Embracing A New Vista

[Albert Finch]

Exodus 14:11,12 - "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...It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'"

Self-Pity Must Be Surrendered

There was something comforting about the past that the Israelites preferred at this point to the unknown dilemma of future freedom. It would seem they were so afraid of the unknown that they might even have been willing to settle for second best and remain in an oppressed lifestyle rather than face the trial of exodus.

　

Surrendering self-pity to God may require a radical healing journey.

1. One of the most effective ways to destroy the habit of feeling sorry for one's self, is first of all to focus on God and start affirming the promises of God in your life (your inheritance in Christ)*** Then, purpose to think about other people; it could be someone you know is facing a difficult situation or perhaps an item on the news headlines has touched your heart.

　

2. Turn your personal pain or disappointment into an opportunity for empathy-fueled prayer and action on behalf of someone in a less privileged or more acute situation than your own?

　

3. Let go of the past if we are to move into new opportunities to discover our spiritual destiny and future potential of liberty in Christ. Even though our enemy will use fear of the unknown to overwhelm us and cause us to lose courage, we must endeavour to maintain a bold faith in the face of adversity.

　

4. Standing and Stillness in Warfare is Strategy.

Exodus14:13,14 - And Moses said unto the people, Fear Ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever.

Ephesians 6: 10,14 - "Finally, my bretheren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."

When we stand firm, God enables us to overcome our enemy in His truth. We quickly discover in spiritual skirmishes that God's authority is truly indisputable and the enemy must bow the knee to the King of kings.

God said that the people would never have to face the enemy they faced that day again. In other words, the battles we win today remain future victories. By faith we can maintain ground taken without having to fight the same battle twice. Furthermore, we do not need to revisit old wounds: what God has healed, He has healed.

Self-examination can be helpful to assess healing progress but ongoing introspection has no place in a people whose focus is the Lord.

We note that Moses exhorted the people to "be still." It is a beautiful truth of knowing God that resting and trusting in Him are not passive, but rather they are active aspects of our faith walk. Trust is about having faith in God to bring forth what is not yet seen, it is about saying, "I believe."

　

5. Reach Out

Exodus 14:15,16 - "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.'"

There is a time to stand and a time to move and we must learn to recognise the seasons both individually and corporately. If we don't discern a new season with God's instruction to "move on," our past has then the potential to be used as a "crutch" - meaning it remains a familiar comfort zone and a possible stumbling block to the new things God has for us.

When we give the Lord access and invite His presence into areas of trauma in our lives, it acts as a divine catalyst for healing. When God heals us, He does so perfectly and with nothing missing.

God's authority raises itself as a banner of victory over our circumstances, situations and any and all intimidation and enemy assault. We must do our part, like Moses, in learning to exercise our God-given authority over our circumstances. Moses raised his staff, thus exerting God's authority, commanding what stood before God's people in the natural environment to be aligned with Heaven. He then stretched the staff out as a gesture of faith in action.

Similarly, we have to do our bit to engage by faith and believe God's authority will deliver every area of our lives into total freedom. In this way we will experience Kingdom transformation and acceleration of destiny!

　

*** You need to have a list of inheritance affirmations that you have extracted from the epistles that show you who you are in Christ, and the promises you are now living in, now that you are a born again believer. These should be recited and meditated on each day.

　

Questions to Ask Myself

　

1. Am I happy in my confort zone or do I really want to change -- that is, reach for the destiny God has for me.

　

2. How many people am I presently discipling? Am I equipping these people to disciple others so they can advance the "Great Commision"?