THE GOD MOMENT PRINCIPLE – AMAZING RESCUE
(EXODUS 12:1-13 21-23)
INTRODUCTION:
I HAD AN AMAZING CHILDHOOD:
1. IN THE WINTER I WASN’T JUST AN NHL SUPERSTAR, I WAS SIX NHL TEAMS, ALL WITH AT LEAST TWO LINES, AND NO MADEUP NAMES, IN MY BACK YARD.
2. I WAS KING OF THE CASTLE UNTIL SOMEONE KNOCKED ME OFF THE SNOWBANK, AND NOONE COULD THROW A SNOWBALL BETTER THAN I COULD IN A SNOWBALL FIGHT.
3. IN THE SUMMER TIME I WAS A PITCHER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES THROWING A RUBBER OR TENNIS BALL AGAINST MY UNCLES GARAGE FOR HOURS ON END. AND I ALWAYS WON.
4. I HAD EXCITING ADVENTURES IN KIRKY BEAR WOODS, NOT FIVE MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE
5. MY FRIENDS AND I HELD OFF A MULTITIUDE OF INDIAN ATTACKS AND ENEMY ADVANCES FROM OUR FORT WHICH DOUBLED AS MY NEIGHBORS CLOTHES LINE STAND.
6. A VERY SPECIAL MEMORY FOR ME WAS THAT MANY TIMES I WAS A TREASURE HUNTER, GOING ON MANY EXCURSIONS, ALL FROM THE SAFETY OF MY OWN HOME, USUALLY DURING A STORM OF SOME KIND THAT PREVENTED ME FROM GOING OUT.
EXPLAIN ABOUT “HOTTER AND COLDER” AND A TREASURE MAP OF PICTURES AND DIRECTIONS AND WHAT THE TREASURE WAS.
I THANK GOD FOR AN AMAZING MOM TO DO THAT FOR ME.
TRANSITION:
IN OUR WORLD TODAY THERE ARE MANY TREASURE HUNTERS:
1. THERE IS THE COUPLE THAT SERCHES THE BEACH WITH A METAL DETECTOR FOR VALUABLES.
2. THE TREASURE HUNTER WHO STUDIES ABOUT SHIP WRECKS AND DIVES INTO THE DEEPS LOOKING FOR BURIED TREASURE.
3. THE TREASURE HUNTER WHO DETERMINES THAT A LEGEND IS MORE THAN JUST A LEGEND AND SETS OUT TO FIND A LONG LOST GOLD MINE, USING A PIECE OF A MAP.
4. EXPLORATION OF ANY FORM IS A TYPE OF TREASURE HUNT. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TREASURES ARE IN STORE FOR THEM.
BUT WHETHER IT IS: A HIDDEN CHOCOLATE BAR
SUNKEN TREASURE
A LOST GOLD MINE
SEARCHING WITH A METAL DETECTOR
OR EXPLORATION
THEY HAVE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON:
1. THEY HAD A METHOD IN THEIR SEARCH:
A) WHEN THEY SEARCHED THEY STUDIED THEIR MAP AND WHAT RESEARCH THEY HAD.
B) THEY PREPARED THEMSELVES WITH THE PROPER EQUIPMENT.
C) THEY KNEW THE TREASURE THEY SOUGHT, AND SO THEY LOOKED WHERE THE TREASURE PROBABLY WAS, NOT WHERE IT WASN’T.
2. THEY WERE PERSISTENT. THEY DON’T GIVE UP UNTIL THEY FIND IT.
3. THEY ARE ALL EXCITED WHEN THEY FIND THE TREASURE.
WE CAN APPLY THESE SAME PRINCIPLES IN IDENTIFYING GOD MOMENTS IN OUR LIVES.
1. WE HAVE RESEARCH THAT WE CAN STUDY:
A) THE BIBLE
B) LIFE EXPERIENCE (HOW GOD WORKED AND HOW HE CHANGED OUR LIVES)
C) THE PAST TESTIMONY OF GOD MOMENTS OF OTHERS
WE HAVE THE EXHILERATION WHEN WE FINALLY REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A TRUE GOD MOMENT.
SOME PITFALLS IN IDENTIFYING GOD MOMENTS.
1. ALTHOUGH GOD MOMENTS WILL INVOLVE HUMAN CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS THEY HAPPEN IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ELIMINATE ANY DOUBT THAT IT WAS GOD WHO ACTED. EXAMPLE. WHEN THE ISRAELITES CROSSED THE RED SEA OR THE JORDAN.
2. GOD MOMENTS ARE DETERMINED BY GOD AND NOT MAN. WE CANNOT CREATE A SERIES OF SIGNS FROM CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN SAY THAT THEY ARE GOD MOMENTS IF THEY COULD HAVE HAPPENED NATURALLY. EXAMPLE: SEEING DEER ON A HILL, OR FLOWERS ON A GRAVE.
3. GOD MOMENTS ALWAYS ARE FOLLOWED BY LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS AND EFFECTS THAT LAST FOR LIFE. YOU MAY WALK AWAY FROM GOD AS THE ISREALITES DID, AND IGNORE THE CHANGE, BUT YOU CAN’T WALK AWAY FROM THE CHANGE.
HAVING SAID THESE THINGS LETS TAKE TIME NOW TO LOOK AT THE FIRST OF FIVE IDENTIFIED TYPES OF GOD MOMENTS AND HOW OR IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY IT IN YOUR LIFE, THE GOD MOMENT OF AMAZING RESCUE.
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND:
1. DESCRIBE ISREAL’S SITUATION IN EGYPT.
2. TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PLAGUES
3. NOW TALK ABOUT THE TENTH PLAGUE: THE EGYPTIANS FINALLY SET THEM
FREE
IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES
THEY WERE TO COMMERATE IT
NO ONE ELSE BUT GOD COULD DO IT
IT WAS AN AMAZING RESCUE
APPLICATION:
THE GOD MOMENT PRINCIPLE IS THIS, SIMPLY STATED. “HOW WE REMEMBER OUR PAST, IS HOW WE WILL LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE FUTURE.”
1. DO WE REMEMBER THE FEW AIR-TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OR DO WE REMEMBER THE THOUSANDS OF SAFE LANDINGS OF AIR-PLANES.
2. DO WE REMEMBER THE REALLY SMALL AMOUNT OF CHILD ABDUCTIONS FROM PLAYGROUNDS, OR THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE PLAYED ENTIRE CHILDHOODS WITHOUT BEING BOTHERED?
3. DO WE REMEMBER THE FEW WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENTS, OR THE MILLIONS OF TRIPS WE HAVE TAKEN SAFELY AND ENJOYED FULLY?
NOW THE PASSOVER IS AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF GOD RESCUE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:
1. THE HEBREW ROOT FOR THE WORD GIVES THE MEANING OF A MOTHER HEN COVERING HER LITTLE ONES WITH HER WINGS. THE PSALMIST SPEAKS OF THIS.
PSALM 17:8: Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
PSALM 36:7: How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings
PSALM 91:4: He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS TELLING US THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PASSOVER IS FROM GOD AND NOT MAN.
2. THIS GOD MOMENT SHOWS GOD ACTIVELY PROTECTING HIS PEOPLE. HE DIDN’T OMIT THE CALAMITY, HE CREATED IT AND HE RESCUED HIS PEOPLE FROM IT. IF HE WOULD DO THIS FOR HIS PEOPLE THEN, CAN HE NOT ALSO CHOOSE TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE FROM CALAMITY NOW, AND DOES SO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. SOME WE MAY CONSIDER FAIRLY ROUTINE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE?
USE EXAMPLES OF GOD MOMENTS:
THESE POINTS WILL HELP US TO UNCOVER GOD MOMENTS OF AMAZING RESCUE.
1. ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DANGEROUS LIFE IS.
2. BEGIN WITH CHILDHOOD MEMORIES – IT SEEMS WE’RE ESPECIALLY PROTECTED BY ANGELS THEN
3. RECALL THE PIVOTAL MOMENTS OF NEAR-ACCIDENTS, MAJOR MISHAPS, OR LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH YOU HAVE SURVIVED.
4. PAY SPECAIL ATTENTION TO ILLNESSES FROM WHICH YOU HAVE RECOVERED. ALL HEALING IS ACTUALLY A RESCUE FROM DANGER AND IS ULTIMATELY FROM GOD.
5. ACKNOWLEDGE MOMENTS OF FOOLISHNESS THAT COULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU HARM BUT DIDN’T.
CONCLUSION:
THERE IS A THIRD LESSON WE CAN TAKE FROM THE AMAZING RESCUE OF THE PASSOVER, WHICH IS THIS: GOD RESCUES WHAT HE LOVES.
WHATEVER A PERSON LOVES MOST IS WHAT HE MOST WANTS TO PROTECT. GOD HAS A CHOSEN PEOPLE THAT HE DESPERATELY LOVES. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT WAS THE ISREALITES, NOW IT IS THE CHRISTIAN. WHILE HE LOVES ALL, HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE, THAT THOSE WHO WOULD ACCEPT HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR WOULD HAVE THEIR LIVES CHANGED FOREVER.
THE GREATEST GOD MOMENT OF AMAZING RESCUE HAPPENED AT CALVARY, AND THE GREATEST GOD MOMENT THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES IS WHEN WE ARE RESCUED FROM OUR LOSTNESS AND TAKEN INTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.
IT IS MORE THAN AN EXPERIENCE. IT IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT NEVER ENDS.
EVER SINCE THAT TIME, OVER AND OVER, GOD HAS RESCUED YOU AND ME IN WAYS THAT WE HARDLY NOTICE. WHY? A PERSON RESCUES WHAT HE LOVES.
