Welcome!
Friday, Feb 11, 2011
Today: We must overcome!
Passage: Exodus 4
24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses[b] and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it.[c] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. 26 So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)- NIV 84
24Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill].25[Now apparently he had [b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses'] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! (Amp. Bible)
Moses faced a “test” on the way to Egypt, to lead Israel out of Egypt
It is the responsibility of leaders to lead “Israel” (the church) away from “Egypt” (the world)-living in the world, but not “of” the world
Moses passed the Test. His wife knew what had to be done. They had failed to do the circumcision. Better late than never!
Even though it is possible to say that this incident (of the LORD meeting them on the way) happened because Moses had not circumcised his son, we see such “tests” in other instances where someone was specifically called by God
Jacob had a test at Jabok (Gen 32:22-31). It was an all-night exam, and he passed it, after which he was blessed and graduated with a new name, “Israel”
Peter was tested by Jesus (John 20). Jesus asked him thrice, if Simon loved Jesus more than everything else
We see that Jesus himself went through “the test” after His 40 day fast in preparation for the ministry (Luke 4)
Today, there are many who failed the test(s) and successfully in “ministry” (!?)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mat 7:21-23, NIV 84)
Getting ready for ministry? Get ready for the test first
It is those who overcome, who qualify (Rev 3;5, 21:7)
God bless you
BG
We shall overcome ….(sung at the white house)