Exodus factor
1-28-01
Scog
Ex 1:8,14
Ex 3:8
Intro
On Wednesday night I mentioned it was time for evangelism; a time for the church to reach out to the lost of our community; a time to spread the message of salvation to the lost.
Matt 28:19 “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
We need to reach the lost. I believe if we don’t get a burden for the lost in the communities across America, it won’t be long before other countries will be sending missionaries here.
But if you will remember, I also said it was a time for us to mobilize. That statement was not by accident. “Well, when we evangelize we will be mobilized.”
No. You misunderstand. It’s time for us to mobilize. Before we can evangelize the lost, we must mobilize ourselves. There has to be a movement within our home camp.
You see, if we want to be a river of life to the community we have to understand what a river is. A river doesn’t stand still; a river flows. A river is constantly stirred up.
Paul said to Timothy to “stir up the gift of God (II Tim 1:6).” He wasn’t telling him to stir it up so he could feel good about having the gift, he was telling him to put it to work. He said, “Make full proof of thy ministry (II Tim 4:5).” Put your ministry to use. In other words, use it or lose it.
God is saying it’s time to put your ministry to work. Church is not the place for people who want to do nothing. They have a place for that. It’s called a couch.
America has become a breeding ground for the lazy. A spirit of sloth and slumber has fallen upon America. That spirit has found it’s way into the church. That’s why we have ungodly leaders in Washington, because Christians are too lazy to do anything about it.
There was once a man who made his sons works in the cornfields while their friends spent the afternoon in the swimming hole. Someone scolded the father saying, “Why do you make those boys work so hard? You don’t need all that corn.” The father replied, “Sir, I’m not raising corn. I’m raising boys.”
Most Americans tend to worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship. As a result values in America has been lost. Relationship falls apart faster than they can be repaired (Gordon Dahl).
We are no longer an America of grace. We are an America of disgrace.
God is saying, “it’s time and high time to awake out of sleep: for our salvation is nearer that when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us cast off the evil works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” - Rom 13:11,12
It’s time to flow! Get stirred up!
Not only does a river flow, a river is wet.
There’s not much worse than a dry Pentecostal church. It’s imperative that we maintain a dynamic worship atmosphere. When our vision says we hear the sounds of dynamic worship, what does that mean?
Does it mean it’s the responsibility of the pianist to skillfully work the ivories until we get happy?
Is it the place of the singers to sing the chorus enough until we finally feel like singing?
Are the teachers and pastor supposed to pump the handle until someone feels good?
If you know anything about gardening you ought to understand this. Fruits and vegetables don’t come forth without a seed.
Paul told the Galatians church they had a “seed, which was Christ (Gal 3:16).”
Singing will not produce dynamic worship if the audience doesn’t have a seed. I can go and sing gospel songs to a group of drunken people and it won’t produce dynamic worship because they have no seed.
We’ve got this thing backwards. The pianist isn’t the seed; the pianist is the water on the seed.
If we have the seed of Christ and that preacher, singer, teacher gets up there and pours out the water, then you will see the fruit of dynamic worship come forth.
When you pour water onto that seed of Christ you will not have a dry service. If you have the seed of Christ, when that water is poured out you should automatically spring forth into dynamic worship.
You say, “Well I’m not that type.” You mean you use not to be that type.
If you are a child of God you have been given a new type. The word says, “if any man have the seed of Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.”
Now it’s your type to make a joyful noise.
The old type held its peace. But the new type don’t want no rocks to cry out in its place. – Luke 19:40
When our service become wet instead of dry you won’t have to beg people to come, they’ll just come and get it.
I’m not talking about spiritualism or emotionalism. I’m talking about a genuine desire to flow with God. Heartfelt worship that lifts up Christ.
Let’s take to heart the words of the psalmist. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.” – ps 100:4
Enter the gate at the lobby with one thing on your mind. That is to offer thanks to Christ. When you enter the courts of this sanctuary, enter with one thing on your mind, praising god.
You’re not here to critique the pastor. You’re not here to judge the singing. You’re not here to lay your burdens on others. You’re here to lay your burdens on the altar.
I’m talking about the Exodus factor. It’s about getting out of where you are, and mobilizing to where you want to be. The devil has come and placed you in captivity. He has surrounded you with walls. But the “Lord my God will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop and leaped over a wall.” – Ps 18:28,29
It’s time for the church to get moving. One of the strongest motivational forces for an employee is the sound of the boss’s footsteps.
I hear the footsteps of the boss and it won’t be long before he gets here and expects the work to be done.
James said, “behold, the judge stands at the door.” – James 5:9
Adapted from Gary McIntosh
