Grace That Endures

In this episode, we will explore the theme of God's enduring grace, drawing from the story of the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt and God’s deep concern for their plight. We reflect on how God's love and care for us is like that of a parent protecting their children, reminding us that God sees our struggles and is always ready to rescue and redeem us. I pray that this message will encourage you to embrace your role in the mission of the church, reaching out to others with God's love and sharing the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com.

Transcript

Episode 26

Grace that Endures

Exodus 3: 7-10

Greetings, everyone! How are you doing today? I hope you're having a fantastic day. I invite you once more to join us in our devotional meditation. But before we begin, let's take a moment to pray.

Let us pray.

Dear God, our Heavenly Father, we are grateful for this beautiful day that you have given us. As we begin this day, remind us of your great love and unwavering faithfulness. Guide us to live according to your will and use this day to promote your cause for your glory.

I am thankful for the opportunity to share your message through this podcast. May your Spirit speak through the truth of your Son, offering hope and eternal life. Let today’s message be delivered with power and deep conviction.

I pray for your anointing as I speak of your love and salvation, so that people may feel inspired and motivated to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ by faith. Bless everyone who listens to your words at this moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Our reading is from Exodus 3:7-10. Here is the verse:

7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (NLT)

Our devotional meditation is titled "Grace That Endures."

As a father to my daughters, who are still in their formative years, I cherish and value the opportunity to guide them. Like any caring parent, my utmost concern is their well-being and fostering a bright future for them, all while instilling core Christian values. Raising them with love requires ongoing attention and consistency, accompanied by proper discipline in the Lord, which is crucial for their growth and upbringing.

Moreover, it's not just their well-being that concerns any parent. Children need the vigilant protection of their parents to shield them from harm. Have you ever heard of a parent who doesn't care about safeguarding their child or ensuring their welfare? It's rare to hear of a parent harming their child or selling them due to poverty or any other reason. Like any parent, we want to protect our children from physical and moral dangers, and we are even willing to sacrifice everything for their sake.

Now, how much more does God care? If earthly parents can show such concern for their children, wouldn't God be even more concerned for His own? If parents are willing to sacrifice their very lives for their children, how much more would God, who created them in His own image and likeness, do so? The Bible provides a vivid depiction of God's love for His children. Isaiah 49:15-16 says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."

Our lesson highlights the concern the Lord had for His children, the Israelites, who were suffering in Egypt. They faced severe discrimination driven by Egypt's selfishness and greed. For 400 years, they were stripped of their human dignity and rights to life, liberty, and equality. Instead, they endured oppression, harassment, and cruelty, bound by the chains of hard labor. Exodus 2:23-25 vividly describes their harrowing experience. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out to the Lord for help. It reads, "During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So, God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."

As a parent, can you imagine the anguish you would feel if your child were subjected to such severe degradation and mistreatment? Even seeing our child suffer from a minor fever causes heartache. How much more would it hurt to witness your child being abused, mistreated, and suffering for a prolonged period? My friend, if you feel profound pain for your child's suffering, imagine how much greater the anguish is for the God of the universe. This gives us insight into the heartache and sorrow the Almighty experiences for His children.

I would like to present some spiritual insights that can enhance your daily relationship with the Lord. 

The first is that God understands your pain, He sees your suffering, and He deeply cares about you.

In verse seven, the Lord declares, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.” [v7].

This is the nature of God in His entirety. He resembles an earthly parent who deeply loves and cares for their children. He is a God who identifies with us, His children. He is neither blind to our struggles nor deaf to our cries and desires; He is profoundly affected by our suffering. It breaks God's heart to witness any of His children being abused and mistreated. He feels pain when His child groans because of injustice and neglect. His heart aches when His child cries out due to poverty. During Jesus' time on earth, one can imagine the immense burden of care He carried because of the plight of His creation. Matthew 9:6 illustrates the compassion Jesus had for the people he encountered, stating, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." This reflects God's true nature. Contrary to what some might believe, God is not a vengeful deity who punishes ruthlessly. Jesus Christ embodies God's glory and is the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3a). Understanding Jesus, especially during His crucifixion, reveals the complete nature of God.

Jesus never cursed those who nailed Him to the cross; instead, He prayed for their salvation. When Nicodemus came to Him at night to ask about the kingdom of God, Jesus did not engage in a theological debate but lovingly and mercifully explained the way to salvation. When the people following Him during His earthly ministry were tired and hungry, He did not send them away. Instead, He showed concern for their needs, kindly asked them to sit down on the grass, and fed them with loaves of bread and fish. When Peter broke his promise to never leave nor forsake Him and denied Him three times before the rooster crowed at dawn, Jesus still forgave him and welcomed him back into His fold when Peter sought forgiveness.

This is the enduring grace of God. He knows your suffering, hears your cries, and deeply cares about you. This is exactly what happened to the ancient Israelites when they called out to Him due to their relentless misery and suffering under ruthless slave drivers.

Can you relate to the Israelites?

What are you suffering from right now?

What kind of oppression are you experiencing?

Are you enduring so much that you feel like giving up?

My friend, I want to remind you that Jesus cares for you immensely.

Secondly, God redeems His people and keeps His promises to them.

Verse 8 declares, “I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey.”

God has never failed them. In chapter 2, verse 24, it says, “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” In other words, God has always been in the business of redemption.

Before the Israelites were finally released from the ruthless hands of Pharaoh, God brought judgment on every god of Egypt, exacting a heavy price on the life of every Egyptian’s first-born son, including their animals. He instructed all the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts at an appointed time at midnight. When He saw the blood, He would pass over them, and no destructive plague would touch them when He struck Egypt. Accordingly, the blood was a sign for every Israelite on the houses where they resided, and they were saved (Exodus 12:12-13). Every house without the blood of the lamb on its doorposts was struck down by the plague, including the first-born sons of Pharaoh, his servants, and his animals. 

The Israelites were not liberated from slavery until the blood of the lamb was applied to the doorposts of each house. It was only when the lamb was slain, and its blood sprinkled on the door frame that they gained their freedom. The blood saved the Israelites from death and destruction, setting them free from bondage at that moment.

Similarly, Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8). He sets us free from sin and the bondage of wickedness. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV). Indeed, He redeemed us all when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior; when we made Jesus Christ the Master and Captain of our souls, He became our Lord, guiding our lives for all eternity. Unless Jesus Christ is your Lord, you will forever be under the shackles of slavery, sin, and wickedness. Until His blood is poured on the door frame of your soul, you will surely die without hope. Until Jesus Christ enters your heart, there is no hope for the future. God wants to set you free from sin and the shackles and bondage of wickedness that enslave you.

Thirdly, God wants you to go forth and be His representative to help save others. 

Verse 10 says, “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. 

God did not accomplish this mission alone; He sent Moses to deliver His people. In other words, God called Moses to collaborate with Him and work through Him to achieve the goal of saving many souls.

Today, God has called you to His body, the church, not to be entertained or served, but for a mission. The days of complaining when your expectations are not met, or attending church only when you feel like it, should be behind you. It is time to care deeply about the church’s mission. The church of the Lord is not a social club or an organization; it is a living, dynamic organism. Every part has a specific function and purpose, and nothing is there by accident. Have you noticed that when any part of your body is unwell, the entire body is affected?

My friend, you are not just another member of the body of Jesus Christ. You are as significant as any other part, each with its own unique role and purpose. It is essential that each of us recognizes our calling and actively participates in the mission.

You are very important to God, and He has a specific part for you to play. If you haven't fully engaged in this cause yet, I encourage you to pray for guidance. Ask Him to reveal where you can serve for His greater glory and help you discover your purpose in His plan.

Think about the people around the world, especially in those Third World countries, who are literally hungry and in dire need of food. There are those oppressed by their belief systems and unable to change their situation. 

What about us who live in affluent societies like the USA? While we might not suffer from malnutrition or face discrimination due to belief systems as in poorer nations, we experience a different kind of bondage. Today, I want to highlight that we are enslaved by materialism. This trap has led many Christians to become complacent in their commitment to the Lord. They have compromised their faith because of the desire for worldly possessions. We have become so materialistic that we have forgotten our true calling. 

The Lord is calling on you to be His representative in reaching out to those who are unsaved. Many individuals need to hear about the grace and salvation of the Lord. Look around and see the numerous people who are hungry, impoverished, and in dire need of assistance. Some are trapped in the darkness of ignorance regarding God's salvation through Jesus Christ due to their belief systems. They need your help to understand this truth. It is time for you to open your heart and join the mission of sharing God's enduring love with the world.

Jesus said, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came and visit me… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mtt. 25: 35-36, 40b NIV)

This is the mission that Christ's church has embraced. We are His representatives, spreading His everlasting grace. He is calling you to reach out to those who are unsaved, still wandering in the uncertainty of this world. Join and commit yourself to the ranks of those called by His church to win the world for Jesus Christ.

Perhaps this is the first time you have heard this message. Consider yourself truly blessed, as God is calling you not only to be saved from eternal damnation but also to join His mission in reaching out to the world for His Son, Jesus Christ. God created you with a purpose and a reason to live, centered on His abundant grace.

The world needs to hear about Jesus Christ, as He is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6). There is no other name through which we are saved (Acts 4:12). Why not commit your life to Him now? Time is running out, and eventually, you will stand before the judgment seat of God (Rom. 14:10). Since you still can redeem your life, why not make the right decision today? What are you waiting for? Accept God's offer of grace, and you will never regret it. You will be saved. Peter echoes this resoundingly saying, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9).

And for those who are struggling and suffering, remember the ancient Israelites? They cried out to God for help, and He heard them. He rescued and redeemed them from their suffering.

God didn’t accomplish this alone, even though He could. He sent Moses to deliver His people, showing that He works with and through us to fulfill His purposes of saving souls. 

This is the mission that Christ's church has embraced. We are His representatives, spreading His everlasting grace. He is calling you to reach out to those who are unsaved, still wandering in the uncertainty of this world.  

For those who have not yet surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ by faith, I invite you to come to the author and finisher of our faith, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only He can provide you with true riches and wealth that surpass anything the world can offer. He alone can fulfill your deepest needs and longings. He is your living water and daily bread, nourishing your soul that hungers and thirsts for spiritual sustenance. Will you accept Him today by faith and commit your life to Him as your Lord and Savior? Do not harden your heart, because tomorrow may be too late. Your life today, along with your wealth and riches, is not a guarantee of your tomorrow. Only God, through Jesus Christ, His Son, is your assurance of life, glory, and immortality. Do not delay your decision to accept Jesus Christ by faith today.

Let us pray.

Our gracious God, Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing your words to reach and minister to the hearts of those who heard them today. I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them, leading them to commit and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. O God, how precious it is to you that even one soul who comes to accept your offer of salvation brings great joy to all your angels in heaven. I wish and pray that even one soul has come and committed their life to you today. May your name be praised and may people's lives be changed wherever this podcast reaches. I bless your Holy name. In Jesus' name Amen!

I hope you have been blessed today. Please continue to stay tuned and share this message with your family and friends. May you be strengthened and encouraged in your journey of faith. Thank you for the privilege of your time. This is your host, brother Dani Marantan Banggo, reminding you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. Until next time. Mahalo!