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Baptism Sunday
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We're continuing our journey through Exodus, picking up the story of God's chosen people—the Israelites—who are being oppressed by Egypt. Moses has been called by God through a burning bush and is now God's ambassador to bring freedom to God's people. Even amid Moses' fears, doubts, and disobedience, God's power and character remain constant in setting people free.
Many of us think of ministry as something we do on a Sunday—serving on a welcome team, leading children's groups. But the Bible teaches differently. Wherever God has placed you, that's where He wants to use you powerfully.
Look at the Old Testament: Joseph didn't preach sermons; he was a chief strategy officer. Daniel didn't pastor a church; he was an executive coach to influential leaders. Esther didn't lead worship; she influenced government. Nehemiah didn't travel as an evangelist; he built infrastructure for God's glory.
No matter where God has placed you—whether you're a teacher, a police officer, a businesswoman, an administrator—He wants to use your influence to bring kingdom impact. Within our own community, one woman felt burdened for families without food and started Bedford Food Bank. Another felt God's calling to help children read and founded a charity that now serves 42,000 children weekly. These are ordinary people in ordinary places, doing extraordinary kingdom work.
But here's what we need to understand: things don't always go your way when you're obedient to God. Kingdom success isn't about immediate results—it's about faithfulness.
Obedience is success.
Earlier this year, I had an encounter that taught me this deeply. I was driving on the A421 dual carriageway when two cars recklessly cut me off. I had to swerve into the hard shoulder. Honestly, I got angry. I honked my horn, I was frustrated, and I wanted to let them know exactly what I thought.
But then—after several turns—we ended up in the same car park. I sat there, still agitated, thinking about what to do. I felt God prompt me: "Offer to buy her a drink."
So I approached the young woman and said, "Listen, I'm the person who beeped at you back on the A421. I know we all have bad days. I'd like to buy you a coffee and let you know there are no hard feelings."
She immediately went defensive, blaming the car in front of her. But I gave her an invitation to King's Arms Church—because I'm an evangelist and a wild optimist, and in my head, I thought, "What an amazing baptism testimony this could be!"
Here's the thing: she called the church and complained about me. She never mentioned running me off the road. She never mentioned that I was trying to buy her a drink. She just complained.
I wrestled with that for a long time. It felt so unjust. It felt so unfair. But I came back to this truth: Obedience is success. I want you to go where Jesus sends you, say what Jesus tells you to say, and live a life that honors Him—even if people push you away.
Moses also experienced this. When he obeyed God and asked Pharaoh to let the people go, things got worse. Pharaoh tightened the workload. The people had to make the same number of bricks without being supplied straw.
"Moses went back to the Lord and protested, 'Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesperson, he has been even more brutal to your people, and you have done nothing to rescue them.'" (Exodus 5:22-23)
This is real. It's honest. It's authentic. Moses is raw and vulnerable with God.
Where do you go when life sucks? When someone at home is ill? When the job you wanted doesn't work out? When a relationship breaks down?
Many of us think of Christianity as a light switch—either it's on (things are bright, everything's going well) or it's off (we can't find our Bible, we haven't had quiet time, God seems silent).
But that's not the right picture. Our relationship with God is more like a tree. Isaiah speaks of us as "oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." A healthy oak survives droughts, freezing weather, high winds, thunderstorms. Every autumn, it sheds its leaves and looks bare—but it's still a tree.
Whether I'm feeling barren or flourishing, I am still a beloved child of God. And so are you.
Life isn't always straightforward. When life is difficult and we're not feeling fruitful, the temptation is to disconnect—from God and from God's people. That's the exact opposite of what we should do. When we realize we're still a child of God, no matter what we're struggling with—whether it's anxiety, depression, or hardship—we can keep in relationship with God.
What's beautiful about Moses is that he doesn't complain about God to everybody else; he complains to God. He doesn't walk away; he walks toward his Father to have a conversation.
God can handle your doubts. He can handle your fears, your anxieties, your concerns, your questions. Go to Him. Connect with Him. The Psalms are full of this honesty:
"How long, Lord, will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22)
Even Jesus echoed these words on the cross. The scriptures give you permission to be honest: I'm having a really hard time. This isn't how things were supposed to be. I thought you said this would go differently. I need your help, Lord.
Now look at how God replies to Moses' raw, honest cry:
"I am Yahweh, the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob as El Shaddai, God Almighty. You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel who are now slaves to the Egyptians. Therefore, say to the people of Israel, I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and I will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people and I will be your God." (Exodus 6:2-7)
Did you notice? Seven "I will" statements. Twenty-five personal pronouns. God is emphasizing what He has done, who He is, what He's doing, and what He's about to do.
God Almighty is in it with us. We must connect with His promises: I will rescue. I will redeem. I will claim. I will be your God.
It's so important to hear God's voice even in the midst of chaos, even in the midst of disconnection.
I saw this quote by Jonathan Pokluda:
"We drown in entertainment to avoid the silence where God speaks and then complain that he is silent."
We're the loudest generation of all time, yet so many people are craving for the one voice that will truly satisfy them. We've got to take time to listen.
Amid the notifications, podcasts, reels, and videos that pull our attention, we must disconnect to connect with God through Scripture, because He often speaks in the stillness.
A friend once told me, "Steve, I think you need to slow down." He gave me one verse and told me not to listen to podcasts or read books for two weeks—only meditate on one verse: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Every day, I lay in bed thinking about each word. What does it mean to be still? To know? To slow down my mind? We are human beings, not human doings.
Be still. Turn down the world's shouting. Connect with your Father.
At the World Cup, I've been encouraged by how much Jesus' name is being lifted. Players are praying, carrying Bibles, declaring faith publicly. But I noticed something: Cristiano Ronaldo recently said, "God helps those who work hard."
There's something to appreciate in that—the Bible does talk about striving, running the race with endurance. But the gospel takes us deeper.
God doesn't only help those who strive. God helps those who are weak. God helps those who are weary. God helps those who are unseen. God helps those like me who have failed time and time again.
God's help isn't based on your striving—otherwise none of us would qualify. Romans 5:8 tells us:
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Before we could do anything, achieve anything, or prove anything, God moved toward us with undeserved favor and grace.
Christians don't believe God loves us and helps us because we've deserved it or earned it. We believe God helps us because we are sinners who cannot help ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 says:
"For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourself. It is a gift from God. Not by works, so that no one of us can boast."
Our hope is in Jesus.
Exodus 6:7 says:
"I will claim you as my own people. And I will be your God."
If you realize this morning that you don't know what it means to be in a relationship with Jesus, I want to give you the opportunity to start that journey today—to have your sins forgiven, to have new life, to know with security that you will journey with Christ for the rest of your life.
If that's you, pray this prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, today I want to thank you for dying for me. I turn away right now from the sin and rebellion that's been in my life and I put my trust in you. Jesus, I pray—God, forgive me, cleanse me, and lead me in your way so that I might know new life today and a security of eternity with you. In Jesus' name.
If you prayed that prayer—whether for the first time or as a re-commitment to Christ—lift your hand high so we can celebrate what God is doing.
