Introduction:
In today’s society there are those of us that either want to hold on to the pass, or are afraid to move on from their past lives. There were situations that happened to them ten or maybe fifteen years ago that they are still holding on to. An old saying that people use to say was “Let bye gones be bye gones.” It’s time to let the past stay in the past, and with that statement it brings me to my first of two points.
Development:
Point #1: Don’t Look Back, Because There’s Nothing
There.
When I think of this sermonic title, I can’t help but think of when it’s time to the days of slavery. When I think of the slaves that were on the plantations, they worked worked from sun up to sun down. They were in the fields working in cotton, tobacco, vegetables gardens, and live stock such as cows, hogs, chickens, etc.
But one day the Emancipation of Proclamation was passed and slavery was abolished. This was the law that Abraham Lincoln signed for all slaves to be free. They were free to leave the plantations and start their lives over a fresh.
When the slaves heard of this law being passed, most of them did not leave the plantations because of fear. They feared not being able to survive. They feared the unknown. So they chose to stay on the plantations and to continue being slaves.
My brothers and my sisters when God delivers you out of a situation, you need to pick up your baggage and leave. The poor Israelites were so afraid that they completely forgot about what God had done for them and were getting angry with the man of God. They began to blame him and God for their circumstance.
In their little minds they had forgotten about the prayers they prayed for deliverance. They had forgotten about the killing of the male babies. They were ready to pack up and go back to the lash of the whip.
They were brain washed to believe that what they had really wasn’t that bad. That’s why some people suffer through spousal abuse because in their minds to leave is worse that to suffer the mental and physical abuse.
Point #2: Do Not Be Afraid Because God Has Your Back
Now let’s look at what the Israelites was dealing with. Here they are trapped by the Red Sea and the world’s greatest army is on their heels to bring them back to Egypt.
Exodus 14:6-9 says that Pharaoh had mobilized his massive army.
Pharaoh had mobilized six hundred of his best chariots as well as many of the other chariots of Egypt.
By "best chariots" is meant 600 of the most advanced war machines of that day.
Pharaoh had placed officers over all the chariots. A certain number of chariots were assigned to a large number of foot soldiers. Now in your minds just imagine Six-hundred of the latest chariots to be built for warfare and hundreds of other chariots mobilized for battle. The numbers of foot soldiers were probably in the tens of thousands.
But this was not all. Pharaoh mobilized his horsemen and the troops to help support this military campaign. Pharaoh’s army was one of an enormous size.
A major military campaign was being planned and launched against God’s people, a campaign to capture and enslave and bring them back to Egypt.
Fear, Webster’s definition of fear is fear can be a feeling of anxiety: an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of danger.
Fear is one of the worst nightmares people can face as they journey through the wilderness of the world. Now don’t think that the Israelites were the only ones going through a wilderness.
Whenever we are living for God we are going to have to go through a wilderness. When God is ready to take us to a higher level in Him we are going to have to go through a wilderness. When we are being tested, we are going to have to face our wilderness.
Fear causes people to do several things. People worry incessantly about money. People fight among themselves. People become overly concerned about the way they look. People strike out at people. People isolate themselves. People make rash hurried decisions.
The list could go on and on. But preacher, what is a person to do when fear strikes?
Conclusion:
I want to close with that question.
I’m so glad that you asked that question. There is only one antidote. There is only one true remedy. The antidote and remedy is the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the only one that delivers us from fear. He is the only one that can bring peace in the midst of a storm.
Matthew 10:30-31 says, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Psalm 23:4 says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Romans 8:35, 37-39 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I’m so glad that there is a man that helped me to leave my baggage behind. This man had no sin. This man helped every body He could. This man taught every body He could. This man’s name is Jesus. He took that walk down the road of Golgotha to place called the Hill of the Skull, better known as Cavalry. He carried that old rugged cross. As the blood flowed from His body while carrying that old rugged cross, Jesus did not let that distract Him. He was steadfast and unmovable to the cause.
When He arrived at the top of that old hill called “Cavalry,” they made Him lay down on that old rugged cross and began to drive the nails in His hands and His feet. The crucifixion itself was the most horrible of deaths.
As the first nail went in His left hand, He knew that nail was representing the Father which was in heaven, as the second nail went in His right hand, He knew that that nail was representing Himself, the sacrificial Lamb of God, and as the third nail went into His feet, He knew that it was representing the Holy Spirit which was soon to come.
As they raised Him up high, he was stretched wide. There were two thieves hanging there with Him. One was on the left and one was on the right. I see three nails in the body of Jesus the Christ, I see three persons hanging on the Hill of the Skull, I see three nails in each of the thieves. The number three represents the Trinity, the Triune God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
There was the pain of the driven spikes forced through the flesh of Jesus’ hands and feet. There was the weight of His body jolting and pulling against the spikes as the cross was lifted and rocked into place. There was the scorching sun and the unquenchable thirst gnawing away at His dry mouth and throat. There was the blood oozing from His scourged back, His thorn crowned brow, His stick beaten head. In addition, just imagine the aggravation of flies, gnats, and other insects.
As Jesus hung on that old rugged cross, through it all, He was still steadfast and still unmovable. Jesus was conscience and fully aware of everything that was going on around the cross. He heard the remarks that were being about Him, He heard the lies that were being said about Him, but He still stayed steadfast and unmovable.
I just would like to use my spiritual imagination if I may. Just as death was about to enter the body of Jesus the Christ, the thief on the right made a confession to Jesus. Jesus hearing the man on His right, told death, “Hold up death, I’m no running from you I came to you willingly. I’m just putting you on pause for a minute.
Just like when we are watching a DVD movie or a video tape and we may have to leave the movies for a few minutes and don’t want to miss anything, we hit the pause button so that the movie will stop and upon our return we press the play button for the movies to resume were we left off.
This is what the thief on the right said in Luke 23:41-43, And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest215
into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Shortly after this Jesus gave up the ghost. There were many people that just knew that it was all over for the Jesus the Christ. Saturday morning they just knew that Jesus was done. Saturday night those same people just knew that Jesus was done. But early Sunday morning, something supernatural took place. Early Sunday morning Jesus got up. Jesus got up with all power in His hands. Say yes. Say yes.
