Our “Egypt’s”, putting off the old man.
This is what we are about as Christians, in pursuit of transforming this old man into someone that God will want with him in heaven when my time on this earth comes.
Eph. 4:20-24
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
As we study and listen to the word of God this is what we are doing, learning Christ, because the truth is in him.
Put off this old way of life, which is corrupt according to our lust.
Put on the new man and be renewed in spirit of your mind.
This is so contrary to the way our flesh works, we have to work to keep the old man away, and the new man intact. If we work at it and get rid of the old man completely then he will not give us anymore problems, but the fact that we leave little pieces of him is what causes problems.
This is what happened to the children of Israel, they wanted to be free from the way of bondage, but kept parts of Egypt and that old way of life and it was that which corrupted and deceived them and eventually kept them out of the promise land.
Psalms 78: 12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Things are so good, God has given us salvation, answers to our marriages and raising kids, so we are able to rejoice in these things and see that God is working in our life and is good toward us.
Until something comes along that is discouraging or troubling or my lust wants to be fulfilled, then I look at God as too hard not doing enough for me, so I begin to murmur against him.
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
When we turn to our lust and continue to do things our way, it’s because we don’t trust in God or in his salvation.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
This does not have to be a huge sin or grievous thing, it could be just being somewhere or looking at things I shouldn’t be, because of corrupt speech, or not following my conscience.
23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
How long lasting is the fear of God stay with me? Is it enough to get an immediate reaction and then the next day or so, I am back to being my old self.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Because their hearts were still in Egypt, what is my Egypt? What we remember of our past is always better than what it really was. (Not having so many responsibilities, having more money, more education, family, more time, not such a ridged schedule)
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
They remembered not God because all they were remembering was Egypt and how good they supposedly had there.
Ex 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Fear of the unknown will cause us to look back, the flesh likes control and comfort, and I may be comfortable in my position, so I am afraid and won’t take the next step. We have those that are there to help us see the “salvation of the lord”, and to show how the “Lord will fight for us”.
If Moses had let them try to go back to serve the Egyptians, more than likely they all would have been killed. Going back to our Egypt is certain death.
Ex. 16: 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
They make it sound like they had it so easy as if they were the ones who had the slaves who waited on them.
When you look at what you had and dwell on what you think was something that was better, these “Egypt’s” become some warped kind of illusion. They are something that is not real, but built up imaginations that come from your lust.
2 Cor. 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This is what these thoughts of lust and desires of the old man are, imaginations that exalt itself above God. Instead I need to bring all thoughts in control of the gospel and obedience of Christ.
Letting go of my Egypt’s will be the only way I can grow and move on in my pursuit of heaven.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Let us go on to perfection, grow up unto God a people that have left the old man behind to take up the cross of Christ.
Not those that are being hindered by our Egypt’s, who are willing to give up the cross of Christ to crucify him afresh and put him to an open shame and at the same time condemning our own selves.