Dharius Daniels - Look Again

I want to know, does anybody want a word tonight? That’s my question: does anybody want a word? I want us to look at a few verses of scripture found in the book of Exodus, chapter 14. Exodus, chapter 14, and I’m going to read a few verses beginning at verse 21. It says this: «Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen began to follow them into the sea. During the last watch of the night, the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving, and the Egyptians said, 'Let us get away from the Israelites! Their Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.'» I want to tag a title to this text, and I want you, even through your mask, to say it as an affirmation and a declaration to yourself. You are not talking to your neighbor tonight; you are talking to yourself. Here’s the title of tonight’s teaching: Somebody shout, «Look again!» Okay, about thirty-three of you actually did it with a little enthusiasm. Let’s try it one more time: Somebody shout, «Look again!» Now, give God praise if you’re ready for the word tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, the book of Exodus is probably one of the most profound books in the Old Testament. I say that not just because of the content within this book; I say that because of the context of this book. You see, the word «Exodus» means «exit,» because this book details how God orchestrated an exit for His people out of Egyptian bondage that they suffered in for 400 years. The name of the book itself should invoke optimism and enthusiasm because if God is the God of exits, this means I’m never trapped. I want to say that again: If God is the God of exits, it means that I’m never trapped. It may look like I’m trapped, I may feel trapped, and people may call me trapped, but because He’s the God of exits, watch this: If there isn’t one, He’ll create one. Did you hear what I said? If the Jericho walls are in the way, He’ll knock them down. If the Red Sea is in the way, He’ll part it. There doesn’t have to be an exit for there to be an exit. Somebody’s going to catch that: There doesn’t have to be an exit for there to be an exit. And I’m pausing to talk to someone tonight who feels like you’re without options. Just because you haven’t been exposed to your options doesn’t mean you don’t have any options. The devil wants to blind you to the options that God’s getting ready to expose you to because he knows a person who does not realize they have options is someone who ends up making desperate decisions. You’re way too blessed to be desperate; you’re way too anointed to be desperate. Your God is way too big to be desperate. If He doesn’t get you in through the window, He’ll get you through the door, and if He doesn’t get you in through the door, He’ll get you through the roof. And if somebody’s in the way trying to block you from what God wants to do for you, He’ll move them out of the way. He’s the God that raises up one and pulls down another. I’m getting ready to make an exit. I don’t know who this is for tonight, but I want to tell you it does not matter how long you’ve been trapped. God is the God of the exit. Are you here? Am I making sense? For over 400 years, God’s people were under Egyptian oppression and subjugation—400 years! The Bible says in Exodus, chapter 3, that they cried out to God, saying, «Lord, You’ve got to get me out of this!» 400 years, and God let them stay there until they decided they were ready to come out. No, come on, no, no, come on now! Creating exits was always within His ability. He could have created one in the first year; He could have created one in the second year. It was 400 years because God will let you live on whatever level you settle for. He says, «Now if you are alright with that, did you hear what I just said?» And see, this is why I want to tell you now. I talked about disruption earlier, and shifts, changes, and radical pivots, and things of that nature. You know, God hears one of the signs that help you know God is getting ready to shift and make a radical pivot in your life. He gives you what one writer calls a «holy discontent.» All of a sudden, you start being dissatisfied with something you never had any problem with, and you end up being confused. You’re like, «I used to like this; I used to like them.» Let me go on this side over here. «I used to like this; I used to like them; I used to be okay with this, but now all of a sudden, there’s a stirring on the inside of me that does not allow me to be satisfied with it.»