Consecration and Deliverance: Living as God's People

Devotional

Day 1: Consecration and Distinctiveness

As followers of Christ, we are called to be consecrated, set apart for God's holy purposes. This means living in a way that reflects God's values and teachings, even when the world around us rejects them. Being consecrated is not about being different for the sake of being different; it is about embodying the holiness of God in our actions, words, and lives. We must resist the temptation to conform to the pagan culture around us and instead stand out as God's representatives. This distinctiveness is crucial for fulfilling our role in God's plan. [32:16]

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV): "You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you embody God's values and teachings in your daily life to stand out as His representative?

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Day 2: The Importance of Remembrance

Just as the Israelites were commanded to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt through the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we too must regularly remember our deliverance through Jesus Christ. This act of remembrance roots us in our identity and purpose, reminding us that we are saved for a reason—to be God's consecrated people. By remembering what God has done for us, we stay grounded in our faith and are better equipped to live out our calling. [42:30]

Deuteronomy 6:12 (ESV): "Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Reflection: How can you incorporate regular acts of remembrance into your daily routine to stay grounded in your faith and purpose?

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Day 3: Guidance by the Holy Spirit

In the book of Exodus, God provided the Israelites with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. Today, we have the Holy Spirit and God's Word to guide us. These divine resources are more than sufficient to direct our paths and help us live out our consecrated lives. The Holy Spirit and the Bible provide us with the wisdom and direction we need to navigate the complexities of life and stay true to our calling. [48:04]

John 16:13 (ESV): "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."

Reflection: How can you be more attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God's Word in your daily decisions and actions?

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Day 4: Standing Firm in Faith

The miraculous deliverance of the Israelites through the Red Sea is a powerful reminder of God's ability to save and protect His people. When we stand firm in our faith, we will witness God's mighty hand at work in our lives. This requires unwavering trust and commitment to God's promises, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties. By standing firm, we allow God to demonstrate His power and faithfulness in our lives. [01:00:50]

Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV): "And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.'"

Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that require you to stand firm in your faith? How can you trust God more deeply in these situations?

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Day 5: Living Out Our Calling

We are called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession. This high calling requires us to live out our faith in a way that declares the praises of God, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our lives should reflect this transformation and serve as a testimony to the world. By living out our calling, we fulfill our purpose as God's consecrated people and bring glory to His name. [01:05:34]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can your life better reflect your high calling as a member of God's royal priesthood and holy nation? How can you be a testimony to those around you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the recent tragic events and to pray for healing and unity in our nation. We also continued our series on the book of Exodus, focusing on chapters 13 and 14. These chapters mark a significant shift in the narrative, where God begins to teach the Israelites His commands and how to live as a consecrated people. This is not just a historical account but a foreshadowing of God's ultimate plan through Jesus Christ.

We began by acknowledging the importance of being a consecrated people, set apart for God's holy purposes. This consecration is not just about being different for the sake of being different but about embodying God's values and teachings in a world that often rejects them. We are called to be distinct, to stand out in our actions, words, and lives, reflecting God's holiness.

Next, we discussed the importance of commemoration. God instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread for the Israelites to remember their deliverance from Egypt. Similarly, we are called to remember our deliverance through Jesus Christ. This act of remembrance roots us in our identity and purpose, reminding us that we are saved for a reason—to be God's representatives in the world.

We also explored how God guides His people. In Exodus, He provided a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead the Israelites. Today, we have the Holy Spirit and God's Word to guide us. These divine resources are more than sufficient to direct our paths and help us live out our consecrated lives.

Finally, we looked at the power of God in delivering the Israelites through the Red Sea. This miraculous event is a testament to God's ability to save and protect His people. It serves as a reminder that when we stand firm in our faith, we will witness God's mighty hand at work in our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Consecration and Distinctiveness: Being consecrated means being set apart for God's holy purposes. This distinctiveness is crucial for fulfilling our role as God's representatives in the world. We must resist the temptation to conform to the pagan culture around us and instead embody God's values and teachings. [32:16]
2. The Importance of Remembrance: Just as the Israelites were commanded to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, we must regularly remember our deliverance through Jesus Christ. This act of remembrance roots us in our identity and purpose, reminding us that we are saved to be God's consecrated people. [42:30]
3. Guidance by the Holy Spirit: God provided the Israelites with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. Today, we have the Holy Spirit and God's Word to guide us. These divine resources are more than sufficient to direct our paths and help us live out our consecrated lives. [48:04]
4. Standing Firm in Faith: The Israelites' deliverance through the Red Sea is a powerful reminder of God's ability to save and protect His people. When we stand firm in our faith, we will witness God's mighty hand at work in our lives. This requires unwavering trust and commitment to God's promises. [60:50]
5. Living Out Our Calling: We are called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession. This high calling requires us to live out our faith in a way that declares the praises of God, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our lives should reflect this transformation and serve as a testimony to the world. [01:05:34]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:03] - Prayer for the Nation
[25:32] - Introduction to Exodus 13-14
[27:23] - God's Covenant with Israel
[29:02] - Israel's Cultural Influence
[32:16] - Consecration of the Firstborn
[42:30] - Commemoration and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
[48:04] - Guidance by the Holy Spirit
[50:23] - The Role of God's Word
[56:19] - Consecration and Cultural Influence
[60:50] - The Power of God at the Red Sea
[65:34] - Our High Calling in Christ
[70:54] - Prayer for James
[72:32] - Prayer for Tammy
[80:04] - Offering and Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does it mean for the Israelites to be consecrated according to Exodus 13:1-2?
How were the Israelites instructed to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt in Exodus 13:3-10?
What was the reaction of the Israelites when they saw the Egyptians approaching in Exodus 14:10-14? How did Moses respond to their fear? [59:21]

Interpretation Questions

Why is the concept of consecration significant for the Israelites, and how does it relate to their identity as God's chosen people? [32:16]
How does the act of commemorating their deliverance help the Israelites maintain their identity and purpose as a consecrated people? [42:30]
What does Moses' instruction to "stand firm" in Exodus 14:13-14 teach us about faith and trust in God's deliverance? [01:00:50]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. In what ways can you live as a consecrated person, set apart for God's purposes? Are there specific areas where you feel challenged to stand out and embody God's values? [32:16]
How do you regularly commemorate and remember your deliverance through Jesus Christ? Are there specific practices or traditions that help you stay rooted in your faith? [42:30]
Think about a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did you respond? Did you stand firm in your faith, or did you struggle with fear and doubt? How can Moses' response to the Israelites' fear inspire you in future challenges? [01:00:50]
The sermon emphasized the importance of being guided by the Holy Spirit and God's Word. How do you seek guidance in your daily life? Are there specific practices that help you stay attuned to the Holy Spirit's leading? [48:04]
The pastor mentioned the danger of conforming to the pagan culture around us. Are there areas in your life where you feel tempted to conform to worldly values? How can you resist this temptation and remain distinct as a follower of Christ? [40:15]
How can you practically support and encourage others in your small group to live out their calling as a consecrated people? Are there specific ways you can hold each other accountable and provide mutual support? [38:04]
Reflect on the power of God in your own life. Can you identify moments where you witnessed God's mighty hand at work? How can these experiences strengthen your faith and encourage you to stand firm in future trials? [01:00:50]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Help us to learn, Father, to love others the way you love us, to do better with that. Help us to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Help us, Father, as a people, to put aside anger and division and hostilities toward each other. That you would heal those hostilities that exist in our nation today." [24:25] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Consecration is the idea of taking what is ordinary, whether it's a place or a utensil or a person, and you set it aside for exclusively holy purposes. That's what it means. That's what it means to be consecrated. And God is saying to Israel, I'm setting you free, but not just for any reason. I'm doing this for a purpose. I've got a plan here." [36:23] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We are recipients of the gift of salvation provided through Christ. And because of that, we need to be reminded regularly of who we are, where we come from. But we also, when we remember, what Jesus did for us, we need to also be reminded that He did that for a purpose for us as a people." [45:13] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God has already, when you first are freed from your sin, you're baptized into Christ, you're washed clean, you rise up to a new life. What does He give you right then? The Holy Spirit. That's God Himself. That's His presence with you. He is with us, guiding us and directing us." [52:45] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are supposed to be better than that, different than that. I see people also posting, America's better than that. Let me tell you something, without Christ, America's not better than that. It's only in Christ that we can be better than that, that we should be better than that. That we must be better than that." [47:26] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Consecration is the idea of taking what is ordinary. Israel was certainly just ordinary. They were flawed. They were not in any way before this set apart themselves in any way. They were just normal, ordinary people with all the flaws that everybody has. But the consecration was that they would be a people that were no longer going to be ordinary by God's design." [36:23] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The thing that the early church had that was so powerful was how they were so contrasted with the culture around them, so much unlike the culture around them. Many of them were living in a Roman world, right? The Roman-controlled world, and that culture, it was one of the most pagan cultures in the history of the world." [41:43] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We start expecting one of two things. Either we expect the world to live like God calls us to live as set apart people without knowing Jesus, without knowing God, which they can't do. It's impossible for them to do that. We never should have even expected that." [39:25] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Every time we let ourselves get away from the word, it chips away at our ability to be the consecrated people he wants us to be. Every time we make the choice, I know that's what the word says, but I'm going to do it this way anyway, it chips away at our ability to fulfill that purpose that he has for our salvation which is to be his set apart consecrated people." [56:19] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are recipients of the gift of salvation provided through Christ. And because of that, we need to be reminded regularly of who we are, where we come from. But we also, when we remember, what Jesus did for us, we need to also be reminded that He did that for a purpose for us as a people." [45:13] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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