Scripture reference: Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT; Proverbs 3:9-10 AMPC; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 TLB; 2 Corinthians 9:7 AMPC; Luke 12:13-20 AMPC; Luke 12:13-21 MSG; Deuteronomy 8:17-18 AMPC; Galatians 1:4-5 KJV; Mark 4:18-19 TLB; Hebrews 11:24-27 KJV; Hebrews 11:24-27 TPT; Romans 6:12-23 TPT; Exodus 3:6-10 NLT; Exodus 6:1-9 AMPC; Exodus 7:2-6 AMPC; Numbers 13:2-3, 25-33 AMPC; Numbers 14:1-12, 20-24, 26-28, 30-31 AMPC
Yes Lord, thank You. We want to say thank You, this morning as a people, for these beautiful songs that You keep giving to us Lord, and You keep giving and You keep giving and You keep giving, Lord. We give You the glory. We give You the glory for what they’re doing in our lives and in our hearts, in our soul in our spirit. We give You glory. Hallelujah.
Well, it’s time for the precious Word of God to come to us all this morning. You can bring the pulpit, thank you. Thank you worship group, thank you Pastor Garth, thank you everybody. All of you precious ones.
It is interesting that I am going to be telling you a story this morning. It’s just how I received it from the Lord because this is the series that Pastor John has asked me to bring to Witbank. He interrupted my Master Plan teaching that I was bringing to you from the song because of what the Lord specifically gave me for the Johannesburg church. When Pastor John started to listen to my messages, he said to me, “Sharon, you must bring it to Witbank too.”
It’s the time of God for this. This is a defining moment. The Lord spoke to Brother Jerry and said, “this is a defining moment for us, and in this time and throughout the remainder of the year what we say, what we do, how we respond and how we act and what we decide.” Those were the words Jesus gave to Brother Jerry, what we say, conversations we are having, what we decide, our plans and decisions. Whether we’re including God or not. What we do, the things we do with Him or not and what we say will determine the outcome of our lives. The Lord said, “These are defining moments or our lives.” We have got three months. Glory to God. To give God the responses we need to, and these messages that I am bringing and I will be bringing them till the end of the year.
Because the Lord said to me, “Sharon these messages of I will take the Children, I’m going to rub it in. I want you to take your time with it.” Pastor John will be coming as well, he did a part of I will take the Children, Part 7, in Johannesburg, so he will be coming here too as the Lord leads him. And then Pastor Christi will be coming too, I will take the Children the Lord says, “I will take the Children.”
That is why Matthew 18, has been one of our key verses, unless you become like a little child, unless you become like a little child, (Matthew 18:3 AMPC) unless you change, Jesus said, and turn around, unless you repent, which means turn around, change your innerman to meet God’s will. Change your innerman as you hear these messages coming, as you hear every message coming on a Sunday, they are coming from the Lord. They are coming from the Lord; it’s just how Pastor John and I have always been. We receive messages from heaven, we seek Him for the message and then we find Him because that is what the Bible says, “Seek and you will find.”
When we seek and when we ask, it will be given and when we knock it will be opened. That is how we do our lives. That is how we do our lives, that’s how we do our day to day lives. It’s how we make our plans. Even our plans, all our plans actually. We don’t make our own without enquiring from the Lord. We used too, but we have discovered that God knows the thoughts and plans that He has for us. We’ve discovered that truly we can trust Him. He says in Jeremiah 29, 11For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, I know, …. To give you hope, (Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC) and give you your future. When you come to Me and you seek Me, it says after that verse, with all your heart you will find those plans. So, it’s not just a plan that is going to automatically come to pass for you. You have to seek His plans and then you’ll find them. Then you’ll find them. “I will take the children” the Lord says. Hallelujah.
The Lord also said to me that we are going to become as a people. You might be new here in our church, and the Lord might be planting you here, but you have to know that there’s many of us Heritage of Faith people that have come on a journey for a very long time together. We have become a people and it is wonderful to have you and for the Lord has added over the years and brought people to be part and to be planted in this church. They have come to people and they have quickly found out who the people here are. They either identify and say, “This is my tribe. This is where I belong.” Because they listen to the Holy Spirit and then they be planted here.
One of the things that Kenneth Copeland said is, many years ago, he said, “The majority of the body of Christ never asks the Lord where they should be planted. They just go where they want to go, when they want to go for their comfort, and their convenience and their preference.” A very small percentage of people in the Body of Christ that tithe, people. The statistics are between 15 and 20 percent, and there are very few people in the Body of Christ that would ask the Lord, “Where do You want me to be? Who, where do You want me to be planted?” That’s Deuteronomy chapter 12, where God is preparing the people for the promised land and He says, “You shall seek the place which the Lord your God shall show you. And there you shall go, and there you shall, you and your children, and you shall rejoice. And there you shall bring your offerings, and there you shall go and you shall hear the word of the Lord.” Glory to God. God has got a specific plan for you. It’s not haphazard, it’s not careless, it’s very specific for you. Glory to God.
Today I’m going to tell you a story. The Lord wants me to tell you this story. Actually let me just give you these scriptures before I start my message. This is part of the message. Just to let you know that God speaks very openly and candidly, candid. Remember that program many years ago, Candid Camera? It’s real life, it’s just as it is. God speaks very openly and candidly and clearly and plainly to His people about their giving and their tithes and their offerings.
He speaks to His people that are poor and He speaks to His people that are rich. He’s quite open in His Word. His heart is open to how He speaks. We saw that in Malachi, the last time I ministered here. Do you remember when I shared with you that God is very personal with us about our money. He’s very personal. He speaks in Malachi 3 and He says, “Why are you withholding it from Me? Am I not your provider? Am I not your supply? Am I not your source?”
Pastor John and I, when we heard the Gospel, Jesus said in Luke 4:18 He’s anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. Pastor John and I were the poor. So, God speaks very openly to the poor about their finances. He shared with us and He told us, if you will get into My Covenant in the Kingdom of God, and not look to the world, and not look to man for your supply. If you bring your tithes and your offerings which is something we’ve already been doing but we found out, He began to teach us and show us about the Kingdom Economics.
We were so poor, we were not at the bottom of the barrel, the barrel was on top of us. So, He began to teach us and show us about faith and trusting in the Lord. He began to teach us and show us that give and it shall be given unto you good measure, pressed down, shaken together. He began to show us that if you will bring your tithes and your offerings to My storehouse, prove Me now by it if I will not open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out upon you such a blessing. Blessing without end, blessing without end. He began to teach us out of the book of Corinthians and I just want to share with you quickly before I start to tell you the story.
He speaks to His people who are poor, and we were poor and the good news to a poor person is not, “Shame you are poor.” When God speaks to a poor person, He doesn’t say, “Shame, you are poor.” He says, “I’ve got good news for you.” He had good news for Pastor John and I. He had good news, He said, “I want you to have an abundant supply. I want everyone of my children to have an abundant supply. I want everyone of My children to be enriched. I just don’t want it to have you., but I want you to have a full supply.” Glory to God.
I want you to have your Canaan land, with houses and lands. Land of milk and honey where there is no shortage. He is still that same God. Hallelujah. Then we began to become enriched and then He has things to say to us now, very openly and very candidly. Even when we were poor, He said to us, “Now when riches increases”, it’s scripture, “Don’t set your heart on it, John and Sharon. Don’t set your heart on it. Don’t love it.” It’s not money that is the root of all evil; it is the love of it. It’s the love of it. “If you love it John and Sharon, you’re going to get a root of it in you that is going to grow, and it is going to bear bad fruit in your life. It’s going to be a bad fruit in your life.” He had things to say to us when we were poor, and He had things to say to us when we became enriched.
I want to share this scripture with you. Honour the Lord, honour, honour. I bring, we bring our tithes and our offerings because of honour in our heart. That was Malachi chapter 1, “If I be your Father, where be my honour? If I be your Father, where be my honour? Why are you bringing to Me an offering that you wouldn’t even give the Mayor of a town? But you give it to Me.” Okay, remember I read those scriptures?
Now here is beautiful scripture, Proverbs 3:9-10, The New Living Translation, 9Honor the Lord with your wealth, honour the Lord with your wealth, and with the best part of everything you produce. 10Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT). Look at the Amplified Bible, 9Honor the Lord with your capital, honour the Lord with your capital. Does He speak candidly and openly about your capital? Yes, He does. You want to see Jesus in action? He was watching what people were putting in the offering.
He saw the rich people putting in the offering and He saw the widow woman put in. He speaks about the rich people and He speaks about the poor people. The widow woman: that little mite she threw in, was it about a year’s income? It was a little compared to what a rich person could put in, but He speaks to the rich and He speaks to the poor. Because He wants all of their hearts. He wants the poor people’s heart and He wants the rich people’s heart. Glory to God.
Look at this, 9Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors], yes, you work. If you don’t work, you don’t eat, the Bible says. Honour Him …with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income, your income, your income. 10So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deut. 28:8.] (Proverbs 3:9-10 AMPC).
Look at 2 Corinthians 9:6-9, I want you to see this this morning. 2 Corinthians 9:6 to 9, Living Bible, 6But remember this–if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. Those of you who have planted much, please have faith with God and be in communion and working relationship with God. Believe that He wants you to have much. Right? I’ve given much; thank You, Lord, for my big harvests. Thank You, Lord. Be grateful and be believing this scripture; be believing. A farmer who plants much will reap much. Thank You, Lord. That’s all you need to say. You don’t know how it’s going to come, you are going to continue in your righteous labours, but it is going to come because He says so.
Then it says here: 7Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. I always discovered that about God when we were poor; that He just, that scripture was so amazing to me and the Amplified Bible it was, “God loves.” What does it say? I used to know it off by heart you know. When you’re poor you will learn these things off by heart very quickly; 7 … for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. (2 Corinthains 9:7 AMPC)
When we were poor and we were giving, and we could not afford to give the tithe, but we couldn’t afford not to afford. Because our hearts were honouring God. We were trusting the Lord that even though that 10% could really get us, you know, some things and some other things that we really needed. Our honour in our hearts was just there. Our honour in our heart we found it to be, there. Because we are new creations and His children. Right? Glory to God.
He says this, verse 8: 8God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 TLB). Isn’t that wonderful? Glory to God. Then He says some things to the rich, Luke 12. I am going to read to you what He says to the rich; openly and candidly. Luke 12:13-20, 13Someone from the crowd said to Him, this is the Amplified, 13Someone from the crowd said to Him, Master, order my brother to divide the inheritance and share it with me. Oh, the fights there have been in families over an inheritance, split families.
…order my brother to divide the inheritance and share it with me. 14But He told him, Man, who has appointed Me a judge or umpire and divider over you? 15And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs. 16Then He told them a parable, speaking to the rich people, The land of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully. 17And he considered and debated within himself, you see, God knows how rich people think. God knows how His own rich people think, so He will speak to His people that are rich and His people that are poor. Right?
…and debated within Himself, What shall I do? I have no place [in which] to gather together my harvest. 18And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain or produce and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily. 20But God said to him, you fool! If we have this kind of mindset of thinking; I’m really building up for myself wealth so that I can do this. God says we’re a fool. This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be? (Luke 12:13-20 AMPC). All the things that you have hoarded up, whose will they be? You might say, “I’m going to leave it to my children when I die.” If you haven’t raised up your children in God, they are going to spend it on themselves. They are just going to spend it on themselves. They are just going to live for themselves and use it for themselves.
Look at the Message Bible here, 13Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” 14He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?” 15Speaking to the people, he went on, this is Jesus, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” God’s not impressed with His people in His kingdom that are rich. He doesn’t have that attitude in His heart. I mean, a lot of His people that are poor are impressed with rich people, why?
Why should you be? Why should any of us be impressed with rich people? Why would you want to be impressed with rich people when God says, “When you will bring your tithe, He will cause you to become enriched in all things.” Don’t want what rich people have got. That’s covetousness, that’s greed. Walk your walk with God and let Him prosper you.
Look at this, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” 16-19Then He told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! Self, you’ve done well! He knows us well, doesn’t He? You’ve got it made and can now retire. That’s how the world speaks, “I want to be rich by this time so that I can retire, and I can just do this; I can do what I want to do.”
That’s a worldly way of thinking. Self, you’ve done well and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ 20Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods–who gets it?’ 21”That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” (Luke 12:13-21 MSG). Isn’t this powerful? Doesn’t this truth set you free in your heart? Because your flesh is the same as my flesh. Your flesh, your carnal nature without God is the same as Pastor John and I’s. That is what flesh says and carnality says, but we put that under and we choose the higher life that says, “Lord, riches are increasing my heart is not set on it you are my first love. I will give everything you tell me to give. I will not say in my own heart and my own mind.”
That is the last scripture, the Lord does want me to bring it. That is one in Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Amplified Bible. 17And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, you may never say it out of your mouth, but if you think it God knows you think it 17And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. 18But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth.
The reason you are breathing, poor person, rich people, rich person of God, the reason you are even alive on earth is because He breathed you into the earth. Remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 AMPC)
Glory to God, can we all say, “Amen” to these scriptures. “Amen. Amen.” Thank you for Your truth that sets us free Lord. Thank you, Lord, that we can live the higher life, the life above the flesh. In Jesus’ name.
Now, I’m going to be sharing with you the story that God wanted me to tell you this morning, His story. This is part 2, I will take the children. This is His story. Pastor Sharon, how come this title of these messages? Because Pastor John will come in and he will do, I will take the children part and Pastor Christi will come and do, I will take the children part whatever that is that is. You know, and the Holy Spirit leads Pastor John in these things. Right?
Why this title, pastor Sharon? I’m going to show you. I must continue with the key scriptures He says. These messages that He is going to bring now, He says, He wants to rub it in. Have I said it already this morning? He’s going to rub it in, because the Greek word and the Hebrew word for anointing is Charisma, which means ointment, to rub in, rub in and because His word and scripture is anointed, He wants to bring you the scriptures again and again and rub it into you, until it becomes part of you. Right?
Here’s the scripture again. Galatians 1:4-5, King James. Galatians 1:4 Jesus gave Himself for our sins, 4…that he might deliver us from this present evil world, (Galatians 1:4 KJV) This is a reminder to you, that God says that this present world is evil. He says it is evil. God says this present world system is evil. He said it, in the days of Noah. He said it in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. He said it. He said it. He said it, all throughout. This is His story. This is His story, Jesus came to deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:4-5 KJV)
So, this word is deliver. This word deliver, is a Greek word which means to rescue, to rush, to draw for oneself, to preserve from, to get away, out of. He’s come to deliver us. He says, “I’ve come to deliver you out of this world system. I’ve come to rush you, to bring you to myself. I’ve come to rescue you from this evil world system.”
You might sit here this morning and go, “I don’t, I don’t think I need rescuing.” Just hang on, if He says that this present wicked world is, it’s evil. You don’t know how much you’ve been impacted, imprinted and Influenced by it. You don’t know, you don’t know how much you’ve been impacted, imprinted and Influenced by it and God says, “Come, come out, I want you out of it because I sent Jesus to deliver you from the wicked world, from the wicked world system.”
Everything that’s in the world system was not created and designed by God. It was created and designed by man without God, influenced by Satan. Satan cannot create anything, but because man was created in God’s image, mankind can create and Satan has used what man has created for himself. To create this wicked evil world system. God is not looking at anything in the world system and says, “Gee, I wish I had thought of that. Gee, that’s wonderful. Is’t that education system rather marvelous? Isn’t that financial institution and economic system in the world, isn’t it amazing? Why didn’t I think of that?” He looks at the entertainment system and thinks, “Gee, wow” you know there’s nothing in the world system that impresses God.
He calls it wicked. He calls it wicked and because He calls it wicked, I call it wicked. Wicked is twisted, comes from wicker, like the wicker furniture, it is twisted, there we go, right. If God says, “Come out of the world, come out of Babylon.” I say, “I’m coming. I don’t know how much of it is in me, but I’m coming. Bring me out.” Glory! Deliver me from it because I said to you, He translated us out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. I have different elements to be in.
I have a completely different environment that God has created for me. I’m planted, I’m in the church, I’m in the ecclesia, I’m a born-again one, I’m in the Kingdom. Alright I’m not going to go all over there. I’m telling you His story. I’m telling you God’s story. He’s a deliverer.
The entire Bible is one of deliverance and out of an into. Out of bondage, out of captivity, from the enemy, from false evil men, from destruction, from death and famine, from the ungodly, from sin and so the Bible also talks about human deliverers. Calls Moses a deliverer, calls Joshua a deliverer and Gideon, you know. That’s why He’s brought Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists into His church because He brings messages. He brings a message from a messenger and He releases His power for deliverance for your life. Glory to God.
He delivered, He delivers because of His great mercy. He sees you in bondage when you don’t see yourself in it. He delivered His people out of the hand of the Egyptians. Okay. Alright Lord. Alright Lord.
This present evil world, it has influenced you, it has imprinted things on you and in your heart it has impacted you. Mark 4:18-19, Living Bible 18“The thorny ground represents the hearts of people who listen to the Good News and receive it, 19but all too quickly the attractions of this world. (Mark 4:18-19 TLB) Don’t you want to know how much of Babilon is in you and how much of the wicked world, evil system you love? When God says in 1 John, don’t love the world or the things in it. Don’t you want to know what you love? Don’t you want to be honest with God and say, “What off the world do I love? I don’t want to love the world, but what of it?” Don’t you want that open honest relationship with God? I do, I do, I can’t live any other way. I respond to this message for myself this morning. Glory. 19but all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced. (Mark 4:19 TLB)
What kind of crop is that? It’s a spiritual crop of walking with God, of having a working relationship with Him. God wants fruit from this message to come out of Babylon and come out of this world and love not the world. He wants a crop from this. He wants a crop from it in your life. Hallelujah.
Honesty is the place where you begin. Remember that message of Pastor John? You can’t move forward in faith, unless you are honest with God first. Hebrews 11:24-27 24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: ….. Verse 27, 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24-27 KJV).
Look at the Passion Translation, 24Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity, (Hebrews 11:24 TPT). I can think of Daniel, I can think of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego; these were young men in their teens. They were teenagers and they refused to make the world system their identity. Young man, young woman, you can refuse to make the world system your identity. It is your choice. Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were making choices as teenagers to not serve the world. Just like Moses.
24…he refused to make that his identity, 25choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. (Hebrews 11: 24-25 TPT) “You mean you go to that church? You mean to say you believe that, that Brother Jerry, your part of that faith group, you’re part of that?” I mean…mistreatment, mistreatment. Peter, when he betrayed Jesus, did not choose the mistreatment. So, it can be in your heart that you like to come to this church, but I don’t want to make it my identity. I am not going to, it’s not going to be out there, because there is all this stuff here too, that I also love. 25Moses preferred faith’s certainty above the momentary enjoyment of sin’s pleasures. 26He found his true wealth in suffering abuse for being anointed, more than in anything the world could offer him, for his eyes looked with wonder not on the immediate, but on the ultimate—faith’s great reward! 27Holding faith’s promise Moses abandoned Egypt and had no fear of Pharaoh’s rage (Hebrews 11:25-27 TPT)
I’m telling you, if you are going to abandon the world’s system and you are going to abandon Egypt and you are going to make a decision to come out of Babylon, you must be sure that you are going to suffer wrath at the hands of Satan. He is going to come and lie to you, he is going to contest for your life, because he is very happy for you to come to church, but live in the world and love the world, and come to church and live in the world and love the world. He is very happy with that, but when you as a born-again Christian make the decision, I am forsaking all, he will come. He will come in the night; he will come in the day-time. He will not be silent. Glory to God. Hallelujah.
The Passion Translation, Romans 6:12, 12Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. 13So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding yourself, your body to him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for his pleasure, ready to be used for his noble purpose. 14Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God. And then verse 15 says this, 16But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, or love the world or love the things of the world it will become your master, and it will impact, imprint, and influence you and it will own you and reward you with death. (Romans 6:12-16 TPT) There is no life in the world system. Yes, you can breathe, you can be alive, but there is no life, right? The life is in God!
12…so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. 13So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body or yourself, to him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! (Romans 6:12-13 TPT). Pastor John, preached on the resurrection life, that’s already in you. You have no excuse to let sin rule in your body, because when you said, “Yes” to Jesus, you said, “I will be born again, I will receive Jesus, as Lord and Savior.” The Holy Spirit and resurrection life came into you instantly. The same resurrection life came into you, came into me, came into us. Now we can live by that resurrection life, if we choose too.
Death is not physical death; death is just separating yourself from walking in the lifeways of God and just living in the ways of the world. Never discovering what true resurrection life is really all about. 21So tell me, what benefit ensued from doing those things that you’re now ashamed of? It left you with nothing but a legacy of shame and death. (Romans 6:21 TPT). I mean, some of us did some things. Some of us did some things that we are ashamed of. Right? 21… It left you with nothing but a legacy of shame and death. 22But now, as God’s loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin. So consider the benefits you now enjoy—you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! 23For sin’s meager wages is death, but God’s lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. (Romans 6:22-23 TPT)
Here is the story. Here is the story continuing now. God is a deliverer; He comes to deliver. Exodus 3:6-10 from the New Living Translation. Here’s the story. God said this to me. He said, “Sharon, I want you to tell them my story. My story from these scriptures.” I am telling you His story this morning. 6I am the God of your father —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
I want you to see the Deliverer now. I want you to see God. 7Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. That’s the world system, the wicked world, Babylon. “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8So I have come down, I have come down, to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly, the world system, the Egyptians abuse them. 10Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:6-10 NLT)
Galatians, chapter 6 says that the church is the true Israel. You must, Jesus, You must go to earth to die for My people. I am going to send them messengers, that must lead My people out of Egypt, must lead My people out of the world, wicked age. Hallelujah.
Exodus 6:1-5 Amplified, 1THEN THE Lord said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for [compelled] by a strong hand he will [not only] let them go, but he will drive them out of his land with a strong hand. 2And God said to Moses, I am the Lord. 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by My name the Lord [Yahweh–the redemptive name of God] I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles]. [Gen. 17:1.] 4I have also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their temporary residence in which they were strangers. 5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians have enslaved; and I have [earnestly] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]. (Exodus 6:1-5 AMPC)
God remembers the covenant that He has made with the blood of Jesus. God said that all of the deliverance that He wanted to always do for His people in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, it’s now based on the blood of Jesus. He’s more passionate now, about leading His people out of Egypt, out of the world system and out of Babylon, then He ever was in the old covenant, because now it is based on the blood of Jesus. It is based on the sacrifice of the pure, sinless Son of God, who came to die, to save us from the wicked world. Galatians, I read you that scripture.
God is more intent now on bringing us out of the wicked world than He ever was in the Old Testament, but He wants you to see His story of the Old Testament. How intent He was on rescuing them. So, it says here, Exodus 6:6-9 and He is continuing to speak. This is His story. 6Accordingly, say to the Israelites, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage, and I will rescue you with an outstretched arm [with special and vigorous action] and by mighty acts of judgment. 7And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that it is I, the Lord your God, Who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My hand and swore that I would give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have the pledge of My changeless omnipotence, that’s power, and faithfulness]. 9Moses 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. (Exodus 6:6-9 AMPC)
Exodus 7:2-6, Amplified Bible, the story continues, He says to Moses 2You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land. 3And I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn and hard, and multiply My signs, My wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt. 4But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt and bring forth My hosts, My people the Israelites, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. (Exodus 7:2-6 AMPC)
I want you to know that this is happening right now. God’s Hand is moving in the earth in mighty acts of judgement, because He is very set on rescuing His people, for His people to come out of the world system, come out of Babylon, I’ve read you that scripture, so that you may not participate in her sin nor share in her plagues. Okay, that is a big statement.
So, after He said this, the plagues came thick and fast, His people were experiencing extreme protection. As the plagues were coming on the earth, the water turned into, the plagues, the different plagues. I don’t know what it is all going to look like in our day, but I am telling you now, that God is setting His people free, and He is bringing us out with mighty acts of judgement and a strong hand, to those who want to come out. That is why He tells us “get out”, “come out” because I am already, there is already enough of my people wanting to come out, that I must bring them out, so come out. Right?
So, here it is, His people are experiencing extreme protection, when all the plagues and all the hael and plagues were falling on the Egyptians, they were save in Goshen, none of their cattle was affected, none of their businesses were affected, none of their stuff was touched, none of their lives was touched. God was already telling His story to them and showing them who He is. See what is happening out there to the Egyptians? Is it touching you? No Lord, no Lord, it is not even touching me. Right?
The day comes, extreme provision the day comes and they leave by the miraculous hand of God, they get past the red sea, they rejoice and then they begin their unbelief, their hardness of heart and their murmuring. They have seen God at work bringing them out with a mighty hand and here they go and they start to murmur. They don’t want the deliverance, they begin to reject their deliverance. They begin to pass into a state of unbelief, they choose it. Right?
Just like today, they don’t want His deliverance just like today, God’s own people, reject His deliverance. I want to show you what they did. Numbers 13, I am going to read it to you, I am going to read this to you.
Numbers. Are you getting something out of this today? You see, in your heart, when a message like this comes, God challenges you in your heart, He is speaking to you. “Do you want to come out? You want to come completely to Me? You want to come out? You want to not love it? You want to love Me first?” See, He challenges you with this. And a response is required, because even if you don’t respond, your no response is still a “no” to God. Your no response is still a “no” to God.
Every time God brings a message for your deliverance and you have no response, it is still a no. I hear, but, I am sitting on the fence and I am neutral when it comes to this. Right? But what we say now, what we do now, what we decide now, and how we respond now, is going to determine our future. Glory to God.
Hallelujah. I want to show you, Numbers 13, what they did. This is God’s story. Interesting that God took this so personally, that He speaks about it throughout the rest of the Bible. He tells everybody the story of what they did then, and how He wanted to deliver them and how they didn’t want His deliverance. He speaks about it, the Psalmist writes about it, and God was aghast, He was flabbergasted. He was like, what is up with these people? He fully intended to take them into the promised land, but then they started to do this. When they started to experience that they were not in control. They were like; “I want to be in control, at least in Egypt I was in control. I could plan my own things.” Right?
Numbers 13, so first of all, Numbers 13, 1The Lord said to Moses, 2send men to explore, this is the Amplified. 1The Lord said to Moses 2Send men to explore and scout out (for yourselves) the land of Canaan, which I give to the Israelites. For each tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a leader or head among them. 3So Moses by the command of the Lord sent scouts from the Wilderness of Paran, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites. (Numbers 13:1-3 AMPC) God puts their names in here, now we are not going to go there, but He puts every scout that went in to scout the promised land, their name is in there. So you must know that your name is in His books that He is busy writing. I read that to you out of Maleahi 3, those who feared the Lord spoke often to one another and God wrote it in the book of remembrance.
You got to know that your story is already being recorded. If God is open and candid about these people of His, you better believe He is going to be candid about your story, too. Now He will wipe away and wash away by His blood, everything, everything, before repentance. Everything, but if there is no repentance, it just stands, it stands for eternity. Right, so here we go.
I want to show you verse 25, 25 they returned from scouting the land after 40 days and 26They came to Moses and Aaron and to all the Israelite congregation, came to the congregation right? Brought them word, and showed them the land’s fruit. 27They told Moses, We came to the land to which you sent us; surely it flows with milk and honey. This is its fruit. But, but, but, but, but 28The people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the sons of Anak (of great stature and courage). 29Amalek dwells in the land of the South (the Negeb); the Hettite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea and along by the side of the Jordan (River). 30Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it: we are well able to conquer it. (Numbers 13:25-30 AMPC)
You don’t understand, I can’t come out of the world system, I can’t come out of the world system now, they are so strong, they are so powerful to me. They are so mighty to me. Don’t you see how the businessmen prosper, don’t you see what they do. Don’t you see how famous, the rich and famous, they are so strong and so big, and all the famous people in the world, don’t you see how strong they are in the world system?
30Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it: I am here to tell you today, let us go at once and leave Egypt, let us at once leave Egypt, at once let us get out of Babylon. We are well able, we are well able to conquer it, we are well able. Jesus said, I have conquered the world for you, John 16, I have overcome the world system for you, I have overcome it for you. I have deprived it of its power to harm you. Conquered it for you completely, come out of it.
And so, 31their fellow scouts said we are not able, we are not able against the people of Canaan for they are stronger than we are, so they brought the Israelites and the evil report of the land, which they have scouted out, the land to which we went to spy out, is a land that devours its inhabitants and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. 33We saw the Nephilim [or giants], we saw the sons of Anak, … We see all these things in the world system, we watch TV, we watch men, we watch woman, they are so, sons of giants come from giants. There’s dynasties of people, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers and so were we in their sight. (Numbers 13:30-33 AMPC)
Chapter 14 1And all the congregation cried out with a loud voice, and [they] wept that night. 2All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. (Numbers 14:1-3 AMPC) Our wives and little ones, God let us tell you, you want me and my children and my wife to come out of Egypt? You are preying on us, God. I want my children in the world system, where they won’t be preyed on, they will be safe there. We are not going to be safe with You, God. That is what they are saying to God.
It doesn’t matter what they say to Moses and Aaron; they’re saying it to God. 3 …Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt. 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces… 6 And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, 7 And they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people. (Numbers 14:3-9 AMPC)
Here’s people that’s hearts are full of faith; they’ve chosen to come out, they’ve chosen to go into the Promised Land regardless of, they don’t know what the future looks like. They don’t care what the future looks like. They’re like Abraham. God said to Abraham, “Get out. Get out of your country. Get out of your land and go,” and Abraham said, “Where am I going to?” “You don’t have to know. I’ll show you as you go.” They did not want to go that way. They want everything neatly planned out, nicely organized so I can be in control. “Don’t tell me I must follow You like that, God. I must know what the next thing is and the next thing is.”
9 …do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. They went into a state of fear. And God says, 366 times in His Bible; fear not, fear not, fear not. One for every single day of the year and an extra one. Fear not, fear not, fear not! Fear is sin. If you fear anybody other than God, it is sin. “I will fear, God, you tell me to fear not? I will fear.” It’s rebellion to fear. It is. It is.
You have to deal with fear like a rattlesnake; you have to cut that thing off. God says in Timothy, I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind. You are the only one that can deal with fear. I’m the only one that can deal with my fear. Like David said; what time I am afraid, I will praise the Lord. What time I am afraid, I will praise the Lord. Not; what time I am afraid, I will totally give in to fear and I will fear everything around me and I will be afraid and afraid and afraid.
When God says fear not, He knows you can, not fear. He’s not asking you and saying, “Fear not,” because He knows you can’t. Shame you can’t. Why’s God telling me not to fear, because I fear and I fear and I fear and I fear. So, I’m done. I’m done. Because I want to show you God’s response here.
Let me just do verse 9. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense and the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.
10 But all the congregation said to stone [Joshua and Caleb] with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. Let me show you where this comes from; I will take the children. See? We’ll stone you… 11 And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke (spurn, despise) Me? I’m telling you God’s story, this morning. And how long will it be before they believe Me [trusting in, relying on, clinging to Me], being like little children. How long will it be before they’ll become like little children? …clinging to Me], for all the signs which I have performed among them? And the Lord says 12 I will smite them… and disinherit them and make you a nation…(Numbers 14:9-12 AMPC) And Moses intercedes for the people, but this is the one thing that God says; So He says, “Okay, I won’t wipe them out.”
20 And the Lord said, verse 20, I have pardoned according to your word, Moses, 21 But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 Because all those men who have seen My glory and My [miraculous] signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tested and proved Me these ten times and have not heeded My voice, 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; nor shall any who provoked (spurned, despised) Me, they said, “God, we spurn you. We say You can’t bring us into the Promised Land. You’re not showing us exactly how it’s going to happen. We don’t like the way You’re leading us. We’re going to go back, to the way things were,” and He said, 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; nor shall any who provoked (spurned, despised) Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. (Numbers 14:20-24 AMPC)
26 And the Lord said, verse 26, to Moses and Aaron, 27 How long will this evil congregation murmur against Me? I have heard the complaints the Israelites murmur against Me. 28 Tell them, As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in My hearing I will do to you, (Numbers 14:26-28 AMPC) you see, He hears everything. There’s not one thing, not one thought that you can have in your heart and He doesn’t know it all together.
30 Surely, verse 30, none shall come into the land in which I swore to make you dwell, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 But your little ones… Now remember the fathers all said, “Our little ones are going to be prey, if we follow God this way. Our little ones are going to be prey. We want to take them back to Egypt so that we can put them in Egypt and they can do all the Egypt things. They’re safe there in Egypt.” Listen. God says this; 31 But your little ones whom you said would be a prey, them will I bring in and they shall know the land which you have despised. (Numbers 14:30-31 AMPC)
I’m going to stop there, right there. We’re going to just cut it right there. God says, “I will take the children. I will take the children and there may be adults, but they are those that have become like little children. They want to be led by Me.” The Lord says, Heritage of Faith people are going to become a seeking and enquiring people of God, like never before. This is our next characteristic of this tribe, this is going to be our next strong feature, Simon, we are going to be known; they are a people who seek the Lord. They enquire of the Lord. They really believe that God will speak to them and show them how to go into the Promised Land. Those people, they really believe in God. They really are like Abraham. They really don’t have to know everything. They really are just following God completely. We are going to become a seeking, and an enquiring people, like never before.
God’s already showing Pastor John, some things of how we are going to go about seeking and enquiring of God what He wants. We’re going to move and shift from what you want and what we want, what we’ve wanted for ourselves in this world-system. We’re going to seek the Lord to bring us out completely, to take Egypt and Babylon and this world-system out of our hearts as a people. He will have some of us that will do that. He’s already got some, but even more now. Glory to God.
“I will take the children,” says the Lord, “into the Promised Land. I will take the children. I will take child Joshua, child Caleb, and I will take the children.” He said this, “All the children that are 20 years and under, I’m going to take them in.” I haven’t got time to read you everything, but that was God’s response to them, because they gave Him a response; ten times they murmured. Ten times. Ten times they just said what they wanted to say about what God had done taking them out of Egypt.
This is God’s story. He wanted me to tell you this morning. He takes it personal. He took it personal when His people did that. He still takes it personal today. He still takes it personal today, when His people, all that they’re using Jesus for, is for a ticket to Heaven, but they live and love the world until they check out. He takes that personal. He still today; come out. I’ve delivered you. Jesus died to deliver you out of this wicked, evil world-system. Selah. Selah.
Can I pray for you? Garth, Pastor Garth, come, Pastor Garth. Hallelujah. I know I’m running late. I have too much to say and I have not restrained myself in this first service, but it’s necessary for the people to hear this song, Pastor Garth, because it’s part of the piercing and penetrating and helping them to make the decision to come out and to not love and to follow God and to believe that He has a land for you you didn’t even dream of.
So, Pastor Garth is going to sing this song again. Hallelujah. When the song is finished, you may leave. I’m just going to pray for you now; Father, I thank You, for these precious people, that are here today to hear this message. I commend them to Your Word, that is able to build them up and give them their inheritance. That’s all I can do, Lord. It’s the greatest thing I can do is to commend them to this word that is being brought now by You, this defining moment messages. Defining moment messages, I commend them. I commit them to Your grace and I commend them to Your Word. I thank You that the blood of Jesus will do what it must do in the hearts of all Your people that choose to love You, that choose to come out and love not. Hallelujah. I bless them, in Jesus’ name. And we all say, amen.
Just sit and listen, just you and the Lord, to this song.
[Pastor Garth sings: I Choose to Love Him]
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