Exodus 1, Mark 14

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker

"If God is with us, who can be against us? Sounds like the winning ticket."

(Exodus 1)

If God is with us, who can be against us? Verse 12 reminds us, “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.”

It’s interesting to me that the Israelites had been waiting on a promise for God to build this amazing nation, yet year after year, and even through generations, their number had not become vast. In times of favor they remained no threat to a nation of power. It was when they were oppressed, that they multiplied and spread.

There is something amazing about adversity. There is something amazingly intuitive about our nature to work together in tough times, to fight for one another, to move forward together towards a purpose, especially when it is for survival or better yet when it’s something we would die for.

As believers we should prayerfully seek this spirit and passion towards the things of God both in seasons of adversity as well as seasons of favor. After spending the past 24 hours with 75 pastors of the Austin area simply praying together for God’s Kingdom to be realized, I have a fresh excitement that there is truly Hope in our City.

(Mark 14)

Vs. 12-16 “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

“The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”

I guess by this time it was no surprise to the disciples that they would go and find things to be just as Jesus said they would be. They asked him in verse 12 where he wanted them to go with complete expectation that Jesus would tell them and that he had a plan. And it came to pass. The man carrying a jar of water was waiting, and the upper room was furnished and ready.

We have the opportunity to live so closely in relationship with Jesus that we can actually live a life dependant upon him leading us through his Spirit. God promises great things when we ask with His plans in mind, with an expectation to gain His direction, and a willingness to apply action when called to task. If this would be our daily plight, we would see God move daily in our lives.

God, help us to be concerned about the things you are concerned with. Help us to stop creating our own paths and asking you to bless them. Instead, Father, help us to see your plans and give us the desire to be blessed and approved by you as we seek to live them out. May our plans be your plans. Strip us of ourselves, for our plans are frequent, many, and full of self.