DCLM Higher Everyday 26 August 2024 — Advancing In Adversity
DCLM Higher Everyday 26 August 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Advancing In Adversity
Topic: Advancing In Adversity
Text: Exodus 14:13-22
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Key Verse: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15).
Message
When something unusual happens, the tendency in man is to yield to fear and discouragement. However, this disposition is needless for the people of God whom He has not given the spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind, according to the Scripture. The Israelites were confronted with the humanly impassable Red Sea in their front and at their back the rampaging Pharoah and his well-trained Egyptian army approaching to destroy them. They cried out of fear and faithlessness, but God said unto Moses, “Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15). The Lord is saying the same thing today to His children facing challenges to move forward instead of just sitting down, complaining and murmuring.
You may encounter challenges as a believer but you must not be defeated because God is telling you to go forward in His strength to overcome the enemies and conquer. Roy T. Bennett posited that “challenge and adversity are meant to help you know who you are. Storms hit your weakness, but unlock your true strength.”
Quote: You must not be defeated
Challenge: You may encounter challenges.
Prayer for today: Help me, Lord, not to yield to discouragement.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
