Alright we're there in Exodus chapter 14. Before we can start this evening keep your place in Exodus 14 We're going to be there throughout the sermon, but turn your Bibles a couple of pages back to Exodus 12 Just to get a little bit of the context of where we're at here Exodus chapter 12 verse 29 the context of where we're at in Exodus 12 is God has just done We're looking at the time of the 10 plagues and this right now is the final plague God has done all these plagues through Moses and Fair will not let the people go fair will not let them go He'll change his mind he'll let them go and then it'll change his mind and finally God tells Moses You know what that's it I'm going to do one more and here we have the 10th plague in the it which is the death of the firstborn where Everybody who did not follow God's instructions for the Passover had their firstborn died the firstborn of every animal And of everyone who did not follow God's instructions Exodus 12 verse 29 The Bible says and it came to pass that a midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt From the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive That was in the dungeon and all in all the firstborn of cattle and Pharaoh rose up in the night He and all his servants in the Egyptians and there was a great cry in Egypt for there was not a house Or there was not one dead and he called through Moses and Aaron by night and said rise up and get you forth from among my People both he and the children of Israel and go serve the Lord as he have said also take your flocks in your herds As he have said and be gone and bless me also in the Egyptians were urging upon the people that they might send them out of The land in haste for they said we be all dead men skip down to verse 37 and the children of Israel journeyed from Ramses to Saketh about 600,000 on foot that were men beside children so just men was 600,000 alone excluding women and children verse 38 and a mixed multitude went up also with them and flocks and herds Even very much cattle. So finally after 430 years in Egypt the Hebrews are free.  We'll start in verse number 5 exodus 14 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people and They said why have we done this that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot and took his people with him and he took 600 chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and kept in over every one of them So he every single chariot that is in the land of Egypt he takes to go pursue After the Hebrews and on top of that 600 special chariots And we see why this happened verse 8 and the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued after the children of Israel And the children of Israel went out with an high hand But the Egyptians pursued after them all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army and overtook them in camping by the sea Beside Pahai Arath before Bel Zephan and when Pharaoh drew night the children of Israel lifted up their eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them and noticed this and they were so afraid and The children of Israel cried out unto the Lord so they leave Egypt and I'm sure I think of this I'm sure it was a spirit much of like when someone gets saved how you're finally free from bondage and you're starting something new and They look and Pharaoh is coming after them and a very large number of people I would imagine the title of sermon this evening is the light the darkness in the God in between I'd like to just give you three statements or three lessons. We can learn From this story in Exodus Chapter 14 so first tonight don't let pressure from the world make you regret separating from it Let's keep reading in verse number 11 And they said unto Moses because there were no graves in Egypt has now taken us away to die in the wilderness Wherefore how so the dealt us with us to carry us forth out of Egypt Is this not the word that we did tell the in Egypt saying let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians and don't miss Their response here and keep in mind. These are people who have seen God Performing miracles that the world had not seen God performing miracles and plagues upon Egypt that no one had ever seen before verse 12 it says Notice what their response is for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians Then that we should die in the wilderness So not only are they just afraid and scared which can happen to any of us But they actually regret even leaving Egypt to begin with Their first hardship in their journey occurs and they instantly regret their decision turn to Psalm 42 Psalm 42 If you're familiar with a lot of the major prophets or even the minor prophets in the Bible Egypt is often a picture of the world. It's a picture of the unsaved world the word the world without God And like I said the first lesson tonight is don't let pressure from the world make your regret separating from it That's exactly what the Hebrews did here. They're in Psalm 42. Let's keep start reading in verse 3 The Bible says this my tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me Where is thy God verse 5? Why are thou cast down on my soul and why are thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance So the author here is obviously being pressured by the world Obviously, there's people around him or mocking him saying where is thy God and the response is not regret the response is not I shouldn't have separated. I should have been so different from the world the responses I shall yet praise him and this hope and this faith that continues You're there in Psalm 42. Just flip a couple pages over to Psalm 44 Psalm 44 We'll start reading in verse number 10 Psalm 44 10 They'll make us us to turn back from the enemy and they which hate us spoil for themselves That was given us like sheep appointed for meat and a scattered us among the heathen They'll sell us like people for not and just not increase by wealth by their price So the theme of this Psalm here is someone being attacked by the world and pressured by the world And we're notice the response here. We'll keep reading verse 13 I'll make us to reproach our neighbors a scorned in the derision of them that are on about us They'll make us a sub iward among the heathen a shaking of the head among the people Look at verse 16 for the voice of him that reproach of and blaspheme if by reason of the enemy and avengers So there's obviously a lot of haters of God a lot of people from the world that are Pressuring whoever is writing this Psalm and it's being reproached by these people But notice the response from the author here verse 17 all this is Come upon us yet. Have we not forgotten thee now? There have we dealt falsely in the covenant and here we have verse 18 verse 18 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible says our Heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from my way and especially as Christians in a church like this and a church that believes in separation and separating from the world and being different Hard times and persecution. They're going to come whether it's from on say family or people you work with or just people around you The more separated you are and the more you are doing for God the more pressure and attacks that will come from the world Turn the first Samuel 14 Well returning in the first time before teen I want to read to you 2nd Timothy 4 16 Where the Apostle Paul is kind of towards the end of his life Just recapping his life a little bit and talking about different people and those who did him right and those who did him wrong And he says at my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge not withstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me That by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of a lion And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me into his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory forever and ever Amen, I think if there's anyone who spent their whole life being attacked by the world viciously It was the Apostle Paul his whole life from the moment he gets saved to the end of his life People are coming after him and trying to kill him and trying to stop what he's trying to do and yet he doesn't regret it He's not at the end of his life Regretting all the the attacks that he spent his life going through he's at the end of his life here And he says but you know what God stood with me and God strengthened me Even though he doesn't know he talks about even in the future. He says in the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work He says I don't know how it's gonna end up I don't know what's gonna happen, but God has been strengthening me and he will strengthen me And he says it will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. So he's saying even if that just means I get to go to heaven God is taking care of me through this. There's no regret from the Apostle Paul here We learned first hand before teen for say a time We won't read the whole story, but the context is Saul is king right now and Israel is at war with the Philsteines and to make matters worse They are greatly outnumbered. It's a giant army. They're facing and to make matters even worse Nobody has a sword here. They're going up against this great multitude of people They're extremely outnumbered and no one except for Saul and his son Jonathan has a sword and Everybody is hiding as well. So it's a pretty bad situation first day. I'm in 14. We'll start reading in verse 1 Says now came to pass on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said into the young man The bear his armor come and let us go over to the Philsteines garrison that is on the other side But he told not his father skip down to verse 6 Verse 6 and Jonathan said to the young man the bear his armor come and let us go over into the garrison of These I'm circumcised it may be that the Lord will work for us for in notice what he says here for there is no Restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few and as our bear said unto him do all that is in line heart Turnly behold I'm with the according to line heart So even in a time where they're greatly outnumbered the chances are greatly against them and everybody is hiding by the way So it's not even like he's going up against this these Philsteines And he has a bunch of people behind him supporting him He's the only one besides this young man who's his own bear He is all alone in this and yet he has unfultured faith He still says here it may be and I love that phrase because he's he's not playing God It's in claiming what God's will is he say if God wants to if it's God's will he is able to deliver us out of this and I think about this a lot when Jesus will talk would talk about praying and he says when you when you pray Believe that you have those things you pray for I don't necessarily that mean think that means we need to play God and just figure out what God's will is I think that's just talking about having the faith to know that whatever God's will is He is a hundred percent able to do that and that's what Jonathan is saying here He's saying if God wants to if it's God's will there is no restraint for him to do this And of course we know what ends up happening. They go and and God saves Israel because of Jonathan and his faith Turn to Revelation 2 Revelation chapter 2 not only does Jonathan not regret His position in separating from the world, but he knows that God is able to deliver him you're there in Revelation 2 We're talking here in Revelation 2. This is Jesus Christ talking to the seven churches of Asia and telling them things He likes about them things. He doesn't like things. He wants them to change First number one Revelation 2 1 says this Into the angel of the church of Ephesus writes these things say he that hold it the seven stars In his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience and though Can'ts not bear them which are evil and has tried them would say they are apostles and are not and has found them liars And notice verse 3 here and has born and has patience and for my name's sake has labored and Has not fainted here He's acknowledging that the church of Ephesus is laboring a lot and they're they're going through a lot and they're they're having to bear a Lot, but he he commends them for not fainting for sticking through it Even with the pressure that comes I mean what a God that Jesus could say this about this church That even if in the future we go through hard things or we're maybe going through persecution or trials Would a God that Jesus could say you know so-and-so Baptist Church Verity Baptist Church and Fresno They're going through a lot and they're having to bear a lot and deal with a lot But they have not fainted even a small bit and not only as a church But would a God Jesus could say that about you is we all go through through things in our personal lives that try to Shake us would a God that Jesus could say so-and-so went through a lot and they dealt with a lot But they did not faint they didn't stop. They didn't let it slow them down You're there in Revelation 2 look at verse 8 here. We're talking about the church in Smyrna Revelation 2 8 the Bible says and unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, right these things say at the first and the last Which was dead and is alive. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty But thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which is what say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried And he shall have tribulation ten days be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life Here Jesus acknowledging that they're going through a lot. He says I know it's hard. I know you're going There's a lot of work. I know there's a lot of tribulation. I know you're having to fight different people who are trying to stop you I know you've gone through a lot, but be faithful stay faithful be faithful even unto death. He says Because what's the key to not quitting on God? What's the key to not being like the Hebrews and regretting leaving the world? What's the key to not quitting when the world attacks? It's being faithful The word faithful means loyal constant and steadfast for example If you were to talk about somebody who was who worked for a company and say so-and-so has been a loyal employee for many years That means that he's been there for a long time. That means he's a loyal employee. He's he's a faithful employee It's the same way with God if you're a faithful Christian, you don't quit on God You look at verse 13 Revelation 2 13 Jesus goes on to say I know thy works where and where thou dwellest even were Satan's Seat is and thou holdest fast my name and it's not denied my faith Even in those days were in typists my faithful martyr who is slain among you where Satan dwelleth Why was an antipas called faithful? It's because even until the point where he was martyred even under the point where he died for the cause of Christ He did not have that regret. He held fast the name of Jesus Christ even unto his death He was faithful unto the very end Turn to Psalm 31 Psalm chapter 31 while you're turning there I'll read you Psalm 12 one that says help Lord for the godly man see the seeseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men Not just in church life and among Christians, but just in general in our world today There's a shortage of faithful people in every aspect of life, whether it's it's just people maybe people who are your friend or people who You work with nobody is faithful anymore So it's a major character flaw of our society today Nobody is faithful Especially in church life in among Christians. Everybody sees the Egyptians and wants to go back. They still you regret separating There's a shortage of faithful people. You're there in Psalm 31 The Bible says this oh love the Lord verse 23 some 31 23 Oh love the Lord all ye his saints for the Lord preserveth the faithful Implentifully rewardeth the proud doer be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye the hope and the Lord God promises you that if you're faithful and you stick with it when those hard times in your life come He's gonna strengthen you He's gonna preserve you and who reward you if you don't quit on God and you stay strong God is going to preserve you that's a promise And he says in verse 24 be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart if you just Have good courage and have that faith like Jonathan or Paul had God says I will strengthen your heart So first tonight I said don't let pressure from the world make you regret from separating it Time hard times are gonna come the world's gonna pressure you especially if you're doing a lot for God But don't let that make you regret Separating from the world second tonight look back at Exodus 14 Exodus 14 we'll keep reading in verse 13 Exodus 14 13 the Bible says in Moses said unto the people Fear ye not Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show you today For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today ye shall see them again no more Forever the Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace second tonight is we should try to encourage those who are doubting Here Moses is dealing with these people We will be dealing with for a very long time and when they're regretting and they're doubting and they're they're afraid He doesn't get mad or upset of them. He's patient He says fear not don't be afraid. God's gonna save you God's gonna take care of you turn to Isaiah 35 Isaiah 35 while you're turning there I'll read you Hebrews 10 24th or 25 that says and let us consider One another to provoke unto love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the matter of some is But exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching part of a healthy church environment and part of this is the part of the reason that God instituted the local New Testament church is to have this environment where when you go when the world is Pressuring you when you are going through those hard times It's an environment where you are being encouraged and you are also encouraging others as well. It's a it's a mutual Relationship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. You're there in Isaiah 35 look at verse 3 Bible says strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees say As we read verse 4 think about what Moses said of the Hebrews and how similar this is say to them that are of a fearful heart Be strong fear not behold your God will come with vengeance even God with the recompense He will come and save you because people people are going to doubt people are going to go through hard times You were going to go through hard times people are going to get discouraged and that's where you need a church like this That's why people who who are not part of a church They they don't last very long because you only can go so long by yourself You're going to quit you're gonna you're gonna give up on it when there's nobody else to encourage you and strengthen you and Help you live the Christian life as well turn as the old chapter 34 So especially in a church like this where where it's a bunch of believers trying to to fulfill the Great Commission try to focus on strengthening those weak hands and Encouraging those who are going through hard times because we all do eventually Ezekiel 34 It may be not just discouraged people either, but maybe people who are starting to Slip out of church or give up on God try to encourage those people because a lot of times people just they just need encouragement They just need someone to be there for them Ezekiel 34 verse 4 The Bible says the disease have he not strengthened neither have you healed that which was sick Neither have you bound up that which is broken now they have he brought again that which was driven away Now they're heavy sought that which is lost but with force and cruelty Have you ruled them so this verse is mainly talking about spiritual leaders and pastors? However, I you don't the turn there but Proverbs 27 5 through 6 says open rebuke is better than seek your love Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful I do believe that there is a sort of a responsibility that comes along with being somebody's friend I believe you're a pretty rotten friend if you claim to be someone's friend and they start getting discouraged and To the point where they may be quit on church or and just drop out of the Christian life and you never help them You never encourage them and you were never there for them turn to 1st Samuel 23 For example, I don't want a friend of mine to get Discouraged or backslidden and think to myself I could have done something about that to think I the disease have you not strengthened either I healed that which was sick if you see someone that's that's starting to be driven away Try to try to bring them again is what I'm trying to say their 1st Samuel 23 look at verse 14 1st Samuel 23 14 the Bible says in David abode in the wilderness and strongholds and Remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziff and Saul sought him every day But God delivered him not and do his hand and David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life And David was in the wilderness of Ziff in a wood so here in 1st Samuel 23 David is running from Saul Saul is trying to kill David Saul is after David and notice verse 16 and Jonathan Remember Jonathan Jonathan was also a great friend of David's verse 16 and Jonathan Saul son arose and went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God and he said down to him sound familiar fear not For the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee and thou shall be king over Israel and I shall be next unto thee and That also Saul my father knoweth and they too made a covenant before the Lord and David abode in the wood and Jonathan went to his house so even at a time where David is going through something that really doesn't affect Jonathan Jonathan is really unaffected by this. No one's trying to kill Jonathan. No one's after Jonathan However, even though it really doesn't concern him or it's not affecting him I'll say he he makes it a point to go to his friend who is going through that and Spiritually strengthen him to says he strengthened his hand in God. He encourages him Even though it really wasn't even something that he was going through himself Turn to Acts 14 Acts 14 verse 21 So here in Acts 14 we're talking about Paul and Paul is preaching in Leicester right now And if you remember this is when he healed somebody he healed somebody and the people there They they thought that they were gods when they did this They had never heard of Jesus Christ or of the gospel So they they think they assume that Paul in Barnabas and those who were with him are gods and they actually start getting ready to sacrifice to them and Paul preaches them the gospel and he explains who Jesus Christ is and we're not gods and all this in verse 18 says and with these Sayings scares restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice unto them and there came through their certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul Drew him out of the city city supposing he had been dead So the Jews come and stir everybody up these Jews kind of just followed him around wherever he went and stirred stirred up those who he was preaching to and they act a mob takes Paul and they actually Stoned him to the point where they think he's dead. However by some miracle or God God Being with Paul Paul does not die says in verse 20 How be it as the disciples stood round about him He rose up and came into the city and the next day He departed with Barnabas to Derby and they had preached the gospel to that city in a top many They were turned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in their faith and that we through much tribulation Enter into the kingdom of God. So here Paul almost dies He's stoned an angry mob mob takes him and almost kills him And the first thing he does when he somehow survives is he goes back to Lystra and he encourages the disciples there Those people had not been stoned. Those people were not attacked by an angry mob He had gone through much more than them However, he the first thing he does is he goes and he exhorts them and he strengthens them and he He tells them to continue in the faith and the hard times are going to come You know the turn there, but Hebrews 12 12 says Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down in the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet less That which is lame be turned out of the way But let it rather be healed focus on lifting up other people turn to Acts 18 Just a few pages over Acts 18 We're also talking about Paul here Acts 18 22 says and when he had landed it's tessaria and gone up and saluted the church He would down to Antioch and after he had spent some time there He departed and went all over all the country of Galatian for an order Strengthening the disciples turn to 1st Thessalonians 3 Paul is always strengthening other people and in we see this in Acts We see this in the letters he wrote and what I find so ironic about this is Paul went through more than anybody else Paul often went through much persecution and trouble than any of the people He was probably encouraging But he he had the enough character to lay aside his own problems and just focusing to focus on Strengthening those who needed it They're first Thessalonians 3 The Bible says this wherefore when we could no longer forbear This is a of course a letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians Wherefore we thought we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be left to Athens alone It's sent to Motheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel price to establish you and to Comfort you concerning your faith here Paul mentions that he sent Timothy All this way to the church here at Thessalonica just to comfort them is to make sure just to encourage them and make sure They're doing all right. You say what's the point? Why do people need to be encouraged? Why is it such a big deal? Is it that big of a deal? Well, here's why look at verse 3 Here's here's why Paul focused so much on it verse 3 that no man should be moved by these afflictions For yourselves know that we are appointed there, too Again, this is why you need to be in a church because if if you are not being if there's no one to encourage you And there's no one for you to encourage you're going to be moved by these afflictions You're eventually going to quit you're eventually going to drop out. It's just human nature and Skip down to verse 7. There's another aspect of here that I think is interesting too verse 7 says therefore brethren We were comforted over you in all our affliction in distress by your faith See, here's the dual effect It's a dual effect of comforting someone because you encourage someone else you lay aside your problems And you you may have been stoned by an angry mob the day before but you just kind of lay that aside and focus on Encouraging other people and being the mature Christian and then they are encouraged and then that encourages you because few things are more encouraging than seeing other people go through hard times and you encourage them and then see Them get that zeal back and see them regain that that zeal they had and be encouraged I didn't really originally have this in my nose, but turn to Romans 15 Thought this would be fitting Romans 15 Romans 15 verse 1 read verses 1 through 3 Romans 15 verse 1 says this We then this verse reminds me of Paul and kind of how he was we then that are strong Out to and bear ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification and here We see the ultimate example of someone who did this the Lord Jesus Christ verse 3 for even Christ Please not himself, but as is written the reproaches of then that reproach thee fell upon me Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of this because he laid aside everything that he had to go through He didn't even deserve it and he focused on giving us eternal life Jesus Christ was not obsessed about himself and worried about himself He was willing to die for the sins of the world even though something he did not deserve to go through and it's the same It's similar to us when we we and we bear the infirmities of the week And we are putting aside our problems and we go through and like Paul We're just always encouraging other people even though they maybe have not gone through what we've gone through Maybe even if if we've gone through more Paul just laid that aside he focused on encouraging other people So first tonight I said don't let pressure from the world make you regret separating from it Second I said we ought to encourage those who are doubting third tonight Look to go back to Exodus 14. We'll keep reading in verse 15 Exodus 14 15 The Bible says this and the Lord said unto Moses Wherefore Christ thou unto me speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it and the children of Israel Shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea and I behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians And they shall follow them and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh Upon his chariots and upon his horsemen and the angel of In verse 18 and the Egyptian shall know that I am the Lord and I've gotten me honor upon Pharaoh upon his chariots Pond horsemen and the angel of God which went before the camp of Israel Because if you remember God led them in the form of a pillar of a cloud by day in a pillar fired by night He says in the angel of God which went before the camp of Israel Removed and went behind them and the pillar of the cloud Went from before their faces stood behind them and the nose verse 20 here. It's also the verse on the front of your bulletin Exodus 14 20 and it came between the camp the Egyptians and the camp of Israel And it was a cloud in darkness to them But it gave light by night to these so that the one came not near the other all the night so God causes sort of this this special event here this miracle to where when the Egyptians look at God standing between them they see darkness However, the Israelites who are right on the other side they look at it and they see light the light that always was their guide in them They're the light that guided them all the way to the promised land I mentioned the title the sermon was the light the darkness in the God and in the God in between is that's really what We have in this situation turn to 1st Corinthians 2 And even so in the same way is when the the world or the Egyptians looked at God And they saw darkness and when the Israelites looked at it and they saw light in the same way Even today the word of God It's a light to us But it's darkness to the world for example The word of God we just there you have those moments We were just in awe of the word of God and it's just the word of God is so deep and it's it's We just see everything it can do in people's lives and do in our lives And and we see it's like the Bible says in John how our hearts burn within us when we hear the words of God And we hear the words of Jesus Christ and we just can't get over the fact of how deep and how amazing the word of God is And how it's just a light to us every step of the way in our in our life no matter what we're going through and Yet people may be a work or unsafe family They look at the same word of God, and it's just pitch-black to them They don't get it at all. I was talking a while ago with with someone. I know who's unfortunately not saved We were talking about the Bible and he's kind of asking me about what I believe and things like that And he said, you know, I tried to I tried to read the Bible one time I started out in the in the first book and it was like in the beginning God and then it just lost me, bro You see that's how it is. It's maybe unsafe people can understand the the basic ideas of the Bible They can understand the service ideas that Jesus died for our sins But the the the deepness of the word of God and the plan that is in here for our lives And how deep the word of God is it's darkness to them they're in First Corinthians 212 We're gonna read these next few verses And I want you to notice that there's gonna be a Comparent contrast here between us something that we have and something that the world does not have verse 12 now We have received not the spirit of the world But the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God See how it's different first 13 which things also we speak not in the words which Man's wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual verse 14 But the natural man I mean he the unsaved man the man without the Holy Spirit man without God Receiveth not the things of the spirit of God why for they are foolishness unto him their darkness He can't understand them neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned You see we have a special understanding the Bible because we have what's called the Holy Spirit You don't have to turn there, but John 1426 Jesus is talking to his disciples and he says but the comforter Which is the Holy Ghost whom the father shall send to my name He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever. I have told you Jesus is mentioning that the Holy Spirit that's what teaches you the word of God That's what helps you Understand and in in comprehend the deep things of the word of God this plan in here We often talk about how the word of God is will guide you through every Scenario every part of your life the word of God will guide you and here we see that that's the Holy Ghost that does that That is why I think about it like this I think about it the world because the world has a conscience right the world has that conscience that basic understanding of right and wrong It's kind of like if you're in a dark room and you pull up your phone and you turn on the little flashlight And if you get really close to something you can maybe make up make out what it is or see it And then you have that that's like their conscience And then you have say believers with the Holy Ghost and it's like a spotlight It's like a light that the lights up the whole room It's like the conscience is the light version of the Holy Ghost and the reason that we can understand the word of God The reason that it's a light to us and the darkness of the world is we have the Holy Ghost We have the Holy Ghost that allows us to understand it, but the world does not have that that's why they are in darkness That's why they do not understand Turn to Ephesians 5 8 Ephesians 5 8 And a lot of people kind of mess this up today a lot of modern Christianity messes this up today Because they teach salvation is like sort of this Process sort of this gradient where you come from darkness and then it gets a little lighter into light You go from not being saved to being more possibly saved. It's just this big confusing thing Where's the according to the Bible you either saved you're not you either in darkness or you're in the light Either in Ephesians 5 8 the Bible says this for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord? Walk is children of light. You see when you get saved you you it's like when the Bible says you you're passing from death Into light you're passing from one side the other you're passing from the darkness to the light the hymn We're gonna sing after service tonight is hymn number 262 take all your handles and look at it I want to point out the words hymn number 262 song number 262 The the first even this hymn gets this idea across in the first verse that says the whole world was lost in the Darkness of sin the light of the world is Jesus like sunshine and noon day his glory shown in the light of the world Jesus the third verse says he dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes the light of the world is Jesus go Wash it his bidding and light will arise the light of the world is Jesus. You are either in the darkness or in the light And you say well, what's the application? What is how does this apply to us? Well, let's go back to our story turn to acts 26 x26 so think about our analogy here We have the we have the the the light the darkness and the God in between so there's the Egyptians on this side They're in the dark and the Israelites are in the light. So what eventually happened to the Egyptians? Later in the story the Israelites cross over the Red Sea and dry land and the Egyptians They're eventually destroyed by God's judgment. They're eventually destroyed by God's wrath Well, what happened to God's people? Well, they crossed over the Red Sea and those who were who followed God and listened to him were led by God himself All the way to the Promised Land. They they had that plan available for for their life that God had for them So you're there in acts 26 the context is Paul the apostle is getting his testimony He's he's telling somebody about how he got saved and how We're reading right now about Jesus Christ and what he said to Paul when he appeared to him on the road to Damascus Verse 16 Jesus Christ is talking to Paul He says but rise and stand upon thy feet for I've appeared unto thee for this purpose To make the administer and a witness both of those things which now has seen and of those things Which I will appear into the delivering me from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee So Jesus says I have a plan for you Paul. I've appeared to you for a purpose.  I want you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles And you say why what's the point verse 18 to open their eyes and Turn them from darkness To light and from the power of Satan unto God Why that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me So it's we have the Egyptians that were eventually destroyed in the in the Israelites that were eventually led by God Safely and it's no different in our world today You have the world the world on this side and if they continue down this path and they continue in the darkness They will eventually die and go to hell and be destroyed by the wrath of God Same with the Egyptians on the other hand We have us who are saved and if we follow God's word and we follow God's commandments We will eventually be led down the path that God has prepared for us in the Word of God He said what's the application? Well really if you think about the goal of our life Jesus had this mission for Paul to open people's eyes to get people saved and turn them from darkness to light It's no different for us Because the majority of people are on this side. They're on the darkness side They're lost and they're confused and they don't they're they don't know the wrath that is coming to them Just like the Egyptians had no idea what was coming when God was going to judge them And just we just need to keep in mind that the goal of our life is to get people from this side over to this side So they can have that Holy Spirit that that unlocks this plan that God has for their life And so God because God I believe God has a plan for everybody. I believe God even every unsaved person out there I believe God has a plan for their life now most people are not going to follow that most people aren't even going to start They're not even going to get saved, but as long as people can can come to this side They have that ability to to understand that and like I said, it's the same mission for us We have the light the darkness and the God in between and on one side They're going to be judged and on one side. They have the ability to live a valuable Christian life And so we should just remember to be doing everything we can that the goal of our life The reason we're here is to get more people to come to that light All right, let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer