Red Sea Rules Robert J Morgan
Ten God‐Given Strategies for Difficult Times
“That which, like a a, threatens to drown you, shall be a highway for your escape”‐‐‐‐Charles Spurgeon
雅思词汇量测试‐‐‐READ INTRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Red Sea Rule # 1‐‐‐Realize That God Means for You to Be Where You Are
‐‐‐Worry
Have any of you ever worried? The preacher John R. Rice said that “Worry is putting question marks where God has put periods”
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen called worry “A form of atheism, for it betrays a lack of
faith and trust in God”
air swimmers
The Lord tests our faith, leading us into hardship. Cancer, job loss, agonizing struggles with our children, friends, family members. Why? To teach us wisdom.
Realize that when you are in a difficult place, the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reasons perhaps known only to Himlf. The same God who led you in will lead you out.
‐‐‐Consider the men and women who, thru no fault of their own, found themlves bet with soul‐disabling difficulties while trying to follow God:
斯坦福大学官网Hagar‐‐‐a single mom, forced into the dert to die
Joph‐‐‐sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers
liliumMos‐‐‐caught between the splendors of Egyptian royalty and the afflictions of God’s people
David‐‐‐Anointed by Samuel and then pursued by Israelite troops
Hezekiah‐‐‐eking revival, was trapped by the most powerful army on earth, bent on annihilating his people
The Lord’s Disciples‐‐‐sailed at His command on the Sea of Galilee only to face a terror‐filled night of storms and waves
The Son of Man‐‐‐eking to fulfill His Father’s will, was killed on the cross
ppap歌词The Apostles‐‐‐whipped and murdered for preaching the word of Jesuslinea
QUOTE: Jesus said “In the world, you will have tribulation” (John 16:33)
God allows our faith to be tried. Remember that God has put us in difficult situations or has allowed us to be there, sometimes for reasons known only to Himlf. You are there by God’s appointment. Whether you are in a bad situation becau of your own mistakes or sins or not, God wants you to be right there. Trust in God’s leadings.
Red Sea Rule # 2‐‐‐Be More Concerned For God’s Glory Than For Your Own Relief
英语一年级上册‐‐‐Read top of page 18 about Gertrude Stein
Sometimes we are unable to extricate ourlves from a difficult situation becau our natural instinct is to ask 1)How did I get into this mess and how can I get out?
2) How quickly can I solve this problem? 3) Why did this have to happen to me?
The are natural respons, but there is a better approach‐‐‐instead, ask “How can God be glorified in this situation?” Look for ways to make God the focus of your efforts.
‐‐‐Read top of page 21 about the blind man and Jesus
When Jesus healed the blind man, the glory of God’s power was revealed.
At the ont of the most excruciating week of Jesus’ life, He didn’t ask “How can I get out of this? He asked “How can God be glorified?”
This is what our lives are about‐‐‐to glorify His name.
Mathew Henry wrote that “God sometimes rais difficulties in the way of His people, that He may have the glory of subduing them, and helping His people over them”. The Lord devis ways of turning difficulties into deliverances and problems into prai.
Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me”
The Lord doesn’t always deliver us from our problems in the way we want Him to. He does it HIS WAY.
Always ask yourlf this question: “How can God be glorified in the situation I am facing?”
Red Sea Rule # 3‐‐‐Acknowledge Your Enemy, But Keep Your Eyes on the Lord
“The Great Tyrant has not forgotten you, and he designs your capture and re‐enslavement”‐‐‐Charles Spurgeon
We Methodists don’t speak at all of Satan, for reasons that Satan loves. I’m sure he can’t believe his good fortune, that people who come together to worship God conscientiously strive to avoid any talk of the great enemy.
Robert Morgan says “Satan pursues you with the intensity of Pharoah. He may u your friends, discouraging respons from your family, cur you with envy, tempt you where you are weakest, etc”.
Acknowledge Satan’s activity in your life, but do not be intimidated by him. Keep your true focus on God in all things.
cdo
James 4: 7‐8 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”.
The apostle Paul wrote in 1 COR 10:6 that “The things happened as examples for us” (speaking of the events at the Red Sea).
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote that “Our fight is not against any physical enemy. It is against powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unen power that controls the dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil”.
We always make a mistake when we acknowledge the Lord and keep our eyes on Satan. Far better to acknowledge Satan and focus on God.
When you are under assault, keep your eyes on Christ‐‐‐but recognize that the devil is clo by.
Red Sea Rule # 4‐‐‐PRAY!
Exodus 14:10 “When pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.”
Mathew Henry‐‐‐“Their fear t them praying…God brings us into straits that He may bring us to our knees.”
David wrote in 2 Samuel 22:7‐‐‐“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God. He heard my voice.”
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18‐‐‐“Pray hard and long.”
Robert Morgan writes that “Looking back over the years, I never faced a crisis in which, in respon to earnest prayer, whether prolonged or instant, God did not make a way.
James 5:16‐‐‐“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results”.
(Enter here a debate on the effectiveness of praying alone vis a vis group prayer)
Red Sea Rule # 5 Stay Calm & Confident, and Give God Time to Work
Psalm 37:7‐8‐‐‐“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret‐‐‐it only caus harm”.
As human beings, we are trained to ek the most direct human path to a solution to our problems. But often we don’t give God time to work his solutions. We get in His way.
Part of waiting faithfully for God to act is keeping our emotions under control, not being impatient, not losing our temper. We are to walk by faith, not by feelings. Sometimes we must choo an attitude that is contrary to how we feel.
Dr Marilyn Lloyd‐Jones wrote “I do not care what the circumstances may be, the Christian should never be agitated, the Christian should never be beside himlf, the Christian should never be at his wit’s end, should never be in a condition in which he has lost…it implies a lack of trust and confidence in Him.”
2 Chronicles 20: “The battle is not yours, but God’s….You will not need to fight in this battle….Do not fear or be dismayed.”
fabiaRobert Morgan‐‐‐“Many times we cannot solve problems, heal hurts, change circumstances or win our own battles. We must kneel in prayer and then stand to e what He will do. We must leave room for God, staying calm and giving Him time to work.”
wool
C.H. Mackintosh‐‐‐“Faith rais the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himlf, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts.”
