Ex.14:1-14: The People who crossed the Red Sea(Baptism Spirit) &Bible …

Ex.14:1-14: The People who crossed the Red Sea (Baptism Spirit)

<Scripture, Ex.1-14> 1-2.Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3.Pharaoh will think, 'The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.' 4.And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites did this. 5.When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"  6-7.So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him, He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8.The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9.The Egyptians-all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. 10.As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11.They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12.Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 13.Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14.The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

<English Sermon Summary>
1. Baptism marks the beginning of self-denial(1Cor.10:2, Mt.16:24, 1-10)
The crossing of the Red Sea symbolizes casting off the "old self" through baptism and embarking on a new life that belongs to God. Believers are called not only to believe in Jesus’ cross but also to live a life of obedience to Him—taking up their own crosses daily and denying themselves.

2. The Red Sea represents a path of faith from which there is no turning back(1-12)
God led the Israelites to the Red Sea, ensuring they could no longer return to Egypt. We, too, face hardships akin to the wilderness and the Red Sea; these are not signs of abandonment but a process of training to build a faith that relies solely on God.

3. The secret to crossing the Red Sea is trusting in God(13-14): God commands us(13-14): "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still"(14:13-14). 1) Stand firm in the position God has established for you on His side. 2) Instead of grumbling or complaining, remain silent and offer thanksgiving and prayer. 3) Focus your attention on God’s deliverance ("see the deliverance"). When we do this, God Himself fights for us and opens the way to salvation.

4. Resolution:As one who has crossed the Red Sea&is a baptized child of God, I will not return to the world. In any situation—even one as daunting as the Red Sea—I will trust God rather than give in to fear or resentment,&I will live a life of obedience to Jesus, taking up my cross daily.

Prayer: Loving God, thank You for saving us from sin and making us Your children through baptism. No matter what hardships or Red Sea-like situations we encounter, help us to look to You with faith rather than fear or complaint, and enable us to joyfully take up our crosses and obey You every day. May our lives become channels that reveal the Kingdom of God, and may we be believers who testify to the Lord’s salvation through thanksgiving and praise. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who is our life and salvation. Amen.

<Bible Study Material / People Who Crossed the Sea (The Baptized); Text: Ex.14:1-14>
Key Verse/"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Ex.14:14)

Introduction/ After delivering the Israelites from Egypt, God did not lead them straight to Canaan. Instead, He guided them to a dead end—with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. To human eyes, it was a situation of despair, but in God's eyes, it was the place where the greatest miracle was about to begin. We, too, encounter "Red Seas" in our lives that we cannot comprehend. Illness, financial hardship, relationship issues, and fear of the future stand in our way. Yet, God has not abandoned us; He places us in such situations to teach us faith and allow us to experience His salvation. The Red Sea is not the end of hope, but the starting point of God’s mighty work.

1. Baptism is the beginning of self-denial (1Cor.10:2, Mt.16:24, Ex.14:1-10)
The Apostle Paul describes the crossing of the Red Sea as a foreshadowing of baptism. As the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they transitioned from being people of Egypt to becoming God’s people, embarking on a new life. Baptism is not merely a ritual; it is the starting point of faith where the "old self" dies and a new life begins with Jesus. Jesus said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Believing in Jesus means choosing God's will over my own thoughts. It is a life that chooses love over pride, obedience over greed, and God's guidance over my own plans.
Illustration/ A farmer carried an old, worn-out sack of seeds with him throughout his entire life. One day, a wise person said, "If you simply hold onto that seed, it remains just a seed forever. But if you bury it in the ground—though it may seem to die—it yields a harvest a hundredfold." A seed must die to bear fruit. Likewise, when we lay down our old selves, God causes new life to blossom.
Question/ What "Egypt" am I still clinging to? What part of my self must I surrender to God?

2. The Red Sea represents a path of faith from which there is no turning back (Ex.14:1-12).
God intentionally had the people camp before the Red Sea. Why? To ensure they could never return to Egypt. Yet, when faced with a crisis, the people said, "We would be better off returning to Egypt." People often choose familiar suffering over the unknown path of faith. However, God does not send us back to the past; He leads us toward a better future. Today, we too face problems that resemble the Red Sea. Yet, that Red Sea is not a sign of God’s abandonment, but a part of His training.
Illustration/ One day, a caterpillar became a chrysalis. Outwardly, it appeared unchanged, but inside, wings were being formed. If someone were to tear open the chrysalis to "help," the butterfly would never be able to fly. Hardship is the time God uses to transform us into beautiful butterflies. The Red Sea is not an end, but a new beginning. Question/ What is the Red Sea currently before me? How is God using this time to grow my faith?

3. The secret to crossing the Red Sea is trusting God (Ex.14:13-14). Moses tells the fearful people three things: ① Stand firm: This means standing steadfastly on God's side. It means looking to God rather than the circumstances. Faith is not about running away; it is about standing on God’s side. ② "Keep silent &still": This means ceasing all grumbling and complaining—remaining silent and refraining from speaking so that you may pray to God. Impatience erodes faith. Those who pray quietly hear God’s voice. Gratitude is the key that opens the door to miracles. ③ "See the salvation of the Lord" (v. 13): This means fixing your gaze on God rather than on your circumstances. It is God who makes the way, not man. The parting of the Red Sea was accomplished by God’s power, not Moses’s. Likewise, when we fix our eyes on God, He opens paths we could never have imagined.
Illustration/ A child was walking along a path on a stormy night, holding his father’s hand tightly. Someone asked, "Aren't you scared?" The child smiled and replied, "It’s not that I am holding my father’s hand; it is my father who is holding mine." We are safe not because our faith is perfect, but because the hand of God, which holds us, never lets go.

Application/ Am I living as a baptized child of God? Is there still an "Egypt" I long to return to? Do I trust God’s promises more than my fears? Do I choose gratitude and prayer over grumbling? Am I living with the conviction that God fights on my behalf?

Resolution: I am one who has crossed the Red Sea. Through baptism, my old self has died with Jesus Christ, and I live as a new creation—a child of God. I will never return to the "Egypt" of sin and the world. No matter what Red Sea-like situation I face, I will choose faith over fear. I will steadfastly remain in the place God has appointed for me. I will cease grumbling and complaining, and instead look to God with gratitude and prayer. Anticipating God’s salvation, I will live a life of following Jesus, taking up my own cross daily. I believe that God will surely fight for me and open a path beyond my imagination. Amen.

Prayer/ Heavenly Father, rich in love and grace, I sincerely thank You for rescuing us from sin and death and for making us Your children through baptism. There are times when we face overwhelming realities—like the Red Sea—in our lives. In moments when the path ahead is blocked and fear closes in from behind, please grant us the faith to set aside human calculations and worries and look only to You. Let us hear Your voice telling us not to fear, and help us remain steadfast in the place of faith You have established for us. Silence our lips from grumbling and complaint, and open them to offer thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. May we joyfully take up our crosses daily to follow Jesus and live holy lives worthy of Your baptized children. O God, who parted the Red Sea, I believe You will surely open a new path in our lives as well. Help us to trust to the very end in You—the God who goes before us and fights on our behalf. May our lives become beautiful testimonies that bear witness to Your living presence, and may we be blessed believers who reveal Your love and the glory of salvation wherever we go. We offer all glory to You and pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.