Sermon Recap: Its not over

Sermon title: Its not Over!
Exodus 33:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it

Many times we feel after we reach a milestone or get to a point in our spiritual journey where we have arrived our mental state becomes engulfed with the notion that “Okay, now I can relax because I have accomplished that which I sat out for.”
The Israelites here in this text most likely shared the same sentiment. They had just been spared from the 10 plagues, freed from slavery, crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground. Now they are in the wilderness and because they have never experienced such comfort before, the Israelites are seen here in the text enjoying where they are, building them an idol god, having a party celebrating because in their minds they may think, “There struggle was over they are free.”
However, Exodus 33:1 tells us God told Moses “Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it”

Today, I can see God telling us “Its not over.” I know many of us may think because of your area code, your bank account, or your corner office that the fight is over but you should know today “Its not over!”
I know that God has brought us through slavery, the Black Codes, Segregation, the Tuskegee Syphillis study, lynchings and much more but It’s still not over!
I know we have a black man in the white house but our struggle for justice is still not over.
I know we have black men who can play football for predominately white universities but its still not over
I know that we have black nba and major league baseball owners now but it still is not over.
We like the Israelites are in the wilderness and should not become satisfied with where we are in life, for God is not through with us yet.
Anytime I see a young black man, Trayvon Martin, who was thought to look suspicious because he was black and wearing a hoodie, then he was shot in what is claimed to be self-defense, I know that It is not over
Anytime I see the certain news commentators demonizing a dead youth, who cannot speak for himself, while the killer has yet to be arrested I know that It’s not over
Anytime I see a clipping of James Anderson who got beat up and then run over and killed in Mississippi I know that “It’s not over”
When I look at the statistics of the number of our children being raised out of wedlock I know that our struggle is not over
When I see the drop out rate of our high school students I know It Is Not Over
When I see the number of black men in prison I know that Its Not Over
When I see the right to vote for some of us being taking away I know Its Not Over.
When I see the moral decay of our communities and how drugs, homosexuality, adultery, and alcoholism, are seeming to take over, I can hear God saying, “Its not over! I did not bring you out of slavery in Egypt to become slaves to your flesh in the wilderness, I did not bring you out of the metropolitan area of Egypt to stay in the desert, your journey is not finished, IT’S NOT OVER!”

There are somethings in this brief recap that God would have me use as points which come straight from the sermon text: And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
1. Depart: In order to be where God wants you to be you often times must Depart from where you are. Your rest stop is not your destination.It is not over yet for you because God is still waiting on you to depart that rest stop that He took you to in order that you may receive some rest and receive His Word. But now it is time for you to Depart. The Israelites would never had gotten to their promised land if they did not depart from the wilderness. Today you ought to depart from whatever wilderness you are living in because your journey is still not over. You cannot live on vacation.
2. Go up: When you depart it is vitally important that you go up. Do not get worse, but better. This however does not mean leave for something which may be an improvement in man’s eyes. Often times to move up in God’s eyes may appear to be going to a lower financial state in man’s eyes. Because going up is not so much about the amount of money or things you possess but about the amount of faith that you have and act on. God wants you to depart and go up, get closer to Him. Do not just depart to be with yourself, because an “idle mind is the devil’s workshop” you must depart and go up with God. Have a stronger and deeper relationship with Him who is calling you closer to Himself.
3. You and the people: Here in this text we see a communal aspect to God’s salvation. When one does well He desires for all to do well. Therefore when God blesses you with something it is not for you to hoard, but to use your blessing to bless others. In fact God did not save you from going to hell so that it could stop with you. He wants you to go and be used by Him to get many more. Believers should not forget their community. God cares about them as much as He does for you.
For God sent His son Jesus to die for the whole world, not just you, so His message should be spread to every nation, and tribe. telling the whole world that it is not over. God wants us to depart from the wilderness of our lives and go up, get closer to Him, and take the people with us. So that all of our family, community, and nation will be saved by the power of God. What a blessed day that would be.
For one day it will be over. One day the trumpet will sound and Jesus Christ will return and then it truly is going to be over, and if you are not right with God your opportunity to get right with Him will be over. If your community is not what it ought to be at that point any chance of improvement will be over. For at that time Jesus will judge us all based on what we did in this life.
Therefore beloved of my Father’s children it is incumbent upon us all to “work while it is day for night cometh when no man can work” Until then remember “Its Not Over”

As always if there be one who desires to give their life to Christ before it is too late I beg of you to do so. If you believe and confess that you are sinner and that God sent His Son Jesus the Christ to die for your sins, and raised Him from the dead and that you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and receive His Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which will lead and guide you. I want to be the first to welcome you into the Kingdom of God. The angels and all the heavenly host rejoice with you. I urge you to join a good Christ-centered church in your area and if you have not already get baptized. If you are in the Mobile area I would love to have you at St. Paul A.M.E. Church on 1251-1255 Rev. A T. Days Street right across from Michigan Avenue.
Also, anyone who would like to receive prayer just send me a request, and if you would like to support the ministry please give whatever God is instructing you to give in the donations tab.
Thanks for your Time and I pray God richly blesses you and yours
Rev. Robert R.A. Turner