June 10, 2018 "Obstacles and Closed Doors", Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley

[Music] today as we prepare to hear from the Lord and preparation for faithful living in this upcoming week in days I would invite you to hear a passage of Scripture where I believe God talks and teaches to us in the book of Exodus the second book of the Old Testament if you a journey with me to chapter 14 in the book of Exodus there's a word from the Lord that I want to read beginning in verse number 10 Bobby and Terrance can I have some more volume please Exodus chapter 14 beginning in verse number 10 I want to read out of the New King James Version of the Bible and ask those who are physically able to stand with us as together we reverence the reading of God's Word from Exodus chapter 14 beginning in verse number 10 if you have neither Bible in hand or on your smart device the scriptures on the screen the word Lord reads and when a pharaoh drew near the children of Israel lifted their eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them so they were very afraid and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord and then they said to Moses because there were no graves in Egypt have you taken us away to die in the wilderness why have you dealt so with us and to bring us up out of Egypt is this not the word that we told you when we are in Egypt saying leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness in 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 who you see today you shall see again no more forever the Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace and then the Lord said to Moses why do you cry out to me tell the children of Israel to go forward but lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea and I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they shall follow them so I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army his chariots and his horsemen then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gained honor for myself over Pharaoh his chariots and his horsemen today I want to talk teach and preach about obstacle and closed doors you may be seated in the presence of the Lord the setting of Exodus 14 is familiar to just about all of us even if you are not consistent in church attendance and never graduated from sunday-school if you're old school you've seen the ten commandments if you're new school and have grandchildren you've seen Prince of Egypt and you know what's going down in Exodus 14 as a reminder the children of Israel have been in bondage for 430 years 430 years of slavery in Egypt 430 years of building pyramids without enough resources 430 years without equal treatment 430 years of overseers and whips 430 years of slavery and as if slavery were not enough in Exodus chapter 1 we are introduced to a new Pharaoh a new king a new ruler in Egypt who is afraid of the slaves for he realizes that if he slaves allied with the enemies of Egypt we will be overtaken and so this new Pharaoh with a demonic mind Institute's genocide through infanticide he sends out an edict declaring that all the Hebrew male children be killed because this Pharaoh has found out that if you want to eradicate a people from the earth you attack their children here's how you erase a people from the earth you redzone the districts and communities they live in you target those areas for gentrification and rebuilding of properties that they can no longer afford to live in you over populate their schools and under fund their education and label them as educationally unfit by the time they get to the third grade you raise them in food deserts where there is no fresh produce and only processed food for children to eat then you pass a farm bill that cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program so that the kids do not have adequate food then you over police their communities and kill their children videotape it put it on the internet and not indict the very ones who took their lives then you monetize incarceration and put black and brown bodies in jail and make it profitable for people to make money off of sending these kids to jail then you take the children of immigrants who know nothing other than America and send them back across the border without any assistance or family that's how you kill a people and there's a new pharaoh who thinks all of this is a good idea and in the midst of this new demonic administration that's come to Egypt in that midst we hear two words that ought to change your perspective and those words are but God I wish I had some folk who knew the power of those two words but God God has orchestrated the deliverance of his people God is going to liberate them from the hand of Pharaoh and in all centers around a brother named Moses Adam Moses is unique because Moses is bicultural Moses is born Hebrew but he's raised Egyptian Moses has a heart for his people but he speaks Pharaoh's language Moses has access to the palace he can come in and out without being stopped and God declares that if I'm going to deliver I not only need some rebels outside but I need somebody who's got access to Pharoah inside I need a man just like Moses so God meets this Moses in Chapter three and an experienced through a burning bush and he tells Moses I have seen my the oppression of my people and I've heard their cries you know how the rest of the story goes Moses is sent back to Pharaoh with one simple message Moses goes to Pharaoh and in the Gospel of Kevin Hart he tells him God told me to tell you if your neighbor laughs tell them you ain't save you are not saying God told me to tell you let my people go Pharaoh is not moved by Moses Pharaoh doesn't care the message that Moses brings Pharaoh refuses to release the slaves and so God through Moses in acts 10 plagues in Egypt the purpose of the plagues was simply to assure Pharaoh and the Israelites that God was with Moses Moses is used by God to initiate plague after plague after plague so that anyone who looked at Moses wouldn't know surely the hand of God is on Moses nine plagues don't move Pharaoh it is only the tenth plague when the Death Angel sweeps through Egypt when the Pharaoh who wanted to kill Israelite children now has the same death enacted on his family that's when he decides to move because Pharaoh doesn't change until it happens to his children Pharaoh doesn't mind deporting your children Pharaoh doesn't mind calling your children sons of Pharaoh doesn't mind saying you're from a.s whole country but the minute a reporter calls his daughter out of her name that's when Farrow gets upset please don't get mad it's just Bible I'm just preaching Bible so Pharaoh is moved by the tenth plague and in Chapter 12 he momentarily repeals slavery he goes to Moses and he bruised this one he tells them in John Wesley translation this with Moses hears from Pharaoh Pharaoh says no y'all ain't got to go home but you got to get out of here and the Bible says watch this 600,000 is your light men not including women and children follow Moses out of Egypt as a matter of fact what the Bible really says is that there's six hundred thousand the women the children and a mixed multitude I need you understand biblical scholar that Hebrew an Israelite are not synonymous the Israelites were part of the Hebrews but the Hebrew also incorporated a mixed multitude don't you miss this when God opens the doors of deliverance it's not just the Israelites he leads out it's also a mixed multitude because the hand of God does not simply favor one segment of society the hand of God operates to liberate all of those who are oppressed all of those who are unjustly treated all of those who are hungry all of those who are discriminated against all of those who are biased against God does not just deliver y'all he delivers all let me tell you why that's a good word because it's a sad segment of people who only want God to bring you equality while you are still complicit in the oppression of other people how can oppressed people want to oppress other people don't you know the God that brings us out is the God that brings all out that God does not discriminate who God chooses to use and to free God says I free all of my children I know you don't like this God is not either or God is both and both race and gender both ethnicity and sexual identity both education and income you can't divide the hand of God when it comes to freeing God's people your meddlin pastor go on move on move on move on so six hundred thousand Israelite men women children and mixed multitude that easily means that more than a million people follow Moses out of Egypt a million people follow one man why would a million people follow one man because they believe Moses is following God a million people believed that that man is listening to God obeying God we've seen the plagues we know he's convinced us God is with them so a million people follow Moses because they believe Moses is following God please miss this they look at Moses and believe God is with him God is leading him God's hand is on him we'll follow him because God's got him and everything is fine in the beginning of chapter 14 Oh way but by the time you get to verse number 10 all hell has broken loose in chapter 14 by time universe ten two problems have come up number one on their way out following Moses they hear the sound of chariots and someone turns around and sees that Pharaoh and all of his army are now pursuing the Hebrews Pharaoh has changed his mind he must have met with his economic council who told him we cannot build this nation without free labor this nation has been built on the free labor of slaves someone must have reminded him without slaves there is no Egyptian privilege and so we've got to reclaim these slaves so that we can feel better about ourselves and think that we are better than anybody else we got to establish our privilege so they're chasing after the Hebrews a million people on foot being chased by an army in chariots and somebody realizes this ain't going in well the matter mayor the bigger problem is not what's behind them the bigger problem is what's in front of them because they followed Moses they hear the chariots and they look in front of them and they have run up on the shore of the Red Sea now now you know how it ends but that's not how it begins they get to the Red Sea ain't no path in the middle no bridge over troubled waters no boats to cross over to the other side a million folk have followed Moses chariots behind an impossibility in front and they do what church folk know how to do they complain [Applause] tap somebody's saying he's talking about you not listen listen to what they say to Moses say no didn't we tell you leave us alone in Egypt but no you had to bring us out here into the middle of the wilderness Pharaoh is right behind us we ain't got nowhere to go Moses you done messed up notice that there's no God talk in this they don't say the Lord brought us out here they say Moses you done messed up their realisation of the Red Sea and no way to cross has caused them to doubt is Moses really following God because if Moses was following God this Red Sea would have been open if Moses got God right this wouldn't be happening we followed you in good trust you told us God was leading you and now we run up and there's nothing to do this is not how we were supposed to end Pharaoh's about to kill us we ain't got nowhere to go Moses you are not following God because if you're following god this wouldn't happen now I want you to put yourself in Moses position for a moment Pharaoh behind complain in church folk on the side and a red see in front the enemy in the back discourages all around and a closed red see in front and here's the dilemma Moses faces the dilemma Moses faces is this how do I interpret the Red Sea is the Red Sea a closed door or is the Red Sea simply an obstacle we got to get through that I've been following God and I've come upon a circumstance and I don't know is this the Lord closing the door telling me I'm moving in the wrong direction or is this the Lord giving me a sign that I got to stretch my faith and push through this this is what happens when you walk with God you run upon situations and you don't know how to discern is God telling me I need to move in another direction or is God telling me I need to stretch my faith and push through this thing is the Red Sea a closed door or an obstacle can't tell you what makes this difficult what makes it difficult dr. Frey is that God uses both let me tell you about the god I serve he is a closed door God that when God sees you moving in a direction that is not according to his will when you are pursuing something that God does not desire you to have when God wants to protect you from your own desires God is able to close the door that you cannot open I wish I had a witness God knows how to shut something down God knows how to tell you know God knows how to make it impossible for you to go in that direction is there anybody here ever experienced a closed door and let me tell you how you know the grown folk in church the grown folk in church have experienced a closed door but can look back at it now and rather than get mad at God they can give a hallelujah and amen thank God then he closed that door thank God I didn't get what I wanted thank God I didn't marry that brother thank God I didn't get that job thank God for closed doors somebody say he'll close the door yeah but God also uses obstacles every journey with God is not easy breezy when you're faithful to God God with intentionality will put obstacles in your path to teach you how to get through God will put mountains in your way to teach you how to climb God will put opposers and naysayers in your environment to teach you how to ignore some folk gotta put some problems in your way to teach you how to pray God will use obstacles to grow you sometimes what you're facing is not a closed door it's an obstacle of God telling you baby now ain't quittin time now it's time to dig your heels in and holler like Jacob I won't let go until you bless me God I'm gonna pray my way through I'm gonna push my way through I will fight my way through sometimes it's an obstacle so how do I know the difference how do I know if what I'm facing is God telling me I'm going in the wrong direction or God telling me push through how do I discern the difference between closed doors and obstacles have I lost you yet that rejection letter I get is that God telling me I ought to stay at the job I have or I ought to apply somewhere else that disappointment I'm dealing with is that God trying to let me know that's not his will or God testing me and saying my faith needs to be greater that trouble in the relationship is that God telling me she ain't the one or God told me to layer on altar and pray for it till she change [Applause] how do I know the difference somebody said that's a good question because you see the people who were with Moses saw the Red Sea as a closed door Moses you messed up that's not the direction God wants us to go in Moses saw it as an obstacle and an opportunity to grow their faith how does Moses discern it as an obstacle when the people see it as a closed door how do you know the difference between an obstacle and a closed door you're not gonna like the answer because the answer is another question and it's a question only you can answer honestly for yourself the difference between an obstacle and a closed door is this how did you get where you are the difference between an obstacle and a closed door is determined by your being honest with how you got there here's what Moses understands and lets him know it's an obstacle and not a closed door dr. fate Moses knows I didn't just get here by my own desire I didn't just show up and tell y'all I'm tired let's leave and follow me Moses said listen when we left out of Egypt there was a pillar of cloud leading us now y'all didn't have discernment to understand that was the hand of God that was leading but I was following what I discerned to be the hand of God I didn't just get here and pray I prayed my way here make sure you get this I didn't just get here and talk to God I've been talking to God all the way here look at Moses prayer record Mosul is my time we get to chapter 14 I've been talking to God since Chapter three in Chapter three God spoke to me and I heard him in Chapter four I obeyed God and went to Pharaoh even when I didn't want to in Chapter five I told God it didn't work in Chapter six God told me to keep on doing the daggone thing in Chapter seven I said I need some help and God sent Aaron I obeyed in Chapter eight I surrendered in Chapter nine I walked with him in Chapter ten I did what he wanted in Chapter 12 and by the time I got here I know I prayed my way here so the reason I know this is an obstacle it's because I didn't get here by personal desire I got here through prayerful discernment beloved the ability to determine whether you're dealing with a closed door or an obstacle is directly determined by how much prayer is behind you can you say you prayed your way to this dilemma now that's a word and it gets quiet here because of the truth be told 99% of the red seas we face we get there following our own desire cannot just be honest with you about you for a minute [Applause] every Red Sea you faced God didn't lead you there touch yourself and tell yourself that was me that that was me that that was me so for the people they see a closed door why because they don't have the prayer like Moses did they've not talked to God they've not surrendered to God and if you don't have any moments in your past that led you here where you and God struggled with that thing where you laid out before the Lord where you talked to God about it where you pray day in and day out when you decided I won't move until God speaks to me if there's no prayer it's a closed door if you haven't talked to God about it that heartache is God saying no that rejection letter is God saying that's not my will if there's no prayer it's a closed door but if you're like Moses and you've been talking to God from day one about it if you've struggled with God and surrender to something you didn't want to do but you felt God calling you to do it if you know that you've worn the side of your bed out praying day in and day out if you know that you got a prayer closet after all the journey you've been on if you know that your oil has run out from anointing yourself every day if you have a prayer partner on speed dial that you called so much to pray they blocked you if you've prayed like that then what you're facing is not a closed door what you're facing is God giving you an obstacle and an opportunity for you to stretch your faith and him to show you his grace if you know that you're know that you know that prayer land you there then hear what Moses says it's some good advice it's the best advice I can give you this morning Moses tell children is your listen listen I know y'all hear Pharaoh behind I know you see the Red Sea in front I know you think I messed up but let me give you some advice stand still stand still stand still that term stands still that Moses uses is the Hebrew verb yachts off and since Judy isn't here let me teach you what yachts off means yachts off does not simply mean stand still that this yacht solvus is not the Donnie McClurkin stand what do you do when you've done all you can't you know that's not what this is yachts are does not mean just staying yacht Saab literally means present yourself to God and let God work on it yacht Saab means give it to the Lord stand in front of God tell God what's going on fall on your knees open your heart open your mind get it to God and let God work on it because when you've got danger coming and you don't know what to do in the front here's what I promise you you will never pray to God and God do nothing you can never need God like that and present yourself and God do nothing I guarantee you without fear of contradiction that if you present yourself to God that God will do something and this is what Moses says I'm done he said listen stand still present yourself to the Lord and watch what happen he said number one you don't have to be afraid he says fear not well what are they afraid of feral in their mind we made a wrong turn we came up on the Red Sea Pharaoh is coming this is going to be a costly mistake we made a wrong decision and it's going to cost us everything the people see Pharaoh and they believe the decision to follow Moses is going to cost them their lives now here's the flipside when Moses was prayer with God watch this God told Moses before they left Egypt he said mo I'm gonna lead you out of Egypt don't trip because I'm gonna change Pharaohs mind when you get out God had already told Moses when I lead you out of Egypt don't trip when you see Pharaoh coming because I'm going to change Pharaoh's mind so when the people heard Pharaoh they thought Moses was wrong when Moses heard Pharaoh he knew God was right so Moses so Moses says listen don't fear because God already knew this would happen and even if you think we've made a mistake God will fight your battle and God will make certain that even if it's a wrong decision it won't cost you everything you won't lose your life you won't lose all your money you won't lose the years of your life if you present yourself to God and sincerely follow God even when you make a bad decision it won't cost you everything there's no way for you to lay it all on the line with God and tell God I just want to do what you want me to do and try to obey God and even if you make the wrong decision God will be certain that because your heart was sincere it won't cost you everything so if you choose the wrong job don't fear you won't be on it long anyway if you say yes to the wrong brother don't worry it may not make it to the altar anyway God says when you stand before me and present yourself I will shield you from the costly consequences of bad decisions and Moses give him a second piece of advice ELISA stand still present yourself to the Lord fear not and then watches this the shower he says and see the salvation of the Lord no no you know what he says he says sit back and watch God be God watch we've got enough now you're clapping what I'm about to make you shout - shout is this when Moses gets to the Red Sea nowhere in his conversation with God did God tell him you're gonna face the Red Sea God never told him that the sea would be an obstacle which means here it is God also never told him that a way would be made in the sea so that when Moses gets to the Red Sea he has no idea what God's gonna do he doesn't know when God's gonna do it he doesn't know how God's gonna do it but this is what he tells the children of Israel that I tell you that if you trust God and put it all in God's hands the Lord will make a way somehow God will make a way hey I don't know when he will but I know he will I don't know how he will but I know we'll I don't know when God's gonna do it but God will make away you don't see it coming you can't time it you don't even know how God's gonna do it but when you present yourself to God and stand still the Lord will open up the rivers and here's what God tells Moses and it's the last piece of advice tell them to stand still present themselves fear not watch me make away and then God tells Moses this tell the people when they see the waters beginning to open go don't don't hesitate don't fear don't worry if you've laid it all on the line and put it in God's hands the moment you see the Lord open the waters go the minute you discern that God's making away go because if you trust God with everything and you begin to follow God even if you're moving in the wrong direction God knows how to alter trust God and go Lord I'm not the only one who bounced before you this morning having faced some red seas some of them I got there by my own and some I got thinking I was hearing you correctly following what you wanted me to do and now someone stands Lord wondering is this a closed door or an obstacle so in this moment God we stand still we present it all to you every circumstance every causality all the complexity and we asked God to direct our path Lord I'm afraid of making the wrong decision it could cost me so much but I believe that if I trust you you will shield me from the cost of a bad decision and so now O Lord I pray for discernment for my sister my brother you would open their eyes that they might see the path you're making and the Lord says my sister my brother when you see the waters open go when the door begins to open push through when you see I'm making a way don't be afraid trust me walk down that road and watch what God will do fear not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord in Jesus name we pray amen

Channel: Alfred Street Baptist Church

Views: 204,194

Rating: 4.7352943 out of 5

Keywords: 2018, Obstacles and Closed Doors, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Exodus 14:10-18

Id: -ZTunTqzoVA

Length: 42min 27sec (2547 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 11 2018