The message, “STEPS TO VICTORY,” was originally preached at Apostolic Faith Tabernacle on 1.26.20. Below is an edited and abbreviated blog transcript of that message.

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

I started a new job this past week as a para pro for an elementary school. I am having a great time being an elementary student once again. I am building science projects, going to storytime, playing with puzzles, coloring, building houses with interconnected blocks, going to lunch, and two outdoor recesses each day. It’s a blast. 

In science class this week, we had to build a tree that could stand on its own. We had a plate full of items that we could use to make our tree. However, our creation had to withstand the teacher’s fan on level three. 

After the building and testing phase was completed, we went back to our workbook and listed the steps of the project. We had to write step by step how we created a successful project.

In today’s passage, we have the great benefit of hindsight. We can go back and read the steps of victory of Moses and his people. From Exodus chapters 13-15, I am going to give all of us eight necessary steps we can use for success in our current circumstances and the future. 

GIVE TO GOD FIRST 

Exodus 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

The first step to victory is giving to God. He asked for the firstborn of every living thing; not just the firstborn of your children, but also of your cattle. God was asking for a complete approach to giving. At times, we want to isolate our giving and give him pieces of ourselves. God wants everything!

REMEMBER GOD’S DELIVERANCE

Exodus 13:14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.

A preacher once preached, “I have a great memory, but it is short.” God has done so many amazing miracles for each one of us, and human nature quickly forgets these miracles. The step To FUTURE miracles is too remember PAST miracles. 

AVOID COMPLAINING

Exodus 14:12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

I believe we would all be better Christians if we would use this one spiritual tool; DUCK TAPE. The children of Israel stayed in the wilderness 40 years because they continued to talk themselves out of the Promise Land. I believe that many of us talk ourselves out of our blessing because we cannot stay quiet. We need to pray for a holy hush to be on our lips and contentment to be in our hearts.

STAND STILL

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

We were in the library for storytime, and there was a little girl that kept talking and moving around and touching people in the library. The librarian told her to stand against the bookshelf away from everybody else. She said, “I’m so sorry I am just EASILY DISTRACTIBLE.”

I leaned over and said, “It’s OK, I am too. Things will get easier as you get older.” The truth is spiritually; many of us are EASILY DISTRACTIBLE. There are times we must put our natural tendencies aside and focus on the salvation of the Lord.

STRETCH YOURSELF

Exodus 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

At first, this instruction was a little bewildering to me. God already knew He was going to split the waters. That is an incredible feat by our God. So why did Moses have to do anything? The reason is simple; God wants us involved in the process! He instructed Moses to stretch out his hand. Many times when God is performing the miraculous within us, He wants us to stretch to see the supernatural. 

God wants us to stretch out of our comfort zone. What is one stretch you can do in 2020 that would please God? What is one area of your spiritual or ministry life that you could stretch and go beyond yourself and step outside of your comfort zone that would have an impact for the Kingdom of God in 2020?

WALK IN FAITH

Exodus 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The children of Israel took a walk of faith by walking through the dryland. Yes, the was dry, but you must realize there was still a wall of water on their left and the right. At this point, they were only halfway through the miracle. At the halfway point, many of us began to doubt, and we receive a test of our faith. The halfway point is when we must “walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)” and believe God will take us through to the other side.

FIX YOUR EYES

Exodus 14:30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

We often don’t see the hand of God until we have reached the other side of our delimia. The Bible says that the Israelites saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.

That would not have been the first seashore. It doesn’t say the Israelites saw them while passing through the walls of water. They saw them on the opposite seashore, once they had walked through the sea.

There will come a time where you will be able to see the remains of your circumstances, but it won’t be until you reach the other side. Keep walking!

MOVE (KEEP WALKIN’) — TobyMac

Another heartbreak day 

Feels like you’re miles away 

Don’t even need no shade 

When your sun don’t shine, shine

Too many passin’ dreams 

Roll by like limousines 

It’s hard to keep believin’ 

When they pass you by and by

I know your heart been broke again 

I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet 

I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left 

Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so

Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes 

Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet

Echoin’ inside your head 

Are the words that your sweet momma said

“Shoot for the moon, my dear” 

So you took aim out of this atmosphere 

Between high stakes and pump fakes 

You’re feelin’ like you can’t buy a break 

I can hold your hand, 

but I can’t turn your eyes to freedom

I know your heart been broke again 

I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet 

I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left 

Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so

Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes 

Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet

Hold on, hold on 

Lord ain’t finished yet 

Hold on, hold on 

He’ll get you through this 

Hold on, hold on 

These are the promises 

I never will forget 

I never will forget, so

Hold on, hold on 

The Lord ain’t finished yet 

Hold on, hold on 

He’ll get you through this 

Hold on, hold on 

These are the promises 

I never will forget 

I never will forget

I know your heart been broke again 

I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet 

But it ain’t over yet, it ain’t over yet

So get up and move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes 

Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on 

And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet

Lift up your head now, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on

Lift up your head now keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes

Keep believin’ keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on

And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, it ain’t over yet

SING FOR VICTORY

Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

This is one of the most amazing passages in scripture to me. We have discovered that Moses had a speech impediment. Moses couldn’t talk, but he could SING. No matter what our obstacles are, God can still help us sing the song of victory.

CONCLUSION

WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER – WALTER HAWKINS

Don’t wait to the battle is over shout now

Chorus 1

Don’t wait ’till the battle is over to shout now

You know in the end, you’re gonna win

(Repeat)

Verse 1

When you’re burdened down with the cares of life

And you feel all hope is gone

Don’t despair, God will be right there;

When the battle is over’

Chorus 2

When the battle is over (3x)

We’re going home

Verse 2

When the tears are streaming down

And there’s no one around

And your striving seems in vain

Hold your head up high, your deliverence is nigh’;

When the battle is over’

Bridge

Hallelujah (5x)