It's About You, but More About God!

Rev. Mark Jones

It's About You, but More About God! • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Acknowledgements:

GOD

Pastor Washington and Sis. Anna Washington

Reid Temple Ministers

Reid Temple Church family

My wife, Samantha Jones

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father…Your name is excellent in all the earth and it is in You that we live, move and have our being…and for this, we are gratful and glad. We thank you for a place called Reid Temple where we can gather to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Yov’e allowed us the opportunity today to commune with you in the 8th month and on the 5th day in the year of 2018 ...And, so we receive this as a sign of new beginnings and grace in our lives. We’ve come today understanding that it is a privilege to cast our cares on you. Indeed your Yoke is Easy and your burderns are light. Now, in the name of Jesus, be with us in this moment and sanctify it. All generational curses have been broken and I bind up wicked spirits in this place in the name of Jesus Christ and cast them back to the pit of hell as far as the East is from the West to do your people no harm. Your people have come to recieve a Word that will bring inspiration, confirmation, revelation, liberation, and healing. We thank you for meeting us at the point of our need...knowing that Your Word goes out and does not return void, but accomplishes what you have sent it to do. Now send forth your Word. Annoint my eyes, ears, and mouth so that I can see, hear and speak your Word to your people. Reveal it to me, so that I can reveal it to them. The glory is yours alone, and beside you there is no other. Indeed, you are God, and God alone, and you have taken time to see about us this day. And so with that....we praise your name of credit…because we have history with you. Receive this our prayer…in Jesus Christ’s powerful name…Amen!

Scripture:

Our scripture passage is from the Old Testament Book of Exodus, chapter 14: versus 1-4, and verse 13. I’m reading from the New International Version. It is our church custom to stand we prepare to read God’s word. We will read together.

19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 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.

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near (PI-HA-HE-ROTH) Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

(4) Moses’ Confident Reassurance of God’s Plan to Trap the Egyptians (14:13–14)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

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21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

26 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 horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Topic:

Today, I’m going to speak on the topic:

It’s About You, But It’s More About God!

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You May be seated in the presence of the Lord.

Sermon:

The Book of Exodus is also referred to as the “Law of Moses” and is the second part of a five-part work of scriptural laws. Our Scriptural passage today, which is found in this book, is one of the most capitivating stories in God’s Sacred Word that describe a God who provides a way out of no way as it relates to the well-being of his beloved children, whom in the bible we see referred to as “the children of Israel.”

Our Scriptural passage today is one of the most capitavting stories in God’s Sacred Word that describe a God who provides a way out of no way as it relates to the well being of his beloved children, whom in the bible we see referred to as “the children of Israel.”

Now, for the biblical scholars in here this morning attending the 7:15 am service...if I do a hermaneueanitical transfer of the phrase “children of Israel,” and, for the rest of us, if I more simply do a “breakdown” of that phrase “children of Israel,” AND if I also add black preacher imagination to the phrase “children of Israel,” then, that would allow me to rename them from “the children of Israel” to “the children of Reid Temple.”

With that being the case, that technique just simply helps us to connect the passages in the bible with our own circumstances so that we can relate more easily.

The reason why I add black preacher imagination to this context is because of the unique positioning of black preachers in our community as well as in history. Black preachers simply preach from life experience verses preaching from privilege…--that’s if we have not forgotten where we come from....

In the early landscape of America, black people weren’t afforded the opportunity to receive formal education where they could learn how to read and write in a formal school setting......And so, they had to rely on their experiences with God and their imaginations to recast Hope and Light in a dark world that fostered oppressive and racist environments to which their people found themselves clinging between life and death. They may not have had access to the best education during that day…but they had access to the best God to simply supply all of their needs.

How many in here can testify this morning that when you look back over your life... that you may not have had access to the best early on in life…but you had access to the best God!? And that’s worth a praise right there....

In our focal text today, we that the children of Israel are caught between a rock and hard place.

The reason why I add black preacher imagination to this context is because of the unique positioning of black preachers in our community as well as in history. We simply preach from experience verses preaching from priviledge…-that’s if we have not forgotten where we come from....

Have you ever been caught between a rock and hard place?

They are in a conundrum so much so that it immediately causes God to speak. Not only does the conundrum cause God to speak, but it causes God to provide specific instructions, and it showcases God’s ability to deal with the enemies in their life so that it will benefit and glorify God in the end.

Beloved it doesn’t get any more simpler than that. It’s about God. And the Lord sent me here today to tell you that whatever it is that your going through…God will get the glory about it.

In other words, at the end of the day, it’s all about God.

How many in here can testify that you may not have had access to the best early on…but you had access to the best God!

In other words, when you are caught between a rock and hard place, don’t worry because God will speak, and come down and see about you.

In other words, when you are caught between a rock and hard place, God will speak, and come down and see about you.

It’s right here in the text...

Look at verses 1 through 4:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near (PI-HA-HE-ROTH) between MIG- DOLE and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. ”

Beloved it doesn’t get any more simpler than this text. It’s all about God and the Lord sent me here today to tell you that whatever it is that your going through…God will get the glory out it…because it’s about you, but it’s more about God. In other words….God says that I will gain glory for myself and use your enemies to do it!

Whatever the sickness is that you are facing…it’s for God’s glory....because it’s more about God.

Whatever the finacial challenge is…God will get the glory for himself....because it’s more about God.

What also is revealed in the text is that God has a relationship with Moses so much so that God is on speaking terms with Moses:

Whatever the challenges are on your job…God will get the glory out of it because it’s more about God...

Whatever is causing your sleepless nights…God will get the glory out of it because it’s more about God...

What also is revealed in the text is that God has a relationship with Moses so much so that God is on speaking terms with Moses:

What also is revealed in this passage of scripture is that God has a relationship with Moses so much so that God is on speaking terms with Moses: Look at verse 1 again…

What also see in the text is that God has a relationship with Moses so much so that God is on speaking terms with Moses. is on speaking terms with Moses. we see here in the

It immediately says...

What also is revealed in this passage of scripture is that God has a relationship with Moses so much so that God is on speaking terms with Moses:

“Then the Lord said to Moses...”

Do you have a speaking relationship with God?

And so they could tell the story from a vantage point that connected God to the community as well as being able to connect the community to God.

Therefore, my question to you beloved: When was the last time God said something to you? And after God said said it, and told you to do something…did you do it, how long did it take you to do it? Or, is what God asked you to do still not done?

During the creation stories found in Genesis, the common practice was for God to speak, and the elements responded inkind and on cue…For example, God said… “Let there be light, and there was light.” ()

In other words, Light didn’t complain about coming on…Light did not ask God a myriad of questions of why and how come. Light did not hesitate. Light just came on…And then when light came on…the text says that God responded inkind...“God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:4)

And similarly, in our focal passage today, we don’t see the Israelites being non-responsive to what they are being told to do. They just did as the Lord said to do. The text says that, “So the Israelites did this.”

Do you have a speaking relationship with God?

What’s your speaking relationship with God like?

The text also reveals to us God’s ability to provide precise instructions that help with your rescue--especially when your enemy is trying to destroy you, for the bible says that Satan desires to sift you like wheat, and to kill, still, and destroy:

Do you only talk to God when you need something from God?

In verse 2, God says....

2“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.

When was the last time God told you to turn back from something, or somone?

Often times, we struggle here because God will release us from a situation…or person, but instead of going into the new direction, we will turn around after a while a go back to the situation that God got us out of…And then we wonder why we are still oppressed.

And in the text, the children of Israel were no different, Look at verse 10:

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

The text says…turn back and “encamp”…encamp means to stay put…but the challenge for us is to stay where God places us. In the text, we see that God has provided specific instructions:

And so…it is with that understanding that I use black preacher imagination

Sometimes the Pharaohs in your life can be financial, health, family, friend, job, children, or spouse

encamp near Pi Ha HeRoth...between Migdol and the sea.

The text reveals to us God’s ability to know the plans of the enemy, and the plans that the enemy has for you. And we see here that God already knows how the enemy is plotting to destroy you.

The text also reveals to us God’s ability to know the plans of that the enemy has for you. And we see here that God already knows how the enemy is plotting to destroy you.

Verse 3 says that Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’

The doctor’s report can be so discouraging and the news not good that it has you up all night and walking the floors all night and in a confused state.

And might I pause right here to tell you that sometimes the Pharaohs in your life can be financial, health, family, friend, job, children, or spouse?

And might I pause right here to tell you that if you examine this text a little futher you will see that God can get into the plans of the enemy and reverse them for your good and God’s glory....

And then the Lord says that Pharoah’s heart is hardned

Verse 4 says...And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

And so, they used their imagination forcast brighter days…after they had a little talk with Jesus.

sometimes the Pharaohs in your life can be financial, health, family, friend, job, children, or spouse?

Beloved, sometimes the Pharaohs in your life can be financial, health, family, friend, job, children, or spouse?

Financial:

The debt may be so large that you truly do feel hemmed in…because you feel like you can’t afford to pay it off. Your account can be so dry as you move from pay check to pay check, and because you have more month than money.

Sometimes the Pharoah can be health:

The doctor’s report can be so discouraging and the news not good that it has you up all night and walking the floors all night and in a confused state.

Family or Friend:

You know that language…where a family member or friend will see that your trying to get out of a situation and they sow seeds of discouragement:

You know that language…where a family member or friend will see that your trying to get out of a situation and they sow seeds of discouragement…:

And so…it is with that understanding that I use black preacher imagination

“Your mother wasn’t nothing, or father wasn’t nothing, so that means that you won’t be anything either.”

Your mother wasn’t nothing, or father wasn’t nothing, so that means that you won’t be anything either.

“You trying to go back to school…you must think you are better than everyone else around here....how are you going to afford that?

You trying to go back to school…you must think you are better than everyone else around here....how are you going to afford that?

You always see the glass as half full…they see the glass as half empty....Always something negative, never anything positive to say.

“You always in church every Sunday…why you keep going down there? All they doing is taking your money.”

You always in church every Sunday…why you keep going down there?

Or , the Pharoahs in church…when you’re trying give up the praise to your God…people looking at you strange…saying that it really doesn’t take all of that…

The children of Reid Temple have history with God. The children of Reid Temple have experience with God, individually and corporately, and have been the beneficiaries of and on the receiving end of a loving God, and you would think that their faith in God would be unquestionable.

Or the Pharoahs in church…when you’re trying give up the praise to your God…people looking at you strange…saying that it really doesn’t take all of that…

But thanks be to God…that God has been overseeing your life from the beginning…and the circumstances that you find yourself in....Jermiah 29:11 says that For I know the plans that I have for your declares the Lord…Plans to do no harm to you, but to give you Hope and a Future....

And in this text, we see God at his best. We see God begin to flip the script and come to the rescue....

But thanks be to God…that God has been overseeing your life from the beginning…and the circumstances that you find yourself in....

And we see God, God begin to flip the script and come to the rescue....

In verse 4, we see the problem and the answer in the same verse. We see Pharaoh in the beginning, and we see God at the end:

Pharoah will pursue them…but I will gain glory for myself...

Have you ever found yourself in a But God situation... ?

A But God situation, where God had to step in…and be God?

Here you have to give God the credit…because God is saying there that no one will outdo me.

And in the text, here we have to give God the credit…because God is saying there that no one will out do me.

Here we see God control the plans of the enemy, and orchestrate what the enemy will try to do to you, and then God will come to rescue to save you, and make God’s name great, all at the same time.

In other words beloved, God knows your ending from your beginning, and God will get the glory out of it.

In other words, don’t worry about your enemies, you need them so that God can make them your footstool, and get the glory out of it for himself.

God prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies.—beause God will get the glory out of it.

So as I close, remember that although you may find yourself in a chaotic stituation, know that God has been in it all along…Know that when it is all said and done…God will get the glory out of it. God will stop by to see about you. God will give you a strategy to get out of it.

Don’t be discouraged, do not fear…be still

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In Exodus, God reveals himself in two ways: by what he says and by what he does.

“But I will gain glory myself”

We hear God speaking: he speaks to Moses, but he also speaks through Moses to his people.

We also see that God

The story of the sea crossing is a text of considerable complexity.

But I will gain glory

The story of the sea crossing is a text of considerable complexity.

At the divine level…we see a God strategizing on behalf of his people. God tells Moses to turn to Israel back toward the sea, near certain places of unknown location. This entails, not a return to Egypt, but a different route on teh wildernss side of the border.

God’s children in the bible had problems and God came and and relate to the fact that we see that God’s children neewhat happened in the past with those children is no different that what is happening with us today....In other words, God’s children back then had issues and needed help and relief…just like

The reason why I add black preacher imagination to this context is because of the unique positioning of black preachers in our community as well as in history. We simply preach from experience verses preaching from priviledge…--that’s if we have not forgotten where we come from....

In the early landscape of America black people weren’t afforded the opportunity to receive formal education where they could learn the formalities of social graces and receive academic training...And so, they had to rely on their experiences with God and their imaginations to recast Hope and Light in a dark world and dark enviroments concerning their people. They may not have had access to the best education during that day…but they had access to the best God to simply supply all of their needs.

The children of Reid Temple, I mean the children of Israel have history with God. The children of Reid Temple have experience with God, individually and corporately, and have been the beneficiaries of and on the receiving end of a loving God, and you would think that their faith in God would be unquestionable.

Exodus simply is about God and what God does for his people. As with the rest of the Bible, Exodus is part of God’s revelation of himself to us…Unless God reveals himself to us…we can never know what he is like…And God reveals himself to us through our trials and troubles.

And it is Jesus himself who tells us that eternal life means knowing God. In Exodus, God reveals himself in two ways: by what he says and by what he does. We hear God speaking: he speaks to Moses, but he also speaks through Moses to his people. We also see that God The story of the sea crossing is a text of considerable complexity.At the divine level…we see a God strategizing on behalf of his people. God tells Moses to turn to Israel back toward the sea, near certain places of unknown location. This entails, not a return to Egypt, but a different route on teh wildernss side of the border.

One consequence of this is that some of the things God gave to and did for his people, of which we have a record in the Book of Exodus, were not simply powerful elements of the revelation of his grace at the time, but were intended to point forward to, and illustrate the redeeming work of Christ.

For God’s people, however, the danger soon becomes apparent, as they find themselves trapped between ‘the devil and the deep Red Sea’, between Pharaoh’s armies and the Red Sea.

The Israelites are quick to cry out to Moses, and even against Moses. Has he led them out of Egypt only to have them perish in the wilderness? Would it not have been better for them simply to perish where they were, than fill them with false hopes which would be dashed so quickly?

Moses knows, however, that the people need to be reminded of the all-powerful nature of the God who keeps his promises. There are times for moving, and there are times for standing still. Even although the best forces of Pharaoh’s army are closing in on them from behind, Moses tells them that this is a time to ‘stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord’ (14:13), a time to realize that God would fight for them (14:14).

Once again the word of Moses is authenticated with a display of awesome, divine power, as he raises his staff over the waters of the river, in response to the command of God. The people witness the diverging of the waters, as God makes a path through the sea which will allow his people to cross over. This is a second ‘passover’ experience, as they traverse the wide river, with God’s presence standing ‘between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel’ (14:20), hiding his people and protecting them from their enemies.

Not only does Israel manage to cross on dry ground, but the Egyptians, who drive their chariots along the dry path through the Red Sea, suddenly find themselves submerged beneath the waves of the sea as God brings the wall of water crashing back down into its course. As the sun rises, the Egyptians have either perished or returned. The problem has been taken away. God has been true to his promise.

Throughout the narrative, the reason for this display of power is evident. ‘I will get glory over Pharaoh,’ says God in 14:4, 17 and 18. The greater glory belongs to Jehovah, who fights on behalf of his people. In turn, they have become witnesses of his power, which in turn has confirmed their faith in God and their trust in his spokesmen, Moses and Aaron (14:

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