Going Forward
By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | January 7, 2024 | 45th Anniversary
Turn to Exodus 14:10-18. Today’s message, “Going Forward,” marks my 45th anniversary as pastor of Mission Baptist Church. The text says: “The Lord said unto Moses… speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” Let’s pray: Father, thank You for 45 years with these great people. Bless them, save the lost, help me preach, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Time flies—45 years since a 27-year-old, his wife, and two boys arrived in six inches of snow to start this church on January 7, 1979. God has blessed us exceedingly (Ephesians 3:20). Today, from verse 15, three truths emerge.
A Never-Failing God Still Leading Us
God told Moses, “Wherefore criest thou unto me?” The Israelites, fleeing Egypt, saw Pharaoh’s army closing in—dust rising, hooves pounding. Fearful, they blamed Moses, preferring bondage to death (v. 11-12). Yet Moses said, “Fear ye not… the Lord shall fight for you” (v. 13-14). This wasn’t idle talk. They’d seen plagues—blood, frogs, flies, hail, darkness—and God spared them in Goshen. Like Solomon said, “There hath not failed one word of all his good promise” (1 Kings 8:56). Don’t let today’s fears erase yesterday’s miracles. God’s led Mission Baptist 45 years—He won’t fail now.
New Things To Experience
God said, “Go forward.” Past victories—like the rod swallowing Pharaoh’s snakes—don’t define tomorrow. A cloud led Israel by day, fire by night (v. 19-20). Then, something new: Moses raised his rod, winds blew, and the Red Sea parted—dry ground! (v. 16-18, 21-22). Pharaoh’s army drowned when waters returned. Later, bitter water turned sweet with a tree (Exodus 15:23-25)—a shadow of the cross making life sweet. I’ve seen souls saved in unlikely places. New things await—salvations, servants, youth thriving. What will God do next?
A Necessity On Our Part
God didn’t part the sea until Israel stepped forward. “Go forward” required obedience. The ark-bearers waded in, then waters split. We must move first—God won’t force us. I quit two great jobs when God called me to preach full-time. My family asked, “How do you know?” I just knew—God tugs, but we decide. Sinners must come to Christ; saints must serve. Will you say, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8)? Go forward to see God’s new things.