Walking With God in the Old Paths

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-30-2023

Jeremiah 6:16

Introduction:

 

A.  I have often said that we live in a changing world politically, morally, socially, and—unfortunately—spiritually.

 

1.  Not all changes are bad.  Some changes in our world have been beneficial as our standard of life has been greatly enhanced.

 

2.  But other changes are prophetic ones.  “Worse and worse, falling away, lukewarm, satisfied with life outside of God and the Lord Jesus
Christ. 

 

B.  I will leave the change for the most part this morning because the Bible says it will come and I believe the Bible. 

 

C.  It is the spiritual change that I believe that God hates most.  2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…”

 

D.  People are being taught that God does not mind how we live as long as we are saved.  They are taught that “turning from their wicked ways” is a doctrine of the far-right conservatives and it a legalistic doctrine.

 

E.  Jeremiah 6:16 is not a suggestion; it is not a recommendation; it is not negotiable;  it is a COMMAND!  God will not walk with anyone outside of the Old Paths. 

 

1.  Most people today either Reject the Old Paths or try Renovate the Old Paths into New Paths.  A term often heard is “Reformed Theology”.  Theology does not need to be reformed.

 

2.  New Paths are not right paths.  We MUST walk in the Old Paths which are the Right Paths which are the Only Paths that God will walk with us in!

 

Ecclesiastes 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

 

3.  If anything is theologically new, it is not old, and if it is not old, it is not right!

 

F.  When the Old Paths are forsaken, God says that we are to Repent and Return.  Verse 16 is not a request; it is a requirement.

 

1.  “Stand ye”  That means to not be either moved or removed.

 

2.  “See”  Make sure that you know where you are standing is right.

 

3.  “Ask”  The Old Paths are both available and knowable.  They are found in your Bible if you happen to own the right one and that is King James!  No exceptions.

 

4.  “Old paths”  Not the new ones of the 20^th and 21^st centuries.  These paths are Old Paths.

 

5.  “Where is the Good way”  God’s way is not only the right way, but also the good way.

 

6.  “And walk therein”  Clear paths that are well worn through the ages by our spiritual forefathers who walked those paths and made plain to us who follow them.

 

7.  “And ye shall find rest for your souls”  How wonderful it is to know what God said and to walk with Him within His Word.  We will not find rest for our souls in New Paths because they cause confusion and division.

 

8. “But they said, We will not walk therein.”  Paths of rejection.  People in our day want to change what God said, walk contrary to what God said, and think that they are right with God.

 

G.  The Old Paths of:

 

1.  Scripture.  I neither have nor do I want a modern translation from the New Text, the wrong text, the Wescott-Hort Text: the minority text, the critical text, the Catholic text.  Our Bible is the Authorized King James Bible of our forefathers.

 

2.  Salvation.  No “wink wink, nod nod, one two three—repeat after me” prayers of salvation.  Our salvation is the old salvation of our forefathers.  Repentance from dead works and faith toward God through the Gospel.  Salvation is a heart thing; salvation is a changing thing; salvation is an eternal thing.

 

3.  Sanctification.  Our sanctification is the old sanctification of our forefathers.  A life that is changed through salvation and a life that is obedient through separation from this present evil world.  Sanctification is light and salt!

 

4.  Security.   Our security is the old-fashioned security of our forefathers.  Security or eternal life is a hated doctrine in our day.  Security is found in Christ and Christ alone!  We are not good enough to get saved and if you lived a perfect life, it could not save you.  Salvation is a finished work through the gospel alone.  We are not good enough to remain saved as we are sinners by both birth and choice.

 

5.  Safety.  As our forefathers walked in spiritual safety, we walk in the Old Paths of spiritual safety.  Life is hard at times, life is unfair at times, life is confusing at times, but “Safety is of the LORD!”  Walk in the Old Paths of safety and you will find rest for your soul!

 

Conclusion:  “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”   They rejected the Old Paths in Jeremiah’s day.  “But they said, we will not walk therein!”  But we here at Temple Baptist Church will continue to walk in the Old Paths!

Spiritual Blessings

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-30-2023

Psalm 115

Introduction:

 

A.  I believe that the key to this Psalm is found in verse 2:  “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? “

 

B.  The Key words in the verse are the words “now” and “their”.  Evidently, from the question of the heathen, something had transpired that caused them to doubt the God of the Psalmist or some other believer.

 

C.  There can be more than one reason for this, but I believe that these heathens had watched something or more than one thing bad happened to believers.

 

1.  The question may be asked, “If there is a God and He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, why does He not intervene as to either stop bad things from happening or to give a visual victory in such problems.

 

2.  Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.  Sin has its consequences, and we all have the curse of sin in our bodies.

 

3.  “Where is now their God?”  They see God’s children suffer in many cases just like they suffer.  We have hard times, we get sick, we get cancer, we have tight financial times, we have family problems just like all people.  God did not save us from hardship, He helps us through hardship.

 

D.  The world cannot discern spiritual things.  The Psalmist goes on to explain that the blessings of God are sometimes physical and all the time spiritual.

 

E.  In verse 3, the Psalmist says, “Our God!”  “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. “ shows the believer bowing to the providence and sovereignty of God.  What happened was in the will of God, either God did something of God had to allow something.

 

F.  From verse 4 to the end of the Psalm, the Psalmist lists some unseen blessings that the world will never grasp until they come to Christ Jesus by faith and repentance.  Some things that the world cannot see:

 

1.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of love for His children.  The lost do not understand the unconditional, absolute love of God when we are glad, sad, mad, or bad!  Better felt than tellt as one person said.  What a blessing that God loves you and me spiritual blessings.

 

Ephesians 3:17-19  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  (19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

2.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of goodness and mercy to His children the follow them ALL the days of their life.

 

Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

3.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of grace for His children.  Grace for every trial, grace for every mile (Dean Shook).

 

1 Peter 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

 

4.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of presence with His children.

 

Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

5.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of the Spirit of God that indwells in His children.

 

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

6.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of compassion for His children.

 

Hebrews 5:2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

 

7.  The Lost do not understand God’s unseen blessing of care for His children’s cares.  Does Jesus care?  Oh, yes He cares!”

 

Psalms 103:13-14  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  (14)  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Conclusion:  “Where is now their God?”  We see what they cannot see.  Our God is with us and for us.

A Praise of Thankfulness

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-16-2023

Psalm 65

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 65 is another of the Davidic Psalms.  It is a Praise of Thankfulness Psalm.  David is not in trouble, his heart is not disquieted, he is not asking for anything, he is just thankful to God for His continued, manifold work and blessings.

 

B.  David wrote the Psalm to the chief Musician of the Tabernacle.  A Psalm to be set to music much like the songs of praise that we sing found in our hymnal.  “Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus our wonderful redeemer.”  A song to be sung by worshippers who came to the Tabernacle to worship God.

 

Psalms 100:1-5  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

C.  We normally praise and thank God for the blessings that He has bestowed upon us, but this Psalm a preemptive one as it is one of praise and thankfulness before God’s blessing arrive.  “Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion!”

 

1.  Verse 2.  Thanking God for hearing the prayers not yet prayed.  On Sunday morning before Sunday School, we take prayer requests but then I always try to remember to thank God for both this prayer and the ones that will be prayed in the men and ladies prayer rooms as well as the prayers to be made in the evening service.

 

1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

2.  Verse 3.  Thanking God for purging our sins not yet sinned.  Recognition that, as sinners, we will continue to fail God in the manner of sinfulness until we get home and a new body.  Just knowing that God will be there to hear our confession and to forgive and restore us again and again.

 

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

3.  Verse 4.  Thanking God for every church service that we will attend in the future along with the blessings found in them.  What a future privilege and blessing they hold.

 

Psalms 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

4.  Verse 5.  Thanking God for the confidence that God will always answer us in righteousness no matter where we are or what we ask.  His answers will always be right ones. 

 

Jeremiah 33:1  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

 

5.  Verses 6-8.  Thanking God that will continue to control His creation.  I do not worry about Global Warming, Climate Change, rising oceans, deteriorating Ozone Layers, fossil fuels, or CORONA Viruses.  God controls His nature, and it will stand fast and last!  The sun comes up and the sun goes down, the world goes round and round!

 

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

6.  Verses 9-10.  Thanking God for His future provision of the necessities of life.  Do not worry about tomorrow as it will take care of itself.

 

Matthew 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

7.  Verses 11-13.  Thanking God for last year but also thanking God for the year yet to come.  We may not know what the future holds but do know the One who holds the future and holds our hand!  His power, His providence, and His sovereignty.

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  (18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

David Walked With God In Worship

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-16-2023

Psalm 23

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to look at David, the greatest king in Israel’s history.  The Star of David gallantly waves over Israel unto this day because of his greatness in both the sight of man and in the sight of God.

 

B.  David, a man greatly revered by his people and friends and a man greatly feared by his enemies.

 

1.  David was a man of great Faith.  He loved God!

 

2.  David was a man of great Failure.  He sinned greatly!

 

3.  David was a man of great Forgiveness.  He confessed his sin without excuse!

 

4.  David was a man of great Faithfulness.  He established the throne upon which Christ will one day sit.   “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22b)

 

C.  What made David so great in the sight of God?  I believe that the secret of David’s life was found in his Worship.

 

D. Psalm 23 was probably written in David’s youth, but it was representative of his life’s desire from:

 

1.  David’s salvation – Verse 1.  “The LORD is MY Shepherd”

 

2.  Until the day of his death – Verses 4-6.   (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.  … Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.).

 

E.  David wrote 78 of the 150 Psalms!  He was given the title “The Sweet Psalmist of Israel!”  Too bloody to build the temple but pure enough to worship God.

 

F.  Again, I want to say that God uses flawed men because there is no other kind.  God’s people are saved, not perfect.  They are positionally pure but, practically, they are just sinners saved by grace.   Thank God for His loving kindness, compassion, mercy, and grace.  Speaking of David, “God didn’t throw away the clay!”

 

G.  David walked with God in worship.  He was God conscious!  From the first mention of David’s life, we find that he had a heart that panted after God.  From a child watching over his father’s sheep to a King, David knew what it was to worship God.

 

1.  David worshipped the Lord in his personal devotion.  Psalms 63:1  O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

 

2.  David worshipped the Lord in his private life.  Though David did not write this Psalm, it is consistent with his life.  Psalms 42:1-4  As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?  (3)  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?  (4)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

 

3.  David worshipped the Lord in his public life.  2 Samuel 6:13-15  And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.  (14)  And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  (15)  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

 

4.  David worshipped the Lord when he faced danger.  Psalms 27:1-6  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  (2)  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  (3)  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  (4)  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.  (5)  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  (6)  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

 

5.  David worshipped God when he was disappointed.  Psalms 42:3-5  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?  (4)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.  (5)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

 

6.  David worshipped the Lord in his faithful dedication.  Psalms 122:1  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

Psalms 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

 

7.  David worshipped God when he faced death.  2 Samuel 23:1-7  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  (2)  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.  (3)  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  (4)  And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.  (5)  Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.  (6)  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:  (7)  But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

 

Psalms 72:18-20  Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.  (19)  And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.  (20)  The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Blessed Assurance - Part 4- Assurance Made Simple

Temple Baptist Church - 7-12-2023

John 10:28-30

 

Introduction:

 

A.  For the next couple of weeks, I want to continue preaching on the subject of “Blessed Assurance” because of the effects that both assurance and the lack thereof have on our lives, usefulness, and peace of mind and heart.

 

B.  So many of God’s people are rendered virtually useless because of this issue.  It is for this reason that Satan, the Accuser of the Brethren, spends so much time causing doubt in the life of God’s people.

 

C.  I just want to break down these verses that we read tonight to make assurance both Biblical and simple.

 

D.  Often, people quickly read familiar verses of Scripture without seeing what God is saying in them.  John, chapter 10, is both an answer to the unbelieving Pharisees and assurance to those who have come to God by faith in the finished work of Christ called the Gospel.

 

1.  “My.”  Possession!  As we begin to break down these verses, we need to understand that we that are saved are His!  I thank God that I belong to the Lord and He claims me!  In Him is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

 

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

 

2.  Sheep.”  Peculiarity!  In a world of “goats,” sheep stand out because they are different, and their natures are different. 

 

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 

3.  “Hear my voice.”  Privilege!  God’s people understand God’s Word.  God’s people recognize the small still voice of God in their minds and hearts.

 

John 10:3-4  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  (4)  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

 

4.  “And I know them.”  Personal!  We hear much concerning the words “Personal Saviour.”  Salvation is not generic.  The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man is not a Biblical doctrine. 

 

Song of Solomon 2:16a  My beloved is mine, and I am his …”

 

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

5.  “And they follow me.”  Pleasure!  Living for Christ is a pleasure.  Battling the flesh is not! 

 

Philippians 1:20-21  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

6.  “And I give unto them.”  Purposed!  God did not save us and leave us where He found us.  Salvation is purposed in its change as well as its destination.

 

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 

7.  “Eternal Life.”  Permanence!”  I will deal with this more next week but we need to realize that “saved and forever I am!!

 

1 John 5:12-13  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  (13)  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

8.  “And they shall never perish.”  Promise!  I do not know what the future holds and neither do you but I do know Who holds the future and Who holds my hand.  When the roll is call up yonder, I WILL BE THERE!

 

Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

9.  “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”  Protection!  In the hand of Christ, in the hand of God the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit!

 

Colossians 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

 

10.  “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  I and my Father are one.”  Peace!

Moses Walked with God in Impossibility

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-9-2023

Exodus 3:1-11

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Over the past few weeks, I have been preaching about “Walking with God.”  We need people who are willing to pay the price required to walk with God.  The price begins with going to Him “without the camp.”  My introduction to this message will be short because most of us are familiar with the life of Moses.

 

B.  Moses was one of the greatest men, spiritually, who ever lived.  Moses would not have been a man of our choosing if we were to pick out a deliverer from the children of Israel.  What makes Moses such a notable example of “walking with God” was the impossibility of his circumstances. 

 

1.  God is the God of Impossibilities.

 

2.  What you ain’t, God is.  What you think you cannot do (notice I used the words “think you cannot do”), God can!

 

3.  From birth as supposedly the son of Pharoah’s daughter to the age of 40, Moses was being readied to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

 

4.  Educated in all the wisdom of Egypt and privileged with the royalty and power of Egypt. 

 

Acts 7:22-25  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 

 

5.  The Greatness of Moses’ Choice.  Hebrews 11:24-27  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  (25)  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  (26)  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  (27)  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.  (It is unimaginable to us!  He left the riches, comfort, and power of Egypt—the most powerful nation on earth to suffer the reproach of Christ with a nation of slaves.  We give up so little to gain so much and this man gave up to, in the eyes of the world, to gain so little.)

 

a)  Moses had the spiritual fortitude to turn his back on all that the world had to offer while suffering the wrath of the most powerful man in the world to bear the reproach of Christ.

 

b)  If there was ever a good example of going without the camp, it was a man named Moses. 

 

c)  Saved from death by his parents when he was born, he became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and heir to the throne of Egypt. 

 

d)  Nursed and raised by his mother, he put his faith in the coming of the Messiah.  He gave up all that a man could ever dream of for the love of Christ and the privilege to bear His shame and reproach.  It is impossible to walk with God while holding hands with the world! 

 

6.  Moses tried to do the right thing at the wrong time with failure instead of success. 

 

Acts 7:22-25  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.  (23)  And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.  (24)  And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:  (25)  For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 

 

7.  Moses thought that he could deliver Israel by his own strength.  Moses was not up to the task.

 

8.  It took Moses another 40 years on the backside of the desert to finish his preparation for delivering Israel.  Before God could use Moses, he had to become humble.

 

a)  God had to change Moses from Might to Meekness.

 

b)  God had to change Moses from Learned to Learner. 

 

c)  God had to change Moses from a Superior to a Shepherd.  He needed to learn to be a shepherd to a flock of sheep and goats so as to shepherd the “sheep and goats” of Israel.

 

d)  God had to change Moses from the Possible before he could do the Impossible!

 

C.  On the backside of Sinai, he met Jehovah God in the Person of a Burning Bush that was not consumed.  There, God showed Moses the purpose for which he was born.

 

D.  The word “impossible” is only found 9 times in the Bible with every reference being found in the New Testament.  In both the First and Last Mention of impossible, it times impossible with faith and faithlessness.

 

1.  The First Mention is in Faith - Matthew 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

 

2.  The Last Mention is in Faithlessness - Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

E.  I want to look at 4 instances of such impossibility found in this man’s life that made his faithfulness in walking with God such a great measure of faith and resolve.  What will stand out in this message is that the impossible places in the life of Moses set an example for us to follow in the impossible places of our lives.

 

1.  The impossibility of God’s Choice.  Numbers 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)  (I would have picked a warrior, a champion, the most physical man that I could find to face the most powerful man in the world.  Moses was humble, lowly, poor in spirit.  I have known some extremely shy, what we would call backward people, but not the meekest man in the earth!)

 

a.  God chose Moses.  Hebrews 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.  (If God choses you to serve Him, it is He that will equip you.)

 

b.  God sent Moses.  Exodus 3:10-12  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.  (11)  And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?  (12)  And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.  (If God sends you, He will go with you.)

 

c.  God used Moses.  Deuteronomy 34:10  And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,  (IF God uses you, He will be glorified through you.)

 

d.  Who am I?  Moses felt inadequate to deliver the people of God, but he was the man of God’s choosing.  God would give him the ability that he lacked.  The meekest man in all the earth would lead the millions of Jews out of bondage and to the Promised Land.  When it is impossible with us, it is possible with God.

 

e.  Will you and I walk with God when we come to the end of self?  What you are not, God is!

 

2.  The impossibility of Moses’ Foe.  Exodus 3:10-11  Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.  (11)  And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?  (God sent a man who could and would get the job done!  The task was already done in God’s eyes before He ever sent Moses.) 

 

a.  God raised Pharaoh up.  Romans 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16), Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  (God placed him upon the throne of Egypt because he was a God hater and a cruel taskmaster.)

 

b.  God hardened his heart.  Exodus 10:27-28  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.  (28)  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.  (Pharaoh had already hardened his own heart and God finished the job!)

 

c.  Will you and I walk with God when facing an impossible foe?  What you can’t do, God can!

 

3.  The impossibility of Moses’ Journey.  Exodus 3:12  And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. (God had already promised complete deliverance before He ever sent Moses!)

 

a.  The impossibility of the Red Sea!  The Gulf of Aqaba.  With mountains on either side, Pharaoh’s army bearing down upon them, and the Red Sea before the—God said, “Go forward?”  The impossibility of impossibilities!  (The Red Sea!  A man standing on the shore can only see app. 3 miles because of the curvature of the earth so all that Israel saw was water.  They may as well have been standing on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean as far as their view was concerned.)

 

b.  The impossibility of the Command!  “Go forward.” Exodus 14:14-16  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  (15)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:  (16)  But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (Can you imagine?  Nothing but water ahead with no visible path to cross and God commanded Moses to tell Israel to “go forward.”  There will be times in your life that you will see only the impossible lying before you, but God gives you no option but to move ahead.)

 

c.  The impossibility of the Crossing!  “Dry ground!”  Exodus 15:8  And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.  (God divided that great body of water with the blast of His nostrils.  They went through a path of dry ground with over a mile of water standing on either side.)

 

Matthew 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

 

d.  Will you and I walk with God when facing our “Red Sea?”

 

4.  The Impossibility of Feeding and Watering the Nation of Israel in the Desert!

 

a.  Manna From Heaven.  Exodus 16:35  And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

 

b.  Water From the Rock.  Exodus 17:6  Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

 

c.  Will you and I walk with God when the hard times come both financially and physically?

 

5.  Moses was a chosen man for a chosen purpose and, where God guides, God always provides.  God chose an impossible man for an impossible task to glorify a God of Impossibility!

 

Conclusion:  Will you and I walk with God when faced with impossibility?