Stand Still
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: Have you ever been in a place of total despair? A place where you didn’t see any possible way out. The bank said you needed to file bankruptcy, the lawyer said take the plea deal, the doctor said you don’t have much time. You find yourself questioning and even trying to put a time limit on God, saying God if you don’t do it right now it is going to be to late. Understand God is not bound by time for He transcends time; therefore, he can never be late regardless of what circumstance dictates.
Mary said to Jesus in John 16:32 “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died”. She was like many, if not most of us do, I’ve done it. We look at out situation as hopeless, helpless, and over instead of looking unto the author and finisher of our faith.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 14:1-2 & 13-4
4 Key points
1. Faith
2. Action
3. Miracle
4. Reward
WATCH THIS: Hebrews 11:7 says “ (#1 Faith) - By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen yet (#2 Action) – moved with fear, prepared an ark, (#3 Miracle) to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world (#4 Reward) and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith”.
Today I want to encourage you and say Stand Still. Now on last week I preached “Don’t Quit” and today I am preaching “Stand Still” that might sound a little contradictory but if you just stay with me for a little while I know you will understand what I am saying.
This stand still is not standing with your hands in your pocket or standing twirling your thumbs, but it is standing with the spirit of expectation and anticipation.
IN OUR TEXT: The Children of Israel have left Egypt, the 10 plagues have happened and they are headed to the Promise Land when God tells Moses to speak to the Children of Israel and tell them to turn an encamp by the sea – Exodus 14:1-2.
Now let me describe this place where they are told to encamp by the sea. It is a place that is said to have mountains on both sides, the sea is in front of them and God has hardened Pharoah’s heart and he and his army are ferociously coming after them. This is not a place where the sea breeze is blowing and they are relaxing enjoying a day at the beach. The waves are not blowing ever so calmly and the sun is glistening making this a wonderful beach outing. This for the Children of Israel is a place that causes them to feel trapped, hopeless, helpless, and even like what is the use to the point they even ask Moses verse 12 “Were there no graves in Egypt you brought us out here to the wilderness to die”.
Now let me say this back in verses 1 & 2 God told Moses to tell the people to turn and encamp at this place. I am being the devil’s advocate but sometimes we find ourselves encamped at a place and say the devil is messing with me, when in actuality it is God that had us turn and encamp here because there is something He is about to do.
Now this doesn’t apply to all cases because so many times we put ourselves in situations that God never intended for us to be in and cry God get me out of this mess. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord”. God said don’t go, don’t do this or do that and because we are hard-headed we do it anyway and end up in situations we have no business being in.
In the 14 verse Moses integrates the 4 key concepts mentioned earlier. 1. Faith, 2 Action, 3 Miracle and 4 Reward.
WATCH THIS: The 14th verse Moses said unto the people:
1. Fear not – that’s FAITH. The opposite of fear is Faith! Moses tells the people this situation is going to take faith, you can’t afford to be afraid, because it is faith that is going to cause you to be able to see the mighty hand of God.
2. Moses tells the people to Stand Still. This is Action, remember earlier I said this standing still is not standing with your hands in your pocket or twirling your thumbs, but it is standing expecting and anticipating something is getting ready to happen. Look at an athlete that stands ready and expecting and anticipating something is about to happen. A runner stands still with their feet in the starting blocks expecting the starter pistol to go off. A football lineman stands in a 3 or 4 point stance expecting and anticipating the ball to be snapped so they can go into action. A fighter stands anticipating and expecting the ref to say fight. Stand Still means to get ready, to be filled with expectation and anticipation for what is about to happen.
3. Then he says See the salvation of the Lord. This is the Miracle that you are standing still and expecting. Salvation means deliverance. Moses tells the people Fear not – have faith, stand still – with expectation, and see the Salvation – the deliverance of God from this hopeless and helpless situation. These Egyptians you see now you will never see them again.
4. The Lord will fight for you. That is the reward. When you have faith, stand still, see the salvation of the Lord God will fight your battles. All you have to do is hold your peace.
I just want to tell someone today who has been encamped in what seems like a hopeless and helpless situation to stand still.
Stand expecting a miracle.
Stand anticipating God is going to fight your battle.
Stand still looking for your break-through.
Stand still knowing anytime now the starter pistols is going off, the ref is going to say fight.
Stand like when I was in the military, and we would just be waiting for the Sargent to say forward march.
If you finish out this chapter God told Moses to take the rod in his hand and stretch it out over the Red Sea and part the sea. Then God sent a East wind and blew all night and dried the ground, then the Children of Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground.
Now what I like about this scripture is God led the Children of Israel by a Cloud in the Daytime and a pillar of fire at night, but here God moved and place himself in a cloud between the Children of Israel and the Egyptians until the crossed the Red Sea.
WATCH THIS: in order for the enemy to get to the Children of Israel they had to go through God. In order for the enemy to get to you they must go through God.
The Children of Israel got through the Redd Sea to the other side and the Egyptians tried to follow them God closed the Red Sea, the water came together again and drowned them all.
Your deliverance, your breakthrough is going to destroy your enemy, but you must stand still.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
