THE RED SEA RULES STUDY :: DON’T FORGET TO PRAISE HIM

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 10: Don’t forget to praise Him.

Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” ~ Exodus 15: 1-2

This glorious song of rescue, considered by many to be the oldest example of the Hebrew language, is an important part of Israel’s faith even today. In this triumphant moment, with a recurring first-person narrative, the children of Israel lift their voice as one in praise to God. It’s no accident that it is the first recorded song in Scripture!

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. ~ Psalm 22:3

After a long dark night the nation of liberated slaves had miraculously been saved from the Pharaoh’s mighty army. Their faith in God had been vindicated. God was not just a historical memory from their fathers. He was now their personal savior.

What can we learn about praising God from this song today?

- - Praise God for who He is.

The Lord is my strength and song.

He is my God, and I will praise Him.

My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

- - Praise God for what He does.

He has triumphed gloriously.

The horse and rider are thrown into the sea.

He has become my salvation.

“…praise and worship are the sand and cement that hold the bricks in place along life’s daily pathway.” ~ Robert J. Morgan

God often allows us to go through challenging situations. Maybe He is hoping they will give us an opportunity to praise Him? Let’s not wait to delivered from a crisis before we praise God.

With Matt Redman let’s list the 10,000 Reasons why we should be praising God in the middle of our Red Sea journey.

February 7, 2020March 24, 2020

THE LORD’S PRAYER :: HALLOWED NAME

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 Lord’s Prayer Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, giving them not just a prayer to recite, but also a model prayer for us all. This series will be published the first Friday of each month in 2020. We will be studying this beloved prayer phrase by phrase and bringing fresh application to our lives today.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ~ Matthew 6: 9-13

“HALLOWED BE THY NAME”

hallowed: consecrated to a sacred use; reverenced

holy: perfectly pure and immaculate

In the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definitions above you can see the word “hallowed” in our phrase for this week speaks to the holiness of the Father’s name. Jesus is teaching us that at the very beginning of our prayer we need to remember who we are addressing. We aren’t talking to just anyone.

Honoring God’s Name.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. ~ Exodus 20:7

The use of God’s name is so important it made God’s top ten list: The Ten Commandments. God’s name isn’t to be used lightly or thrown about casually. God’s name is to be set apart from all others, respected and reverenced.

Walking Examples of God’s Name.

As Christians our lives are to be set apart from the rest of the world. Because we are Christians, people expect us to live differently, especially if they knew us before we became Christians. We now have Jesus’ name linked with ours. Life isn’t just about us anymore.

Be holy as God is holy. ~ 1 Peter 1:16

In the Scripture above Peter challenges us with a humanly impossible task: to be holy as God is holy. Our behaviors may not always match up. But by accepting Christ as our savior, through Jesus we can be holy because he is holy.

Called To Holy Living.

As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you. ~ 1 Peter 1:14-15

We must honor and respect, the holiness of God’s name by the way we live. Somedays it’s hard especially if we’re trying to do it in our own strength. But because the Holy Spirit lives in us He can guide us and our desires,

As we live in reverential fear of the Lord, surrender our lives daily, read His Word regularly for direction, our lives become a walking testimony that blesses the Lord’s Hallowed Name and brings Him glory and honor.