April 13, 2025 • 25 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you forget what He's given you for what you're
going through, you'll be a complainer and not a survivor.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Jonathan Evans talks about how easily we can fall victim
to spiritual amnesia when times get tough.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
See, the enemy is good at letting us focus so
hard at our problem that we don't remember how great
and big God has been in our past.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. Winning the battles
ahead of us often depend on remembering the victories behind. Today,
Pastor Jonathan Evans explores how we can remind ourselves of
God's faithfulness and the blessings we unleash when we do.
(00:41):
Let's join him. As he explains, you.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Know, there's many people in the audience that are going
through a battle. So I found myself at Exodus seventeen,
because at Exodus seventeen there's a battle, and it gave
me some encouragement last night as I was just reading it,
And so I want to give you some encouragement through
the battle that you're facing. Exodus seventeen, verse eight. Then
(01:07):
a malak came and fought against Israel at Refidum. So
Moses said to Joshua, choose men for us, and go
out fight against Amelak.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I will station myself on top of the hill with
the staff of God in my hand. Joshua did as
Moses told him and fought against Amelak. And Moses, Aaron
and Her went up to the top of the hill.
So it came about when Moses held his hand up
that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down,
(01:41):
a Malak prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy. Then they
took a stone and put it under him, and he
sat on it, and Aaron and Her supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other. Thus
his hands were steady until sunset. So Joshua overwhelmed am
Malak and his people with the edge of the sword.
(02:04):
Then the Lord said to Moses, write this in a
book as a memorial, and recite it to Joshua, that
I may utterly blot out the memory of Ammelak from
under the earth. Moses built an altar and named it
The Lord is my banner.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Today.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
This encouraged me because he's teaching me here. This is
how we fight battles. That You're going to have times
where you have all of these things going on in
your life. But if you go up to me while
taking care of your responsibilities down there, I will show up.
Many of you are dealing with health issues, you're dealing
with financial issues, you're dealing with relational issues, you're dealing
(02:43):
with career issues, you're dealing with addiction issues, you're dealing
with children issues. The list can go on and on
if you could just stand up on this stage and
have a moment to tell your story.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
But it's a spiritual battle.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
There are things going on in heavenly places to try
to take you out.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
And the worst thing that we can.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Do is tucktail and run when it's our opportunity to
pull down the power of heaven to overcome what's going
on on earth. The people of Israel were on their
way to the Promised Land. They were going in the
direction that God had called them to go, and they
came to a place called Refdom. In order to camp.
Camp means that we want to be revitalized. We want
(03:21):
to sit down and get our mojo back because we
got a long journey, so we're trying to get rejuiced.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
If you will they.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Had their vitam mixes out, and they had their juicers out,
and they were trying to get things organized so that
they can get their blood flowing in the right direction,
so that they can keep going in the direction that
God had called them to.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's what camp is.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I want to get ready for the next phase. The
expectation is.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
That if we're camping, we're.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Getting revitalized for where God is taking us next. The
problem is is that the place where they camped was
also the place where they didn't have any water. Now,
if you can imagine going from Africa through the Middle
East on foot and you ain't got no water, that's
not like a small problem. We're talking about life and death.
We're talking about a major problem. And not only is
(04:07):
it a major problem, but it messes up your expectations.
We stopped here in order to be revitalized, and the
place where we stopped to be revitalized is the place
that's hurting us the most. There are people in this
room right now that you look to something to be revitalized.
You thought that if you just got settled now and
slowed down in your marriage, you'd be revitalized. And that
(04:27):
thing just sped up. You thought that if you can
get that new job or that career, that you would
be revitalized, But your experience it wasn't what was on paper.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
You thought that you.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Would be revitalized with this new opportunity, these new things.
You thought this would be a place where I have
an opportunity to camp and get ready for where God
is taking me, only to find out that that's the
place where you have to fight your biggest battles. And
what messes you up is the expectation. It's the expectation
(04:58):
that I thought that we're going in the direction that
God has called us to go. If you look in
verse one, verse two, and verse three of chapter seventeen,
it was God who told them to camp. And then
there ain't gonna be no water. We're following Jesus, who
calls himself the Living Water in John chapter four.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And why am I thirsty?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Then we've got people who are thirsty in their finances,
thirsty in their marriage.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
The list goes on and on.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You are dehydrated while following the Living What come on, Jesus,
that's just what we're going through. That's what you're going through.
And sometimes you have that misunderstanding that doubt. That a
conflict when you're saying, but I'm just doing what you said.
(05:46):
They were thirsty. The people begin to grumble and complain.
Now I'm not saying I condone complaining, but when I
read the story, I'm like, well, I kind of understand.
I mean, you told them to camp and they ain't
got no water. You told them that this would be
a place that they could have an expectation to be revitalized.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And then things went downhill, and then they started to
look at the leader.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
They said, they got so annoyed at the circumstance that
they were in that they started picking up rocks. Hey mo,
we're gonna have to do something about this, because when
(06:32):
you feel like something's going to right up there, you
start looking out here, picking up stones, trying to figure
out whose fault it is that you're going through what
you're going through. But God had them there. He said,
you got to learn in season and out of season, how.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
To trust me.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
That these were people who Chapter fourteen, we're caught between
the rock and a hard place. We got the Red
Sea in front of us, we got Pharaoh behind us.
Chapter fifteen, we didn't have any water chapter sixteen, we
needed some men a chapter seventeen, we still don't have
any walk. Come on, Jesus, it's one thing after another.
The reason why I went to this passage is because
(07:19):
in our personal life, I'm thinking, Man, come on, man,
it's one thing after Aren't we just doing what you
asked us to do? That's confusing to me sometimes. So
I'm not saying that I condone the complaining of the
people of Israel. I used to read the people of
Israel and judge them, like, y'all, didn't you see what
he did for you yesterday? Y'all complaining? You don't remember
(07:41):
it was like a chapter ago. You know, we don't
get a real time lap, so it was like last
chapter you But then when you go through it, you're like, oh,
(08:02):
now I understand. And I have to caution myself because that,
come on, Jesus starts to become a complaint, like he
just owes me something. I start becom titled in my
speech because of what we're doing, and God is like, man,
this ain't no business transaction. I'm working to take you somewhere,
(08:27):
and so I'm feeling them people of Israel. I'm like, yeah,
I'm with you because he told you to go there,
and you dehydrated, and he's the living water. So he says,
that's how it feels. And then Moses saw them tossing
them rocks and he said, come on, Jesus he did.
(08:51):
He said, God, we're not trying to die today. Can
you do something about this? The people are thirsty. You
told us the camp here look bad. Were on a
way to the promised land that you promised, and God
said okay. People were at their breaking point. They started
asking the question, is the Lord with us or not?
(09:14):
I don't know if you'd be real. I don't know
if you've ever asked that question. Is I mean, I
know he's real, but is he with me or not?
They asked that question, and Moses got a word from
the Lord that said, mosey on up to Mount Horror,
and you go up there and make sure you take
the staff of God with you. You know what that represents, right,
(09:34):
represents the spiritual realm, the power drawing down Heaven to
your experience on earth. And I need you to do that,
and I need you to go strike that rock and
when you do, water will come out of it so
that the nations will.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
No longer thirst I got you.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Have you ever experienced God coming through right at the
breaking point?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
He likes doing that, doesn't he? I like him to
come a little bit before that. I mean he likes
doing it.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Because he wants you to know that right when you
were about to give up, he hadn't given up on you.
He throws you a bone so that you can continue
the journey. But he's readying you for what where He's
taking you. Without faith, it's impossible to please the Lord.
He needs you to trust him. Some of you are
(10:25):
in that phase where it's just I'm thirsty, and it
doesn't seem like there's any provision coming from anywhere. Those
who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, not
those who don't. So you got to wait, and there's
going to be times where you say to yourself, come on, Jesus,
I'm just doing what you.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Told me to do. You brought me out here.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
And then they said, wouldn't it be better for us
just to go back to Egypt? Some of us in
here said, man, it might be better for me just
to go back to my old life. It might be
better for me just to go back to my old
way of thinking, old way of operating because I'm not
getting no provision over here.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But don't forget.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
In fourteen, you were between a rock and a hard place,
but the sea opened. In fifteen you needed water, it
was provided. In sixteen you were hungry. Mana fell from
heaven a little bit too much quail, but at least
the manna was in good portion. So in seventeen, what
(11:33):
are you complaining about. See, the enemy is good at
letting us focus so hard at our problem that we
don't remember how great and big God has been in
our past.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
So how do we develop a better spiritual memory. We'll
find out when Jonathan returns in a moment to continue
this message from his ten part audio collection called Survivor.
This assembly of lessons can provide just the kickstart you
need if you feel like your life's burdens and struggles
have become overwhelmingly difficult. In these messages, author, speaker and
(12:10):
pastor Jonathan Evans will equip and encourage you to understand
how to relinquish your own self reliance, allowing you to
rest in the knowledge that God is fighting your battles
right alongside you. We'd like to send you all ten
full length messages in this series on either CD, USB
stick or as instant digital downloads. There are way of
(12:32):
saying thank you for your contribution to help continue the
alternative broadcast and teaching ministry here on this outlet and
others like it around the world, and as an added bonus,
will also send you a copy of Doctor Tony Evans
Daily devotional Life under God. This popular resource will equip
you with daily encouragement and biblical wisdom to help you
(12:54):
walk and step with God's will. The special bundle Jonathan's
Survivor audio series and Doctor Evans Life under God devotional
book will only be available for a limited time, so
contact us right away at Tonyevans dot org or call
our resource Request line at one eight hundred eight hundred
thirty two twenty two where one of our team members
(13:17):
will be happy to help you. Again. That's one eight
hundred eight hundred three two two two. I'll add that
information for you again. After part two of today's message,
here's Jonathan once again.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Water was coming down after Moses struck the rock, and
the people looked up right when they were about to
give up, and you saw godwater. You know that's better
than the water. We get that godwater that came from
that rock. That had to be the best stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I can see.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
The people of Israel now they went to the you know,
the desert. Wal Martin got the party cups.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Right as the came.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Then Ameleak came to fight against Israel at refidem. Come on, Jesus,
we can't catch a break. I prayed just the other day,
give us a break. I know you don't owe me anything,
but we're trying to catch a break. We're doing what
you called us to do.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And your word.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Allows me to believe. I mean, I'm praying your word
back to you. That's what I believe is because you
set God. Many of you are feeling the people of Israel.
You're like, man, it's one thing after another. And not
only is it one thing after another, it's one thing
after another in Refidom. It means the location. It's the
(14:45):
same location. It's that same job and that same coworker.
It's the same sickness, the same family strife. Have you
ever thought to yourself, if I can just get rid
of this one thing. But again, I don't want us
(15:06):
and myself to forget God's grace. Where is God's grace
in this story? God provided the water before Amelek showed up. See,
he knows what's coming, and he'll make those provisions so
that you're ready to handle it. If you forget what
(15:29):
he's given you for what you're going through, you'll be
a complainer and not a survivor. But remember how great
God is, because he's preparing you for a great promise,
and that promise sometimes can get dark. But if you
don't stop walking, you can keep experiencing where he's taking you.
(15:53):
He's saying, there's a battle that has to be fought.
You got to go be responsible. You can't complain about it.
You got to go fight against it. And tells us
he said, Joshua, and verse nine, you go down and
I will go up. He says, you go down and
take care of that responsibility because we can't ignore the battle.
But I'm not gonna let you go down there without
me going up to handle the spiritual war, because like
(16:17):
my mom said, this battle is up there, and up
there determines what happens down here. Some of us are
so earthly bound that we're no heavenly good, and some
of us just flying in the sky, just talking all
the spiritual language, walking around looking all churchy, but you
can't be used on earth. He's saying, you gotta go
(16:38):
up and grab the spiritual perspective while taking care of
your responsibilities down here.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Camden was two years old.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
He was standing at the top of the stairs in
our house and I said, Camden, give me your hand.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
You gotta hold my hand because you don't need to
be trying to go down these stairs. Your legs are
too short. You're gonna get caught off guard, and you're
gonna look like a bowling ball just rolling down the stairs.
And so when I grabbed his hand, he said, man,
you know, I don't know what he said, but it
was rude.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
He just.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I went down. I went down, and then we got
to the last step. So I said, okay, Camden, here's
your shot. He took the step first foot didn't touch
the ground before his back foot came off.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Boom. It began.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It was a worship service, hands lifted, crying, coming back
to the father because he recognized that it's just not
smart to try to take this journey down here without
(17:49):
having a hold of my father up there.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
That thing just don't work out that well. I've tried it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Let me let you know that thing don't work out
too well when you try to take advantage of what's
going on in your life without having a hold of
the father. Moses knew, Joshua, I'm gonna send you down.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
But I'm not gonna let you go. I'm gonna go
up because we have to have a strong hold.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Even two years later, my son cam then at four
years old, I said, okay, you're four, Now go ahead
and go on down the stairs.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He said, m m m m m. Daddy, hold my hand, Daddy,
that's what he said to him. I said, you four, man,
you can go down the stairs.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
He knew better. Now we ought to know better. Now
Moses is letting you know better. Now he's saying, you
go down and take care of that responsibility. But you
have to have a firm grasp because I have confidence
in my father, even though I know I still have
to take the walk, and I want to tell somebody
out there, go be responsible and go fight hard, Go
(18:51):
fight hard, but don't you let go of your father's in.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Because he determines the end result.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
He said, Joshua, Wall you go down, well, I go
up with the staff of God in my hands.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
And then it says Moses. Aaron and her went.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Up to the top of the mountain with the staff
of God in his hands. In the middle of this battle,
moses arms start hurting. They got heavy, and then the
Bible says, Verse twelve says that Aaron and her took
a stone and put it under him and had him
sit on it. You always know when you have the
(19:33):
right people around, because they gonna give you a rock
to sit on. People ask me, how are you doing.
I said, I'm doing okay, and I really am. I'm
doing pretty good. My faith is in one thing, and
it's a rock, and I believe in it. I have
(19:55):
an expectation because.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It's a rock.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Even when I fall apart, it doesn't and you have
to have people around you that can give you the rock.
I know you're gonna get tired of. Oh, don't quote
them scriptures.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I don't want to hear that. Yes you do, you
need that, because it's true.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
His hands got heavy, and his boys gave him a
stone to sit on, and they held up his hands,
one on one side and one on the other. And
because of them, not just Moses, his hands were steady
until sunset. Thus we know what happened. Joshua overwhelmed a
(20:39):
maleak with the edge of his sword. What is the
sword Ephesian six, word of God. He took the spiritual
perspective from up there and slayed his enemy down here.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Why is the word important, Well, it's.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Pretty much the only offensive weapon you get, and many
of us are just living defense. But his word says,
if you ask according to my will, I hear you,
and you better know that I hear you, and your
petitions will be grabbed by Heaven. That's what it says
(21:19):
in one John five fourteen. His word says in John
fifteen that if you abide in me and my word
abides in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it
will be done for you. That's what your word says.
His word says in Mark eleven that if you pray believing,
you will be receiving. That's what his word says. His
word says, don't be anxious for anything, but through prayer
and supplication, make your request known.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
So since he says it, we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
It, and we're going to have an expectation that Jehovah
Nissi will give us victory and our family and your
life in your family's life. We're looking for victory. Why
because we have a rock and we can have an
expect that even though we have battles, God is only
preparing us for a great promise. We're ready for the battle.
(22:07):
Is there anybody who's ready for the battle. There's no
more time to tucktail and run. There's no more time
to only play defense. It's time to play offense. Because
He said it, so we're gonna do it. They may
give you a bad diagnosis, you can say mmm mm hmm,
(22:28):
hold my hand, Daddy, because what he says goes no
matter what you're going through.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Do you feel close enough to God to see him
as a daddy who loves you unconditionally. That's the kind
of connection he wants to have with you, and He's
made it possible through Jesus Death on the Cross. Find
out how it can happen for you today. Visit Tonyevans
dot org and click on the link that says Jesus.
You'll find some helpful videos and free follow up resources
(23:01):
to answer your questions about a new life in God's family. Again,
that's Tonyevans dot org. And while you're there, don't forget
to take advantage of that special double offer I mentioned earlier,
Doctor Tony Evans popular daily devotional book Life under God,
plus the ten lesson Survivor sermon series from Jonathan Evans
(23:22):
on CD, USB or digital download. They're both yours with
our thanks for your donation to help us make this
listener supported program possible. Make the arrangements today at one
eight hundred eight hundred thirty two twenty two before time
runs out. That's one eight hundred eight hundred three two
two two, or visit Tonyevans dot org. With Easter coming
(23:48):
up this weekend, I encourage you to share the special
Easter episode of Stories from the Storyteller with the children
in your life. Kyler's Crazy School Day presents the meaning
of Easter in a fun, kid friendly way, and now's
the perfect time to introduce them to this engaging animated series.
Learn more at tonyevanstv dot com. That's tonyevanstv dot com.
(24:14):
Have you ever struggled with a situation that seems so
overwhelming you just wanted to throw in the towel and say, God,
I give up. If so, you're not alone, even those
with a rock solid faith the face those times of hopelessness.
Tomorrow Pastor Evans will teach us what to do when
our feelings don't measure up to our faith. Be sure
(24:37):
to join us
If you forget what He's given you for what you're
going through, you'll be a complainer and not a survivor.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Jonathan Evans talks about how easily we can fall victim
to spiritual amnesia when times get tough.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
See, the enemy is good at letting us focus so
hard at our problem that we don't remember how great
and big God has been in our past.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings
from the archives of doctor Tony Evans. Winning the battles
ahead of us often depend on remembering the victories behind. Today,
Pastor Jonathan Evans explores how we can remind ourselves of
God's faithfulness and the blessings we unleash when we do.
(00:41):
Let's join him. As he explains, you.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Know, there's many people in the audience that are going
through a battle. So I found myself at Exodus seventeen,
because at Exodus seventeen there's a battle, and it gave
me some encouragement last night as I was just reading it,
And so I want to give you some encouragement through
the battle that you're facing. Exodus seventeen, verse eight. Then
(01:07):
a malak came and fought against Israel at Refidum. So
Moses said to Joshua, choose men for us, and go
out fight against Amelak.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I will station myself on top of the hill with
the staff of God in my hand. Joshua did as
Moses told him and fought against Amelak. And Moses, Aaron
and Her went up to the top of the hill.
So it came about when Moses held his hand up
that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down,
(01:41):
a Malak prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy. Then they
took a stone and put it under him, and he
sat on it, and Aaron and Her supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other. Thus
his hands were steady until sunset. So Joshua overwhelmed am
Malak and his people with the edge of the sword.
(02:04):
Then the Lord said to Moses, write this in a
book as a memorial, and recite it to Joshua, that
I may utterly blot out the memory of Ammelak from
under the earth. Moses built an altar and named it
The Lord is my banner.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Today.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
This encouraged me because he's teaching me here. This is
how we fight battles. That You're going to have times
where you have all of these things going on in
your life. But if you go up to me while
taking care of your responsibilities down there, I will show up.
Many of you are dealing with health issues, you're dealing
with financial issues, you're dealing with relational issues, you're dealing
(02:43):
with career issues, you're dealing with addiction issues, you're dealing
with children issues. The list can go on and on
if you could just stand up on this stage and
have a moment to tell your story.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
But it's a spiritual battle.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
There are things going on in heavenly places to try
to take you out.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
And the worst thing that we can.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Do is tucktail and run when it's our opportunity to
pull down the power of heaven to overcome what's going
on on earth. The people of Israel were on their
way to the Promised Land. They were going in the
direction that God had called them to go, and they
came to a place called Refdom. In order to camp.
Camp means that we want to be revitalized. We want
(03:21):
to sit down and get our mojo back because we
got a long journey, so we're trying to get rejuiced.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
If you will they.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Had their vitam mixes out, and they had their juicers out,
and they were trying to get things organized so that
they can get their blood flowing in the right direction,
so that they can keep going in the direction that
God had called them to.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's what camp is.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I want to get ready for the next phase. The
expectation is.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
That if we're camping, we're.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Getting revitalized for where God is taking us next. The
problem is is that the place where they camped was
also the place where they didn't have any water. Now,
if you can imagine going from Africa through the Middle
East on foot and you ain't got no water, that's
not like a small problem. We're talking about life and death.
We're talking about a major problem. And not only is
(04:07):
it a major problem, but it messes up your expectations.
We stopped here in order to be revitalized, and the
place where we stopped to be revitalized is the place
that's hurting us the most. There are people in this
room right now that you look to something to be revitalized.
You thought that if you just got settled now and
slowed down in your marriage, you'd be revitalized. And that
(04:27):
thing just sped up. You thought that if you can
get that new job or that career, that you would
be revitalized, But your experience it wasn't what was on paper.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
You thought that you.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Would be revitalized with this new opportunity, these new things.
You thought this would be a place where I have
an opportunity to camp and get ready for where God
is taking me, only to find out that that's the
place where you have to fight your biggest battles. And
what messes you up is the expectation. It's the expectation
(04:58):
that I thought that we're going in the direction that
God has called us to go. If you look in
verse one, verse two, and verse three of chapter seventeen,
it was God who told them to camp. And then
there ain't gonna be no water. We're following Jesus, who
calls himself the Living Water in John chapter four.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And why am I thirsty?
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Then we've got people who are thirsty in their finances,
thirsty in their marriage.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
The list goes on and on.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
You are dehydrated while following the Living What come on, Jesus,
that's just what we're going through. That's what you're going through.
And sometimes you have that misunderstanding that doubt. That a
conflict when you're saying, but I'm just doing what you said.
(05:46):
They were thirsty. The people begin to grumble and complain.
Now I'm not saying I condone complaining, but when I
read the story, I'm like, well, I kind of understand.
I mean, you told them to camp and they ain't
got no water. You told them that this would be
a place that they could have an expectation to be revitalized.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And then things went downhill, and then they started to
look at the leader.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
They said, they got so annoyed at the circumstance that
they were in that they started picking up rocks. Hey mo,
we're gonna have to do something about this, because when
(06:32):
you feel like something's going to right up there, you
start looking out here, picking up stones, trying to figure
out whose fault it is that you're going through what
you're going through. But God had them there. He said,
you got to learn in season and out of season, how.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
To trust me.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
That these were people who Chapter fourteen, we're caught between
the rock and a hard place. We got the Red
Sea in front of us, we got Pharaoh behind us.
Chapter fifteen, we didn't have any water chapter sixteen, we
needed some men a chapter seventeen, we still don't have
any walk. Come on, Jesus, it's one thing after another.
The reason why I went to this passage is because
(07:19):
in our personal life, I'm thinking, Man, come on, man,
it's one thing after Aren't we just doing what you
asked us to do? That's confusing to me sometimes. So
I'm not saying that I condone the complaining of the
people of Israel. I used to read the people of
Israel and judge them, like, y'all, didn't you see what
he did for you yesterday? Y'all complaining? You don't remember
(07:41):
it was like a chapter ago. You know, we don't
get a real time lap, so it was like last
chapter you But then when you go through it, you're like, oh,
(08:02):
now I understand. And I have to caution myself because that,
come on, Jesus starts to become a complaint, like he
just owes me something. I start becom titled in my
speech because of what we're doing, and God is like, man,
this ain't no business transaction. I'm working to take you somewhere,
(08:27):
and so I'm feeling them people of Israel. I'm like, yeah,
I'm with you because he told you to go there,
and you dehydrated, and he's the living water. So he says,
that's how it feels. And then Moses saw them tossing
them rocks and he said, come on, Jesus he did.
(08:51):
He said, God, we're not trying to die today. Can
you do something about this? The people are thirsty. You
told us the camp here look bad. Were on a
way to the promised land that you promised, and God
said okay. People were at their breaking point. They started
asking the question, is the Lord with us or not?
(09:14):
I don't know if you'd be real. I don't know
if you've ever asked that question. Is I mean, I
know he's real, but is he with me or not?
They asked that question, and Moses got a word from
the Lord that said, mosey on up to Mount Horror,
and you go up there and make sure you take
the staff of God with you. You know what that represents, right,
(09:34):
represents the spiritual realm, the power drawing down Heaven to
your experience on earth. And I need you to do that,
and I need you to go strike that rock and
when you do, water will come out of it so
that the nations will.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
No longer thirst I got you.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Have you ever experienced God coming through right at the
breaking point?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
He likes doing that, doesn't he? I like him to
come a little bit before that. I mean he likes
doing it.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Because he wants you to know that right when you
were about to give up, he hadn't given up on you.
He throws you a bone so that you can continue
the journey. But he's readying you for what where He's
taking you. Without faith, it's impossible to please the Lord.
He needs you to trust him. Some of you are
(10:25):
in that phase where it's just I'm thirsty, and it
doesn't seem like there's any provision coming from anywhere. Those
who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, not
those who don't. So you got to wait, and there's
going to be times where you say to yourself, come on, Jesus,
I'm just doing what you.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Told me to do. You brought me out here.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
And then they said, wouldn't it be better for us
just to go back to Egypt? Some of us in
here said, man, it might be better for me just
to go back to my old life. It might be
better for me just to go back to my old
way of thinking, old way of operating because I'm not
getting no provision over here.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But don't forget.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
In fourteen, you were between a rock and a hard place,
but the sea opened. In fifteen you needed water, it
was provided. In sixteen you were hungry. Mana fell from
heaven a little bit too much quail, but at least
the manna was in good portion. So in seventeen, what
(11:33):
are you complaining about. See, the enemy is good at
letting us focus so hard at our problem that we
don't remember how great and big God has been in
our past.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
So how do we develop a better spiritual memory. We'll
find out when Jonathan returns in a moment to continue
this message from his ten part audio collection called Survivor.
This assembly of lessons can provide just the kickstart you
need if you feel like your life's burdens and struggles
have become overwhelmingly difficult. In these messages, author, speaker and
(12:10):
pastor Jonathan Evans will equip and encourage you to understand
how to relinquish your own self reliance, allowing you to
rest in the knowledge that God is fighting your battles
right alongside you. We'd like to send you all ten
full length messages in this series on either CD, USB
stick or as instant digital downloads. There are way of
(12:32):
saying thank you for your contribution to help continue the
alternative broadcast and teaching ministry here on this outlet and
others like it around the world, and as an added bonus,
will also send you a copy of Doctor Tony Evans
Daily devotional Life under God. This popular resource will equip
you with daily encouragement and biblical wisdom to help you
(12:54):
walk and step with God's will. The special bundle Jonathan's
Survivor audio series and Doctor Evans Life under God devotional
book will only be available for a limited time, so
contact us right away at Tonyevans dot org or call
our resource Request line at one eight hundred eight hundred
thirty two twenty two where one of our team members
(13:17):
will be happy to help you. Again. That's one eight
hundred eight hundred three two two two. I'll add that
information for you again. After part two of today's message,
here's Jonathan once again.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Water was coming down after Moses struck the rock, and
the people looked up right when they were about to
give up, and you saw godwater. You know that's better
than the water. We get that godwater that came from
that rock. That had to be the best stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I can see.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
The people of Israel now they went to the you know,
the desert. Wal Martin got the party cups.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Right as the came.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Then Ameleak came to fight against Israel at refidem. Come on, Jesus,
we can't catch a break. I prayed just the other day,
give us a break. I know you don't owe me anything,
but we're trying to catch a break. We're doing what
you called us to do.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And your word.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Allows me to believe. I mean, I'm praying your word
back to you. That's what I believe is because you
set God. Many of you are feeling the people of Israel.
You're like, man, it's one thing after another. And not
only is it one thing after another, it's one thing
after another in Refidom. It means the location. It's the
(14:45):
same location. It's that same job and that same coworker.
It's the same sickness, the same family strife. Have you
ever thought to yourself, if I can just get rid
of this one thing. But again, I don't want us
(15:06):
and myself to forget God's grace. Where is God's grace
in this story? God provided the water before Amelek showed up. See,
he knows what's coming, and he'll make those provisions so
that you're ready to handle it. If you forget what
(15:29):
he's given you for what you're going through, you'll be
a complainer and not a survivor. But remember how great
God is, because he's preparing you for a great promise,
and that promise sometimes can get dark. But if you
don't stop walking, you can keep experiencing where he's taking you.
(15:53):
He's saying, there's a battle that has to be fought.
You got to go be responsible. You can't complain about it.
You got to go fight against it. And tells us
he said, Joshua, and verse nine, you go down and
I will go up. He says, you go down and
take care of that responsibility because we can't ignore the battle.
But I'm not gonna let you go down there without
me going up to handle the spiritual war, because like
(16:17):
my mom said, this battle is up there, and up
there determines what happens down here. Some of us are
so earthly bound that we're no heavenly good, and some
of us just flying in the sky, just talking all
the spiritual language, walking around looking all churchy, but you
can't be used on earth. He's saying, you gotta go
(16:38):
up and grab the spiritual perspective while taking care of
your responsibilities down here.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Camden was two years old.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
He was standing at the top of the stairs in
our house and I said, Camden, give me your hand.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
You gotta hold my hand because you don't need to
be trying to go down these stairs. Your legs are
too short. You're gonna get caught off guard, and you're
gonna look like a bowling ball just rolling down the stairs.
And so when I grabbed his hand, he said, man,
you know, I don't know what he said, but it
was rude.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
He just.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I went down. I went down, and then we got
to the last step. So I said, okay, Camden, here's
your shot. He took the step first foot didn't touch
the ground before his back foot came off.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Boom. It began.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
It was a worship service, hands lifted, crying, coming back
to the father because he recognized that it's just not
smart to try to take this journey down here without
(17:49):
having a hold of my father up there.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
That thing just don't work out that well. I've tried it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Let me let you know that thing don't work out
too well when you try to take advantage of what's
going on in your life without having a hold of
the father. Moses knew, Joshua, I'm gonna send you down.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
But I'm not gonna let you go. I'm gonna go
up because we have to have a strong hold.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Even two years later, my son cam then at four
years old, I said, okay, you're four, Now go ahead
and go on down the stairs.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
He said, m m m m m. Daddy, hold my hand, Daddy,
that's what he said to him. I said, you four, man,
you can go down the stairs.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
He knew better. Now we ought to know better. Now
Moses is letting you know better. Now he's saying, you
go down and take care of that responsibility. But you
have to have a firm grasp because I have confidence
in my father, even though I know I still have
to take the walk, and I want to tell somebody
out there, go be responsible and go fight hard, Go
(18:51):
fight hard, but don't you let go of your father's in.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Because he determines the end result.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
He said, Joshua, Wall you go down, well, I go
up with the staff of God in my hands.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
And then it says Moses. Aaron and her went.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Up to the top of the mountain with the staff
of God in his hands. In the middle of this battle,
moses arms start hurting. They got heavy, and then the
Bible says, Verse twelve says that Aaron and her took
a stone and put it under him and had him
sit on it. You always know when you have the
(19:33):
right people around, because they gonna give you a rock
to sit on. People ask me, how are you doing.
I said, I'm doing okay, and I really am. I'm
doing pretty good. My faith is in one thing, and
it's a rock, and I believe in it. I have
(19:55):
an expectation because.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It's a rock.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Even when I fall apart, it doesn't and you have
to have people around you that can give you the rock.
I know you're gonna get tired of. Oh, don't quote
them scriptures.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I don't want to hear that. Yes you do, you
need that, because it's true.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
His hands got heavy, and his boys gave him a
stone to sit on, and they held up his hands,
one on one side and one on the other. And
because of them, not just Moses, his hands were steady
until sunset. Thus we know what happened. Joshua overwhelmed a
(20:39):
maleak with the edge of his sword. What is the
sword Ephesian six, word of God. He took the spiritual
perspective from up there and slayed his enemy down here.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Why is the word important, Well, it's.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Pretty much the only offensive weapon you get, and many
of us are just living defense. But his word says,
if you ask according to my will, I hear you,
and you better know that I hear you, and your
petitions will be grabbed by Heaven. That's what it says
(21:19):
in one John five fourteen. His word says in John
fifteen that if you abide in me and my word
abides in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it
will be done for you. That's what your word says.
His word says in Mark eleven that if you pray believing,
you will be receiving. That's what his word says. His
word says, don't be anxious for anything, but through prayer
and supplication, make your request known.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
So since he says it, we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
It, and we're going to have an expectation that Jehovah
Nissi will give us victory and our family and your
life in your family's life. We're looking for victory. Why
because we have a rock and we can have an
expect that even though we have battles, God is only
preparing us for a great promise. We're ready for the battle.
(22:07):
Is there anybody who's ready for the battle. There's no
more time to tucktail and run. There's no more time
to only play defense. It's time to play offense. Because
He said it, so we're gonna do it. They may
give you a bad diagnosis, you can say mmm mm hmm,
(22:28):
hold my hand, Daddy, because what he says goes no
matter what you're going through.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Do you feel close enough to God to see him
as a daddy who loves you unconditionally. That's the kind
of connection he wants to have with you, and He's
made it possible through Jesus Death on the Cross. Find
out how it can happen for you today. Visit Tonyevans
dot org and click on the link that says Jesus.
You'll find some helpful videos and free follow up resources
(23:01):
to answer your questions about a new life in God's family. Again,
that's Tonyevans dot org. And while you're there, don't forget
to take advantage of that special double offer I mentioned earlier,
Doctor Tony Evans popular daily devotional book Life under God,
plus the ten lesson Survivor sermon series from Jonathan Evans
(23:22):
on CD, USB or digital download. They're both yours with
our thanks for your donation to help us make this
listener supported program possible. Make the arrangements today at one
eight hundred eight hundred thirty two twenty two before time
runs out. That's one eight hundred eight hundred three two
two two, or visit Tonyevans dot org. With Easter coming
(23:48):
up this weekend, I encourage you to share the special
Easter episode of Stories from the Storyteller with the children
in your life. Kyler's Crazy School Day presents the meaning
of Easter in a fun, kid friendly way, and now's
the perfect time to introduce them to this engaging animated series.
Learn more at tonyevanstv dot com. That's tonyevanstv dot com.
(24:14):
Have you ever struggled with a situation that seems so
overwhelming you just wanted to throw in the towel and say, God,
I give up. If so, you're not alone, even those
with a rock solid faith the face those times of hopelessness.
Tomorrow Pastor Evans will teach us what to do when
our feelings don't measure up to our faith. Be sure
(24:37):
to join us
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