[This sermon outline is from Robert J. Morgan. I got wind of it from my retired (from ministry) mentor and friend, Doug Kostowski, who served as senior minister in Miami along with his good friend Max Lucado. I have never read Mr. Morgan’s book, but I am aware that it exists. I read a review on it. I think it is a great sermon idea, and i tried to flesh out the outline with my own thoughts and illustrations (although I think there is a sprinkling of Morgan’s thinking on one or two points, beyond the outline) for a gathering of "Kids for Christ" and their parents, at our church. I made little bookmarks with the read sea rules listed on them. It was very well received. I don’t know if this will pass muster for sermoncentral, but if it does, all credit goes to Mr. Morgan and I hope you try your own hand at this. It was a fun little sermon.]
Pass out the Bookmarks
Kid’s For Christ has been studying Moses and lessons of faith the last 8 weeks. They have had a beach theme—umm, not sure why—I think just because it sounded fun!! No, I think it goes along with the sand of the desert and the Red Sea that was a major factor in the Exodus out of Egypt
Israel was being led out of Egypt, and came to a point where they were trapped between the Red Sea on one side, and the approaching terrifying Egyptian Army on the other side.
A moment of Panic and a test of faith in the God who had brought them to this point.
What should they do? What should WE do when we find ourselves in a tough spot or time of testing?
And so, we are going to look at what Robert J. Morgan called the RED SEA RULES!
Red Sea Rule #1
Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
He has either brought you to this point, or allowed you to be in this circumstance
The unmistakable implication of Exodus 14:1-2 is that the Lord took responsibility for leading them into peril. He gave them specific, step-by-step instructions, leading them down a route to apparent ruin: Turn and camp. Camp there. There, before the entrapping sea. Yes, right there in that impossible place.
The Lord occasionally does the same with us, testing our faith, leading us into hardship, teaching us wisdom, showing us His ways. Our first reaction may be a surge of panic and a sense of alarm, but we must learn to consult the Scriptures for guidance.
Money problems? Job issues? Friends or Family against you?
The same God who led you in will lead you out.
Red Sea Rule #2
Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host
• Israelites were focused on their impending hardship: they wanted relief!!
They weren’t spiritually patient enough to see how God would not only pull them through, but gain glory for himself in the process. (against poly god Egypt)
• They looked for their relief often: when they were thirst, hungry, tired, instead of giving God glory
In hard times, pray that God will be glorified. He cares about you, AND as your Father will hear your suffering (think of Israel’s cries in slavery he is now acting on) but don’t forget that in the end, life is about God and his glory, rather than our temporal relief
Red Sea Rule #3
Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
They could see the Egyptians bearing down—and they cried out in fear.
Junior Asparagus teaches us that “God is BIGGER than the boogie man”
Maya keeps her eye on her cut more than her daddy! (she frieks out when she gets a boo boo, and even daddy can’t keep her focused when we are examining it.)
It is difficult to do so, but when in trouble, keeping our eyes on the Lord is the best thing we can do
Red Sea Rule #4
Pray.
Moses was always praying to the Lord, and the Lord listened to him. We don’t get the same kind of image of the rest of the people: they were always complaining.
God listens to our prayers: are u sad—scared—angry—confused—happy? Let God know.
When you need something at home, like a drink or a pillow to sleep on, or new bedsheets: what do you do? If you are young, you ask mom and dad! And they help you!
God never thinks you are too big to ask him for things. Or tell him things. He listens to you!
Red Sea Rule #5
Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Waiting is pretty tough. WE don’t like waiting.
I go to the doctor’s office, I want in. I come in for supper, I hope it is ready NOW!
If the light is green, the cars ahead of me need to go NOW!
If daddy says he is going to play ball with you, you don’t want to wait all day, do you??
But you know the saying “good things come to those who wait.” And especially, those who WAIT ON THE LORD!!! It says we will
• Fly like eagles if we wait on Him
God knows what he is doing. He isn’t controlled by our impatience
You may be praying for something right now: you are in a jam, and Red Sea Rule #5 says to you: just WAIT! God will work on your behalf in his time
Red Sea Rule #6
When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward
Of course in their mind taking a step into the Red Sea may not have been logical—they didn’t bring their swimming trunks! But they had no where else to go and God was leading them that way.
When my dad and I went to Germany for our second stay there, we (HE) weren’t sure we should be there. We prayed. We asked for God to provide a specific apt., by a specific day. We could have waited around, but the logical step was for us to start going thru papers and checking out ads. We found one on the last day.
We have been praying for a trailer. (some are sure we are getting it in faith—and it is looking good.) But the whole process involved us taking little steps of faith: calling the owner, praying in a small group, praying in the church time, visiting the place again, talking to downtown, seeing another trailer, etc etc. We just keep taking steps forward.
There may be times where God will say “that isn’t the step I want you to take” as he did will the Apostle Paul. Other times, he will bless you as you move forward in faith, in whatever trial and uncertainty you have.
Red Sea Rule #7
Envision God’s enveloping presence.
God went before the Israelites as a pillar of fire or cloud. At the red sea, instead of staying out front, he moved around to the back. He had surrounded them with his care and strength.
Max Lucado was recounting the many mysteries (some call miracles) of the world:
• Baby and mother
• The calming blues of the ocean and sky
• How our bodies move when we play soccer or tag
• Flowers and bugs
• Sun
He continues:
“And they are as much a reminder of God’s presence as were the walking lame, fleeing demons, and silenced storms. They are miracles. They are signs. They are testimonies. They are instantaneous incarnations. They remind us of the same truth: The unseen is now visible. The distant has drawn near. His Majesty has come to be seen. And he is in the most common of earth’s corners.”
When people are getting on your back unjustly, when life is terrifying you, know that God loves his children and cares for them. Think of his very real presence enveloping you like the pillar of cloud/fire, and the angel of the Lord fighting on your behalf. The very evidence of his presence is all around you
Red Sea Rule #8
Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
The bible tells us that God will turn bad things to good for those that trust him.
Think of Joshua! His brothers wanted to kill him and sold him as a slave and he ended up in prison. But in God’s good time, Joshua ended up being the second in command behind Pharaoh!
David prayed in Psalm 23 that goodness and mercy would follow him all the days of his life: Max Lucado says:
What a huge statement. Look at the size of it! Goodness and mercy follow the child of God each and every day! Think of the days that lie ahead. What do you see? Days at home with only toddlers? God will be at your side. Days in a dead-end job? He will walk you through. Days of loneliness? He will take your hand. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me—not some, not most, not nearly all—but all the days of my life.
And what will he do during those days? (Here is my favorite word.) He will “follow” you.
Red Sea Rule #9
View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
A basic rule is “no pain no gain.”
Your faith is like that. It gets stretched, pushed and pulled like a giant piece of taffy. When things don’t go your way, you start looking to God, praying to him (like when you are scared in bed) and learn to trust him.
Red Sea Rule #10
Don’t forget to praise Him.
This is VERY important! God is really really good to us.
Can you imagine how you would feel if you had picked out a really good present for someone and then as they took it, they just went “oh well, here’s another gift. No big deal.”
God gives us a lot of gifts, sometimes when we want them, sometimes when we don’t expect them, but his gifts are always good. Let’s remember to
Thank HIM
And Praise him: because he does things and gives good gifts better than anybody in the universe.
What could we praise him for?
