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NEW YEAR--A TIME FOR REMEMBERING
EXODUS 12:1-51
Introduction
I’m sure that most of us can recall a memorable day that stands out in our mind.
In our text, we find that the people of God, the Israelites, were about to experience a day like that. It would be a day like no other day they had ever lived. It would be so significant, that it would mark the beginning of their new calendar.
Every time a new year rolled around, they would be reminded of what
had happened to them and their forefathers way back in Egypt, when God sent the death angel, and delivered them from Egyptian bondage.
Just as God wanted the Israelites to recognize and remember some important things every New Year’s Day, I believe that God wants the same thing for us.
I. THE LORD WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER WHO THEY WERE.
The Israelites were God’s redeemed people. They were a people whom God had chosen to be His. And in the events surrounding this New Year, God show his great mercy toward them in delivering them from bondage by His mighty hand.
We need to know that God wants us to remember who we are too? What better time than on New Year for us to reflect back to the time when we were redeemed out of our enslavement to sin.
Israel’s enslavement was physical as well as spiritual slavery, ours was spiritual.God sent Moses to the children of Israel to deliver them from that physical slavery.
But our Lord Jesus Christ came down, and delivered us from our spiritual bondage.
He came to deliver us from the darkness of sin so that we could walk in His marvelous light.
Just as the children of Israel had no power to deliver themselves from their physical slavery, neither did we have the power to deliver ourselves from our spiritual slavery.
God had to send us one who could lead us out of bondage, into the marvelous liberty of the children of God.
That first New Year, each family was told to take a lamb of the first year, a lamb without blemish, and then slaughter it on the 14th day of the month. (The month Nisan or April)
Then, they were to take the blood of the lamb, and sprinkle it upon the two side posts of their houses, and upon the upper door post wherein they would eat it. It was to be roasted with fire.
They were to eat it with their loins girded, with shoes on their feet, and with a staff in their hand. They were to eat it in haste, because it was the Lord’s Passover.
What they did with that lamb typified what Jesus did for us.
Then every year thereafter, they were to remember this special time by observing the Passover.
THE LORD WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER WHO THEY WERE.
II. THE LORD WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR THEM.
A. Again, God Redeemed Them.
Everything about what they were instructed to do was significant.
God promised that when He saw the blood, He would
pass over them, and not destroy them as His plague of death struck the land of Egypt.
We need to always remember that it is by the blood of Jesus that we are redeemed, and that apart from that blood we would all perish.
Our redemption is in the blood of Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who gave Himself for us, that we might be saved, and given a home in Heaven.
Nothing but the blood can cleanse us, and rescue us from the wrath of Almighty God against sin and unbelief.
God Redeemed Them.
B. God Judged Their Enemies. (Vs 12-13, 29-30)
We need to remember that God also has judged our enemy.
Hebrews 2:14-15–“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
THE LORD WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER. . .
1) WHO THEY WERE, 2) WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR THEM. . .
III. THE LORD WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER ALL OF HIS GRACE TOWARD THEM. (Vs 25, 36)
A. We Should See God’s Grace In Our Past.
Ever since God had called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God’s grace was evident in His people.
Even as they were in bondage His Grace was evident.
If you are a child of God, can you look back and see God’s grace in your life before you were saved?
B. We Should See God’s Grace In Our Present.
What God had done with the nine previous plagues was miraculous in that it affected the Egyptians but not the Israelites. That’s God’s grace.
God allowed them to spoil their enemies. (Vs 33, 35-36)
If you are a child of God, can you look at your life right now and see God’s grace working in your life?
C. We Shall See God’s Grace In Our Future.
God had promised to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey. Though they failed Him, He did not fail them.
As children of God, we can look at the Scripture and we can see God’s marvelous grace yet to come in our lives!
IV. THE LORD WANTED THEM TO SHARE WITH THEIR CHILDREN WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR THEM. (Vs 26-27)
They were to burn it into their minds that the LORD God was God alone, and that they were His redeemed people, and that they should worship Him alone in spirit and in truth.
Now that’s not a bad way to observe New Year’s!
Spending it remembering God, and reminding ourselves and our loved ones of what He has done for us.
V. THE LORD WANTED THEM TO LIVE A NEW LIFE IN A NEW LAND!
That first New Year was a night like no other! (Vs 29-30)
After that awful night’s experiences, they would take all their flocks and herds, and go out to leave the land of darkness and death, and go with God, towards a new land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Many experiences lay yet in the future for them. Things they didn’t have any idea about.
There would be challenges, but there would also be miracles.
There would be blessings found in faith and obedience, but at times there would be chastening because of doubting and disobedience.
But one day the Promised Land would be a reality by faith.
God wants us to live a new life this year, we can ask forgiveness for the mistakes of the past, and walk with God, onward in our new life, trusting Him, and going where He leads.
Or, we can live in doubt, discouragement, and disobedience, and face the chastening hand of God. It is entirely up to us!
Conclusion
In this New Year, let’s consider these same things the Lord had them consider:
1) Let’s consider who we are.
2) Let’s consider what the LORD has done for us.
3) Let’s remember all of His grace toward us. (Past, present, future)
4) Let’s continually rehearse to our children what God has done for us.
5) Let’s live a new life in God’s power so that we can have His blessing and enter into His rest.
If we do these things, then 2007 can be one of the greatest years we have ever experienced in our lives.
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!