Living in the Spacious Place: Got-ta-get-to-Goshen

September 17, 2011

Sermon: Living in the Spacious Place: Got-ta-get-to-Goshen

Sermon Text: Exodus 8:21-23 (NIV)

Context:
God is trying to bring Pharoh ro his senses. There have been two plagues thus far: frogs and gnats. So far, God’s people have not been affected God will not allow His people to be overwhelmed by what He is doing. This is about more than getting His people out of bondage; it’s also about showing others that He is God. The same goes for today, although we may not be going through a plague, we are not living in normal times. With all of this going on do you ever wonder “God, what about me?”

Point 1: God Will Deal Differently With Me (vs. 22)
God is making His presence known. He is present in both the plagues and in Goshen. HE is both a God of the plagues and of tranquility. He is manifesting Himself in two places. It would be like having good health, but you car is not working. It’s important to remember, the moment you obey God’s word you force Him to deal with you differently.

Deuteronomy 28:1,151 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:

Be obedient to His word, when you do His blessings will overtake you. The Israelites where not affected because they obeyed Him and stayed in Goshen. We wonder why we are going through, it’s because we are outside of Goshen.

Point 2: God Will Make A Distinction (vs. 23)
God said He would distinguish His people. Here, distinguished means redeemable. God believed the Israelites were worth putting in a safe place. The safe is true for you. You become distinguished when you give your life to Christ. You are too expensive for God to lose in a bad situation. He has paid too much for you. He would not let a bad situation take you out.

Point 3: God Will Do It (vs. 24)
God always does what He says He is going to do. The plagues came but Goshen was not harmed. God will do the same for you. God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son on a man that He should repent. God puts His word above His name. You may need to re-evaluate where you are currently residing. Are you living in a neighborhood of disbelief, disobedience, or avoiding God? Perhaps you need to move.
3 Things to help you move:
1. Pack: just take yourself; leave the baggage.
2. Move: Move now, stop putting it off. You must get to the right neighborhood.
3. You must stay put: When you move don’t wonder about what’s going on where you left. Stay where God has taken you.