Getting Free And Staying Free - Exodus Part 11 Series

INTRODUCTION

• The last year we have covered the ten commandments, and the delivering of Israel to the red sea.

• So we will not be dealing with them in-depth but we will deal with how God gets people free and how to stay free.

• Jesus spoke of another type of slavery.

John 8:31, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ 33They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that you say, ‘you will become free’? 34Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin…36’So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.’”

Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

• How do you get free and stay free?

• There are pictures all over Exodus that we can glean from

• Bondage…of lust, fear, shame, greed, manifested in addictions

• Review

1. Three things happen at the bush…Moses came to know God, he was empowered by God and he had to deal with himself!

2. Moses turned aside and then asked the big question…who am I?

3. No one but God is all…

4. At end of Exodus 4 the leaders received the words and the signs…and they bowed low and worshiped.

5. That was the beginning of freedom.

• That is always the pattern…teaching and then signs/wonders.

I. FROM EXPECTATION TO DESPAIR

Exodus 5:1-5, “…Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go that they may celebrate a feast to me in the wilderness.’ 2But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.’”

• Pharaoh is a picture of your enemy…he does not want to let you go.

• When you begin to get free, hell will make life hard…

• These people went from expectation to despair…4:31 worship, 5:21-22 despair.

• Pharaohs character = Exodus 7-14 mentions Pharaoh’s hardened heart twenty times.

• Chapter 3:19 God says, “I know Pharaoh’s heart, it is hard.” Pharaoh made his own heart hard.

• He has held two million people in bondage.

• Then he asks…who is the Lord?

• When the Lord begins to set us free the real battle begins…

• There will be a confrontation…for your life…there always is,

• The strategy of the enemy is laid out here…expectation to despair.

Verse 6:9, “So Moses told the people what the Lord had said, but they wouldn’t listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the increasing burden of their slavery.”

• Literally says, “because of their “shortness of spirit.”

• There is a downcast heart…that cannot receive the promises of God.

II. THE COST OF BONDAGE

• These people were about to experience one of the greatest moves of God in all time…

• Yet they couldn’t hear it.

• The enemy will wear down your emotions…that is why nothing that lasts long term can be built on emotions…because they don’t last.

• Must have convictions…if you hold on He will take what was intended for evil and use it for good…

• Chapters 7-10 are the plagues

• Chapter 11-12 pathway to freedom…we will look at the next two weeks…the Passover, the blood of the Lamb…

• Chapter 12 there are mentioned firsts three times

o Vs.2 - It’s a new day…start fresh year here

o Vs.5 - Lamb in its first year

o Vs.12 - First born…represents the promise of future

o The destroyer, who is that…well God pulled back and hell moves in…God doesn’t judge by bringing His hand

down…but moving it away.

John 10:10, “The thief comes to kill steal and destroy.” Revelation 9 - Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon = destroyer

• Is God unjust here? Truth is all of Egypt deserved judgment for all they had done for hundreds of years of oppression…and yes there is judgment…what about all the Egyptians had done…when God gave them repeated opportunities to release His people.

• So God took their firstborn…

• But remember He gave His firstborn…to die as well…for you! And me…the Lamb that was slain…

• God is putting first things first…order…values…

• Vs.13:1 - God then says now I claim your firstborn as my own…

• Sounds a bit like extortion…doesn’t it?

• I didn’t kill your first born but I am taking them as my own…