Last week I asked you to watch that you are not deceived. I want to speak to you this week on a very important area where many are deceived.
Please hear me when I tell you there is only one way to Heaven. There is only one way to access The Heavenly Father. That is through Jesus Christ.
Jesus made a way for us to have access to the Throne Room of God. Jesus made a way for us to bring our petitions before the Lord. Jesus is the only way in!
I have heard more than one person over the course of the past few years say that there are many ways to heaven. This is just not a true statement. This is an area where deception has creeped in and will lead many a stray.
In John chapter 14 verse 6, says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me”. Nobody has access to the Father except through Jesus.
Jesus did what he did, so that you and I could have a way to access heaven. He laid down his royalty. He came in the form of a man. He suffered. He was beaten beyond comprehension. He was hung on a cross and He died. But that is not the end of the story, because He rose again! He is even now seated at the right hand of the Father and He makes intersession for us. That means that he is praying for us!
Because He suffered, we have access.
John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ask yourself this question. If there are many ways to heaven, why did God give his only begotten Son? If there are many ways to heaven, why did Jesus have to endure all that he endured?
Remember it is the truth that will set you free. My heart’s desire is that you all have a relationship with the Lord. That each one of us would partake of the opportunity to access heaven. That each of us would ask Jesus into our hearts. That each one of us could be assured of where we will spend eternity.
We do not have to guess or hope we are going to make it. Jesus provided a way to know for sure. Will you take him up on his offer. Even now he is standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Will you let him in?
Deception is a very serious thing. It can cause you to take actions that might lead you astray and into harm. Deception can cause you to believe things about people that just are not true. Deception may cause you to believe your friends are not your friends or your enemies are not your enemies. Deception can lead you away from security and into danger. Deception is such a dangerous thing that when the disciples asked Jesus a set of questions about future events in Matthew 24, the first thing He tells them is to not be deceived.
I find that interesting. Do not be deceived.
We live in a time where Deception is running away with itself. The line between real and make believe is blurred more and more each day. There are people who make a living purposely causing us to question what is true. We watch documentaries with “experts” peddling half-truths. We have financial analysts who twist numbers to suit their own needs. News stations peddle half-truths, and the internet is full of lies.
The most vulnerable in our society are told lies that are doing great harm to our young and our elderly, each in a different way. The elderly are defrauded of their life long savings and the young are scammed of their happiness and contentment with who they are.
It is easy to get caught up in the trap of deception and once you are deceived it is hard to break free of its grip. What we believe has powerful implications on our lives. I guess that is why it is so important to pay attention to what we believe. Jesus tells us “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
In this time of deception, I am glad I can run to the one person who will never lie to me and always has my best interest at heart. My Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ. My prayer for you is that you would know him to.
Today I want to talk about having child like faith. If you have been a believer for any length of time, you have heard the saying to have the faith of a child. If you are not a believer or have never heard that saying you will not understand what I am talking about. There is a scripture in the bible that tells us to be like children.
Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. (3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever, therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I have been a follower of Jesus for twenty years. During those years I have heard many messages preached on this scripture or on this thought. I have heard many explain what it means to be like a little child. I myself have preached on the thought of how God wants us to be like little children. In fact if we have been born again, if we are a believer in Jesus the Messiah; we have been born of the Spirit and have the right to be called a child of God.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Even though the scriptures say sons of God in this passage, God is telling us that if we believe on His Son Jesus Christ, if we have a relationship with His Son, we are born into the family of God! Have you ever stopped to think about what that means? If you call on Jesus Christ, ask Him into your heart, you are a child of God. A child of God!
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
The Father! Our Father!
I did not grow up with a father so I did not really have any basis for beginning to understand how to relate to God as my father. I did not have any example of what a father was supposed to look like. I have seen a lot of fathers. I have seen them behave badly to their children and I have seen them behave great to their children. But I did not have that type of relationship with my father. He left when I was two years old. So when I became a believer in Jesus, God had to show me what a good father looks like. I can tell you from my own experiences God truly is a good, good father.
So, we have a heavenly Father! He loves us very much! He wants to protect us! He wants us to be like children. What does that look like?
I have friends that have school age children. Their children go to public school. If you have been following the news at all you know that our public schools are going to hell in a handbasket. What they are teaching our children is sick, twisted, and perverted. I actually thought because I live in a small town, that type of teaching would not touch us. But I was wrong.
My friends son was in English class the other day and the teacher started reading from a book out loud to the class. It was describing the fantasy a boy was having about bathing a girl and it was describing how the boy felt while looking at the girl. I will not go into details, but I am sure you can follow what I am saying. This was being read in a seventh grade classroom!
My friends son took a picture of the page and sent it to his mom. Attached to the picture was as text that simply said “Help”. This boy has a relationship with God that is strong. Even though he is young, he wants to stay clean and pure for God. He did not want to go to the dark place that book was bringing him. He quickly called for HELP!
His parents sprung into action! His dad went into the school and demanded his son not be in that class anymore. His parents went to the school superintendent to see if they knew what was being taught in that class. His parents went to the police station to see what could be done to protect their son from a teacher acting as a pedophile.
While I was praying for their son and really all the children in our public schools God showed me a couple of things I want to share with you.
God is our father! He wants to protect us from the darkness of this world. He does not want us drawn into a life of darkness and sin. He wants to protect us from the darkness that wants to corrupt us. My friends jumped to action. As the boys dad, he quickly ran to his child! He quickly pulled him out of the classroom. He sprung to the defense of his child and removed him from the presence of evil and darkness.
The boy was defenseless as a child. He did not have the necessary means to protect himself from the temptations the enemy was trying to put in his mind. As a child he needed the help of his father to intervene in the situation. The son needed his father to pull him out of danger and protect him. And I must say kudos to my friend for being such a good father! I commend him for springing into action to protect his child. That is how God wants to be with us! He wants to protect us! He wants to pull us out of danger! We wants to keep us safe!
The other side of the story is the son. He did not sit there while temptation was pulling on him. He did not sit quietly while the enemy tried to plant images in his mind that would stay with him the rest of his life. He quickly called out for HELP! That is all we need to say to God. HELP!
So many times we get involved in things we should not have been messing with. Maybe we dabbled in things that now have us hooked. Maybe we are dealing with something that isn’t sin, but is consuming our thoughts. Maybe we need financial help. Maybe we need encouragement. Maybe we need rest. Whatever it is we need, we have a Heavenly Father who is ready to spring into action! We are His children! We have the privilege of calling on our Heavenly Father to help us.
Why not be like a child and ask God to help you today? How about we stop sitting quietly by while the enemy hooks us and pulls us away from God? How about we simply say HELP! I assure you, your Heavenly Father will come running to help you, to protect you. I pray we will all learn to be like my friends son! I pray we will all learn to call on our Heavenly Father to help us.
Have you ever felt a need to share something with someone? I have been feeling this need for a while now. I do not know if my days on earth are short because of sickness or if the church about to meet Jesus in the air. Maybe it is just because I have turned 61 and I do not have the excitement of life in front of me. In my spirit I feel God would have me say some things to you before I go.
I am writing this in January 2024. I was born in 1962. I can tell you there have been many changes in my lifetime. I can remember when we only had 3 channels to choose from on the television. The television in my home as a child was only black and white, no color. The television stations only stayed on part of the night. When they went off the air there would only be static on the screen. Cartoons only came on television on Saturday mornings. I can remember when they invented the handheld hair blow dryer. I wanted one so bad, but we were poor and purchasing a hair dryer was not an option for my family. I can also remember it was a simpler time. People had respect for each other. There was a belief in God. Even if you didn’t follow him, you didn’t mock him or provoke him. I remember when men were men, women were women, boys were boys, and girls were girls.
When I look around at America today, I do not recognize her. Everything that used to be called good has changed into something bad. It seems like common sense has flown out the window. Seems like the mindset of foolishness has taken hold of our nation. But I guess that is to be expected when we kick God out of our nation and out of our life.
Sometimes I want so badly to turn back the clock and go back to a simpler time. Go back to a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. Go back to a time when morals were something of value. Go back to a time when the innocence of our children was in full force. Go back to a time when life was an excited journey that we were all willing to take.
I so desperately want to tell you that we cannot look back, nor should we want to. Take a moment to survey the horizon and see what you see. Life as we knew it is not coming back. The times have shifted and the innocence that once was is gone. The darkness is all around us and if we do not fight it will choke the very life out of us. Yet, it is all in God’s control.
He told us repeatedly what the times of the end were going to look like. He gave us markers to look for. He gave us signs to point the way. But above all else He gave us a way to keep hope alive.
Luke 21:7-28 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” (8) And He said: Take heed that you not be deceived, For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. (9) “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” (10) Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (11) “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sight and great sings from heaven. (12) “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. (13) “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (14) “Therefore settle it in you hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (16) “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (17) “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (18) “But not a hair of your head shall be lost. (19) “By your patience posses your souls. (20) “But when you see Jerusalem surround by armies, then know that it desolation is near. (21) “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. (22) “For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. (24) ”And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (25) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring: (26) “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
A couple of things I want to point out. First this is not the only description of what we will face living in the time we are living in. I will write more about that in later posts. Second the times we are living in are not as bad as what is described above, yet.
The point I really want to focus on is in verse 28. It tells us to look for these things to being to happen. To watch how events around the world and here at home are unfolding. Pay attention to what is happening. Learn to be sensitize to the Spirit. Learn to have discernment. And then look up!
When all this mess is happening, we can wallow in our darkness allowing ourselves to become depressed. Or. We can look up. Look up! Look up! Your redemption draws near. Your savior is coming! Your Savior Is Coming!
The best hope I can give you when things begin to look dark and hopeless is that Jesus tells us we will be caught away to be with him. We will miss the worse part of this. No matter how bad it gets, we will be spared from the worst part. We will all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, the Bible says. Oh how much wonderful hope is that?
Look up children of God! Look up! Get yourselves ready! Take a lesson from the parable of the ten virgins. Get yourself ready! Spend time with your Lord. You do not want him to say depart from me I never knew you! Lift up your head! Tell yourself to not be downtrodden. You have hope! You have Jesus!
If you do not know Jesus, I pray you call on Him today! Call on Him now! Please do not delay! Today can be your day to be filled with hope!
light in the clouds, sun rays Light pierces the clouds
Sometimes hope comes easy. Sometimes hope is hard. Sometimes hope appears lost.
Psalms 31:24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.
Sometimes life seems hard. There are many circumstances that come at us that can make it difficult to stay hopeful. Believe me I fully understand. I have had my share of heartache and frustration just like everybody else. Sometimes I feel like I got the short end of the stick when it comes to disappointment. It seems to me that when I look around at other people they are always smiling and everything always seems to come up roses. They do not seem to have all the problems that hit me. They do not seem to have all the disappointments that bombard me. Family members are well adjusted. Their financial problems seem to be nonexistent. So believe me when I tell you I understand it is hard to stay hopeful sometimes.
Psalms 31:24 tells us to let our heart take courage. This scripture is not talking to everybody. This scripture is talking to those who hope in the Lord!
Matthew 26:47-56 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
If we read further on or if we know our bible, we know that all the disciples fled and scattered. They forsook Jesus and ran to hide. Jesus was not surprised about this. In fact, he told Peter before hand that he would deny him. All the disciples forsook him. They all fled. These are the very people who walked with Jesus daily. They were now in the place in between.
They knew who Jesus was! They knew with all assurance that Jesus Christ was their Lord! They had walked with Him. They had talked with him. They had witnessed many miraculous signs! They were there when Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves feeding many with much left over! They were with him on the boat when he calmed the seas. They were with him when he healed the sick. They were with him when he restored the sight of the blind. They were present when he cast demons out of people. They believed he was who he said he was. They placed all their hope in him. The disciples are a lot like us.
Then suddenly all their hopes were dashed! Suddenly they looked at the situation with their own understanding, with their physical eyes and things did not seem to be going as they had planned. How many times do we do the very same thing? We think events in our life should go a certain way. How many times have you thought Jesus was going to deliver you out of a situation a certain way, but it didn’t happen the way you thought? Maybe you had to go through some things you did not want to go through.
Here all the disciples did not expect that their Lord would be taken. These events just shook their very understanding and they were in shock! What would they do now? Where would they go? Who was going to help them? Who could they turn to now? In their minds Jesus could not help them, he had just been arrested. I know I am not the only person who gets a little shaken when situations do not go as I thought they would. I am sure I am not the only person who has on occasion felt let down.
In the book of Mark we are told that in the third hour they crucified him. That is about nine am. Then Mark tells us that when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. So that is from approximately noon until three pm. So they started out shocked. Maybe they were a little confused. How could this happen? I can imagine that from nine until noon they probably expected something to happen to turn the situation around. I can imagine they felt hopeful for a few hours. Then the reality sets in around noon when the whole land gets dark, that this is really going to happen. Their hope is about to die nailed to a cross. For the next three hours they are in darkness.
When you are in darkness you are feeling hopeless. This is the in between. This is the time between hope and belief. This the time of confusion. A time of thoughts running rampant. A time of trying to figure out what to do. A time of trying to see the big picture. A time of reflection. Darkness grips you….
Then we are told that at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eloi, Eloi, Lama sabachthani. Which is interpreted as My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me? To the disciples now is the time when all hope seems lost. They are blinded by darkness and all seems lost. Remember the disciples had walked with Jesus for three years and now in a matter of hours it appeared to be over. For six hours they watched their hope nailed to a tree. Imagine their shock and disbelief! His mother watched as her son hung on the cross! Imagine what she must have been thinking about while she watched her son on the cross.
Luke 1:28-33 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. (29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. (30) And the angel said unto her, fear not, May: for thou has found favor with God. (31) and behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. (32) He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. (33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Can you imagine the thoughts that must have been going through Mary’s mind? He would reign for ever and his kingdom would have no end? How is that going to happen? Darkness and hopelessness. Things surely were not working out the way anybody would have expected. They were there in darkness watching their hope die. They were all in the in between place. That place where hope has died and the belief for something better. Darkness grips us and can incapacitate us. That place where all seems lost. Where it seems there is not a positive solution. Where it feels as if you are going to die from hopelessness and darkness.
Then what happens? We are told that Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb on the third day. She sees that the tomb is empty. Quickly she runs to spread the latest developments. She tells everyone that the tomb is empty. She tells them they took Jesus. So basically they took the last bit of hope she had. He was gone. Now everybody runs to the tomb. They all see that the body of Jesus is gone. In a panic they all run back to the city. All except Mary Magdalene. She stays. She stays in the last place she saw Jesus. She stays where she is and Jesus revealed himself to her.
In an instant all her hope is back. For those who ran back to the city they were still living in darkness. Mary had hope. Mary had seen Jesus. Her hope had been restored. What seemed impossible had happened! Christ rose from the dead and revealed himself to Mary.
We are coming into a time when we will need to hang on to all the hope we can. We all need to stay with Jesus. Do not run away. Do not allow the darkness to over take you. Christ told us what to look out for. He told us what the future would look like. He told us that all would go through things. He told us to hold on to hope. If you have walked away from Jesus because you lost your hope. I urge you to reconsider your decision. Call on Jesus. He wants to reveal himself to you in a fresh way. He wants to chase the darkness out of your circumstances and give you hope. Will you call on him today?
Jesus Christ rescuing and saving a sinner during the dark night.
Covid brought our nation to its knees! We took a sharp left and dove even deeper into a nonsense land. I read somewhere that Covid backwards is actually a Hebrew word which can be translated as “division”. I am not sure that is true, but the research I have found tells me that it is true. Division is exactly what happened. Three or four years later and we no longer look like the United States of America. In fact it does not take a long look to see that we are now the Divided States of America. There is a verse in the Bible in Matthew, 12:25: “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” When I look across the landscape of America I see a house divided! I see a fall of a Nation on the horizon. I pray that we turn this around.
Some boys are transitioning into girls and some girls are transitioning into boys. Some people are transitioning into animals. There are thirty year old men who are identifying at eight year old girls. The identity of who we are as a people both collectively and independently seems to be changing daily. In my opinion these misguided folks are trying to fill a void inside of them. They are stuffing all kinds of things into a hole that was shaped to hold the presence of the Most High God! They feel empty so they try to change their feelings by changing who they are.
Police are now bad and thugs are good. States all across our Nation have decided to let killers out of prison. They are changing laws to protect the criminal and punish the law abiding. Our Supreme Courts are changing our laws. Politicians are trying to change our constitution. Our freedoms are being taken away! The very foundation of our land is being traded for a new ideology. I new enlightened way of viewing things!
Some things have not changed:
God is still God. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. God is the same today as He was thousands of years ago. thousands of years from now, God will be the same as He is today. His message has not and will not change. He will not change His mind! He will not show favoritism and change the rules for his favorite person. He is a righteous judge and He will judge righteously. He is not changing the rules in order to pacify us humans. He remains stable and He remains the same.
The truth is still the truth. What God said about how we should live. How we should do things. How we should forgive. How we will get to heaven. Is the truth! His word does not change over time. He told us the only way to the Father is through the Son. This is still the truth today. There are people who say they do not believe it. To that I say, just because you chose to not believe something does not make it untrue. God will not give special consideration to those who chose to be ignorant to God’s law. You will be judged by God’s law.
Eternity is very long, Time is very short! How can that be you may say. Well let me tell you Eternity will go on and on….. But our time on earth is very short. We are just a blink in the eye of time. What we do on earth during our few years will determine how we spend our eternity. This is a very serious subject that we need to consider carefully.
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; God has not changed. He is a faithful God. He is a covenant God. He is a merciful God. But not for everybody. Who does He keep covenant with? Who is He merciful with? Who is He faithful with? Those who love Him and keep His commandments. John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. God tells us how to walk right with Him. He tells us to keep His commandments. He will not change what He wants at the last minute! He will not wait until just before you die and then change His mind on what He expects from you. He tells you plainly to keep His commandments and He has not, nor will He change His mind.
I urge you to get right with God! This world we are spinning around on is changing right before our eyes. Now more than every we need to hold on to our savior tightly and not let go.
Psalm 78:36-43 Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. (37) For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. (38) But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: ye, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. (39) But He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. (40) How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! (41) Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. (42) They remembered not His hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy. (43) How He had wrought His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan.
Please notice in verse 41 we are told the people had turned back and tempted God. It says they limited Him. In verse 42 we are told that they did not remember how He had helped them. Verse 43 says they did not remember the signs and wonders He had done. By not giving thought to the Lord, the people had limited God. It is not that God was incapable of helping them, it was that their actions had pushed God out of their lives.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Invite Him into your lives. Walk with Him daily. Remember the works that He has done both in your life and in the lives of others. We are given examples of what He has done in the past in the Bible.
He fed the multitude and yet we cannot believe that He will fill our cupboards. We worry and fret. We try to find food in our own abilities instead of realizing that God will take care of us.
He healed the sick and yet we cannot believe that He will heal a simple headache. We do not remember that He has been taking care of us all along. We do not even know all the ways He has kept up healthy. Sadly we do not thank Him or even acknowledge Him.
Charles Finney: was a preacher who preached 98 sermons between September 10, 1830 and March 6, 1832 (a span of 6 months) in Rochester, New York. During that time shopkeepers would close their businesses, posting notices urging people to attend Finney’s meetings. Reportedly, the population of the town increased by two-thirds during the revival, but crime dropped by two-thirds over the same period.
Let us not limit God by forgetting all the wonderful things He has in the past in America. A.A. Allan, John Wesley, Smith Wigglesworth, William Branham, Oral Roberts, Catherine Kuhlman, Charles Finney: These are all men and women who believed God and they changed the world.
They are no different from you or me. They are people just like we are, but they were willing to go and flow with God. They were willing to believe that what He did in the past He could and would do again.
Do you want to see God move? Is there a yearning in your heart to see God move through America? Can you join with me in remembering all the wonderful things God has done in the past. Let’s remember the Lord our God. Invite Him back in our homes, in our families, in our businesses, in our schools. Let’s remember the Lord our God and watch Him move.
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
I am sure we all know the story of when the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Let’s go back for a moment and remember Moses was tending his flock when he saw the Lord in a flame of fire that was not consuming the bush (Exodus 3:1-2) The Lord told Moses he was going to deliver His people out of the hand of the Egyptians. Moses has many excuses why he could not be the one to be used by God. Many of which may have been valid reasons in the eyes of Moses, but not in the eyes of the Lord. I believe the thing that was going through Moses’ mind was the fact that he had killed an Egyptian the last time he was in Egypt (Exodus 2:11-15). The last time Moses was in Egypt we had run for his life. He had killed a man, hid him in the sand. He tried to help the Israelites in his own power.
So now Moses is asked to go back to the place where things went so wrong in his life and deliver God’s people out of oppression. Which brings us to what God showed me this morning.
And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. The people left bondage with all the gold and silver of the Egyptians. It was given to them by the Egyptians. This part of the verse has been preached every way possible. So I will not spend time on it here.
Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. “The man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaohs’ servants, and in the sight of the people” I emphasize this because it is very significant. When Moses first left Egypt, he had done a very bad thing. He had killed a man. Not just any man, he had killed an Egyptian. That would be like killing someone in our government today. This was a man who had some power; he was a man who was in charge of making sure the Hebrew people did what they were told to do. Moses killed a man in authority. He hoped he had gotten away with it, but the next day a Hebrew confronted him about it. The Hebrew did not understand Moses intent to help, he just saw that Moses had killed a man, and figured if Moses could kill one man he could kill another. The Hebrew man feared for his life. This part of the story has been mention, but what I have not heard too much about is how “the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people”
I am amazed at how God takes those people who have been rejected by the world and makes them great. Great not only in the sight of the world but also in the sight of His people. When we purpose in our heart that we will follow the Word of God, God notices. When we decide we will be the one to stand for the Lord in spite of opposition, God notices. When Moses first fled from Egypt he was nothing, just a lowly criminal. Think about that for a moment. He had killed a man in authority. Think about how you would feel about the person who killed someone in government, there would be a man hunt for that individual. Think about how you would feel about the person who killed someone in your town. There would be a man hunt for that individual. How would you feel about the person who killed someone in your family? There would be a man hunt for that person. I can imagine that ALL the people in the land of Egypt did not think to highly of Moses. He was brought into Pharaoh’s house and treated like family. He was raised an Egyptian yet he killed an Egyptian. He was born a Hebrew, yet the Hebrew man feared him. So in the land of Egypt Moses was a wanted criminal when he fled the first time. He went into hiding fearing he would be caught.
Then what happened? Moses submitted to God. Imagine for a moment that you are Moses, you killed a man. Now you have lived in the desert for 40 years. For 40 years you have thought about the incident, you built a family and tried to go about your life. Yet in the back of your mind you remember you have been branded a killer in your home town. The people you sought to protect fear you and your family is looking to have you killed. Every day you think about it. Then you meet God and He says, “Go deliver My people out of the Hand of the Egyptians” How hard do you think it was for Moses to walk into Egypt. It would be like a killer today coming in and saying, “listen I have word from God.” We would think “this guy is crazy, but him in a mental ward” Yet in spite of all the fear Moses must have felt, he went back to where everything first went bad in his life. He trusted in the Lord enough to believe he would be protected. Do you think he might have been thinking “what if they arrest me, what if Pharaoh has me killed? Yet I trust in God” What about the Hebrew people, they thought Moses was crazy!
Also the more Moses spoke to Pharaoh about letting the Hebrew people go, the worse it became for the Hebrew people. It is like enough already! We had it bad enough before you showed up to make it “better” now look, things are worse” They tried to get Moses to stop. I think we tend to be like the Hebrew people sometimes. We cry out to God to do something in our lives, to deliver us out of certain situations, then when He sends someone to speak those words that will deliver us out of bondage, we want to kill the messenger. We want what we want the way we want it. That is what Moses faced with the Hebrew people. He told them the Lord has heard your cry and sent me to deliver you out of bondage, I will speak to Pharaoh and he will let you go. (Paraphrased by Donna) When that did not happen as smoothly as hoped, the Hebrew people told Moses to stop. They told him he was making matter worse and they did not want him to help (paraphrased by Donna). But Moses would not back down. He had an encounter with the Lord, he knows the Lord had sent him and he was steadfast in what he needed to do. So here we have Moses, hated by the Hebrews, hated by the Egyptians. Here is a man with very few friends. Here is a man who is an outcast because he will not do what the world wants him to do. He will not conform; he trusts in God, he put all his trust in God. He is obedient to God in spite of all the opposition he faced, and the Bible says “Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.”
In the end Moses was very great in the land of Egypt. That is the same place where he had killed a man. The same land where he was a wanted criminal before following the voice of the LORD. Moses was very great in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants. The same authority that could have him killed. The same court system that could have sentenced him to death. The same justice system that could have him put to death for killing one of their own. The same people who hated him for killing someone in their family. Moses was very great in the sight of the people. All the people even the Hebrew people who told him to stop helping. Even the Hebrew people who had to go through so much hardship because of Moses. The same people who probably figured Moses was some kind of crackpot, who should be muzzled. This is the same person who had made their life so miserable.
Moses had an encounter with the LORD. Moses had trust in the LORD. Moses spoke the word of the LORD. Moses went through some trials and came out victorious. Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
How many of us are willing to go through some opposition to follow the LORD? We live in a time when following Jesus and listening to His voice is not the thing to do. We live in a time when we are laughed at for believing in Jesus. Even here in America the name of Jesus is coming under attach. We live in a time when we are asked to stop talking about JESUS the MESSIAH, to stop listening to the LORD, to stop believing in the HOLY GHOST. We live in a time when they would like us to be tolerant of other religions, to stop pointing out the sin. We are asked to stop making people feel uncomfortable, to stop making people feel offended. Yet will we bow to Pharaoh or will we bow to the LORD. I believe if we will be the voice of GOD. Follow His statutes; keep sin out of our life, talk about the FATHER, SON, & HOLY GHOST God will make us great in the land. Eventually we will come out of bondage and we will come out with the wealth of the world. We will be called great. God will make things turn around in our lives; He is a rewarder of those who seek HIM.
I urge us all to take a look at the life of Moses. He was just a man who allowed God to use him. He was a man who faced his fears head on. He was a man hated by the world. Yet he was a man who followed the LORD. He is a man we are still talking about today! I want to be the voice of the LORD! I choose to be the one who will not bow to Pharaoh. I choose to be the one who will not go with the flow. No matter the cost I will follow Christ! What about you?
Isaiah 43:10-12 (New King James Version)
10 “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,
“ And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior.
12 I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the LORD, “that I am God
13 Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?”
I love it when the LORD says “I am the LORD” It musters up visions of an all powerful all knowing God. It also seems like I can hear the heavens and the earth shake. I can almost feel the earth tremble below my feet.
The LORD is not a god that can be made into an image that suits our needs. The LORD is the LORD GOD! There is none other like Him. He made the heavens and the earth out of nothing, He formed you and created you. He loves you and wants a relationship with you.
Think about that, the LORD, wants a relationship with you! He created you to love you, care for you, spend time with you. He created you to love you!
Unfortunately a lot of people act like they are the god and the LORD is the created one. They want to live life by their rules and then blame God when things fall apart.
The LORD has set up a standard of living that He expects you to follow. When you follow His rules He will be your God and you will be His people. When you do not follow His rules you are exalting yourself above the LORD, in essence you are making yourself into a god.
Like I said at the beginning, I love it when the LORD says in His word, “I am the LORD your God” It just makes me feel good inside to know that the LORD my God is in control, it takes all the pressure off of me. All I have to due is abide by His rules and He will take care of Me. Thank you God!
That will I speak 
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