On the Verge of Victory

29/03/2020 08:32

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Date: 26 March, 2020

Text: Exodus 6:1-

Title: On the Verge of Victory

 

Introduction:

 

exp. Earlier this month I was able to join 5 other ministers for a day of prayer. Our prayer times which we started last year and continue this year are focused on revival. 

- We want to see a spiritual awakening in our communities.

- We want to see assemblies of born again believers growing and prospering.

- We long to be discipling men who fear God and hunger for His Word.

 

exp. Although we had much to thank God for - none of us had seen the turning to God in our communities for which we hope.

Rather, it seemed like all of us had faced significant physical trials this past year.

 

QUESTION: How can that be? 

- We are asking God in faith to do something 

- and IT SEEMED as if it NOT ONLY is not happening, but thing are getting worse?

 

Our text: Exodus 6:1-9 is the passage God put on my heart to share with the men that morning.

 

note: Tough times do not mean that God has not heard and that God is not answering.

Tough times often mean - WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF SEEING WHAT GOD WILL DO.

 

ill. Like Paul said of his ministry in Ephesus.

1 Corinthians 16:9  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

exp. God was about to do something great and Paul expected and was experiencing conflict.

 

note: The church is facing a season of great difficulty around the world.

 

message: We are on the verge of seeing the great things God will do. Do you believe that?

 

 exp. In our text - Moses didn't believe he was on the verge of seeing the great things God would do.

 

Exodus 5:22  And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

 

context: 

- The children of Israel have been in bondage in Egypt for several centuries.

- Their servitude was getting worse and they are crying out to God for deliverance.

- God called Moses at the burning bush to negotiate their release with Pharoah.

- Moses and Aaron first interview has not gone well.

- Pharoah got upset and has punished the children of Israel.

- The leaders of the children of Israel blame Moses and Aaron for their suffering.

 

NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT GOING WELL AT ALL - AND MOSES SAYS SO TO GOD.

 

exp. God graciously responds to Moses....

Exodus 6:1  Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

 

note: This isn't going to happen immediately - but when it happened it would be powerful.

Fast forward to....

Exodus 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

 

exp. The Exodus would take place. Israel would be released. The whole Egyptian army would be drowned under the waters of the Red Sea.

 

note: At the end of chapter 5 - Rather than doubting God - Moses should have been living like he was on the verge of victory.

 

We ought to live our Christian life like we are on the verge of victory. GOD WILL DO GREAT WORKS WHICH WE WILL SEE. "Now thou shalt see what I will do!" Do you believe it?

 

 exp. As already stated - Moses didn't believe it. And so as recorded in Exodus 6 God had some reminders to help Moses believe it.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE REMINDERS THIS MORNING....

BECAUSE WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING LIKE WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY.

 

Reminders that we are on the verge of victory.

 

I. God says in our text, "Let me remind you of who I AM."

2  And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD.

ill. The Burning bush is a recent memory for Moses. It was only days ago that it had taken place.

Moses is 80 years old. He's been a shepherd for 40 years. He is in a desert area and a bush was burning. The fire wasn't unusual. But, it was a fire that did not consume the bush that was burning. He stopped to see it and had an unforgettable encounter with God.

exp. God's speech NOW would remind him of that experience.... God says here, "I AM"

AT THE BURNING BUSH GOD HAD SAID....

Exodus 3:12  Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13  And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

exp. Moses was reminded that he was standing on the verge of victory because of WHO GOD IS. 

exp. We are standing today upon the verge of victory because of WHO GOD IS.

A. I am the God of your Fathers.

3  And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, 

exp. Moses is a descendant of Abraham. He's part of the children of Israel.

 note: Moses didn't have a Bible like you and I possess. Moses after this will become the first God inpsired man to write the sacred text of Scripture. (The pentateuch.) 

exp.Our text this morning was written down origninally by Moses under the inspiration of God's Spirit.

exp. God is aware that Moses knows these names of his forefathers and knows of the POWER OF THEIR GOD.

- The God who led Abraham to depart for a land of promise.

- The God who allowed a Abraham and Sarah in their 90's to conceive a son.

- The God who multiplied that one son into the children of Israel also overcoming the barroness of Rebekah.

- The God who brought Israel into Egypt by His Word (miraculously providing for them by raising up Joseph).

- The God who had promised to bring them out again.

 question: Do you like stories of men of God who did great things for God?

  Gideon - who longed to see the glory of God - 300 men - putting the Midianites to flight.

David - taking his sling and 5 stones and marching out to kill the Philistine Giant - Goliath

Elijah - calling down fire from Heaven, praying for 3 years for drought.....

exp. Men who were victorious because God was with them.

 app. The God of Gideon, David, Elijah is our God as well. Why shouldn't we believe that we are on the verge of victory when THEIR GOD/ OUR GOD is with us?

B. I am God Almighty.

by the name of God Almighty, 

exp. El Shaddai

ill. Abraham well knew God as God Almighty.

Genesis 18:

11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13  And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 

 exp. By the way, Abraham laughed about this as well. He just didn't laugh out loud.

Gen 17:17  Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

def. Isaac: he laughs/ will laugh.) 

question: Don't you think seeing a pregnant 90 year old might curl up the corners of your lips a little bit and you might have a hard time stifling your humour.

HOW COULD THIS BE? Almight God was involved.

Jeremiah 32:27  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Mark 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

app. Why aren't we on the verge of victory since Almighty God is with us? What problem is in your life that is too great for ALMIGHTY GOD?

C. I am Jehovah God.

but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

 exp. God started this conversation in v.2 by mentioning this name.

v.2...I am the LORD:

note: LORD in all caps - is jehovah or yahweh. It is the name of God.

exp. This same name is repeated 3 times in our short text.

Exodus 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD,...

7... and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

exp. His name means that he is the self existent one. He is God and there is none else.

Deuteronomy 4:35  Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

1 King 8:60  That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

Isaiah 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Isaiah 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

 ill. I don't like searching for things - I like finding things.

- Praying and waiting on God for a house. (It seemed impossible - big enough, affordable, in our area, offer accepted, mortgage, downpayment.)

- Praying and waiting on God for a mobile caravan for furlough. (Right size, weight class, price, year....)

- It is a joy to me to find the thing I was looking for and to stop my search.

app. Are you searching for God this morning, you don't have to look any further. There is no God but the God of the Bible, Jehovah. 

THE EVERLASTING ETERNAL SELF EXISTENT GOD IS WITH US TODAY IF WE ARE SAVED.

 transition app. We are standing on the verge of victory this morning because GOD IS WITH US.

- The God of our fathers.

- The God who is Almighty.

- The God who has always been, will always be - Jehovah.

 

II. God says in our text, "Let me remind you of what I have done."

exp. It is encouraging when facing a present difficulty to reflect on secure realities.

 ill. I said to my kids as our world spiraled into uncertainty - 

"It is wonderful to think of things that do not change."

- Spring is still coming.

- Flowers are still blooming.

- Birds are still singing.

- Obviously spiritually God hasn't changed and God can not change.

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not;

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

note: What God has done is unchanging as well.

app. We are standing today on the verge of victory because of WHAT GOD HAS DONE.

A. I covenanted with you.

4  And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

note: Several hundred years before God established his covenant with Abraham.

Genesis 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

9  And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

 exp. The covenant was entered into by Abraham for the children of Israel at a specific time and place.

note: Israel's present difficulty was making them forget their secure reality - THEY WERE THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

 question: Have you let the present difficulty make you forget your secure reality? 

IS THERE A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE WHERE YOU ENTERED INTO A BINDING AGREEMENT WITH GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON?

1 Corinthians 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;

Hebrews 9:15  And for this cause he (JESUS) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, ..., they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

app. If you have been saved by faith in Jesus - THAT COVENTANT WITH GOD is unbreakable.

B. I have heard you.

5  And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; 

exp. Israel was in grave difficulty. They were at the mercy of a cruel nation that had enslaved them. THEY HAVE CRIED OUT TO GOD - AND GOD HAS HEARD.

Exodus 2:23  And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

25  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

ill. God responds with the burning Bush and the call of Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage.

Exodus 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8  And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians....

 question: When did God hear? Before he ever called Moses. Before things got even worse. And what was God doing - he was in the process of delivering them from their trial.

exp. They were on the verge of victory because of what God had done.... He had heard them.

song: Are you weary? Are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone. 

chorus: Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that's well-known; You've no other such a friend or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone."

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 ill. Trust fall at the ropes course at the wilds. Falling into the arms of your friends. God wants us to let our burdens fall into His arms.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 app. God is so very aware of how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting our lives.

Matthew 6:8 8  ...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

HE KNOWS YOUR PRAYER BEFORE YOU PRAY IT. BUT, HAVE YOU PRAYED?

1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

app. Many people now have more time than they have ever had before. If you have more time, have you used that time to pray. IF SO we are on the verge of victory because God HAS heard.

C. I have not forgotten you.

and I have remembered my covenant.

exp. If you were a part of the children of Israel, you knew a couple of things.

1.) Divinely: the children of Abraham would be in bondage for 400 years.

Genesis 15:13  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

2.) Humanly: release from bondage seemed impossible it was getting worse.

exp. Men often promote human experience over divine revelation.

 ill. Famine in Samaria because of siege of Syria

- It was incredibly bad - babies were being eaten. 

- The were selling bird droppings for food.

exp. God's prophet Elisha said it would be over tomorrow.

II Kings 7:1  Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

2  Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

note: How would God do it?

6  For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

7  Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

 exp. Human experience said it was impossible, but divine revelation said otherwise.

note: Israel was despairing because it seemed like God had forgotten. But, God reminds them that He has not forgotten His covenant.

 app. Are you despairing because humanly it seems impossible? And yet God hasn't forgotten the church. He has not forgotten His love for those still needing Jesus. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE.

- He covenanted with us as His people. 

- He has heard our cry.

- He has not forgotten His covenant with us.

transition: We are REMINDED TODAY THAT WE ARE  on the verge of victory because of WHO GOD IS, WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND.....

 

III. God says in our text, "Let me remind you of what I will do."

6  Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will....

ill. Our country has been waiting holding their breath to hear what Rishi Sunak - Chancellor of the Exchequer - would say about relief for business and individuals. They want concrete promises of WHAT WILL BE DONE to help them through the crisis. We hope that the promises are made good that the government will make.

exp. In the next several verses God states emphatically what HE WILL DO. God will make good on His promises.

Num 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

app. We are standing today upon the verge of victory because of WHAT GOD WILL DO.

- I want to give you a present and future application of these promises in our text. 

- I'm just going to highlight these promises.

A. I will unburden you.

and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, 

exp. Israel's physical burden was heavy - it would soon be lifted and they would feel the lash of the whip and the cruel demands of egypt no more.

1. Present.

ill. Jesus calls those who are burdened by life to Himself.

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

app. Life without Jesus is heavy. You may feel today like you are being crushed and are without hope. Jesus will unburden you today if you will come to Him.

2. Future.

exp. A day is coming when their will no longer be burdens.

Rev. 21:44  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 app. We are on the verge of victory - IF WE COME TO HIM - God will take our burden away now and completely in the future.

B. I will liberate you.

and I will rid you out of their bondage, 

exp. Israel was not free. They were in heavy servitude to a cruel task master. But, God would liberate them.

1. Present.

 exp. If you have not come to Christ - you are in heavy bondage to a cruel task master - Satan.

- He wastes your money on things that do not satisfy. 

(drink, gambling, cigarrettes, drugs, material things....)

- He has you in bondage to sin for which you desire victory. 

- He promises life - but gives death. 

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2. Future. (The old master, the devil, will be cast down eternally.)

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

C. I will redeem you.

and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

exp. God would bring them to Himself with great power.

1. Present.

 question: Have you been redeemed by God? Is He your redeemer?

Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

2. Future.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

D. I will adopt you.

7  And I will take you to me for a people, 

exp. The children of Israel became God's family. They were His people and He was their God.

1. Present.

Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 app. God would have you be His child if you would take Him as your heavenly Father - Joh 1:12  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:

2. Future.

exp. If you are saved - God will take you to Himself for a people eternally.

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

E. I  will reign over you.

and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD thy God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

exp. God wasn't delivering them from servitude to serve themselves. Mankind is made to serve. He is either the servant of God or the serve the devil.

1. Present.

Matthew 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 exp. God saved us to serve Him.

2. Future.

Rev. 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

app. Better learn the joy of serving Jesus - God will reign over us and we will serve Him.

F. I will prepare a place for you.

8  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; 

 exp. They would be saved and taken to a land of promised blessing.

1. Present.

Psa 66:12  Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Joh 10:10  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

2. Future.

John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

G. I will bequeath to you.

and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

exp. They would enter into the heritage - or inheritance of the Lord.

1. Present. exp. We have the down payment of that future blessing.

Ephesians 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

2. Future. exp. We have real inheritance in glory.

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 exp. Israel was on the verge of victory because of what God would do. THE BLESSING WAS REAL AND IT WAS COMING. God will make good His promises.

 

Conclusion:

9  And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

exp. THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY

Moses had not believed it - now Israel didn't believe it - DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

BECAUSE OF WHO GOD IS - God of our father, almight God, Jehovah God.

BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE - covenanted with us - heard us - remembered us

BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD WILL DO. His promises - unburden you - liberate you, redeem you, adopt you, reign over you, prepare a place for you, bequeath you

WE OUGHT TO LIVE AS IF WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY!