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Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000066S
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00:06 Sermon #S035 - It's About Time - (Part 1)
00:21 Pastor Snell: And again, I ask, I just need to know who's convinced they're on the verge of something. 00:26 I just need to know who to-, I need to know who to aim this word at. All right? 00:29 [Congregation: Amen] 00:31 Amen. I just know who to persuade it folk are, all right. I see you. All right. Amen. 00:35 Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13, the Bible says; and Moses said to the people, do not be afraid. 00:49 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today. 01:01 Watch this, you shall see them again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace. 01:12 And the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel. Tell Oakwood church to go forward, 01:25 but lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. 01:31 And the children of Israel shall go on drag ground through the mist of the sea 01:35 and I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they will follow them. 01:41 So, I will gain honour over Pharaoh and over all of his army, his chariots and his horsemen. 01:47 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gained honour for myself over Pharaoh, 01:52 his chariots and his horsemen. And the angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them. 02:02 And the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 02:07 Sometimes God is in front of you, sometimes God just has your back. 02:11 [Congregation: Amen] 02:13 So, it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel and thus it was a cloud-. 02:18 Thus, it was a cloud and darkness to one, and it gave light by night to the other. 02:26 So that one did not come near the other all that night. 02:30 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord caused the sea to go back by strong east wind all that night 02:38 and made the sea into dry land and the waters were divided. 02:42 So, the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground 02:46 and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 02:52 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them in the midst of the sea, all pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his horsemen. 03:00 Now it came to pass in the morning watch that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire 03:09 and cloud. And He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 03:12 And He took off their chariot wheels so that they drove them with difficulty. 03:19 And the Egyptians said, let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. 03:27 Then the Lord said to Moses, 03:29 stretch out your hand over the seat that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians on their chariots 03:37 and on their horseman. 03:38 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. And when the morning appeared, 03:43 the sea returned to its full depth while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. 03:48 So, the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, 03:55 the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh. They came into the sea after them and not so much as one of them remained. 04:07 But I'm going to read emphasis verse 15 one more time. And the Lord said unto Moses, why do you cry to me? 04:12 Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Today saints, for just a little while, I want to talk to you on the subject. 04:22 It's about time. Tell your neighbour, it's about time. Tell your other neighbour, it's about time. Let's pray together. 04:37 Father, would you grant me permission to join my human weakness to your divine strength? 04:49 Lord, we don't want a sermon that's a human construct. We need a revelation, a word from you. 05:00 So, Father, I'm praying that you are giving me the strength to be able to preach your word. 05:05 But Lord, would you give the body, the faith and the courage to be able to receive and act on the word. 05:13 Lord, would you hide me in the shadows of the cross that Jesus alone might be seen. 05:17 That Christ alone would be heard. And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone be praised. 05:23 We ask this in the name of Him who is all together, lovely. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray all things, 05:29 let those who believe say together. Amen and amen. You may be seated in the house of the Lord. 05:36 Again, I invite all of our digital disciples online. Do your thing, copy the link, share it. 05:42 If you're on YouTube, send it to somebody that they may be blessed as well. Again, talking to you under the subject, 05:50 it's about time. You know friends, when you're on the verge of something, 05:59 one of the keys to success is having providential timing. You can to have all the talent, you can to have all the support, 06:11 you can to have all the funding, you can have all the resources, but that's completely nullified. 06:17 If you don't have good timing. And see, good timing requires 2 things. 06:24 First, you've got to have a sharp end of spiritual antenna to be able to sense where God is moving in a particular season. 06:33 And then you've got to have the courage to be able to act within the season that God has ordained. 06:41 You see, the Bible says, friends, that there is a time 06:44 and season for every purpose under heaven so that there is a time to sow and there is a time to reap. 06:53 There is a time to build and there is a time to tear down. 06:58 There is a time for us to mourn and there is a time for us to laugh. There is a time to war and a time to have peace. 07:08 But the problem is there are times that there is a deficit because our activity doesn't match our season. 07:17 So, there are times where we are trying to reap when we have not sown. 07:22 There are times where we are planting when we should be reaping and we are not reaping because we have not planted. 07:31 There are times where we were laughing when we should have been mourning and now, we should be laughing, 07:38 but we're still in the morning season. There are some that are trying to tear down what God has built up 07:45 and some are building up what God is trying to tear down. 07:50 There are some that are trying to pluck up when God is trying to plant 07:54 and some are trying to plant the very things God is trying to pluck up. 07:58 And the only thing more frustrating than disobedience is trying to do obedience outside of its season. 08:08 And what you learn from the narrative, from the Passover to the Red Sea is that you've got to do God's will in God's timing. 08:17 Are you hearing me today? And this is critical because somebody's saying, pastor, I'm preparing for a move of God. 08:25 But the question is, are you prepared to be moved by God? Let me say it again. 08:30 See, some of us are preparing for a move of God, but are you prepared to be moved by God? 08:37 And the truth is that as you are preparing for a move from God, there are circumstances preparing you to be moved by God. 08:47 Because when you are on the verge, there is a tendency to hesitate to vacillate, to shuffle our feet. 08:54 But one of the things I'm learning is that expensive comes with a heavy-, that hesitation comes with an expensive price tag. 09:02 Are you with me today? Let me say it this way. 09:05 My wife and I, we travel a good bit and so one of the things that happens is that every now 09:11 and then we're looking for plane tickets and hotels. But one of the things that will happen is when you begin a search, 09:18 the algorithm gets a note that you are looking for something. 09:23 And there are times where we will see a good price on the hotel or the tickets. 09:27 But we will wait and hesitate and search for a better price. But how many of us know that sometimes when you see a good deal, 09:36 you've got to act on it right away. Because those tickets that are $400 09:40 before you go to bed are $700 when you wake up in the morning. 09:45 And so, we are at a place now where we don't even begin a search unless we're ready to purchase at the same time. 09:53 Because I know a good deal when I see it, but the longer I wait to act on it, the more it's going to cost. 10:00 And how many of us know that in Christ, you shouldn't begin a search until you're ready to act on it. 10:07 Because the longer you wait to obey, the more it's going to cost. So as soon as you call on the name of the Lord, 10:14 you ought to get ready to see God move. So, when you put in the search, you ought to be ready to act on what God said. 10:22 Are you hearing me today? And so go back with me if you don't mind to Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13, 10:27 as we unpack this in the scriptures today. Exodus 14 and verse 13, when you get there, let me hear you say amen. 10:34 The Bible says, and Moses said to the people, do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, 10:42 which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you'll see no more forever. 10:51 Now friends, I need you to get that there are some powerful lessons of faith in our story today. 10:57 But the first thing it teaches is that God facilitates deliverance, not entanglement. 11:04 Let me say it again that God facilitates deliverance, not entanglement. 11:10 Now I need you to get beloved that one of the reasons that we sometimes get stuck on the verge is 11:17 because we are too comfortable. Revisiting certain practices, certain people and certain situations. 11:27 And it is the revisiting of old habits that keeps us stuck on the verge. 11:33 Now, the truth is that you are not going to like what is being said because in many ways it will not feel practical. 11:40 But how many of us know that the discipline of emotion, that the discipline of desire and the discipline of spirit, 11:49 it has no practical element to it. How many of us know there is nothing practical about godliness? 11:55 In other words, I need you to get that God literally says to the people of God. 12:01 He says, the Egyptians that you see today, you are not going to ever see them again. 12:08 In other words, God says that when I deliver you, you won't be tethered to them in slavery. 12:14 You won't be tied to them financially, you won't be tied to them culturally, you won't be tied to them in worship. 12:22 I'm going to create a complete and utter separation from the Egyptians because when God delivers you, 12:31 God doesn't deliver you in part. God doesn't deliver you in segments. God doesn't deliver you in pieces. 12:38 Do I have a witness that when God delivers you, God delivers you in entirety? 12:45 Are you hearing the word today? 12:47 And see, it's interesting 12:49 because I need you to get that Jesus is not just describing what He is going to do to the Egyptians. 12:55 He is actually giving us a strategy for life. In other words, He's saying, I'm about to answer your prayer. 13:04 I'm about to give you the deliverance you requested, but once I deliver you, let's not revisit this again. 13:13 You all mighty quiet. In other words, can I suggest that the reason that sometimes our deliverance 13:19 becomes so messy and complicated and slow is that we don't receive deliverance? Sometimes we make room for entanglements. 13:31 You see, God says, when I bring you out of Egypt, you all ain't going back to Egypt no more. 13:37 And see, the problem is that there are some of us that as young adults we have prayed that God would give us freedom from 13:43 emotional entanglements. 13:46 But the problem is you keep making room for entanglement. 13:50 In other words, He is saying to the Egyptians or to the people of God, you 13:54 and the Egyptians can't just be friends. 13:57 He's saying you and the Egyptians can't take up on one another anymore. 14:02 He's saying you and the Egyptians won't have no more interface. 14:06 And the reason that we don't have emotional deliverance is because you still got Egypt in your DMs. 14:14 Some of us still trolling Egypt on Instagram, some of us still on the phone with Egypt all night long, 14:21 and we're wondering why we can't get free. And you are saying, God hasn't answered the prayer. 14:27 The problem isn't that you haven't been delivered. The problem is that your habits keep you entangled. 14:35 Are you all hearing the word today? 14:37 And the reason this is critical is that a part of the spiritual journey requires you to create a severing from your sinful 14:46 past. You see, I need somebody to get, 14:49 the reason we get messed up is we believe that the only way to overcome is that we have to be weaned from certain things. 14:58 I need you to know that God doesn't want to wean you. 15:03 God wants to deliver you. In other words, you can't be weaned from smoking weed. Because each time you smoke, 15:14 it is going to strengthen its attachment. You can't be weaned from pornography 15:20 because each clique is going to tie it into you. You can't be weaned from alcoholism because each time you do it, 15:28 it is going to be reinforced. You can't be weaned from certain people because it keeps the soul tie alive. 15:35 And the problem is that we think that we makes better sense. 15:39 To be weaned off of certain things than to just let the power of God deliver us from certain things. 15:46 And I need you to get that. The issue is not that we stumble and fall because the Bible says a just man falls 7 times, 15:55 but he rises up again. The issue is not that we stumble. The issue is that we try to make stumbling a part of our strategy. 16:04 And in other words, friends, if I'm going to learn how to walk, guess what? Falling is a part of the process, 16:10 but falling is not a part of the plan. In other words, you got to stop trying to get close to temptation 16:18 and figure out how strong you are. Is why the Bible says flee the very presence of temptation. 16:25 1st Thessalonians 5-22 says that you ought to flee the very appearance of evil. 16:32 Are you all hearing me today saints? And that's why Jesus in Matthew 26, 16:36 He says, pray that you enter not into temptation. Why? Because the spirit may be willing, 16:43 but how many of us know the flesh is weak? 16:47 And what I'm saying is that the key to overcoming is not seeing how close I can get to temptation and still stand. 16:56 The key to overcoming is having enough sense to know I'm too weak to even get in proximity to certain things. 17:04 Are you all hearing the word today, my friends? And I need you to know that God wants to bring about a thorough 17:10 and complete deliverance in your life. I need you to remember the promises of the word of God. 17:15 2nd Corinthians 5-17 says, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things have passed away. 17:24 Behold, all things have become like new. 17:27 Is there anybody that believes that if the sun sets you free, then you shall be free indeed? 17:34 Is there anybody that can testify that I once was, but I am now? I know you're holy today. 17:41 But we hadn't always been saved. 17:43 Am I telling the truth? Do I have any “used to Be's” that now you found your wholeness in Jesus. 17:50 Because Christ is able to set you free. In other words, 17:56 I need somebody to kind of make sure you sievert ties so you get the devil's price tag off of you. 18:03 I remember one time Malcolm; I was going somewhere to preach and I made a mistake and left my jacket at home. 18:09 So, I had to run to the store and get a jacket and then I had to go straight to the church. 18:13 And so, when I got to the church, there was somebody at the church that was like, pastor, you like Dillard's, don't you? 18:19 I say, well, how do you know I like Dillard's? And they knew I like Dillard's 18:23 because I still had the tag on it even though I had been paid for. You all didn't get it. 18:29 I still had the tag on it even though it had been paid for. 18:32 And what I'm saying to somebody today is you've been paid for by Jesus. 18:37 But you got to take the devil's tag off of you so they don't know where you came from. 18:43 The purchase means that you belong to him and not the former life. Are you all hearing me today friends? 18:52 The second thing this teaches beloved, is that you've got to know what season you're in. 19:01 The sight of the Egyptians terrifies them in such a way that they begin calling on the name of the Lord with a fierceness. 19:11 In our story they begin to seek God with an urgency that you don't see anywhere in the entire Exodus narrative. 19:19 Are you all hearing me today friends? 19:21 Did you notice friends that there is almost a certain laughable absurdity that when God hears them praying 19:28 and calling out to Him. God literally rebukes them for praying and says, why are you all crying out to me? 19:39 Moses tells the people that is time to go forward. Now, I hope somebody's getting this, 19:49 that God is not rebuking them for prayerfulness. He's rebuking them for their lack of awareness. 19:57 He's saying, this is not the time to be praying right now. 20:04 He's saying, if you would've been praying in season, you would be moving in the right season. 20:11 He's saying if you had been praying-, you should have been praying before you left Egypt. 20:16 You should have been praying while the plagues was falling. You should have been praying on the night of Passover. 20:22 So, if you had been praying in the right season, 20:26 then you would be convinced in the right season and you wouldn't be trying to figure out my will. 20:32 You would already actually know my will. Are you all hearing what I'm saying? And see, beloved, 20:38 I need you to get that. Sometimes when you lack timing or awareness of the season, 20:44 sometimes you can get stuck right there when you're on the verge of something. 20:49 This is critical because how many of us know that when God moves, sometimes God moves with such suddenness 20:57 and such swiftness that there is not always a build-up. 21:01 And sometimes your steps of faith are not baby steps. 21:06 God requires you to make big steps and trust Him every step along the way. 21:12 But I need somebody to get that if you are not in the right season, you won't be ready to move when God says move. 21:22 The problem is some of us are-, because some of us were moving when we should have been praying. 21:29 Now we got to stop and pray when we should be moving. Are you all hearing what I'm saying? 21:34 And I need somebody to know that you do damage to yourself and to others when you don't understand the season to pray 21:41 and the season to move. In other words, we've got seniors who've been here 4 years and are about to graduate 21:49 and you are just now praying about God's plan for your life. Can I say to the freshman, 21:55 you better start praying in this season so you know how to move. 21:59 Come graduation season. There are times where we literally jump into a new job and now, we want to have a fasting day, 22:07 the first day of the job. No, you should have been fasting before you took the job and now, 22:12 you're stepping with confidence into the new job. 22:15 I remember I literally had this happen in premarital counselling with a young couple that was engaged. 22:19 They had come upon a little trial, had a few arguments. And the boy got a little bit nervous and said, well, pastor, 22:25 maybe we need to put it on hold. I need to take some time and pray about the relationship. 22:30 And me and the girl are looking at him crazy like you should have been praying before you bought the ring, 22:36 before you got on one knee. You got to know when it's time to pray and when it's time to move. 22:42 Are you all hearing me today? And let me just be clear when I say this and I'm not going to stay here long. 22:47 The problem with some of us is prayer is just the way church folks sanctify hesitation. 22:55 [Congregation: Laughing] 22:57 I knew you all was going to get mad. In other words, like when we need to pray about it. 23:02 It is just the way we garb our disobedience in righteous rhetoric 23:09 so that we can appear to be in Christ even when we're outside of His will. 23:15 I know you all mad at the pastor today. In other words, there are times where we walk around praying 23:21 and asking God and see, the reason we are praying is not because we didn't hear what God said. 23:26 We are praying because we didn't like what God said. And the truth is I've learned the hard way. 23:33 It doesn't matter how many times you pray; our strong prayers won't change God's mind. 23:39 Are you all hearing what I'm saying? And there is somebody today that needs to be asking specifically this, Lord, 23:48 what season am I in? In other words, there is somebody that is in a season of transition. 23:56 There is somebody in a season of stillness. There is somebody in a season of pivot. 24:02 There is somebody in a season of restoration. There is somebody in a season of reconciliation. 24:09 There is somebody in a season of waiting. And there are times where we're always asking, Lord, 24:15 what am I supposed to be doing? Instead of asking God, what season am I in? Because if I know what season I'm in, 24:23 then I already know what I'm supposed to be doing. Are you all hearing what I'm saying? And I need you to say this. 24:29 I need you to say this because sometimes certain seasons may overlap. Okay? So just like at the end of winter, 24:40 you still may have some cold days in April and May. 24:45 Are you all hearing what I'm saying? Or sometimes in October, you still may have some hot days in fall. 24:51 Because sometimes the elements of one season may spill over into another season. 24:58 But it doesn't mean the season has not changed. Oh God. I need you to know, don't go by the elements. 25:04 You got to go by the season. Let me say it this way. I remember about 13 years ago before we had our first son. 25:11 Many of you know my wife and I had lost 4 kids through miscarriage before we had Jayden. 25:18 And it's crazy because we were in a season of mourning. But there came a time where the season of mourning had expired. 25:27 But guess what? There were still some tears there. There was still some grief there. 25:33 But God says, I need you to move from mourning to a season of anticipation. you all not hearing me. 25:40 Just because we were still weeping didn't mean we should stop anticipating. 25:46 And I need you to know that we are 3 kids later because God changes the season. 25:53 And there is somebody that's saying, I'm still weeping. But guess what? You can weep 25:58 and anticipate at the exact same time. For the Bible says weeping may endure for a night. 26:05 But how many know that joy comes in the morning. Are you all hearing me today friends. 26:14 Thank you so much for joining us for the Breath of Life Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell! 26:22 We hope and pray that you have been blessed by this fourth message in the sermon series entitled “On The Verge of Something.” 26:32 Join us next week for Part Two of the message entitled “It's About Time.” You don't want to miss it! 26:41 For the past 49 years, Breath of life has been presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 26:47 From a contemporary urban perspective, in 2023, we plan to grow our reach. 26:52 And your donations are what help make that possible. 26:58 This year, our major goal is to launch our Breath of Life weekly broadcast into five new cities. 27:05 In addition, we're excited to introduce our new Breath of Life Kids platform with original content created with your 27:13 little ones in mind. 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Revised 2023-04-26