1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,560 Now, would you open your Bible with me please to the book of Exodus and the 11th chapter. 2 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:18,520 The clock of God's dealings with Egypt ticked away for some nine months as plague after 3 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:23,160 plague fell upon the nation. 4 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:29,240 Now as we come to chapter 11, it's approaching midnight, as it were, with respect to God's 5 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,080 judgment. 6 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:39,600 The final and most devastating judgment was just about to come. 7 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:46,360 Now the Lord said to Moses, one more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt. 8 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,380 After that he will let you go from here. 9 00:00:49,380 --> 00:00:54,560 When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely. 10 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,580 Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man asked from his neighbor and each 11 00:00:58,580 --> 00:01:04,400 woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold. 12 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,120 The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. 13 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:12,120 Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the 14 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,560 sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people. 15 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:23,520 And Moses said, Thus says the Lord, about midnight I am going out in the midst of Egypt, 16 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,200 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die. 17 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:32,720 From the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave 18 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:38,920 girl who is behind the millstones, all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 19 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,480 Moreover, there shall be a great cry in the land of Egypt, such as there has not been 20 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,880 before and such as shall never be again. 21 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:54,920 But against any of the sons of Israel a dog shall not even bark, whether against man or 22 00:01:54,920 --> 00:02:03,400 beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 23 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,080 And all these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves before me, saying, 24 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:14,920 Go out, you and all the people who follow you, and after that I will go out. 25 00:02:14,920 --> 00:02:18,160 And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. 26 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,360 Then the Lord said to Moses, Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders will 27 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,720 be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 28 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,320 And Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, yet the Lord hardened Pharaoh's 29 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:36,560 heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 30 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:42,360 Now keeping your finger here, would you please turn to John chapter 14. 31 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:50,880 The Gospel of John the fourteenth chapter. 32 00:02:50,880 --> 00:03:19,880 In the text in Exodus announcing the final 33 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:33,200 plague upon God's enemies, we also see interwoven the assurance of God's blessings on his people. 34 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:40,520 These blessings in Exodus eleven, expressed by the Lord on that eve before the Passover 35 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:50,160 was instituted, were again expressed by this same Lord on the eve before the Passover was 36 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,600 fulfilled. 37 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:59,040 Thus I read the text from John chapter 14. 38 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:04,040 God's people are a people of blessing. 39 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:10,480 Having been released from the condemnation we deserve because of our sin, we now have 40 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,920 by God's grace eternal life. 41 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:21,560 Furthermore, we have been given in Christ Jesus every spiritual blessing, says the Apostle 42 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,240 Paul in Ephesians chapter one. 43 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:34,520 Today I'd like for us to enumerate the blessings in our text which belong to God's people. 44 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:41,360 As we do so, we will consider some of the implications of those blessings as well. 45 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:47,800 The first blessing I'd like for us to look at is the blessing of his protection. 46 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:55,460 You see that for example in verse seven of Exodus eleven, where God says against any 47 00:04:55,460 --> 00:05:01,700 of the sons of Israel a dog shall not even bark. 48 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:09,520 That you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 49 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:16,640 The people of God have the blessing of his protection upon their lives. 50 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,640 We see this illustrated numerous times in the Bible, but one that comes to mind is the 51 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:28,960 example of Elisha when he and his servant were at the city of Dothan. 52 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:35,880 He had been giving away the secrets of the king of Aram of Syria. 53 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:41,720 The king was upset about that and so he found out where Elisha was and surrounded him during 54 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,240 the night. 55 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:50,560 The servant of the prophet got up in the morning and looked out and there were the enemies. 56 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,200 They came back in, expressed alarm to Elisha. 57 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,200 Elisha said, don't fear. 58 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:05,280 In essence he said those that are for us are greater in number than those who are on the 59 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:06,280 other side. 60 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:11,120 And he said, Lord open his eyes. 61 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:18,080 God opened the eyes of that servant and he could see into the realm of spiritual things 62 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:25,560 with his physical eyes and he was able to see that the enemy was surrounded by God's 63 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:33,040 troops, angels in chariots of fire, with horses of fire. 64 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,480 Elisha was protected. 65 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:40,400 God protected him on that occasion and they took captive those Syrian soldiers without 66 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:46,640 a single arrow being shot and then released them. 67 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:52,640 The people of God enjoy the protection of the Lord. 68 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:58,960 As the psalmist says, the angel of the Lord camps round about those that fear him and 69 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,560 delivers them. 70 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,720 Here we see the nation of Israel protected in the midst of the land of Egypt. 71 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:14,480 At a time when God was bringing great judgment upon the people of Egypt, he protected his 72 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,520 own people. 73 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,240 And what was the cause for this? 74 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:25,280 Well it's the fact that God made a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 75 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:30,440 The cause for that distinction was the holiness of God. 76 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:37,480 Just as God is holy, that is completely set apart from all of his creation, he is other 77 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,640 than we are. 78 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,720 He is unique. 79 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,160 There is none like him. 80 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,520 He is holy. 81 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:55,400 So everything that God puts his hand upon to be his is made holy. 82 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,040 It is set apart. 83 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:06,080 It is made distinct from other things because it is his who is holy. 84 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,280 That is the cause for the distinction. 85 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:14,480 We have to understand of course that the means by which God did this was his grace. 86 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:21,720 It was not that the people of Israel were better people than the people of Egypt. 87 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:26,800 But God in his grace had chosen those people to be his own. 88 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,080 They were vessels of mercy. 89 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:36,080 When just as well they deserve to be vessels of wrath, objects of his judgment like the 90 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,840 people of Egypt. 91 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:46,240 But God in his grace showed to them an undeserved kindness. 92 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:52,400 Just as the song said that we heard sung by the quartet earlier, Oh the love that sought 93 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:53,400 me. 94 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,640 Oh the blood that bought me. 95 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,240 Oh the grace that brought me to the fold. 96 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,480 Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold. 97 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:11,800 You and I have to understand that if we know God today as our Lord and our Savior, if we 98 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:17,720 have that personal relationship with him it is the act of God's grace that we have been 99 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,080 set apart from those who are in the world. 100 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:26,420 The basis for God's distinction here was the blood of the Passover lamb which was about 101 00:09:26,420 --> 00:09:28,580 to be shed. 102 00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:36,720 God provided that that lamb should bear the penalty of death and its blood then should 103 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,720 be sprinkled on the door post in a certain manner. 104 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:47,200 That's why in chapter 12 and verse 12 God says to the people of Israel, I will go through 105 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,680 the land of Egypt on that night and will strike down all the first born in the land of Egypt, 106 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:54,160 both man and beast. 107 00:09:54,160 --> 00:10:01,040 And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment, I am Yahweh. 108 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:07,240 And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live. 109 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:12,800 And when I see the blood I will pass over you and no plague will befall you to destroy 110 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:18,120 you when I strike the land of Egypt. 111 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:22,960 The only basis by which God could show his grace to the people of Israel is that there 112 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:28,440 be a substitute to bear the penalty they also deserve, the penalty of death. 113 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:36,040 And God provided that substitute in the Passover lamb. 114 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:40,560 What belongs to God has his protection. 115 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:45,200 Do you belong to him today? 116 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,960 The Lord Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled. 117 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:54,880 In the verse that we read in John 14 later in the chapter he goes on to say, peace I 118 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,200 leave with you, my peace I give to you. 119 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:03,960 Not as the world gives do I give to you, let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be 120 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,860 fearful. 121 00:11:06,860 --> 00:11:11,120 God provides protection for us so that we need not be fearful. 122 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,160 Do we need fear the wrath of God? 123 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,320 The answer to that is no, if we are God's people. 124 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:19,920 We are protected. 125 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,320 Why? 126 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:29,400 Because God in his grace has made a distinction between us and the people in the world. 127 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:37,960 The basis for that is the blood of God's Passover lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. 128 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:43,680 Because we have been by grace brought to faith in that Christ. 129 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:50,200 And that blood has been applied to us and cleansed us from our sin. 130 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:57,360 Because God's judgment was poured out upon that lamb, his son at the cross of Calvary. 131 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:07,160 You and I today do not need to fear the wrath of God for we are protected from it. 132 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:13,040 You and I who belong to the Lord today, we who are his people in this age, likewise have 133 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:17,920 the blessing of his protection upon our lives. 134 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:24,800 We have the guarantee that we are his and we need not fear separation from him. 135 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:33,760 In Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 13 he tells us that we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. 136 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:38,560 In the fourth chapter of the same book in verse 30 he says, and grieve not the Holy 137 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:44,040 Spirit of God whereby you are sealed under the day of redemption. 138 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:51,080 The Spirit of God serves as his seal upon us that we belong to him. 139 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:59,200 And it is that seal that protects us from ever coming under the wrath of God. 140 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,600 We have the blessing of protection. 141 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:08,240 Thank God for that blessing that belongs to his people. 142 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:17,240 And then in our text we also see the blessing of God's person given to the people of Israel. 143 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:23,760 Six times in this chapter God uses that name for himself that we have come to appreciate 144 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:32,240 perhaps in a more full way, Yahweh, O Lord, or Jehovah, capital L, capital O, capital R, 145 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,160 capital D in our English translations. 146 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:41,600 This was a newly expounded name of God to the people of Israel. 147 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,600 They had had the name before this given to them. 148 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:50,200 But now they come into an understanding of that name. 149 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:59,040 This is the name of the God who always is the same, the I Am. 150 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:07,480 He is the one who is eternally existent and also completely self-sufficient. 151 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:16,640 He lacks nothing in himself and he provides through himself all that his people need. 152 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:22,900 All that is needed on every occasion, Yahweh provides to his own. 153 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:26,560 That is the blessing of his person. 154 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:34,200 God wanted them to experience himself as their faithful provider. 155 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:41,360 He wanted them to know him as their personal God who had established a covenant with them 156 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,480 as a people. 157 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:47,180 He wanted them to know his faithfulness. 158 00:14:47,180 --> 00:14:54,400 They had the blessing of his person. 159 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:58,880 How many of you know the chorus, Christ is all I need? 160 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,000 Christ is all I need, all all I need? 161 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,920 How many of you know that? 162 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,200 If you can remember five words, Christ is all I need, you've got all the words that 163 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,960 exist in that chorus. 164 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,440 I'd like you to learn it with me right now, would you? 165 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,680 If you know it, sing it with me. 166 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,620 I don't particularly like to do solos. 167 00:15:15,620 --> 00:15:17,200 Thank you. 168 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:21,400 Christ is all I need. 169 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:32,600 Christ is all I need, all all I need. 170 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:37,480 Christ is all I need. 171 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:49,600 Christ is all I need, all all I need. 172 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,600 Let's sing it once more for those of you who are just learning it. 173 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:57,600 Christ is all I need. 174 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:10,240 Christ is all I need, all all I need. 175 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:15,440 Christ is all I need. 176 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:29,760 Christ is all I need, all all I need. 177 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,860 And folks, he is. 178 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:38,380 He was as Yahweh to his people in the Old Testament, and he is the same today. 179 00:16:38,380 --> 00:16:43,500 He said, you believe in God, believe also in me. 180 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:48,120 In the fifteenth chapter of John, he said to his own on that night before Passover was 181 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:53,800 fulfilled in himself, I am the vine, you are the branches. 182 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:59,720 He who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit. 183 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:06,220 Jesus says to us in this day that we are united to him. 184 00:17:06,220 --> 00:17:10,420 We abide in him, he abides in us. 185 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:18,360 Because we believe in him, even as we believe in the Father, we have all that we need. 186 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:25,160 Just as he was all that was needed for the people of Israel 3500 years ago. 187 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:30,440 So in 1988, Jesus Christ is all his people need today. 188 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,600 We have the blessing of his person. 189 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:40,800 I want you to know that our Lord desires that we find our fulfillment and our satisfaction 190 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,880 in him and in him alone. 191 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:51,760 We have to be aware of substitutes that we so easily attach ourselves to. 192 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:56,460 Sometimes we attach ourselves to other people and we find our fulfillment, our happiness 193 00:17:56,460 --> 00:17:58,680 in being with others. 194 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:06,040 But what happens if those others cannot be with us or are taken from us? 195 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:11,840 There are those who attach themselves to pleasant circumstances. 196 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:16,840 Things are going great in life and they find their fulfillment in the way things are going 197 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,760 at the moment. 198 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,600 But what happens when things change? 199 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,360 Others find their fulfillment in material possessions. 200 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:29,160 But what happens when those things are taken away? 201 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:36,320 They are no longer ours or we lose them. 202 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:43,080 Jesus Christ desires that you and I find our fulfillment and our satisfaction in him alone. 203 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,800 So I ask you today, where do you find your satisfaction? 204 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:52,640 Is it in the person of your Savior, Jesus Christ? 205 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,400 Are you in love with him? 206 00:18:55,400 --> 00:19:01,840 Is he the one who absorbs your devotion and your worship? 207 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:07,240 I want you to know that's the only position that he will be satisfied with. 208 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:14,960 If he is the preeminent one in your life, he deserves that and he rightfully demands 209 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,000 it. 210 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,960 Some time ago I came across a poem by Charles Spurgeon. 211 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:22,600 I knew he was a great preacher. 212 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,440 I didn't know he was such a good poet. 213 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:29,640 But here are the words that he writes as he thinks about this theme of Christ being everything 214 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,880 to life. 215 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:42,880 What the hand is to the lute, what the breath to the flute, what fragrance is to the smell, 216 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:54,120 what the spring is to the well, what the flower is to the bee, that is Jesus Christ to me. 217 00:19:54,120 --> 00:20:03,160 What the mother to the child, what the guide is in pathless wild, what is oil to troubled 218 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:15,600 wave, what is ransom to a slave, what is water to the sea, that is Jesus Christ to me. 219 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:20,240 In other words, Jesus Christ is everything that there is to life. 220 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,280 It's all that gives life its fullness and its meaning. 221 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:28,320 In His person, He wants us to be satisfied. 222 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,240 You and I have the blessing of His person today. 223 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:38,360 We have the joy of that personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 224 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:47,680 The one who is Jehovah come in the flesh and we need nothing besides Him. 225 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,840 I notice a third blessing to the people of God in our text and that is the blessing of 226 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,600 His provision. 227 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:59,120 I see that provision as threefold at least to the Israelites. 228 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:04,320 We see this in verses 1 through 3 of chapter 11 as well as in another verse that I want 229 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,400 to refer to back in chapter 6. 230 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:13,700 But God's provision for the Israelites involved number one, deliverance from bondage. 231 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:19,680 It did not come as quickly as they wanted it to, but God did provide deliverance. 232 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:23,520 In fact, God said at the end, they're going to thrust you out of the land of Egypt. 233 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,280 They're going to chase you out. 234 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:32,280 Not just willing to let you go, they're going to help usher you to the door. 235 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:36,200 He also provided for them sustenance for the pilgrimage. 236 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:41,200 That is suggested by the fact that He said, ask of your neighbors articles of silver and 237 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,200 gold. 238 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:47,240 He comes to help provide for the needs they would have in the wilderness, including the 239 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:52,680 need to construct the tabernacle that He will describe to them a little later in this very 240 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,520 book. 241 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,920 Sustenance for the pilgrimage. 242 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:02,800 And thirdly, He provided for them the possession of the promised land. 243 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:09,640 To see that clearly, just back up with me to chapter 6 and notice a couple of verses 244 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:15,800 in verse 6, say therefore to the sons of Israel, says the Lord, I am the Lord and I will bring 245 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:21,400 you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will deliver you from their bondage. 246 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,360 I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 247 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,320 We certainly have seen that, haven't we? 248 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:37,980 Then He says in verse 7, then I will take you for my people and I will be your God and 249 00:22:37,980 --> 00:22:43,000 you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from under the burdens 250 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:51,400 of the Egyptians and I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac 251 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,400 and Jacob and I will give it to you for a possession. 252 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,200 I am Yahweh. 253 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,640 What did God provide for His people Israel? 254 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:06,600 Deliverance from bondage, sustenance in their pilgrimage and finally the possession of the 255 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,640 promised land. 256 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,720 I want you to know that there is a parallel to each of those today for those of us who 257 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,020 are God's people. 258 00:23:15,020 --> 00:23:20,120 He provides for us in the first place deliverance from our bondage. 259 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:24,800 As Jesus said in John chapter 15, you are not of the world. 260 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:31,960 Now remember that in Bible symbolism Egypt pictures the world. 261 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:33,920 You remember that. 262 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:38,880 Jesus says in the New Testament, you are not of the world. 263 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,960 I chose you out of the world. 264 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,760 Therefore the world hates you. 265 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,600 We have been chosen out of the world. 266 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,000 We have known the deliverance of the Lord. 267 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,600 Do we have sustenance for our pilgrimage? 268 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:57,800 May I remind you of a few aspects of that that Jesus talked about with His disciples 269 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:03,280 on the night before Passover was fulfilled. 270 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:08,160 He said to them, my peace I give to you. 271 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,400 John 14, 27. 272 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:19,600 He said these things I have spoken to you that you might have my joy. 273 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,320 John 15, 11. 274 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:28,480 He said the Father will send the comforter, the helper to you. 275 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:34,520 It's the Holy Spirit, John 14, verses 16 and 17. 276 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:39,720 And He says if you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 277 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,320 He has provided for us prayer. 278 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:49,040 Folks, everything that we need in our pilgrimage in this life He has provided. 279 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:55,080 Spiritual blessing, access to His presence, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives 280 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,760 to strengthen us. 281 00:24:57,760 --> 00:24:59,800 There is nothing more that we need. 282 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,160 He has provided everything for our pilgrimage. 283 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:11,580 But just as the Lord provided for His people a physical land, so He has provided for us 284 00:25:11,580 --> 00:25:15,080 an eternal home in heaven. 285 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,640 Jesus said in My Father's house are many dwelling places. 286 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:27,640 If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. 287 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:35,960 Our Lord said I am going to prepare a custom designed abode, a dwelling place for you in 288 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,240 My Father's house. 289 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:45,960 You and I have been given by Him the possession of a promised home. 290 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:51,920 That becomes all the more dear as loved ones leave this earth and go to their homes that 291 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,320 the Lord has provided. 292 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,440 It becomes all the more dear the older you get. 293 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:05,120 And you begin to realize that life is not going to go on for you. 294 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:09,640 Somehow in our youth we think that we are going to escape death. 295 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:17,520 That it is never going to overtake us, or at least not for a long, long time. 296 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,560 We don't know that. 297 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,680 And even if it is what a young person calls a long time, the older you get you realize 298 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:26,880 it is not very long. 299 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:32,760 Aren't you glad that you and I have an eternal home? 300 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:37,040 What a blessing it is to have all of this provided for us. 301 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:44,080 Just as the people of Israel had the blessing of God's provision, you and I have His provision 302 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:45,080 as well. 303 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:51,680 Deliverance from the world of sin and condemnation. 304 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:55,200 Sustenance for our pilgrimage in this life. 305 00:26:55,200 --> 00:27:00,400 And when this life is over in the will of God, an eternal dwelling place. 306 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:08,140 Just as David said of old, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 307 00:27:08,140 --> 00:27:11,840 What blessed promises are these? 308 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:16,200 Christ makes provision for every one of His own in this world. 309 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,440 When I was a kid we used to sing a chorus. 310 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,880 I don't know if it is sung anymore. 311 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:28,080 Choruses seem to have their day and then they go out of fad, I suppose is the word to use. 312 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:32,440 It wasn't a great theological treatise by any means, as most weren't back in those 313 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:33,440 days. 314 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:37,880 It simply said, this world is not my home. 315 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,840 I'm just a passing through. 316 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:45,080 My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. 317 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:53,440 Well, as simple as that chorus was and is, it expresses a wonderful truth. 318 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,960 We're not living for this world. 319 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,760 Egypt is not our destination. 320 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,240 It is not our home. 321 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,720 The wilderness is not our stopping place. 322 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:12,280 But our destination, our destiny, is that place that Jesus is preparing for each one 323 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,280 of His own. 324 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:19,480 Do you have that assurance of a home in heaven? 325 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:27,040 Then I want to point out finally a fourth blessing that belongs to the people of God. 326 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,280 Beyond the blessing of His provision, we have the blessing of His promise. 327 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:40,320 As we read in Exodus chapter 6, I will take you for my people, says the Lord. 328 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,840 God used this language describing His action. 329 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,840 He said, I will come down. 330 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,280 I will deliver. 331 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,200 I will bring you out. 332 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:55,960 Does that remind you of anything? 333 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:06,000 Jesus said, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will what? 334 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:16,760 Come again and take you, receive you to myself, that where I am there you may be also. 335 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:23,960 You and I have the blessing of His promise today that there is a time when He will come 336 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:28,280 and receive us to Himself. 337 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:33,480 I believe that that verse is referring to the rapture, that time when our Lord will 338 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:41,200 come again to the earth and will call by the power of His own resurrection, His own to 339 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:47,400 Himself, glorified in their eternal bodies. 340 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:53,880 He said, if I go away and prepare a place, that's exactly what He's doing, I will come 341 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:55,920 again. 342 00:29:55,920 --> 00:30:03,920 Not maybe, not probably, not should, I will come again and receive you to myself. 343 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:08,000 Are you looking for Him today? 344 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:14,480 Someone sent me in the mail a book a few weeks ago that says the rapture is going to occur 345 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:18,000 this fall. 346 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:24,760 He is unable to give the day or the hour, but He gives us the week. 347 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:29,520 September 12th, 13th or 14th as I recall. 348 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:35,280 He has 88 reasons why He believes the Lord may come at that time. 349 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,120 Maybe He's right, I don't know. 350 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:42,560 He frankly loses me in some of His exegesis of the scripture. 351 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:48,440 I get a little lost in some of the turns and twists that He makes. 352 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:55,120 But He goes on to say, if the Lord doesn't come at this time, at least perhaps this book 353 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,880 will stir up some people to recognize that He is coming. 354 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:02,160 I appreciate that spirit. 355 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:09,380 If it's not one of those three days in September, if His 88 reasons don't quite fit the picture, 356 00:31:09,380 --> 00:31:13,480 one thing we do know, He is coming again. 357 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:18,200 And you and I need to live in the light of that blessed hope that is ours. 358 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:21,640 The promise that He has given. 359 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:25,240 What if we don't get to finish our vacation this summer? 360 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,600 What if you don't get to go back to school this year? 361 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,320 What a disappointment, right? 362 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:35,000 What if you don't get to have those things fulfilled that you've been looking forward 363 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,160 to? 364 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,160 My brother-in-law, as you know, was here a week ago and he said he was fishing with a 365 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:44,880 friend of his from the church where he attends in Kentucky earlier this summer. 366 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:49,280 And as they were fishing, they began talking about the Lord's return and he was astounded 367 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,400 that his friend said, I don't want the Lord to come back now. 368 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:56,400 I've got too much I want to do. 369 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,240 What short-sightedness. 370 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:02,120 What a pathetic way for a professing Christian to live. 371 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:06,240 My friend, if He should come today and nothing else that I want to do in life is fulfilled, 372 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:09,240 that's great as far as I'm concerned. 373 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:13,120 Lord Jesus, come now and receive us. 374 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:18,720 His promise is, I will come again and receive you to myself. 375 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:24,240 Well, those are the blessings that belong to God's people, whether it's 3500 years 376 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:33,800 ago when the Passover was instituted, or if it was on that night 2000 years ago just before 377 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:43,100 the Passover was fulfilled, or if it's this day, almost 2000 years later, when we celebrate 378 00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:46,720 the Passover lamb, Jesus Christ. 379 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,360 These are the blessings of God. 380 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:57,360 The proud pagan nation of Egypt thought to keep the people of Israel in bondage, but 381 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,660 God intervened to deliver them. 382 00:33:00,660 --> 00:33:05,720 He left the pantheon of their gods in shambles. 383 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:14,080 Their gods were exposed as impotent, false deities in the presence of the living Yahweh, 384 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:19,920 the living Lord of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 385 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:26,200 He left the nation of Egypt economically devastated. 386 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,120 He created fear in the hearts of the populace. 387 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:37,680 He humbled their arrogant, wicked leader, revealing his hardened hearts and judging 388 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:41,400 him indeed with increased hardness. 389 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,400 I want you to know that it is a fearful thing. 390 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:49,280 It is a frightful thing to be an enemy of the true and living God. 391 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,920 Oh, you say, I'm not His enemy. 392 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:56,200 I would never be the enemy of God. 393 00:33:56,200 --> 00:34:02,440 Dear friend, if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, by virtue of the fact 394 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:08,000 you are yet in your sins, you are the enemy of God. 395 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:14,480 In your wicked works, He describes you as being hostile toward Him. 396 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,480 You are not at peace with God. 397 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,240 You are at war with God. 398 00:34:19,240 --> 00:34:23,280 Your need today is to surrender. 399 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:24,280 It's not a truce. 400 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,920 It's a surrender. 401 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,600 Will you surrender to Him? 402 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:35,560 Will you trust in the provision that He has made through Jesus Christ for your sin? 403 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:41,120 And for those of us who have, who are the people of God, is it not a wonderful thing 404 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:43,720 to be one of His? 405 00:34:43,720 --> 00:34:47,800 Is it not a blessing to be one of God's people? 406 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:54,000 Our journey like Israel's may at times appear foreboding and uncertain, but we have the 407 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:58,720 assurance of His blessings in our lives. 408 00:34:58,720 --> 00:35:02,280 Bishop Houghton of the China Inland Mission wrote these words, 409 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:10,320 I thought I was walking all alone, into darkness, immense and drear. 410 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:19,520 But where it was densest, a hand touched my own, and a voice spoke gentle and clear. 411 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:25,200 Do you not think you might have known that I should be here? 412 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,320 Your need is met. 413 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:29,840 Your way will be shown. 414 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:30,840 Be of good cheer. 415 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:35,600 Child of God, I want to leave you with that thought today. 416 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,320 Be of good cheer. 417 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:43,120 Your Lord's hand is near your own. 418 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:53,280 However dark or black the thickness may seem around you, recognize that your need is met. 419 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:59,160 Your way will be shown because He's there. 420 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:02,160 You're His. 421 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:09,280 Let's bow together. 422 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:15,760 Here I thank you today for the blessings that belong to the people of God, and that we can 423 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:23,000 call ourselves such is surely the work of grace. 424 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:31,520 For there is nothing inherently good in any of us. 425 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:37,200 It is only your undeserved kindness that has brought us to the Savior that we might find 426 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:42,760 through Him peace with you. 427 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:49,460 I pray this morning for that friend who is here without Christ that even now at this 428 00:36:49,460 --> 00:36:58,800 moment there may be the act of faith in that heart, a turning from self and sin, and a 429 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:07,400 trusting in the Savior who died and rose again. 430 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:12,800 Thank you for the promise that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, whosoever 431 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:15,840 shall call shall be saved. 432 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:22,800 May that one call in faith at this moment. 433 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,880 Dear friend, if that's you that I've prayed for, the Spirit of God knows, would you call 434 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:31,040 upon the Lord to be your Savior? 435 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:37,040 Would you believe in Him now with your heart and trust Him alone? 436 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:44,320 Tell Him so, right where you're seated. 437 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:47,880 And if that is your decision, would you come by the door here in the front where I greet 438 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:54,980 folks as they leave and tell me that this morning you made that decision, you placed 439 00:37:54,980 --> 00:37:58,320 your faith in Christ. 440 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:04,880 Father, I pray too that each one of us who in some time in the past has done that may 441 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:10,600 rejoice in the blessings that are ours in Christ and may we find in Him alone all that 442 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:11,880 we need. 443 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:17,240 Forgive us for the substitutes that we cling to. 444 00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:25,480 Strip them from us and may Christ be our all today, everything to us. 445 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:28,760 We pray in His name. 446 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:47,680 Amen.