Egypt Babylon Egypt: Series introduction. Study 1
25/05/20
The deliverance of the victim of oppression comes in three stages, the physical, spiritual and mental. This series is about the Deliverer and the delivered, the oppressor and the oppressed. This story of the great controversy between God and Satan has been illustrated in types or figures and by careful study of the Scripture, we shall see that our journey to heavenly Canaan is the antitype of the Exodus from Egypt (Moses as the Deliverer), Babylon (Cyrus as Deliverer) and Spiritual Egypt (Jesus Christ our Deliverer). There is nothing new under the sun, history is constantly repeating therefore to know history is to know the future.
The foundation scripture which sums up this series is taken from Hebrews 2:15 "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage".
The fear of death is the yoke of bondage till death becomes the realisation of that fear. There is a gain that is a loss, if you love your life you will lose it but if you sacrifice your life you will gain it. John 10: 17-18 "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father".
Death where is thy power and sting, it is in fear itself. The slave master has no power over a dead slave, so it's safe to say that fear fans the flame of slavery, time has come for decolonisation of Christianity, to set at liberty the oppressed and to raise an army of the brave who love not their life at the expense of freedom. We are told regarding the brave Babylonian captives who defied the King (Dragon) and His fiery fire: "In vain were the king’s threats. He could not turn the men from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe. From the history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all true prosperity. Calmly facing the furnace, they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so [if this is your decision], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them, and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God, they added, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” - PK 507.3
The liberation from theological slavery which crucified Jesus Christ was also seen in the life of Stephen, we are told : "At this, priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger. Acting more like beasts of prey than human beings, they rushed upon Stephen, gnashing their teeth. In the cruel faces about him the prisoner read his fate; but he did not waver. For him the fear of death was gone. For him the enraged priests and the excited mob had no terror. The scene before him faded from his vision. To him the gates of heaven were ajar, and, looking in, he saw the glory of the courts of God, and Christ, as if just risen from His throne, standing ready to sustain His servant. In words of triumph Stephen exclaimed, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” - AA 100.3
Satan cannot hold the dead in his grasp when the Son of God bids them live. He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives Christ’s word of power. God is saying to all who are dead in sin, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.” Ephesians 5:14. That word is eternal life. As the word of God which bade the first man live, still gives us life; as Christ’s word, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise,” gave life to the youth of Nain, so that word, “Arise from the dead,” is life to the soul that receives it. God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Colossians 1:13. It is all offered us in His word. If we receive the word, we have the deliverance. - DA 320.2
And “if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Romans 8:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This is the word of comfort wherewith He bids us comfort one another. - DA 320.3
In the history of prophets and apostles, are many noble examples of loyalty to God. Christ’s witnesses have endured imprisonment, torture, and death itself, rather than break God’s commands. The record left by Peter and John is as heroic as any in the gospel dispensation. As they stood for the second time before the men who seemed bent on their destruction, no fear or hesitation could be discerned in their words or attitude. And when the high priest said, “Did we not straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us,” Peter answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” - AA 81.4
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. - Romans 8:15
Millions of human beings are bound down under false religions, in the bondage of slavish fear, of stolid indifference, toiling like beasts of burden, bereft of hope or joy or aspiration here, and with only a dull fear of the hereafter. It is the gospel of the grace of God alone that can uplift the soul.—The Desire of Ages, 478 (1898).
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2Timothy 1:7
Those whom the truth makes free are free indeed. We are not to be under bondage to any man or confederacy of men. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have followed man’s wisdom long enough. And we can avoid the consequences of following this wisdom, if we choose to follow the Lord now, just now. We need a wisdom greater than the wisdom of man to strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. - SpM 290.5
To be continued...
Study by Tarisai P Ziyambi
The Silent Messanger Blog
Comments
Post a Comment