Friday, January 21, 2011

Pharaoh's Lies

                                                Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Exodus 8:1



The command of God is clear. "Let my people go, so they can serve me." Although God was speaking to pharaoh of old the command has not changed. Today, God is calling us out captivity. He is calling us out of bondage, out of the hands of the destructive slave master of sin driven by a tyrant who despises us to the core. Like Pharaoh of long ago our enemy (sin) will not release its iron grasp on our lives easily. However, unlike the people of God in Egypt we are the ones who can make the choice to leave. The gates are open and all we have to do is choose to step through and keep moving away from the place of bondage. The reality is if we stay close we are in danger of going back.



Pharaoh’s response to God’s command are deceitful compromises. Study them well:



1. Exodus 8:25”Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land."



IN THE LAND - THE LIE: He told the Israelites that they can stay in the land and do their "religious living" right there in the land, still in bondage, still under his control. He tried to convince them that there is no reason to leave. You can stay right here and serve God. "

THE TRUTH: You cannot! You have been called out! The call is clear “Come out of her my people, Babylon has fallen! (Revelation 18:4) The reality is "the land" represents sin and bondage to sin. Jesus came to save us, not IN our sins, but FROM our sins. If He doesn't save us from our sins, He doesn't save us at all. There is no such thing as partial salvation. Sin is a cancer that kills. If you don't kill it, it kills you. Through Jesus you must get sin out of you and then you must get away for the land of sin!



2. Exodus 8:28 “I will let you go; only you shall not go very far away."

THE LIE: I will let you go . . .

THE TRUTH:  The enemy has no intentions of letting you go.  He will never relinquish his hold over you without a fight.  He will do whatever it takes to keep you in his kingdom of bondage and destruction including destroying you!  He absolutely HATES you!  Like Pharoah used his slaves and disregarded their needs, the enemy also will use you as disposable trash!  He will not let you go...he will only destroy you and then toss you aside. (John 10:10).

THE LIE: You can serve God (under his breath) but not too far away.

See how the enemy would have us linger near Egypt. Near enough to hear the sounds, see the sights, breathe the tainted atmosphere. Just near enough to be slowly contaminated, tempted and drawn back to the bondage of sin ruled by a tyrannical master who set on ruling and ruining us body, mind and soul.

Our enemy whispers this lie to many who heard Christ call, "All right, go serve Jesus - only don't go too far away.” “Don't worry about the little things.” “Don't get rid of your old ways, your old music, and your old friends. You can still hang out- who knows you might be able to convert them - but if you go too far away that will not be possible. Plus you don't want to come across as too religious, closed minded, intolerant and lonely do you?"

THE TRUTH: The old serpent likes to keep you close to charm you helplessly back into the jaws of death. The real deal; Drop everything that will hold you back and run! Run while you can. Run from sin! Go and serve the Lord as he has said, leave the land of bondage and never look back!