The Lord’s Deliverance

Last week, we learned about God Our Refuge and Strength. We saw that even though the sons of Korah lost their family due to disobedience and God’s wrath, they still loved and trusted in Him. They saw that faith in the Lord gives deliverance to those who are obedient.

Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

When we think about “deliverance,” we often believe that the Lord is just going to pluck us up right out of danger! This morning, we’re going to look at how God has delivered His people and still does. That deliverance doesn’t mean that we will not suffer in this life.

The Lord’s Deliverance Joseph – Genesis 37:18-22; 45:3-8

Genesis 37:18-20 “Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!’”

Genesis 37:21-22 “But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him’—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.”

Genesis 45:3-5 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph; does my father still live?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.’”

Genesis 45:6-8 “For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Have you ever wondered why things sometimes don’t work out for good in your life? Is it because you don’t keep the faith of Joseph (that the Lord will deliver you)? We must be patient (one of the fruits of the Spirit) and diligent!

The Lord’s Deliverance Joseph – Genesis 37:18-22; 45:3-8 Noah and Lot – 2 Peter 2:4-9

2 Peter 2:4-5 “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly”

2 Peter 2:6-7 “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked”

2 Peter 2:8-9 “(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment”

If everyone around you was doing evil, would you still be doing the will of the Lord? Is your faith dependent upon the faith of others? Or do you believe that the Lord will deliver you – even if you are the only one who is faithful?

The Lord’s Deliverance Joseph – Genesis 37:18-22; 45:3-8 Noah and Lot – 2 Peter 2:4-9 The “champions of faith” – Hebrews 11:13-16

Hebrews 11:13-14 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”

Hebrews 11:15-16 “And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

The Lord’s Deliverance Joseph – Genesis 37:18-22; 45:3-8 Noah and Lot – 2 Peter 2:4-9 The “champions of faith” – Hebrews 11:13-16 Those not accepting deliverance in this life – Hebrews 11:35-40

Hebrews 11:35-37 “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—”

Hebrews 11:38-40 “…of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

So how is the Lord going to “deliver” me? 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16