Leaving the Bondage of Sin Behind Leaving Egypt Leaving the Bondage of Sin Behind “And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…’” ~Exodus 3:7-8

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition… Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall” 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 Leaving Egypt Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land …For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1John 5:2-5 Remember: 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 A life in bondage produces sorrow & it is oppressive. We are either: Currently living in sin, therefore in bondage to it Living a life that has left behind the old ways, but we’re still drawn to it Living a focused and determined life headed to the Promised Land God calls us out of bondage to sin – Gal.4:4-7

What Do You Do When You Meet Hardship? Israel Crumbled & cried Numbers 14:3-4; 21:4-5 Exodus 17:3 Joshua & Caleb Ready to serve & fight Numbers 13:30 Exodus 17:8-13 Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land

What Do You See When You Look Back? Israel Pots of meat, selective memory Exodus 16:3 Joshua & Caleb God’s deliverance & blessing Joshua 14:8-9 Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land When Israel desired/tried to go back to Egypt (results) Looking back with selective eyes on the past life spent in bondage Refusing to see the Lord’s guiding hand regardless of the clear evidence around you Refusing to fight and instead suffer as a result Fearing man over God After leaving Egypt there was a draw to return because of it being familiar rather than “unknown” or “new”; also there was the perception of it being “easier” Sometimes we can selectively (and deceptively) look back at what was actually bondage (sin) and glamorize it rather than see it for what it was The further Israel got away from Egypt the stronger they became (in the long-view of it) Until we’re ready to fight, we’ll never completely leave Egypt in our hearts or thoughts Getting out is a long hard road, but it’s worth every step we courageously take with our Lord Is the church there to help when people hit their rock bottom, when people are ready to make that journey out of Egypt? Leaving Egypt required death Going back to Egypt would result in death Actually going back was death After leaving Egypt there was a draw to return because of it being familiar rather than “unknown” or “new”; also there was the perception of it being “easier” -- Sometimes we can selectively (and deceptively) look back at what was actually bondage (sin) and glamorize it rather than see it for what it was

What Do You See When You Look Around? Israel Hardship, fear, & worry Exodus 14:10-12; 32:1 Joshua & Caleb God’s leadership & strength Numbers 14:6-9 Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land When Israel desired/tried to go back to Egypt (results) Looking back with selective eyes on the past life spent in bondage Refusing to see the Lord’s guiding hand regardless of the clear evidence around you Refusing to fight and instead suffer as a result Fearing man over God Leaving Egypt required death Going back to Egypt would result in death Actually going back was death After leaving Egypt there was a draw to return because of it being familiar rather than “unknown” or “new”; also there was the perception of it being “easier” Sometimes we can selectively (and deceptively) look back at what was actually bondage (sin) and glamorize it rather than see it for what it was The further Israel got away from Egypt the stronger they became (in the long-view of it) Until we’re ready to fight, we’ll never completely leave Egypt in our hearts or thoughts Getting out is a long hard road, but it’s worth every step we courageously take with our Lord Is the church there to help when people hit their rock bottom, when people are ready to make that journey out of Egypt?

What Do You See When You Look Ahead? Israel Too much risk, too much trouble Numbers 14:31-33 Joshua & Caleb Promised Land & God’s blessing Joshua 14:10-12; 24:15 Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land When Israel desired/tried to go back to Egypt (results) Looking back with selective eyes on the past life spent in bondage Refusing to see the Lord’s guiding hand regardless of the clear evidence around you Refusing to fight and instead suffer as a result Fearing man over God Leaving Egypt required death Going back to Egypt would result in death Actually going back was death After leaving Egypt there was a draw to return because of it being familiar rather than “unknown” or “new”; also there was the perception of it being “easier” Sometimes we can selectively (and deceptively) look back at what was actually bondage (sin) and glamorize it rather than see it for what it was The further Israel got away from Egypt the stronger they became (in the long-view of it) Until we’re ready to fight, we’ll never completely leave Egypt in our hearts or thoughts Getting out is a long hard road, but it’s worth every step we courageously take with our Lord Is the church there to help when people hit their rock bottom, when people are ready to make that journey out of Egypt?

Leaned on God’s strength Leaving Egypt - Paul Met hardship? Leaned on God’s strength (2 Corinthians 11:28; 12:7-10)

Pile of rubbish with the cross between it and him Leaving Egypt - Paul Looked back? Pile of rubbish with the cross between it and him (Philippians 3:7-8)

His Savior & his brethren Leaving Egypt - Paul Looked around? His Savior & his brethren (2 Timothy 4:16-17) Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land

(Philippians 3:13-14; Romans 8:18) Leaving Egypt - Paul Looked ahead? Heaven (Philippians 3:13-14; Romans 8:18) Call to action: Sever ties with Egypt & set your sights on the Promised Land I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Leaving Egypt “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. ” Titus 2:11-12

Leaving Egypt “…These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Leaving Egypt “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels…” Revelation 3:5

Leave Egypt “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place…” Exodus 13:3 Leaving Egypt required death Going back to Egypt would result in death Actually going back was death It required blood for Israel to leave Egypt (Passover) It required blood for us to be freed from Egypt (Jesus Christ) 1 Corinthians 5:7  “…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us…” 2 Corinthians 6:2  “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”