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Staying In The Battle

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It is so important that you as a soldier in the army of the Lord do not give up in the battle that you are waging against the enemy.  You may feel that you are not accomplishing anything and that your part doesn’t make a difference.  You may not realize the impact that your life has on others.   I would like to talk about the difference that Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, made in the battle.

We find in 1 Samuel 12: 5-7 that Israel was facing a hard battle against the Philistines.  “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and peoples as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; and they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the peopled followed from him trembling.”  Not only was Israel greatly outnumbered but they had no swords or spears to fight with.  There were no iron workers or smiths found in the land of Israel.  But the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get their axes and mattocks sharpened.  So there was neither sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan.

It looked like there was no way to overcome.  In Chapter 14, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto his young armour bearer, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.”  But they told no one and no one knew they were gone.  The path that Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison was a difficult path.  There was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side.  How many times have you felt like you were in this situation?  You may have felt like there was no hope or no way out.  Jonathan said again to his armour bearer, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised:  it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”  What faith that Jonathan had.  Heremembered God’s promises and covenant with Israel.  He was taking God seriously and claiming what God had already given Israel.  Many are the times we don’t receive from God because we don’t believe what He has already promised us.

The armour bearer told Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, behold, I am with thee.  This had to be encouragement for Jonathan.  I like to think that the armour bearer represented the Holy Spirit that is always present with us and goes with us through all our battles and trials.   Jonathan said we will pass over to these men and if they say unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them.  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this shall be a sign to us.  Jonathan was putting his fleece out, waiting on an answer from God.  Unlike his father, Saul, who had just committed sin in the earlier chapter by not waiting on Samuel to come to offer the sacrifice, Jonathan was depending on God to do the leading and willing to go forward when God sent His approval.

When Jonathan made known their presence unto the Philistines, they said, “Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing”. Jonathan knew it was time to move into the battle.  He said unto his armour bearer, “Come up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”  Jonathan defeated a small number of Philistines in the mountain pass.  Then God Himself moved in the battle.  He sent an earthquake which caused a great panic among the Philistines.  All the noise and commotion of the retreating Philistines were noticed by Saul’s watchmen.  Saul decided to join in the battle.  In verses 21 & 22, it says that the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines earlier went up from them and turned to be with the Israelites.  Alsothe men of Israel which had been hiding in the mountain also joined in the battle against the Philistines.  Verse 23 says so the Lord saved Israel that day.

Jonathan didn’t know that he would be a “recruiter” for the Lord’s battle that day.  He was just following in his heart what he thought the Lord wanted him to do.  Your life can have a similar impact.  By staying in the battle, you will have an influence on others.  Those who had left Israel and joined the Philistines, turned back to fight with Israel.  Those who had been afraid and discouraged and had hid themselves in the mountain, gained courage and strength and joined the battle.  If others see that you are faithful to God in the good times and in the bad, they will be encouraged and want to do as you do.  So don’t ever give up but keep fighting the good fight of faith and performing the labor that God has given you.  Jonathan was humble in his obedience to God.  It was God’s victory that daybut Jonathan allowed himself to be used in the battle and as a result many who had turned away from God came back that day to fight in the battle.

As we begin a new year in 2019, be determined to stay in the battle of faith believing that God will answer your prayers, will bring you wayward family back home, will deliver individuals from the chains of addiction, and will save those who are lost.  Your fight is important not only to God but to those around you.

 

The Son of the Vineyard

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Luke 20:9-19

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

  1. Creation was done by God. He made the garden to which we and all of life were planted

Genesis 1:9

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

  1. God’s people have been planted and nourished by God, this would eventually be the fruit to which would be profitable

Psalm 80:8

8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

  1. The farmers or tenants were the Leaders in Israel whom did not want to pay the rent

Luke 14:28

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Planting a vineyard on a hillside has to be a long-term investment. Initially there would be considerable outlay and expense. God invested so much in these Old Testament people – his covenants and promises, the feasts, the sacrifices and the law code, but God has also invested so much in you. What God did was to put people under wise leaders and to give them many encouragements to do his will. So they had prophets, and they had the Scriptures; they had priests and Levites who taught them God’s way so that they were without excuse for sinful behaviour, and these leaders became the very people who opposed his word. They led the people astray. They were naive at the stoning of the prophets. They preached ‘Peace!’ when there was contempt and hostility against God. What was happening in Jerusalem when Jesus walked into the Temple? The chief priests and elders and scribes who taught in the synagogues, the very men responsible for the nurture of the fruit of faith in Israel, were plotting to destroy their Messiah. 

  1. The messengers sent to them were the Prophets

Jeremiah 7:25-27

25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

5) The son that was sent is Jesus Christ

So what happens next? Does he send them all into exile? Does he send fire from heaven and treat them all like Sodom and Gomorrah? No. The Lord speaks and he says, “Let’s go to them, my Son. You will be my representative, as if I were going right to them. 

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6) In order to receive the inheritance of the Kingdom of God you must receive Jesus love for you!

John 3:18

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Don’t Let Go, The Work’s Not Done

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Genesis 32 is the pivotal chapter so far as Jacob’s life is concerned. He is a vastly different man here from the person we have come to know in previous chapters. The preoccupation which obsesses Jacob is the necessity of facing his brother Esau, from whom he has deceptively obtained the birthright and the blessing of his father. While the results were consistent with the revealed will of God, the means employed were not pleasing to Him. The result was a “brother offended”.

When Jacob had left Canaan for Paddan-aram, his mother had told him that he would only need to be gone for “a few days” (27:44), and then, when Esau’s anger had cooled, she would send for him (27:45). Twenty years had passed and, so far as we are told, he had never heard from his mother. That must have led Jacob to conclude that Esau still harbored a grudge against him. Jacob thus had good reason to fear a confrontation with his brother.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee” (Genesis 28:20-22).

 

To me, this was a bargain with God. In return for God’s presence, protection, and provision, Jacob would let God be his God. Of all that God gave to him in the form of wealth, Jacob would return ten percent. In effect, Jacob has made God his agent and offered Him the normal fee. What a far cry from what a man’s response to the living God should be!

All of Jacob’s deceitful practices which we have seen over the years of his life are the result of a fundamental misconception. Jacob felt that spiritual blessings were to be secured by carnal methods and means. Jacob rightly believed that God had promised to make him, not Esau, the heir of promise with the rights of the first-born. He valued this blessing while Esau despised it. What he did not yet know was that he did not have to connive and scheme in order to obtain the promised blessings of God. The encounter which Jacob will have with the Angel of Jehovah will correct this error and will instruct Jacob as to how and why spiritual blessings must be obtained through spiritual means.

Genesis 32:24-32

Supplant – to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery

Esau could neither provide nor prevent the blessing of God. It was not Esau that stood in the way of Jacob’s blessing in the land of Canaan. On the one hand, it was God Who opposed him. On the other, it was Jacob himself, who by means of his trickery and treachery, his cunning and deceit attempted to produce spiritual blessings through carnal means. The blessing of God must be obtained from God himself, and this must be done by clinging to Him in helpless dependence, not by trying to manipulate Him. That is the picture which is conveyed by this struggle in the night hours between Jacob and his God. A realization of this fact brought about a dramatic change in the character and conduct of Jacob, and thus his name was changed to reflect this transformation.

The Angel of the Lord asked his name, and he had to reply, “Jacob,” which meant “the supplanter.” This must have been as uncomfortable for Jacob as it was for childless Abraham to refer to himself by his name, which meant “father of a multitude.” No longer should Jacob be known as a supplanter, for now he was a man who prospered because of his faith in the purposes and power of his God, and so the name Israel was given him.

Genesis 32 emphatically instructed Jacob that the Christian life is a spiritual warfare. That is why we see so much emphasis upon angels. Angels met him when he entered the land. An Angel opposed him when he attempted to cross the Jabbok. The blessings which God promised Jacob were spiritual blessings, and spiritual blessings cannot be obtained through fleshly means. If Jacob’s life in Canaan were to receive God’s blessings, Jacob must learn to wage spiritual warfare. He must realize that his major obstacle is not his brother, but his God. Once God is with us, victory is certain. Since our God is a sovereign God, no one can resist His will—not Esau, not Pharaoh, not Assyria, Babylon nor Rome.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Change The Bitter Waters

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Exodus 15:22-24

[22] So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
[24] And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

We begin with a company of singing former slaves:

  • They had been set free
  • Their enemies have perished at the red sea
  • They had a reason to be singing

Onward they go to Canaan

  • Moses leads his people into the wilderness
  • Our lord knows the way through the wilderness
  • There are great lessons to learn in the wilderness

Three days into the wilderness and out of water

  • The containers they filled up at Egypt are gone

There was water at Marah, but it was bitter

This disappointed Israel, for they expected everything to go well

We all have trials on the journey – John 16:33 – [33] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The people murmured against moses

  • Bitter experiences should not make us bitter
  • Bitter people cannot bless others
  • Saul was bitter towards david
  • The prodigals brother was bitter about his return

James 3:14-16

[14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
[15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
[16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Hebrews 12:12-15

[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
[12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
[13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
[15] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

So what do we do now?

  • Moses cried to the lord
  • Pray when others criticize you
  • Moses didn’t know what to do, so he prayed
  • God promises wisdom for those who ask

James 1:5

[5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Exodus 15:25-27

[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
[26] And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
[27] And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

The tree made the waters sweet

  • The tree had been there all the time
  • The tree speaks of the tree of Calvary
  • Remember the cross when you face the bitter experiences
  • The cross will sweeten the bitter times in your life

It’s Time For Courage

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Joshua 1:1-9

[1] Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
[2] Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
[3] Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
[4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
[5] There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
[6] Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
[7] Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
[8] This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
[9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Fear is a crippling emotion. The Lord never intended for His followers to dread the future. Although we may feel afraid at times, we should never let fear control us.

So why did Joshua need courage?

Joshua had seen how the people rebelled against moses. Now, he was in charge of leading them to take the promised land from skilled warriors.

In the midst of his challenges, God reassured him of His presence. This was and is the foundation that helps us to be courageous today.

So what did God command Joshua about being courageous?

Courage is a quality of mind or spirit that enables us to meet danger, opposition, or the challenges of life with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness. Someone who has courage may still feel afraid – but through the power of God – can act with confidence.

The Lord wanted divine wisdom and not human logic to guide the nation.

God also told Joshua that if he obeyed the law of Moses that he would have success.

The Lord made marvelous promise to Joshua: that no matter what happened He would be with them.

If you have the salvation of Jesus Christ, then you possess the very same fellowship.

Count Your Blessings

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Do you know that you are blessed?

The first part that we usually long after and want to see in the beginning is for the blessing to help us in the purpose that will eliminate harm or enhance life. Yet while we are so consumed in the miracles benefits we often miss the other purposes that are only realized after the fact.

Exodus 14:19-31

[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.
[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.
[23] And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
[24] And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
[25] And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
[26] And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
[27] And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
[28] And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
[29] But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
[30] Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
[31] And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

19 – The lifting of the pillar of cloud from their face represents that temporary moment where we as flesh see our own vulnerabilities prior to the blessing.
20 – The angel came between the   camps, representing how God goes out before us in our battles. The cloud came as darkness for one and light for the other. If you are following the will of God for your life than what is blessing you begins to open up a pathway and puts fear into the enemy.

21- Moses’s hand going out represents what God seeks from us as humans; a willingness to serve by faith and to be what seemingly goes against our sight.

22 – The emphasis of dry ground demonstrates the cleanliness of how the spirit cleanses our soul by salvation and sanctification; the waters as a wall are how the Holy Ghost preserves our salvation to walk in righteousness (dry ground). This also demonstrates Gods love and compassion for the feet that He knew would be weary to walk in moistened ground.

23 – Represents the attempted intimidation and pursuit of the enemy towards us.

24 – God’s host begins to demonstrate his power over the enemy.

25 – God dismantled their mobility so they could not only cease their pursuit of us but not able to retreat for another attack.

26 – The hand over the sea now is a demonstration of God’s authority and power that destroys the enemy as we obey.

27 – The sea returning to its strength shows that if we abide in the perfect obedience of the spirit the Holy Ghost within us goes from a protector to being empowered from within.

28 – We then see the totality of the destruction of the enemy; this also opens up the full completeness of salvation, totally saved, no not one enemy survived.

29 – Speaks to their survival and the truth and proof that God had prevailed.

30 – Seeing them dead shows us today that he who the son sets free is free indeed, not to be attacked with these same specific circumstances again.

31 – The miracle then became a testimony, thus giving something as we move on to the next wilderness that we will have something that we will look back on that will remind us that we have all the attributes that we need to overcome over and over again.

Why Unleavened Bread?

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I pray this opens up some understanding for you and blesses your life in some way!

Exodus 12:8-21

[8] And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
[9] Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
[10] And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
[11] And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover.
[12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
[13] And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
[14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
[15] Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
[16] And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
[17] And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
[18] In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
[19] Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
[20] Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
[21] Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

To answer this question, consider the leavening in bread as the way that sin affects our lives. It was and is observed to eat to remember the 430 years of captivity to Pharaoh (and sin).

What does leaving do? It puffs up bread! A little leavening added to a mixture of bread goes a long way when it comes to how much it will expand the substance of it. When we compare that to temptations it becomes very clear that it does not take very much of a temptation to something before it becomes something that causes a decline (puffs up) our spiritual lives. To say that you are consuming unleavened bread not only says you are observing the salvation and deliverance that you have but is also a token to the commitment that we take as Christians to live holy (or separate) lives before God.

There is also another significance to the unleavened philosophy! When you consider Jesus in the moments of the passover, He referred to the bread He broke as His body (or the sacrifice with the flesh being broken). This should be a very implicit picture of the integrity that goes behind that bread. It should remind us whether we are observing passover or just living everyday life that living a Holy life is done by living a separate life from sin. In that commitment is able to be made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

The Concept Of “With All My” Being Applied To Love

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Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thine soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates”

To break this away from being standard commentary, I’ll simply put it like this: this is the part of love that is missing today. Loving from the heart requires a lot of due diligence, patience, understanding, and paying attention to details one normally would pass on by. Loving from the heart will love in spite of faults and help to promote the greater good in one who has failed. Most importantly, loving from the heart is the fuel and the passion that drives everything else in our lives.

I will be real honest with you today. It is hard to see people try so hard in church and at life and still feel like that they fail. When asked directly about what needs to begin to change, the first thing I always reference to is starting to love God with all of your heart in a greater way. Upon hearing this people generally will typically roll their eyes, laugh, or almost get angry with me as if I am questioning or judging them. You can laugh if you wish, but the truth to this is that no one really wants to hear honest answers about why we fail!

Here’s the bottom line: if we love God more, the qualities of God begin to reflect in us and help us to succeed and give us strength when we feel like we do not. As you love God greater, the amount of self-admitted failures dramatically reduce and begin to be turned into parts of life that are continually mended by God’s leadership. And finally, to my favorite part I say this: as we have a strong foundation in love, we are able to love others the way they need to be loved!

Cloud By Day, Fire By Night

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Exodus 14:1-31

[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
[3] For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
[4] And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
[5] And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
[6] And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
[7] And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
[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.
[10] And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
[11] And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
[12] Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
[13] And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
[14] The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
[15] And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
[16] But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
[17] And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
[18] And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
[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.
[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.
[23] And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
[24] And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
[25] And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
[26] And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
[27] And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
[28] And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
[29] But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
[30] Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
[31] And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Pharaoh brought:

  • 600 chosen chariots
  • All of the chariots of Egypt
  • The captains over every one of them
  • All horses and chariots
  • His horseman and army

In other words, he brought the best that he thought that could do the job.

Cornered into the sea, Israel cried out unto the Lord in the wilderness by the sea. Conviction sometimes feels like we’re being cornered when God reveals out faults to us in a greater way.

If we push forward and cross over all the waves of doubt and fears that stand in the way like an ocean, God will part the waters for you!

God opened a pathway through the Red Sea, and that which was leaving Israel in present bondage was left in the sea.

They came through by the parting of the resistance of the impossible in front of them.

Jesus was sent to create a way for us to inherit salvation, pass from death unto life, and to leave our sins and troubles in the sea of forgetfulness.

Pillar of cloud was the covering and protection to prevent overwhelming defeat.

God is and brings our separation to the world around us, whether being pursued or not.

The pillar of fire led them through the darkness when they could not see, and gave them the advantage over the enemy.

The strong easy wind blew all night before they stepped out unto dry ground, in other words, sometimes we have to wait on God to perform the miracles before we try ourselves. Imagine them trying to swim the Red Sea themselves!

1 Corinthians 10:1-5

[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Just to put this into perspective about what they crossed on:

The length was 1,400 miles.

The maximum width is 190-220 miles.

The average depth is 1,600 feet.

To sum this all up: The pillar of cloud separated them in the day from the enemy, and the pillar of fire gave them light in the darkness during the night!