Exodus 5:1-4
INTRO: The lives and times of ancient Israel were often touched by Egypt. It was in fact, in Egypt that the immediate descendants of Jacob, sixty-six in number (Gen 46:27), became numerous as the stars of heaven (Deut 1:10). It is estimated that well over one million people of Israel left Egypt with Moses. Our thoughts tonight will focus on a man (or men) whom we simply know as Pharaoh. This pagan man teaches us some important life lessons.
I. HE HAD NO LOYALTY TO, INTEREST IN HISTORY
A. Ex 1:8 True, Joseph had been dead some years
1. and perhaps a new dynasty had come to power
2. but Joseph had saved Egypt from certain disaster while surrounding people were devastated
B. Prov 27:10 ... and thy fathers friend ...
1. lessons and relationships o the past need to be learned and cherished
2. loyalty is a rare quality - and makes such a real difference in the course of ones life
II. HE MADE ENEMIES RATHER THAN FRIENDS
A. Ex 1:9-11 Apparently, no reason for fear
1. but Prov 28:1 judge others by our selves!
2. potential enemies or allies ... but often it is we who make the choice
B. 1 Pet 3:9-11 How well is this instruction followed?
1. easier to make enemies than friends
2. the Pharaohs lived in fear because they trusted few people - considered anyone of stature a threat - do we?
III. HE THOUGHT TOO MUCH OF HIMSELF
A. Ex 5:1,2 Here is pride at its worst!
1. no counsel, no advice did he need or heed!
2. he would recognize no one as being greater, more important than he
B. Prov 16:18 We know the truth ...
1. but have we really learned the lesson?
2. pride is as much a problem for us common folks as for the rich and famous ... when we refuse to listen to Gods counsel, we are in the Pharaoh mode
IV. HE DID NOT KEEP HIS WORD
A. Ex 8:8,15 When Pharaoh saw that there was a respite ...
1. commitments, promises made in the furnace of adversity ...
2. but when relief came, promises forgotten
B. Mt 5:33-37 Be people of your word!
1. commitment in conversion; commitment in your marriage; commitment in agreements, contracts
2. this should be our characteristic in even the smallest of things
V. HE ACKNOWLEDGED SIN; BUT HE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT
A. Ex 9:27,34 The way of worldly people?
1. I believe Pharaoh knew he had offended God!
2. it was commendable that he acknowledged his sin and the Lords righteousness ... but!
B. Acts 17:30 Repentance is a real sticking point
1. I knew its wrong, but ...
2. here is where self-will and pride really cause fatal problems for us ... Eccl 8:11
VI. HE PAID A GREAT PRICE FOR STUBBORNNESS
A. Ex 12:29,30 Was the price worth it?
1. his stubbornness cost the death of his eldest child to say nothing of the people and animals of the nation
2. here is the destruction caused by pride
B. The price of stubborn pride and sin is too great!
1. and there will always be a price
2. far better is it for us to submit to the will and counsel of our loving God
CLOSE: Pharaoh thought he could fight against God and win. He couldnt ... and neither can we.
Cecil A. Hutson
17 October 1999
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)