Sermon Central
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Standing Still
Contributed by Joe Rowland on Jul 9, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: If we, as believers, make plans on our own, they are destined for failure. But if God makes them they are a guaranteed success. Exodus 14:14 says: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Standing Still
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
I have entitled this today: “Standing Still”
The Lord, in Exodus chapter 14, is directing the people of Israel exactly where to go.
From the millitary point of view, Israel had blundered badly, or at least that is what Pharoah thought.
God was leading them and He had a plan and purpose for taking this particular route.
If we, as believers, make plans on our own, they are destined for failure. But if God makes them they are a guaranteed success.
To Pharaoh, it looked like they had Israel exactly where they wanted them, and they were going to follow Israel to the desert and he thought they would take care of business.
When you don’t listen to what God says to do then your hearts will become hardened to God’s plan in a situation.
Pharaoh was in a constant state of rebellion to the Word of God.
Pharaoh’s continued rebellion was going to fall out to the Glory of God.
If God’s people truly follow the Lord, whatever Satan does, will fall out to the Glory of God, but only if God’s people fully trust and obey.
Ex 14:5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Satan does not easily give up his attempts to hold believers in bondage.
If the believer does not give up on God, I mean have a faith that with God all things are possible total and complete victory is guaranteed.
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Ex 14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
Josphus records that Pharaoh had 50,000 horsemen, and 200,000 horsemen, as well as all of the chariots.
Even after God had warned Pharoah that before all of the plagues on Egypt happened, that he would lose his first born son he did not listen.
Ex 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Ex 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Verses 10-12 record the complaints of Israel, the fear, unbelief, and anger of the very people who had witnessed God’s wonders in the land of Egypt.
After you have been on a mountain it is easy to tumble back to the valley.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
From this statement, we learn what a preacher is supposed to preach, fear ye not.
That has always been the Word of the Lord; with God on our side, and us looking wholly to Him we have nothing to fear.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The people were to stand still, all attempts to help must end, all activities of the flesh must cease.
Our faith has to rest on Christ as our deliverer.
They were to stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord, which He was going to show them that day.
Victory is yours today, if you will only put your faith in Jesus as your help.
Ex 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
The Lord could fight for Israel as long as they did what He told them to do.
