Red Sea Rules: 10 Rules for Difficult Situations   adapted from book by Robert Morgan

 
1. When you are in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there: Our Father has custom designed the experiences we need to prepare us for His kingdom.
2. Be more concerned for God’s glory than your relief: The next time your overwhelmed, instead of asking, “How can I get out of this mess?” try asking, “How can God be glorified in this situation.” In John 9 the disciples met a man blind from birth. When they asked Jesus if this was as a result of his sin or that of his parents, Jesus responded, “Your asking the wrong question. This man was born blind so that the power of God could be displayed in his life.” When Mary and Martha reproved Jesus for not coming immediately and healing Lazarus, Jesus responded, “This sickness is not unto death, but that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” At the onset of the most excruciating week of His life, Jesus asked not, “How can I get out of this? But “How can God’s name be glorified?” Our job amid the difficulty is to learn our Lord’s simple but submissive prayer: What shall I say? Save me from this hour? No, Father, glorify Your name. The story of parted waters shows us that God gains glory: -When His enemies are defeated; -When His children are delivered; -When His name is exalted; -When his exploits are remembered; and –When His praises are sounded. He will gain honor for Himself over our adversarial situations.
3. Acknowledge satan’s attacks on your life, but keep your focus on the Lord: “Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:6-8) “Therefore if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.” (John 8:36)
4. Pray fervently: “The fervent prayer of a righteous man is mighty in its working.” (James 5:16)
5. Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him… Do not fret – it only causes harm.” (Psalm 37:7-8) “The battle is not yours, but God’s…. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you… Do not fear or be dismayed.” (2 Chronicles 20:15,17 )
6. When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith: “Your strength shall be renewed day by day like morning dew.” (Psalm 110:3) “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of you tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” (Mathew 6:34) Trust God for guidance in small increments; and if you can’t see what lies dimly in the distance, do what lies clearly at hand.
7. Envision God’s enveloping presence: “I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too – your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful—I can’t take it all in.” (Psalm 139:5-6 MSG) “Lord let your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in you alone.” (Psalm 33:22) God’s presence in the trial is much better than exemption from the trial. “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) “Speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you.” (Acts 18:9-10) “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” (Gen. 28:15) “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything.” (Phil. 4:5,6) The best way to develop and abiding awareness of God’s presence is to speak to Him often in prayer. Prayer is the environment in which we most solidly connect with God on an intimate basis. Do it often.
8. Trust God to deliver in His own unique way: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:15) The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever.” (2 Tim. 4:18) God still delivers, but we must understand that, “My thoughts are not your thoughts; nor are your ways My ways.” (Isaiah 55:8)
9. View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future: I know He tries me to increase my faith. “A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.” –Warren Wiersbe) The Lord loves to respond to faith.
10. Don’t forget to praise Him: “Praise and worship are the sand and cement that hold the bricks in place along life’s daily path. Every segment of our day should be encased in praise. “See those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3) Praise is our typical expression of joyful confidence and triumphant thanksgiving at what God has done, is doing, and is going to do.

Walking with Jesus

Walking with Jesus to His Crucifixion and His Glorious Resurrection               

Part 2  Hearings and Mock Trials                  

I.                    Introduction:  Last week we started studying events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  We began this walk with Jesus at a feast in the town of Bethany.  Here a woman named Mary, anointed Jesus body with costly ointment.  Judas Iscariot and Jesus other disciples criticized her anointing with costly ointment as a waste of money.  Jesus defended her act of worship and said this anointing was for his burial.

While some were at the feast, chief priests, scribes and elders were assembled in another place plotting to kill Jesus.  Later Judas Iscariot would meet with them and agree to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Following the feast Jesus went to Jerusalem where the common people were ready to receive Jesus as their king.  In fulfillment of prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 Jesus rode humbly into Jerusalem upon a donkey, and a colt, or young donkey.  The common people laid their clothing and palm branches on the pathway before Jesus in honor to Jesus.  They called out, “Hosanna in the highest blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”  By calling, “Hosanna,” they were calling out to Jesus to be their earthly king and to deliver them from their earthly problems.  This was not Gods plan.  God’s plan was that Jesus first die for their sins to saved them from their spiritual problems. 

Following this Jesus disciples prepared a Passover feast and celebrated Passover with the Lord.  It was here at this Passover feast that Jesus first instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion.  Jesus broke and distributed the unleavened bread among the disciples, saying the bread was His body which would be broken on the cross for our sins.  He also took the cup, containing the fruit of the vine, pure unfermented grape juice, that was representative of His sinless blood shed on behalf of sinful men.  This is done in remembrance of Christ and His sacrifice for our sins till He come.  

Our walk with Jesus, took us next to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Here Jesus prayed in agony 3 times while his disciples slept.  He prayed “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  Thus, Jesus yielded to this most difficult assignment of His heavenly Father—taking all of the sins of mankind upon Himself and being separated from God the Father for the first time ever, because of our sin.

Following Jesus prayer, Judas Iscariot along with soldiers entered the garden.  In the cover of night, Judas Iscariot does his work of deceit and betrayal.  With pretended gestures of obedience and love, Judas Iscariot calls out to Jesus “Hail, Master: and kisses Jesus thus betraying Jesus into the hands of sinful men.  We look on these terrible acts of deceit and betrayal by Judas and see them as truly offensive, but do we see the terribleness of our own acts of deceit and betrayal toward Jesus?

I.                   Proposition:  Today, as we continue our walk with Jesus toward His crucifixion and glorious resurrection, let us examine ourselves and our own relationship with Jesus.  Let us not criticize and focus on failures of others.  STAND AND PRAY.

II.                 Transition:  Following the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was taken by night for a mock hearing before Caiaphas the High Priest and the Sanhedrin, a council composed of Jewish religious leaders.

III.              Body: 

A.     Let’s now read Matthew’s account of Jesus mock hearing before the high priest Caiaphas and the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin in Matthew 26:57-68.  In this account we read that they sought out false witnesses to testify against Christ, and they attempted to catch Jesus in His words so they could accuse Him of blasphemy.  Blasphemy is saying sinful things against God.    This was clearly not a fair and just hearing.  It was only designed to falsely accuse Jesus.  They spit on Him.  They buffeted Him and hit Him with their hands and mocked Him.

          Notice what Peter did while all of this is happening.  Verse 58 reads, “But Peter followed Him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.”  By following afar off He shows Peter did not want people to know he was with Jesus.  When he arrived at the high priest’s office “he sat with the servants” as a mere spectator.  He wanted to see what would happen, but was fearful to be in the front of the crowd in full support of Jesus.  Support for Jesus in this place was near zero.  It was not a popular position among these people.  But before we become too critical of Peter, we must ask ourselves, “Am I afraid to let people know I’m with Jesus?”  Do I speak up for Jesus, when it is unpopular?  Or am I ashamed and try to be cool or fit in with those who do not love God?

B.     Read Matthew’s account of Peter’s denial in Matthew 26:69-75. Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, had said to Jesus out of a heart full of love and devotion, in verse 33, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet shall I never be offended.”  But Jesus who is the all-knowing God who knows the hearts of men, correctly prophesied of Peter, “That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice…”  Peter’s actions of denial of Christ seem almost unthinkable.  But we must examine ourselves.  How quickly our hearts turn from fervor and devotion toward God to failure and denial of God.

As sad as this account of Peter’s denial of his Lord is, we see in Peter evidence of true faith in and love for Christ.  For when Peter sinned he could not think lightly of his sin as though nothing happened, but Matthew 26:75 tells us when “Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice,” he was brought to shame and repentance from his sin.  “And he went out and wept bitterly.”  Many of us are much like Peter.  One moment fervent in our expression of love for God, and the next moment failing.  But also like Peter, the true believer cannot take his sin lightly, but find it grievous and something that must be repented from.

C.      Let’s read the most detailed account of Jesus daytime trial before the Jewish council of elders, scribes, and chief priests called the Sanhedrin in Luke 22:66-71. Read.  The intent of this Jewish council’s questioning was to get Jesus to say, He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God.  If He said these things they would charge Him with blasphemy—that is saying something sinful against God.  The final intent of their so called trial is found in Matthew 27:1-2.  Read.  The people took council to bring Him to death.  This trial was by the religious Jewish council.  Next they bound Jesus and led Him away to be tried by Pontius Pilate, the governor appointed by the Roman Empire which had political rule over this region at this time.

D.    While this was happening we read of Judas the betrayer of Jesus in Matthew 27:3-10.  Read.  When Judas realized that condemnation of Jesus would go through, Scripture says, “he repented himself.”  Judas changed his mind and tried to return the 30 pieces of silver which he received for betrayal of Jesus.  When the priest refused the money, Judas cast it down on the temple floor, and leaving in despair over his sin, went and hanged himself.  The tragedy we see here is that Judas only renounced his sin and turned from it, but he still felt the weight of its guilt.  He did not turn to Christ and find forgiveness.  As a result of his hardness to God, he turned to grief and despair, and finally to self-destruction and condemnation by God.  We must learn a lesson from the erroneous course of Judas.  We must understand that turning from sin is not sufficient to alleviate guilt.  Instead one must turn to Christ for forgiveness. 

IV.               Conclusion:  God does not want us to live in grief and despair that ends in self-destruction and condemnation because of our sin.  He wants us to know forgiveness.  To obtain that forgiveness for us He paid the supreme sacrifice of the death of His sinless Son.  Christ’s death paid the price of forgiveness for us.  Now, He offers that forgiveness to you as a gift.  Will you receive it today?

Creation to Christ Lesson 1

     

The Bible is a big book, and many people find it hard to understand.  I Corinthians 2:14 explains this reason most people don’t understand.  Read I Corinthians 2:14.  This verse explains that most people don’t understand the Bible because they are natural men.  That means they are only naturally or physically minded.  They do not have a genuine spiritual life.  The natural man has not experienced the spiritual birth.  Because of this he does not receive the things of the Spirit of God nor comprehend them for they are spiritually discerned.  It is my desire that each of you who meets with us have understanding of who God is, what He does and what He is like and what His message to us is that we find in the Bible. 

We know the Bible is composed of 66 writings called books, penned by 40 men, over a period of 1600 years, but because it is God’s inspired Word, it has one central message.  It is my desire to make that message clear and plain to you.  To do so I am going to begin a series of studies to give you an overview of the Bible in chronological order.  We will start with the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis and teach the highlights of the Bible, emphasizing the character of God and His central message to us.  This will be the focus of our study and we will purposefully stick to our topic.

 In II Timothy 3:15-16 we read why it is important to study the Bible or Holy Scriptures as it is also called.  Read II Timothy 3:15-16.  These verse tell us all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation.  These are two good reasons to study the Bible.  1) It is the inspired authoritative Word of God. 2) It is able to make us wise concerning our need for salvation, and God’s provision for salvation.  Read II Peter 1:20-21.  The Bible is not man’s ideas but God’s own Word as it was prophesied by holy men of old.  With the exception of Luke, these men were Jewish men, of God’s chosen people.  God chose the Jews or people of Israel to be the nation through whom He would give the Holy Scriptures and through whom He would send Jesus, the promised Saviour of the world.  In Isaiah 43:10 God says of His people the Jews, “Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord.”  --Mark