LIFE ON GOD’S TERMS

A Word From Karen...

“There is therefore NOW, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).

I’m writing this newsletter today to encourage us and remind us that all condemning evidence against us is cancelled. This is the wisdom of God, that IN CHRIST, or rather IN MESSIAH, all of the philosophers, the academics, the prognosticators, the skilled talkers, and all others are out of business for good. As Eugene Peterson (Message translation) has said, “Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation” (Rom. 8:1-2). We have been delivered from a lifetime of tyranny.

What we see in our country is tyranny trying to raise its head to afflict the children of God. Exod. 1:6 teaches us that a new king arose in Egypt that did not know Joseph. A new king implies that this is a king who follows different principles of government. As the commentator Albert Barnes states, “He rose up on different terms from the king whose place he took.” This new king who rose up encouraged his people to deal wisely with the children of Israel. To deal wisely in this sentence means to act craftily towards them with political craftiness. Because of this word to his people, they set over the children of Israel taskmasters who then afflicted them. A taskmaster is another term for “gang overseer.” These taskmasters were sent to afflict and oppress.

When one is afflicted or oppressed, there is great pressure against the mind. Oppression occurs whenever one person exercises authority or power in an unfair, abusive, cruel or needlessly controlling way. Oppression is characterized by malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power, often under the guise of governmental authority. Oppression can be overt or covert. ¹

The good news today is that IN CHRIST, we have been freed from brutal tyranny.

MOSES AND PROMISED FREEDOM FROM TYRANTS

Moses was commanded by God to put off his shoe. (Exod. 3:5). Putting off one’s shoe means to clear out, eradicate completely and entirely. Shoes represent that which has been locked up, inclosed and bolted. It is time to put off our shoes. It is time to step forward and seize what is already ours. “In transferring a domain it was customary symbolically to deliver a shoe; hence the casting down a shoe upon any country was a symbol of taking possession. Ps. 60:10 ..’Upon Edom will I cast down my shoe,’ i.e I will take possession of it, I will claim it as my own.” ²

In Exodus 3:6 God reveals Himself to Moses as the father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The LORD said “I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrow; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey..” (Exod. 3:7-8).

THE REVERSAL

I believe we are getting ready to see this same thing in our lives. I believe a great reversal is about to happen in this land. To understand the future, we must look to the past. “The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9).

God keeps His word down to the exact minute and hour. God’s children were oppressed and afflicted and God moved on the exact day that was prophesied to Abraham hundreds of years earlier. “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypx” (Exod. 12:41).

Every true prophetic word spoken over us will come to pass, if we believe. We must enter into these promises on God’s terms. We do not have to double and re-double our efforts to make God’s promises happen. Embrace what the Spirit of the LORD is doing. God is the one who will lead us into an open, spacious and free life. It’s up to us to focus on what God is doing, and stop being obsessed with self.

We welcome you today invisible, but present God. You will be true to your Word.

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