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Evaluating Our Hindrances

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Exodus 14:8-9

[8] And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
[9] But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.

Pharaoh’s pursuit of Israel is a very good representation of how evil forces in our lives pursue us today.

Luke 22:31

[31] And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Jesus even was saying to Peter during His life on earth that Satan desired to have them. The word “have” is a very strong word when it comes to the ownership of your life or soul.

Exodus 14:21-22

[21] And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
[22] And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The opening of the Red Sea when compared to today is a good comparison to the hindrances in our life being removed.

Luke 23:34

[34] And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

The way was completely made when Jesus made the sacrifice for us; it was made for our deliverance. How powerful were the words “Father, forgive them”? It immediately remitted our sins and provided the way we know today!

Exodus 14:19-20

[19] And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
[20] And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Reading about the pillar of cloud and fire reminds me of the divine presence of God that is with us now!

Acts 2:17-21

[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

His presence is still with us! So what do we begin to do about our hindrances? How different are we than these we read of here?

Exodus 12:38

[38] And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

The mixed multitudes demonstrated then what we would know as the worldly element that is present in a church without the leadership of God in it.

Exodus 16:3

[3] And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

The flesh pots get right down to where we are with our sensual pleasures of life. Dependency on sin can be a direct hindrance, whether we choose to acknowledge that or not. So what do we have to overcome our hindrances?

Exodus 16:4

[4] Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

The manna here for them is our representation of Jesus Christ to us today; for He is the bread of life to us as He is in us each and every day.

Exodus 17:6

[6] Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The water from the rock was refreshing then, but how much more is the refreshment of knowing that we still have access to the living water through Christ!

1 Corinthians 10:4

[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

When reading that they drank of the Rock, the Rock here to me is what we base our faith and beliefs upon; that Jesus came and died so that we could have life and it more abundantly!

Keep Your Head Up

Today I am very thankful to the Lord above for everything that he is performing in my life. I am thankful for the great works in the lives of those that I see around me. At times the enemy would want all of us to feel discouraged and without a use or a place in this world.

I speak a word of encouragement to everyone to remind you that no matter how much rejection and persecution you face, that the rewards will far outweigh the costs of a few hindrances! Keep your head up and do not faint from the pressure!

Learn to simply endure where you are and God will eventually allow you to move from circumstances that are not promoting the best of a situation that promotes God’s will! Greener pastures will be ahead, joy will be ahead, and a more fruitful life is coming!

We speak it in faith to you in the name of Jesus Christ! Be blessed this day!

Take From Yourself So That God May Increase

THE WORD

John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.

Mark 8:36 – For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

As you study within the bible you will find that the removal of hindrances and stumbling blocks in our lives will begin to bring us closer to God. In fact, it is very easy to find things that we can improve. However, the bigger issue that surfaces when something is tough for us is whether or not we are willing to let God change us from within. Are you?

I am the first person to admit that it is not easy to make personal sacrifices; especially the ones that we seemingly enjoy more than others. Sure, life has many temptations that are pleasing to our human nature. More often than not we neglect to address our fun and pleasures with the simple question: How does this benefit my walk with God? Sometimes the answer may not be to our liking. The answer may be that our choices do not glorify God or we soon realize that we could find something else better to do with the time. The part of you that makes you a strong Christian is the part that is willing to stand up for God and not lean towards fulfilling your own desires. So as you go about your daily life remember to take inventory of what you do and say. Ask yourself, “Am I doing things that make God the first in my life?” Doing this only helps us to grow and to come through the trials of life in victory! Temptations will be easier to say no to and your joy will return in your life once more! Take from yourself so that God may increase!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

The next time that you have money to use for your own fun, I urge you to take the challenge of giving it to someone else to use. For some this may be harder than others (especially when money is tight) so only perform if you can. This example is a representation of showing God’s love by blessing others through increasing their blessings willingly and decreasing yours for their behalf. Jesus paid the price for all of us so that we would have the ability to know and understand the meaning of selfless, compassionate love!

Walking Close Versus Standing Back

When Jesus was alive and walking in the midst of people working miracles, there was always a crowd; people always wanted to be where the action was. They either wanted to get help or bear witness to it. And to those that were not able, they cried aloud for it.

So what about today?

We as God’s people often will be in services today and feel the presence of the Lord enter in the midst but stand by because we are either unsure or do not believe for whatever reason. These reservations, whether we choose to acknowledge it now or later, are ripping the church apart day by day. We NEED the spirit of God to heal our land, guide or direction, and repair the broken-hearted. We need the backbone of the pillars of the saints of God to be restored once more so that we stand again proud and not afraid when one small trial comes through to blow us over!

I choose today to walk close to the presence of God! I want to be right in the middle of it! I press through the crowds of hindrances and stumbling blocks in faith just to get to the hem of Christ’s garment! I’m that desperate for joy and peace in my life! There is no other by which we will stand and have a stable life! Join with me in walking close again and not standing back anymore!

In The Absence Of Others

THE WORD

John 16:32 – Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 14:18 – I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There was a time in my life when I was praying for God to help me when I did not have many friends. After having a breakthrough prayer I began to realize the bigger picture God was trying to get me to see: When we are in a place where we do not have the presence of others (physically or mentally) to give us encouragement, you can find comfort and spiritual fulfillment through the Holy Ghost, even in spite of the absence of others.

One of the best examples to study this concept is when you read about David in one of the worst moments of his life. He and his victorious army returned to a destroyed city. Ziklag was in ruin; everyone as he knew it was pitting against him, blaming him as the sole culprit of the massive loss of their families and homes while they were away in battle. Bear in mind he also lost everything and was forsaken by everyone yet David still found strength through his trust in God to encourage himself. God will be closer than a brother! To know this promise of God helps with everything that you will ever need even when others cannot be there for you. Life may take you many places, but God will always go with you, whether other people will choose to be for or against you. Never forget that!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

The next time that you feel sad, do not make an attempt to reach out to others immediately. Create an environment set apart that will promote your communication to God. Begin to seek God in prayer and pray for a breakthrough over these lowly feelings and enter into victory by the spirit! Learn to get past the hindrances of always feeling like we have to communicate every issue to everyone through in-person/online mediums. If you never allow situations to occur so you can encourage yourself through God’s spirit then when the time comes that you need encouragement from others you may be let down.