Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Israel's Spiritual Experiences by Pat Patterson
As we study the history of Israel, we find major geographical locations that mark spiritual experiences for the nation.
Egypt – Egypt was the place of death and bondage from which Israel was delivered. They were first delivered from the Angel of death by putting the blood of the lamb over their doorposts during the first Passover and then from bondage by the power of God who opened the Red Sea and took them across safely.
The wilderness – Israel’s wilderness experience depicts believers who live in unbelief and disobedience and don’t enter into the rest and riches of the inheritance in Christ. Just like at Kadesh Barnea (mentioned last week), believers come to a crisis but refuse to obey the Lord and claim His will for their lives. They are delivered from Egypt, but Egypt is still in their hearts; and like the Israelites, they have a desire to go back to the old life. What an analogy of the Christian life, where we have been saved and yet do not claim all that Christ has promised us. Just as God told Joshua that He would conquer all their enemies in the new land of Canaan, we have the promise that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Phil 4:13.
Canaan – Canaan represents the Christian life as it ought to be; conflict and victory, faith and obedience, spiritual riches and rest. It’s like trusting Jesus Christ, our Joshua, to lead us from victory to victory. When Israel was in Egypt, the enemy was around them, making their lives miserable. When they crossed the Red Sea, they put the enemy behind them. And when they crossed the Jordon River, they saw new enemies before them, and conquered these enemies by faith.
This week - Claim the riches of the inheritance in Christ- Eph 1:3 -We are blessed in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Believe that God is going before us in our battles- Eph 6:10-11. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. --Pat
Egypt – Egypt was the place of death and bondage from which Israel was delivered. They were first delivered from the Angel of death by putting the blood of the lamb over their doorposts during the first Passover and then from bondage by the power of God who opened the Red Sea and took them across safely.
The wilderness – Israel’s wilderness experience depicts believers who live in unbelief and disobedience and don’t enter into the rest and riches of the inheritance in Christ. Just like at Kadesh Barnea (mentioned last week), believers come to a crisis but refuse to obey the Lord and claim His will for their lives. They are delivered from Egypt, but Egypt is still in their hearts; and like the Israelites, they have a desire to go back to the old life. What an analogy of the Christian life, where we have been saved and yet do not claim all that Christ has promised us. Just as God told Joshua that He would conquer all their enemies in the new land of Canaan, we have the promise that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Phil 4:13.
Canaan – Canaan represents the Christian life as it ought to be; conflict and victory, faith and obedience, spiritual riches and rest. It’s like trusting Jesus Christ, our Joshua, to lead us from victory to victory. When Israel was in Egypt, the enemy was around them, making their lives miserable. When they crossed the Red Sea, they put the enemy behind them. And when they crossed the Jordon River, they saw new enemies before them, and conquered these enemies by faith.
This week - Claim the riches of the inheritance in Christ- Eph 1:3 -We are blessed in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Believe that God is going before us in our battles- Eph 6:10-11. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. --Pat
1 Comments:
Hey Pat
Just wanted to reach out and let you know about the Church Basement Roadshow author tour ( Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Mark Scanderette) we were going to be hosting Saturday July 26th 7PM down here in Birmingham. Would love for any of your at Vintage Faith in Decatur to come down. Should last until 9PM- so you could make an evening of it and be back at a reasonable time. Let me know if you have questions......
http://churchbasementroadshow.com/
Location: http://web.mac.com/disciplesfellowship/DF/welcome.html
Send me your email when convenient
Just wanted to reach out and let you know about the Church Basement Roadshow author tour ( Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Mark Scanderette) we were going to be hosting Saturday July 26th 7PM down here in Birmingham. Would love for any of your at Vintage Faith in Decatur to come down. Should last until 9PM- so you could make an evening of it and be back at a reasonable time. Let me know if you have questions......
http://churchbasementroadshow.com/
Location: http://web.mac.com/disciplesfellowship/DF/welcome.html
Send me your email when convenient
