Faith Life 61 (Faith Approach 4)

 

FAITH APPROACH 4 (By Ayoola Fakeye)

It is essential as Christians to approach life with an assurance that the Lord Jesus has already won the battle. That is the faith approach! And the Holy Spirit has been sent to lead us to the spoils and gather them. However, many believers still don't follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Pride and ego won't make us follow the Holy Spirit. Other times, it is religion and culture that affect our sensitivity. 

 

“By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.” Hebrews 11:29‬ ‭

 

We got this faith approach from the progression of the Children of Israel through the Red Sea. You can check the three-previous article to get a better understanding.

 

Having already seen the three steps Moses took to build the children of Israel's faith and confidence in the living God, the Lord responded to Him.

 

Let us check it out in Exodus 14

“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” Exodus 14:15-16‬ ‭

From that scripture above, God reproved Moses. He asked him, ‘Why do you cry to me?’ I believe God is not against crying unto Him or calling out to Him. Crying here is a form of prayer or groaning. Even the bible, in the book of Hebrews 5:7, tells us of Jesus when he was in the flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with ‘strong crying’ and ‘tears’ unto God. Some prayers will bring tears out of your eyes, such that they will be uncontrollable. It is okay to allow those tears to roll down your cheek.

 

The point I am driving out is that God was not just reproving Moses because he was crying to Him, but much more than that. After God questioned him, there, you’ll see the correction. God told him that instead of weeping to me, he should instruct the children of Israel to go forward, but he must lift the rod and stretch it over the sea.

 

When we consider Moses’ rod, it is a type of the cross of Christ. It was through it God did as many signs and wonders in Egypt and also in the wilderness: through the rod, God divided the Red Sea. Also, through it, the water gushed out of the rock when Moses struck it. Looking at the cross of Christ, where He took our sin and became our sin offering. He canceled the handwriting of the devil. As a result, we have access to His glorious life. Beloved, Jesus, in three hours of darkness on the cross, became our sin offering. The rod in Moses’ hand was a type of cross. But unfortunately, He was not taking advantage of it.

 

Beloved, it is never a problem to pray. But never pray like God has not given you everything you need for life (2 Peter 1:3). Never pray like God has not made His provision available to you. His victory is right within your reach. The Lord Jesus has fought our battle and has won for us. The spoils are right here in front of us. Nonetheless, many believers still cry to God as though God is the concern. That was the reason God reproved Moses' cries and wailing

 

It is okay if your prayer is to see in-depth what Christ has done (Ephesians 1:8). It is okay to pray against every opposition that hinders us from receiving the manifestation of what God has done. It is okay to pray that the Holy Spirit helps our weaknesses, which do not allow us to utilize God's victory in our hands. However, in all prayers and petitions, don't forget that Christ has already placed his triumph in your hands. Never get to a position where you feel destitute and desolate of God's presence and power. Beloved, I am putting it to you, YOU ARE MORE THAN CONQUEROR. You were not the one that fought the battle, but you are the one who is enjoying the spoils. Is our redemption not wonderful?

 

Many times, we make an unnecessary petition, such that devoid of a relationship with God. God is not the problem, and often we pray as though he is the problem. No! Looking back to the children of Israel, God told Moses, why are you crying to him as though he is the issue? The Red Sea is not the issue, but they are the problem. So, God asked him to move forward; but while moving forward, he must not forget the weapon in his hand to use it against the challenge - the Red sea. 

 

The reason we get stuck in a place is that we don't know what we have in Christ Jesus. At times the enemy has caught up on us in some areas, like our health, business, and academics, because we have forgotten our identity with Christ. Now God is reminding us about the value of what is in our hands. The life of Jesus has already possessed you as believers. Let it find expression! Let it express itself in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

We need to start moving onward, going into our everyday life with the confidence that Christ has won the battle of our life. When God revealed to Moses what was in His hand, faith rose in them, and they passed through the Red Sea with confidence. When you realize that you are already victorious, there is no way you can be stuck again. But when you don't yet know your lot, whether you will be drowned in the Red Sea or not, then you will be stuck and experience defeat. I want to ask you. Do you know your lot in Christ?

 

I need to tell you that your eternal rest is in the hands of the man who has the print of our redemption—CHRIST JESUS