From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “When the WATER Moves”
Sunday morning I preached from the fourteenth chapter of Exodus. The initial focus
of the message was to look at the many times when miracles, signs, or wonders happened
at places where water moved. There was the man at the pool of Bethesda, the blind man at
the pool of Siloam, and Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan river, just to name a few.
The first time we hear about water moving in a mighty way was on the costal shores
of Egypt where the Children of Israel stood despondent, discouraged, dispirited, and
disillusioned about their current dilemma. It was here that the Children of Israel found
themselves in a metaphorical quandary of being caught between a Rock and a Hardplace.
Before them lied an impassable body of water for which they had no logical means
to cross, and behind them was an unshakable enemy who had dismissed all logical
reasoning to end their vicious pursuit.
The Israelites knew that living as slaves under the demonstrative control and
bondage of the Egyptians was no life at all; yet they still reasoned that it was better than
what they were facing. Their fear pushed them to argue that Moses obviously didn’t have
any good sense, because if he did, he would have just left them alone in their servitude to
die in Egypt. This was their conclusion and summation of the problem at hand. Somehow
to them, at the time, this made since. Since they had no way and no means to cross over
the water before them, why not take their chances and just go BACK to what and who they
were before.
You see that’s one of the greatest tricks of the enemy, if somehow he can’t bring you
down, you best believe he’ll do everything he can to make you go back. They wanted to
go back, but sometimes in life, a logical approach to an illogical situation is futile, even if
given the most heartfelt and intentional consideration. Moses shared their discontent with
God, but God said, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward.
It’s here we see how God trusted Moses’ obedience so much so that He positioned
as a cloud behind the children of Israel and in front of the army of Egypt. The cloud was to
block Egypt’s ability to see what God was doing for His chosen children. Moses knew that
the Lord had not failed him thus far and whenever he truly followed his will, great and
miraculous things would happen. Moses lifted his staff high in the air and stretched his
hand forward toward the sea. When he did, the sea obeyed the power of God through
Moses and began to divide. It became a wall to protect them as they crossed over on dry
ground to the other side. As we mature in God and follow His heart, He will work in our
favor and bless us beyond our wildest imagination. The moving of the water signified that
power belongs to those who fully trust Him! Get ready…the Water is about to MOVE!
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)