Exodus 33
June 16, 2019 AM Father’s Day
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Psalm 63:1,2)
Happy Father’s Day!
Two Dad jokes… just two!
What do you call a fake noodle? An Impasta.
How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together.
Evidently President George W. Bush said, “I’ve been to war. I’ve raised twins. If I had a choice, I’d rather go to war.”
Lionel Kauffman wrote, “Children are a great comfort in your old age. And they help you reach it faster too.”
Seriously. Godly fathers are God’s gift of stability in a world gone mad – so don’t ignore their influence in your life, and in the lives of your children’s children
We don’t need more fathers – we need godly fathers!
A. What is on MY heart this morning – is the same request
Psa 63:1,2 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
1. After 39 years of being a Christian – born again 39 years ago YESTERDAY…
2. I want to experience MORE than just ordinary Christianity
3. More than the same old same old
4. I want to see God do wondrous things – marvellous things – awesome things
5. Things only HE can do
B. What was it like to see God’s Power and Glory? (Psalm 44:1)
1. Psalm 44:1 “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.”
2. Angels saw God create this entire universe (God asked Job in Job 38:4-7)
a. Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
b. Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
c. Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
d. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
e. So, EVERY time you look up, and see the Sun, the Moon, the stars, you are watching the heavens screaming the very glory of God!
3. Noah saw and heard the power of the judgment of God as the rain began to fall, and the floods rushed around that Ark and his Ark carried those animals and his family through the storm for the next 370 days!
4. Lot saw the power and glory of God as the fire of God fell on Sodom and Gomorrah, judging that area for their wicked sin
5. Moses saw the glory of God in that little burning bush at the top of Mt Sinai – it made his face to shine for the rest of his life
6. Moses later saw God’s glory shine brighter than the sun INSIDE the Tabernacle when the sacrifice of the lamb was made
7. Israel saw the glory of God when He split the Red Sea right down the middle to the other side and kept the waters apart for 12 hours
8. They saw God provide manna on the ground every day for over 38 years while they journeyed through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land
C. But then it got BETTER
1. The disciples saw Jesus walking on thrashing, turbulent water, in the middle of a storm, saying “Peace!”
2. They also saw Jesus break a few small loaves of bread and two small fishes into pieces, and then feed 5,000 men plus women and children from those pieces until they were all stuffed and full!
3. Those disciples watched as Jesus reached out and healed multitudes of sick and lame and crippled and dying people – non-stop!
4. And they watched as He even raised back to life those that had died days earlier!
5. They SAW the glory and power of God
6. They heard the joy of the crowds every single day – no one went away disappointed
7. They felt the hair stand on their arms, and were speechless at every word He spoke, as they watched every work of the hands of Jesus!
D.
But read Psalm 63:1,2 again…
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for
thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
1. It is great reading about God doing great things throughout history
2. But nothing compares to seeing the power and the glory of God not just in the past, but right here, IN the Sanctuary – in the midst of God’s people today!
3. I’ve seen it in my Christian life
4. And I yearn to see it again!
5. I’ve seen…
a. GOD conquer proud, arrogant sinners who should NEVER have darkened the doorway of a Gospel preaching church – and yet they came into hear the preaching, and crumbled under the weight of their sin, and cried out to God to save them! AMEN
b. A deep, quieting of the hearts and minds of people sitting in awe of the God of the Bible! It’s marvellous!
6. I’ve heard hardened, angry men WEEP over their anger, and their secret sins
7. I’ve watched as people, enslaved by their addictions, as they were absolutely made free by the work of the Spirit of God freeing them from impossible addictions!
8. I’ve watched a bitter wife break down and forgive her husband, and her parents right in front of me and have a marriage again!
9. I’ve watched broken men, who had lost their families, their health, their joy, still decide to live for the Lord Jesus form that day forward because He is worthy!
10. I’ve seen teenagers finally humble themselves and take the hand of their father and say, I’m so sorry Dad! And then hug them for the first time in years!
11. I’ve rejoiced to see God’s people make some solid decisions to come out of the closet, and walk with God, and follow the life of Jesus, and restore that first love they used to have when they first got saved!
E. I yearn to see all that AGAIN!
1. I want to see the glory and power of God as an entire church becomes burdened for sinners instead of for pleasures!
2. I want to hear grown men say Amen during the preaching of the Bible
3. I yearn to see MEN make Church and preaching and prayer and Bible reading and godliness number one in their lives!
4. I hunger for God to make soul-winners out of the most fearful of us
5. I yearn to win souls myself – turn hearts from darkness to God’s light, and from the power of Satan unto God (Act 26:18) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
6. You may think this is just fanaticism – a little over the top
7. It is NOT
8. It is supposed to be NORMAL for us to see God do impossible things in our midst
F. Moses desperately needed to see God’s power and glory… (Exodus 33:12-18)
1. Here is a real man – with power, with purpose, with 1 ½ million people following him on twitter (hah hah)
2. And he fell on his face and said I cannot go any further unless I know that you will go with me
3. And I just need to see YOU do something again – just for me!
4. And God said… OKAY! Hallelujah!
5. It got Moses through the next 39 years with a bunch of murmuring, complaining, ungrateful, miserable, rebellious, and carnal people!
G. Our CHILDREN and CHILDREN’S Children need to see God do something marvellous (Psalm 78:1-4)!
1. Psa 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2. Psa 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3. Psa 78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4. Psa 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5. They need to see prayer work instead of complaining, and yelling, and pushing!
6. They need to see people get married who have stayed clean and pure until marriage and see them happier than the richest people in the world!
7. They need to see souls getting saved
8. They need to see their mother’s and fathers loving each other like Jesus loves us
9. Our children need GOD to do this in our midst!
H. And by the way, THIS group of believers need to see God do what only God can do AGAIN!
II. Message
A. What do We Need God to Do?
1. Everything!
a. Oh that we would stop thinking God is only for the disasters – for the extreme situations
b. And start to realise that every breath we take, God gives it to us
c. We need God!
d. Jesus said in John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
2. God is looking for anyone who would just seek Him to show off! (2Chron 16:9) For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
3. Oh that GOD would…
a. Awaken the slumbering hearts of God’s people – who have fallen away from God and don’t care about the Gospel, and about souls, and about preaching, and about their children being right with God
b. Convict men’s hearts of their sins and causing them to fear going to hell
c. Tear down the strongholds of our culture - pubs and the wicked hotels filled with such unspeakable sins, and instead fill this land with Gospel preaching churches, and families once again, and children, and godliness, and respect!
d. Give Ireland another chance to get saved before eternity closes its doors!
4. I am praying for repentance amongst us – we are not right with God ourselves!
5. I am praying and asking God to give us 250 people next Sunday to come and hear Bruce Frye preach the Gospel!
6. I am asking God for many souls to get saved next Sunday
7. I am begging God for perfect weather for the day!
8. Who else am I going to ask for such things???
B. What is Hindering Us?
1. Isa 59:1,2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
a. God has NOT grown old and tired and feeble
b. The God who created everything from nothing…
c. The God who holds every atom in place…
d. Is still there, and still VERY able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask of drama of!
e. Eph 3:20,21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
2. Lack of Belief and Trust in Your Saviour (John 11:38-44)
a. John 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
b. John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
c. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
d. John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
e. John 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
f. John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
g. John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
h. Now try and tell me there is something God CANNOT do!
i. Jesus said in Mark 11:24 “…when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
j. Because… Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
3. Lack of awareness – TWO kingdoms at war
a. The kingdoms of this world, and the Kingdom of God
b. Do you even realise who is here this morning? (Mat 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
c. Invest your life in THIS world, and you end up worm-food, and your soul in hell
d. Invest your life in the kingdom of God, and you will have everything (Mat 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
e. Eph 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities [DEMONIC KINGDOM], against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
f. Too easy to disregard hell
g. Too bothersome to see beyond business and customers and problems and schedules
h. When the worth of a soul - Just one soul - Especially if that soul is you - Is PRICELESS!
4. Self-sufficiency (Revelation 3:14-17)
a. It is killing us! It has cut us off from the source of success, and the source of life and the source of joy – which is JESUS Himself!
b. We think we can thrive as a cluster of grapes without the VINE!
c. We really believe that we have need of nothing today (Revelation 3:14-17)
1) Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
2) Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
3) Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
4) Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
d. We have gotten so used to relying on Google, and on the government’s hand-outs, and on science, and on the money in our pockets that we think we don’t need God much more now!
5. No Fear of God (Romans 3:10,11,18)
a. Rom 3:10,11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
b. Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
c. It’s bad folks! People flaunting such sinful lifestyles, such filthy words in every sentence, such rebellion and disrespect everywhere!
d. But, do you even realise WHY this generation does not fear God?
e. Because CHRISTIANS stopped fearing God and worrying about what HE thinks about what WE are doing! How WE are living!
C. What Are God’s Breakthroughs? What would change everything?
1. A Praying Church (Acts 12:1-5)
a. Not a rich church, or a trouble-free church, or a lazy church
b. But a Church that knew they needed GOD
c. Act 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
d. Act 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
e. Act 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
f. Act 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
g. Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
2. A Believing Church
a. Rom 4:20,21 He [ABRAHAM] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
b. Ps 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
c. Ps 86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
d. Psa 81:10-14
1) 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
2) Psa 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
3) Psa 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
4) Psa 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
5) Psa 81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
e. Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
3. A Hungry Church – desperate for GOD (Psalm 62:1,2)
a. Psa 63:1,2 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
4. A Repentant Church
a. Isa 59:1,2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
b. Psa 90:7,8 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
c. 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
5. A Faithful Church
a. It Takes hard WORK reaching our generation!
1) That’s why we do more than just “get together” on a Sunday morning and just do “prayers” and a small talk, and then head home
2) We do serious Bible learning
3) And Children’s Church
4) And Teen Church
5) And that’s why we spend so much effort going out and giving the Gospel to people where THEY are
6) And reach Ballincollig teenagers with Target the Heart evangelism
7) And have big, special days like next Sunday’s Evangelistic service with Bruce Frye
b. Listen to David describe it in Psalm 126:4-6 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow [WORK HARD] in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth [TO PLANT AND WATER] and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
c. Some of us are working flat-out almost every day of our lives – I’ve been doing it for the past 39 years! The best years of my life!
III. Invitation
A. Will you help me reach some people with the marvellous, saving Gospel of the Son of the living God, the Lord Jesus Christ?
1. There are too few labourers in this church
B. Will you work like there is no tomorrow…
1. Praying for souls to get saved next Sunday
2. Praying for Bruce Frye to preach like he never has before
3. Inviting everything you meet to come out and hear the Gospel
4. Examining YOUR heart to see if anything is there blocking the power and glory of God
C. Maybe YOU are someone that needs the Gospel yourself
1. Jesus came to take YOUR place in death
2. Was punished for YOUR sins
3. Rose again so you can trust Him and follow
4. Will anyone here this morning decide that Jesus is worth following?
a. Worthy of being fully believed as not only the very Son of God
b. But that He can save a wretch, a sinner, a messed up person like YOU!
c. If you will LET Him save you
5. You can’t save yourself. You can’t pay off all the wrongs.
a. You need to just believe that Jesus is all you need!
b. And then cry out to Him from your heart, in THIS moment, and ask Him to save you
6. Will you do that?