Muskoka Lakes Ministry of Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance
Sunday May 9, 2021
Message: Deliverance
Reverend Glynis Faith
Announcements
* There are changes occurring in how we put together the worship videos. We thank you for your patience as we work through the growing pains of change. For the near future, the times the worship videos will be made available will vary. The printed copy will continue to be emailed out early on Sunday mornings.
* Bible study on Monday at 7pm via Zoom
* Presbytery of Barrie meets Tuesday 7pm via Zoom
* Lectio Divina on Thursday at 7pm via Zoom
* Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmoms and great grandmoms AND to all those people who have been ‘like a mom’ to us over the years. Happy Mother’s Day and God bless you.
Prayer of Intercession
Gracious Lord, like Moses we lift our prayers for the people up to you, trusting in Your goodness and grace.
Lord, we pray for Your healing touch upon those who are sick and those recovering from illness or surgery.
We pray Your comfort for those who are grieving.
We pray Your peace upon the hearts and minds of those who are struggling.
May the lost be found and weak be made strong.
Most of all, Lord, we pray that all will know the freedom found in Christ, that all will come to faith, giving You the glory due Your Name.
This we pray in the Name of Jesus, through Whom we find freedom. AMEN

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“ Deliverance “
Chapter 4 of The Story is the story of Moses. It is a story of bondage, answered prayer, faith, obedience and deliverance. It is the story of God’s people – of God intervening to liberate His people. It is a story that has played out through history – a story that continues today.
Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” Exodus 1:6-14, 22
Now how could this happen to God’s people – to God’s custom crafted nation? God promised Abraham the impossible – that he and Sarah would be the parents of a chosen nation. They would be a blessing. They would themselves be blessed. All nations would be blessed through them – through their descendants.
As we have read so far, this nation was comprised of people like you and me – imperfect and fully capable of messing up situations and relationships. God wasn’t building a nation of perfect people, He was building a nation through which He could show His sovereignty and love, and through whom He would bring deliverance.
This time of slave labour for the Hebrew people should not surprise us, as the Lord had told Moses it would happen.
Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. Genesis 15:13
Remember, God sees the whole picture, and He works into the situations of humanity to show His sovereignty and love, and also to guide and teach us. Abraham was told what lay ahead for his descendants, and God did not sugar coat it. Jesus would give the same honest insight to his disciples:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
The truth is – bad things happen to everyday people like you and I. Sometimes we face illness, loss, stress, natural disasters and pandemics. They are a reality of life.
People can also find ourselves oppressed by taskmasters: ruthless governments, high expectations of family, work or friends, pressure to conform or submit to the demands of others and those who use their position, gifts or power to control or keep you down.
Then there are the times we enslave ourselves:
* addictions * materialism * idols these are the times when we make our own gods, or idols – our own personal golden calves. Anything we trust more than God, want more than God, desire more than God . . . (you get the point) . . . from anything we can create an idol.
We use the word so casually today – I idolize them – he is my idol – she is the greatest – I would do anything to meet, get a ticket to see, be like, ___________.
And then there is lack of trust and complaining against God and the people and situations He uses to lead us. Time and time again the people were discontented with how things were going – not enough water – not enough food – the food you are providing is boring – we are not safe – the journey is too long – yadda, yadda, yadda. They were willing to enslave themselves back into Egypt every time there was a concern over provisions and safety. It is easily done when we trust only in what we can see, hear and touch right now.
Sometimes our bondage is personal, such as an addiction, discontentment, or the constant anxiety of seeking perfection or the win, but sometimes it is collective, such as communities, provinces and countries struggling with the personal, economic, and social affects of a pandemic or war.
And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Genesis 3:7-10
God sees our struggles. God knows our sorrows. When we will cry out to God (that is pray to Him) He will bring us out of it. Whatever IT is.
We were created to live in relationship with God, and relationship involves conversation – speaking – listening. Prayer is an important part of our deliverance; asking God for what we need. And God answers! Not always the way we might want or the way we might expect, but God answers.
Why not send a plague right off the bat – just wipe out the Egyptians and set the Hebrew people free. Wouldn’t that be easier? Why drag poor Moses onto the scene. He is living a quiet life, in his 80’s and has zero interest in returning to Egypt. He offers excuse after excuse for not taking the job – ‘I don’t speak well,’ ‘I left on really bad terms,’ ‘I have poor leadership skills,’ ‘I am afraid,’ oh, and did I mention, ‘I don’t want the job!’
Moses clearly did not want the job and by human standards he was not qualified to lead a nation, but he had faith and he had a heart for justice. Did you notice that in your reading this week – Moses had no tolerance for injustice.
The story of Moses gives us three instances where Moses reacted against oppression: 1) when the Egyptian was beating the Hebrew slave, 2) when one Hebrew was beating on another, and 3) when the shepherds chased Jethro’s daughters away from the well. Each time Moses stepped in to defend. The third time he intervened He was given the hand of Zipporah in marriage. Zipporah means ‘beauty.’ A fitting gift for one who would protect.
Moses was not a public speaker, he feared returning to Egypt, he doubted his leadership skills and he did not want the job, but he WAS a defender of the oppressed and he had faith. Really, that is all the qualifications he needed because it would be God, not Moses, who would lead the people out of bondage. It would be God, not Moses, who would provide for the people’s needs. It would be God, and not Moses, who defeated Pharoah’s army, and it would be God, not Moses, who went before the people to guide them to the Promised Land.
Moses listened and heard God calling him, “Moses, Moses,” and He responds, “Here I am Lord.” That’s it!
The same principle applies to us today. When we listen for God speaking to us, not through a burning bush (although that would be really cool), but through His Word and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds, and sometimes even through people God places along our path – when we listen and respond, God will tell us what we need to know and He will lead us.
“Here I am Lord,” deliver me from the ____________ causing me anxiety – from the __________ habit I can’t seem to shake – from the frustrations of yet another lockdown – “here I am Lord, I need You and I trust You – only You can free me from ______________ (whatever you are struggling with right now).
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.
At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” Exodus 12:21-31
The Passover was a visible sign of God’s power and His grace. His instructions were specific, and the people needed to follow them to be saved when the angel of death passed over Egypt. By trusting God, the Hebrew people were kept safe from death’s grip and gained freedom from their oppressors. Freedom from bondage.
This event was a forerunner for Christ’s death on the Cross – the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world. Our Saviour died to free us from the bondage of our own sins and through His resurrection we have hope and a future.
Each of us has our own struggles – things or situations that hold us captive physically and/or mentally. We all need the saving grace of Jesus in our lives to protect us, lead us, teach us.
We are all sinners, “for all have fallen short of the glory of God….” By times we are like the Hebrew nation, complaining that things are not up to our standards. Our discontent and desire for more brings added suffering and likely even more discontent. We all need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to our blessings.
Friends, the answer is found in the cries of the people – the prayers of the people. God hears your cries – He sees your struggles – He knows your sorrows and He will intervene. Maybe not the way you want or in your timing, but God answers the prayers of the faithful.
We are called to put our trust in Him – whether or not you are qualified – regardless of how badly you have messed up in the past – in spite of all the excuses you can dream up – God will guide you – lead you – free you and welcome you if you will fully put your trust in Him.
And we are called to be part of God’s Story – to lead people to freedom in Christ –will come to know the power and love of God.
Friends, take time to talk with God each day, giving thanks and making petition. Put your faith in God – look at what He has done – look at what He is doing – trust in His promises. Open your heart and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and He redeems all who will say, “Here I am Lord.”

HYMN ~ I The Lord of Sea and Sky
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have born my peoples pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away. I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone. I will speak My word to them, Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them, My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them, Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart
OFFERING
Thank you for your continued support of the ministry at Knox and Zion.
Please join me in our offertory prayer.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
All we are and all we have come from Your hand O Lord. Accept our offerings, tithes and gifts, we pray. May they be used in ways that bring glory to Your name. AMEN

PRAYERS OF ADORATION & CONFESSION
Almighty God, You formed us individually within our mother’s womb, giving us purpose and gifts to fulfill that purpose. You call each of us by name – calling us at the perfect moment – calling us to hear – to believe – to receive and to respond.
Jesus, Lamb of God, You came to show us God and to make the final sacrifice for our sins. In You we find redemption, healing and hope. Lord, we put our faith in You, trusting You to lead us into the Promised Land
Holy Spirit, when we faulter (which we do) You pick us up and help us get back on track. When we struggle, You give us strength and when we feel lost and alone, You come along side us to Comfort us in Truth and Love.
You call us to repentance – to step out of bondage, into obedience and faithful service. We confess, Lord, that we tie ourselves in bondage to many things, making ourselves slaves to our careers, to fashion, to food, to power and control, to money and authority, to addictive habits and behaviours - - to anything we place ahead of You in our lives.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, enable us to see sinful desires and behaviours in our life. Give us hearts that confess and turn from sin. Make our lives reflect the peace and freedom we find through Your forgiveness. Lord, hear our prayers, we pray, in the name of Jesus. AMEN