But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians which you have seen today, you will never see them again forever."

Like most people today, the children of Israel had many fears, among which were their dreaded task masters. For so long, held captive, they were now urged to focus upon the Lord and trust that He was moving them from captivity to freedom. We today, held by many things that bring fear, many overloaded, burdened down by ongoing circumstances, most out of our control, need to stand by and see the saving grace of our Lord, working on our behalf.

Pastor Russell

"....He swore to your fathers to give you a land flowing with milk and honey...."

As Israel exited Egypt, before them lay a great land filled with unknown. Unfriendly peoples, harsh conditions, limited food and water resources, little knowledge of the direction headed to a land that was only a fanciful tale of people that had long passed on. Yet was the reality of God's word spoken through His servant Moses. The promised land of Canaan was a good land, one that was filled green pastures and water, along with other resources that made it abundantly fruitful. Urged on by the Lord, they left behind them the old life of servitude and bondage, yet moving in faith having the promises of God's word. Very similar to life in Christ today for the Christian, He's delivered us from sin, now leading us, we press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Russell

"And they were continually themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

I can't wait for Saturday morning and Sunday service declared one brother as he excitedly shared with the group of guys gathered for prayer. He was fired up as he sought to just talk story about his week with the guys before praying. It's so good as the body gathers to put into practice Acts 2:42. With all that has gone on this past year with Covid, the "new norm" for some may be distance learning, little or abbreviated fellowship and lack of the Lord's table, all key elements in the life of the believer.  One writer said: "The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. A single coal will soon lose its fire and become cold; but coals piled together will maintain an intense heat." Would we continue to be piled together that the love of Jesus Christ would burn with intensity in our midst.

Pastor Russell

"Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it."

With explicit instructions for the Passover given, was the slaughter of the unblemished lamb whose blood was applied over the doorposts and lintels of the homes. Those within, would be as those covered by the blood of the lamb, under the shelter, protected and freed from death that would pass over the land. Many centuries later, John would see the fulfillment of the Passover....he saw Jesus coming to Him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) Let us all celebrate daily, what Jesus has done for us.

Pastor Russell

"Therefore, our livestock too, will go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not with what we shall serve the Lord."

Moses was very adamant with pharaoh, declaring that our wives, our children, our flocks and herds shall go with us. You might say that they were all in. No footsies with the world, nothing left behind to go back for, we're going to serve and worship our God was the cry. A great reminder for us, that we too ought to be so resolved in our determination to worship the Lord. Not focusing on the resistance of the world, the struggles of the flesh, the warfare of the devil, but pressing forward in the upward call of Christ Jesus.

Pastor Russell

"Pharaoh sent men to investigate and found that not one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go."

Pharaoh stood in a very precarious place, at the crossroads you might conclude, where a great calamity might be avoided. Like with merging traffic, the oncoming cars having the right of way, those merging, hopefully, yielding the right of way to the fast-moving flow of cars, thus avoiding a serious pile up and all the ramifications. But Pharaoh, instead chose to plunge headlong, and suffer the consequences. Many, we'll see, within Egypt would suffer the consequences of his decision. At times, we too daily, make decisions either yielding to God's best for us, or going against the flow of the Spirit. Let's avoid the drama and heartbreak and always pray that for us, we seek God's will to be done in our lives.

Pastor Russell

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness."

As Moses came to Pharoah again and again, entreating him to let God's people to go so they could worship Him, the Pharoah continued to harden his heart. We made note that the word harden could be defined in varying ways, but all the definitions had the thought of pride being involved. Not only that, but also involved in the heart was a desire for a position of control and dominance. The flesh like Pharoah, has many similar attributes, but God is at work within the hearts and lives of many, for the believer, extricating things of the old nature that still cling on, and for the non-believer coming to a place of relinquishing self-rule and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. In all of this, remember God's grace working on behalf of all.

Pastor Russell

"So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage."

The cruel grip of the pharaohs hand seemed as if to encircle the throats of the hapless Israelites, choking the very life and vibrancy from them. Gone was the fire and drive that had first spurred them on, now without resolve, they failed to receive comfort and encouragement from the word of the Lord. Often, we respond in like manner, hammered by our circumstance, our world put out of order and in chaos, we fall into the grip of the lie. Rather than shut down, this is when we need to seek out the Lord even more fervently, for its He who is able to do and to accomplish beyond what we think or ask.

Pastor Russell

And they said to them, "May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

From great joy, jubilation, adoration and worship, came the pressure and brutality of the world upon the children of Israel. No sooner that they had set their minds to follow after and seek the plans of the Lord for their lives, came a swift retaliation by the enemies of God's people. As it was then, so it is today, we purpose in our hearts to love and serve the Lord, we should expect the warfare to ramp up. Don't be lulled into a place where we are blindsided, but anticipate that there will be retaliation by the enemy as we move out in Him. In this passage, we see fear, anger, frustration and rejection of God as the people moved away from love in the Lord, to reacting in the flesh. Let's not go there, keeping our eyes focused on Him.

Pastor Russell

"So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped."

As Moses and Aaron told the people all that the Lord had shared with them, they received with gladness the news of His concern for them. Four centuries of bondage and servitude had not gone un-noticed, as He had heard their groanings and cries for help. He made them ready for their departure from Egypt, as they bowed low in worship, their hearts filled with thanksgiving and joy of the Lords faithful provision. We today can be reminded of Gods faithful provision for the Body of Christ, we are humbled before Him in worship with the anticipation of His sure return.

Pastor Russell

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."

As we turn a hard corner finishing up 2020, we look forward to the next year upcoming,  sure to be fraught with challenges. Covid still in our midst, economic woes ballooning,  rampant corruption and covert intrusion by our enemies, unfinished results with our elections....much lies unsettled in the hearts and lives of people. The one sure thing is the faithfulness of the Lord. He truly has made all things appropriate in His time. Don't fear child of God, cast all your cares upon Him, for He truly cares.

Pastor Russell

"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."

During the Christmas season, we all like giving and receiving gifts, especially the receiving part. But for our Heavenly Father, it was with great joy and satisfaction that He gave His only begotten Son, who would come born of a virgin, to walk this earth and go to the cross on our behalf for forgiveness of sin. to be the Savior of the world for all who would receive Him. Given for all mankind, the Child of God, the Perfect gift has come.

Pastor Russell