVERY

AND THIS IT BECAME WITH 40 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS

· TRYING TO USE WHAT

o WE ARE SO PREOCCUPIED WITH DOING WHAT GOT US HERE THAT WE WONDER WHY THOSE METHODS DO NOT WORK

1. FREEDOM BRINGS NEW DEMONIC SCHEMES SO WE NEW A NEW DISCIPLINED STRATEGY

Exodus 18:17–18 ESV

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT AINT WORKING MO

DAVID AND GOLIATH

§ COULD NOT FIT SAUL’S ARMOR

· BUT GET THIS: THAT WAS ARMOR FOR OLD STYLED BATTLED,

· GOLIATH WAS NEW PROBLEM AND OLD WEAPONS THAT USED TO FIGHT OLD BATTLE WOULD NOT DO

· IF DAVID FAUGHT WITH THAT GEAR DAVID WOULD HAVE LOST. WHY?

o YES THE GEAR WAS OLD BUT

o DAVID WOULD HAVE NOT FOUGHT IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD. HIS STRENGTH IS ALWAYS A PRESENT STRENGTH

DAVID JEREMIAH SERIES ON DAVID - DAVID NEEDED A NEW ANOINTING - A NEW EMPOWERMENT OF THE SPIRIT TO BATTLE - WAGE WAR

PAUL - DISCIPLINE MY BODY

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 ESV

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

PETER - ADD TO YOUR FAITH

2 Peter 1:5–7 ESV

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

2. FREEDOM BRINGS SPIRITUAL WARFARE SO WE NEED SPIRITUAL WEAPONS

WHAT JETHRO GAVE MOSES WAS GODLY ADVICE - ADVICE THAT MOVED HIS TO SEE IN A NEW WAY. FOR US

JESUS IS YOUR ARMOR

PRINCIPLES FOR LIFE:

II. EMBRACE THE POWER OF YOUR CREATIVITY

USING WHAT YOU HAVE

NOTE SOMEWHERE HERE THAT WE NEED NOT BE INSECURE WITH WHO AND WHAT WE ARE NOT AND DO NOT HAVE: THE ANTIDOTE TO INSECURITY IN THESE THINGS IS MASTERING WHO AND WHAT YOU HAVE AND ARE ETC...

IS THERE SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT ORDER OUT OF CHAOS BEING THE FRUIT OF CREATION? GOD CREATED ORDER OUT OF THAT WHICH WAS FORMLESS

- WE ARE CREATIVE LIKE GOD AND THE LAW/THE GOSPEL ARE SIGNPOSTS FOR HOW THE CHURCH IS TO EXITS IN THE WORLD IN CHANGING TIMES. NEVER RELINQUISHING THE TRUTH, BUT ALWAYS LETTING IT SPEAK, SOMEWHAT FREHSLY, TO CHANGING CIRCMSTANCES AND SITUATION – HERE IS WHERE THE ROLE AND SENSITIVITY TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS KEY AND THIS IS WHY ONE CHURCH IN ONE CONTEXT CAN APPLY THE TRUTH IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT BECAUSE THE SPIRIT LEADS THEM TO DO SO

- CREATING ORDER IN THE CHURCH AND IN OURL LIVES IS THE FRUIT OF OUR BEING IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, ALWAYS SEEKING TO BRING OUR EXISTENCES EVER CLOSER TO CONFORMITY TO THE LORD

- SO, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE A LIFE FOR YOURSELF, GUIDED BY THE SINGPOST OF THE TRUTH AND BY THE DISCERNING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS IS HOW YOU MUST LIVE AND GOVERN THE WHOLE OF YOUR LIFE

o MARRIAGE

o MONEY

o SOUL

o CHURCH

- YOU ARE CALLED TO BE CHRISTOLOGICALLY CREATIVE NOT CONSTRICTED. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

o YOU ARE CALLED TO CREATE; SOMETHINGS WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU BEING CREATIVE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE – MOSES WOULD HAVE NEVER LED THE PEOPLE TO SINAI IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE CREATIVE APPROACH THAT JETHRO GAVE HIM

§ YES GOD IS SOVEREIGN BUT WE SHOLD NEVER PRESUME TO SAY “IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED EITHER WAY.”

· WERE THOSE PEOPLE HEALED IN CAPERNAUM EVEN THOUGHT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE: NO. JESUS THE BIBLE SAYS, COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES BECAUSE THEY LACKED BELIEF

· WERE PEOPLE HEALED JUST BECAUSE? NOT, JESUS ALWAYS CONNECTED THEIR HEALING TO FAITH IN HIM?

o WOULD FAITH IN BUDDAH BE ENOUGH?

o WOULD FAITH IN OHAMMED BE ENOUGH? NO

o THEY HAD TO BELIEVE IN JESUS, AND GOD WAS SOVEREIGN IN ALL OF THIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD TO PRESS THEIR WAY TO JESUS, CALL FOR JESUS, CRY OUT FOR JESUS, GO DOWN ROOFS FOR JESUS

§ THE SOVE OF GOD AND THE RESP OF MAN IS A MYSTERY IN HOW THEY GO TOGETHER AND WORK. ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, ALL OF THE MOVES OF GOD IN EVERY AREA AND FACET OF LIFE ALWAYS INVOLVED THE OBEDIENCE – SACRIFICE, LEADERSHIP, ETC, OF AN INDIVIDUAL. NEVER, DID GOD WORK, REDEMOTIVELY, WITHOUT A MAN OR A WOMAN

· NO REVIVAL HAPPENED WITHOUT INGREDIENTS THAT POINT BACK TO EFFORTS AND ACTIVITIES OF MEN

WHEN THE APOSTLES DID IT – THE CHURCH GREW: ACTS 6:1-6

WHEN YOU BRING ORDER TO YOUR LIFE YOU WILL GROW. – THIS IS A UNIVERSAL LAW THE

· SPIRITUAL ORDER = SPIRITUAL GROWHT

· RELATIONAL ORDER – RELATIONAL GROWTH

· SKILL/PROFESSIONAL ORDER = PROFESSIONAL

· FINANCIAL ORDER = FIN GROWTH

· THE CHAOS IN EACH OF THESE IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK AND THEREFORE THAT WHICH BRINGS GROWTH IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK WHICH MAY BE WHY GROWTH IS NOT HAPPENING

PRINCIPLES FOR LIFE:

III. LISTEN TO THE WISDOM OF THE MATURE

JET TO MOSES: THAT IS THE THRUST OF THIS POINT: BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO LISTEN

a. THEY NEVER GET TO SEE WHAT THEY SAW AT SINAI IF MOSES DOES NOT HUMBLY LISTEN TO THE WISDOM OF THIS MATURE GODLY MAN

b. THE REASON YOU HAVE GROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE TEACHERS IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ALONE CAN TEACH YOU, BUT THEY HAVE A SET OF EXPERIENCES THAT HAS CAUSED THEM TO KNOW MATH IN WAYS THAT YOU DON’T. THEIR AGE – THOUGH YOUNG (IN SOME CASES) – THEY ARE STILL “OLDER.”

c. SOMEHWRE IN PROVERBS SPEAKS ABOUT GREY HAIRED = WISDOM

i. NOT THAT GRAY THAT COMES WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG

ii. GREY IS SYMBOLICALLY SPEAKING OF AGE

d. OLD AND YOUNG – TITUS 2

e. WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE STOP LISTENING TO THE OLD NOT ONLY ARE THEY STUTED IN THEIR GROWTH, SOCIETY IS TOO!

f. BUT THIS MEANS, OLDER PEOPLE MUST BE

i. ATTENTIVE – JETHRO SAW MOSES – HE PAID ATTENTION TO MOSES AND THEREFORE HE COULD SEE THINGS WERE NOT WELL

1. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: YOUNG PEOPLE ARE

a. TALKING TO EACH OTHER ONLY – NOT GOOD

b. LEAVING THE CHURCH – NOT GOOD

c. ALL BECAUSE GROWN FOLKS ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM: THAT IS A SIN

ii. AVAILABLE

1. NOT SIMPLY “CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME” BUT, RATHER: LET’S GET TOGETHER NEXT WEEK! OR LET’S GO THROUGH A STUDY TOGETHER OR, HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU OR, LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP YOU ARE IN OR HOW YOU ARE SPOENDING MONEY OR YOUR TIME ETC.

g. BEAUTY IN ALL OF THIS

i. GOD IS GLORIFIED BECAUSE THIS IS THE NEW TESTAMENT STRUCTURE GIVEN TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE CHOAS OF SIN AND SOCIETY

ii. PEOPLE ARE WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD

1. THE OLD ARE LISTENING BECAUSE THE YOUNG ARE TRUSTING

2. THE YOUNG ARE GROWING BECAUSE THE OLD ARE NURTURING

PRINCIPLES FOR LIFE:

IV. WALK IN THE UNORTHODOX SYSTEM OF GROWTH

§ THE ORDER

· SPIRITUAL GROWTH – TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

· RELATIONAL GROWTH – OUT DO OTHER IN SHOWING HONOR

· PROFESSIONAL GROWTH – SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM

· FINNANCIL GROWTH – GIVE AND IT SHALL BE ETC…

· MARITAL GROWTH: SUBMIT AND DIE (THAT IS WHAT LOVE MEANS)

- PEOPLE WERE USING THEIR GIFTS AND, THEREFORE

o PEOPLE WERE BEING SEEN

o NEEDS WERE BEING MET

o HEALTHY THINGS PRODUCE HEALTHY THINGS

§ CHOAS PRODUCES FRUSTRATION

· CHAOS IN HOME = FRUSTRATION

· CHAOS IN MARRIAGE

· CHAOS IN FINACIAL DEALING

· CHAOS IN YOUR DAY =

· CHAOS IN YOUR SOUL

§ THAT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE FEELING IN ACTS/PROBABLY IN EX WHICH IS WHAT JET SAW: PEOPLE WERE BEING WEARIED BY THIS