You Shall See Them No More

Sermon Blog (2/23/25) - Rev. Nick DeCicco 

Have you ever felt trapped by your past? Haunted by mistakes, trauma, or addictions that seem to chase you no matter how far you run? You're not alone. Many of us carry burdens that weigh us down, robbing us of the freedom and joy God intends for our lives. But there's hope - a powerful truth hidden in an ancient story that could change everything.

Let's journey back to the Exodus, where we find the Israelites caught between the impossible and the unthinkable. After 400 years of brutal slavery in Egypt, they've finally tasted freedom. But now Pharaoh's army is in hot pursuit, and ahead lies the impassable Red Sea. Fear grips their hearts as they cry out, "Were there no graves in Egypt, that you brought us to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:11)

It's in this moment of desperation that Moses speaks words of profound faith: "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again." (Exodus 14:13)

This promise isn't just for the Israelites. It's for us too. Whatever "Egyptians" are chasing you - addiction, shame, anxiety, depression, or the wounds of your past - God wants to deliver you once and for all.

But here's the key: deliverance requires action on our part. God told Moses, "Tell the people of Israel to go forward." (Exodus 14:15) We can't move into freedom if we're constantly looking over our shoulder, clinging to old identities or comfortable bondage. God is calling us to step out in faith, even when the path ahead seems impossible.

As the Israelites stepped into the parted sea, walls of water stood on their right and left. Can you imagine the mix of awe and terror they must have felt? Yet they pressed on, and as they reached the other side, the waters came crashing down on their pursuers. The Bible tells us, "Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore." (Exodus 14:30)

This miraculous deliverance wasn't just about physical freedom. It was a powerful picture of spiritual liberation. And here's where it gets really exciting - there's something special about water in God's economy of deliverance.

Remember the story of the demon-possessed man called Legion? When Jesus cast out the evil spirits, they begged to enter a herd of pigs. The pigs then rushed into the sea and drowned. The man was found "sitting there, clothed and in his right mind." (Mark 5:15) The water became a place of permanent binding for those tormenting spirits.

This wasn't an isolated incident. The prophet Micah declares that God will "cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19) When we truly repent, our sins don't just disappear - they're buried in the waters of God's forgetfulness. That's why He can say, "I will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)

But how does this apply to us today? We may not have a Red Sea or a herd of demon-possessed pigs, but we have something even more powerful - the living water of God's Word and His Spirit.

Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38) When we're filled with the Holy Spirit, we become carriers of this transformative, delivering power. Our words, spoken in faith, can become conduits of freedom for ourselves and others.

James encourages us to "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:16) There's something powerful about bringing our struggles into the light, allowing the living water of God's truth to wash over them.

So here's the challenge: What "Egyptians" are you ready to leave behind? What bondage, fear, or shame are you willing to see drowned in the sea of God's love? It's time to stop learning to live with our chains and start believing for complete deliverance.

Imagine yourself standing at the edge of your own Red Sea. The enemies of your past are closing in, but ahead lies the path to freedom. God is saying, "Go forward!" Will you take that step of faith?

As you do, picture yourself walking through those walls of water. With each step, the living water of God's Word and His Spirit is washing over you. That addiction? Drowned in the depths. That shame? Buried in the sea. That anxiety? Swept away by the current of God's love.

When you reach the other side, turn around. See those things that have tormented you lying defeated on the shore. They have no more power over you. You are free indeed!

This isn't just a one-time event. We're called to continually immerse ourselves in the cleansing, delivering power of God's Word and His presence. As we do, we become more and more like that man who encountered Jesus - clothed with dignity, in our right mind, and ready to tell others of the great things God has done.

Your deliverance isn't just for you. Like the Israelites, your story of freedom can become a testimony that inspires faith in others. As you walk in newfound liberty, you carry rivers of living water that can bring hope and healing to a thirsty world.

So today, take a moment to write down those things you're ready to leave behind. Then, in an act of faith, find a way to symbolically "bury" them in water. It could be as simple as writing them on dissolvable paper and watching them disappear in a bowl of water. The physical act can be a powerful reminder of the spiritual reality - these things no longer have power over you.

Remember, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36) It's time to walk forward into the freedom God has for you. The waters of deliverance are waiting. Will you take the plunge?