March 10, 2025 • 32 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The year was 2007, and we were actually living in
Houston.
The twins arrived in July of2007, and we didn't really know
what to call them, so we calledthem, shock and Awe.
We were actually trying for ababy girl.
So we told all of our familyand friends we're not having a
(00:25):
boy and they were like, woo,finally getting a girl.
I was like, no, we're havingtwo boys, woo.
So the boys arrived in July andwe realized the house we were
(00:46):
living in was far too small towelcome twins, because when you
have twins, you get rid of oneof everything that you already
have.
We had boys already, two boys,ethan and Elliot and so we
didn't like you know, whateverwe use for Ethan is what we use
for Elliot.
So we didn't like you know,whatever we use for Ethan is
(01:07):
what we use for Elliot Same crib, same clothes, same I mean same
everything.
But when the twins arrived, wegot rid of the one of everything
and got two of everything,because now the two have to
match.
And then you got to go tostores that only sell blue and
green, so you got to buy a blueshirt and a green shirt, a blue
blanket and a green blanket, ablue pacifier and a green
(01:30):
pacifier.
This is too much detail forthis story, but I'm just setting
you up that it was a lot, canyou just agree with me?
It was a lot.
So we moved to a new house andclosed on this house and
beautiful house, dream house,backed up to the school that
Ethan and Elliot would go to.
And Elliot was startedkindergarten and Ethan, I don't
(01:55):
even know he was in some kind ofgrade, but the house backyard
had a fence that backed right upto the school.
So we moved in on a Tuesdaynight and on Tuesday night I
went in and cut that, cut a gateright into that fence, so I
could just open the back doorand the boys could walk through
that gate to school, cause Iknew, with twins, we might never
(02:15):
leave this house again.
So but we could send the boysto school.
So that was Tuesday, well asthe year, as the rest of the
year went in 2007, you know, uh,the taxes were due and those
taxes become due on the 31st ofDecember, and so we had the tax
bill looking at us for what wewould owe for that year and, um,
and I remember being, Iremember looking at what our
(02:38):
account said and looking whatthe tax bill said and I was just
like, well, that doesn't, itdoesn't match and it's it's
negative on the wrong side ofthe ledger.
You know what I'm talking about.
It's like we're a little shortand and you know how, sometimes
you get a voicemail to yourphone and you don't recognize
the number, so you don't checkit.
(02:59):
Don't lie, on spring forwardsunday, so there was this
message that had been sitting inmy voicemail box, that had been
there for, I'll just say, a fewweeks, maybe longer.
I thought what is this numberand what is this voicemail?
(03:20):
And it was before 2007.
There wasn't visual voicemail.
And it was before 2007,.
There wasn't visual voicemailwhere now you could read what
they leave you.
By the way, if you leave amessage, you don't have to tell
the number you're calling from,because it already shows up.
Furthermore, if you're saying,if you're saying in your message
(03:44):
, when your voicemail answers,you don't have to say leave your
name and number.
Think about it, just a littlepublic service announcement.
So I check this voicemail andI'm like it's like the 30th and
(04:06):
this bill is due tomorrow andI'm like we're just going to
have to pay it forward.
I don't know what we're goingto do, we're just going to have
to pray.
But something just prompted meto say you need to check that
voicemail.
And I said, well, I shouldcheck this voicemail.
And I did and it was our titlecompany.
And they said Mr Colgrove, wehope you're doing okay today.
(04:28):
And then they gave me the date,which was not December 30th and
was not November 30th.
It was October 30th, just a fewdays after we had moved in.
But I never checked thevoicemail and they said we have
a check with your name on itbecause your escrow account was
overpaid and we have such andsuch amount in this check for
(04:49):
you, which more than covered thegap we had in our taxes.
But check this out.
That message was left twomonths earlier but I didn't
check it.
I didn't check the message andI never went to the mortgage
company.
So I showed up on the 30th theywere about to close for the rest
of the year and I walked in.
(05:09):
I said you know this is funny.
You left me a voicemail a whileback and maybe there's a check
here with my name on it, anenvelope maybe and she was like.
She came back.
She said you can't believe this.
We're about to send this backto your mortgage company, from
the title company to themortgage company.
If you didn't show up today,we're going to drop it in the
mail today and I said well,thank you, jesus.
And it's the year I learnedsomething that you might be
(05:35):
looking for, you might alreadyhave access to hey, why don't
you just turn to your neighborand say we're about to prime the
promise and to the one sittingnext to you, just let them know.
(05:56):
Listen, I might get loud up inhere today.
Today we close out this seriesthat we've been in called Prime
the Promise.
And can I just say, what aboutlast week?
Listen, if you missed it, youmissed it Because we closed the
(06:20):
service and dismissed those whohad to go.
In our team and many of youstayed for about 45 minutes,
almost an hour, worshiping God'smoving.
I heard of miracles that werehappening at Monastery on
Wednesday night healings, signsand wonders in the house.
Come on, marriage is restored,Wayward son's coming home,
(06:44):
prayers being answered.
What a week.
And that's just going to be thenormal.
Can I just tell you we're notgoing to say we're going to stay
until 12 every single Sunday,but listen, if the Holy Spirit
starts moving, we're going toget out of the way.
So we've been leaning in to thisstory of Moses and we know that
(07:08):
Moses was a man of destiny, ason of destiny, and and we know
that that there was, there was acall on his life and and I just
want to, I want to tell, likethe reality is, destiny is a
picture of what could be in yourlife, but the promise is the
(07:34):
word for what will be in yourlife.
So destiny is what God hasplanned for you, but that
destiny is going to be tied intoyour obedience and your
willingness to keep movingforward.
But when you get a promise, youcan rest assured that promise
is the word for what will be.
We used to say to students,when I was a youth pastor, that
(07:59):
destiny delayed is the devil'sdelight and it was really just
the prompting of like you got towork your way to that destiny
and that destiny.
As soon as you get a promise,it doesn't matter what's going
on around you.
You got to promise, you got aword, and so we've been leaning
into this story of Moses and I'mgoing to tell you what if you
(08:22):
get a word, you don't need muchelse.
You don't need the weather tobe nice.
If you got a word, you couldspring forward every Sunday
Because all I know is I'mgetting to God's house because I
got a word.
So let's pick up the story andremember last week we closed as
(08:45):
the children of Israel wereleaving Egypt it was the great
exodus and remember I told youthat as they were leaving Egypt,
that God had actually causedthe Egyptians to load down the
Israelites with gold and silverfrom their home.
(09:05):
And as I was thinking aboutthat today this week, as I was
preparing, I started to thinkabout the idea that so many
times we feel like we will comeout of our past broken and
hurting and less than and in badshape.
But the reality is God wantsyou to know as you come out of
your past, you can be loadeddown with blessings that will go
(09:28):
to the next generation.
I told you they gave theIsraelites so much gold and
silver that the kids had to helpcarry that gold and silver out
of Egypt.
And it's the blessing that wehave for generations that God
will bless us to the thousandthgeneration.
And so the blessings you'refeeling on your life right now
are not only for you, but theyare generational blessings for
(09:51):
your children and their childrenand their children and their
children and their children.
May the favor of God and theblessing of God rest upon you in
such a way that your childrenhave to carry that blessing.
Oh, some of you, students, someof you young people, some of
(10:13):
you young adults, you need toknow you're walking in the
blessing of generations beforeyou.
You can walk with yourshoulders lifted up and you can
walk with your head lifted upand you can walk confident,
because you're not walking injust some made up idea, You're
walking in a generationalblessing.
(10:34):
And so here we are, theIsraelites.
They are standing now at theRed Sea and we pick up the text
for today and it's prettyincredible what happens.
(10:55):
So God leads the children ofIsrael out of Egypt, they get to
the Red Sea, which is betweenthem and the promised land, just
like I'm between you and yourbrunch.
But God has some ways he wantsto work through you, that he has
(11:20):
to work through you.
So you're ready For what healready has ready for you.
So let's pick up the text,exodus 14.
Here they are now, before weshow that, evan, don't show that
yet they're at the Red Sea.
Before them is the promisedland, but Pharaoh, the Bible
(11:45):
says Pharaoh's heart was turnedagain with contempt and he
chased the Israelites to catchup with them.
And so they camped just a waysoff and here are the Israelites,
next to the Red Sea.
Behind them is Pharaoh and hisarmy, and this is what happened.
(12:08):
They start complaining Now.
You know what?
Last week, when I preached aboutthem coming out of Egypt, you
know, everybody loved Moses.
Moses, our pastor, led us outof Egypt.
He had a word man, we loveMoses.
Moses turned water into bloodand the Egyptians hated him.
(12:33):
Moses called down frogs.
Moses called down locusts.
Moses did the man.
Our pastor is one bad pastor.
We love Moses.
And then they get to the RedSea and they look at the Red Sea
(12:53):
before them and the enemybehind them and somebody says
man, I hate Moses.
What is this guy thinking?
And they start complainingbecause they're like did you
bring us out here?
Why don't you just leave us inEgypt?
We were fine working.
We were fine just doingwhatever they told us to do.
We didn't want this freedom.
(13:13):
This was your idea.
We hate you, moses.
And this is what Moses says.
So now we pick up the textExodus 14, 13.
And Moses said to the people donot be afraid, stand still.
Everybody say stand still,stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord, which hewill accomplish for you today,
(13:35):
for the Egyptians whom you seetoday.
You shall see again, no more,forever, no more, forever.
Keep reading and the Lord willfight for you and you shall hold
your peace.
And then the Lord said to Moseswhy are you crying to me?
Tell the children of Israel togo forward.
(14:01):
So here we are, sitting on theedge of impossibility.
In front of them is the Red Seaand beyond that is the Promised
Land, and behind them is theenemy and Pharaoh.
And here they are afraid,crying out to God.
(14:23):
And God has a word for themStand still and go forward.
That's the word.
Stand still and go forward.
Well, is it stand still, or isit go forward and go for?
(14:44):
Well, is it stand still or isit go for?
And I'm gonna tell you, this isnot the season for you, for what
God is doing on your way toyour best year.
Yet it doesn't matter whatSunday you showed up.
If this is number seven, maybefor you, if I'm counting right,
(15:06):
no, maybe more.
Let's see January one, two,three, four.
February one, two, three, four,march one, two, ten Ten Sundays
out of 52 to your best year yet.
And if this is number ten ornumber one, it's still on your
way to your best year yet.
And this is not the season tofreeze in fear, this is not the
(15:31):
season to stop and keep lookingback, but this is the season to
keep looking forward and knowthat God has a word for you and
you can step into the impossibleBecause God is with you and God
is for you, and the word of Godis clear you and God is for you
, and the word of God is clear.
If God is for you, then who canbe against you?
Nobody, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, nobody.
(16:00):
So here we go, look at thisdivine dichotomy in front of us,
stand still and move forward.
Well, god, which is it God?
Do you want me to stand stillor do you want me to move
forward?
Yes, yes, and that is thetension of our faith that we
(16:27):
trust God because everythingdepends on him, but we work hard
as if everything depends on us.
Put that up there, evan.
We trust God because everythingdepends on him.
We pray first becauseeverything depends on him, but
(16:48):
we work hard, because every, asif everything depends on us.
Because here's the problem.
You can trust God.
You know everything depends onhim, but that doesn't mean you
go back and lay on the couch andwait for it all to work out.
So the first thought I want toleave with you today is this you
(17:14):
can stand still, but don't getstuck.
Stand still, but don't getstuck.
Look at the scripture saysExodus 14, 13.
Moses said do not be afraid,stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord which hewill give you today.
Stand still.
(17:38):
You know what's interesting tome?
Because I think that when Godsays stand still, it's not
because he doesn't want you todo anything.
It's because he wants you towatch what is about to happen.
Stand still and change yourfocus.
Stand still doesn't mean donothing, but stand still means
(18:01):
correct your vision, turn yourfocus, because before you is the
promised land, behind you isPharaoh and his army and the
enemy against you.
And the question is where youput your focus?
And as long as you're alwayslooking back at your enemy, you
will take your eyes off thepromised land in front of you
(18:23):
and you will not make it.
You will take your eyes off thepromised land in front of you
and you will not make it.
Last night we were driving fromthe wedding.
Now, listen, sometimes thingsdon't work out the way you want
them to work out.
No-transcript.
(18:51):
It's not fair.
She's good and beautiful andshe's going to take over.
She's going to take over.
So this wedding was at a venueright next to an airport in
Houston called the Hobby HoustonAirport, and that's where
(19:12):
Southwest flies into for Houston, and we fly Southwest because
bags fly free and if you've evertraveled with Urshana, that'll
save you some money.
I'm just doing my work here,that's all.
Fly for free, roll those twobags, check them in.
I worked hard to get her downto two.
That's all I'm going to justtell you.
(19:33):
That's all I'm gonna just tellyou.
So, but the thing about Hobbyand Southwest Airlines is they
don't fly very late back toChicago.
In fact, the earliest flightwas about 6.30 or so, so that
meant she would have had to dothe wedding and leave right
after.
They said I do and basicallytry to find we couldn't do it.
We couldn't make it work, so wehad to go to the other airport,
(19:57):
37 miles away, to fly out, tobe home, so we could be in
service today with you, whichwe're thrilled to do, we're
happy to do it.
But we're driving the rental carand it's raining and traffic in
Houston is a nightmare.
I don't know how we lived therefor 13 years, because in five
days I want to kill somebody,and so the traffic is terrible.
(20:21):
Chicago you, we are blessedDon't ever complain about your
traffic.
So, all right, I got to speedup, anyway.
So we're driving and trafficcomes to a stop on the highway.
There's six lanes, however manylanes there are.
(20:42):
It's all stopped.
And I'm like, well, and I sawwhat they call the HOV express
lane and this is another wholehighway, like one lane highway
that goes off away and just goesaround.
So I took I'm like I'm takingthat and we're going a good
speed above the speed limit, tobe honest, but it was a good
speed Windshield wipers going,trying to get to the airport so
(21:07):
we don't miss our flight Becausewe can't miss our flight
because we got to be here.
So we're driving and I'mreading the signs of this and
it's trying like, and you knowhow GPS is telling me I should
they think I've made a mistaketo go over in this HOV lane.
So they keep.
They keep wanting me to exitthe HOV lane off through another
(21:28):
way and get back on the regularhighway.
And I'm like, no, this is good,we're going, we're cruising,
we're passing all the trafficand I'm just like and I
literally read a couple of signsrealized where I want to be
right here in the middle of thislane.
And so I'm in the middle of thelane and I make sure the exit
is not what I want.
(21:48):
And I look back.
Well, when I look back, the HOVlane split into two lanes and
one lane said HOV express andthe lane said HOV Express and
the other said I don't even know.
I don't even know what it saidBecause I was going so fast I
missed it.
But what I didn't miss Were allthe little things Right in
front of me, the little plasticreflectors that separate two
(22:11):
lanes.
And before I saw it, I lookedup, I said uh-oh, and it just
went like this and I just can't.
And then it went back to onelane, same lane, but for some
reason, for that little bitabout 30 foot of space, it split
into two lanes and because Iwasn't looking forward to where
(22:34):
I should have been going, I ranright through the middle of
those reflectors.
And that's what happens to youif you are not keeping your eye
fixed on Jesus, fixed on thepromise that you will run into
stuff you didn't mean to runinto Because you're looking back
or you're looking to the side.
I'm telling you, when you'restanding at the precipice from
the promise to the destiny, keepyour eyes fixed on Jesus.
(22:58):
So stand still, but don't getstuck.
And my question is for thiswhat are you looking at?
Your Pharaoh or your promise?
(23:18):
The second thing I want to tellyou is this Stop crying and
start charging forward.
Look at this passage ofscripture in verse 14.
God says do not Moses.
(23:39):
Moses says do not be afraid.
In the next passage, verse 15,god says why do you cry to me?
Tell the children of Israel togo forward.
Why are you crying to me?
It's like God is saying Ialready promised you I would
(24:02):
take you to the promised land.
I already promised you you werenot going to be destroyed by
Pharaoh's armies.
I've already promised you.
I've got it under control.
I've already promised you myplans are for hope and for a
future for you.
I've made the promise.
Why are you crying?
Start going forward.
(24:22):
We get to a difficult situationand we need to be pacified.
We need to be prepped all overagain.
We need to post itpped all overagain.
We need to post it on Instagramso somebody will tell us we're
good and we're beautiful andwe're famous and we're lovely
and we're amazing.
(24:43):
No, god already gave you thepromise.
Stop crying and start movingforward.
At some point you've got to wipethe tears away, square up your
shoulders and just take a stepforward, because I can tell you
(25:12):
this you will never take a firststep in the promised land until
you take your first step towardthe promised land.
You want to get to the promisedland.
You're going to have to take astep now, and after that,
another one and another oneabout 40,000 steps to finish a
marathon, and you don't finish amarathon at the finish line
(25:32):
until you put your toe on thatstarting line and take that
first step.
And that's what God's tellingyou.
Stop crying on at the finishline.
Until you put your toe on thatstarting line and take that
first step, and that's whatGod's telling you.
Stop crying.
I've given you the promisesthat are yes and amen, through
Jesus Christ, my son.
It's been accomplished, it'sbeen paid for, it's been set up.
It's on the other side of theobedience of your first step.
(25:54):
Other side is the obedience ofyour first step.
So stand still but don't getstuck.
Stop crying and start chargingforward.
And finally, the last one Lookat this passage in chapter 16,
or verse 16, chapter 14.
But lift up.
Look at, this is what God saysto Moses.
(26:15):
Lift up your rod, your staff,stretch it out over the hand,
over the sea, and divide it, andthe children of Israel will go
on dry ground through the midstof the sea.
I'm going to promise you thatmost of us are in a position in
(26:38):
our life where we're waiting forGod to give us the next new
resource to get where we want togo in his name.
And he's standing here sayinglisten, I've already given it to
you, just use it.
The staff that Moses used toshepherd those sheep is the same
(26:58):
staff he raised up over thatsea to part the waters.
What was the staff of ashepherd became the symbol of
freedom for a nation, and all hehad to do was use what was in
(27:18):
his hand.
Became the symbol of freedomfor a nation, and all he had to
do was use what was in his hand.
And God has given you the toolsto the victories of your life.
Already you have the resourcesyou need If you have the word of
God.
You already have it.
You need a sword you've got asword.
You need more bread.
(27:42):
You've got the food.
You need the courage.
You've got.
You've got the word of God onyour side.
The joy of the Lord is yourstrength.
Whatever you need, god hasalready given it to you and I'm
just going to tell you, ifyou'll just use what you've
already got, god will resourceyou with whatever else you need.
The reason why I'm so excitedabout this is because what
(28:20):
you've been using for onesituation, god has the capacity
to expand its purpose for thenext situation.
But you've got to recognize youalready have it.
It's just like my opening story.
The check was there, it coveredthe balance, it was going to
(28:43):
more than take care of what Ineeded, but I was sitting in
fear wondering how I was goingto pay this and God says I've
already given it to you.
Go, cash the check.
Come on, sean, let's close thisout today.
So I'm just asking you, church,what is in your hand?
(29:07):
Is it a skill, is it a calling?
Is it a vision?
Is it a heartbeat for a invite.
Those people around you,whatever it is, whatever is in
(29:31):
your hand, stop underestimatingwhat God has already given you.
You have enough.
You have enough.
Tell your neighbor you haveenough.
Come on, build the faith of oneanother.
You've already got it.
Do we have time for one more?
(29:56):
Let me just tell you.
Here we are at the Red Sea.
Moses has raised the staff.
The children of Israel chargeforward on dry ground.
Notice this the hand of God isholding back the water on one
(30:17):
side and holding still the wateron the other side, and they
walk through on dry ground.
In what looked like Israel'sgreatest problem, became their
greatest asset.
What they thought was the endof their journey, what they
(30:41):
thought was going to be the endof them becoming a nation of
God's people, actually becamethe burial ground for the enemy
chasing them.
And I'm just telling you, church, if you'll stand up, stand
(31:02):
still and watch what God will do, but don't get stuck, and if
you'll wipe away the tears andcharge forward in obedience to
where God's calling you, andyou'll realize what's in your
hand is enough to bring thevictory into your life.
If you'll do all of that, thevery space that God is leading
(31:23):
you through will be the end ofthe enemy chasing you.
But the enemy won't go intothat territory until you make it
through it Because, listen, thewho is like our God, who is
(31:51):
like our God that God would usedry ground for us to walk
through in obedience and buryour enemy behind us.
You're worried about the enemychasing you.
Don't look back.
(32:11):
Keep looking forward.
Don't worry about who's behindyou.
Focus on who's leading youforward, because what has been
(32:43):
chasing you won't survive.
What God has planned for you.
Come on.
Can you receive that word today?
The year was 2007, and we were actually living in
Houston.
The twins arrived in July of2007, and we didn't really know
what to call them, so we calledthem, shock and Awe.
We were actually trying for ababy girl.
So we told all of our familyand friends we're not having a
(00:25):
boy and they were like, woo,finally getting a girl.
I was like, no, we're havingtwo boys, woo.
So the boys arrived in July andwe realized the house we were
(00:46):
living in was far too small towelcome twins, because when you
have twins, you get rid of oneof everything that you already
have.
We had boys already, two boys,ethan and Elliot and so we
didn't like you know, whateverwe use for Ethan is what we use
for Elliot.
So we didn't like you know,whatever we use for Ethan is
(01:07):
what we use for Elliot Same crib, same clothes, same I mean same
everything.
But when the twins arrived, wegot rid of the one of everything
and got two of everything,because now the two have to
match.
And then you got to go tostores that only sell blue and
green, so you got to buy a blueshirt and a green shirt, a blue
blanket and a green blanket, ablue pacifier and a green
(01:30):
pacifier.
This is too much detail forthis story, but I'm just setting
you up that it was a lot, canyou just agree with me?
It was a lot.
So we moved to a new house andclosed on this house and
beautiful house, dream house,backed up to the school that
Ethan and Elliot would go to.
And Elliot was startedkindergarten and Ethan, I don't
(01:55):
even know he was in some kind ofgrade, but the house backyard
had a fence that backed right upto the school.
So we moved in on a Tuesdaynight and on Tuesday night I
went in and cut that, cut a gateright into that fence, so I
could just open the back doorand the boys could walk through
that gate to school, cause Iknew, with twins, we might never
(02:15):
leave this house again.
So but we could send the boysto school.
So that was Tuesday, well asthe year, as the rest of the
year went in 2007, you know, uh,the taxes were due and those
taxes become due on the 31st ofDecember, and so we had the tax
bill looking at us for what wewould owe for that year and, um,
and I remember being, Iremember looking at what our
(02:38):
account said and looking whatthe tax bill said and I was just
like, well, that doesn't, itdoesn't match and it's it's
negative on the wrong side ofthe ledger.
You know what I'm talking about.
It's like we're a little shortand and you know how, sometimes
you get a voicemail to yourphone and you don't recognize
the number, so you don't checkit.
(02:59):
Don't lie, on spring forwardsunday, so there was this
message that had been sitting inmy voicemail box, that had been
there for, I'll just say, a fewweeks, maybe longer.
I thought what is this numberand what is this voicemail?
(03:20):
And it was before 2007.
There wasn't visual voicemail.
And it was before 2007,.
There wasn't visual voicemailwhere now you could read what
they leave you.
By the way, if you leave amessage, you don't have to tell
the number you're calling from,because it already shows up.
Furthermore, if you're saying,if you're saying in your message
(03:44):
, when your voicemail answers,you don't have to say leave your
name and number.
Think about it, just a littlepublic service announcement.
So I check this voicemail andI'm like it's like the 30th and
(04:06):
this bill is due tomorrow andI'm like we're just going to
have to pay it forward.
I don't know what we're goingto do, we're just going to have
to pray.
But something just prompted meto say you need to check that
voicemail.
And I said, well, I shouldcheck this voicemail.
And I did and it was our titlecompany.
And they said Mr Colgrove, wehope you're doing okay today.
(04:28):
And then they gave me the date,which was not December 30th and
was not November 30th.
It was October 30th, just a fewdays after we had moved in.
But I never checked thevoicemail and they said we have
a check with your name on itbecause your escrow account was
overpaid and we have such andsuch amount in this check for
(04:49):
you, which more than covered thegap we had in our taxes.
But check this out.
That message was left twomonths earlier but I didn't
check it.
I didn't check the message andI never went to the mortgage
company.
So I showed up on the 30th theywere about to close for the rest
of the year and I walked in.
(05:09):
I said you know this is funny.
You left me a voicemail a whileback and maybe there's a check
here with my name on it, anenvelope maybe and she was like.
She came back.
She said you can't believe this.
We're about to send this backto your mortgage company, from
the title company to themortgage company.
If you didn't show up today,we're going to drop it in the
mail today and I said well,thank you, jesus.
And it's the year I learnedsomething that you might be
(05:35):
looking for, you might alreadyhave access to hey, why don't
you just turn to your neighborand say we're about to prime the
promise and to the one sittingnext to you, just let them know.
(05:56):
Listen, I might get loud up inhere today.
Today we close out this seriesthat we've been in called Prime
the Promise.
And can I just say, what aboutlast week?
Listen, if you missed it, youmissed it Because we closed the
(06:20):
service and dismissed those whohad to go.
In our team and many of youstayed for about 45 minutes,
almost an hour, worshiping God'smoving.
I heard of miracles that werehappening at Monastery on
Wednesday night healings, signsand wonders in the house.
Come on, marriage is restored,Wayward son's coming home,
(06:44):
prayers being answered.
What a week.
And that's just going to be thenormal.
Can I just tell you we're notgoing to say we're going to stay
until 12 every single Sunday,but listen, if the Holy Spirit
starts moving, we're going toget out of the way.
So we've been leaning in to thisstory of Moses and we know that
(07:08):
Moses was a man of destiny, ason of destiny, and and we know
that that there was, there was acall on his life and and I just
want to, I want to tell, likethe reality is, destiny is a
picture of what could be in yourlife, but the promise is the
(07:34):
word for what will be in yourlife.
So destiny is what God hasplanned for you, but that
destiny is going to be tied intoyour obedience and your
willingness to keep movingforward.
But when you get a promise, youcan rest assured that promise
is the word for what will be.
We used to say to students,when I was a youth pastor, that
(07:59):
destiny delayed is the devil'sdelight and it was really just
the prompting of like you got towork your way to that destiny
and that destiny.
As soon as you get a promise,it doesn't matter what's going
on around you.
You got to promise, you got aword, and so we've been leaning
into this story of Moses and I'mgoing to tell you what if you
(08:22):
get a word, you don't need muchelse.
You don't need the weather tobe nice.
If you got a word, you couldspring forward every Sunday
Because all I know is I'mgetting to God's house because I
got a word.
So let's pick up the story andremember last week we closed as
(08:45):
the children of Israel wereleaving Egypt it was the great
exodus and remember I told youthat as they were leaving Egypt,
that God had actually causedthe Egyptians to load down the
Israelites with gold and silverfrom their home.
(09:05):
And as I was thinking aboutthat today this week, as I was
preparing, I started to thinkabout the idea that so many
times we feel like we will comeout of our past broken and
hurting and less than and in badshape.
But the reality is God wantsyou to know as you come out of
your past, you can be loadeddown with blessings that will go
(09:28):
to the next generation.
I told you they gave theIsraelites so much gold and
silver that the kids had to helpcarry that gold and silver out
of Egypt.
And it's the blessing that wehave for generations that God
will bless us to the thousandthgeneration.
And so the blessings you'refeeling on your life right now
are not only for you, but theyare generational blessings for
(09:51):
your children and their childrenand their children and their
children and their children.
May the favor of God and theblessing of God rest upon you in
such a way that your childrenhave to carry that blessing.
Oh, some of you, students, someof you young people, some of
(10:13):
you young adults, you need toknow you're walking in the
blessing of generations beforeyou.
You can walk with yourshoulders lifted up and you can
walk with your head lifted upand you can walk confident,
because you're not walking injust some made up idea, You're
walking in a generationalblessing.
(10:34):
And so here we are, theIsraelites.
They are standing now at theRed Sea and we pick up the text
for today and it's prettyincredible what happens.
(10:55):
So God leads the children ofIsrael out of Egypt, they get to
the Red Sea, which is betweenthem and the promised land, just
like I'm between you and yourbrunch.
But God has some ways he wantsto work through you, that he has
(11:20):
to work through you.
So you're ready For what healready has ready for you.
So let's pick up the text,exodus 14.
Here they are now, before weshow that, evan, don't show that
yet they're at the Red Sea.
Before them is the promisedland, but Pharaoh, the Bible
(11:45):
says Pharaoh's heart was turnedagain with contempt and he
chased the Israelites to catchup with them.
And so they camped just a waysoff and here are the Israelites,
next to the Red Sea.
Behind them is Pharaoh and hisarmy, and this is what happened.
(12:08):
They start complaining Now.
You know what?
Last week, when I preached aboutthem coming out of Egypt, you
know, everybody loved Moses.
Moses, our pastor, led us outof Egypt.
He had a word man, we loveMoses.
Moses turned water into bloodand the Egyptians hated him.
(12:33):
Moses called down frogs.
Moses called down locusts.
Moses did the man.
Our pastor is one bad pastor.
We love Moses.
And then they get to the RedSea and they look at the Red Sea
(12:53):
before them and the enemybehind them and somebody says
man, I hate Moses.
What is this guy thinking?
And they start complainingbecause they're like did you
bring us out here?
Why don't you just leave us inEgypt?
We were fine working.
We were fine just doingwhatever they told us to do.
We didn't want this freedom.
(13:13):
This was your idea.
We hate you, moses.
And this is what Moses says.
So now we pick up the textExodus 14, 13.
And Moses said to the people donot be afraid, stand still.
Everybody say stand still,stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord, which hewill accomplish for you today,
(13:35):
for the Egyptians whom you seetoday.
You shall see again, no more,forever, no more, forever.
Keep reading and the Lord willfight for you and you shall hold
your peace.
And then the Lord said to Moseswhy are you crying to me?
Tell the children of Israel togo forward.
(14:01):
So here we are, sitting on theedge of impossibility.
In front of them is the Red Seaand beyond that is the Promised
Land, and behind them is theenemy and Pharaoh.
And here they are afraid,crying out to God.
(14:23):
And God has a word for themStand still and go forward.
That's the word.
Stand still and go forward.
Well, is it stand still, or isit go forward and go for?
(14:44):
Well, is it stand still or isit go for?
And I'm gonna tell you, this isnot the season for you, for what
God is doing on your way toyour best year.
Yet it doesn't matter whatSunday you showed up.
If this is number seven, maybefor you, if I'm counting right,
(15:06):
no, maybe more.
Let's see January one, two,three, four.
February one, two, three, four,march one, two, ten Ten Sundays
out of 52 to your best year yet.
And if this is number ten ornumber one, it's still on your
way to your best year yet.
And this is not the season tofreeze in fear, this is not the
(15:31):
season to stop and keep lookingback, but this is the season to
keep looking forward and knowthat God has a word for you and
you can step into the impossibleBecause God is with you and God
is for you, and the word of Godis clear you and God is for you
, and the word of God is clear.
If God is for you, then who canbe against you?
Nobody, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, nobody.
(16:00):
So here we go, look at thisdivine dichotomy in front of us,
stand still and move forward.
Well, god, which is it God?
Do you want me to stand stillor do you want me to move
forward?
Yes, yes, and that is thetension of our faith that we
(16:27):
trust God because everythingdepends on him, but we work hard
as if everything depends on us.
Put that up there, evan.
We trust God because everythingdepends on him.
We pray first becauseeverything depends on him, but
(16:48):
we work hard, because every, asif everything depends on us.
Because here's the problem.
You can trust God.
You know everything depends onhim, but that doesn't mean you
go back and lay on the couch andwait for it all to work out.
So the first thought I want toleave with you today is this you
(17:14):
can stand still, but don't getstuck.
Stand still, but don't getstuck.
Look at the scripture saysExodus 14, 13.
Moses said do not be afraid,stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord which hewill give you today.
Stand still.
(17:38):
You know what's interesting tome?
Because I think that when Godsays stand still, it's not
because he doesn't want you todo anything.
It's because he wants you towatch what is about to happen.
Stand still and change yourfocus.
Stand still doesn't mean donothing, but stand still means
(18:01):
correct your vision, turn yourfocus, because before you is the
promised land, behind you isPharaoh and his army and the
enemy against you.
And the question is where youput your focus?
And as long as you're alwayslooking back at your enemy, you
will take your eyes off thepromised land in front of you
(18:23):
and you will not make it.
You will take your eyes off thepromised land in front of you
and you will not make it.
Last night we were driving fromthe wedding.
Now, listen, sometimes thingsdon't work out the way you want
them to work out.
No-transcript.
(18:51):
It's not fair.
She's good and beautiful andshe's going to take over.
She's going to take over.
So this wedding was at a venueright next to an airport in
Houston called the Hobby HoustonAirport, and that's where
(19:12):
Southwest flies into for Houston, and we fly Southwest because
bags fly free and if you've evertraveled with Urshana, that'll
save you some money.
I'm just doing my work here,that's all.
Fly for free, roll those twobags, check them in.
I worked hard to get her downto two.
That's all I'm going to justtell you.
(19:33):
That's all I'm gonna just tellyou.
So, but the thing about Hobbyand Southwest Airlines is they
don't fly very late back toChicago.
In fact, the earliest flightwas about 6.30 or so, so that
meant she would have had to dothe wedding and leave right
after.
They said I do and basicallytry to find we couldn't do it.
We couldn't make it work, so wehad to go to the other airport,
(19:57):
37 miles away, to fly out, tobe home, so we could be in
service today with you, whichwe're thrilled to do, we're
happy to do it.
But we're driving the rental carand it's raining and traffic in
Houston is a nightmare.
I don't know how we lived therefor 13 years, because in five
days I want to kill somebody,and so the traffic is terrible.
(20:21):
Chicago you, we are blessedDon't ever complain about your
traffic.
So, all right, I got to speedup, anyway.
So we're driving and trafficcomes to a stop on the highway.
There's six lanes, however manylanes there are.
(20:42):
It's all stopped.
And I'm like, well, and I sawwhat they call the HOV express
lane and this is another wholehighway, like one lane highway
that goes off away and just goesaround.
So I took I'm like I'm takingthat and we're going a good
speed above the speed limit, tobe honest, but it was a good
speed Windshield wipers going,trying to get to the airport so
(21:07):
we don't miss our flight Becausewe can't miss our flight
because we got to be here.
So we're driving and I'mreading the signs of this and
it's trying like, and you knowhow GPS is telling me I should
they think I've made a mistaketo go over in this HOV lane.
So they keep.
They keep wanting me to exitthe HOV lane off through another
(21:28):
way and get back on the regularhighway.
And I'm like, no, this is good,we're going, we're cruising,
we're passing all the trafficand I'm just like and I
literally read a couple of signsrealized where I want to be
right here in the middle of thislane.
And so I'm in the middle of thelane and I make sure the exit
is not what I want.
(21:48):
And I look back.
Well, when I look back, the HOVlane split into two lanes and
one lane said HOV express andthe lane said HOV Express and
the other said I don't even know.
I don't even know what it saidBecause I was going so fast I
missed it.
But what I didn't miss Were allthe little things Right in
front of me, the little plasticreflectors that separate two
(22:11):
lanes.
And before I saw it, I lookedup, I said uh-oh, and it just
went like this and I just can't.
And then it went back to onelane, same lane, but for some
reason, for that little bitabout 30 foot of space, it split
into two lanes and because Iwasn't looking forward to where
(22:34):
I should have been going, I ranright through the middle of
those reflectors.
And that's what happens to youif you are not keeping your eye
fixed on Jesus, fixed on thepromise that you will run into
stuff you didn't mean to runinto Because you're looking back
or you're looking to the side.
I'm telling you, when you'restanding at the precipice from
the promise to the destiny, keepyour eyes fixed on Jesus.
(22:58):
So stand still, but don't getstuck.
And my question is for thiswhat are you looking at?
Your Pharaoh or your promise?
(23:18):
The second thing I want to tellyou is this Stop crying and
start charging forward.
Look at this passage ofscripture in verse 14.
God says do not Moses.
(23:39):
Moses says do not be afraid.
In the next passage, verse 15,god says why do you cry to me?
Tell the children of Israel togo forward.
Why are you crying to me?
It's like God is saying Ialready promised you I would
(24:02):
take you to the promised land.
I already promised you you werenot going to be destroyed by
Pharaoh's armies.
I've already promised you.
I've got it under control.
I've already promised you myplans are for hope and for a
future for you.
I've made the promise.
Why are you crying?
Start going forward.
(24:22):
We get to a difficult situationand we need to be pacified.
We need to be prepped all overagain.
We need to post itpped all overagain.
We need to post it on Instagramso somebody will tell us we're
good and we're beautiful andwe're famous and we're lovely
and we're amazing.
(24:43):
No, god already gave you thepromise.
Stop crying and start movingforward.
At some point you've got to wipethe tears away, square up your
shoulders and just take a stepforward, because I can tell you
(25:12):
this you will never take a firststep in the promised land until
you take your first step towardthe promised land.
You want to get to the promisedland.
You're going to have to take astep now, and after that,
another one and another oneabout 40,000 steps to finish a
marathon, and you don't finish amarathon at the finish line
(25:32):
until you put your toe on thatstarting line and take that
first step.
And that's what God's tellingyou.
Stop crying on at the finishline.
Until you put your toe on thatstarting line and take that
first step, and that's whatGod's telling you.
Stop crying.
I've given you the promisesthat are yes and amen, through
Jesus Christ, my son.
It's been accomplished, it'sbeen paid for, it's been set up.
It's on the other side of theobedience of your first step.
(25:54):
Other side is the obedience ofyour first step.
So stand still but don't getstuck.
Stop crying and start chargingforward.
And finally, the last one Lookat this passage in chapter 16,
or verse 16, chapter 14.
But lift up.
Look at, this is what God saysto Moses.
(26:15):
Lift up your rod, your staff,stretch it out over the hand,
over the sea, and divide it, andthe children of Israel will go
on dry ground through the midstof the sea.
I'm going to promise you thatmost of us are in a position in
(26:38):
our life where we're waiting forGod to give us the next new
resource to get where we want togo in his name.
And he's standing here sayinglisten, I've already given it to
you, just use it.
The staff that Moses used toshepherd those sheep is the same
(26:58):
staff he raised up over thatsea to part the waters.
What was the staff of ashepherd became the symbol of
freedom for a nation, and all hehad to do was use what was in
(27:18):
his hand.
Became the symbol of freedomfor a nation, and all he had to
do was use what was in his hand.
And God has given you the toolsto the victories of your life.
Already you have the resourcesyou need If you have the word of
God.
You already have it.
You need a sword you've got asword.
You need more bread.
(27:42):
You've got the food.
You need the courage.
You've got.
You've got the word of God onyour side.
The joy of the Lord is yourstrength.
Whatever you need, god hasalready given it to you and I'm
just going to tell you, ifyou'll just use what you've
already got, god will resourceyou with whatever else you need.
The reason why I'm so excitedabout this is because what
(28:20):
you've been using for onesituation, god has the capacity
to expand its purpose for thenext situation.
But you've got to recognize youalready have it.
It's just like my opening story.
The check was there, it coveredthe balance, it was going to
(28:43):
more than take care of what Ineeded, but I was sitting in
fear wondering how I was goingto pay this and God says I've
already given it to you.
Go, cash the check.
Come on, sean, let's close thisout today.
So I'm just asking you, church,what is in your hand?
(29:07):
Is it a skill, is it a calling?
Is it a vision?
Is it a heartbeat for a invite.
Those people around you,whatever it is, whatever is in
(29:31):
your hand, stop underestimatingwhat God has already given you.
You have enough.
You have enough.
Tell your neighbor you haveenough.
Come on, build the faith of oneanother.
You've already got it.
Do we have time for one more?
(29:56):
Let me just tell you.
Here we are at the Red Sea.
Moses has raised the staff.
The children of Israel chargeforward on dry ground.
Notice this the hand of God isholding back the water on one
(30:17):
side and holding still the wateron the other side, and they
walk through on dry ground.
In what looked like Israel'sgreatest problem, became their
greatest asset.
What they thought was the endof their journey, what they
(30:41):
thought was going to be the endof them becoming a nation of
God's people, actually becamethe burial ground for the enemy
chasing them.
And I'm just telling you, church, if you'll stand up, stand
(31:02):
still and watch what God will do, but don't get stuck, and if
you'll wipe away the tears andcharge forward in obedience to
where God's calling you, andyou'll realize what's in your
hand is enough to bring thevictory into your life.
If you'll do all of that, thevery space that God is leading
(31:23):
you through will be the end ofthe enemy chasing you.
But the enemy won't go intothat territory until you make it
through it Because, listen, thewho is like our God, who is
(31:51):
like our God that God would usedry ground for us to walk
through in obedience and buryour enemy behind us.
You're worried about the enemychasing you.
Don't look back.
(32:11):
Keep looking forward.
Don't worry about who's behindyou.
Focus on who's leading youforward, because what has been
(32:43):
chasing you won't survive.
What God has planned for you.
Come on.
Can you receive that word today?
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