Go Forward

Text: Exodus 14:15    SWS BBC 29^th Church Anniversary    August 23, 2009

LBC 29^th Church Anniversary September 27, 2009

IBC New Year Service 2010   January 1, 2010

       “Go Forward” is an instructive command by God to Israel when they were being chased by the Egyptians and were deeply troubled. In Exodus 14:15, it is written, And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: (KJV) In times of trouble, God wants us to stay composed and reliant on His Word. God has always a way to deliver His people especially when He is needed most. His command is always specific and obeying such directional command especially during crucial moments will give us a privilege to experience His miraculous working through our lives.

       Since the beginning, the mighty power of God has been marvellously displayed through the lives of His people and we believe that His power will continue to be demonstrated from generation to generation according to His blessed will. God has been using men and women of faith to experience and proclaim His greatness.

       God uses people who truly believe Him and are obedient to His command. If God commands us to “Go Forward”, we should go without any question or doubt because He knows the best for us. He will be delighted if we obey Him and consequently, His loving-favour will be upon us to enjoy. We count it a privilege and a blessing to serve God in this Truth-rejecting world.

       The command “Go Forward” reminds us of many important things in life that could trigger us to become more excited in the work of God. The word “Go” depicts action while “Forward” shows direction. God wants us to be active and deeply involved in the journey of faith. Through the eyes of faith, we could see brighter future beyond the horizon of hopelessness. We must realize that faith goes forward, doubt looks around and unbelief turns back. God’s plan for us is to “Go Forward” and display the banner of Truth.

Things to be considered as Christians go forward:

Faith-triggered steps…………………………....….Hebrews 11:29

Obedience………………………………...…….…..Exodus 14:15

Right attitude…………………..…………………...Exodus 14:13-14

Wonders of God…………………………….………Exodus 14:22

Abiding presence of God……………………......…Exodus 14:19-20

Recognition of God and reverential fear..........….Exodus 14:17-18, 31

Defeat of the enemies of God……………......…..Exodus 14:31             

(I) Go Forward And The LORD Will Fight For You

Exodus 14:1-14

-Don’t be fearful v10, v13

       Fear is the outcome of lack of love and faith in God. The Bible teaches that love casts out fears while faith could enable us to do impossible task. In Exodus 14:13, it is written, 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. (KJV) We should not be afraid to do what is right and pleasing to God. Be courageous and the Lord will fight for you and help you to accomplish great things for His glory.      

-Don’t murmur vs11-12

       Every believer must realize that murmuring against God and His servants is sin. Thousands of people died in the wilderness because they complained against the blessed will of God. It is a shameful thing to murmur against God and His appointed servants. Murmurers cannot please God and can never gain the loving-favour of God.

       We should not question the ways of God because His ways are excellent and far better than our ways. In Exodus 14:11-12, it is written, 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. (KJV) Murmuring kindles the wrath of God, but humility of mind unleashes His loving-grace.

-Don’t panic v12

       Excellent composure in times of crises is a good manifestation of having inner strength. Christians should not be marked as feeble people, but be known as strong and wise. Panic-stricken people are being robbed of their privilege to pray and wait calmly for the Lord’s help. Keep on trusting God; fear not; be still and see the wonderful working of His caring hand.        

(II) Go Forward And God Will Do Miracles For You

Exodus 14:15-16

-Look forward for God’s miracle

       Exodus 14:15-16 says, 15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (KJV)

       Seeing God’s miracle is one good thing, but being a part of His miracle is quite another thing. Seeing the Red Sea being divided is a jaw-dropping sight, but walking between walls of water is certainly a breath-taking experience. Such notable miracle of God did happen and there is no question about that because of a truth, our God is a God of miracle.

       When God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh, He desired Jonah to be a part of His wonderful working in the lives of the Ninevites. In the same way, when the Lord Jesus commissioned his early disciples to go and preach the Gospel, He longed believers to show the power of the Gospel in this sin-darkened world. Undoubtedly, God wants Christians to be a part of His miraculous working especially in reaching out lost souls with the Gospel of Christ. For such reason, whether we are in the ministry or not, we should look forward to seeing miracles of God. If ever God commands us to go forward, don’t be doubtful to move forward because it is our special opportunity to display His miracles to the unbelieving world.          p;

(III) Go Forward And The LORD Will Be Honoured

       Exodus 14:17-18

       -Let the people give honour to God

        One way of stirring the people to give God’s due honour is by being obedient to His command. Others will be amazed to see God’s wonderful working through the lives of His people. As a result, they will not only give God’s due honour, but reverential fear will also be seen in their lives. This truth is illustrated in Exodus 14:17-18, 17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. (KJV) God must be our priority in all areas of our lives. His command must be followed strictly lest we give place to our enemies to belittle the principles of truth and we fail to give God’s due honour.

       For the sake of truth, obey what the Lord commands you to do and His power will be displayed marvellously through your life. Israel obeyed God’s instruction to go forward and the Lord led them in crossing the Red Sea in an unbelievable way. As a direct result, God was honoured and feared by both believers and unbelievers.     

(IV) Go Forward And God Will Give You The Victory

       Exodus 14:19-31

       -Trust God and become victorious

       Many of the Israelites desired to go back every time they encounter hardships on their way to the Promise Land and their murmuring resulted to their early death. God wanted them to go forward and be blessed and not to go back to Egypt and be in bondage again. There are many times that God has given His people an opportunity to prosper but they have been hesitant to go forward and claim such advantage. We must keep in mind that God would like us to simply obey His instructions so we may become victorious in our spiritual life.

      We cannot imagine what might have happened had Moses and the Israelites went back to Egypt instead of crossing the Red sea. We praise God because they had the needed faith and were able to escape from their enemies by crossing the Red sea in a miraculous way. Exodus 14:29-30, illustrate the truth, 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (KJV) How great really our God is and His power is beyond the boundary of human limitations.

       As we journey in the course of faith that God has prepared for us, we must keep on trusting the Lord, and surely the victory will be ours because we are on the Lord’s side - the winning side.