SERMON: MISSING EGYPT (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION: Read the text over again, freedom-free! We’ve got liberty! If we will take it and what comes with it, not easy. Let me read a very personal/candid part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul himself! Talking of his immature days. (Romans 7:18-24) 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Been here? Are You here? Why were/are you here? Lets do some soul searching, shall we? TRANSITIONAL-STATEMENT: Along time ago a man named Moses brought a great number of God’s people out of bondage in Egypt, to a land of milk & honey and complete Freedom! This same man heard these ex-slaves tell him they missed Egypt! Do you? Sometimes? 1. EASE-OF-EGYPT. a) Comforts. Exodus 15:22-24 + 16:1-2 + 17:1-3 Ex 15:22-24 After only 3 days deliverance they murmered against their freedom! Ungrateful for deliverance! Ex16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. -They missed all the comforts of Jail! Ex 17:1-3 Again they whined about missing their bondage! 3 Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt,to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? - They did not trust their freedom! We Miss Egypt!!! - 3 things here to take note of (Check yourself on these!): 1. Ungratefulness 2.Comfortable 3. Untrusting/Lack of Faith. What memories of the world are so enticing to you? What pleasures do you miss? Was it that good? Put it in context, your pleasures were in the midst of a jail cell! Yes! the world is more trustworthy in that nothing changes & No need to be thankful you always deserve better, right? And comfortable, its whatever you want, its you, you ,you...alone, very alone. “But Pastor!, I don’t want to go back!” Maybe not in these words, but we find all kinds of way to justify our sin. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.(Expound) Here, they called it another gospel, what do you call it when you find something in the Bible that doesn’t fit into your lifestyle? These here also missed Egypt, they wanted it the easy way again. b) Security Freedom doesn’t feel as secure as bondage either, these Israelites were in too much open expanse, it scared them to be free! Sound odd? Exodus 32:20-23. 20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. 21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? 22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on Evil. 23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. Scared to be free! Makes sense, for freedom brings more responsibility! That can be frightening...alone. So a calf, to remind them of Home. Egypt worships animals. For Moses was not around to guide, they were afraid! In the movie “The Man in the Iron Mask”. Seen it? There is a scene where the man who was finally freed from the Mask is in a a tough situation, a time of responsibility. At this time, one of his rescuers catches a glimpse of him in his room and hes wearing the Mask! Comfort/ security of Egypt! It Stirs my heart to watch Gods children struggling in the tangles of sin while the key to chains has been in our hands since we met The Judge-Jesus Christ! So, Moses made them drink there calf“god” to remind them of the chains that came with there home. For as Aaron said “we are a people set on evil” Thank you God for your longsuffering mercy!! TEXT: Galatians5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” TEXT: John 8:3636 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Are you Free?! (repeat) Are You using the key given? Or does the Mask feel more secure? Will you take off the chains and stand fast?! 2. FREEDOM-OF-THE-CROSS! The Cross is not comfortable nor secure but is hard and holds you up naked! The Cross is too hard! If only we would fully realize this! Yes, the Cross is too much, thats the point! We are to rely on our Father!! But we try to live the Christian life in our own power, try to be a child of God without knowing Him! So I ask! I put to reminder! a) Initiate! Heres how to forget the comfortable chains of Egypt!.. Romans 6:13-18 : 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Read vs16 then 13. Even now you decide who you yeild to, the easy way or the Cross. So then yield to God as an instrument in righteousness. Iniate!: Wed night / We live in gray, comfort, Egypt like place. So...If trouble ain’t comin to you, go get it! Devil stearin clear from face to face then get in his face! You iniate zeal! You take full advantage of your freedom, be better, become like Christ! “Alive from the Dead”! Your zeal reminder! Is this always in the back of your mind, if not, then refresh it. Initiate! Easy& Comfortable the world is, the world is for wimps! The slave has little or no standards, but to stay in chains! Doesn;t get easier! Are you gonna wait for battle to come to while the devil make havoc of your neihbors? Go look! Our town, world are decaying corpses before our resurrected eyes! Initiate battle, grace, the freedom that is yours!! Gates of hell will not stand against it! Iniate the offence! b) Knowledge. We must also be ready for the longer term. Heres how to keep the embers glowing... (John 8:31-36) 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. “If You continue in My word”.. Too easy is it to slacken in the Word personally & the zeal of initiating. It’s even easier to stop following through and to keep on initiating! Thats another reason you have me, and Wednesdays & Sunday Services! Only in this context will you have understanding of the Bible to apply it and understand its Truth! And this Truth sets us free! Or we Can stay servants of sin! Jesus said that!! Huh? For the servants don’t remain forever! The Son alone truly free! TEXT:Galatians5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” TEXT: John 8:3636 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Are you taking it easy? Enjoying the comforts? Are you entangled? or Are you initiating grace to battle, to gain in knowledge so as to stay free and zealous? Are you standing fast? Are you saying goodbye to Egypt?! For Good?
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