Exodus 8 and 10. . .The study of the strategy that Pharaoh used with Moses and the Hebrew children. Helps you and I to understand how Satan works to defeat the Christian family. The objective is to move away from being led astray by Satan’s strategy to cooperating – fully and freely - with God to accomplish His purposes and to resist Satan who will always attempt to thwart God’s plan.
Search for lies, deceptions, and partial commitments in your lives. We are encouraging you to evaluate how and when Satan is using these strategies in your personal life.
I. God’s Purposes for the Saint Eph. 1:4-12
Ephesians 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us—actually picked us out for Himself as His own—in Christ before the foundation of the world; that we should be holy (consecrated and set a part for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted [revealed] as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will—because it pleased Him and was His kind intent; [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace—favor and mercy—which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission of (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will—of His plan, of His purpose. [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. In Him we also were made [God’s} heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will. So that we who first hoped in Christ—who first put our confidence in Him—[have been destined and appointed] to live for the praise of His glory.
For those whom He foreknew—of whom He was aware and loved before hand—He also destined from the beginning (foreordaining them) to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the first-born among many brethren. Romans 8:29
Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you all the days, perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion—to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy. [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; (He who exhorts, encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness…..Live in harmony with one another…..aiming to be above reproach—in the sight of every one. Romans 12: 6-17
Summary:
that we should be holy
blameless in His sight
adopted as his children
to live for the praise of his glory
to be molded into the image of His Son. Rom. 8:29
witness, disciple, teach—Matt. 28:19-20
mutually dependent on one another…using spiritual gifts Rom.12:6-17
II. Typeology of the passage in Exodus 8 and 10
Egypt—the world
Pharaoh—Satan
Hebrew children—God’s people
Moses—Christ
III. Satan’s Four Lines of Attack
Moses and Aaron appeal to Pharaoh “let my people go!” Remember the flies, boils, death of animals, water turned to blood, etc., that the Lord had brought on Pharaoh to convince him.
Pharaoh as a type of Satan will always try to get a Christian to compromise. He knows that compromise will greatly limit your
Christian influence and any witnessing you might attempt.
A] COMPROMISE: “Go, sacrifice to your God [here] in the land [of Egypt].” (8:25) In other word: stay here, don’t venture out, worship right here where you are.
Compromise on salvation
Satan’s lies - stay in the world – be one of them! Create a non-evangelistic user friendly church—no outreach, no missions, make the world comfortable with you—no mention of sin, hell or tithing. No altar call. Nothing confrontational, no need to share your faith—all those that will be saved will be saved without your assistance. Focus on wealth, young, good looking people and entertainment. It’s a “feel good” place. [Marvin’s comment]
B] COMPROMISE: “I will let you go that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go far away…” (8:28
Compromise on separation
Satan’s lies…just be lukewarm!
Keep close to the world—be Christian, but don’t let it change you—keep all worldly influences in your life. Are you more comfortable in the world and with your old friends there than with Christian friends? We are to be a separate people—in the world but not of the world!
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
C] Compromise: “And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: [but] who [are] they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we [must hold] a feast unto the LORD.
And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look [to it]; for evil [is] before you. Not so! You that are men, [without your families] go and serve the Lord, for that is what you want…” (10:11)
Compromise with your families – soul winning
Satan’s LIES - Leave your families alone—let them grow up naturally. Don’t force them to attend church. Don’t interfere with them; don’t push your religion on them! Let them make their own choices. Follow the teaching of modern psychology. Be careful you don’t interfere with how they might naturally grow up and mature. Don’t be concerned with worldly influences on your children, music, movies, television friends—just leave them alone; they will be ok! Let the world raise your children.
Don’t read the Bible to your family. Don’t cram that book down their throats. Leave them alone! They will turn out just fine—on their own.
And by the way, just ignore your wife—except when you need something-don’t nurture her or minister to her—don’t spend time listening and talking to her—you told her you love her once and if anything changes, just let her know. Broaden your interest. Go to the internet and see what’s available so that you can compare your wife.
D] COMPROMISE: And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; let your little ones also go with you; it is only your flocks and your herds that must not go. (10:24)
Compromise your business – substance:
Satan’s LIES - Keep your business interests separate. Business is entirely separate; don’t mix religion and business. Don’t be concerned about your language at work. Don’t worry about those women/men at the office don’t worry about getting too close.
God is not interested in your business! You don’t need to be concerned about biblical things at work. The Bible doesn’t have anything to say about business.
Don’t worry about cheating your customers—they’ll never know and God won’t notice. All’s fair in love, war and business!
Well there you have it—Satan’s four fold plan of attack to destroy your effectiveness as a Christian in this world.
With these four compromises, your effectiveness as a witness and a positive force for the kingdom are effectively eliminated.
IV. The Lord tells us exactly what to do in each of these areas.
A] Don’t compromise your view of salvation:
Acts 1 3:47 For so the Lord has charged us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles—the heathen—than you may bring (eternal) salvation to the uttermost part of the earth.
B. Don’t compromise on separation
Luke 6:22 Blessed—happy [with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition] and to be envied—are you when people despise (hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you (as disreputable), and revile and denounce you, and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil (wicked) on account of the Son of man.
In other words, God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed “because you are identified with Me, the Son of Man.”
C] Don’t compromise with your family – soul winning.
1 Timothy 3:4 He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful. For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?
Acts 16:31 And they answered, Believe in and on the Lord Jesus Christ—that is, give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping, and you will be saved; [and this applies both to you and your household as well.
D] Don’t compromise your business – substance
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you. So that you may bear yourselves becomingly, be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world; being (self-supporting,) dependent on nobody and having need of nothing.
Be firm in your commitment as Moses was!: (10:26) Our livestock also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for of them must we take to serve the Lord our God, and we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.
It is clear that the LORD says the exact opposite of Satan’s compromises!.
Conclusion:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Purpose not to compromise in any of these areas…your refusal to compromise is Satan’s greatest rebuke. Never become Satan-centered, always be God-centered, Matthew 6:33. Be aware of the enemy’s tactics with you, but never focused on anything other than the LORD!
Satan’s goal for your life: to thwart God’s best for you and your family. He wants to shatter your influence and hinder your dependence upon the Lord to live HIS LIFE out through you!
Secret of Victory: Living out God’s purpose in the power of the Holy Spirit and being totally dependent upon Him in every aspect of your life.
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