Faith When The Way is Dark - Part 2 of 3

Will you will apply, Sharon Begley, Junior, welcoming you to one of the broadcast of the Baptist Bible. Our I encourage you to write another snow that your listening mentioned the call letters of the station for which the program comes to you and if you requested, we will send you a sample copy of our publication. The Baptist witness think you'll find the articles to be helpful and there's some interesting letters from some of our listeners � for our publication.

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Our box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217, and I hope that you pray for us that our needs will be supplied so we can keep this broadcast on the air. We continue today with the second part of the message entitled faith in the way is dark, and exalted themselves and used repeatedly.

The personal pronoun just like mechanisms that this is my kingdom that I've gotten on my mind for my glory if I will say I miss it I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoils. My lust will be satisfied upon them. I will draw my sword in my hands of a strong consumer with ego self-esteem is taking themselves highly as he was in charge.

He would write his way about its blow with my weekend.

The sea covered them. They sank as land in the muddy waters God is able to bring down the mighty from their seats, who is like under the old Lord among the gods who is likely and praises doing wonders that stretches out my right hand the earth swallow the Al-Anon mercy has led forth the people, which thou hast redeemed that has guided by strength under thy holy habitation devotional that must've been a marvelous thing to have heard these thousands of people lifting up their voices and singing praises to God because they had seen his mighty power. They had been so gripped by fear. Now they seen what God has done on their half and they praised for.

They recognize it wasn't their skill. It wasn't their plans and schemes.

It was God who had delivered them you think about your own personal experience have you not had some places in your life for your situation was just as difficult as far as you personally were concerned, as was for these Israelites up against the Red Sea, you look for a lot of ways to change your circumstances, you look for a way of escape, and there was none. You had to trust God. He came to your rescue brought you through Shirley.

You should be praising him continually for the abundance of his mercies, then we see that God's children often face great trials, but God's people often struggle with fear. The people were very much afraid and relate to that given slavery all those years and now you're faced with an army coming down upon you look at your family. What was what happened to them. Exodus chapter 14 verse 10 says and when Pharaoh drew nine the children of Israel lifted up their eyes. And behold, the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore afraid. And the children cried out on the Lord were just frightened work just a little after they were sore afraid.

They were gripped with fear had that experience. Sometimes look down the way.

Not only are struggling with the problems of the present. But you wonder what the future holds.

You have concerns about your health. You have concerns about your finances, you have concerns about your retirement. You have concerns what happened to you in old age had concerned about this problem that fear.

Remember when David came from tending his father's sheep.

The last the Philistine giant was there ridiculing the armies of the most high God putting out a challenge for somebody to come and fight. Why was nobody accepting the challenge fear military men explain skill here. No, David, young lad would already had experience to know what God was able to do by faith to go out and conquer the giant then you think about that great prophet Elijah outstanding man of God.

He put in an appearance on Mount Transfiguration along with Moses.

We know he was a godly man man of faith had special transportation is a cherry fire. Elijah feared how he was courageous, but they will not karma when he prayed for the fire come down out of heaven, and not only consume the sacrifice but burned at the altar, but when Jezebel got a he was afraid you had times when when the Lord was with you and make many of her sermon that just lifted you up just going to get the spots in. That's what I needed and I believe I can trust God if the world on fire and then some little thing happened. So here's a little blip comes on the screen. Some some person says something mean and nasty to you. Some of them and use this fall apart. What happened overnight look like bone or faith evacuated, you just read in the grips of fear. You wonder what is Elijah this great victory and if you come on about their lay down in the juniper tree groaning and moaning years and what kind of a preacher is as preachers have their fainting fits as well as other people.

Here he was in the midst of a big one.

But the Lord and leave them alone know you probably look at it. So if you behave like that. But, like I did leave you out here in your misery look to the Lord blessed and have rest and food that's sometimes what's needed in our moments of despair. The Lord delivered them, and blessed is he would begin to look at the enemy. So when you're looking at Egyptians are looking at the pagan giant door looking at a wicked queen or looking at any enemy you can begin to fear as a matter fact spend very much time looking at yourself can cause you to be afraid Moses had little problem with that. When the Lord first visited him and told him of the task at hand and only had a sense that he was to deliver God's people, but because he had killed that Egyptian he had to flee and spent 40 years on the backside of the desert.

Moses probably had days when he really wondered what the future held for him thought that God had worked for me to do this filing away my time out here, but the sheep but I had a great work but it looks like something to happen and then one day, God appears to him in the burning bush tells him he's ready for them to go down and deliver the people in Exodus chapter 3 of us struck, particularly as I read through this with this expression. Verse seven Exodus 3 verse seven and the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people, which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows and that good. The Lord knew their sorrows, he knows your sorrows to one thing that can make it extremely difficult for us in the midst of our struggles is a sense of being alone feeling at times it even those closest to us don't understand or not there to support us but when we understand that the Lord knows our sorrows, and he's promised never to leave us nor forsake us. That should give us the greatest hope and consolation anything could possibly keep in verse 11 when the Lord has told him to go down and demand the release of the Israelites. Moses said unto God, who am I that I should go under Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Sometimes respond that way when you read in the Scriptures of things that you are to be doing as you hear from the pulpit and so who am I Lord I know there must be better people. You could use must must be people more qualified people are more honorable people to walk more closely with the Lord whom I that you would even think about using me you think about your weaknesses. You probably know better than anybody else you think about your failings, you know better than anybody else.

You get pretty far down thinking about choices that you made that workhorses of faith failures that you had in your life since that you committed things that you failed to do opportunities that you missed look at yourself get pretty miserable.

Chapter 4 verse 10 Moses said to the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither hereto for, nor since thou hast spoken on the last servant, but I am slow of speech and of a slow tone and the Lord said unto him, who hath made man's mouth or who maketh the dome or death, or the sea or the blind have not I the Lord poses is yours and I got to speak well and I'm not fluent in my speech to make your mouth, as though the Lord one aware of Moses limitations before him started talking to. I'm in charge I'm on the page now therefore go, and I will be with our mouth and teach thee what they have to say my method worked very well as parts and I'll be with you. I'll help you as you go. Not only that said I'll give Aaron and I bless you that you know what to say. Moses wouldn't quit. He kept making excuses Saying I just I'm just not the man I just can't do it and finally says the Lord was angry with Dale and the Lord calls us to follow and serve him with this not make excuses, Moses, David, but ultimately surrendered himself to the Lord God's people are often discouraged with fear, but the third thing we want to consider is that God gives instruction to us all of his people as to how we are to conduct ourselves in the trials, not left out here rambling around saying well I just I just I just don't know what my attitude should be.

I don't know how I should respond. Or sometimes we don't even wait � the question we just get upset. We get angry we get depressed we withdraw the same. I just give up. I don't feel like doing my work. I don't feel like doing the things out to be. Don't feel down, I'm depressed. I'm a pitch in the town, but in Exodus 14 verse 13, when Moses was speaking to the people of the Red Sea. He said fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever was the first thing Moses says to them, fear ye not that I don't us to tell somebody, don't be afraid. Doesn't mean a whole lot. But when you've got 66 books in the Bible to confirm the fact that God is a big God.

And this God who is the sovereign creator in this God who is your heavenly father says do you fear not. And the reason you don't have to fear is because I want to be with you and that's grounds to say there is no need to fear the book of Isaiah chapter 41 where there's several such admonitions as a reminder to not be overcome by fear. Isaiah 4110 fear thou not for I am with the that's what makes this promise meaningful not to say in your fear reason your lack of fear because I am with the be not dismayed, for I am thy God I will strengthen the AI will help the AI will uphold me with the right hand of my righteousness, and all they that were incensed against the shall be ashamed and confounded, they shall be as nothing and they that strive with the shall perish � and seek them as not find them, even them that contended with the they that war against the shall be as nothing and as a thing of naught, for the Lord thy God will hold my right hand, saying out of the fear not, I will help the fear not. Now Jacob and you live Israel.

I will help things saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the holy one of Israel, that some might be offended if you say fear not, little worm, but Jacob wasn't hurt that he knew he was little and insignificant in the Lord says fear not, I worm Jacob PCs comforted by the instruction that is given to us in the times of our trouble in trial is first of all, fear not. Checking thing is he's a standstill fear you not stand still, there's a time for standing still. Often we can make great mistakes when we assume that I've got to immediately go into action. You may not have a clear perception of what that action needs to be. You may not have thought through the decisions that you're making you rush madly into it and often we complicate things because we have not taken time to standstill.

Psalm 46 verse 10 be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the Kievan. I will be exalted in the earth.

I'm sure that's not an excuse for idleness doesn't mean that you perpetually standstill and do nothing about your problems.

If there is something that is explicitly commanded in Scripture, it is to be done without hesitation. Often the things it perplexes our areas of decisions that are not explicitly define. It requires diligent prayer in searching the Scriptures and application of them in our lives is a place for standing still and as we standstill. We continue to pray we plot our hearts before the Lord, we unburden our soul with him to let him know. Not that he's unaware of it, but to express to him as his child. We speak to our father telling of all of the hurts and all the struggles all the doubts of all of the fears and all of the sins of which we have agreed and asked for his forgiveness. You fear not you standstill, third thing Moses said here see the salvation of the Lord. Now obviously there was a deliverance they were going to see when the waters were low back and they traveled on dry land and then when they came together once more and drown Pharaoh and his host in the depths, but it would seem that Moses is concerned that at this very juncture. They are keenly aware that there is deliverance in the Lord and to see his salvation in advance is to give us the courage to trust him about what the immediate circumstances may be other words I think if we seek your salvation. It's as much as David sought before he got on the battlefield to face the life he said the battle is the Lord's heat. He speaks all victory before Victor came by faith he was trusting God believing the dogs want to get them through.

He trusted them wasn't turning to some self-help program wasn't using some kind of scheme that he had worked with over an extended period of time and come out feeling like I can. I can handle the situation so we are to see the salvation of the Lord and then the next thing he says in the 15th verse Exodus 14 verse 15 after saying the Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore, cross that one to me speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward, there came a time they were to go forward. But first they were. Fear not. Secondly, they were standstill. Thirdly, they were to see the salvation of the Lord and then they were to go forward.

There comes a time to go forward and to be this whole 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews is a marvelous place to bring together principles that seem sometimes to confuse people because you can't read this chapter without recognizing divine providence. You see the sovereignty of God. You see the hand of God and yet it is a chapter that emphasizes faith.

God was at work. God was blessing God was delivering his people at various times in a variety of ways, but they were trusting they were walking by faith see some people get to the place of such emphasis is put upon faith that it's like faith is an entity unto itself that faith is some kind of a power that's going to win the victory and then you get others that emphasize the fact that the work is of God and faith is not even a part, but in this chapter you see the two in harmony and so he's telling them now for something to do.

You cast off fear you waited before the Lord your convinced that deliverance is of him and now you go forward.

Psalm 119 session of the 66 first teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed thy commandments. I believe the commandments of God, God commands me to do something.

God commands me to obey God commands me to move forward prayerful but God will bless me in the performance of those things. It is been we do.

You can see it, particularly in the experience of Abraham Hebrews chapter 11 verse eight by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeying and he went out, not knowing whither he went God calling God made a covenant with God. Had a great plan for God is matter-of-fact in that covenant revealed the promise concerning the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. That's how vital this was the book of Galatians, he says that he was speaking not of scenes is plural. Not a minute, but of seed singular talk about the promised seed Jesus Christ made a covenant with Abraham. But this is by faith Abraham was called out.

He went your way. There was active obedience on his part. He did what God called him to do the children of Israel.

Now, in response to Moses called Jesus a man of faith others in leadership positions are men of faith and no doubt there are many among them that are men and women of faith. Although there were some who were not but God says move toward the sea at the Carlotta faith of the first time ever saw the Atlantic Ocean was at night and it was very, very dark when I went out today to the water just hearing the noise of the incoming waves and and and trying to have some perception of of looking out across the darkened waters. It was awesome to me was just something beyond what I've been able to envision as to what would life be like to be at the ocean's age and you remember that it was nighttime here now, the Lord provided like for his people, but as they come to this see that there must honestly have been not just apprehension about Pharaoh's host in hot pursuit, but about the crossing of the sea itself, but they were to go father. They were to move whoever would've imagined that the sea as the obstacle in their path. The sea which was the problem at hand, would become the way of deliverance. But isn't that again an unfolding of the marvelous province of God never thought when Pharaoh said I want all the male children to be killed that his house would provide safety for the man God was going to use that ultimately lead the people out and imagine how they faced the Red Sea, God's going to part the waters make a drive path for them to walk how amazing is the way in which God works to the glory of his name and the good of his people.

The Lord delivered the Lord saved his people.

It was God's work. Nobody can take any credit for not even Moses himself. He was happy to give God all the praise and all the glory. Exodus chapter 14 verses 3031 thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore and Israel saw that great work which will be upon the Egyptians misunderstand that what was in the Lord did a great work upon the Egyptians right working it was Brandon and the people feared the Lord and believe that the Lord is a good time.

The bleeding money. See what you just done believe the Lord and his servant Moses in a question about how it happened.

It was God's power was God's purpose. It was God's work. God's glory. And yet what the text say that we've chosen Hebrews 1129 by faith they passed through the Red Sea by dryland which the Egyptians are saying to do or drown somebody by someone.

I just which way was was it by faith to God doing it was by faith and God did it and faith itself is the gift of God so God gets the credit for it all. We often face great trials, we often struggle with fear. But God gives us instruction as to how we conduct ourselves in the time of trial. Fear not standstill see his salvation. Go forward to what he says the matter what the obstacle the matter how difficult the path I watch words go forward, we want to go forward in obedience to our Savior's command serve and honor him to the glory of his name. Indeed, it is in the dark times when our faith is tested and we have to go to the Lord. Sometimes we struggle and pray Lord increase my faith.

But we know that by trusting in God will never be disappointed when he is our confidence in the one upon whom the rest.

I hope that you will write and let us know that you listen to the program addresses the Baptist Bible Auerbach 17 oh 47, Cincinnati, OH 45217 Richard next time.

This is Lucero Bradley Junior bidding you goodbye and may God bless you and in all and in all and all