HOW TO GET TO WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE
EXODUS. 13: 17, 18,21-22
1.INTRODUCTION. AS WE PILGRIMAGE THE PLAINS OF THIS PLANET, ALL OF US ARE HEADED TO A DESTINATION OF SOME SORTS. SOME OF US ARE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
2.THE TEXT. THE TEXT FOCUSES ON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL’S FLIGHT FROM EGYPT TO THE PROMISE LAND. THEY HAD BEEN HELD IN BRUTAL BONDAGE FOR SOME 430 YEARS, AND NOW GOD OPENS THE DOOR TO FREEDOM. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHENEVER GOD OPENS A DOOR, WE SHOULD HAVE THE FAITH AND GOOD SENSE TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
3.THEY WERE GOD LED.
a)WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE GOD LED, THEY ARE CERTAIN TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION.
b)ALTHOUGH MOSES WAS THEIR PHYSICAL LEADER, HE WAS MERELY THE INSTRUMENT IN THE HANDS OF GOD.
c)MT. OLIVE, GOD HAS SENT ME TO LEAD YOU, THEREFORE, AS LONG AS GOD LEADS ME, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW. 2 THESS. 3:7, “FOR YOURSELVES KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO FOLLOW US: FOR WE BEHAVED NOT OURSELVES DISORDERLY AMONG YOU.” PHILIPPIANS 3:17, “BRETHREN, BE FOLLOWERS TOGETHER OF ME, AND MARK THEM WHICH WALK SO AS YE HAVE US FOR AN ENSAMPLE.”
d)WHY SHOULD I FOLLOW THE PASTOR? HEB. 13:17, “OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU, AND SUBMIT YOURSELVES: FOR THEY WATCH FOR YOUR SOULS, AS THEY THAT MUST GIVE ACCOUNT, THAT THEY MAY DO IT WITH JOY, AND NOT WITH GRIEF: FOR THAT IS UNPROFITABLE FOR YOU.”
e)THOSE WHO REJECT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP, REJECT GOD. 1 SAM. 8:7, “AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IN ALL THAT THEY SAY UNTO THEE: FOR THEY HAVE NOT REJECTED THEE, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED ME, THAT I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM.”
f)IF I SHOW LOVE…TITHE…FORGIVE…PERSUE PEACE.
4. LEADERSHIP REQUIRES TRUST
A)TRUST HIM, EVEN IF YOU DON’T ME; PROV. 3:5-6, “TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” 2 SAM. 22:31, “AS FOR GOD, HIS WAY IS PERFECT; THE WORD OF THE LORD IS TRIED: HE IS A BUCKLER TO ALL THEM THAT TRUST IN HIM.” PS. 7:1(D) O LORD MY GOD, IN THEE DO I PUT MY TRUST.” PS. 40:4 (A) “BLESSED IS THAT MAN THAT MAKETH THE LORD HIS TRUST.”
b)GOD IS FAITHFUL.
c)AS LONG AS WE FOLLOW HIM, WE WILL STAY ON COURSE. HE WILL LEAD US IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
d)IT’S WHEN WE DEVIATE FROM DIVINE DIRECTIVES THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE WILDERNESS. IT TOOK THEM 40 YRS WHEN THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT IN 30 PLUS DAYS. SAMPSON, PETER, OUR BLESSINGS.
5.HOW DO I GET TO WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE? THERE ARE SEVERAL SHIPS THAT WE MUST EMBARK UPON.
a)DISCIPLESHIP, ONE WHO IS A LEARNER AND FOLLOWER. CHURCH FOLK.
b)FOLLOWSHIP, LUKE 9:23, “AND HE SAID TO THEM ALL, IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME.”
c)STEWARDSHIP, ONE WHO HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED AND ENTRUSTED WITH THE POSSESSIONS OF SOMEONE ELSE. HIS WORD.
d)FELLOWSHIP, ACTS 2:42, “AND THEY CONTINUED STEDFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE AND FELLOWSHIP, AND IN BREAKING OF BREAD, AND IN PRAYERS.” 1 COR. 1:9, “GOD IS FAITHFUL, BY WHOM YE WERE CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”
e)HARDSHIP. LION’S DEN, RED SEA, FIERY FURNACE.
f)WHATEVER OUR ASPIRATIONS ARE IN LIFE, IF WE SUBMIT OUR WAYS AND WILL, GOD WILL BLESS US.
6.WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH BEING LED BY GOD.
a)THE BOLD HAVE BECOME BEAUTIFUL.
b)THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS AND ALL MY CHILDREN, ARE LIVING ON THE EDGE OF NIGHT.
c)RYAN HAS NO HOPE, AND AS SURE AS THE WORLD TURNS, SOMEBODY IS HEADED FOR A GENERAL HOSPITAL.
d)SOME WANT TO BE AN AMERICAN IDOL, WHEN IN REALITY THEY ARE JUST A SURVIVOR, LIVING LIFE IN THE TWIGHLIGHT ZONE, DREAMING ABOUT A FANTASY ISLAND.
e)THERE APPEARS TO BE VERY LITTLE LAW AND ORDER, BUT PLENTY OF GUNSMOKE.
7.FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS.
a)WHEN HE TELLS US SOMETHING, BELIEVE IT.
b)WHEN HE OFFERS US SOMETHING, ACCEPT IT.
c)WHEN HE PROMISES US SOMETHING, EXPECT IT.
d)WHEN HE GIVES US SOMETHING, RECEIVE IT.
8.GOD CAN…
a)LIFT UP THE LOWEST.
b)CLEAN UP THE FILTHIEST.
c)FILL UP THE EMPTIEST.
d)WARM UP THE COLDEST.
e)WASH UP THE FOULEST.
f)BUILD UP THE WEAKEST.
g)LIVEN UP THE DEADEST.
***IT TAKES PREPARATION, SEPARATION, AND DECLARATION.
LEAD ME, GUIDE, ALONG THE WAY, FOR IF YOU LEAD ME, I SHALL NOT STRAY.
