out of bondage - RUF

from slavery to freedom in Christ

Last Thursday, Daniel and I attended RUF at Mississippi State. I will say it was a little strange going back without all of my "friends". I miss seeing Sarah Stone on stage and Catherine Randall walking in late (because she was probably listening to someone's problems at the Chi O house and is too sweet to tell them RUF started 10 minutes ago). I miss those things. I wish I would've gone to the Bible studies junior and senior year and been more involved with RUF. It's a wonderful ministry on campus. So wonderful, you couldn't fit one more person into Dorman Hall on Thursday. There were people on the stage and in the aisles - total fire hazard. Here's a video of RUF at Mississippi State that Les Newsom recorded (previous RUF Ole Miss minister):

CLICK: Short Video of RUF at MSU

Isn't the video great? Did you see all the students in (musty) Dorman Hall? It was incredible. God is continuing to move on campus. Please be in prayer that the crowd continues to come with open hearts. 

On Thursday night, Brian started Exodus. I know, I know, you're thinking Exodus is boring... the Old Testament is boring. Wrong. His expository preaching is so unique. The Lord speaks through him in a way students can understand. Brian has a gift that is being used to bring glory to God. Continuing on... he spoke on Exodus 1:1-22, "The Pattern of Salvation" (if you weren't there to listen, you can find his sermons on YouTube). His 3 points were:

1) Salvation Begins in Slavery (vv. 1-14)

1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

2) Salvation Continues in Weakness (vv. 15-21)

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

3) Salvation ends in Freedom 

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews 1 you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

In giving you the scriptures, don't ask for me to interpret. Ask Daniel, I'm terrible when it comes to communicating what I am thinking in my head. It usually comes out as, "I don't know, but I know what I mean." You'll have to listen to Brian - I'm not attempting to misconstrue the gospel. So here's a way to understand it easier. 

"Exodus is not just a story of salvation, but the story of salvation. Israel's deliverance from Egypt anticipated the salvation accomplished once and for all in Jesus Christ. Since exodus is a story of deliverance from bondage through the work of a savior, it is the story of the Christian life. We need a liberator, a God to save us from slavery and destroy our enemies; we need a provider, a God to feed us bread from Heaven and water from the Rock. We need a lawgiver, a God to command us how to love and serve Him. And we need a friend, a God to stay with us day and night, forever." -Phil Ryken

Did you catch that? "Exodus is a story of deliverance from bondage through the work of a savior, it is the story of the Christian life." Truth. Christians and non-Christians, we are all enslaved to something. That's the point Brian was trying to make. Whether we are set free from one bondage of sin, there's always another to conquer. It is the Christian life. When he was talking, I started thinking... "What am I enslaved to? What do I worship before God?" He continued to say, "You could be enslaved to moral values and perfection." THAT WAS ME! Right then and there, I realized I was enslaved to my moral values and looking "the part". I constantly think, "What are people thinking? What do I look like? Does my life look okay?" 

I remember when this convicted Daniel and me about 2 years ago. Our life on Facebook looked great! Our pictures were cute... we were traveling to beautiful places... we were the perfect couple- right? Wrong. Just like any relationship there were arguments, break-ups and something missing. We were portraying the perfect life.  Before we got married, both of us were enslaved to sexual sin. Again, if you're not a believer, this will sound absurd. We could not control the temptation, so we were continually enslaved to our bodies and ultimately the devil. I am so thankful we are free from that (like I said in the past post). Marriage is a BEAUTIFUL thing. We are enjoying life together! 

 For me, that is what I'm enslaved to. I know there are many more things, but that's the largest issue. I, like any other girl, want everything to look okay. My family's great... I love Mississippi State... I love my job... I love my husband.... etc. Yes, I genuinely love those things, but why do I let the culture of this world get to me? I'm human. ISAIAH 40:8 — “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” God’s word, His precepts and commands, are eternal, unbound by time, culture or society. Praise the Lord we can lean on that promise. 

 In typing that, I am reminded of this story from sophomore year. I was absolutely paranoid about gaining the "freshman 15". I would not return to a home football game with more weight on my body. It was all I thought about... calories, calories, calories. It was taking over my life. No one put this thought in me, but Mary Kathleen. It was the fact of being accepted in college. I remember breaking down one night to Daniel (at the Mississippi State soccer fields - haha??) and telling him about my control with food. I love food! No, I wasn't throwing up or not eating, but working out like a man woman. When I finally told him, I felt free. I had also prayed through the year of turmoil that God would give me the strength to overcome my obsession. After months went on and God started redeeming me, I ate what I wanted (sometimes too much)! I never thought about calories - more my happiness. I began to start thinking, "If you're hungry, eat. If not, it's okay." I was enslaved, recognized it and the Lord started showing me how beautiful I was on the inside. ROMANS 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin is universal; no one is perfect or capable of perfection.

freedom

 It was a sweet sweet time for me. Every time I hear someone talk about dieting, I just don't understand. Of course, we need to take care of our bodies, but don't place that physical appearance above your spiritual life. YOU ARE FORGIVEN, LOVED, BEAUTIFUL and FREE.

Obviously, I am not Brian, but I'm challenging you. What are you enslaved to? Your work? Your family? Do you place your husband and children above your love for God? Are you enslaved to working out? Are you enslaved to being accepted? There are so many good things the devil wants to destroy. As my best friend Kameryn Kline told me, "You better not let the devil steal your joy." Recognize the enslavement and be freed! Freedom is waiting on you. Freedom in Christ. Give it to God and He will change you. 

 Look up John MacArthur's book, "Slave: The HIdden Truth About Your Identity in Christ" if you're interested. "The book finishes strong, noting that although we are marked by slavery, we are also marked by being adopted as sons and daughters; we are friends with God.  The great paradox of the Christian faith is that we are friends of God who are also his willing slaves.  I think the simple sentence that best sums up the book and is an eye opening truth for our walk in 2011 is when MacArthur, quoting Murray Harris, says, "to be a slave of Christ is true freedom."  The more we offer ourselves in service to Christ Jesus, the greater freedom we have to live a spirit-filled, abundant life."