Ashtead Baptist Church

Serving Christ in the community

Sermon notes:

            �Tested to the limit, but not overcome�

 When God led the people of Israel out of Egypt he did not want them to be frightened into turning back out of fear of war with the Philistines. He thought, �I do not want the people to change their minds and return to Egypt when they see that they are going to have to fight� (Exodus 13:17 GNB) The Philistines lived along the normal coastal route anyone would take to Canaan, Israel�s Promised Land. To show the people his greatness and how much they could always trust in him, he led the people the via the desert and the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds).  So in one direction there lay Migdol, and war with the Philistines; in another, after they had camped by the Red Sea at PiHahiroth and Baal Zephon, was a range of impassable craggy rocks. In front was a mighty sea and in the rear the mighty army of the Egyptians. Fear gripped the people! They were where God wanted them! They were in the right place! Yet there seemed great danger and difficulty and no way out of their troubles.

 When our circumstances and troubles are not of our making and our consciences are clear before our Saviour; when we cannot see a way out of our difficulties and fear grips our souls, it is our duty, and in our interest, to get above our fears, to use them to quicken our prayerfulness and efforts for Jesus! Rather than let the circumstances rule over us, let them be a means of stirring our faith and determination not to give in, but press on! In so doing we learn to rule over our circumstances and not let them continually rule over us!

 Whatever you are facing today, and someone is feeling very fearful and weary, if your conscience is clear and all sin confessed and washed away by the blood of Christ our Lord, you can say to God, �I trust you Lord! You are my strength and my shield! You are my deliverer!� He will whisper in your ear the words he gave Moses in the desert to say to the people in their distress, �Don�t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today; �The Lord will fight for you, and there is no need for you to do anything.� (Exodus 14:14-14 GNB)

 My friends, there is a pillar of cloud to guide you by day and a pillar of fire to guide you by night. God is in front of you and at your rear! There is an angel of God who fights for you, �The angel of God who had been in front of the army of Israel, moved and went to the rear.� (Exodus14:19 GNB) That pillar of cloud, that pillar of fire, that angel has a name, that name is Jesus!

 When there is nothing you can do about your circumstances and you feel you have no strength to fight on; when if you could you would take up as on eagles wings and fly away to some place of safety, stand still in full confidence, stand your ground in firm faith and determination not to give up, and the Lord will rescue you. �Every test that you experience is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure, it and so provide you with the way out.� (1 Corinthians 10:13 GNB)

 The Egyptian army was definitively defeated to a man in the waters of the great sea, in full view of God�s people. At the cross Jesus definitively defeated the powers of darkness in full view of the heavenly assembly. (Colossians 2:15) Those powers cannot harm the soul who trusts in Christ! �No in all these thing we are more than conquerors through him that loved us!� (Romans 8:37 AV) Stand still! Stand firm! God is testing you faith and resolve. Your deliverance is at hand! There waits for the overcomer treasure beyond their imagination in the Promised Land only a short distance away!  Maranatha! The Lord comes!

 Don Attenborough

 

  • 192 Barnett Wood Lane
  • Ashtead
  • Surrey
  • KT21 2LW

01372 202103
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