Download... May 29, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Danny Sanders.
It’s really easy to see the possible,..for we can see the outcome. But if you think of the impossible,..you can’t see the outcome! In your mind,..it’s impossible! And that’s pretty human. However, it is probably safe to say of those here this morning, (somewhere within your saved experience,..or even those not), somewhere in our lives, an outcome of a situation turned out exactly the opposite of your comprehension of what it could be! A situation where there seemed to be No way out. And that is what we want to talk about this morning, “The Impossible,.. Made Possible!”
We our going to be reading about the Israelites and what transpired when they were in the process of their escape, having left Egypt. Pharaoh after having already conceded to let God’s people go, was again turned to his wicked determination, to pursue them. By God's design, He had led them through the way of the wilderness, to the Red Sea, (Exodus 13). The thought of the message here, is when the enemy of our soul has lost us to his bondage (like Pharaoh here) he’s not too happy about it. So what naturally happens, is the enemy of our soul,..goes back after that soul. So we should not think it so odd, when we are working to win a soul to Christ, to see the enemy trying to “snatch that soul back.” For the devil is never happy and content when a soul has been won to God,..out of bondage.
We often refer to the biblical Egypt, as a type of sin. So we can see also "the type" of how spiritually, the devil tries to work on a new converts mind, when delivered from their bondage of sin. For Satan will try to bring back those temptations, weaknesses, and habits that were once a part of your life, ...and so very real. He will always bring that back to us, as a heavy testing to bring you down, as a flood to try to overtake, and get you to turn back. So don’t be surprised at this opposition, but remember,.. God is always on your side! His promise is, as found in Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
It had come to that place when Pharaoh had (at first) finally conceded to let the Israelites go in their deliverance. He with a vengeance again, after the fact, started after them....
TEXT: EXODUS 14:8-10
8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. Verse 10 God does His greatest works when “all that appears”, are.. the impossibilities, when we feel most “sore afraid” and cry out to God...
Those times that make you “tremble” with fear,..when it seems there is no hope,..seemingly no escape... it is then that God will most often provide with a “confirmation”/ a way of escape, not just “any” way, but His way, that is beyond comprehension! The burden and message we have this morning is “The Impossible, ..Made Possible!” And this is how God so often confirms His promises to us, when making our impossible dilemmas,..possible!
What are “some” of God’s Confirmations of Promises to us?
1) A direct answer to prayer
2) A peace during time of chaos
3) Grace
4) Unexpected blessings (i.e. financial help,healing, money, etc)
5) Chastisement
6) Provides a way of escape in the midst of temptations (for All... are tempted.)
7) Mercy.. instead of the deserved justice
8) Opportunities..you were previously unaware of
Exodus 14:7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. In addition to these 600 chariots, (also found from Bro D Sanders research...’Josephus’) were 5.000 horseman, 200,000 armed footman. Not a small threat. The presence of the enemy is no laughing matter!
The Israelites had been “backed into” a place (like a cul de sac), being “trapped” mountains on either side, with the Red Sea ahead of them, and the Egyptian army behind. Life often similarly feels like we are “trapped”, in situations of real fear,.. at least speaking from a human standpoint, to “naturally” desire to escape the danger. The Israelites in their limited understanding were obviously understanding only the paths of their humanity. Certainly there are always many paths of man ideas, choices, presented. It is just like though, what Proverbs warns us; Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. This is definitely a time when God’s intervention is needed.
There will be times you “come up against a wall,” ...not knowing even how to pray. Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. This promise is contingent on our heart’s desire and choices for God’s will only. When these impossible times come, is when we can “allow” God to make it a possibility. It then will help us to grow spiritually, because our understanding is too limited to have brought us to victory. These impossible situations are when it will be a challenge..for you to be busy for God and His answers. Those challenges will always seem to come at inopportune times, i.e. like when times are roughest, you could get laid off our job,..or you go for a “routine appointment” and it doesn’t turn out “routine” in diagnosis, you raise your children the best in God that you can, and they still go astray, etc. All these dilemmas of extreme challenges are just how God desires to bless you,.. with the needed “impossible answers.”
What God wants us to do do is found in.. Proverbs 3:5,6 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Verse 5 “Trust in the Lord/ Lean not on your own understanding.” So we can also inherit this promise..Verse 6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him/ and He shall direct they paths.” Proverbs 3:25,26 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. (Verse 25) I am instructed not to be afraid with times when I am confronted with sudden fear..for (Verse 26) God will be the confidence I need to secure me, when I fully surrender all of myself and problems to His control. He always knows, and has every answer,.. for all of our needs, including the most “traumatic” of dangers.
The Israelites here in Exodus also found themselves in impending doom, and was given a way of escape through the Red Sea. Exodus 14:13,14 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. God is as real here,..as has been demonstrated countless times! Verse13 God promised to dissolve the enemy,; Verse 14 His promise was to fight for us, giving continued peace with the knowledge they were not alone! God is just the same and real today,.. as the day you knelt at the altar and received Salvation! God’s interest goes far beyond the limits of our understanding. Nothing is impossible for Him! He commands the enemy to “step aside.” He will take care of the afflictions and the obstacles. Here in our text (Exodus 14), it looked like the Israelites would be certainly be slaughtered, having no weapons. But when Moses delivered God’s message,” “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”, it was the obedience to that command, that made God’s promise alive for them.
Daniel 3:10-29 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Verses 14,15 There will always be those willing to see you spiritually destroyed. It is because they cannot understand why you serve your God, and in the way that you serve Him. Verse 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were not shy in answering, because of being “anchored” in God’s power! Verse 18 We serve God regardless if we are to be actually delivered,..or not. Verse 19 The enemy then will be the more infuriated to increase the pressure. Verse 24,25 This is the God we serve, making the impossible,..possible! Verse 27-28 This is the testimony of the effect,..that testimony had. Did they endure persecution? And,..do we not endure potential persecution? Verse 29 The results became a change,.. in the life habits of sin.
Likewise we have to be bold and confident in the things of God and His power,..so that we gain more confidence, in order to please Him. 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.
Our heart’s cry and prayer should be,“Help me to grasp Your will,..help and deliver by my demonstrated faith. If we waver,..we can’t move forward as God would have us to. Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: God did not need to use human methods,..for He is the answer,.. to the impossible... Exodus 14:21 And 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 dry land, and the waters were divided. ...to get us to "the other side.”
God’s promise was to lead them over on dry ground,..a before unheard of impossibility,..made possible, through faith's obedience!... Exodus 14:16 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.
Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. God’s exhortation here to give our worries and cares over to Him, and be content. He will then make a way, while not forsaking His very presence. 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.
The way God provided the Israelites, was not extended to the Egyptians/enemy. Exodus 14: 24-28 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. God had all the Israelites witness all the dead of their enemy, a impossibility,.. made possible! Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
The Israelites through this victory was reinforced from God’s promises being illustrated of,..the impossible,..made possible! Exodus 14:31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. God today also allows His people to go through many things, to teach, and strengthen for further battles. He equips us with the spiritual armor of a helmet of salvation, shield of faith, etc., to fight this spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:11-17 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: God does not know defeat, because He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings! This spiritual armor is His method to strengthen us in the spiritual battles we will face, as His child.
Bro D Sanders testified that when he was out of work,..he got a call from a company he had never even applied at,.. for a job. The impossible,..made possible! It might also benefit us to “sit down” with some “pillars” of The Church, and hear them testify how they endured till the present,..through all the battles God has brought them through. And in addition of too many other accounts to mention here... was the biblical account of King David, while he was yet a boy, God strengthened him to slay both a lion and a bear,..so he could later slay the enemy army of the Philistines!
Maybe someone here can see no possible way through a trial. That “impossible” perception, is just background noise from the enemy! Remember what God has done for you in the past! He is the God that makes the impossible,..possible!
