Sunday Morning 1st Service | I Am #2 | Pastor Rob Thomas

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Bitter Waters Made Sweet

Moses led Israel through the desert for three days without water. When they found a pool at Marah, they spat out the bitter water. Their celebration after the Red Sea miracle faded into complaints. But God told Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water, transforming it. The same God who turned deathly thirst into provision still heals what poisons our joy. [47:02]

Jehovah Rapha doesn’t just notice our desperation—He acts. The wood prefigured Christ’s cross, where bitterness meets redemption. Your Marah moment—the diagnosis, the betrayal, the regret—isn’t too toxic for His touch. He specializes in reversing what seems irreversible.

Where have you stopped expecting healing because the wound has festered too long? Name that bitter place today. What if obedience, not despair, could shift your perspective?

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
(Exodus 15:25, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jehovah Rapha to reveal His healing method for your bitter place.
Challenge: Write down one “undrinkable” situation and pray over it daily this week.

Day 2: The Wood in Your Hand

Moses didn’t debate God’s strange solution. He grabbed the wood and threw it. Obedience unlocked the miracle. Some of us pray for healing while clinging to victimhood, unforgiveness, or unhealthy habits. Jehovah Rapha’s power flows when we release what He asks us to surrender. [57:41]

Healing isn’t passive. Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Get up.” He told the blind man, “Wash.” Your part may feel small—forgiving a wounder, deleting a temptation, scheduling a doctor’s visit—but obedience bridges despair and deliverance.

What “piece of wood” has God placed in your hand—a practical step you’ve resisted taking?

If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes… I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.
(Exodus 15:26, ESV)

Prayer: Confess any disobedience blocking your healing.
Challenge: Call one person today to reconcile or ask for forgiveness.

Day 3: The Branch of Righteousness

Judah faced exile, their failures glaring. Yet God promised a righteous Branch from David’s line—Jesus. This King wouldn’t just rule; He’d be righteousness for His people. Your standing with God isn’t earned by perfect behavior but received through Christ’s flawless record. [01:06:21]

Jehovah Sidkenu means your identity isn’t your résumé, your past, or others’ opinions. When shame whispers, “You’re disqualified,” declare: “Christ is my righteousness.” His grace covers your gaps.

What lie about your worthiness have you believed instead of His “I AM” over you?

The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely… This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
(Jeremiah 23:5-6, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for trading your sin for His righteousness.
Challenge: Write “Jehovah Sidkenu” on a card; read it when shame attacks.

Day 4: Swapping Shame for Robes

Jesus took your filth—every lie, lust, and failure—and draped you in His purity. At the cross, He screamed, “It is finished!” so you could whisper, “I am clean.” Jehovah Sidkenu doesn’t reform you; He replaces your rags with royal robes. [01:18:49]

You’re not graded on a curve. God sees Christ’s perfection when He looks at you. Walk boldly, not because you’re flawless, but because His righteousness is your permanent identity.

What guilt do you need to lay at the cross today?

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one specific shame and declare Christ’s righteousness over it.
Challenge: Destroy a symbolic “rag” (e.g., old note, torn cloth) representing past shame.

Day 5: Breathing Jehovah’s Names

The Israelites left Marah for Elim—a lush oasis. Jehovah Rapha led them there. Jehovah Sidkenu covered their grumbling with grace. These names aren’t theological concepts but breathable truths. Speak them when pain flares or condemnation strikes. [01:30:10]

Every “I am…” statement you make (“I am afraid,” “I am guilty”) is an altar. Replace it with His “I AM.” Say, “Jehovah Rapha heals this,” or “Jehovah Sidkenu covers this.” His names dismantle lies.

Which name—Healer or Righteousness—do you need to cling to most today?

Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
(Revelation 22:17, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to make these names real in your current struggle.
Challenge: Set a phone reminder to declare both names aloud three times today.

Sermon Summary

The passage explores how the true names of God change suffering into hope and shame into standing. It begins with the I am revelation from Exodus and moves to two names that address the deepest human needs. Jehovah Rapha appears in the story at Mara when bitter water becomes drinkable after divine intervention, and the narrative presses that God reaches where human effort cannot. The account highlights that healing often involves an act of obedience and that God uses ordinary means to restore what seems beyond repair. Theology connects spirit, soul, and body so that restoration includes emotional and relational wounds as well as physical illness.

Jeremiah’s prophecy introduces Jehovah Sidkenu, the Lord our righteousness, as a solution to the crushing burden of shame. The covenant promise lifts righteousness off human performance and places it on the finished work of the righteous branch from David. Righteousness becomes a gift to receive rather than a trophy to earn. The result unravels the internal rehearsal of failure and opens the door to confident access to God without pretense.

Practical application runs through the whole presentation. The narrative moves believers from merely admiring miracles to responding in obedience, releasing bitterness, and claiming identity in Christ. The text contrasts short-lived celebration with lasting faith, showing how quickly memory of deliverance can fade when thirst, fear, or fatigue arrive. The two names together form a single pastoral logic: healing removes the pain that hides sinners, and righteousness removes the shame that binds them. Both deliverances invite immediate response, communal prayer, and a posture of surrender in order for transformation to begin now rather than later.

Key Takeaways

1. God heals what others cannot God reaches the interior places medicine, counseling, or human effort cannot touch. That healing includes deep emotional traumas, chronic shame, and physical conditions that seem beyond repair. Belief in Jehovah Rapha reorients the heart from clever workarounds to dependence and allows space for mysterious cures and slow restorations alike. This confidence calls for practical cooperation with revealed wisdom while resisting the lie that only human strategies will succeed. [52:42]
2. Bitter places become sweet testimonies The Mara episode shows that what seems toxic can become life giving when acted upon by God. Broken seasons carry the raw materials for future testimony if they are not insulated in grudges or secrecy. Allowing God to touch bitterness produces narratives that serve others, not accidents that only embitter the soul. Choosing to bring wounds into the light invites transformation that reshapes identity and vocation. [55:27]
3. Obedience opens the door for healing Healing frequently begins with a concrete, sometimes uncomfortable, step of obedience rather than mere sentiment. Obedience dislodges pride, releases forgiveness, and aligns behavior with revealed truth so God can work. This does not blame the sufferer but invites responsibility for the next move toward wholeness. Small acts of faith create real avenues for restoration. [57:19]
4. Righteousness is a gift received Jehovah Sidkenu removes the burden of proving worth and replaces it with a relational standing received through trust. That exchange silences the inner voice that equates performance with value and frees the believer to serve from health rather than from exhaustion. Identity reforms from failure based to status based on Christ, enabling bold access to God and renewed spiritual fruit. This gift changes how daily life and service unfold. [68:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:49] - Greeting and series overview
[39:51] - The power of knowing God
[41:43] - The I am declaration
[45:22] - Introducing Jehovah Rapha
[47:02] - The Mara story of bitter water
[52:42] - Scripture declares God heals
[57:19] - Healing and obedience explained
[63:31] - Prayer for healing and invitation
[65:03] - Introducing Jehovah Sidkenu
[68:11] - Righteousness as a gift
[81:11] - Call to respond and surrender
[91:12] - Altar invitation and closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Exodus 15:22-26 (ESV)
22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, your healer.”

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV)
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

Observation Questions

In Exodus 15:22-26, what immediate problem did the Israelites face after crossing the Red Sea, and how did they respond when they found bitter water?
What specific action did God instruct Moses to take to heal the water at Marah, and what name did God reveal afterward? [52:42]
According to Jeremiah 23:5-6, what title is given to the promised “righteous Branch” from David’s line, and what does this name signify?
The sermon emphasized that healing often starts with obedience. What example of obedience was highlighted in the story of Moses and the bitter water? [57:19]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God tested the Israelites at Marah after they had just witnessed the miracle of the Red Sea? What does this reveal about human nature and faith?
The sermon stated, “Healing removes the pain that hides sinners, and righteousness removes the shame that binds them.” How do the stories of Marah (Exodus 15) and the “righteous Branch” (Jeremiah 23) illustrate this connection?
In Exodus 15:25, God calls Himself “the Lord who heals you” (Jehovah Rapha). How does this name contrast with the Israelites’ initial reaction to their circumstances?
The sermon mentioned that righteousness is a gift, not a trophy to earn. How does Jeremiah’s prophecy redefine righteousness, and why is this important for someone struggling with shame? [01:08:11]

Application Questions

Where in your life are you currently facing a “bitter” situation (relational, emotional, physical) that feels beyond repair? What step of obedience—even a small one—could you take to invite Jehovah Rapha into that area? [57:19]
The sermon warned against holding onto bitterness or victimhood. Is there a wound or grudge you’ve been “keeping open” that needs to be surrendered to God’s healing? How might releasing it create space for a testimony? [58:17]
When have you felt the pressure to “perform” or earn God’s approval? How would daily declaring Jehovah Sidkenu (“The Lord our righteousness”) shift your perspective on your identity and worth? [01:14:33]
The Israelites’ celebration at the Red Sea faded quickly when thirst returned. What recent “miracle” or answered prayer in your life have you forgotten to thank God for? How can you actively remember His faithfulness this week?
The sermon connected physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Are there habits or choices in your life (e.g., diet, unforgiveness, isolation) that hinder God’s healing in one of these areas? What practical change could you make? [01:01:00]
How might sharing a past “bitter” experience that God transformed into a testimony encourage someone in your community this week? Who needs to hear your story? [55:27]
The phrase “my standing with God is not based on how well I’ve lived” was emphasized. How would living in this truth change the way you approach prayer, service, or relationships?

Sermon Clips

44s

#HealedAndMadeRight

“``Jehovah Rapha, he sees your wounds and he heals them. And then Jehovah Sidkanu takes your guilt and he makes you right with god. Guys, together, these two names together declare something powerful over your life. They declare something beautiful. You don't have to hide your brokenness and your pain for another day. You don't have to muster up the strength to carry it on into tomorrow into another another day, another Monday, or you're trying to hold yourself together because of all of the brokenness and the pain and the wounds and the shame within you.”

32s

#BeyondMedicineGodHeals

“God heals what no one else can reach. Guys, listen. How many of you are thankful for doctors? You know they're a gift from god? Absolutely. We wouldn't have doctors without God. God is our healer, and sometimes he uses doctors, and we're thankful for them. But, guys, there are places in your body, there are places in your mind, there are places in your heart that only Jehovah Rapha can touch and heal. Yeah. Yeah. No man can come close.”

39s

#RighteousInChrist

“The voice in you that whispers in your ear and says, you will never change. You're too far gone. God can't possibly love somebody like you. Guys, that voice is silenced when you put your trust in Jehovah Sidkanu. Your identity is now righteousness in Christ. The Bible says, as a follower of Jesus, you are a new creation. We talked about that a few weeks ago. That old dude that felt all the shame and guilt is dead, crucified with Christ.”

38s

#StopPerformingStartResting

“So many of us were raised with certain ideals and thoughts, and we think we have or at least we feel this constant pressure to be good enough, to do good enough, to to fix ourselves enough so that we can truly be loved by god. What a lie. It's a lie to burn us out so that we can't fulfill god's purposes and plans for our lives. Jehovah Sidkanu says, stop performing and stop pretending. I know who you are from the inside out. I see it all.”

33s

#FreedomFromCondemnation

“So, you don't have to spend your whole life trying to be righteous enough and trying to measure up because the lord is your righteousness. Doesn't mean we go live however we want to. We love the lord. We wanna serve him. We wanna honor him with our lives. Right? However, how have you know? We're gonna jack it up sometimes. We don't have to live in condemnation. We come and we repent. We make things right, and we move on because the lord is our righteousness.”

36s

#TurningBitternessToHope

“God loves to take the bitter parts of your journey, the bitter parts of your story. Maybe it's that diagnosis that you got. Or maybe it's the divorce that you went through. Or maybe it's rejection. Or maybe it's a failure. Whatever it may be. And he loves to turn them into places where even others can come and drink and find hope. How do you know that God doesn't waste anything?”

35s

#PrayAndActResponsibly

“You can sit there all day long and intercede. God, I just pray. I just declare healing over my body. By Jesus' stripes, I am healed. From the top of my head to the tip of my toes, I think, hold on a second. And you're taking a big drink of your supersized Mountain Dew. I just come against diabetes in Jesus' name. Krispy Kreme. I rebuke it in Jesus' name. Doctors untold you, you better watch your blood sugar. Let me tell you, you can pray all day long, but you're responsible for what you know.”

31s

#ObedienceOpensHealing

“What if you're obedient to what you knew in God's word, and what if you actually released forgiveness? Do you know you might actually find your healing? Healing often begins with obedience. Obedience opens the door for Jehovah Rapha to move. And what are we obedient to? We're obedient to what the Bible says that we are responsible for what we know. Right? For what God has revealed to us.”

38s

#StopKeepingWoundsOpen

“I am such a victim. I have been so wounded. I've been so hurt. You don't understand my story. You don't know what they did to me, whoever they is. Maybe it's one person, maybe it's 50 people. You just don't understand. you're the one who's keeping that wound open. You're the wound well, you're the one keeping that thing festering. You may be praying every day. God, heal this wound in my heart. I just feel so broken. Like I it's five, ten years later. Lord, heal me.”

32s

#FromMessToTestimony

“Guys, your journeys through despair can become your biggest testimonies. And oftentimes, it's up to us. God already promised he will work all things together for your good if you love him and called according to his purpose. How have you in here love the Lord and you're called according to his purpose? Lift your hand up. Well, then you got nothing to worry about. He's already there. He's already turning today's mess into tomorrow's testimony. Amen.”

35s

#HeHealsTheImpossible

“There are places that only he can heal. Guys, he can heal the cancer you've been diagnosed with. You've gotten this terrible statement from the doctor on, and he says there's not much hope. He's the god who heals. He can touch that. He can calm anxiety that no pill can calm. He can he can bring healing to the trauma that no counselor can walk you through.”

45s

#ExchangeForRighteousness

“Do you understand what Jesus did? Blameless and holy, he became every terrible thing you've ever done. Every shameful word you've ever spoken. Every wound that you would ever carry every sickness that would ever inflict you. He willingly became all that so that you could become the righteousness of god in him. Yes. Yes. So, why do we keep carrying it? Sometimes, we want to. I have right to be angry. I've been done wrong. That's not the way of the kingdom.”

39s

#IdentityInJesusNotShame

“The voice of shame loses its power. And for the first time you realize, my standing with god is not based on how well I've lived. It's based on Jesus and what he did for me And that, guys, changes everything. And that may sound a lot like your story. Maybe you are saved, you're a follower of Jesus, but down deep, you feel unworthy. The shame from your past, your shame, your guilt seems to be speaking louder than god's grace in your life.”

62s

#DeclareHealedAndRighteous

“Guys, you're defined by what Jesus has done in you. You can stand clean and confident and accepted before the father. Will you close your eyes with me? Bow your heads across this place. Guys, you have been declared fully healed and fully righteous. Not because of anything you've done, but because of who he is. So let me ask. What place in your life do you need to bring before Jehovah Rapha today? What guilt or shame do you need to release to Jehovah's Sytkanu right now?”

33s

#GodMeetsYouInBitterness

“I imagine they're emotionally exhausted for three days. They've been waiting for a miracle. They're spiritually discouraged. They're desperate, and they need a healer. But right there in their bitterness, god comes and meets them. If you go down to verse 25, here's what it says. Then Moses cried out to the lord, and the lord showed him a piece of wood, and he threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.”

52s

#SimpleObedienceMiracles

“Moses didn't get to choose the method by which god would work. He simply had to obey. God showed him a piece of wood and prompted him to throw it in the water, and he did. And the bitterness was gone just like that. Guys, sometimes your healing starts with simple obedience. This is where I was thinking this morning. We love to hold on sometimes to bitterness. Sometimes, we'd like to hold on to our victim mentality.”

25s

#RememberGodsMiracles

“Now here's the funny thing. We're sitting here talking about this like they're some kind of idiots, but we probably would have done the same darn thing. How many of you have done the same thing before? You've seen God move in miraculous ways in your life, and then three days later, but I'm thirsty. Am I gonna die, Lord? He just saved your life three days before.”

35s

#FromPresenceToPanic

“So if you can feel it, this moment, they shifted from this from this mindset, god is with us to this mindset of god has abandoned us. We're all alone, and we're about to die. And this is the moment where suddenly a miracle begins to feel like a distant memory. How soon we forget. Right? And the present need becomes overwhelming. And that's the way we can get sometimes. Right?”

40s

#ChoosePraiseNotGrumbling

“So in that moment, the same people who had just three days earlier been dancing and celebrating God's victory, all of a sudden, the Bible says they began to complain bitterly against Moses. They began to say, what are we supposed to drink? Why did you bring us out here to die? Their joy turned into grumbling. Anybody in there ever been there? Their celebration turned into despair.”

40s

#GraceExchange

“Guys, on the cross, Jesus took every sin, every failure, every wound, every sickness, everything that you would ever carry, he took it. Every shameful thing you ever did or said. And what did he do? He gave you his perfect record in exchange. Guys, without Jesus, you've gotten an f in this life. Right. Right. And he just gave you his GPA. And it's not four point o. It's 10 o. He exchanged with you.”

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Sunday Morning 1st Service | I Am #2 | Pastor Rob Thomas

Devotional

Day 1: Bitter Waters Made Sweet

Day 2: The Wood in Your Hand

Day 3: The Branch of Righteousness

Day 4: Swapping Shame for Robes

Day 5: Breathing Jehovah’s Names

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Sunday Morning 1st Service | I Am #2 | Pastor Rob Thomas

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