I'VE BEEN DELIVERED, NOW I WANT MY STUFF BACK

Tim Kelley

 

 

TEXT: EXODUS 12:31-36

 

Exodus 12:31-36

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

 

I. INTRODUCTION

 

A. JOSEPH

1. Joseph's brothers unwittingly sold him into slavery to a group of Egyptian travelers.

a. No one had any idea where it would one-day lead.

2. After a stint in the dungeon for a crime he never committed, Joseph found favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh of Egypt.

3. He was made governor over the land, and during a drought he met up with his heartless brothers who had sold him.

4. It was during this time that all of Joseph's family moved with him into the fruitful land of Egypt.

a. They had a promise from the Pharaoh that they would not be bothered.

b. They could plant and farm and raise livestock and keep all they raised.

(1) Life was grand.

(2) The Pharaoh kept his promise.

5. But "there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8).

a. Never forget, when you settle in an Egypt, things will be great for a short time.

(1) But there is coming a time when those things you settled for will deal you misery and pain.

(2) And, before you know it, you will become a slave to the very things you thought you would like to do!

(a) Sin will never play by the rules, and it will take you further than you ever planned to go.

b. People living in Egypt have a warped way of thinking.

c. People living in Egypt (sinners) have rationalized and euphemized away sin. To them---

(1) Abortion is no longer murder.

(a) It is simply a woman exercising her right of privacy to her own body.

(2) Homosexuality is merely a difference in sexual preference.

(3) Pornography is an expression of free speech.

(4) Adultery is "living together."

(5) Illegitimate babies are "love children" and

(6) Alcoholism is a disease.

 

B. SIN

 

1. If alcoholism is a disease,

a. It is the only disease that is bottled and sold;

b. It is the only disease that is contracted by the will of man;

c. It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it;

d. It is the only disease that requires outlets to spread it.

2. If alcoholism is a disease,

a. It is the only disease that produces revenue for the government;

b. It is the only disease that provokes crime;

c. It is the only disease that is habit forming;

d. It is the only disease that brings violent death on the highways;

e. It is the only disease that is spread by advertising;

f. It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause.

3. It just might be that it's not a disease at all.

4. Sin will keep you from this Book, but this Book will keep you from sin!

 

C. BE CAREFUL ABOUT UNCHECKED DECAY

 

1. A huge tree in Colorado fell to the ground with a resounding crash after having stood majestically on a hill for more than 400 years.

a. A mere sapling when Columbus landed in San Salvador,

(1) Over the centuries it had been struck by lightning 14 times,

(2) Braved great windstorms,

(3) And even defied an earthquake.

2. In the end, however, some little beetles killed it.

a. Boring under the bark, they chewed away its mighty fibers until one day that lordly king of the forest came thundering down.

3. So, too, apparently insignificant sins often make substantial inroads into our spiritual lives, and if left unchecked may cause our downfall.

a. The idle word spoken.

b. The prayer time omitted.

c. And the occasional fleshly pleasure indulged.

(1) These things "spoil" the vineyard much more than we realize.

4. If Satan can get an entering wedge of inconsistency in your life, he will increase the leverage until he brings you down and utterly destroys you!

5. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) - "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us"

6. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS!

a. He will cast them behind His back, burying them in the deepest sea.

b. And when God buries our sins in the deepest sea, He posts a sign that reads: No Fishing!

c. He not only forgives us, but He gives us our life back!

 

II. BODY

 

A. ISRAEL LEAVES EGYPT

1. In our text Moses told Israel to go door to door to "borrow" silver and gold from the Egyptians.

a. The word "borrow" there in the Hebrew means literally to REQUEST or DEMAND.

(1) By request, the Israelites demanded that the Egyptians give them gold and silver.

 

2. These items of gold and silver were not to be considered "gifts."

a. These valuables were not borrowed with the idea of returning them.

b. It was payment for forty years of work as slaves.

3. They were already delivered, but they wanted their stuff back!

a. They wanted what was coming to them!

b. They wanted their relationship with God back!

c. They wanted the liberty to worship their God in the way they saw fit to do so!

 

B. APPLICATION

 

1. I've come to declare to the prince of this world that some people in this church have been in bondage to your cruel ways long enough!

a. Satan has oppressed you,

b. He has persecuted you,

c. He has reproached you,

d. He has maligned you,

e. And he has plundered you!

2. But the time has come when Heaven has interfered on your behalf, and God has brought you out from the hands of the evil oppressor.

a. Because of God's Spirit in your life the devil has contradicted his own fancied interests,

b. He has contradicted his own prior conduct,

c. And he has given freedom to the slave that he had determined would remain in lifelong bondage!

(1) 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

3. You've been delivered, now it's time to get your stuff back!

a. It's time to get your self-respect back!

b. It's time to get your self-esteem back!

c. It's time to get your liberty back!

d. It's time to get the victory!

e. It's time for you to obtain the Power that was promised by Jesus in Acts 1:8!

4. You've been delivered, now you can have your life back!

a. You can have your good marriage back!

b. You can have your kids back!

5. Having been delivered, you are now a Child of the King.

a. You are sons and daughters of God!

b. You are an heir of Salvation; and

c. You are an heir of the Kingdom of God - Joint heirs with Christ!

6. You need to declare to the world: "I've been delivered, now I want my stuff back!"

a. But let's not only declare it - LET'S GET IT BACK!

 

C. PAUL AND SILAS

 

1. Paul and Silas were bound with fetters and chains and thrown in a dungeon because of their faith in Christ.

2. They weren't complaining because of their situation - they were singing because of their salvation!

3. As they sang at the midnight hour, giving glory to God, the earth began to quake and the doors began to open.

a. Their chains fell off and they were delivered.

4. But Paul and Silas weren't satisfied being delivered from prison!

    1. On the way out they prayed the jailer through to the Holy Ghost!

5. It's not enough for the Church to be delivered.

a. We should get what is rightfully ours!

b. We need our stuff back!

 

D. DAVID AND THE ARK

 

1. David was delivered from Saul and finally possessed the throne.

a. But this wasn't enough!

b. He wanted the Ark of the Covenant back.

2. It wasn't enough for David to be king over the United Kingdom of Israel.

a. It wasn't enough for him to be victorious over the Philistines.

b. It wasn't enough for David to enjoy fellowship with, and blessing from God.

c. David wanted the Ark close by.

(1) He wanted his stuff back!

3. The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God's presence and His power.

a. David wasn't satisfied worshiping God without being able to see the presence and power of God!

(1) If you have worship without warmth;

(2) Praise without power; and

(3) Singing without knowing the source of the song;

(4) Then all you have is rigid religion!

4. Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 3 that in the last days men would be

a. Lovers of their own selves,

b. Boasters,

c. Proud,

d. Unthankful,

e. Unholy,

f. Despisers of those that are good,

g. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,

h. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof!

5. You see, some people have religion, but the presence of God in their lives is misplaced - JUST LIKE THE ARK!

6. If you'll retrieve the Ark (the presence of God), the praise will be loosed in your life!

a. David danced before the Lord with all of his might.

b. II Samuel 6:14 says that "David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet."

(1) When God's presence is in place there will naturally be shouting.

(2) When you have God's presence in your life you can't help but worship Him!

 

III. CLOSE

 

A. THE CHURCH THEN AND NOW

 

1. Peter was an uneducated fisherman picked to follow Jesus.

a. He was snubbed by society as an unlearned man, but after he received the Holy Ghost he was restored to a right relationship with God.

(1) He spoke and the lame walked.

(2) He passed by people and his shadow caused the sick to be healed!

b. HE HAD BEEN DELIVERED, AND HE GOT HIS STUFF BACK!

2. Paul prayed over handkerchiefs and people received their healing from God!

3. After 400 years in the dark ages, the church experienced a fresh deliverance at the turn of this century.

a. In an old livery stable on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, California, God poured out His Spirit on a group of people from various denominations who were in a prayer meeting.

b. They had been delivered, but they wanted their stuff back!

4. It's not enough to be delivered!

a. Jesus promised the Church in John 14:12, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do…"

5. You've been delivered, now it's time to get your stuff back!

a. You have the ability, through the power of the Holy Ghost, to pray for the sick and they shall recover.

b. You can speak to the dead and they shall have life.

c. You can take dominion over disease and devils and they have to obey.

d. Blind eyes will open!

e. Deaf ears will be unstopped!

f. Mute mouths will speak!

6. If you've been delivered, these things are rightfully yours!

 

B. SPOILS

 

1. You will notice in our text, the Bible declares that the Israelites "spoiled the Egyptians."

2. This means that they stripped them of these fine jewels!

3. The word "Spoil" means literally, "Plunder taken in war."

a. In ancient warfare, a victorious army and its individual soldiers had the right to take any possessions of a defeated enemy that could be carried away.

b. This "booty" included not only silver and gold, but also clothing, food, weapons, animals, and slaves.

4. When you were delivered from your personal Egypt, you not only had the right to get your stuff back, you had the power to "spoil and plunder" the enemy!

5. This, according to Paul in Colossians 2:15, is exactly what Jesus did to Satan and rulers of darkness!

a. Colossians 2:15 - "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

(1) Not only did Jesus strip Satan of his power; he made a public display and spectacle of him!

b. If you have His Spirit living in you, you can do the same thing!

(1) You can spoil the enemy; and

(2) You can make a public spectacle of him!

6. If you've been delivered, it's time to get your stuff back!

 

C. ALTAR CALL

1. If you have never experienced the power of the Holy Ghost that I am preaching about, you can have it!

2. This is for "Whosoever will!"

3. If you're tired of a dead, dry religion that has now power, you can be delivered tonight!

4. And when you get delivered, you can have your stuff back!

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