“ANOINTED” TO MOVE ON-WARD AND UP-WARD


Exo 14:1-3 (NLT) THEN THE LORD GAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO MOSES: 2 "TELL THE PEOPLE TO MARCH TOWARD PI-HAHIROTH BETWEEN MIGDOL AND THE SEA. CAMP THERE ALONG THE SHORE, OPPOSITE BAAL-ZEPHON. 3 THEN PHARAOH WILL THINK, 'THOSE ISRAELITES ARE CONFUSED. THEY ARE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE WILDERNESS AND THE SEA!'


 God was setting up the circumstance whereby He intended to save Israel. His ‘method’ was not a quick fix! It was a calculated, measured, well thought-out plan that brought into focus God’s perfected will for His people.

So we learn from this:

1. We must understand that God anoints us in times of trouble!

2. Many times we do our “best” when things in our lives appear to be at their worse!

3. “Challenge” can be an instrument to your anointing.


Don’t expect to be appreciated.

1. When you expect - or ‘require’ appreciation, it can easily become a pride issue in your life! In Exodus 10:3, God says, “HOW LONG WILL YOU REFUSE TO HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE ME?” Pride causes an injury that can only be “fixed” through humility.

2. Appreciation comes through relationship - NOT necessarily through actions!

3. REMEMBER: you are ensnared by the words you speak!

Don’t complain about things your brothers and sisters do (Isa 30:15 “IN QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH."). Most of the time, it is important that you keep your ‘thoughts’ to yourself! Just because you “think” it doesn’t mean God said it!!


Exo 14:4 (NLT) AND ONCE AGAIN I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH'S HEART, AND HE WILL CHASE AFTER YOU. I HAVE PLANNED THIS SO I WILL RECEIVE GREAT GLORY AT THE EXPENSE OF PHARAOH AND HIS ARMIES. AFTER THIS, THE EGYPTIANS WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!" SO THE ISRAELITES CAMPED THERE AS THEY WERE TOLD.


 He is the One Who caused Pharaoh NOT to respond because He intended to be the ONLY GOD!! He WILL NOT share His glory!

1. Your job is to do your job! - remember your mission - be a ‘light’! Don’t let your environment get inside your head.

Bishop T. D. Jakes once said: “Anytime you allow something to feed you that you’re supposed to feed, you break the law!”

2. In other words – Guard your mouth, your ears and your eyes

3. If you allow your circumstances to dictate your actions, you become disconnected from the Vine!

4. Your Christian status is NOT only for a church environment. When you carry the mantle of the Lord Jesus everywhere, you can deal with witches and not be hexed; and deal with enemies and not be cursed!............It’s all about the Blood Covering!

5. “ Where” you are does not define “Who” you are. But “Who” you are will take you to the right conclusion!


Exo 14:4-12 (NLT) AND ONCE AGAIN I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH'S HEART, AND HE WILL CHASE AFTER YOU. I HAVE PLANNED THIS SO I WILL RECEIVE GREAT GLORY AT THE EXPENSE OF PHARAOH AND HIS ARMIES. AFTER THIS, THE EGYPTIANS WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!" SO THE ISRAELITES CAMPED THERE AS THEY WERE TOLD. 5 WHEN WORD REACHED THE KING OF EGYPT THAT THE ISRAELITES WERE NOT PLANNING TO RETURN TO EGYPT AFTER THREE DAYS, PHARAOH AND HIS OFFICIALS CHANGED THEIR MINDS. "WHAT HAVE WE DONE, LETTING ALL THESE SLAVES GET AWAY?" THEY ASKED. 6 SO PHARAOH CALLED OUT HIS TROOPS AND LED THE CHASE IN HIS CHARIOT. 7 HE TOOK WITH HIM SIX HUNDRED OF EGYPT'S BEST CHARIOTS, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CHARIOTS OF EGYPT, EACH WITH A COMMANDER. 8 THE LORD CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN PHARAOH'S RESOLVE, AND HE CHASED AFTER THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHO HAD ESCAPED SO DEFIANTLY. 9 ALL THE FORCES IN PHARAOH'S ARMY--ALL HIS HORSES, CHARIOTS, AND CHARIOTEERS--WERE USED IN THE CHASE. THE EGYPTIANS CAUGHT UP WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AS THEY WERE CAMPED BESIDE THE SHORE NEAR PI-HAHIROTH, ACROSS FROM BAAL-ZEPHON. 10 AS PHARAOH AND HIS ARMY APPROACHED, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL COULD SEE THEM IN THE DISTANCE, MARCHING TOWARD THEM. THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO PANIC, AND THEY CRIED OUT TO THE LORD FOR HELP. 11 THEN THEY TURNED AGAINST MOSES AND COMPLAINED, "WHY DID YOU BRING US OUT HERE TO DIE IN THE WILDERNESS? WEREN'T THERE ENOUGH GRAVES FOR US IN EGYPT? WHY DID YOU MAKE US LEAVE? 12 DIDN'T WE TELL YOU TO LEAVE US ALONE WHILE WE WERE STILL IN EGYPT? OUR EGYPTIAN SLAVERY WAS FAR BETTER THAN DYING OUT HERE IN THE WILDERNESS!"


 Again - God is the One Who caused Pharaoh NOT to respond because He intended to be the ONLY GOD!! He WILL NOT share His glory!

1. Listen: our goal is optimum results with minimal confusion. Effectiveness in your Christian existence is obtained through - not only ‘knowing’ about FAITH; but by LIVING a faith-full existence.

Heb 11:1 (NLT) WHAT IS FAITH? IT IS THE CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS WE CANNOT YET SEE.

 Oh, Lord God, this is my request:

          YOU be the air I breathe

          YOU be my daily bread

          YOU ARE the source of my strength

          YOU ARE my health

          YOU ARE my freedom

          I HAVE Your FAVOR!

          May I be desperate for You

in Jesus' Name, Amen.........

and it is done!

THAT, my friend, is what God required out of Moses - even when his brethren turned on him!! Because He had a ‘plan’ that was NOT readily seen through the human eye; but, rather, it had to be realized through faithful confidence: TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!

 

Exo 14:13 (NKJV) AND MOSES SAID TO THE PEOPLE, "DO NOT BE AFRAID. STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHICH HE WILL ACCOMPLISH FOR YOU TODAY. FOR THE EGYPTIANS WHOM YOU SEE TODAY, YOU SHALL SEE AGAIN NO MORE FOREVER.


 Right smack ka-dab in the middle of your adverse circumstance, God will show Himself sovereign on your behalf! It seems that it's when things appear the darkest that God moves on our circumstances and "speaks" into the situation so that His will is accomplished. That's why the Bible says His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We'd almost ALWAYS do things differently than He does!


Exo 14:14 (NLT) THE LORD HIMSELF WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. YOU WON'T HAVE TO LIFT A FINGER IN YOUR DEFENSE!"

 If you allow God to be in control, you will not have to fear because He will do your fighting for you.


Exo 14:15 (NLT) THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, "WHY ARE YOU CRYING OUT TO ME? TELL THE PEOPLE TO GET MOVING!


It’s amazing! We NEVER get it, do we? He tells us what to do. We do it and when things don't look like we think they should, we immediately 'fear'. Not only that, we also lament, cry and moan and groan. Man, you'd think all that Rocket Science we all took in high school would pay off! The reason it doesn't kick-in is because whatever we see with our eyes is what catapults us into action! Usually doing the wrong thing! It's what's going on in the spirit realm that really counts. Everything else is fluff and stuff, and is almost always only partially (at best) true!!! AGAIN - “FAITH”!!


Exo 14:16 (NLT) USE YOUR SHEPHERD'S STAFF--HOLD IT OUT OVER THE WATER, AND A PATH WILL OPEN UP BEFORE YOU THROUGH THE SEA. THEN ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WILL WALK THROUGH ON DRY GROUND.

 You not only have to DO something, you have to be EXACTLY 100% RIGHT-ON in what God tells you to do!

THEN and ONLY then will you be 100% successful...............and don’t wait until you “feel good” to start singing! You frustrate the enemy when a song is in your heart and on your lips!

REMEMBER: it’s a lot easier to deal with hateful people when they hear Godly music!!!


Exo 14:19-20 (NLT) THEN THE ANGEL OF GOD, WHO HAD BEEN LEADING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, MOVED TO A POSITION BEHIND THEM, AND THE PILLAR OF CLOUD ALSO MOVED AROUND BEHIND THEM. 20 THE CLOUD SETTLED BETWEEN THE ISRAELITE AND EGYPTIAN CAMPS. AS NIGHT CAME, THE PILLAR OF CLOUD TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF FIRE, LIGHTING THE ISRAELITE CAMP. BUT THE CLOUD BECAME DARKNESS TO THE EGYPTIANS, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISRAELITES.

The Lord is our “Rearguard”.

Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 52:12

INTERESTING: The same God who was the only source of light for HIS people became utter darkness for His enemies according to verse 20.

You see: THE GREATER THE HOSTILITY IS AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE - THE GREATER THE MULTIPLICITY OF GOD’S GLORY ON THE SITUATION!


Exo 14:21-25 (NLT) THEN MOSES RAISED HIS HAND OVER THE SEA, AND THE LORD OPENED UP A PATH THROUGH THE WATER WITH A STRONG EAST WIND. THE WIND BLEW ALL THAT NIGHT, TURNING THE SEABED INTO DRY LAND. 22 SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WALKED THROUGH THE SEA ON DRY GROUND, WITH WALLS OF WATER ON EACH SIDE! 23 THEN THE EGYPTIANS--ALL OF PHARAOH'S HORSES, CHARIOTS, AND CHARIOTEERS--FOLLOWED THEM ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 24 BUT EARLY IN THE MORNING, THE LORD LOOKED DOWN ON THE EGYPTIAN ARMY FROM THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND CLOUD, AND HE THREW THEM INTO CONFUSION. 25 THEIR CHARIOT WHEELS BEGAN TO COME OFF, MAKING THEIR CHARIOTS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" THE EGYPTIANS SHOUTED. "THE LORD IS FIGHTING FOR ISRAEL AGAINST US!"

 The Lord 'set up' the Egyptian Army so as to CONFUSE them. He literally fought for the Israelis, and at the time, they weren't even aware of it! It was during the night!

Apparently, the Lord kept His angels busy that night disabling the Egyptian army.



Now, here’s the “Deal”: Exo 14:26 (NLT) WHEN ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, "RAISE YOUR HAND OVER THE SEA AGAIN. THEN THE WATERS WILL RUSH BACK OVER THE EGYPTIAN CHARIOTS AND CHARIOTEERS."

 Even though God fights for us, we STILL HAVE TO DO OUR PART!


Exo 14:27 (NLT) SO AS THE SUN BEGAN TO RISE, MOSES RAISED HIS HAND OVER THE SEA. THE WATER ROARED BACK INTO ITS USUAL PLACE, AND THE LORD SWEPT THE TERRIFIED EGYPTIANS INTO THE SURGING CURRENTS.

 When Moses did EXACTLY as he was told, God moved on his behalf.

There was an entire symphony of activity that required an orchestrated action on the Israelis part so that all God intended for them came to pass. Could He do it without them? Of course! WOULD He do it without their cooperation? No!


Exo 14:28 (NLT) THE WATERS COVERED ALL THE CHARIOTS AND CHARIOTEERS--THE ENTIRE ARMY OF PHARAOH. OF ALL THE EGYPTIANS WHO HAD CHASED THE ISRAELITES INTO THE SEA, NOT A SINGLE ONE SURVIVED.

 When God says it's over -- it's OVER! Does Satan's imps immediately stop all the harassing and lying at that point? No, hardly ever. That's where your faith in action kicks in and you start walking out your deliverance.


Exo 14:29 (NLT) THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAD WALKED THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA ON DRY LAND, AS THE WATER STOOD UP LIKE A WALL ON BOTH SIDES.

 The very thing - the water - that had appeared to be the "end" of Israel's freedom, became their shield, and eventually their defense (their weapon of destruction).


Exo 14:30 (NLT) THIS WAS HOW THE LORD RESCUED ISRAEL FROM THE EGYPTIANS THAT DAY. AND THE ISRAELITES COULD SEE THE BODIES OF THE EGYPTIANS WASHED UP ON THE SHORE.

 The same source God used to SAVE His people He also used to DESTROY His enemy!


Exo 14:31 (NLT) WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SAW THE MIGHTY POWER THAT THE LORD HAD DISPLAYED AGAINST THE EGYPTIANS, THEY FEARED THE LORD AND PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM AND HIS SERVANT MOSES.

 Now the question becomes: How long will these 'people of God' remain faithful? Knowing where He has brought them to and what He has brought them out of, how long will it be before some other drastic event takes place and they're discouraged to the point they grumble and complain again?


I suggest to you that we’re no different than they were! Most of the time, our “highs” and our “lows” are determined by circumstances.


It’s a new season; a new beginning. Determine in your heart AND in your mind that THIS year is going to be a year of fulfillment; because we’re making the decision - tonight - to follow God’s plan for us by the Word of His Mouth NOT by what we perceive with our eyes and ears!