I Won't Turn Back...NOW!
Pastor Erickson preaches from Exodus 14, Philippians 3:13 and Luke 17:32, showing how God brought Israel out of Egypt and set a wall between them and their past. He calls the church to stop looking back at bondage, to refuse to settle short of the promise, and to make up their minds that they will not turn back.
The message in 6 points
Make up your mind not to turn back
He reads Philippians 3:13, Exodus 14 and Luke 17:32, then a run of verses on turning back, from the hand on the plow to old things passing away. He says he has come to encourage anyone who is discouraged.
1:08:30Seventeen generations of slavery
Israel spent about 430 years in Egypt, some 17 generations, and came out with a slave mentality. Moses led people who only knew how to do what they were told, and some of them would rather die in bondage than fight for freedom.
1:14:58A wall between you and your past
The pillar of cloud moved behind Israel and became a wall, so the enemy could not see them and they could not see the enemy. He says if we are going to remember anything from Egypt, we should remember what God has done for us, which is our testimony.
1:28:53Do not settle east of the Jordan
Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh saw good grass for their cattle and asked to stay outside the promised land. He warns against settling for good enough, and calls fathers to make sure their children follow the presence of God into the promise.
1:39:59Remember Lots wife and forget what is behind
Lots wife is remembered only for looking back when she should have been moving forward. Paul had to forget who he was as Saul and keep pressing toward the mark, and no one has a past so heavy that God cannot use them.
1:50:58Pharaoh went down in the sea
Exodus 15 and Psalm 136 show that Pharaoh himself went into the sea. He says Pharaoh pictures the strongholds and addictions that follow us out of Egypt, but strongholds do die, and he calls people to decide right now that they will not turn back.
1:55:42
In his words
“It's this very spirit that I've come to fight against tonight, it's this very way of thinking I've come to fight against tonight, because some people would rather die in bondage than fight for freedom.”
“If you're gonna remember something, remember the good things of God and what He's done in your life. It's called a testimony.”
“I want you to know in this place tonight that strongholds do die. I don't know what you have in your life, I don't know what your enemy looks like.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Philippians 3:13
13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
King James Version.
Exodus 14:1
Exodus 14:3-31
3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so. 5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
King James Version.
Luke 17:32
Luke 9:62
62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
King James Version.
Isaiah 43:18-19
18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
King James Version.
2 Peter 2:21-22
21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
King James Version.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
King James Version.
Deuteronomy 31:8
8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
King James Version.
Numbers 32:1-2
1Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; 2The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,
King James Version.
Numbers 32:4-7
4Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: 5Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. 6And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? 7And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?
King James Version.
Exodus 15:19
19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
King James Version.
Psalms 136:13-15
13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
King James Version.
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