Crisis Of Belief

CRISIS OF BELIEF

Coming to a place where you have to make a decision about your faith.

Israel’s 8 Crisis’ of Belief

Exodus 14-18, Numbers 14:1-4, 20-23

INTRODUCTION: The Israelites have been living in Egypt ever since Joseph’s brothers came back to him during the famine. Pharoe loved the Israelites, but now there was a new Pharoe who placed the Israelites in bondage and slavery. God sent Moses to set them free. After the ten plagues the Israelites are set free. Though God had set them free, Israel and Moses came to several points in the wilderness wandering, between Egypt and the promised land, that they had to come to a crisis of belief. Believe in God or doubt He is able.

The wilderness can represent several issues of life. Today let’s envision the wilderness this way:

(a) Egypt = Bondage to Sin

(b) Wilderness = Time on Earth

(c) Promised Land = Heaven

As long as we are on the earth, even after we’ve been set free from bondage we still come to crisis’ of belief. There were eight specific crisis of belief for Israel. Let’s look at them and how they relate to us today.

I. GOD ABOUT TO DISPLAY HIS MIGHTY HAND -

BACKED AGAINST THE RED SEA 14:10-14

1. Pharoe’s Army Has Israel Backed Against The

Red Sea

2. They were terrified, God said if they would

trust him He would deliver.

3. Would they trust God and survive our doubt Him

and die. They were obedient and crossed Red

Sea.

4. They weren’t in bondage anymore, but weren’t

in the promised land yet. God desired to move

His Mighty Hand

5. As believers we aren’t in bondage anymore, we

aren’t in the promised land yet, God desires

to move!!

6. As Christians we come to a place that we are

against the Red Sea and we need to see Mighty

Hand Of God.

7. YOU ARE AT A CRISIS OF BELIEF - Today will you

trust God in your crisis. Will you trust Him

to move His mighty hand like He never has

before? Will you doubt Him and just continue

to struggle?

8. Will you trust God and survive or will you

doubt Him and die.

II. GOD MAKING BITTERNESS SWEET

- THE BITTER WATERS OF MARAH 15:22-26

1. First of all the Israelites had traveled

for three days without water. They were

tired!

2. They got to Marah and there was water, but

it was too bitter to drink!

3. When believers get tired, we get

discouraged -

4. GET DISCOURAGED AND WANT TO GIVE UP!

5. We all get tired, we all get discouraged,

and overwhelmed.

6. CRISIS OF BELIEF - When I’m tired,

discouraged and overwhelmed will I DOUBT

GOD, WILL I GIVE UP?!

7. BITTER EVENTS IN LIFE - ONLY GOD CAN MAKE

THEM SWEET

8. ROMANS 8:28 All things work for the good of

those who love Christ and are called

according to purpose.

III. GOD SHOWING HIS PROVISION IS BETTER THAN OUR PAST

- RAN OUT OF FOOD 16:2-4

1. THE TEMPTATION TO GRUMBLE AND BLAME OTHERS

2. THE DANGER OF COMPARING YOUR PAST IN

BONDAGE WITH THE GOODNESS OF FREEDOM

a) We sat around pots of meat, ate all the

food we wanted, now we’re gonna starve.

b) But they were in bondage and God was

setting you free.

c) Don’t look back and try to glorify your

past!! God’s provision is sweeter than past.

d) You may have had more money - your marriage

was falling apart, you were going to hell.

e) CRISIS OF BELIEF - WANNA GO BACK?!!!

f) YOU DON’T WANNA GO BACK, I PROMISE!

3. THE DOUBT OF GOD’S PROVISION - God takes

care of His children.

a) CRISIS OF BELIEF - As long as I am doing my

part will God do His and meet my needs?

IV. GOD TAKING US FROM SIN TO SIN TO GLORY TO GLORY - -ISRAEL’S DRY THIRST 17:1-6

1. From disbelief to disbelief, from sin to

sin, makes you dry. They had left the

desert of sin.

2. They were more than thirsty for water, they

were thirsty for God.

3. God was showing them through a physical act

that if they would only trust him -

- HE WOULD SATISFY THEIR EVERY THIRST

4. CRISIS OF BELIEF - We have to come to a

place where we understand we can’t live

from sin to sin.

5. When we live apart from God we get a thirst

for God.

6. CRISIS OF BELIEF - Have you ever been doing

the best you can for God and still get dry?

a) There are times we just don’t feel the

presence of God in our lives.

b) We feel our prayers don’t go above the

ceiling.

c) God desires to give water - DON’T GIVE UP!!!