Exodus (Program #20) -Pharaoh’s Subtle Bargaining

We may not think of ourselves as particularly crafty or skillful negotiators in a worldly sense.  But oh how we bargain with the Lord!  There are a lot examples of subtle bargaining with God in the Bible.  But the story of Pharaoh in Egypt found in the book of Exodus is a particularly striking one.  For Pharaoh can at one time represents Satan but also represents ourselves or even our family members.  There is a lot for us to relate to in today’s program.

Today we are coming back to this conflict that took place between God and Pharaoh.  Initially it seems that the Lord’s demand of Pharaoh was clear enough, very straightforward: “let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.”  He tells him in Exodus 5:3, but it take 10 long chapters and 12 different encounters before this ultimately takes place…

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Acts (Program #52) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (18)

In the commercial and cultural center of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul stirred up tremendous opposition from the citizenry, while preaching the Gospel of Christ. Then shortly thereafter, Jewish opposers laid a plot against him as well. What had Paul done to be so threatened by both Jews and Greeks? Stay tuned, as you won’t want to miss this very interesting life-study of the Bible.

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Acts (Program #51) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (17)

We’re going to hear reference in the program today to a mixture that was present in the Church in Jerusalem. Even a mixture to some degree in the Word of the Apostle James. We want to be clear we’re not condemning or criticizing the Word of God, but simply looking at how the divine record, the Holy Word, has presented the condition that existed at that time. What is this mixture regarding and what kind of influence did it have on the early Church, particularly in Jerusalem?

This mixture is really a mixture of God’s New Testament economy with the Old Testament dispensation. It’s a mixture of Christ with things that are out of date. Many things in the Old Testament, in fact the entire Old Testament, with all the types, the figures, the shadows, and the prophecies – all pointed us to Christ…

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Exodus (Program #19) – God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (5)

Bible scholars have long agreed that Egypt, the land that held God’s people, Israel in slavery for more than 400 years typifies the world, the system of commerce, culture, education and even entertainment is today’s Egypt, complete with its accompanying slavery and bondage.  God’s way with Israel was to change their view of the land they had grown to love.   He wants to do the same with us today.  When we see the world as God sees it, our heart like Israel’s heart will be changed.

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Acts (Program #50) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (16)

As Christians we admire and appreciate very much those who are gifted and eloquent, and use their gift for the Lord. We love to hear an exciting preacher holding an audience spellbound with a mighty convincing Gospel message. But, do you realize that such a gifted one in the first century Church as seen in Acts lead many people to the Lord Jesus. He was zealous and bold, and used his gifts for the Lord. But, he was the cause of a serious problem, nearly dividing the Body of Christ: all because of his lack of the full revelation of God’s up-to-date move at that time. Are we in God’s up-to-date move today? We all must ask ourselves and the Lord Jesus this vital question.

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Exodus (Program #18) – God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (4)

God’s desire is that His people will build Him a dwelling place on the earth. This was His intention for the children of Israel even as they were held in bondage under Pharaoh in the book of Exodus and it’s His intention for us today. In Exodus, a struggle ensued between God and Pharaoh whereby He manifested not only judgment upon the Egyptian world but also the real nature and issue of the life of the world – the life that usurps God’s people. If we receive mercy, we’ll take this warning given to all God’s people about the usurping worldly system.

It has been a tremendous journey thus far, as we just get into the book of Exodus.  We come to that portion in the last few days, we have been reviewing the conflict between God and Pharaoh.  It is a fairly well-known story to most Christians and believers.  But Witness Lee has been pointing out that we are going to see very directly today that these 10 plagues and these 10 encounters, actually a dozen encounters that took place over all between God and Pharaoh were not just God’s judgement on Pharaoh and on Egypt but are really intended as an exposure and a kind of education for God’s people as well, to realize the real situation that Egypt represents.  Why do we know that this is a picture to expose but not just a matter of God’s judgement on Egypt and Pharaoh?

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Acts (Program #49) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (15)

Much of the book of Acts is devoted to the account of Paul the Apostle, as he journeyed to the uttermost parts of the earth, speaking and testifying of the resurrected Christ. This word was a blessing to many, but a dagger in the heart of some. In Paul, we see a man of God in spirit, intent, and resolute in this one thing: to preach among the people the unsearchable riches of Christ. Stay with us today as we once again look at the New Testament example of a New Testament minister of Christ on the life study of the Bible.

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Exodus (Program #17) – God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (3)

The book of Exodus reveals God’s desire to rescue His people from everything other than Himself.  After the Exodus from Egypt, God’s people saw a heavenly vision by which they came to know God Himself and to know the kind of living that’s in accordance with God.  This way they can be built up as God’s dwelling place on earth. This is the basic concept of the book of Exodus and it is also the basic concept of our Christian life.

We are going to continue to look at God’s demand and Pharaoh’s resistance on our broadcast today.  This conflict going on between God and Pharaoh that lasted 10 chapters in Exodus…

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Exodus (Program #16) – God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (2)

The book of Exodus is a book of pictures, not a book of philosophy.  The pictures in the first part of Exodus present a portrait of life in the world under Satan’s usurpation.  God said to Pharaoh, “let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.”  God’s people had fallen into a worldly life under Satan.  So God spoke and acted in a severe way to ultimately rescue His people.  How about God’s people today?  Many are still under the occupation of today’s Pharaoh and God is still demanding “let My people go”.  Please stay with us for this extraordinary life study of the Bible.

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Acts (Program #48) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (14)

The book of Acts is a unique book in all of scripture. Unveiling, not the Christ of the Gospels in its earthly ministry, but the Christ in resurrection: living, working, and spreading through His members as the Church was established in the remote regions of the inhabited earth in the first century.

The life study of Acts is the basis of our program today. This week, we’ve been seeing the second great missionary journey, as it’s called, of the Apostle Paul. We begin the life study of Acts by seeing that Acts is a book of the propagation of the resurrected and ascended Christ through His disciples…

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