LFM – 2016 March 6: Our Exodus out of the World into the Promised land

LFM – 6 March 2016

We learnt that as mature Christians and disciples of Jesus

  • ? We should be bearing much fruit that pleases our heavenly Father
  • John 15:8 – Our Father is glorified that we bear much fruit

A deep relationship with Jesus moves the heart of God

  • Martha and Mary , where Mary moved Jesus to weep
  • Mary focused on seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all others shall be added – Mathew 6:33
  • Just like personal friends of ours, we call and go out of our way to do things for them

We were left with questions in Mark 8:

  • Who do we say Jesus is? Why do we come to Church?
    • Teachings & preaching’s –> John the Baptist
    • Miracles –> Elijah
    • Prophecy –> One who tells us about our future
    • Or because of Jesus – the Messiah , our SAVIOUR / Jehovah / Yahweh / I AM
    • My Challenge — focus on the whole of Jesus and not the part — NUSU MKATE
  • Our lives should be centred and focused on Jesus – Mary VS Martha
    • The kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall be added
  • Any others things and persons should be 3rd parties
    • Deny ourselves – of things of the world / flesh
    • & Take up our cross – doing the right things no matter what –> deep, fertile soil
  • A summary for me of the preaching – Still ALL ABOUT JESUS
  • Mathew 11: 28-30 (NKJV)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Saul’s  road to Damascus — Our Damascus Moments – Tying the Hands of Jesus

  • We hear the call of God in our lives –
    • Jesus choosing us OR us choosing Jesus?
  • When we decide to leave the ways of the world and its wisdom – Paul a Pharisee
    • A stubborn & rebellious spirit –> spiritually blind
    • Ezekiel 12:2
    • “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.
    • Ujuaji VS a humble and teachable spirit
  • We seek God’s wisdom and understanding for His call in our lives
    • Acts 9:6 – Saul ask Jesus – What do you want me to do?
    • John 14:6 (NKJV) — I am the way, the truth, and the life –> Author & Finisher
    • What God does not author, He is not obligated to finish e.g. His Word does not…
    • Acts 9:11 — He is taken to a street called Straight – a place to be purified and sanctified ( kunyoroshwa / kurekebishwa )
    • Saul spends the time seeking the Lord through PRAYER (relationship) & FASTING (renouncing the flesh / world)
    • Listening & obeying — Saul follows instructions
    • Confirmation – with Ananias, a servant of God
  • After Spiritual orientation
    • An Army recruit goes through orientation / kunyoroshwa
      • A Maasai is trained to deal with problems in their environment –> Lions
      • Kingdom army, we are trained to deal with the problems of life
      • 1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

  • Saul regains his sight / insight into the Spirit
  • Born again — Dying to the old ways of World / Flesh view –> Spirit view
  • Filled with the Holy Spirit – Activates the things of God – seed activated by water
    • The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life — 2 Corinthians 3:6
  • Transformation is evident to others – and the world / flesh complains
    • Paul preached Jesus and all were amazed
    • Martha complained about Mary who is focused on Jesus

Our Choices in LIFE

  • Ways of world / Flesh — Jacob (UJANJA) –> Maisha ni kujipanga –> Yesu Afuate
  • Ways of God — Israel (MUNGU)  –> Maisha ni Yesu kunipanga –> mimi nimfuate

God calls us –> Transforms us –> Uses us mightily

Exodus 13 (NKJV)

13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

 

3 And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. 

No leavened bread shall be eaten

 

8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’

 

11 “And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.

 

15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.

 

17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

 

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Exodus 13

  • Came alive to me when I was reading and meditating on it
  • Vs 1 – God set apart His one and only son to die on the cross and redeem us from our sin – –
    • Jesus is the Passover lamb –> 1 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

  • The strong and mighty hand of the Lord shall free us from all bondage – BLOOD
  • The Father sacrificed for us His first born son and paid the price for all our sins and freed us from sin & death –> What Egypt represents in our lives
    • Revelations 1:5 (NKJV)

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

  • Whom the Son sets free is free indeed –> John 8:36 (NKJV)

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

  • We are brought out of the land of Egypt – represents a life of bondage and slavery
  • To go to the promised land , a land flowing with milk and honey – Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
    • Romans 8:2

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

<http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/feast-of-unleavened-bread/what-is-leaven/>

  • The departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt is symbolic of an individual leaving the slavery of a sinful life.
  • Romans 6:17-18 explains:
  • “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
  • Vs3 – We shall rid ourselves of leaven – REPENTANCE
    • We should look within – Remove the leaven from our lives – however small
    • All sin in our lives and by extension our families should be dealt with.
    • Be Holy just as I am Holy –> 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NLT)

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.

  • Vs 8 – Explain to your families / son about our Faith in God
    • Teaching –> Successful strategies against enemies
    • Revelations 12:11 (NKJV)

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony

  • To strengthen their faith in times of trouble –> Romans 10:17
  • –> So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
  • Vs 11 – When out of Egypt –> Wilderness or –> especially in the promised land
    • We should Always remember what God has done for us
    • Luke 22:19

19 And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 

  • Ensure that on our way to the Promised land, we do not complain, grumble, lose faith or divert our attention from Jesus —
    • Just like Peter walking on water, as long as his eyes were focused on Jesus, he did not sink
      • Mathew 14:29-30 (NKJV)

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

  • SO with us when we face the storms of life — what we focus on , magnifies itself in our lives — the problem or Jesus is the question & answer
  • John 10:10 (NKJV)
  • I have come that they may have life, and that they may have itmore abundantly.
  • Vs 15 – Pharoh was stubborn in letting the people of God go
    • Needs the strong and powerful hand of the Lord to bring us out
    • Represented by the powerful blood of the Lamb –>JESUS
    • Paul tell us in Romans — > I do things I do not want to do
    • Romans 7:14-15 (NLT)

The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

  • The world stubbornly refuses to let us go – the world was given to satan
    • 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
    • 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
    • If someone came to take what is yours – land –> you will not let go easily
    • There are battles on our way to the promised land
      • We may think that all is well when we are saved
      • Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursued God’s people to their death – relentless
      • We therefore need the full armour of God –> Ephesians 6:13
      • 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  • When judgement is being executed around us, the blood of the lamb saves us / pays for us.
    • Vs 15 – The first borns are killed to redeem the children of Israel
    • The Son of God was killed to redeem us from sin and death
  • Vs 17 – After Salvation, God does not necessarily take the shortest route to the promised land
    • The straight way of the Lord may seem crooked to man
    • Isaiah 55:8 –> “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
    • He took the Israelites round about to the Red Sea because He knew them intimately – Their faults, weaknesses – Just as He knows us intimately
    • Luke 12:17
    • 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
  • It is all about TRUST –> always TRUST in the Lord and His ways
    • Job 13:15 –> Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
    • Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)– Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
    • Romans 8:28
    • 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
    • The will of the Lord is perfect, good and acceptable
    • Romans 12:2 (NLT)
    • 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
  • Vs 21 – The presence of the Lord will always be there to lead & guide us in the wilderness after salvation out of Egypt
    • I will send you an advocate, a comforter
    • John 14: 15-18 (NKJV)
    • 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

The scriptures point to me – IT ALL ABOUT JESUS

  • John 5:39 (NLT)
  • 39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

 

LESSONS

  1. Jesus is the Passover lamb
  2. Freed us from slavery of sin and death
  3. Requires complete repentance
  4. Requires constant application of the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony to overcome our enemy
  5. The enemy is stubborn and relentless and will not let go easily
  6. But He has given us His Spirit to lead and guide us
  7. It is for us to Trust & Obey His Word

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