Don't Long for Egypt: Remember the Job You Once Prayed For

Sermon outline

Remembering where God brought you from keeps you humble, grateful, respectful and willing to serve, while forgetting makes people murmur, grow proud and turn disloyal.

1. 5. Remembrance makes you walk in your calling

   A family whose son was healed after prayer on a life support machine left the church a month later over a remark about the Daniel fast; they forgot. Husbands forget what their wives did for them, and wives nag good husbands while others pray for decades for husbands on drugs or drink. He thanks the faithful members and tithers who built the church, and calls people not to forget their pastor, the elders, ushers, car park team, staff, and even the newspaper and bread truck drivers.

   Illustration: He was up praying from half past three that morning to prepare for the service. Only when the fuel trucks went on strike did people realise how precious petrol was.

   “If we can remember, it will cut the divorce rate down.”

2. 6. Remembrance keeps you humble

   Do not hide your roots in Newlands East, Phoenix, Wentworth or on a farm. Remembering his own humble beginnings gives him compassion for the sick and the poor. You can wear a smart suit, drive a fine car and live in a good house and still be humble, because God resists the proud.

   Illustration: As a sickly boy his mother borrowed cars to take him to the temple for prayer; later, running from God's call, he spent seven days in hospital fighting for his life. He also remembers a credit card being declined at Pick n Pay and the groceries being taken back.

   “Don't be arrogant and braggadocious and proud. It stinks in the nostril of God.”

   • James 4:6

3. The last point: Remembrance makes you a grateful person

   The sin of ungratefulness is the sin of forgetfulness: people forget ageing parents, pastors, teachers and lecturers. A business owner who trades on Sunday and misses God's house is heading for trouble. Leaders who were elevated now have to be begged to come, and some ordained pastors became disloyal simply because they forgot who raised them up. Never forget your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.

   Illustration: At a funeral he recognised an elderly man in his eighties as his old school teacher and went up to greet him.

   “You know why they become disloyal? It's simply because they forgot.”

4. One more area: Don't murmur at work

   People who once queued with three hundred others for an interview, praying and fasting for the job, now grumble from morning to night and slander their supervisor. As Christians we should be grateful, obey those over us, and leave any injustice to God, praying for those who treat us badly instead of longing to go back to Egypt.

   Illustration: On the first day of a new job you were supposed to start at eight and you were there at six.

   “But don't murmur. Don't long for the leeks and the garlics. Don't long for Egypt.”

   • Ephesians 6:5
   • Romans 12:19
   • Numbers 11:5

5. When you come into the house of God, make yourself a servant

   Some who became leaders no longer come early to pray and expect a special seat. He asks where their humility, hunger, passion and zeal for God have gone. Whatever your profession, in God's house you serve.

   Illustration: While he held a high rank in the police and people jumped to attention for him, he served at church through three services straight, cleaning, sweeping and picking up bubble gum.

   “When you come into the house of God, make yourself a servant.”

6. As I close: remember, and restore respect

   He is not angry and not picking on anyone; preaching is a holy calling and he must deliver the word God gives, even when it is not pleasant. Remember the Lord who gives power to get wealth and who chose you out of the world. We have lost respect for women, older men, pastors and elders, teachers and mothers; whatever our culture, we were taught to respect older people.

   Illustration: He wanted to preach on God's favour and grace, but the Lord gave him this word instead: he must deliver the bread God told him to give.

   “Even if they're wrong, keep quiet. They're older than you.”

   • Deuteronomy 8:18
   • John 15:19