INTRODUCTION - IT TOOK GREAT FAITH FOR THE ISRAELITES TO FOLLOW MOSES OUT OF EGYPT INTO WILDERNESS

• BUT God undergirded their faith with sound factual experience - Pillar of fire & cloud
• Yet many of them fell by the wayside, many different fears, lusts, murmurings, and died
• We today are on the verge of a great experience in God's timetable-

Will we be able to follow the Lord, or will Satan confuse us and kill us?

I. GOD LED THEM OUT OF EGYPT WITH POWER

Read the scripture of the Pillar of Fire by night, and cloud by day-

A. GOD GAVE ISRAEL A GREAT, TRAINED LEADER IN MOSES - AND STILL THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH

1. God knew that they could not stand the sight of conflict- 13:17- so made a week's trip last 40 years
2. God knew they would get lost, so gave them a sign impossible to miss- cloud-fire- how high?
3. When the cloud moved, they were to move, when the cloud stood-they stood - still loused up!

B.  GOD GAVE THEM PROTECTION FROM THEIR ENEMIES, AND FOUGHT THEIR BATTLES FOR THEM

1. When the enemies came- the cloud moved between them- 19-
2. God said- go forward- and opened the sea for them to walk through dry land- 15,16
3. God closed the sea over the stalled chariots-24-28 and yet -

C.  THE PEOPLE IN THE FACE OF THESE MIRACLES STILL MURMURED AGAINST GOD'S LEADERSHIP - v. 15:24

1. People have not changed- circumstances, situations, yes, people- no.
2. We have no great guide as visible as cloud- but We have the Bible- MUST BE READ, STUDIED
3. We still face total confusion, spiritual anarchy- chase religious fads-

How can we keep from being led astray by the modern faddism that exists today?

II.  I WANT TO LEAD MY PEOPLE WITH POWER

I have a burden; we have stood still long enough- how can I signal you to go forward!?

A.  LIKE MOSES, I TRIED WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO MOVE THIS CHURCH FORWARD

1. I used to work almost day and night- calling, winning souls, pushing,- visiting members-
2. After pushing through building program-I collapsed- 1. Lorna 's hurt, 2. My own discouragement
3. When I could not get the Church to move- I shoved Mayors, Governors, Judges- etc. around-

B.  BUT NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO FACE THE RED SEA AGAIN, AND SEE IF THE CHURCH WILL GO FORWARD

1. I am older and not only wont- but CAN'T try to do it all! YOU MUST HELP!
2. We have been able to incorporate some of your ideas- and have good reputation in the state-
3. But how can we know- just exactly what God wants us to do? a Telegram from Heaven? - BIBLE

C.  MEN MUST STILL SERVE GOD BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, & A LOT LESS TERROR THAN THEN!

1. Quit trying to run other fellow's life- Peter & John John 21-"what is that to Thee?"
2. We are a Church family- Though I am tender hearted,-let me know what You are going to do-
3. The Physical appearance of Church- the Burden for souls-(calling & friendliness),-

Personal godliness- must all increase- We have a great task ahead!

III. THE BATTLE AHEAD IS CONFUSING TODAY!

Can you read the signs of the times- Pharaoh's army- & mixed multitude- spies- etc.-

A.  WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF & SECULARIZATION OF THE CHURCH, SOME THINK THEY MUST DO SO TO SURVIVE

1. The slime of ungodliness is paraded before us - Shows totally depraved-sex acts with animals,
2. Perversion has a Church, Panhandling to live natural-filthy loafing, communes,-
3. Every institution of our land is under diabolic attack- THE CHURCH FROM WITHIN & WITHOUT!

B.  THERE IS A STRANGE "REVIVAL" GOING ON IN THE SUBCULTURE THAT ALLURES SOME, BUT WATCH OUT - FAD!

1. The hip-type- sharing Christ in street, dance hall, dope den, -"Gospel Rock" invading Campus-
2. When refused a Bible Club- they formed a Dictionary Club- studied sin, salvation, love, life-
3. Have closed some dope dens-made coffee houses- but -like Teen Challenge- Which way going?

C.  THIS NEW FAD IS NOT ALL GLORY AND LIGHT, IT HAS SOME BAD PARTS TOO Acts 5:38-9 - Tongues -

1. Some of its leaders- Fred Jordan -long list of money making, sex ridden, past experiences-
2. They still have "Communes"-the same love shown at home would preserve Institution-HOME -
3. You have to stoop to their ever-changing jargon- or they want to fight you! Why?

Unless changed this group still breaks down institutions- Home, Church, Nation: HISTORY=EXPERIENCE
Where the Kids are really saved they go back to those institutions with cleaned up gospel

CONCLUSION - BUT I PLEAD WITH YOU, TRY EVERY SPIRIT, BE WISE, GO FORWARD WITH EVANGELISM, OR BE TRICKED!

1. I have no fear for the future, for the Lord is by my side- But Do you Know the Lord?
2. His presence as I study the Bible is more sure than the cloud- I'm going to study more
3. I believe in God's people- and I respect the Bible based institutions! Do you?

_{SWC SE462-71}