March 4 is more than just a date on a calendar, it's also a command given God, an expectation placed upon every believer. In the face of great challenges, seemingly unsurmountable obstacles, and even frightening or overwhelming circumstances, a person who's faith rests in God alone can step forward and experience the miraculous.
The cool thing is, we see that Moses offers some of the most encouraging words of Scripture in the face of these obstacles. Here, we see that even when obstacles are present, we have opportunities to march forth. What do we have to do to experience the opportunities?
First, we have to quit fearing. Moses tells the people, "Do not be afraid."
Then he tells them to quit fidgeting. He says, "Stand still."
He then tells them to quietly fixate. To just watch God. He says, "see the salvation the Lord will give you today. The Egyptians you see today you will see no more forever!"
If God's people would jjust sit still and not be afraid, they would witness God do something incredible.
Moses goes on and tells them to quit fighting. He says, "The Lord will fight for you."
He then tells them to quell their frenzies, by saying, "and you shall hold your peace."
How badly do we need to hear these same words of truth today? God tells us not to fear. His Word tells us He does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. The question before every believer is, "What would you do if there was no fear?" Who would hear the gospel from you if you weren't afraid of rejection? Who would know you pray for them daily if you didn't fear their ridicule? Who at your work would know you live for Christ if you weren't afraid to invite your Savior to your workplace? God commands it! Quit fearing!
He also tells us to quit fidgeting!
We've got way too many people in the church who take a Martha approach to a Mary situation. We get so busy on how we can manufacture a result if we just do something. The whole time, God is whispering, "if you'd just stop and worship me, I'll deliver you." He just wants us to have our eyes fixed on Him, not distracted or dreadful, or delusional by any of the dilemmas that face us in life. He says, "just be still, just watch me. Just be confident in me. I'll deliver you.
We've got to quit fighting. With our enemies and with each other. He says, "The Lord will accomplish this for you today. He will fight for you." All we have to do is abide in Jesus. Do what he says to do. When He says to do it. How He says to do it. For as long as He says to do it." He doesn't need us to defend Him. He doesn't need us judging sinners, blowing up abortion clinics, hating homosexuals. He doesn't need us fighting over programs in the church. He doesn't need us gossiping. He says, if you will just quell your frenzies and quit fighting, you can watch me deliver you."
Here's the truth; We can quit fearing. We can quit fidgeting. We can quietly fixate. We can quit fighting and quell our frenzies. But if we do all these things and nothing more, then we haven't done enough. Israel did all these things, but they still had to go forward. Once God got them to be quiet, calm, concentrating and cooperative, He told them it was time to get going. He tolod Moses, "Tell the children of Israel to go forward." He tells them the most fulfilling opportunity is to simply quickly follow the Lord.
They still had to march forth. If they hadn't they would have been doomed. That same word is true for us. I don't care what the trial is that is facing you - if you do all the right things but don't get up and march forth in obedience, if you do not quickly follow the Lord, you will be doomed.
The Scripture reveals four outcomes from marching forth:
The first outcome we see is the deliverance of God's elect. This says, "The Lord saved Israel that day out of the hands of the Egyptians."
The second outcome is the destruction of God's enemies. The Word says, Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the sea shore."
The third outcome is the demonstration of God's power. The Scripture tells us, "Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done. In Egypt." God truly demonstrated His power of man and nature with this miraculous, devastating, and liberating event.
Finally, the fourth outcome is the dependability of God's plan. The Bible tells us, "So the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses." Once again, they witnessed that only God's plan is fail-safe.
Here's how all this matters to you:
You can experience these same outcomes, if you follow Him. He will deliver you from every evil.
Did you know that 27 different times King David asked God to deliver him? This was a man who knew that only the Lord could deliver him, and he knew that only the Lord would deliver him? And these 27 times are just the times we see recorded…I'm sure there are many times where you feel like you've asked 27 times in a single week!
The Lord also desires to destroy your enemies. Now, that will ultimately happen when he casts Satan, the false prophet and the antichrist into the lake of fire, but he also plans to do that for you now. Who are your enemies now? It's not your neighbor. It's not your parents, your children, or any other relative. If you think they are, you are being duped by Satan.
No, your enemies may appear to have human faces, but the reality is, your enemies are spiritual in nature. I believe that is why we are to love our enemies. For when we do, our enemies see the love of Christ. They see Jesus. They see hope, and they see life. When we love our enemies, God uses that to win them, and to destroy the true enemy.
Isn't this a great demonstration of the third outcome - the demonstration of God's power? Only the power of God can take a sinful, reprobate, dying sinner and transform into a clean, forgiven, life-changing eternity-impacting saint. And what is truly amazing about that is that God chooses to demonstrate that power one soul at a time.
His plan is dependable. Did you know God loves you so much He has a plan for your life? His plan is perfect. If you follow it, you'll have the best life imaginable. It starts with taking care of the big details first. It requires giving up your plans for His. It means saying, "not my will, but yours." Then, it means doing that in every detail of your life. It means not forsaking worship because you don't like the music, or the way the pastor preaches. It means not forsaking fellowship because someone gossiped about you. It means not forsaking your responsibilities to share the gospel because you are afraid, or busy, or lazy, or whatever. It means, in every detail of life, saying, I'm going to set aside my priorities, and put Jesus first. And wherever He says go, I'll go.
Once you claim the outcomes of marching forth as promises you can count on, you'll discover what an amazing odyssey God has planned for you in marching forth.
An odyssey is an adventure. The dictionary actually defines it as a spiritual quest. I believe life is an odyssey that everyone experiences. There just happens to be major differences between those who have their odyssey in Christ, and those who do not. Those who go on this adventure without Jesus find an odyssey marked with wandering and searching. They find themselves experiencing many changes of fortune. They may find their intellect and spirituality challenged, but they never experience truthful answers. Those who take their quest with Christ as their Guide have a different experience altogether. It's a journey with the following characteristics:
First, it is experienced by walking in faith of Jesus. Faith is the substance of the things we hope for, the evidence of the things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1) Hebrews 1:29 says by faith, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians attempting to do so, were drowned. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus is both the author and the finisher of our faith. Because of this, the book of James tells us that we need to make our requests in Jesus with faith and no doubting. The Father knows what we need. If we ask in faith, we will receive it. We receive not because we ask not.
Second, this odyssey is marked by walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus disciples' have been called to pick up their cross and follow Him. That means doing the tough work. That means laying behind the old life that held you captive and being the new creation you are in Jesus Christ. That means doing the tough things. You know, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for friends." I think this Scripture has a couple of layers of truth to it. First, obviously, to give up your life so another may live is godly and an act of love. But I think another truth is God is calling us to lay down those things in our life that are serving as obstacles from our friends having life. Is your friend getting a mixed message because you drink but profess to be complete in Christ. If so, lay down what's causing the message to be confused! Is a friend staying away from Christ because you profess His love on one hand, but can't stop gossiping about people. Then lay it down. If there are things that define your life that are keeping a friend from Jesus, lay it down! I pray if I'm ever called to die for Christ, that I'll have the courage. But today, I've been called to live for Him. In many ways, that act is even more courageous!
Third, the odyssey of marching forth is highlighted by walking in fellowship with Christ. Henry Blackaby wrote a book entitled, "created to be God's Friend." Do you know that God calls us by name? The same God who gave Abram & Jacob new names is the same God who calls us by name to walk with Him in paths of righteousness. Rev. 3:20 says anyone who responds to the invitation of God will dine with Him and have fellowship with Him. But the only way you can have fellowship with the Lord is to be made holy and pure through His Son. 2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? If you have not placed your eternal security in the provision of God through Jesus, you have no fellowship with God. It is the only way.
Fourth, the odyssey of marching forth is highlighted by walking in the feats of Christ. Christ imbued His disciples to accomplish miracles by the power of His Holy Name. It is for this reason that Peter and John were forbidden by the Sanhedrin to speak the name of Jesus. Instead, they told the Pharisees, "we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard." It is the power of Jesus' name that brings sight to the blind, that makes the lame walk, and most miraculously of all, delivers the hell-bound into heaven. He desires to walk in those feats. He desires us to be bold because of Him. He desires us to daily live in the reality that if He is for us, who can be against us?
Fifth, and finally, the odyssey of marching forth is defined by walking in the fullness of Christ.
God desires for you to be complete. When God moved Israel to the banks of the Red Sea, verse 4 tells us He was doing it to gain honor over Pharaoh and over all His armies, so the Egyptians would know that He is Lord. God uses us to bring honor to Himself. He uses us to teach His children about faith in action. He desires for us to put the legwork to the faithwork. James says faith without works is dead. God desires that our faith is a living faith, making us full and complete, to the praise, glory and honor of our Savior Jesus Christ. So go...march forth! March 4, 2004 1:15 AM