THE RED SEA RULES STUDY :: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ENEMY BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE LORD

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED friday OF THE MONTH.

In THE RED SEA RULES series we’re using the wonderful book by Robert J. Morgan as our guideline for a deep study of Exodus 14. Join me on the fourth Friday of each month in 2020 as we apply Morgan’s “10 God-Given Strategies for Difficult Times” to our lives today.

RED SEA RULE 3: Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.

Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. . . .  So the Egyptians pursued them. ~ Exodus 14:5-9

Satan Pursues Us

Like Pharaoh’s army pursued the Israelites, Scripture tells us we too have an enemy ceaselessly pursuing us.  We mustn’t take this lightly because Satan certainly doesn’t. He is like a roaring lion seeking whomever he can devour. And like a lion in the jungle, the easy prey are the weak or those who let down their guard.

“Satan doesn’t surrender his prey without a fight. He comes racing after the converted soul, chariot wheels churning the dust, seeking to discourage, you to defeat you. He pursues you with the intensity of Pharaoh. . .  Acknowledge Satan’s activity, but don’t be intimidated by him. You can resist him in the power God and by the blood of Jesus Christ. . .  When we resist his wiles, when we shake off discouragement, Satan falls from heaven faster than lightning. He is drowned in the Red Sea of the blood of Jesus Christ.” ~ Robert J. Morgan

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. . .  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” ~ James 4:7-8, 10

Don’t Be Easy Prey

We can’t foolishly live as easy prey for Satan. We must be aware and always on our  guard. To prevent ourselves from succumbing to the enemy’s attacks we must humbly submit and draw near to God.

As we humble ourselves before God He will lift us up. Even in times of confusion, when we feel blocked by a seemly dead end, God will protect us. He provide an escape just in time!

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (TPT)

Contemplate the many victories you’ve had in God with this powerful song by Bethel Music.

THE NEW LIFE :: ELIMINATE SINFUL BEHAVIOR

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world applications.

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient.~ Colossians 3:5-6 (CSB)

The Scripture reading for today may seem somewhat harsh or unsettling. However, what it is teaching us is critical to living a victorious new life in Christ.

 

Behaviors Driven By Desires

Because we have  accepted Christ as our Savior, we have died to our old life and have been raised to walk a new life in Christ. Living this new life will require changing the habits and behaviors from our old lifestyle.

Our old behaviors were driven by old desires which originate within various parts of our physical body: mind, eyes, ears, touch, taste, etc…  We allowed the desires of our body to dictate how we lived our life.

 

Feeding Habits Keeps Them Alive

Paul tells us we must kill what belongs to our earthly nature. And the best way to do that is to starve it… Don’t feed it anymore! Instead, we must feed our spirit by keeping our hearts and minds set on things above where Christ, is, not on the temporary things of this world.

After committing adultery and murder, King David composed probably the most famous psalm of repentance. Having owned up to his past sins in previous verses, we now see David asking God to make him a new creature.

Create a new, clean heart within me.
Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.
May you never reject me!
May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!

Let my passion for life be restored,
tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me.
Hold me close to you with a willing spirit
that obeys whatever you say. ~ Psalm 51:10-12 (TPT)

Changed Focus Means Changed Life

When we focus on the things of God, earthly desires begin to fade away. By spending time with God and experiencing a new found joy our desires begin to change. Little by little our thoughts change and our bodies will no longer crave old destructive habits. Soon we will have separated ourselves from the sins that caused us to walk in disobedience.

To stay in right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ there are things we must not do or think. By humbly submitting our lives and diligently reordering our behaviors we will walk in joyful obedience to God.

BY GOD’S GRACE WE ARE CHANGED!

Celebrate how God changed you with this awesome song by Jordan Feliz