2013-06-23 THREE WAYS OF APPROACHING A PROBLEM

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION: We can see from reading this passage that the Israelites are faced with a severe problem. In front of them is the mighty Red Sea which is impossible to cross. To their rear is the forceful Egyptian army who will crush them with all ease. We will see three different approaches to a problem here:

 

             The Approach By The Israelites. “Let’s go back.” Vs. 12.

             The Approach By Moses. “Let’s stand still.” Vs. 13.

             The Approach By God. “Let’s go forward.” Vs 15.

 

This is a mighty lesson that all of us can use in facing our own everyday problems.

 

The Israelite’s approach was to run from it. They wanted to go back to the Egyptian bondage. They did not want to face the hardships and struggles that would occur by facing their problems head on. They thought it would be better to be in bondage again than to face the possibility of death. When we accept a retreating position in a battle or in facing a problem we will usually end up defeated or captured in that problem. No one has ever solved a problem or wrought a victory by running from the problem. Sometimes running may seem the easiest or quickest way out, but it is normally the surest way to defeat.

 

The other approach to the problem was the one that Moses took. He told the Israelites to "stand still". He is saying, "Let's take a wait and see position". More often than not that approach will lead to defeat also. When we look at a problem with a wait and see attitude, then the problem has the opportunity of strengthening itself and making victory doubly hard. I can't say whether or not Moses was afraid, But he was wanting to wait TO see if it might get better or get easier as time went along. Waiting only allows the enemy to dig in deeper and prepare a better defense. Standing and waiting was not the answer in this situation.

 

The third approach is what God told them to do, "Go forward". Sometimes this may seem impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. God was not pleased with the "run away" attitude; Neither was he pleased with the "wait and see" attitude. He wanted them to "pursue" or "move forward" That created another problem. If they moved forward how in the world would they get 2 or 3 million people and all their possessions across the mighty Red Sea? That made it a case that only God could handle.

 

Man’s problems may seem to mount up and be insurmountable but with God as our Leader we can defeat any situation.

 

I want us to take these three approaches and apply them to some very important decisions we will make in this life. Each of us will or already have faced these and have made certain decisions regarding the problem.

 

 

 

Which approach will you take with the matter of your destiny?

 

There are some in this room this very moment who must face this problem of “What about eternity?”

 

             A. The Israelites’ Approach.

                           1. They were afraid.

                           2. They didn't have faith.

                           3. They wanted to take the easy way out.

                           4. They were hoping the problem would go away. 

 

People take the wrong way. They choose a religion that has no demands, no requirements, no responsibility, a religion where everything is acceptable. A religion where there are no “DO  NOTS”, a religion of “feeling good.”  They take the popular way, a way that will make them feel important and fulfilled. 

 

If you take the Israelite’s approach to your eternal destination, you will end up in hell.

                           5. Don't be afraid of coming to Jesus.

                                        a. Fear comes from Satan. II Tim. 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear:"

                                        b. If fear doesn't come from God, the only other place it can come from is Satan.

                                        c. Don't be afraid of what others will say about you if you walk this aisle. Anyone who would laugh is worse off than you, and those who are saved will rejoice when a sinner comes to Christ.

                           6. You must have faith. Mark 11:22. "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."

                           7. Salvation is only by faith. Eph. 2:8&9, "For by grace (God's part) are ye saved, through faith (man's part): and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

                           8. There is no easy way or any other way. Acts 4:12. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

                           9. Other denominations will tell you that you have to be baptized. That's the wrong way.

                           10. Some will say that you have to live a certain level of Christianity, give to the Red Cross, etc. All of this is the Israelite’s way. It’s not God’s way.

                           11. Others will say that a person isn't saved until they have uttered a certain language or jibber-jabber. That is the wrong way.

 

The only way you or anyone else can be saved is to trust in the substitutionary death of Christ on Calvary.

                           12. When He died on Calvary He took your place in the death portion of Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death."

                           13. Oh! my friend, if you face the question of eternal destiny in any other light other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ, you will be eternally damned in hell.

 

I’ve had hundreds of people tell me, “Leave me alone. Let me live my life the way I want to.”

 

Don't take the Israelites way out in this problem. Face it today with the Scriptures and trust Christ.

                           14. The problem will not go away. It will be before you for all eternity. Heb. 9:27. "As it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." You can't escape it. It won't go away.

 

             B. Don't Take Moses' Approach.

                           1. A "wait and see" attitude toward your eternal destination will send you to hell also.

                         2. I have heard people say when they were confronted with the question. "Are you a Christian? Will you go to heaven when you die?" Many say, "I'll just wait and see."

 

If you wait and see, the chances are you will be in hell when you realize it is too late. You can know right now whether you will go to heaven or not.

 

Listen to this:

1 John 5:12  "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

1 John 5:13  "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

 

                           3. Moses was trying to be spiritual by saying, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

 

Don’t take that approach in the matter of your future.

 

The Calvinists say, “God will save those whom He wills to be saved.” He wills everyone to be saved. 2 Pet 3:9  "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

 

                           4. You won't see God's salvation by standing still and waiting to see. You must come to Him and receive Him and His shed blood on the cross for you. Any other approach will doom your soul to hell.

 

             C. God's Method Is The Only Way.

                           1. "Go forward". Take the step of faith.

                           2. Walk this aisle.

                           3. Come to Jesus. Trust Him as your Saviour today.

                           4. Leave your old Egypt.

                           5. Take on the new man in Christ.

                           6. Come to Jesus now.

 

Why not now?

Why not now?

Why not come to Him now?

Why not now?

Why not now?

Why not come to Him now?

 

                           7. Satan will say, “Don't go. People will laugh at you."

                           8. Satan will also say, "You don't need to go. You are as good as the next person. You are OK; just wait and see."

 

How are you going to approach this matter of your eternal destiny?

 

 

Most Baptists are backslidden. A Pentecostal preacher ask a Baptist preacher; “Do you Bapists believe in backsliding”?  The Baptist preacher replied, “We not only believe in it; we practice it.”

 

Prov 14:14  "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself."

 

You can’t partly serve God. You either serve Him completely, or you are a totally disobedient servant. You are either hot, or you are nothing. God will not accept lukewarmness.

 

It is very doubtful that many are really in the spiritual condition that God’s wants them to be in.

 

Don’t raise your hand, but how many of you could say, “I know that my life is just like God wants it to be. I don’t need to change a thing.”  If you say that you are probably lying.

 

             A. You Can Take The Israelites' Approach And Ignore It And Hope That God Won't Know Where You Are Spiritually.

                           1. When God came to Adam in the garden, and said, "Adam, where art thou?" God wasn’t trying to find Adam. Adam wasn't hidden from God so that God couldn't see him. God knew where Adam was before he was ever created. God knew millions and millions of years before the Creation of the earth which particles of dust He would make Adam from. God was trying to make Adam see himself in his own sin. “Adam, take another look at yourself.”

 

You can’t hide from God.  (Our kids playing “Hide and Go Seek.”)

                           2. So God comes to the Christian today and says, "Where art thou?" All of us begin to make excuses and say, "Well, it is much harder than I thought it would be. Things weren't as bad back in Egypt as I thought they were. Let us alone so that we may go back.”

 

Stop and think with me for a moment. Can you imagine the Israelites wanting to go back to Egypt? The land where they had been in slavery for over 400 years? The land of bondage? The land of captivity?

                           3. The Israelites approach will bring chastisement. It will bring loss of joy. It will bring defeat in your daily life. It will bring hardships to you and your family. If you ignore the solution long enough, it will bring death to the Christian.

 

“Pastor Puzon, are you saying that God will take the life of a backslidden Christian?”  If you persist, He will. 1 John 5:16  "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."

 

                           4. The Israelites' way is not God's way.

 

             B. Moses’ Approach To The Problem. “Stand still and see.”

                           1. Letting sin remain in your life. The "wait until tomorrow" attitude.

                           2. There will be no easier time than today.

                           3. Don't take that "Stand still" approach. Defeat will come. You will be sorry tomorrow.

                           4. Had the Israelites taken the "Stand still" approach to the Red Sea, they would have been killed by the Egyptian army.

 

C. God's Approach.

                           1. Repent.

                           2. Confess.

                           3. Forgiveness comes. Any other attitude will cause you misery and defeat. Oh! listen to me; I'm trying to lead some of you to the victory side of the Red Sea. Don't listen to any other way. Take God’s way.

 

 

God did not save you to make a “Sunday Servant Only” out of you. Some of you seem to think that you have dispensed your responsibility to God by coming on Sunday morning and then the rest of the week is yours. That’s malarkey. That’s hogwash. That’s the devil’s lie.

 

Luke 5:27  "And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me."  That word “Follow” is continual. It means to follow - follow - follow and keep on following.

 

Mat 4:19  "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

 

Years ago someone coined the phrase, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”  What are you going to do with this day? 

 

             A. Are You Going To Take The Israelites’ Approach?

                           1. Just take life easy.

                           2. Go back when the going gets tough.

                           3. Quit because you don’t like the way things are going.

                           4. That’s what Satan wants you to do.

 

             B. Some Will Take Moses’ Approach.

                           1. “I’m just going to sit back and watch for awhile.”

                           2. “I don’t want to get involved.”

                           3. “I’m going to stand still and see what happens before I get involved with this matter of serving God.”

 

That approach will make you miserable.

 

How could anyone not give their best to God. He gave His Son on the cross for our sins, and we just “Stand Still” and watch.

 

             C. Won’t You Take God’s Approach.

                           1. Move forward.

                           2. Be faithful in giving your tithes.

                           3. Get involved in the “Faith local Promise Missions.”

                           4. Make yourself go visit the lost, the sick and shut-ins. When was the last time you went to see Mrs. Dela Cruz and Mrs. Childers?

 

Mrs. Dela Cruz wouldn’t even know some of you because it has been so long since she has seen you. You ought to be ashamed. What goes around comes around.

 

Listen to me. some of you will be invalid someday and you will sit day after day hoping someone will come to  see you, and they won’t come.

 

 

             A. Growth. We are going to have to build another building one of these days.

             B. Finances.

             C. More Leaders.

             D. Equipment.  We need a good traveling van. We need a travelling van. We need a larger nursery.

             E. We Could Name Problem After Problem. How are we going to face them?

 

We have talked about building more space. It will take at least an increase in our giving of about P2000 weekly. That would mean 50% more from each one. Each one giving what you now give plus 50% more. Are you willing to go that way?

 

             F. I Hope No One Takes The Israelites' Method.

                           1. The defeated approach.

                           2. Let's not take the approach of turning back or going backwards. Surely no one wants to turn around and go back to Egypt.

             G. Moses' Approach In These Problems Will Not Solve Them For Us.

                           1. If we "Stand still" the world will die and go to hell.

                           2. If we wait until things are easier or more accessible, then we will have been defeated.

 

             H. God's Approach Is The Only Way For Us To Go.

                           1. "Move forward."

                           2. "Go on."

                           3. "Cross the Red Sea.

                           4. "Lift up the rod of God and stretch forth our hands and the sea will divide, and then we can cross over on dry ground."

 

That excites me.

 

I can hardly stand it until we see God's hand move again. Recall with me the days God gave us this church building and the cars, at one-third the value. Do you remember that  gift from Dr. Lee’s Family when we were praying for it.

 

Last summer we had several weeks go by where we did not met the budget, and I met with our men and some members and shared with them we needed P8600 that week to meet the needs. I ask you, the church, to pray with us about this matter. How many of you remember what happened?  God put it on  Dr. Lee’s family’s heart to give  P6000, and the need was met.

 

How will you approach your problems?

 

             The problem of eternity.

             The problem of backsliding.

             The problem of what will you do with your life?

            The problem of building a great church for God.

 

Do what God says to do today.

 

 

Pastor Jeremiah Q. Puzon

Trento Fundamental Baptist Church

Purok 2, Trento,

8505,Agusan Del Sur

Philippines

 

Note: Prayer Request!!!

 

Please pray Dr. Lee, we could build another building for our children. We set a goal this year of 200 plus children who we fetched every single sunday. Even just roofs, post and flooring only, open air, Exclusives for our children.

This is not just children, it includes also young people.

 

Thank’s for your unceasing prayer for our ministry here. May God bless us all. We here and the church are always praying for you, and for your family.