Saturday 13 May 2017

Standing on Holy Ground

Scripture: Exodus 3 v 2 - 5: "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
 3  And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
 4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
 5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

Moses was 80 years old when he was led up the mountain of God to meet Him in the burning bush.  He did not have an ordinary life being a Hebrew born in Egypt as a slave to Pharoah.  

Somehow Satan knew a Deliverer was coming at this season and he put it into Pharoah's head to kill all male babies under two years of age.  He would use this same evil but fruitless tactic on Herod when Jesus was born.  

God put it into this mother's heart to save her child by floating him down the Nile River in a reed basket and entrust the outcome to Him.  God sent that baby to Pharoah's daughter, who secured his life and even had his mother become his wetnurse.  

Moses was forty when he found out he was born a Hebrew and he longed to find a way to help his kindred out of their slavery.  He was a Prince of Egypt but could not withstand Pharoah.  He had to flee into the Midian desert and be prepared by God for another forty years to be the humble, broken stuttering man who would meet the great I Am on the mountain.

God commanded Moses from the midst of the burning bush to remove his shoes as he was standing on holy ground.  It's not the patch of real estate that was holy but the spiritual state of being in God's presence.  Moses was not in a church or temple he was just face to face with His Creator and being given instructions on how to rescue the Jews and return them to their homeland after 400 years as slaves in Egypt.  At the same time God was increasing the burdens on the Jews so that when Moses returned they would be more than ready to escape.

Just before Jesus was born the Jews had spent 400 years without hearing a word from God.  When He wants to get their attention He has to let them feel His absence for a long time while He prepares them for someone who will show them His real power.

Spiritual strength is born in meekness and humility.  Two of the most humble men to ever walk this planet were Jesus and Moses.  So if you want to be used by God, when He humbles you and starts removing every shred of pride from you, get ready to take your shoes off because you will soon be standing on holy ground.

In James 4 v 6 says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  What are the characteristics of the proud:  arrogant, stubborn, critical, harsh, aloof, status-seeking, independent, selfish, bullying, manipulative, judgmental, and unforgiving.  The traits of the humble are: approachable, kind, submissive, contrite, hospitable, willing, honourable and loving.

So allow Jesus to breakdown and destroy every shred of pride within you so that the fruit of the Holy Spirit can grow abundantly within your spirit.  This will produce holiness and the right environment for you to be in the august presence of Almighty God.  

This is where real purpose with God expands being fortified by confidence in God.  It took Moses and his brother Aaron into Pharoah's domain.  Moses needed someone who could talk without stammering to make demands of one who thought he was god. 

Pharoah, like Nero, Stalin, Hitler and Caesar, are types of the Antichrist.  Like David the shepherd who defeated Goliath, you must know how God Almighty will react when you step out in faith.  Whenever strong and powerful opposition comes against God's people, He will perform miracles and judgments upon the enemy in order for them to be free.

Pharoah's pride and power was broken by the death of his firstborn son.  He could no longer be immune to the reality of the God of the Hebrews.  He had to let them go and worship Him.

Here in South Africa we are seeing the ANC, the mighty ruling party of Nelson Mandela, disintegrating daily as our God brings judgment upon President Jacob Zuma and his cabinet of corruption.  Like Pharoah he believes he is above the law as he weaves his way between court cases and sidesteps questions he cannot truthfully answer.  

We are seeing God's judgment upon Syria, who have been hostile to Israel for thousands of years.  Likewise Gaza, Iraq and other Arab nations who want Israel wiped off the map because they dared to reclaim the land given to them by God.  

Everywhere that Christians are persecuted will also face God's wrath.  There are 70,000 Christians imprisoned in cages in North Korea.  They can neither sit nor stand but can only crouch in these cages.  Communist propaganda is blaring out from loudspeakers day and night to break their spirit and their love for Jesus Christ.  The pride and arrogance of their insane leader will be broken one day soon as God repays to his face them that hate Him.

To help those of God's people who are suffering in Communist, Islamic or other places we need to be humble and standing on holy ground.  From this position we have access to the throne of God to intercede for our family, His family, that are in jeopardy.  If it was your child, mother or sister in one of those North Korean cages how hard would you be beseeching God for their release and deliverance?  

Do not be indifferent to the sufferings of others.  Realise that these are your family members which you just have not yet met.  Jesus said we must love one another as He loves us.  Love is not an emotion or a feeling, it is an action.  Love for us nailed Jesus to the Cross.  Let us use the authority Jesus gave us to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel of love.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when people need freedom from oppression, You need us to intercede for You to respond.  You want us to take Godly authority to overcome Satan and his evil plans.  If we do nothing, nothing is going to change.  Stir our hearts Lord to rise up, pray, speak out, and condemn evil, and to reward goodness with praise.  O Lord put us on holy ground to worship you and appeal for peace and righteousness where there is none.  In Jesus' name. Amen.