Sermon

GO FORWARD

Exodus  14: 13-21

     We are here tonight for two reasons: Watch night has always had a dual purpose. We come to Watch Night to give thanks to God for bringing us through, the year that just passed, (2011); and to ask God; no let’s make it, “To plead with God to take us through a new year, (2012).”

     We have the advantage of looking back over 2011, and reflecting on all the things that happened to us throughout the course of the year. We can say with certainty that if it had not been for the Lord on our side we would not have gotten through some of the trials that came flooding into our lives.

     Some of us can say thank you Lord because we dodged those bullets; we didn’t have to deal with any catastrophes in our immediate family. No sudden deaths; no shocking news; no serious sickness; no gunshot victims; no fatal car accidents; no hospital stays; no break-ins; no robberies; no physical assaults: But some of us didn’t dodge all of these bullets, some of us did experience the pain...

     We can look back over 2011 and give God thanks because we didn’t have to go without food; we didn’t struggle financially; we didn’t have to worry about how the bills would get paid; we didn’t have transportation problems; or stress from trying to make ends meet, or anxiety because we didn’t know where our next dollar was going to come from: But some of us didn’t dodge all these bullets, some of us did experience the pain...

     We can look back over 2011 and give God thanks because we didn’t have to bail a child out of jail or go to some prison to visit a loved one: We didn’t have to find money to pay the lawyer, or cry when the judge pronounced the sentence: But some of us didn’t dodge all these bullets, some of us did experience the pain...

     We can look back and whether we went through last year with or without suffering the wounds that life often inflict upon us; we can yet say thank you Heavenly Father for giving us the chance to see another year coming into view.

     You might have mixed emotions about 2012! You might be glad to see it but apprehensive about what kind of year it will be. Let’s be real tonight! Someone here is not so excited about 2012 because last year left a bitter taste in your mouth.

     Some body’s thinking that it’s not going to be any better because I’m still unemployed or underemployed. Somebody can’t celebrate because their child has 5 years left on their prison sentence:

     Some body’s struggling to celebrate, some body can’t celebrate because their mind is on their problems. I can hear you saying a new year but the same old devils; the same old disappointments; the same old heartaches; the same old burdens; the same old worries; the same old, same old.

     Some body’s not so impressed with God because you tried Him and nothing changed! You tried praising Him and the pain didn’t subside! You tried worshiping Him and the bills are still overdue! You tried praying but you didn’t get the job! You tried fasting but they still repossessed your car! You tried meditating but your wife still walked out on you: you tried Him but your husband is still seeing Sister-Girl!

     You’re angry because the preacher showed you what God did for Job but He hasn’t done the same thing for you! You’re upset because you read about how God fed His children in the wilderness but you’re still hungry! You’re confused because the Sunday lesson showed how God blessed Abraham when there was a famine in the land but you can’t seem to get a break no matter where you turn!

     So it’s 2012; SO What! O I’m GLAD YOU came here tonight! I’ve been waiting on you! I've been praying and hoping that you would stop being polite, and be real so that we could get to the bottom of why you find it hard to praise God and why you have such a struggle with walking by faith!

     May be You’ve been listening to a ONE-SIDED THEOLOGY! Someone may have told you that once you come to God riches and blessings will never cease: But we need to know that knowing God, and being in Love with God does not give us immunity from hardships and trials! Please let me dispel the myth! Being in Love with God, Worshiping, and Praising God is not going to get you a pass out of the fiery pit, but it will keep you when life throws you into the fire.

     Our theology is simply how we hear the Word of God speaking to our case. My theology is one of empowerment! I believe that God has empowered us as His Children to face any storm with the faith to know that we can get through it!

     My theology is one that believes that God has invested in us every necessary gift to get us through any situation but we need to do three things:

1. We have to have faith in the power of God – look at Exodus 14: 13 And Moses said to the people, do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. 14. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. – Moses had confidence in God’s power! (BUT) listen to God in Verse 15. And the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry to ME? Tell the children of IsraelSEA in front of them! BUT GOD SAID “TELL Israel to go forward.” – BE SURE that there was a great River in front of them but it could not restrain them or prevent them from obeying God's command. "Go Forward!"
2. We have to believe in what GOD has invested in us! In Verse 16 God told Moses, “BUT lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.” Here right here is the most over looked detail in this entire story! We always say that God parted the waters of the RED SEA but that’s not accurate! Listen again LIFT UP YOUR ROD! STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND OVER THE SEA – AND DIVIDE IT!
3. We have to do what God tells us to do! James says “Faith without Works is DEAD! Verse 21 says, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

SO the Lord has taught me to face every storm with the calm assurance that He is with me! Look at you neighbor tonight and say neighbor in 2012 believe that God is with you!

Secondly, the Lord has taught me that no matter how impossible the situation may seem, and no matter how unbeatable the case may appear to be “There is nothing too Hard for MY GOD!

Look at your neighbor and say “Neighbor no matter how hard it may look! In 2012 “There is nothing too hard for God!”

The third thing that the Lord has taught me is that He has empowered me with everything I need to go forward!

Moses told Israel to “STAND STILL AND SEE THE LORD’S SALVATION!”

BUT GOD SAID DON’T CRY” TELL MY PEOPLE TO GO FORWARD!

THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH TONIGHT! IT’S 2012 GO FORWARD!!!