Are You Lively?
January 18, 1998 p.m.
THEME: 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
TEXT: Exodus 1:8-21 **19
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Definition of Lively
1. Webster’s says: “an adjective meaning: animated; active; exciting;”
2. Webster goes on to describe animated as: to give natural live to; to endow with spirit or vigor; to energize; to inspire; to make alive;
3. I don’t know about you but I’m already feeling like that song from the fifties that says: It makes me wanna shout! Or how many can say, “every time I think about Jesus, makes me feel good”?
B. I don’t know how you feel, but I’m pretty tired of these people trying to tell me how great their God yet they look like they been constipated for a week.
1. My dad used to tell a joke about “The meanest animal in the world.”
a. One little boy said it was a lion. Another said it was a alligator. The third little boy said, “No, it was a animal that was a lion on one end and a alligator on the other. The one said, “There is no such animal.” The other said, “I know, but if there was it would be.” And he said, “Why?” Because if he had a head on each end he couldn’t go to the bathroom.”
2. I tell you that because too many churches and church people today are so interested in being the head that they have forgot how important the whole body is.
a. When you have too many people being heads at both ends, it’s going to be one mean animal with very little joy.
b. The only way we can have real joy and be lively is when we’re doing the perfect will of the Lord. Not that there won’t be persecution, afflictions, oppression, and bondage but if we stay true to Him, God will not only see us through, but He will also make it profitable to the child of God.
II. BODY
A. Turn with me to Exodus chapter 1 starting with verse 8
1. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
a. These people that think you have to be a weakling to be a Christian don’t have any idea what they’re talking about. God doesn’t want people that can be swayed this way and that way.
b. God’s people are a mighty people! And this world doesn’t know what to do with us. But what they don’t know is: Our greatness does not come from ourselves, but it comes from Jesus Christ living in us. The Bible says, Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world!
2. 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
a. This world thinks they know how to control God’s people. But let me tell you Satan has tried in the past to come against God’s children and every time He has God has beaten him, and He always will.
b. I can remember when Satan almost persuaded us that Sis. Underwood was going to die. But God saw different! He said, “She shall not die, but she shall live!” Somebody shout Hallelujah!
3. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
a. We’d be fools to think we would never have burdens to bear. If we never had a burden to bear, God Himself couldn’t stand to live with us because we’d be so spoiled!
b. Many times as you read the scriptures you can see where God had to humble Israel. And we’re no different. I believe that God allows things to come upon us just to humble us and make us realize that we need Him.. Can you say AMEN?
4. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
a. Don’t think it strange when you desire to serve God and then seem that you’re going through a severe time of testing. God’s purpose at every testing of us is to make us more valuable. Let me illustrate:
A $5 bar of steel cut into ordinary horseshoes is worth $10.
A $5 bar of steel cut into needles is worth $350.
That same bar of steel cut into delicate springs for watches becomes worth $250,000.
Next time you get discouraged at what God is putting you through, think of that bar of steel!
5. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. 15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the nameof the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
a. This world would love nothing more than to do away with Jesus and Christians. Satan has done everything he can to try to eliminate God’s children. But he can’t do it. I said, Satan can not hurt God’s children! He tried to get Pharaoh to do it. He tried to destroy Jesus, but he couldn’t do it. Jesus laid His own life down and He picked it up again! He tried to get Hitler and the communist to do kill all God’s people and he would have loved to see us destroyed. But the same God that gave Jesus His power is the same God who gives us power over the adversary!
6. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
a. Where would this world be today if it weren’t for women who feared God?
b. I remember when Sis. Brenda Mattea first came to church, now more and more of her family are coming. Look at Sis. Bonnie’s family. Look at Sis. Pyle’s family. I could go on and on. But how many of us here can say, “If it wasn’t for a Godly woman in our life we wouldn’t be here today?
B. Now to the heart of this message. Verse 19 please.
1. 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are LIVELY, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
a. These women of God didn’t back down or lie to Pharaoh, they told him like it was. They said, “listen king, these kids aren’t like your Egyptian kids.” There is something different between the women of this world and the women of God!
b. Now I’ve had the privilege to be involved with all of my children when they were born. And even though my wife wanted to kill me at the moment, she soon forgot all that pain, the agony that she had to endure.
c. But spiritually that’s how God’s people are compared to this world. This world will let the pain and agony of their problems drag on and on and on; whereas REAL children of God can go through their problems, through their pain and affliction and put it behind them and walk LIVELY.
d. I didn’t say we would never have similar problems in this world, but we can come through them with liveliness!
2. 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
a. How many want God to deal well with you? How many want God’s favor? Then you better be lively!
b. How many would want God to make houses for you? I know it meant that even the midwives had children. But that was the sign back then of prosperity. And I believe God will make us prosperous like they were!
c. But it was only through obedience and the fear of God that He blessed the midwives.
III. CONCLUSION
A. How many are ready to obey God even if means living above this world?
1. A lot of people want the blessings of God, and the blessings of man at the same time. But too many of them seek the wrong thing first.
2. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
B. If you’re ready to come alive and make yourself different from this world. Get to your feet.
1. If you want to be known as the lively stones in God’s spiritual house, move out here and let us anoint you unto good works so that you may be blessed mightier than you ever have been.
