Red Sea Rule #7 - Sermon Notes for October 23, 2011

Red Sea Rule #1 - Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Red Sea Rule #2 - Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Red Sea Rule #3 - Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Red Sea Rule #4 - Pray
Red Sea Rule #5 - Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Red Sea Rule #6 - When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.

Red Sea Rule #7 - Envision God's enveloping presence.

Main Text:

The Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went from behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.  Exodus 14:19-20

         And the God of Israel will be your rear-guard. (Isaiah 52:12).

We know from earlier verses (Exodus 13:21-22) that God Himself was in that cloud and He is the One who led the Israelites across the Red Sea and continued with them in their journey.

Bro Mike referenced a quote from Amy Carmichael:

He is first and He is last, and we are gathered up between as in great arms of eternal lovingkindness.


He also spoke of the importance of "envisioning" in our lives. How that practice can produce many helpful results.

What do we envision when we pray?

The Israelites did not have to actually "envision" God's presence for they had the actual presence of  God with them in the pillar of cloud and of fire.

At the Red Sea, God put His people in a position where His presence had never been so real to them. Using difficulty, He cultivated within them a greater appreciation for Himself. "God's presence
in the trial is much better than exemption from the trial, wrote one commentator. "The Lord's presence is never so sweet as in moments of appalling difficulty." --Robert Morgan.

Four suggestions for envisioning God's enveloping presence in our lives.

1. Affirm His nearness in your heart. The psalmist was doing that when he wrote in Psalm 139:5-6, "You have hedged me behind and before...such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high; I cannot attain it."

Some good verses to memorize and use to remind ourselves that God is near:

a. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. (Philippians 4:5-6).

b. Fear not, for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)

c. Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. (Genesis 28:15)

d. Speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, (Acts 18:9-10)

e. I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

2. Visualize God's presence in your mind. Even picture Him sitting in a chair next to you and talk to Him naturally, as you would another family member.

The biblical writers used such imagery. "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27). "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23).

The Apostle Paul, when he was facing the Roman tribunal, reported, "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me...But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. (2 Timothy 4:16-17)

He imaged God standing right there beside him, in the courtroom, like an "omnipotent advocate and undaunted friend."

3. Access God's nearness through prayer. James 4:8: Draw near to God ahnd He will draw near to you.

The best way to develop an abiding awareness of God's presence is to speak to Him often in prayer.

4. Reflect His preence in your demeanor.

Bro Mike closed with an illustration from Brother Lawrence and some of this letters cntained in The Practice of the Presence of God. Bro Lawrence was a member of a Carmelite monastery in Paris in the mid 1600's. In even the most menial tasks--picking up scraps and weeds in the garden, washing dishes,scrubbing floors--if undertaken for God's glory, are holy; and wherever the Christian stands, is holy ground, for the Lord is there, too.

The pillar of fire and cloud that followed the Israelites through the wilderness--that same presence now resides in us, everywhere and at every moment. We are not facing difficulties alone, for the Lord is "closer than a friend or brother." We must learn to envision His presence with us all the time.




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