Bible-in OneYear- Day 27 (January 27)

Exodus 7-9    ANGUISH OF SPIRIT

Whoever afflicts a child of covenant will be judged by the covenant. Groaning is a silence voice of pain. Though silence, it is very loud in God’s ears, especially if it comes from the child of His covenant.

Exodus 6:5 “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.”

The stay of the nation of Israel in Egypt was part of the bargain of the covenant. Their agony and cry were not prayers but the voice of pain. A pain undergone in covenant. Remember that God said he had shown Apostle Paul how much he would suffer for Him. It was God’s plan to put them in the land of Egypt and grow them to a nation before taking them back to the Land of Promise.

The burden of covenant could be painful. It can affect mental stability. The Bible calls such condition as anguish of spirit.

Exodus 6:9 “And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.”

Once the mental stability is tampered with, actions become wrong. That is when you see victims finding it difficult to take to good advice just like the case above, “they hearken not …” In that situation, they did not listen again to Moses. But God still took up the responsibility of rescuing them.

Since their spirits had been agonized, He left them to face the battle on their behalf. He did not talk to them again but with Moses and Aaron and charge them with responsibilities.

Exodus 6:13 “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”

In chapter 6, two cases are evident.

1. Leadership case, and
2. Followership case

LEADERSHIP

Moses and Aaron were under command. They were not to force the Israelites out, but to bring them out because they were already discouraged.

Exodus 6:12 “And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?”

Leaders have responsibilities. Many times, difficult tasks to accomplish. Nonetheless, they must be done. Leaders don’t abandon tasks. They should not be discouraged. They must work out how to win the confidence of their followers. Moses and Aaron fell between two hard figures, children of Israel and Pharaoh; both unwilling to yield to Moses’ demand.

Note that the children of Israel were of twelve tribes. Moses had to figure out how they would become one to be free from the bondage. Pharaoh wouldn’t let go. He had to wait on God for what to do all the time.

Leaders also have agony, but people don’t see it. All they want is result. The greatest agony of a leader is winning the hearts of the followers who are not ready to follow, rather they rebel. Without winning their hearts, their hands cannot be won. This is why plagues had to be used to win the followership of the followers and warn the adversary.

FOLLOWERSHIP

Followership is the heart of the followers. In the case of the children of Israel, remember that the scripture said that agony had taken over and, consequently, they did not hearken; i.e. they listened to Moses but not ready to follow, Exodus 6:9. This can be likened to a deliverance case.

When somebody is under the oppression of darkness, the mind has been robbed. Behavior and actions become strange. It is because such is under another spiritual authority. Such will not hearken to counsels that will bring him or her out of the bondage. The thinking is under the manipulation of the spiritual power inflicting the burden. How does the person get deliverance?

The minister must first identify the problem which could only be revealed by the Holy Spirit, not by knowledge. What the Holy Spirit says is the only truth. This is because, the minister can be influenced by the unholy spiritual atmosphere he is in. Look at Moses, he was always going back to God for direction. Witchcraft can charge an atmosphere and if the minister or whoever is praying the prayer of deliverance is not connected with the network of the Holy Spirit carefully, such can prophecy or work under the atmosphere and influence of witchcraft. Therefore, empowerment by grace is the first thing. You may notice that there is a problem, it does not mean you have been appointed or empowered for the solution. Otherwise, you may face serious rage from the powers behind the problem. This is the reason many start having strange dreams and reduction in prayer life after ministering to some deliverance cases.

The second thing is to deal with the powers behind the problem. But before you do that, you must genuinely ask for revelation from God and seek for counsel on what to be done. By this, you will not stay so long on the case.

Many do go and read books to find out what type of demon is operating, and they follow the instructions given in that book. That is only good if you suddenly found yourself in the midst of such troubles. And to protect yourself from the rage. But to get rid, the Holy Spirit must lead you. But before you get the leading, you engage the candidate in spiritual assignments, such as memorizing Bible verses and some prayers.

Note that, the style you used yesterday, might not work today. This is the reason for you to be right with the Holy Spirit all the time.

God led Moses into declaring many plagues. You will note that when one plague is done, Pharaoh’s magician also did that; they have mastered it. But he kept on as the Lord led until they said, this is the finger of God. Hence, the style of yesterday might not work for today. The enemy changes and he must be met.

Isaiah 59:19 “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Not until the powers are dealt with, the candidates will be hard to bring out.

May the Lord’s Finger break all bounds of darkness in our lives in the name of Jesus (Amen)

Keep the fire burning

Supo Abayode

MFM, Delaware, USA