Choose Who You Follow Carefully Series

AN “I” EXAM: Restoring Our Vision for Christ’s Mission – Choose Who You Follow Carefully

Exodus 15:22-27 (p. 49) May 15, 2016

Introduction:

[I remember hearing about a woman who got off work and started home, but it was extremely foggy that evening so as she got on the interstate she followed the taillights of the car in front of her…she continued to do this for quite a while even as they exited the interstate together…through curves and streets as she made her way home…until the car in front of her stopped abruptly…and just sat there…she honked her horn and a large man got out of the car and started back to hers…she reached for the mace she had in her purse as he tapped on her window…she rolled it down a crack and angrily said “What are you doing stopping in the middle of the street?” and he said “Ma’am, this isn’t a street…it’s my driveway.”]

Folks, it’s extremely important to choose who we follow because if we choose wrong it might lead us to a place we never wanted to go.

Jesus’ mission for the Church is “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19)

In the original Greek it was an aorist participle…”Poreuthentes”…What that really means is it’s an imperative command…It assumes that you will be going…you will be leaving the Church assembly…you will be leaving your house for work…you will be leaving to go out with friends or be engaged in your children’s school activities or events…and what it means…is “when this happens…make disciples…look for the opportunity to share your faith in Christ.

One writer put it this way…“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships were built for.”

Christians are safe when we assemble together…Christians are safe when we are in our homes, and when we are with other believers…but that is not what Christians are built for…Christians are built to “Go” and as we “go,” make disciples.

Jesus led the 12 apostles and others to do just this…the 12 apostles and Paul the Apostle led others to do this…and those followers then led others to do this.

It’s extremely important that present day teachers and leaders in the Church hear the same passion to go…or will get lost in the fog following the wrong tail lights and stuck in the driveway.

In our study this morning you know the story…God has called Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt…with his brother Aaron at his side, Moses proclaims “Let my people go” to Pharaoh…But its only after 10 plagues…including the death of the first born of every house that is not covered in the blood of the passover lamb that Pharaoh relents…and even then he changes his mind, chases the Israelites to the Red Sea…where God provides an escape for His children by dividing the waters…and sends it crashing down on the Egyptians…the Israelites even sing God’s praises for this miraculous rescue.

“Sing to the Lord, for He is highly

exalted. Both horse and driver,

he has hurled into the Sea.” (Ex. 15:21)

I’m sure they loved following Moses as these words sprang from their lips in song…but 3 days later that song turned to grumbling…as:

I. THEY TRAVELLED ON A NEW WAY

Remember these folks had been in slavery for 400 years…This is all these folks had ever known, as well as their children and families. And they had also just experienced the 10 plagues and God’s protection from the Passover Lamb, as well as his delivering at the Red Sea. But slavery breeds fear…and 3 days later they questioned their decision…and grumbled against their leader…3 days in the desert without water made them uncomfortable, and when they came to water it was “bitter,” undrinkable…so they grumbled against Moses.

I believe it’s important we stop right here and remember whose idea this is!

And whose people these are! God’s covenant had been established with the Israelites through Abraham many years before…when God called him in Genesis 12 He said,

“Go from your country, your people, your household, to a land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you.

I will make your name great

and you will be a blessing

I will bless those who bless you

and whoever curses you I will curse

And all the peoples on earth will be

blessed through you.” And then it says:

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” (Genesis 12:1-4)

It was a blood covenant…it was God’s plan…His promise…which He always kept…which He never broke…His people did…over and over…that’s the primary reason they were in slavery in the first place.

And now after 400 years they h ave another chance…a chance once again to be a people of covenant faith…and get to the place God has always wanted to get them.