WE HAVE HOPE

Jonah’s Christmas Mission and Message

Freedom

Exodus 12:31-37 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.” 33 The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

35 Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.

•They walk out of Egypt with the great Moses •Moses was great, but he wouldn’t die for them or

pay the costs of their sins. •He couldn’t rescue them from themselves.

•What hope do any of us have to be free from our slavery to sin?

•It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1

•They take the first shaky steps of faith toward freedom

•Faith and doubt co-exist; certainty is the opposite and an enemy of faith.

•There is so much unknown in Christianity/following God. •Will you walk with him into the unknown?

•Exodus’ imagery of slavery/freedom speaks directly to our condition.

•Old Testament images of Egypt, Pharaoh and slavery point to New Testament Satan and sin.

•Old Testament Moses points to New Testament Christ.

•There are both known and unknown sources of slavery.

•Sin isn’t just an action, its a power; it has real power over people.

•You can be released from your circumstantial slavery but still be a spiritual slave.

•Romans 7:14 -15 - our slavery to sin makes it impossible for us to consistently choose to do good.

•Sin is an abusive taskmaster that rules with lies and unsatisfying false promises.

•V. 37 - they actually have to walk out of slavery!

•You can complain about your slavery all day - then you gotta walk out of it!

•We can get stuck in our complaining about slavery.

•We can confuse circumstantial freedom with real freedom.

•Faith isn’t believing God can do something. •Faith is walking out of Egypt every day and living

in agreement with the Word of God in my choices •Actually walking with God no matter what because

walking with God in the desert is better than my Egypt/sin.

•Get up and walk out of Egypt!

Exodus 12:42 42 It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

•Better said, “On that night the Lord kept watch over them”

•As opposed to the sun god Ra, Yahweh works the night shift!

•Walking out of slavery can be frightening; where are you God?

•He is watching over us while we walk out of our slavery!

•Psalm 121:5-8; walk into God’s freedom!

•God is watching over you! •Walk into freedom and salvation through Jesus. •Walk into the daily freedom of that salvation.

•Your slavery to sin and Egypt aren’t worth staying in - walk out of it today!

•Who is the Lord that I should listen to him? •He is the savior that sets you free. •“If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed”- Jesus