April 25, 2010
Key
Passage:
Exodus 17: 8-16
“Jehovah Nissi
– The Lord is My Banner”
Miraculous exodus out of
Egypt, even taking all the material goods of those who’ve oppressed
you? Check. Divine delivery via the Red Sea from a swarm
of chariots and soldiers? Check. Moaning and complaining
because of lack of food and water, only to have both delivered daily?
Check. No GPS? No problem
– pillar of fire and supernatural cloud to lead. Check.
Yet the grumbling, complaining, moaning, and sinning continue.
If you think I’m talking about the Israelites, you’re right…but
I’m talking about us as well. For the love, how long will our
patient Savior tolerate our grumbling and complaining while his daily
provisions for us are evident from the moment we get up to the minute
our head hits that comfy pillow at night?!? And for crying out
loud, can we PLEASE stop using 1 John 1:9 (“If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and righteous to forgive…”) as a spiritual
Band-Aid to mutter once we’ve sinned so we can go back and do the
same thing again?!? Today, in the 17th
chapter of Exodus, we see for the very first time God
say to someone in the Bible to “write this down and remember it.”
The Lord is My Banner – Jehovah Nissi. Our God stands as a glistening
reminder that He WILL conquer sin and bring us to the Promised Land.
We’d be wise to write it down and remember it as well…!
Exodus 17:8-16 Four Truths
for Consideration…
- Victory may not
come according to our time frame, but it is assured!
- Some of us have
battled personal sins for a long time (porn; gossip; prescription
drug
use; anger, etc.) Some have given up, many just simply give in;
however, the Bible is clear that we’re victors b/c of what Christ
has done for us.
- See
Romans 8:37; Psalm 60:12; 1 John 5:4-5
- The keys to victory
are prayer and obedience…
- It’s a delicate
balance between wholly depending on God and still
“doing our part.” Someone once put it this way
– “Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything
depended on you.”
- We need friends
who will battle with us and pray for us…
- Frankly, most
of us are carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. Moses needed
the strength of others in order to pray. The troops needed each
other in battle. Let me be crystal clear about this: you are doomed
in your spiritual walk if you don’t have others who will not only
support you but hold you accountable.
- Keep a journal
to help you remember what God has done in your life…
- As I mentioned,
following this battle was the first time in Scripture we see God
asking
anyone to write something down and remember it. I hate to use
the example of taking notes in class…but I will. If you don’t
take notes, how in the world will you be prepared when the test
arrives?!
Q:
If, as they say, attitude is everything, what does your attitude about
prayer say about your
relationship with Christ?
Bottom Line:
A study of the names of God is a great step for any Follower to take
in growing their relationship with Christ.
“The Names of God,” by Ken Hemphill, is a thorough yet easy to read
analysis of what each of the names of God means. Also, I get $5
for every book you buy………….kidding. | 
