You're Exodus"WORSHIP" Story

[Donn Jibben]

YOU’RE EXODUS “WORSHIP” STORY

Most of us are all pretty familiar with the Exodus story.  The incredible story includes Moses, Aaron, the Israelite people, Pharaoh, the Egyptian people and the plagues of judgment from God.  It is a powerful story of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from bondage and slavery, from darkness to light, from Egypt unto Himself.

 The Exodus story is also a story of “Worship.”  Worship is a defining issue of the history of man.  We were made to worship the one in whom we were created.  For this very reason, Jesus Christ came to earth, He shed His blood, gave his life and rose from the dead so that man could also be delivered from the dark bondage of Egypt (the world).  This is God’s divine will for man, to be delivered from the deception of darkness to the marvelous light of God so that he can worship God in spirit and in truth as his creator.

 We can read of the Exodus story in Chapters 5-15.  I encourage you to read thru these chapters and refresh your memory of all the events that took place.  Our text tells us that 7 times Moses stood before Pharaoh as God’s representative and commanded him to “Let my people go that they may ‘worship’ me.”

  To get the full application of this story we must see that Egypt represents the world and Pharaoh represents Satan.  In chapters 8-10 Pharaoh responds to Moses and to some of the plagues but does so with restrictions upon the Israelites. I want to focus upon these responses and restrictions.

 Pharaoh’s first response is for the Israelites to “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land”, 8:25.  You know Satan doesn't mind us worshiping God too much as long as we stay in the land of the world, stay worldly and still attempt to worship God.  Satan doesn't mind us worshiping as long as it doesn't bring about change.  I proclaim to you that to truly worship the Father in spirit and in truth requires radical change and that change is to leave the world and Satan’s domain behind.

  Pharaoh’s second response is for the Israelites is this, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert, but you must not go very far.” Ex. 8:28.

Satan deeply desires for a believer to not make a full commitment in worshiping his creator. He doesn’t want anyone to give up too much of the world or too much of their heart.  Hold on to as much of Egypt as you can.  I proclaim to you that true worship to the Father is to cost us everything.  Like the woman with the costly perfume, she poured out all she had in worship to her Lord, her heart, her soul, her emotions, her costly perfume, her whole life.

  In another response Pharaoh states with these words, “…have only the men go and worship the Lord…” Ex. 10:11.  Moses had just responded to Pharaohs question in Vs. 8, “who will be going.”  He told Pharaoh that “our young and old, with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds…”  Satan doesn't want the whole family, especially the next generation to encounter God’s presence and power.  His goal is to keep the whole family from encountering God’s glorious presence and heart transforming worship. Remember that the Blood of the Lamb was applied to the doorpost of the home for the whole family! 

 The last response from Pharaoh, he states to Moses these words, “Go worship the Lord. Even your women and children, only leave your flocks and herds behind” Ex. 10:24.

Satan doesn't mind us worshiping the Lord as long as we do not worship Him with all of our resources, which not only includes our financial resources but our talents and gifts as well. Satan’s goal is to keep as many people and believers from worshiping God the Father and the Lord in Spirit and in truth.

 I exhort you today, do not bargain with Satan!  Don’t hold back when you worship the Lord.  Let go of the world, worship the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind.  Worship Him with all the passion and gusto you have!  It’s not hard to figure out friends.  God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ held nothing back for your sake, so don’t hold anything back in worshiping Him. It’s in His presence that troubles vanish and hearts are mended!! It’s in His presence that we encounter grace, peace, love and hope!  Our creator is truly worthy of all our Praise!

 John 4:24 “God is a Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world, if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him…The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

 What is the Holy Spirit saying to you by this teaching?

 In Christ’s love

Pastor Donn Jibben

Phil. 3:10

[B. Keith Chadwell]

To abandon ourselves into Him...be immersed in Him, remain immersed in Him, not looking back, holding nothing back...."I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Great word Donn