Latest / Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast / #10223 - Learning Life’s Lessons Along the Way - Exodus 19:1-4

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#10223 - Learning Life’s Lessons Along the Way - Exodus 19:1-4 · Calvary Church with Ed Taylor Podcast

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Welcome to the study of God's Word with pastor and author Ed
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Taylor, recorded live at Calvary Church in Aurora, Co.
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To learn more about the many resources available through
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Abounding Grace Media or to tune into our live stream services,
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visit us online at Calvary Co dot Church or download our free
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Calvary Church app. Now.
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Here's Pastor Ed to take us into our study.
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Amen. Open your Bibles to.
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Exodus. Chapter 19 start another chapter
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in our verse by verse study in exodus Exodus 19 and.
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The title of our Bible. Study is learning life's lessons
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along the way. Learning life lessons along the
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way. One of the reasons I think it's
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important that we learn these lessons is because for some
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reason, we're more interested in the destination and what happens
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when we. Get there, whatever there is.
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And miss the whole journey and what there is on the journey,
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what God? Has for us.
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On the way and we are dropping into a time in the children of.
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Israel where they are. On the.
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Way Where are they headed? They're headed to the promised
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land, the land that God promised them.
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They're leaving slavery and a whole identity behind them.
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Generations of slavery ended through the leadership of Moses
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and they're on the journey and we will see tonight.
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A few of the stops. Along the.
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Way by way of review of. Life lessons that they've
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already learned. And I think the life lessons
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they learn are life lessons that we too get to learn.
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Now. We've learned in earlier studies
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that God is not the author of confusion.
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We know that. We know that he loves things
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done decently and in order. So we know right away, as we've
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learned in previous studies, that when confusion arises, we
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just know it's not from the Lord.
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When we're puzzled about something, when we're.
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Baffled about a? Situation that gives us time to.
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Pause. So that God might give us the
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wisdom to make the right decision.
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As you pray, As you pray and ask God for wisdom, do you know
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what? God does he?
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Answers that prayer and gives you wisdom.
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That's what James says. If any of us lack wisdom, let
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him ask of God, who will then give us wisdom without
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partiality. He'll give it an abundance to
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anybody that asks. It's important that we learn to
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wait on the Lord in the circumstances that we're out.
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So if you think about it, we're going to look at some of the
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stops that the children of Israel have made so far along
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the way. But you also have to ask.
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Yourself some of the stops that God has has had you on.
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You may even want to jot them down.
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Some of them might be represented.
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As a very difficult. Season in your life.
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But that was a stop. And there were lessons to learn
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for others. You can also on that list, say
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some of the high points in your life.
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But that was a stop. Sometimes you celebrate and you
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learn. Sometimes you're like, oh, I
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don't want this to last. But God has these.
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Lessons along the way, and as you're in it, God wants to give
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you wisdom. For what's up ahead.
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Or as my pastor. Would always say God is always
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preparing us for what he has prepared for us.
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There's always a work now. For what's up?
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Ahead and we anticipate what's up.
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Ahead by being faithful today. And far from being the.
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God of or the author of? Confusion, the Bible says.
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That he's a God of. Order that all things be done
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decently and in. Order.
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That was an instruction to the church in Corinth, but it's also
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a demonstration all the way back in Genesis, in the.
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Order of creation, so we're. Traveling here in Exodus 2 1/2.
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Three million people, former slaves, with each day and each
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step, one day closer to the Promised land, one day farther
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from their past and the life. Of.
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Egypt. Whenever you think of Egypt,
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remember it's becomes a. Type of the world the.
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World in which we live, the world's behind them, and now
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God's bringing them into the new land, a new.
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Way of life. New laws.
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And with each new day, each new month, there's new.
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Order. Now God wants the children of
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Israel to live. Life to its fullest.
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But in order to live. Life to its fullest.
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In order to. Enjoy life to the fullest.
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Degree they needed. To follow the ways of God, there
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is a purpose. In all the direction that God
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gives. And you know it's God's will for
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you to enjoy life. Did you know that?
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That God's given us all things richly to enjoy?
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Jot it down. First Timothy chapter 6, verse
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17. Command those who are rich in
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this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in
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uncertain riches, but in the living.
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God who gives us richly. All things to enjoy.
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First Timothy 617 James chapter one verse 17 I love this.
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Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from
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the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation.
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Or shadow of. Turning So remember, your life
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is not merely getting to a destination, it's not just
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heading in a direction, but rather enjoying the journey
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along the way and taking it all in for some of you, this is
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very. Easy for you to do.
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It's very easy. I think sometimes it's tied to
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our personality and how God made us.
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Some of us have to. Really slow.
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Down and pay attention and smell the roses or whatever, you know,
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just looking at the sunset. Sometimes it's hard not to, but
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many times you have to slow down and take it all in so much as
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lost because we're not paying attention to what's in front of
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us. Just in the moment, always
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wanting something else instead of enjoying life along the way.
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You'll notice. Come back to Exodus chapter 13.
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I know I asked you Open 19. Stay.
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Hold your place. There come back chapter 13.
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Just by way of review our. Most of our Bible.
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Study today will be by way of review today.
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But notice in verse 3 here in Exodus 13, Moses said to the
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people, remember this day in which you went out of Egypt?
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Out of the. House of bondage for by strength
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of hand the Lord. Brought you out of this place.
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No leavened bread shall be eaten this day you're going out in the
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month of a bead shall be when the Lord brings you into the
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land of Canaanites and the Hittites Mammorites.
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Which he swore to your father's to give you.
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A land flowing with milk and honey.
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That you shall keep this. Service Verse 6-7 days You're
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going to eat unleavened bread. Verse 7, Unleavened bread shall
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be eaten 7 days. You're going to tell your son in
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verse 8 it's going to be a sign on your hand.
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Verse 9, you're going to keep this ordinance.
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Verse 10 And it shall be when the Lord brings you into the
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land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your father's,
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and he gives it to you that you're going to set apart.
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To the Lord all that. Opens the womb every first thing
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that comes from the animal, but every first thing verse 13 of a
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donkey you shall redeem. You shall redeem.
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Verse 14. So it shall be.
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When your son asks you in time to come saying what is this?
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What shall you say? To them, but by strength.
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Mark this by strength of the hand of the.
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Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house.
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Of bondage. God doesn't want us to miss
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this. This is, Can you imagine?
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You have to use your imagination just a little bit.
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But if you were in Egypt and you automatically, it's time to go.
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Get ready. It's time to go, don't you
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think? You would be so caught.
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Up in the moment that you want to get out, you want to get out.
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Before it's too late. You want to get your stuff, You
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want to gather everything and, and, but some, I'm sure we're
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just standing there just thinking.
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I can't believe it. We're gone.
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We're. Can you believe this?
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We're being delivered, you know, come on, let's go.
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We got to get. Out of here.
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But you're like, there's two and a half million people.
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I can wait a million or so and just take it all in and just
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soak it all in some of. You this is a word.
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From God for you. You need to stop and take in
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what the Lord is doing. Not always complaining or upset
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about what God's not doing. I mean, you think about that.
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How's that been working for you? Just living the life of what
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God's not doing and what you wish he would do or what he's
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doing for your friend and he's not doing it for you or what
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that church down the streets doing and what this.
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Like, how's that? Working for you?
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Not too good. It doesn't bring you into the
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Spirit. But if God has you a place.
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Right now, where he's working and he is working in your life,
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just take it all in. Just receive it.
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God has done a work. He's going to.
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Do a work. But there's the in between.
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God has brought you out. He's going to bring you in and
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then notice in between, you know what there is in between your
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testimony. When your kids ask you, you need
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to have an answer. For your kids.
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You need to be able to tell them.
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God says they're going to ask and this is going to be your.
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Heritage. This is going to be your.
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Story. This is going to be.
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What you rehearse? Over and over, you're going to
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say it so many times that it sounds so normal, so routine to
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you. But for the person listening to
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you, it's going to blow their minds.
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Your story, your life. It's going to blow their minds.
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You're like, yeah, it's my story again.
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And even some of you might say, I know your story.
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I know your story. Yeah.
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But you know what's? Special about your story it's
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your story it's God's story of. Redemption in your life.
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And each of these people coming out of Egypt, each of the
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nation, they're going to have their own story, They're going
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to experience it their own way. And in order to enjoy life, we
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need to live within the parameters.
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That God has set for us there is a right way.
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And a wrong way. And here they finally come to
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Mount Sinai. In chapter 19, they come to
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Mount Sinai. God has brought them out to
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bring them in. And notice in verse one in the
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third month, this is chapter 19. After the children of Israel had
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gone out of the land of Egypt on the same day, they came to the
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wilderness of Sinai. And for they had departed from
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Refidim and had come to the desert of Sinai and camped in
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the wilderness. So Israel camped there before
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the mountain three months into their journey and they stop yet
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again three months in. Now, looking back, I want to
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take some time and we're going to review before we get into a
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few more verses in this chapter, I want to review some of the
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previous. Stops.
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Some of them will be very familiar to you because we.
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Stopped at that. Time and actually taught in
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depth on where they were, but some of them may not be so
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familiar because we didn't spend a lot of time on them.
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We're going to spend some time on them now.
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The first one I want you to go back to is in chapter. 12 would
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you go? Back to chapter 12 in verse 37.
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So if you're taking notes along the way, I want you to notice
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these stops along the way and the lessons God had for the
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nation and perhaps. God would have you see.
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Some of the lessons that he has. For you the 1st.
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Place they stopped was in Sucka there in chapter 12.
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In verse 37, then, the children of Israel journey from Ramses.
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To saketh about 6. 100,000 men on foot.
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Besides the. Children, even a mixed
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multitude, went up with them, flocks and herds in a great.
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Deal of livestock saketh, literally.
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A tent town you could translate. This it was the first.
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Time that on the journey that they could.
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Actually, stop. And breathe, perhaps taking it
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all in and go. You know this is for.
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Real. This is for real.
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They're really just. Pilgrims, they're no longer
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bound by the slavery in the. Cruel, harsh leadership.
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In Egypt, they were moving through tent town, just
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pilgrims. The Earth is not our home and
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all that we're seeing right now and all that we're experienced,
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especially with a heightened political environment as we see
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in cycles in our country. It can really bum you out if
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your eyes are only on the world. It's a very.
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I speak for myself. It's a very challenging time to
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watch what's happening in the world today.
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It's very challenging. Now you may have your reasons
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why, but one of the reasons I. See is like difficult political.
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Environments and division and oppression.
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Hurt the very. People that we're seeking to.
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Reach as a church. People suffer because of this.
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When there's ungodly. Leadership, the people suffer.
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More when there's semi godly leadership.
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I mean that. That the reality of of.
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Even though God using it. It's very difficult.
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But I need to remember that Earth is not my home.
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We were talking earlier, you know, just looking at some of
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the difficulty. We're just walking in the office
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this morning. I think it was me and one of the
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sisters are walking in talking about how hard it.
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And then she was, well, you know what the Bible says it's going
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to get worse. And we're like, yes, it's going
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to get worse. And then she went to her office.
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I went to my office and I'm like, yeah, but how much worse
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can it get? I mean, there's so much
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suffering, so much pain, so much oppression, and yet there's a.
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Category of people. That seem to it seems to never
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touch. There's a category.
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Of people, you know, one of the things in Revelation that always
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struck me, that always struck me even from an early time, before
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I got in ministry, anything, I was reading the Book of
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Revelation. One of the things that struck me
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was in the middle of the Great Tribulation period, the worst
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seven years of human history, there's a group of people, a.
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Group of leaders. World leaders.
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That are enjoying wine and oil. The whole world's suffering and
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dying, and they too will suffer and die soon enough.
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But until then. They have a they're.
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Living in the lap of luxury amidst the suffering of the
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world. And we see.
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A taste of that today there's a group.
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That just seems to be untouched, but we need to remember like we
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need to. Stop at Sakath ourselves.
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And remember, hey, we're just passing through.
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We're just passing through, really.
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If you want to remember something along the lines of
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your pilgrimage is that we want to take as many people to heaven
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with us as possible. We desire to be used in that
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way. That's our heart and our desire.
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Don't worry about your mansions here.
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And you're like, well, that I don't have a mansion here.
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Well then don't worry about the mansion you don't have, you
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know, don't worry about it. Be careful.
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What does he say here or what is it?
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Reminder from Ramses to Sakath, Remember in verse 38 a mixed
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multitude. When you think of the tent city
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in your pilgrimage, you be careful of the mixed multitude.
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The Bible warns us that evil company corrupts good habits.
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Don't you think that you're the exception to that biblical
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truth? And also in your own life, don't
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be bad company. Seek the.
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Lord, while He might be found, obey Him.
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Surrender your life to Him. Get serious.
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About the things of God. We're living for heaven, not
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earth. We're seeking first His Kingdom.
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If you live. For heaven, you get earth thrown
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in as a bonus. You you have all.
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To richly enjoy. But remember, if you live only
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for Earth, you're going to be greatly disappointed if you
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haven't been already. Disappointment after
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disappointment. That was stop #1.
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Notice stop #2 Chapter 13, verse 20.
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Chapter 13, verse 20. It says they took their.
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Journey from Sakath and camped ETHM.
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At the edge of. The wilderness the Lord went
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before them by day, and a pillar of.
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Of cloud to lead the lead the way.
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And by night A. Pillar of Fire.
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To give them light. So as so as to go by.
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Day and night he didn't take. Away the pillar of cloud or the
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day by day? And the pillar of fire by night,
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from before the people Etham Etham speaks.
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Of the edge of the. Wilderness.
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They went from a place of reminding that their life on
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Earth is not permanent. They're just pilgrims.
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To the edge. Of the wilderness before them is
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this large and ominous desert, and God took them to eat them
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and reminded them that he was with them.
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You go, Ed. Where do you see that?
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Well, he didn't take. Away the pillar of cloud by day
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or the. Pillar of fire by night.
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He he has. His presence is with him.
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He he says it's, it's here at. Ethan, where he says I'm going
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to be your personal guide. Just watch me.
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Just watch. Me pay attention in the daytime,
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you can watch the. Cloud Watch the cloud by day.
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At night there'll be fire. A pillar.
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It'll be very. Obvious.
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All they needed to do was learn. How to follow?
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His lead and you go Ed, Why is this such an important thing?
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Because in Egypt they didn't live like this.
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This wasn't their life. They listened to a different
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voice. They had a different routine.
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They had a. Whole different set of habits.
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So much of their life was not the decisions were not made by
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them. It were they were made for them
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under harshness and cruelty. But here at Etham just God was
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saying I want you to know I'm adding something to your life.
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I'm ready to lead you and guide you.
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Just got to look to me. You have to go.
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Eyes wide open, you wouldn't see the cloud or or see the fire.
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If your eyes were closed. If your hands were over your
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face, if you weren't paying attention, if you.
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Were rebellious if you refuse. This new life.
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At the edge of the. Wilderness.
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Would be a life of faith. Notice the next stop chapter 14
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verse 2 chapter 14 verse 2 it says now the Lord spoke to Moses
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saying speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp.
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Before Π Haharath. Between MIG da and the.
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Sea opposite by Al. Zephan, you shall camp.
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Before it by the sea. Now.
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Now they're led. To a place you'll recall.
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That seemed absolutely wrong. They were led into a trap.
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They were led to a place where. They didn't see the hand of God.
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They only saw their circumstances.
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Isn't that life? Sometimes they only see their
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circumstances. That's all.
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They can see what's in front of them.
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What's in front of him is the red.
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Sea What's? Behind them is an Egyptian army.
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What's to the left and to the right?
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Are are. Seeming insurmountable
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mountains, I said. I want you to stop.
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There. I want you to pause.
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Here. I don't want you to move here.
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Don't run away. Don't try.
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To escape. What do we learn here?
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This is what we learn, no matter.
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What you see, God has. A plan.
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He has a way. Where there is no way he has an
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answer when you don't have it. He has money when your bank
19:32
account's empty. He has relationships when you
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don't have one. He has friends when you need
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them. That God is.
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In your life, you can trust him. But you've got to camp there.
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You can't wiggle out of it. You got to camp.
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Yeah, but you don't understand. The Egyptians are behind me.
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And if I stay here one day longer, I'm a goner.
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No, No. That's where I want you to stay.
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What is wrong with God? Have you brought me out?
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Have. You brought us here to kill us.
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And circumstances, they can be heavy, but God has a plan and a
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purpose not only to deliver and keep His word to the nation.
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But to show his power to the world, to Egypt.
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He's going to do it and he. Provides a way of escape.
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When there was none. God always provides a way of
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escape. When it comes, it's a
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temptation. No temptation is overtaking you
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except such as common a man. But with every temptation there
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is. Always a way.
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Of escape. Do you know that way of escape?
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You know how often it You know what it's often what often, how
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you often live out and take the way of escape.
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You learned this. Word.
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You ready? No.
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You say no to send. You say no to temptation.
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You say no to a person that is tempting you.
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You say no most of the time. The Lord's power latches.
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On to that and you have taken the wave escape.
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It's like I'm not going there, I'm not doing that.
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I'm not hanging out there. I'm not compromising it.
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On and on and on. You can go pie Ha Roth boxed in
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so often. That's how we feel.
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Chapter 15, verse 23, very familiar.
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We spent some significant time on this stop.
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Chapter 15, verse 23. Now when they came to Mara,
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remember Mara Church. Can I get a name in on that?
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Nobody wants to stop at Mara, but everyone does.
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Everyone has an appointment at Mara.
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They couldn't drink the waters of Mara.
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You remember why? It says right here.
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They were say with me. Bitter and.
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Therefore the name of it was. Called.
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Mara, bitterness, bitterness. They had to taste.
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Bitterness in a controlled environment.
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They get through, but they're very thirsty.
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They're very expectant. They come to water, they jump in
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to begin, They jump in to take it in, only to find out that.
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It's very bitter. And Mara reminds us, there's
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times and lives. There's times in our life, that
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life. Will be bitter.
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And have a bitter. Taste to it.
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We went in depth on this so I don't want to.
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Today but. There's a difference between
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experiencing something that's bitter and becoming bitter, and
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I would. Say the ratio should.
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Far outweigh as we experience things that.
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Give us a bad taste. And difficulty that that's going
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to happen far more than we becoming bitter.
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Ourselves. Anger.
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You know, frustrated anger, bitter, resentful.
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We want to be. Careful of those.
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But they needed to stop at Mara and taste those.
22:45
Waters. Why?
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Well, notice chapter 15, verse 27.
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What's next? Then they came to Elam.
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Where there were 12 wells of. Water and 70 palm.
22:56
Trees. So they camped there by the
22:58
waters 12. Wells of water 17 palm trees,
23:02
Refreshment and rest. There's refreshment and rest.
23:07
Even out of bitterness, God brings them to a place of rest,
23:11
relaxation. Going back to Egypt wouldn't do
23:14
it. Digging their own wells wasn't
23:17
sufficient. It was.
23:19
The wells of. Freshness that God provided and
23:23
this is something I learned as I was studying through First
23:25
Samuel and it's a warning to. All of us, you.
23:28
You. Can't take things into your own
23:30
hands? You must trust the.
23:33
Lord what he has. For you, is better than anything
23:35
you could ever do. Anything that you could ever.
23:38
Work up. Anything that you could ever.
23:40
Create. God's way is much better and
23:43
they needed to experience Elam the way I Mara leads to Elam.
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And I would say if bitterness comes into our life.
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The best place is just. To come back to the.
23:51
Lord. And start being refreshed.
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With the water of his word. Abiding in Christ John 7 out of
23:58
the abundance of a. Of your heart will flow what
24:01
rivers of. Living water clean, fresh water
24:05
from the Lord come back to him. I wonder how many listening to
24:09
me today. Bitterness is where you've
24:12
camped, and that's not the end of our.
24:15
Bible study because they got. Up from bitterness and they came
24:18
to Elam, but even the rest and relaxation ended there because
24:22
they needed to get up and keep moving.
24:23
Why? Because it's the journey.
24:25
It's not just the destination, it's the journey.
24:28
It's the journey. Chapter 16, verse one.
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And they journeyed from Elam, and all the congregation of the
24:35
children of Israel came to came to the wilderness of seen.
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Now it's spelled sin in the English, but it's not.
24:41
A word that refers to. Sin at all the wilderness of
24:44
Seen, which is between Elam and Sinai.
24:48
So this was a rocky, difficult place.
24:50
They go from bitterness, you know, nasty water to fresh rest
24:54
and relaxation and shade and refreshment.
24:58
And now they come to the wilderness of scene and they're
25:00
hungry and they're complaining about.
25:03
Food. This is where God.
25:04
Provided manna they had so much manna, so much of God's
25:11
faithfulness manna. Manna from heaven, a symbol in
25:15
the scriptures of. God's.
25:16
Provision of God's Word of him taking care of us Church, I
25:22
don't want you to underestimate the.
25:24
Power of God's Word. I don't want you to
25:26
underestimate how much. He's ready to bless you if you
25:29
would just. Open it and read it how much he
25:32
wants to show you of himself and you know those of you that are
25:35
new to the Bible, and I know many of you are.
25:38
Here's the thing. If there's a.
25:39
Hard part of the Bible. Just skip it.
25:42
Just go right past it. You're in a season right now,
25:45
you know, Read it, but you don't have to stop it.
25:46
Go. I don't think I'll ever read the
25:47
Bible until I understand this. Difficult.
25:49
Passage You know people have spent their whole life trying
25:52
to. Figure out that difficult
25:53
passage. So you have permission to as
25:55
you're reading the Bible, just read it and take it in because
25:57
it. Is God's word.
25:58
But you don't have to understand every single thing you're
26:01
reading to continue on because you're going to get to something
26:04
you will understand. You'll get to say, oh, I get
26:06
that. Oh, they stop, I mean.
26:08
You think about I've taught. You in depth about Mara and
26:11
Elam, but you know, if you read Mara and Elam, it's pretty you
26:14
don't need a password to explain it to you.
26:15
You know it says right there, Mara.
26:17
Is. Bitter and Elam has fresh water
26:20
and you can just go like that's amazing.
26:21
God, that you would allow them so thirsty to come to these
26:25
waters and be so disappointed. But just a little.
26:28
Bit farther along with Elam. God, you're so good.
26:31
You're so faithful. You can as you're reading the
26:34
Bible, you could be in the morning, your morning DeVos and
26:37
God is just telling you, hey, bitterness isn't going to last
26:40
forever. Elam is right up ahead, but you
26:44
have to get into the. Word of God Church.
26:46
You have to. You have to.
26:50
So much is lost. Today, because there's a lack.
26:53
Of the reverence and respect and the reception.
26:57
Of God's Word. And I commend you, you we're
26:59
we're here in a midweek. You're listening on the radio or
27:02
maybe catching a different video, you know, watching a
27:05
Bible study. I commend you for pressing in.
27:07
But this is for those that aren't pressing in or even today
27:10
you might be pressing into Bible study.
27:12
That's. Great Bible study, Bible study,
27:14
Bible study those are. Powerful and wonderful God has
27:17
given His church pastors and teachers.
27:19
To help us to build us up to. Equip us and prepare.
27:22
Us. Yes, yes, yes.
27:24
So you got to take the word. Of God to your own heart and
27:27
your own soul. Yourself.
27:28
Just you and the Lord. With the teacher, the holy.
27:31
Spirit ministering to you. Through his word.
27:35
You might find even better, you might even have a note in your
27:38
Bible. Go.
27:38
I've got a better insight on that than you got, pastor.
27:41
I know you did. The Holy Spirit's a wonderful
27:43
teacher. I'm so glad you did.
27:46
Because that was God's word for you.
27:47
You even had it jotted down there of.
27:49
What a special. Day and special morning it was
27:52
so they come to that rocky place and that God gives them manna
27:57
notice now in chapter 17 verse one it says not all the
28:02
congregation of the children of. Israel set.
28:04
Out on their journey from the wilderness of scene according to
28:07
the commandment of the Lord, and they camped in Refidim, but
28:11
there's no. Water for the people.
28:12
To drink, so they contended with Moses.
28:15
Give us water. That we may drink.
28:17
And Moses said to them, Why do you contend with me?
28:20
Why do you tempt the Lord? Thirsty again as we read on and
28:26
we studied Moses strikes. The rock God provides water.
28:29
For this complaining group that's a few months out in the
28:33
wilderness, it's all brand new. For them, you have to step back
28:37
and say, man, what a parallel the children of Israel coming
28:41
out of. Egypt out of.
28:43
Slavery into the promised land and it's a journey.
28:46
It doesn't happen overnight. What a parallel that is to the
28:50
believer's. Life coming out of sin, some of
28:54
us getting saved later in life, being delivered from this
28:57
horrific sin. But then it's a journey.
28:59
Things don't change overnight, do they?
29:02
Thoughts don't change overnight. Habits don't change overnight.
29:05
I mean, we have a new love, we have a new life, we're a new
29:08
creation in. Christ, we are the theological.
29:11
Words, if you're taking notes just so you can know them, The
29:13
theological words of salvation. It happens in a moment.
29:17
Justification. You are made right with God in
29:20
an instant. By the blood of Jesus Christ.
29:23
But then there's a journey of your whole life and the journey
29:28
though. Theological word that the Bible
29:30
uses to describe that is. Sanctification where you and I
29:34
through our life's. Experiences through our
29:36
obedience, through our failures, through our successes, through
29:39
the Word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit.
29:41
We are being conformed into the image.
29:43
Of Jesus Christ. So while we haven't arrived yet
29:46
on the journey, I hope we're learning along the way and we're
29:50
growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ that's
29:53
important for us and then the destination.
29:56
The theological word. For that destination is and when
29:58
we're face to face in our new bodies.
30:01
We're with. Jesus for all of eternity.
30:03
The the word. For that is known as
30:04
glorification, and that's still yet future.
30:07
None of us have experienced that glorification.
30:10
We're no more sin, and we're just so.
30:12
It's just. Everything that we've ever
30:14
desired in the presence of the Lord, we're not there yet.
30:16
We're in the sanctification process.
30:19
God is changing us. Some of you like the change.
30:21
Some of you don't like the change.
30:23
Some of you like it when you agree with it.
30:25
Some of you don't like it, but that sometimes you get to this
30:27
place and you're like, we're thirsty again and you're.
30:30
So quick to forget how God's provided water.
30:33
Last time, don't you remember, Elam, you filled all your
30:36
containers you took like you had so much water.
30:39
You had enough to take with you, and now you're going to get mad
30:42
at Moses. And there they are.
30:45
But God provides again. That rock.
30:48
We learn in the New Testament represented Jesus that rock was.
30:51
Jesus Christ providing water for the people.
30:56
And. Rest, Jesus, is our true rest.
31:00
And through Jesus, his wonderful Spirit comforts us and gives.
31:04
US here also is the place where there's victory over.
31:08
The Amalekites as we were studying in our previous.
31:12
Studies this area this stop. Where God brings order to the
31:16
nation in the leadership. So it's been at work and you can
31:20
see along the way God has been at work.
31:23
So when you go home today and we have just a few more things,
31:27
we'll see what we can cover. But when you go home today, I
31:30
want you to spend some time considering your journey and
31:36
would. Just give God credit.
31:37
For some of the stops, just out loud in your prayer life, in
31:41
your prayer journal, give God credit for some of the.
31:43
Stops go back to the. Time where you're like, yeah, I
31:46
remember complaining about. About this to God, I was so
31:49
upset. And then how God not only
31:53
provided whatever you needed, but He moved you on to the next
31:55
stop. Or you look back and go.
31:57
I remember the day where I learned how to.
32:00
Live by faith. I took that step of faith.
32:04
I've never done that in my whole life.
32:06
God asked me to do this. He asked me to do this.
32:09
He asked me to move. Here, Yeah, he I.
32:11
Remember, he wanted me to quit my job.
32:12
He wanted. I just couldn't.
32:14
Believe it, all he wanted me to do is look to him and when he
32:18
moved, I moved and when he. Stayed.
32:21
I stayed. And my life's never been the
32:23
same. Give God credit, just like the
32:26
journey we see here, we'll notice now come back now to our
32:30
text in chapter 19. They come to Sinai and it says
32:34
in verse 3 Moses went up to God and the Lord called him from the
32:38
mountains, saying thus you shall.
32:39
Say to the House of Jacob. And tell the children of Israel
32:43
you have seen. What I did to the?
32:45
Egyptians and how I. Bore you.
32:47
On eagle's wings and brought you to myself and we say Amen we
32:54
just saw some of the. Stops of what God was.
32:57
Showing them along the way how he delivered them and took care
33:01
of them. And I love this in verse 3.
33:03
It's so neat. It says Moses went up to God and
33:08
God called to him. I think of all the women that
33:11
will be getting out into the mountains, very symbolically
33:15
going up. To seek.
33:17
God and how in that moment, in those 2 1/2 days, in that time
33:22
of solace, getting away from everything moving in that day
33:26
when you're going up to them, God is going to be calling to
33:30
the women. But you don't need to be on a
33:32
retreat to do that. You.
33:34
Posture your life to go. Go up to God.
33:38
And he will come to you. It does take a special.
33:41
Effort and discipline to go up to God.
33:44
Often we're in a place. Of asking God to hear us.
33:47
And he? Does he does hear us?
33:52
And yet. The reality is we follow the
33:55
life of Jesus carefully. We see that.
33:57
He made an effort constantly to get away and commune with his
34:00
father, which is why you may or may not always realize.
34:06
This. And I would say that if you're
34:09
not careful, church becomes very repetitious, habitual, and on
34:14
the bottom of. The task list.
34:16
If something more interesting comes along, you have to.
34:18
Be careful because. It's not seen for the.
34:20
Value that it is. But in a small way, for some of
34:23
you, in a very large way, when you rearrange your life around
34:27
the gathering times of your church, this is what you're
34:31
doing. You're going up to God when you
34:35
say no to whatever. Maybe something's more
34:37
compelling even happening right now on the service.
34:39
You know, no, I need to be with the I need to be at the House of
34:42
the Lord. I know it's just a building, but
34:44
I need to be there. I know you could do it online,
34:47
but online is not the same. Can I get an Amen on that?
34:51
Online is not the same. It's great and it's useful, but
34:54
it's not the same as being here. You don't know what God's going
34:56
to. But I think of of the testimony
34:59
Pastor Enrique shares tonight. You had to be on the property
35:04
ten years ago in order to lay your hand on some stranger
35:08
that's on the property and pray for him.
35:12
You had to be here. It's not going to happen.
35:14
You know, like laying hand like you, we don't even have anything
35:17
on TV for that, but like laying hands on YouTube, it's not the
35:20
same. You've got to be in.
35:21
Proximity, which is where Acts chapter 2, verse 42.
35:25
Comes into play where they continue steadfastly in
35:28
apostles, doctrine and in fellowship.
35:32
That's a very important word. We're out of time today.
35:34
We'll pick up next time, but I'll pick up on this.
35:36
It's a very important word. Koinonia.
35:41
It's a. It's a.
35:42
Significant word within the body.
35:44
Of Christ so that. You're in proximity because when
35:48
you're in proximity, you have opportunity for fellowship.
35:52
Now we can use technology for sure.
35:53
Technology is another tool, communication and.
35:56
It has its place. But in priority, Koinonia is
36:00
never done alone. It's always done with someone.
36:04
Fellowship. And to be in the House of the
36:07
Lord right now, and in different ways, I guess.
36:10
If you could. Put a list #1 be together and if
36:14
you can't be together then try to listen in live and if you
36:16
can't try to then pick it up later.
36:18
Like I know there are priorities depending on our life.
36:21
But church do. Not neglect the gathering
36:26
together, as is some the manner of some.
36:30
Don't neglect it. It's good for you.
36:33
It's so good for you. Get.
36:36
To the men's gatherings. Men get involved in a small
36:40
group in the house. Encourage ladies to be together.
36:47
Come to the small. Groups where there's.
36:49
Prayer where there's encouragement.
36:52
Where there is opportunity for. Proximity, but never forget this
36:57
and this. Is where I'll close for.
36:58
Day today, although we emphasize the.
37:01
Fellowship of US Together Fellowship.
37:06
Among Us together would never happen and will never happen
37:13
unless we. Have fellowship with God.
37:17
That's true Koinonia. You know we often use this verse
37:21
in. Ecclesiastes a threefold.
37:22
Court is not easily broken. We use it in marriage ceremonies
37:27
and premarital times, and it's an accurate, wonderful
37:30
illustration. But it's also a beautiful.
37:33
Picture of Koinonia. Where two or three?
37:36
Are gathered. I'm there in the midst.
37:40
He's among us and fellowship is so important.
37:43
We'll get into that next time. So, God, we want to learn how to
37:46
be on the journey growing in grace.
37:49
I thank you for the testimonies tonight.
37:51
And. For the.
37:52
The young people being up here for the testimony of Enrique and
37:56
his precious wife and son and now family and all the.
38:00
People that are affected. By their decision to.
38:03
Follow you they. Too are on a journey, I'm on a
38:08
journey, our church family's on a journey and we're just so.
38:11
Grateful Lord, that. You have been faithful that you
38:14
remain faithful and we can follow you and enjoy the
38:19
journey. We may have some hard lessons to
38:21
learn, we may have some exciting lessons to learn, but you are
38:24
taking us and leading us nonetheless, and we want to look
38:28
to you and live by faith in Jesus name, Amen.
38:32
We pray that you've been encouraged by this Bible study
38:34
delivered live from the sanctuary of Calvary Church for
38:38
prayer. Call us at 87730 grace that's
38:43
877-304-7223. To listen to this message in its
38:48
integrity or to join us for our live stream services, visit us
38:53
online at Calvary Co dot Church or download our free Calvary
38:58
Church app. Be blessed as you worship Jesus
39:01
this week.