The Deciding Point

Exodus 14:31

And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

I don't know the believer who does not want to see God do mighty works in their life or ministry. What I have learned is that most people don't want to do what it takes to see God do His mighty works. You see, you can't see the mighty works of God without hard times. It is in the hard times of life that God does His mightiest works in our lives. In the story of Israel leaving Egypt and facing the Red Sea, there is a pattern shown that every believer goes through before they see God do the miraculous in their lives or ministry.

First, we experience the high hand. A person gets saved, and the decision to be saved brings a great feeling. A person surrenders to full-time service, and the experience of the high hand comes. We decide to do something for God, and excitement immediately follows about what God will do in our lives.

Second, the world pursues you. Satan does not wait long before he starts giving this person who has experienced the high hand opportunities from the world. The opportunities from the world are presented to lure us away from obeying God. You can always be assured that Satan will give you an opportunity once you decide to do something for God.

Third, opposition comes. When we reject the world opportunities, opposition immediately follows. At this point, many have said they will not quit on God, but I have found that very few have not quit on God when faced with opposition. You can always be assured that if you reject the world opportunities, opposition will follow.

Fourth, you will be tempted to go back. This is the deciding point of what happens next in your life. Israel wanted to quit, but they did not quit. You will want to quit at this time and go back, but what you do at this point will determine what God can do in your life.

Fifth, you decide to go forward. Once you decide to go forward is when things begin to turn around, even though you don't see it. The deciding point of what you do when tempted to go back should be to always go forward by faith, even though you don't know where God is.

Sixth, you face the impossible. This is a critical point in this pattern because you cannot see the miracles of God without facing impossibilities. The children of Israel faced the Red Sea, but they did not stop. Once you decide to go forward, you can expect to face something impossible.

Seventh, God begins to show His work. This is when it starts to become exciting. The cloud that Israel followed moved from the front to the back to protect them. If you continue to go forward by faith despite facing the impossible, you will begin to see God doing great things, but you cannot stop. Many have stopped at this point and missed the greatest part of the miracle that God was about to do; therefore, never stop going forward.

Eighth, the miracle happens. The miracle will come if you choose to continue going forward by faith. You can see God do his great works, but not without going through this pattern, for it is in this pattern that God tests you to see if you really want Him to work in your life and ministry.