In Exodus 1:6-14 we find that there arose a King in Egypt that did not remember Joseph. This was bad news for the Israelites. They had enjoyed a time of prosperity because of 'grandpa' Joe, but when the new King was on the throne, he didn't want anything to do with these people who seemed like 'free loaders.' As a matter of fact the New king felt threatened by the Israelites. After all they were beginning to outnumber the Egyptians and there was a fear that they might try to overtake the country. So, what was the answer? SLAVERY...
The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and oppressed them by the use of forced labor for about the next 430 years...
The people of God began to cry out because of their persecution and one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture is the response of the Lord..."God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."
God heard their cry! When we are in trouble, we can be confident God will hear and display His faithfulness--He knows about your trouble and He wants you to reach out the Him in the midst of your turmoil...Will you call out to Him today? He's waiting...Till Tomorrow...Bro. Alan
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wilderness Wanderings 1
One of the most difficult things for a pastor/teacher is to preach/teach over a passage that people have heard ever since they were children and try to make it interesting, fresh and relevant. Now, don't get me wrong I truly believe that God's Word will not return void and that God's Word is powerful, fresh and VERY relevant, the problem is not with the Word of God, the problem is with us.
As we begin this journey of 'wilderness wanderings' through the book of Exodus many will think to themselves, "Oh, I know the story of Moses and the children of Israel, how they were in slavery and Moses went to Pharaoh and said, 'Let my people go,' and then the plagues came and they crossed the Red Sea on dry land and then wondered around the dessert for the next 40 years...I've not only heard the story in Sunday School when I was a child, but I've even seen the MOVIE, The Ten Commandments, you know where Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and then became the president of the NRA." And even the younger generation will think the same thing except their point of reference is not The Ten Commandments but rather the animated film Prince Of Egypt.
As we begin our journey through Exodus we are not going to have the special effects of Cecile B. De Mill, or any animation rather we are going to journey through with the original author, the one that does not need special effects for He had the REAL EFFECTS. We are going to consult the original script and hopefully allow the original Author show us in a new and refreshing way how He is still at work in the world today and how we need to follow the original script in our own lives and learn the lessons that were taught to our forefathers in the faith.
God still wants to guide our steps in the wilderness that we call the world, the question is, "Are we going to walk by faith or by sight?"
Are you ready to go? Let's pack, prepare and persevere...Bro. Alan
As we begin this journey of 'wilderness wanderings' through the book of Exodus many will think to themselves, "Oh, I know the story of Moses and the children of Israel, how they were in slavery and Moses went to Pharaoh and said, 'Let my people go,' and then the plagues came and they crossed the Red Sea on dry land and then wondered around the dessert for the next 40 years...I've not only heard the story in Sunday School when I was a child, but I've even seen the MOVIE, The Ten Commandments, you know where Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and then became the president of the NRA." And even the younger generation will think the same thing except their point of reference is not The Ten Commandments but rather the animated film Prince Of Egypt.
As we begin our journey through Exodus we are not going to have the special effects of Cecile B. De Mill, or any animation rather we are going to journey through with the original author, the one that does not need special effects for He had the REAL EFFECTS. We are going to consult the original script and hopefully allow the original Author show us in a new and refreshing way how He is still at work in the world today and how we need to follow the original script in our own lives and learn the lessons that were taught to our forefathers in the faith.
God still wants to guide our steps in the wilderness that we call the world, the question is, "Are we going to walk by faith or by sight?"
Are you ready to go? Let's pack, prepare and persevere...Bro. Alan
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Where We Are Going
OK, after praying, waiting, praying, pleading, praying, and waiting, calling brothers and sisters in Christ and talking with them, praying and waiting, I feel like the Father has finally given me direction on where we need to go for the next few months.
There is something that you need to understand first; although it might not be apparent, I am very organized in my thinking and studying. After we finished our study of the sermon on the mount (that we had been in for the past 5 months) I had no idea, or direction from the Lord as to where we were to go next. You have to realize that it is 7:41 on Tuesday night and usually by this time the Lord has given me the majority of the sermon for Sunday. Needless to say, this afternoon and evening have been spent seeking the Lord's will and way for what we were to study next.
The main thing that the Lord has laid upon my heart is this, "Stop, be still, know that I am your Father, your Provider, your Comfort, and your Sermon Giver." It seems that Father wanted to teach me to stop hurrying to the next 'campsite' in Scripture, and take time to enjoy the journey.
So, we are going to 'Wander' in 'Wonder' for the next few months.
We are going to look at how God provided for the children of Israel during their wandering through the wilderness. We are going to seek where God wants us to go next and what He wants us to do. Are we being faithful to what He has called us to or are we just walking around in the wilderness of this world without direction, every now and then catching a glimpse of His glory but finding that it has faded before we truly hear and obey?
Jesus went through a 'wilderness' journey before He began His public ministry. So, get ready, get prepared, we are about to embark on an adventure that promises to be interesting to say the least.
Let's go...Bro. Alan
PS, thanks Scott for the insight and Godly guidance
There is something that you need to understand first; although it might not be apparent, I am very organized in my thinking and studying. After we finished our study of the sermon on the mount (that we had been in for the past 5 months) I had no idea, or direction from the Lord as to where we were to go next. You have to realize that it is 7:41 on Tuesday night and usually by this time the Lord has given me the majority of the sermon for Sunday. Needless to say, this afternoon and evening have been spent seeking the Lord's will and way for what we were to study next.
The main thing that the Lord has laid upon my heart is this, "Stop, be still, know that I am your Father, your Provider, your Comfort, and your Sermon Giver." It seems that Father wanted to teach me to stop hurrying to the next 'campsite' in Scripture, and take time to enjoy the journey.
So, we are going to 'Wander' in 'Wonder' for the next few months.
We are going to look at how God provided for the children of Israel during their wandering through the wilderness. We are going to seek where God wants us to go next and what He wants us to do. Are we being faithful to what He has called us to or are we just walking around in the wilderness of this world without direction, every now and then catching a glimpse of His glory but finding that it has faded before we truly hear and obey?
Jesus went through a 'wilderness' journey before He began His public ministry. So, get ready, get prepared, we are about to embark on an adventure that promises to be interesting to say the least.
Let's go...Bro. Alan
PS, thanks Scott for the insight and Godly guidance
Monday, January 19, 2009
What A Great Day
Yesterday we talked about being wise in the building of our lives. We saw how we need not 'try harder' but rather we just need to give up. If we have listened and read the sermon on the mount and thought, "That's some good moral stuff that I need to try to abide by," then we have missed the point. We don't need to try, we need to quit trying and start living a life of surrender. Give all of yourself to Christ and let the Rock of your salvation, the Cheif Conerstone, the stone that the builders rejected, be the solid foundation that you find yourself in.
Realize that it is not what you can do for Christ, but rather what Christ can do in and through you.
We have finished our 5 month study of the sermon on the mount so the next question is , "Where do we go from here?" And the answer that I have for you is, "I really don't know...I'm still praying about where God wants to take us next." On one hand I feel the Lord leading us to study the parables and look in depth at Jesus' teachings and what we can learn and apply in our daily lives. While on the other hand, I feel God leading us to study the book of Exodus and see how He brought the Children of Israel out of bondage and slavery and how He can deliver us from the bondage that we find ourselves in while at the same time see how important it is to walk in obedience so that we don't find ourselves wondering for 40 years in the wilderness of complacency and apathy.
I'm going to continue to pray and seek where God wants us to go, I encourage you to pray as well and let me know where God is speaking into your life on this matter...you can comment at the bottom...
Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan
Realize that it is not what you can do for Christ, but rather what Christ can do in and through you.
We have finished our 5 month study of the sermon on the mount so the next question is , "Where do we go from here?" And the answer that I have for you is, "I really don't know...I'm still praying about where God wants to take us next." On one hand I feel the Lord leading us to study the parables and look in depth at Jesus' teachings and what we can learn and apply in our daily lives. While on the other hand, I feel God leading us to study the book of Exodus and see how He brought the Children of Israel out of bondage and slavery and how He can deliver us from the bondage that we find ourselves in while at the same time see how important it is to walk in obedience so that we don't find ourselves wondering for 40 years in the wilderness of complacency and apathy.
I'm going to continue to pray and seek where God wants us to go, I encourage you to pray as well and let me know where God is speaking into your life on this matter...you can comment at the bottom...
Till tomorrow...Bro. Alan
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