Pastor’s Shyju sermon at Emmanuel Church on Sunday September 13th, 2015
Why are we fasting?
Fasting & Prayer train our spiritual muscles and improve their imbalances. Otherwise, those spiritual imbalances may stand in the way of reaching God’s purposes for your life by taking the the shortest route.
(Exodus 13:17-18 NLT)
[17] When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” [18] So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
It took the Israelites 40 years to travel an eleven-day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2). Normally, it takes eleven days only to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir. However, the shortest route would have taken the Israelites through hostile Philistine territory filled with battles and obstacles that seem too large for the Israelites to overcome. God knew the Israelites would’ve been so scared that they would prefer slavery and bondage over freedom. Instead, He made them wander in the wilderness forty years (Numbers 32:11-13).
Here are five reasons why Israel missed the shortest route to the Promised Land:
1. Lack of Faith in God
In order to access the Promise Land through the shortcut, the Israelites needed to walk by faith into the “unseen”. God knew that they were not equipped for battles, being slaves their whole lives. Referring to Israelites’ wilderness experience, the apostle Paul wrote: “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians10:11). The lesson to learn from this is to stop doubting and overthinking everything. Similar to the Israelites in the wilderness, we have been brought out of slavery, but we have not gotten to our final destination and resting place. Learn to trust God in everything and let Him guide you toward the right path. Walk into the unknown, take a leap of faith in God. Do what has never been done by your family, friends, classmates, coworkers… Follow where God is and step out in faith.
Do not expect the Lord to reveal your destination before you finish your journey. In the case of Peter, he started as a fisherman and ended up being hung on an upside down cross. If God had told him in the beginning what his final destination was, Peter would’ve probably been too scared to start his journey. The end doesn’t matter, the journey is more important than end.
2. Lack of Trust in God
Can you trust God when everything seems to be going wrong?
Your trust for God should not be altered according by your circumstances or how things go. Everything in your life happens for a reason and with the knowledge and permission of God. Only God allows the enemy to touch you and embarrass you. Trust God even when you don’t understand what’s happening in your life or in the life of your loved ones. The only thing you know for sure is that the Lord gave you the Promised Land and you have to hold onto His word. He also has a plan to lift you up (Psalm 23:5) “[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
3. Lack of Courage
For too long, the Israelites were made to serve in hard bondage, and now God is coming down to tell them He wants to make them warriors and win battles. They didn’t have enough courage to take the shortcut to the Promised Land because they were not trained for a battle. They would’ve backed out from the Promise Land and went back to slavery, because they would not have courage and faith in God that He would fight the good fight for them.
You can go through battles in life knowing God is on your side. He will send angels to fight for you. All you need to do is stand there and pretend you know how to swing a sword. Stand up and be of good courage, because it is His battle.
4. A Wavering Heart
Many times the Israelites complained and cried out to Moses to help them get what they want. Once Moses had a plan for them they wavered and rejected it.
(Exodus 6:9 AMP) “[1] Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses because of their impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their cruel bondage.”
(Numbers 11:1-3 ESV) “[1] And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. [2] Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. [3] So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.”
God can’t answer the prayer of a wavering heart. You can’t trust both in yourself and in God. Settle your heart to trust God and His word in all situations, no matter what the report of the enemy is.
(Hebrews 10:23) “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
5. Attachment to Egypt
The Promised Land was filled with lands and cities that were already labored for the Israelites to dwell in them. Also, vineyards and olive orchards they did not need to plant (Joshua 24:13). Yet, the Israelites didn’t believe that God would bring them into this land, because of their circumstances.
They tried to downgrade the fact that they were slaves under Pharaoh’s authority, and said: “at least we had work and my family was fed”. They found security in what they were accustomed to. They could not see how things could get better than in Egypt.
Do you sometimes attach yourself to what held you in a bondage? Let go! There must be more than this! God has a Promised Land He wants to bring you to, but He cannot work with people who have wavering hearts. You must let go of what you are familiar with (attached to) and take a step of faith into God’s plan.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14-24 ESV) “[14] And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. [15] See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not despise prophecies, [21] but test everything; hold fast what is good. [22] Abstain from every form of evil. [23] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”
