WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:06.759 This morning we have a guest preacher, since Matthew is on vacation, I'd like to ask Jeff 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:08.500 Kreisel to come forward. 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:15.740 Jeff is the RUF pastor at the Air Force Academy, and if you would like to know more about his 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:19.920 ministry, I'm sure he would be glad to tell you about it, and he even has a sign-up sheet 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:25.260 out front for his email newsletter, and he also brought swag. 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:28.160 So please welcome Jeff Kreisel. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.539 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:34.740 My name is Jeff Kreisel. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.079 I'm the RUF campus minister at the Air Force Academy. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:38.320 I'm excited to be here. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:43.380 I always love coming to Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and worshiping with you all and bringing 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:45.240 God's word to God's people here. 00:00:46.760 --> 00:00:50.920 So for those who are unfamiliar with RUF, it stands for Reformed University Fellowship. 00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:53.679 RUF is the PCA's campus ministry. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:58.219 We're at 160 campuses, not only nationwide, but globally. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:03.379 God is doing some amazing things through RUF, and I'd love to tell you more about what he's 00:01:03.379 --> 00:01:04.560 doing at the Air Force Academy. 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:08.239 I will talk your ear off if you grab me after the service. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:15.140 RUF strives to bring the church to the campus because we believe that the campus is in desperate 00:01:15.140 --> 00:01:16.200 need of the church. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:18.099 That is our goal. 00:01:18.299 --> 00:01:19.000 That is our hope. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.299 So that is what we are after. 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:28.500 So fun fact, the last time I preached at Cheyenne Mountain was the first Sunday in 2019. 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:32.540 And now I get to preach the last Sunday in 2019. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:38.680 So my year, your year, I guess, has been bookended with me being here at Cheyenne Mountain. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:39.319 It's kind of neat. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:43.859 A lot has happened this past year in my life, in our ministry. 00:01:44.459 --> 00:01:46.759 We have made some difficult decisions. 00:01:47.139 --> 00:01:50.719 We have faced some very difficult crossroads. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:54.419 I'm sure you all have been through the same. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.599 As you think back over your 2019, what were some of the difficult decisions that you made 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:01.299 this year? 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:09.900 What were some of the terrifying crossroads that you faced or the roads that you chose 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:10.479 to take? 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:13.900 And have you been pleased with the roads that you have chosen? 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:22.139 Or have your choice has been accompanied by doubt and regret? 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:25.680 Perhaps you started a new job. 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:27.240 You accepted a new job this year. 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:29.699 And it has far exceeded your expectations. 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:31.459 It has been just a godsend. 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:35.959 Or maybe you accepted a job and it has not met any of your expectations. 00:02:35.959 --> 00:02:37.719 And it has just drained you. 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:41.979 It has sucked the life out of you and your family and your marriage. 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:45.079 Maybe you bought a new house in 2019. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:46.979 And you love this new house. 00:02:47.019 --> 00:02:47.560 It's perfect. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.819 Or maybe you bought a new house and it is falling apart. 00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:57.479 And you're starting to regret that you didn't buy that other house that you were eyeballing. 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:00.060 Or maybe you regret that you bought a house at all. 00:03:01.239 --> 00:03:08.139 Maybe in 2019, you stood at the reconciliation crossroads with one of your family or friends. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:17.299 Perhaps you went down this one road and you pursued reconciliation and they rejected your offer. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:19.219 And that hurt really bad. 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:23.420 Or maybe you took this other road and you chose not to pursue reconciliation. 00:03:23.480 --> 00:03:29.160 You're going to kick that can down the road a little bit, maybe into 2020, which isn't a bad thing. 00:03:29.160 --> 00:03:30.820 But which road did you choose? 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:36.420 We choose all sorts of roads day in and day out. 00:03:36.419 --> 00:03:41.299 So as you head into 2020, what are some of the crossroads that you're facing? 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:48.139 What are some of the difficult decisions that are driving your New Year's resolutions? 00:03:49.359 --> 00:03:52.319 That's one way to find out what crossroads you're facing. 00:03:53.139 --> 00:04:00.399 Perhaps you are like me and you are standing at that dreaded weight loss crossroads. 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:02.699 I feel it every year. 00:04:02.699 --> 00:04:13.859 You're looking down one road and you see a path that leads to sacrificing your time to work out consistently and to prepare healthy meals. 00:04:14.299 --> 00:04:18.000 And there's sacrifice required for that road. 00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:22.319 Or you can take this other road, which is comfortable and it's familiar. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:24.519 You know, it's easy. 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:26.000 You love that road. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:35.040 But then at the end of the year and your pants are bigger and your waist is larger and you're like, man, I'm going to maybe take that other road in 2021. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:40.660 You know, maybe you are at a crossroads of a recurring struggle. 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:43.819 A recurring struggle that just won't go away. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:05:00.319 Maybe you're struggling with alcohol or with porn or with workaholism or with greed or with materialism and you're tired of it and you're standing at this crossroads and you're wanting to know, you're trying to decide which path should I take. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:08.659 You look down one road and you're like, this road requires me to have awkward community and vulnerability. 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:13.040 And I have to be honest about my struggles and that's painful. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:17.060 And I'm not sure if I want to go down that road, even though I know it would be for my good. 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:25.520 Or I can go down this road, which means I'm going to retain a bad habit, something that I hate, but I simultaneously love. 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:26.940 Right. 00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:29.160 Which road are you going to choose? 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:34.879 The challenge with any crossroads is that there's pros and cons to whichever way that you go. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.639 There is a cost that we so often are not willing to pay. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:40.519 Each road looks bumpy. 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:43.000 Each road looks less than ideal. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:46.620 Some roads lead to uncomfortable lifestyle changes. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:47.639 Right. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.680 Some roads are marked by the fear of the unknown. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.259 Some roads take us back to the status quo. 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.899 And then there are some roads that lead us to places that we know will harm us. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:01.980 But man, that road looks so enticing. 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:05.280 It's just painted with like fool's gold. 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:08.759 And we want to take that road every chance we get. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:15.360 What do you do when you are standing at a crossroads and every direction looks terrible? 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.660 Or every direction looks like a dead end and you feel stuck? 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:21.180 Are there any other options? 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:25.580 Or are you stuck at that crossroads for another year? 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:31.339 In our passage this morning, the Israelites find themselves at a terrifying crossroads. 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:35.259 Every direction looked like a dead end. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.639 It was a dead end. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:40.300 But God, in his great mercy, he makes a way. 00:06:40.519 --> 00:06:42.719 He makes another option. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:44.839 He paves another road. 00:06:44.919 --> 00:06:49.560 And this road goes straight through the chaotic waters of the Red Sea. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:53.899 And he brings the Israelites from slavery to freedom. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:58.339 In a moment, he brings them from death to life. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:01.339 And that's where we are this morning in Exodus 14. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:06.399 So if you are willing and able, I invite you to stand for the reading of God's word. 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:11.420 We'll be looking at Exodus 14, verses 5 through 22. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:13.379 And it's somewhat of a long passage. 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:15.980 So bend your knees. 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:24.840 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people. 00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:29.460 And they said, What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.819 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:39.280 And he took 600 chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:42.020 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:46.779 And he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:52.899 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:58.299 and overtook them and camped at the sea by Pahaharoth in front of Baal-zaphon. 00:07:58.919 --> 00:08:01.919 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes. 00:08:01.979 --> 00:08:05.799 And behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. 00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:08.500 And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:14.860 They said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.540 What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:20.920 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt? 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:28.240 Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians, for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.019 And Moses said to the people, Fear not. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:35.860 Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:40.100 For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:44.000 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:47.120 The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.840 Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:53.539 Lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:56.919 that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:01.060 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them. 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:05.339 And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, his chariots and his horsemen. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:11.879 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen. 00:09:12.599 --> 00:09:17.019 Then the angel of God, who was going before the host of Israel, moved and went behind them. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:20.819 And the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 00:09:21.079 --> 00:09:24.219 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:30.800 And there was the cloud and the darkness, and it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:37.980 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:41.320 and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:45.480 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, 00:09:45.800 --> 00:09:50.240 the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:52.500 This is the word of the Lord. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.539 Let me pray for us. 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:59.539 Gracious and good Heavenly Father, as we celebrated this Advent season, 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:04.279 the coming of the Messiah, Emmanuel, God incarnate, 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:06.980 we know that you are with us. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.259 We know that you are present. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.820 We pray that we also would be present and attentive to your word this morning. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:16.639 We pray that you would focus our hearts and our minds on you. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.980 And it's through Christ's name we pray. Amen. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:19.820 You may be seated. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:30.059 All right, so in Exodus 14, the Israelites are at this terrifying crossroads. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:37.320 After the 10th plague, the 10th plague was the one in which the Lord passed through Egypt, 00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:43.480 and he killed all of the firstborn sons who were not protected, 00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:46.680 who weren't sheltered under the blood of the Passover lamb. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:54.180 Okay, the blood of the Passover lamb acted as a substitutionary sacrifice for them 00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:56.240 so that God could pass over. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.960 The Egyptians, though, were not spared. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:01.320 They had had enough of these plagues. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:04.000 They had had enough of the Israelites. 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:09.680 You see, the pros were now way down here, 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.620 and the cons now outweighed the pros by a landslide. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:16.240 Okay, and the Egyptians were like, we're done with the Israelites. 00:11:16.760 --> 00:11:17.580 Take what you want. 00:11:17.640 --> 00:11:20.480 They gave them this large spoil, and they kicked them out of Egypt. 00:11:21.260 --> 00:11:22.879 But not much time passes. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:28.720 The dust finally settles, and Pharaoh, he once again, he regrets his decision. 00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:35.799 He realizes that he just pushed out their entire slave labor force out of their nation. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:40.159 And so he gathers his massive, powerful, superpower army, 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:46.120 and he takes, it says, 600 chosen chariots, and then all the rest of his chariots. 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:47.960 So he has a slew of chariots. 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:52.220 And keep in mind, chariots were like the killing machines of the ancient Near East, right? 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:59.360 They would be akin to like F-22s or F-35s or Bradleys or Apaches or whatnot. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:02.120 These were like the killing machines of the day. 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:08.259 And he takes all of them, and they start chasing after 2 million Israelite, 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:13.320 essentially peasants, children and elderly included. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:18.980 So keep in mind, the Israelites aren't going on some casual ruck march out of Egypt, okay? 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:23.140 This is a hard, hard march, okay? 00:12:23.280 --> 00:12:25.340 They are carrying their children. 00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:28.340 They are caring for their elderly. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:32.060 They are dragging along all of their possessions. 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:35.780 And they just got a lot of new possessions when they were pushed out of Egypt. 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:38.260 They got all sorts of gold and heavy items. 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:44.819 They were guiding all of their livestock through a desert, mind you, okay? 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:46.279 This was not an easy hike. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.519 They were easy pickings for the Egyptian army. 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:53.460 And so the Israelites are at a crossroads. 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:59.120 They really only have four options, four directions they can go. 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:02.220 They can try to run along the shore. 00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:03.740 They can go left or right. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:07.379 But the Egyptians are in chariots. 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:11.519 And so eventually the Israelites are going to be caught, 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:14.580 and they're going to be forced back into slavery, okay? 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:17.919 So left and right don't look like great options, okay? 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:20.100 Another option is they can do an about-face, 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:24.919 and they can try to take on the Egyptians head-on, right? 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:27.740 They can try to go toe-to-toe with this great superpower. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.460 But they're a superpower. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:35.019 And the Israelites are essentially a bunch of non-military peasants. 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:38.379 How were they going to defeat this large military? 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.720 So going backwards didn't seem like a great option either. 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:46.500 The only other option they had was to go forward 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:49.040 and try to swim across the Red Sea 00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:51.440 with all of their stuff, with all their children, 00:13:51.540 --> 00:13:52.800 with all of their livestock. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:56.519 And keep in mind, back in the ancient world, 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:59.400 swimming wasn't exactly a popular pastime. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:04.279 Most biblical historians, 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:08.500 they believe that very few in the ancient world 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.919 were even able to swim. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:13.519 So if they had even tried that option, 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:16.559 they would have eventually drowned, okay? 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.439 They were in quite the pickle. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.179 They were stuck. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.799 They couldn't go left, right, back, or forwards. 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:25.059 They couldn't fight their way out. 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:26.620 They couldn't run away, 00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:28.919 and they couldn't swim their way out of this. 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:31.439 They couldn't save themselves. 00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:35.299 And so the Israelites did the only thing that they could do. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.759 That is this. 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.120 They cry out to God. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:39.860 They pray to God. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:44.019 Now, while this was the right thing to do, 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:46.679 okay, it was right for them at this crossroads 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:47.959 to pray to God, 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.620 but they do it in a really twisted way. 00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:54.440 You see, instead of crying out to God for deliverance, 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:59.100 they cry out at God with accusations of abandonment. 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:02.120 And there's a massive difference between the two here. 00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:05.800 They cry out at God for abandoning them. 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:11.659 And they start condemning God through their mediator, Moses. 00:15:11.839 --> 00:15:12.719 And they say, essentially, 00:15:12.839 --> 00:15:16.019 what have you done bringing us out of Egypt? 00:15:16.719 --> 00:15:18.599 Life was good back in Egypt. 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.839 Don't you remember, Moses, 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.799 how good life was back in Egypt? 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.240 Yeah, they were harsh to us, 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.099 and they treated us like lowly slaves. 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.479 And oh, yeah, of course, 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:31.519 there was the whole incident 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.919 where they were throwing our children 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.139 into the Nile River. 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.579 But that was on us. 00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:38.019 We were the ones being obstinate and disruptive. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.559 We'll be better this time. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:42.059 We'll go back to slavery 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.840 where it's familiar and safe, 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.179 as if it's safe at all, 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.559 to go back to slavery. 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:53.559 And we'll be better this time, right? 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.840 And then they say this sarcastic line. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.340 They say, is it because there are no graves in Egypt 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:00.559 that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.019 That's such a low blow, right, 00:16:03.119 --> 00:16:04.919 to Moses, who has just delivered them 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.239 from this wicked, terrible situation. 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:09.659 You see what has happened here. 00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:12.000 The crossroads in which they are standing, 00:16:12.359 --> 00:16:14.039 the fear that they are experiencing 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:16.819 has caused them to become delusional. 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.619 They're starting to rewrite history, 00:16:20.479 --> 00:16:21.439 their own history. 00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:24.979 If you recall, the night before Exodus 14, 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:28.059 the Israelites are celebrating 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:31.059 the fact that God has delivered them, 00:16:31.119 --> 00:16:33.599 that he has given them this Passover lamb 00:16:33.599 --> 00:16:35.819 to cover and atone for their sins, 00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.899 that he was going to make a way for them 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:40.059 from slavery to freedom. 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:42.559 They're worshiping God. 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:43.339 They're dancing. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:49.300 And now they're wanting to go back to slavery in Egypt 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:51.019 because the fear they're experiencing 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.399 at this crossroads. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:55.000 They're looking down all of the roads 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.720 and each road appears to be a dead end 00:16:57.720 --> 00:17:00.280 and their present fear has caused them 00:17:00.280 --> 00:17:02.300 to forget their past oppression. 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:03.960 All right? 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.160 They have short-term memories 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.600 when it comes to the oppression 00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.860 they experienced before. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:11.519 And the same is so often true for us. 00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:12.619 Like the Israelites, 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.899 when we find ourselves 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:15.559 at difficult crossroads, 00:17:15.699 --> 00:17:18.139 where difficult decisions have to be made, 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.899 or when an old oppressor 00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:21.299 or an old struggle 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:23.219 or an old bad habit 00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:24.879 is like hot on our tails, 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.439 wanting to enslave us, 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:29.719 wanting to bring us down, 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:32.159 wanting to allure us back 00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:34.159 to our old behaviors, 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.519 our old way of life. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.839 We are prone to look back 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.559 at our old way of life 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.079 and think to ourselves, 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.119 it wasn't that bad. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.700 It wasn't that bad. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.740 But it was that bad, right? 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.839 It was that bad. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.859 We just so quickly forget how bad it was. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.900 We think that our old life, 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:56.900 the familiar, 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.859 can satisfy us 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.339 when we know in our heart 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.440 that it won't. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.139 You see, your old life 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.520 wants you to forget 00:18:04.520 --> 00:18:05.880 how bad it was before. 00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.900 It wants you to feel like 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.980 there is no escape. 00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:12.280 It wants you to feel like 00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:13.980 your only option is to concede 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.520 and start walking backwards. 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.220 It wants you to feel hopeless. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.860 It wants you to feel stuck. 00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:23.560 But don't forget 00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:25.280 what life was like before. 00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.660 Don't forget 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:29.160 what the oppression 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:30.500 that you experienced before. 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.000 My friends, 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.180 there is no joy 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.259 in jealousy. 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.500 Ever. 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.839 Why would you go back to that? 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:38.960 There is no rest in rage. 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:42.220 There is no peace and panic 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.839 and there is no love and lust. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.119 Never. 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.059 Right? 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.720 Why would we go back to that? 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.819 We know these things, 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.279 but when we find ourselves 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.220 at crossroads, 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.539 like in Exodus 14, 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.339 our fear, 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.779 it causes us to forget 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.879 our past oppression 00:18:58.879 --> 00:19:00.480 and then go back to it. 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.660 But I want to remind you 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.960 that at these crossroads, 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.039 you aren't stuck. 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:06.839 Okay? 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.740 You can look to the left, 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.019 you can look to the right, 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.200 you can look backwards 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.019 and forwards, 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.319 and they may all look 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.119 like dead ends. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.460 But thankfully, 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.220 it goes to an out-of-the-box thinker. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.299 And in Exodus 14, 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:22.500 we see him graciously pave 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.759 another road 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.819 that takes them 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.299 straight through the sea. 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:29.220 Verse 13 and 14, 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.180 Moses says these words. 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:31.599 He says, 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.319 Fear not, 00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:34.099 stand firm, 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.759 and see the salvation 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.539 of the Lord, 00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:39.139 which he will work for you. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.339 The Lord will fight for you, 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:45.139 and all you have to be 00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:46.059 is silent. 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.680 In other words, 00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:51.460 stand still 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.639 and watch God work. 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.159 You can't save yourself. 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:57.080 You are stuck. 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.860 But I can save you. 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:00.540 Right? 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.320 He's saying, 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.500 I'm going to get you through this. 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:04.320 I'm going to make another way. 00:20:06.040 --> 00:20:07.140 All you have to do 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:08.240 is just stand still 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.019 and be silent. 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.200 But here's the thing, 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:13.019 we don't like standing still 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.000 and being silent. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.800 Right? 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:16.000 Especially when it comes 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.160 to our salvation. 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.380 We feel like we have 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:20.100 to contribute something, 00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:21.440 anything, 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.140 to our salvation. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:25.740 standing still 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.000 and being silent 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.040 requires us 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:29.140 to trust in God 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:30.160 more than ourselves. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.100 It requires us 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:32.900 to relinquish 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.600 the one thing 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.800 that we hold so dear, 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.340 and that is 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.440 our sense of control. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.560 Right? 00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:41.340 We have to believe 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.040 that God knows 00:20:42.040 --> 00:20:43.220 what's best for us. 00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.040 We have to believe 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.980 that God is for us, 00:20:45.020 --> 00:20:45.840 that he is with us, 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.640 and that he loves us 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.640 more than we can fathom. 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.259 We have to believe 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:52.320 that serving God 00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:54.880 is more life-giving, 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.520 it is more satisfying, 00:20:57.020 --> 00:20:58.340 than serving Pharaoh. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.920 Everyone serves something 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.860 or someone, right? 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.640 Everyone serves a Pharaoh. 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:08.020 My Pharaoh may be 00:21:08.020 --> 00:21:09.440 different than your Pharaoh, 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:11.040 but it's the exact same Pharaoh. 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:11.880 Right? 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.620 It's a Pharaoh 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:16.719 who wants to pull you back 00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:18.019 into an old way, 00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:19.000 an old pattern, 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:20.939 an old habit. 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:22.659 It's a Pharaoh 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.919 who demands 00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.879 your full allegiance, 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.719 and then when you try 00:21:25.719 --> 00:21:26.299 to escape, 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:27.199 he hunts you down 00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.959 and tries to put 00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:29.179 the shackles back on. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.839 Now, what is your Pharaoh 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.199 this morning? 00:21:34.479 --> 00:21:35.259 What Pharaoh 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.659 are you prone to serve? 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:39.640 To rephrase this question, 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.759 what do you serve 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.140 to give your life meaning? 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.700 If it isn't God, 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.140 it's a Pharaoh, okay? 00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:48.000 And it can be 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.940 a very good thing 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:50.500 that we turn into God things, 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.560 and when we do that, 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.420 those things become 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.380 worthless things. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.279 All right? 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.900 Is it your job? 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.120 Is that the thing 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.500 that you are serving 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:01.000 to give your life meaning? 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.820 Is it your reputation? 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.660 Is it your hobbies? 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.900 Is it your family? 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.180 Is it your friends? 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.980 Is it your looks? 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.460 Is it your parents' approval? 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.200 What is it 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.580 that you serve 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:18.540 to give your life meaning? 00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.100 After winning 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:22.460 an Academy Award, 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.720 Reese Witherspoon, 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.160 she held her new trophy 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.880 tightly to her chest, 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:28.240 and she said these words. 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:28.800 She said, 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.259 I'm just trying to matter, 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.840 and you have all 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.960 made me feel tonight 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.759 that I might have 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.500 accomplished that. 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.940 You see what 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.019 Reese Witherspoon has done? 00:22:39.540 --> 00:22:40.660 She has made the opinions 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.880 of others her Pharaoh. 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.800 She was serving them 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:45.019 to get meaning. 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.380 Madonna says this 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.100 about her life. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:48.600 She said, 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:50.160 my drive in life 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.279 comes from the fear 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.380 of being mediocre. 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.180 I push past 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.120 one spell of it 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:56.259 and discover myself 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.900 as a special human being. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:59.519 But then I feel 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.600 that I am mediocre 00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:02.580 unless I do something else, 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.799 because even though 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.119 I have become somebody, 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.639 I still have to prove 00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.980 that I am somebody, 00:23:08.179 --> 00:23:09.000 and my struggle 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.980 has never ended, 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.720 and I guess 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.819 it never will. 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.939 She's swimming upstream. 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:19.700 She's serving a Pharaoh 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:21.420 that can't meet her needs. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:24.460 Exodus 14 shows us 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.400 that the struggle 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.380 that she faces, 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.299 the upstream swimming, 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.799 it can end. 00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:32.080 We aren't stuck 00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:33.180 at this crossroads, 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:36.279 because God has graciously 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.680 entered the crossfire. 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.700 Did you see this 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.160 in verse 19, 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.420 what God does? 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.240 Verse 19 says, 00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:44.420 then the angel of God 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.640 who was going before 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.600 the host of Israel 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:48.080 moved and went 00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:49.240 behind them, 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:50.820 coming between 00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.779 the host of Egypt 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:53.080 and the host of Israel. 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.220 I don't know why 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:55.900 we missed that. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.660 We kind of glossed 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.380 over that point. 00:23:57.840 --> 00:23:58.460 That God moved 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.560 from being in the front 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:01.120 to going to the rear 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:03.340 to shield and defend them 00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:05.500 from the Egyptian superpower. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:09.900 You see, 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:10.980 God stands between 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.840 the Israelites 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.759 and their enemies. 00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:14.440 He says to Pharaoh 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.480 with that action, 00:24:16.800 --> 00:24:18.420 if you want to attack, 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.660 if you want to condemn 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.720 my people, 00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:21.600 you have to go 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:22.700 through me first. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.040 You have to go through me 00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:26.980 and good luck with that. 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.000 Right? 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.940 And he says the same thing 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.800 to your Pharaohs as well. 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:32.600 He says, 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.220 if you want to get 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:33.980 to my child, 00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:34.800 if you want to condemn 00:24:34.800 --> 00:24:35.580 my child, 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.540 you have to go 00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:38.040 through me first. 00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.700 And my friends, 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.900 that is some really, 00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:41.799 really good news. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.960 That we have a God 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.200 who shields us 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.740 from our enemies. 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.340 Now this may surprise you, 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.740 but my favorite part 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.559 about being a campus minister, 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:55.200 it isn't going snowboarding 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:56.180 with my cadets 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.600 or beating them 00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.039 and bowling. 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.580 They're all so terrible 00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.039 at bowling. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.480 It isn't even officiating 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.440 their wedding ceremonies, 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.200 which is like 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.880 such a joy. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.480 My favorite part 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.940 about being a campus minister 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.840 is when a cadet 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.920 comes to me 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.980 with tears 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:14.420 streaking down their face 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.000 with their head 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.720 hanging low 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.800 because they feel 00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.980 the weight of their guilt 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.800 and their shame 00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:20.560 and I get to be the one 00:25:20.560 --> 00:25:21.740 who reminds them 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:23.540 of Romans 8 verse 1. 00:25:24.020 --> 00:25:25.220 There is now 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.620 no condemnation 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.360 for those who are 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.140 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:30.220 I get to say that to them 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.640 over and over 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.780 and over again 00:25:32.780 --> 00:25:34.100 to press that truth 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:35.160 into their soul 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.720 so they believe it. 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:39.140 There is now 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.480 no condemnation 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.340 for those 00:25:41.340 --> 00:25:43.100 who are in Christ Jesus. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.160 In other words, 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.080 when God stands 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.360 between you and Pharaoh 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:46.900 and he says, 00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:48.420 you can't condemn my child, 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.380 he is saying 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.340 to your sin, 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:52.440 you can't condemn them. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.120 He's saying 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.759 to other people's opinions 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.460 of you, 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.620 you can't condemn 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.779 my child. 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.019 He's saying 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.160 to you 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.139 when you try 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.379 to condemn yourself, 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.960 you can't condemn 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.759 my child 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.339 because there is 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.400 no condemnation 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.879 because I shield 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.940 them from it. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.039 The other thing 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.039 that God does here 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.680 is he not only 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.359 shields them 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.119 from Pharaoh 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.879 but his deliverance 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.619 is decisive. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.180 Right? 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.299 Did you notice this? 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.720 In Romans 8 verse 1 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.019 it says, 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.879 there is now 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:31.340 no condemnation. 00:26:31.540 --> 00:26:32.600 I love that word now. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.360 I love that Paul 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.400 threw that word in there. 00:26:34.760 --> 00:26:36.040 That present tense reality 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:37.560 that we now experience 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.580 no condemnation. 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.620 As Christians, 00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.400 we live 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.620 in an objective 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:43.380 no condemnation reality. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.580 Even if 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.820 we live our lives 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:47.860 as if we are still 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:49.040 under condemnation, 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:52.020 we're free from it. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.440 Okay? 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.800 In Exodus 14, 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.460 the Israelites' 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.280 deliverance 00:26:58.280 --> 00:26:59.120 was decisive. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.239 It was a now 00:27:00.239 --> 00:27:01.099 deliverance. 00:27:01.479 --> 00:27:01.659 Okay? 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.739 In one moment 00:27:02.739 --> 00:27:03.539 they were doomed. 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.659 In one moment 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.639 they're on this side 00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.379 of the Red Sea. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.579 They're on the 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.859 condemnation side. 00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:11.519 And then in the next moment 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.379 they're on this side 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.059 of the Red Sea. 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:13.599 They're on the 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.000 justification side. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.479 In one moment 00:27:16.479 --> 00:27:17.479 it happens like that. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.039 It was a decisive shift 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.579 from being in slavery 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.779 to being in freedom, 00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:23.519 from being under death 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:25.539 to being in life. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:29.659 And this is the paradigm 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:31.399 of our salvation as well. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.159 The Red Sea 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:33.680 is our paradigm. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.019 Okay? 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.399 When we cross over 00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.980 decisively from life, 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.440 from death to life. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.099 In Christianity, 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.500 God brings us 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:43.079 from death 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.200 into life 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.960 in a decisive act. 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:50.299 every other religion 00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:52.440 says that justification, 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.100 it's the process, 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.779 it's being right 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.360 with God, 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.160 becoming right 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.700 with God. 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.860 Justification 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.779 is a process 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.880 in every other 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.600 religion 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:03.440 except for 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.039 Christianity. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.220 Okay? 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.200 In every other religion 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.720 it says, 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.640 do this 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.579 and do this 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.579 and do this. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.059 Follow all these rules 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.799 and regulations 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.759 and maybe you have 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.379 what it takes. 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.700 Maybe you're strong enough 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.259 to earn your way 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.059 into heaven 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.839 or nirvana 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.299 or enlightenment. 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:21.700 This is what 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.700 they essentially say. 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.039 They say, 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.319 okay, 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.200 you can't go left, 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.980 you can't go right, 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.940 you can't go back. 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:27.299 So start swimming 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:30.139 even though you can't swim. 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.299 Like how cruel 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.159 do you have to be 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:34.500 to like throw someone 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.240 into water 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.220 and say, 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.460 swim your way to shore 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.460 when they can't swim. 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.279 That's essentially 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.599 what every religion does. 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:42.779 every religion 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.500 entails 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:45.000 telling its followers, 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.939 try harder. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.699 Keep trying. 00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.599 It's on you. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.619 And as a result, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.399 in those systems, 00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.439 there is never 00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:58.879 any rest. 00:28:59.679 --> 00:29:00.299 There's never 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.219 any assurance 00:29:01.219 --> 00:29:02.039 of salvation 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.199 because you never know 00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:04.240 if you've done enough, 00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:06.039 if you've swam far enough. 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.919 You never know 00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:08.259 if you've reached the shore. 00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:12.740 Every religion 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.779 says start swimming. 00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:16.259 When Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.819 one of my favorite theologians, 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.659 when he would, 00:29:19.719 --> 00:29:21.659 he would want to figure out 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:23.119 where somebody stood spiritually, 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:25.079 he wouldn't beat around the bush. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:27.339 He wouldn't overcomplicate evangelism. 00:29:27.419 --> 00:29:28.699 He would just ask him this question. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.039 He said, 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.779 are you a Christian? 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.719 And if their response 00:29:32.719 --> 00:29:34.139 was, 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:34.539 well, 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.859 I'm trying, 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.759 Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.740 would go on to explain 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.579 that their answer 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:42.279 indicated that they had no idea 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.940 what Christianity 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.859 was all about. 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.220 What makes one a Christian 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:50.220 is not a change in effort, 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:54.079 but a change in status, right? 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.640 It's your status 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:58.160 that changes your effort. 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.079 It's not your effort 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.759 that changes your status. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.660 We can't get that backwards. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.160 This status change 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.519 is decisive, right? 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.779 On my wedding day, 00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.740 I went from being 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.480 not married 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.240 to married 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.380 in a moment. 00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:17.540 My marital status 00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:18.120 changed 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:19.900 in a decisive declaration, 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.680 I now pronounce you 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.500 husband and wife. 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.320 In that moment, 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.340 my life changed. 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.880 Something decisive 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.640 had changed 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.920 in my status. 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.400 Now, 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:34.840 what if someone 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.580 came up to me 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.480 12 years later 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.019 and asked, 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:37.740 hey Jeff, 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.339 are you married? 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.759 And I said, 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.460 well, 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.140 I'm trying. 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.220 That'd probably be 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.779 a very confusing 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.700 response for them 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.059 to hear, 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.779 and if my wife 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.480 was overhearing, 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.240 she'd probably 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.759 smack me upside 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.740 the top of my head. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.420 There's no 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.140 I'm trying 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:56.660 in marriage. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.799 You are either married 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.559 or you aren't married. 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.539 There's no 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.539 like middle ground 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:01.960 called 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.740 I'm trying. 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:04.740 Okay? 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.779 And likewise, 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.099 you are either 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.620 a Christian 00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.200 or you aren't 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.700 a Christian. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.460 You're either 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.160 on this side 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.799 of the Red Sea 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.339 or you're on 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.799 this side 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.460 of the Red Sea. 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.859 You're either 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.740 on the condemnation 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.120 side 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:15.440 or you're on 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.120 the justification 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.720 side. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.620 There is no 00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:18.240 I'm trying 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.980 middle ground. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.519 The I'm trying 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.079 middle ground 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:22.940 is really called 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:24.519 lost. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.500 Through faith 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:27.920 in Christ, 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.779 you cross over 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.420 from death 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.000 to life. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.120 You cross over 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.740 from being 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.539 in Pharaoh's 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:32.880 kingdom 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.380 and under 00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:34.200 his rule 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.759 and reign 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.500 to being 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.319 under God's 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.680 kingdom, 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:37.720 under God's 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.519 rule and reign. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.759 When you cross 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.160 over, 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.819 you go from 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.799 being out 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.440 of God's 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.799 family 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.579 to being 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.559 in God's 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:45.980 family 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.160 in a moment 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.680 and you're 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.480 in that family 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.259 forever. 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.680 You cross over 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.160 from being 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:51.940 under God's 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.299 curse 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.140 to being 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.039 under God's 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.440 blessing. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.500 Have you 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.160 crossed over? 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:01.360 are you 00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:01.860 in God's 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.200 family? 00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:02.519 Are you 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.100 a citizen 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:03.820 of God's 00:32:03.820 --> 00:32:04.160 kingdom? 00:32:05.060 --> 00:32:05.400 Are you 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.360 a part 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:07.720 of his 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.259 church, 00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:09.000 Christ's 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.400 bride? 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.540 I pray 00:32:10.540 --> 00:32:10.880 that you 00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:11.140 are. 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:11.880 Have you 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.140 crossed 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.460 over? 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.480 Listen, 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:14.920 you don't 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.480 cross over 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:15.980 because of 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.519 the quantity 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:16.840 or the 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.400 quality of 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:17.820 your faith. 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.259 You cross 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.840 over because 00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:19.180 of the 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.759 object of 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.220 your faith. 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.279 The object 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.660 of our 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.380 faith being 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:23.960 the one 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.200 who can 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.759 part the 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.240 waves, 00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:26.920 the one 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.300 who is 00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:27.740 gracious, 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:28.680 when we 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:28.840 are 00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:29.560 faithless, 00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:30.740 the one 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.480 who stands 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.300 between us 00:32:32.300 --> 00:32:32.860 and Pharaoh 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:33.400 and acts 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:33.759 as our 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.300 shield and 00:32:34.300 --> 00:32:34.700 defender. 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.440 It's the 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.019 object of 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.440 our faith 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.060 that matters. 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.400 In Exodus 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.200 14, it 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.620 shows us 00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.180 that crossing 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.840 over from 00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:42.400 one side 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:42.900 to the 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.440 other, it's 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.040 by God's 00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.759 grace alone. 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.380 In that 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:46.800 verse, it 00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:46.980 says, 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.759 fear not, 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.860 see the 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.360 Lord's 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:50.920 salvation, 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.400 that he 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.060 will work 00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:53.759 for you. 00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.740 Look, it 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.259 wasn't long 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.580 ago. 00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:57.040 It was 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:57.660 probably like, 00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:58.019 I don't 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.620 know, a 00:32:58.620 --> 00:32:59.080 few minutes, 00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.640 30 minutes, 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.200 an hour or 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.759 so before 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:02.400 the seas 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.259 part, that 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:03.800 the Israelites 00:33:03.800 --> 00:33:04.500 are accusing 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.000 God of 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.519 abandoning 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:05.759 them. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:07.779 They're 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.180 essentially 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.080 mocking God 00:33:09.080 --> 00:33:09.519 and mocking 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.380 his mediator. 00:33:11.060 --> 00:33:11.320 They're 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:12.100 demonstrating 00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.180 how faithless 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:13.920 they truly 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:14.420 are. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.279 Faith wasn't 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.140 exactly the 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.540 Israelites' 00:33:17.840 --> 00:33:18.180 strongest 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.779 attribute. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.100 Right? 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.400 But get 00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:21.880 this, they 00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.720 still crossed 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.160 over. 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.220 over. 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.060 They still 00:33:26.060 --> 00:33:26.460 crossed 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.019 over, and 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.440 they crossed 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:27.920 over with 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.420 all of their 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.500 mess, with 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:29.900 all of their 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:31.120 doubts, with 00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:31.580 all of their 00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:32.540 struggles, and 00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:33.440 guess what? 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.460 God still held 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.019 back the 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.380 water. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.460 Even though 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.460 each Israelite 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.060 had a 00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.980 different quality 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.720 of faith, 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:44.519 they were 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.240 all equally 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.920 saved. 00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:48.960 Likewise, in 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.800 Christianity, you 00:33:49.800 --> 00:33:50.660 cross over with 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:51.140 all of your 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:51.540 mess. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:53.259 you cross 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.720 over with 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.059 all your 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.639 doubts, with 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:54.980 all your 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.440 struggles. 00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:55.879 You don't 00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:56.180 have to 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.819 clean yourself 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.420 up first. 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.659 You don't 00:33:57.659 --> 00:33:57.920 have to 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.639 prove yourself 00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:58.980 worthy. 00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.279 You don't 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.599 have to 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.019 swim a 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.379 little bit 00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:00.799 first. 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.299 As we're 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:04.440 going to 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:04.920 see next 00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:05.839 Sunday, I 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.200 get to be 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.559 here with 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:06.879 y'all for 00:34:06.879 --> 00:34:07.319 two weeks 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:07.779 straight, which 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.400 is awesome. 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.639 This week, we're 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.219 really focusing 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:10.920 on justification. 00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.739 Next week, we're 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:12.219 going to focus 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:13.360 on sanctification. 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.139 Next week, we're 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:14.559 going to see 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.360 that until 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.199 you're on the 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.779 justification 00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:18.900 side of the 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:20.500 Red Sea, the 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.079 sanctification 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.900 process cannot 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.320 begin. 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.639 But here's 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.079 the thing. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.099 You can't 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.860 cross over the 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.380 sea on your 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:30.679 own. 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.760 And we know 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:32.519 it, but we 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.940 try so hard to 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.639 get across. 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.639 To get across, you 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:37.539 need a mediator. 00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:40.000 You need someone 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.500 who's going to 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.400 obey God's 00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.000 word and who's 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.539 going to part 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:43.460 the waters and 00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:43.800 is going to 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.699 make a way 00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.500 when there was 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.300 no way before. 00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.300 You need someone 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:48.900 who would be 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.840 faithful for 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:50.300 you. 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:52.940 You see, when 00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.420 the Israelites 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.340 were standing at 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:55.300 this crossroads 00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:57.300 and the Egyptians 00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:58.240 are right on, 00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.039 like they're hot 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.820 on their tail, 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.120 their first 00:35:01.120 --> 00:35:01.840 reaction, it's 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:02.100 like their 00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:03.340 natural response 00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:03.860 was to start 00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:04.860 accusing God, 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.720 to start blaming 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.280 God for 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.039 abandoning them. 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:07.740 They essentially 00:35:07.740 --> 00:35:08.519 say, you did 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.400 this to us. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.780 Like some gods 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.280 you are. 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.060 You brought us 00:35:12.060 --> 00:35:12.600 out of Egypt 00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:13.380 just to die in 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:13.840 the wilderness. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.460 We'd rather 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.360 serve Pharaoh 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.120 than you. 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.460 That's what 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.340 they say to 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:20.920 the God of 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.400 the universe 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:21.900 who just 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.579 delivered them 00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.720 from Egypt. 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.440 And how does 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.360 God respond to 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:27.160 their faithlessness? 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:28.140 He turns to 00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:29.500 Moses, the one 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.420 person who was 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:32.039 faithful, the one 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.120 person who wasn't 00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:34.200 accusing God of 00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:35.000 abandoning them, 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.420 the one person 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.220 who was faithful 00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:38.220 throughout this 00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:40.440 process, and he 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:43.180 rebukes Moses on 00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:43.940 behalf of the 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.360 Israelites' 00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.280 faithlessness. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:49.240 The one person 00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:49.880 who didn't 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.059 deserve to be 00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:52.200 rebuked was 00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.500 rebuked because 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.980 of his role as 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.160 their mediator, as 00:35:56.160 --> 00:35:57.120 their representative. 00:35:57.660 --> 00:35:58.640 And as a result, 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.539 he essentially 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.420 takes upon 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.300 himself the 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:02.740 Israelites' 00:36:03.120 --> 00:36:04.180 faithlessness, and 00:36:04.180 --> 00:36:05.400 he gives them his 00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.220 faithfulness. 00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:07.380 He gives them the 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.400 favor that God has 00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:09.640 bestowed on him 00:36:09.640 --> 00:36:12.079 so that he could 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.420 part the waves and 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.120 that they could walk 00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:14.900 on dry ground. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:19.360 Moses was a great 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:20.139 prophet, but we 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:21.200 know on this side 00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:21.920 of the cross that 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:23.539 Moses was ultimately 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:25.480 a foretype of a 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.539 greater prophet who 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.740 would bring about an 00:36:27.740 --> 00:36:29.240 infinitely greater 00:36:29.240 --> 00:36:30.119 redemption. 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.039 It was the night 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.740 before Jesus' 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:36.420 crucifixion, and he 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.280 retreated to the 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:37.720 Garden of 00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:39.500 Gethsemane, and he 00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.880 found himself at the 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:42.000 most terrifying 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.820 crossroads. 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:42.920 Moses. 00:36:44.100 --> 00:36:45.019 His enemies 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.880 surrounded him. 00:36:47.640 --> 00:36:49.000 In a sense, he was 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.500 stuck. 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:53.620 He was boxed in, but 00:36:53.620 --> 00:36:54.740 unlike the Israelites, 00:36:55.140 --> 00:36:56.620 Jesus had the power to 00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:57.500 save himself. 00:36:59.220 --> 00:37:00.700 This was the man who 00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:02.900 fed the 5,000. 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:04.100 He created nothing. 00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:05.900 He created something 00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:07.059 from nothing, right? 00:37:07.200 --> 00:37:08.039 This is the guy who 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:09.160 walked on water, who 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:10.120 healed the lame, 00:37:10.580 --> 00:37:11.480 healed the blind, 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:13.800 who raised people 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:14.820 from the dead and 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:15.780 cast out demons. 00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.840 That's how powerful 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:18.119 Jesus is. 00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:19.280 Jesus could have 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.460 Thanos snapped 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:22.740 all of the, all of 00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.380 his enemies 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.880 out of existence. 00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.500 He could have 00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:28.539 snapped them into 00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:29.740 dust, but that 00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.659 wasn't the road that 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.300 he chose. 00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:33.920 Instead, he took the 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:35.320 road that led to a 00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:36.420 cross where he would 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.579 die in our place. 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:39.739 You see, in 00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:40.840 Gethsemane, Jesus 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:42.179 cried out to God. 00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:43.699 But unlike the 00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:45.319 Israelites who cried 00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:46.239 out to God in an 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:48.000 accusatory way, Jesus 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:49.699 cries out to God in 00:37:49.699 --> 00:37:51.319 this faith-saturated 00:37:51.319 --> 00:37:52.460 prayer in which he 00:37:52.460 --> 00:37:53.719 relinquishes control 00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:55.019 and he says, not my 00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:57.039 will, but your will. 00:37:58.259 --> 00:37:59.279 And he knew what that 00:37:59.279 --> 00:37:59.920 prayer meant. 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:01.279 With those words, he 00:38:01.279 --> 00:38:03.579 chose a road that 00:38:03.579 --> 00:38:04.900 would take him to a 00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.219 cross. 00:38:05.319 --> 00:38:06.380 He chose the road of a 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.599 criminal so that we 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.660 could take the road 00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:09.900 of adoption. 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:14.240 He chose the road of 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:15.220 a slave so that we 00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:16.240 could take the road of 00:38:16.240 --> 00:38:16.619 freedom. 00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:19.900 And he chose the road 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:22.140 of death so that we 00:38:22.140 --> 00:38:23.200 could take the road of 00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:23.500 life. 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.519 He chose the road that 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.840 would lead him into the 00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:27.039 chaotic waters of 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.460 death. 00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.880 In order to 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:32.920 construct an 00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:34.519 imperishable road with 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.820 his blood that leads 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.960 us to new life. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.260 It's the great 00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:41.260 deliverance story. 00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:43.580 As you head into 00:38:43.580 --> 00:38:46.860 2020, you have a lot 00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:47.820 of difficult decisions 00:38:47.820 --> 00:38:48.440 to make. 00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:50.780 There aren't many 00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:52.000 guarantees in life, but 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.920 this is one thing that 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:54.480 we all know is certain, 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:56.500 and that is that trials 00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:57.780 will come your way. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:00.100 The Christian life does 00:39:00.100 --> 00:39:01.100 not promise an easy 00:39:01.100 --> 00:39:01.519 life. 00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:03.539 In fact, it promises the 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.320 exact opposite. 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:05.579 In 2020, you're going 00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:07.559 to face some difficult, 00:39:07.759 --> 00:39:08.980 terrifying crossroads. 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.360 You're going to have to 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:11.980 make decisions that are 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.519 costly. 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.860 You're going to have to 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:16.739 make decisions that are 00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:17.139 painful. 00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.119 You're going to make 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:20.019 decisions that may alter 00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:21.119 the trajectory of your 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:23.360 life and those around 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:23.679 you. 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.880 But if you're a 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:27.960 Christian, when you find 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:29.199 yourself at these 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:30.699 difficult crossroads in 00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:32.820 2020, and you feel the 00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:34.039 enemy closing in, you 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:35.460 feel that old way of 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:39.200 life luring you back, I 00:39:39.200 --> 00:39:40.080 pray that you will let 00:39:40.080 --> 00:39:41.300 these words that Moses 00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:42.340 said to the Israelites 00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:44.620 wash over you again and 00:39:44.620 --> 00:39:46.280 again, day after day. 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.680 Fear not. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:50.380 Stand firm and see the 00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:51.680 salvation of the Lord, 00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:53.460 which he will work for 00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:53.820 you. 00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:56.620 Through faith in Christ, 00:39:56.720 --> 00:39:59.380 you are standing not on 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:00.840 the condemnation side of 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:01.300 the sea. 00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:03.840 And that changes the way 00:40:03.840 --> 00:40:04.820 that you do life. 00:40:08.140 --> 00:40:08.920 You're on the 00:40:08.920 --> 00:40:10.360 justification side. 00:40:11.140 --> 00:40:12.220 So strive to make 00:40:12.220 --> 00:40:14.559 decisions in 2020 that is 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.740 in accordance with that 00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.300 reality. 00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:19.380 Make decisions that say, 00:40:19.620 --> 00:40:20.539 I believe that my 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.920 justification is true. 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:26.619 You can face the most 00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:28.940 terrifying crossroads with 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.880 confidence and you can 00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.820 make very difficult 00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:31.960 decisions because you 00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:33.780 know that the God who 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:35.460 sent his only son to die 00:40:35.460 --> 00:40:36.599 for you, he will not 00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:38.119 leave or abandon you 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.440 now. 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:40.619 He will make a way 00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:41.320 because that's the kind 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:42.280 of God that he is. 00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.420 And that's the promise 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:45.360 that he makes to us each 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:46.840 and every day. 00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.659 Have you crossed over? 00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:50.799 Amen. 00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:51.759 Let me pray for us. 00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:54.399 Heavenly Father, we 00:40:54.399 --> 00:40:56.940 thank you for this 00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:58.079 paradigm of salvation 00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:59.239 that you have shown us 00:40:59.239 --> 00:41:00.339 in Exodus 14. 00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.879 Because of your 00:41:02.879 --> 00:41:05.420 overwhelming grace, 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:08.179 that you have decided 00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:10.839 to free us from a life 00:41:10.839 --> 00:41:11.899 of oppression and bring 00:41:11.899 --> 00:41:13.399 us into a life of 00:41:13.399 --> 00:41:14.179 freedom. 00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:15.819 Not because of anything 00:41:15.819 --> 00:41:16.779 that we have done, but 00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:18.019 because of your sovereign 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.920 grace alone. 00:41:19.040 --> 00:41:20.360 We pray that you would 00:41:20.360 --> 00:41:21.780 continue to shield and 00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:23.360 defend us from the 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:24.360 enemy, that you would 00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:26.880 keep us from the 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:29.060 allurements and the 00:41:29.060 --> 00:41:29.980 enticements of this 00:41:29.980 --> 00:41:30.360 world. 00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:32.220 Keep us from Pharaoh's 00:41:32.220 --> 00:41:32.500 grip. 00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:34.519 We thank you that you 00:41:34.519 --> 00:41:35.700 love us so much that you 00:41:35.700 --> 00:41:37.320 would send your only son 00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:39.880 to pave a new road with 00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:42.480 his blood into life. 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:44.380 We pray these things in 00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:45.060 Christ's name. 00:41:45.220 --> 00:41:45.440 Amen.