Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as recorded and written by John Mark. More specifically, today’s passage is found in verses fourteen through twenty-nine of the ninth chapter. When you come to this particular portion of scripture you will find Jesus and the three disciples He had taken with him to the top of the mountain coming down from the mountain and returning to the other disciples. I have to admit that it’s actually quite interesting to consider the fact that when Jesus was transfigured before the disciples and His appearance changed that He appeared talking with Moses and Elijah. If you study the Old Testament you will notice and discover that Moses represented the Law of God which was given unto him while he was atop the mountain of God in the wilderness. Also within the Old Testament is the story and account of Elijah who was the greatest of prophets in the Old Testament. When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, and when He appeared speaking with them it was essentially a dialogue between grace and mercy and the law and prophets. WHEN GRACE MEETS WITH THE LAW AND PROPHETS! WHEN MEECY MEETS WITH THE LAW AND PROPHETS! It’s actually quite interesting that when Jesus was delivering the Sermon on the Mount He emphatically declared unto those to whom He was speaking that He did not come to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. What’s more is that Jesus even went on to declare that not one jot nor one tittle of the law and the prophets would fall but would in fact be fulfilled within the earth. It’s interesting and worth noting that when Jesus who was the perfect embodiment of grace and truth came to the earth He came not to destroy or overthrow the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. When Jesus came to the earth He didn’t come to do away with the law and the prophets but to fulfill them in and with all righteousness and obedience. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we understand this reality and principle, for when we find Jesus atop the mountain with Peter, James and John we find Him speaking and essentially meeting together with the law and the prophets. In all reality, it is actually quite interesting and astounding to think about and consider the fact that there atop the mountain—not only was Jesus’ appearance changed and altered, but He also appeared talking with Moses and Elijah.

As I sit here this morning I can’t help but think about the two men whom Jesus appeared with atop the mountain when He went up with Peter, James and John, and how Jesus appeared before His disciples as talking and speaking with the representation of the law and of the prophets. What’s more is that if you study the history and account of both Moses and Elijah you will find that they both had their own mountaintop experience with the living God, as both men would encounter the living God atop the same mountain in the wilderness. If you study the accounts of both men you will find that when Moses led the children of Israel out of their slavery and bondage in the land of Egypt he led them into the wilderness of Sinai and to Horeb which was the mountain of God in the wilderness. It’s worth noting that this was not the first time Moses Himself has visited and come to this mountain, for you will recall earlier in his life while he was still a shepherd of his father in law Jethro’s flicks he led the sheep to this same mountain and it was there where Moses first encountered the presence and person of the living God. It would be there at the mountain of God in the wilderness that Moses would be called, commissioned, chosen and commanded of God to return to the land of Egypt and to speak unto pharaoh demanding that he let the people of God God. It would be there at this mountain where Moses would encounter the burning bush and the bush that burned with fire and yet was not consumed. How absolutely interesting it is that not only did Moses encounter the living God at this mountain once, but he actually encountered the living God a second time at this mountain when he didn’t lead sheep to the mountain but led the children of Israel into the wilderness and unto the mountain. It would be there at this mountain the second time where Moses would receive the commands, the statutes, the decrees and the law of the living God for the children of Israel. It would be there atop the mountain where Moses would experience the glory and presence of the living God, and where the children of Israel would also witness and behold the majesty of the living God. What’s more, is that if you journey to the Old Testament book of First Kings you will find that when Elijah was burnt out and contemplating his life ending, the angel of the Lord led him to the same mountain where he too would encounter and experience the glory and presence of the living God. I believe that in order to understand that which took place atop the mountain when Jesus’ appearance changed, when He was transfigured before the disciples, when He appeared as talking with Moses and Elijah, as well as when He and the disciples had come down from the mountain and returned unto the disciples, it is necessary to recognize and understand the events of the two men with whom Jesus conversed and spoke with there atop the mountain.

If you journey to the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find two distinct accounts of Moses in the wilderness at the mountain of God, which was known as Horeb. Beginning with the third chapter of the book you will find the first account of Moses there at the mountain of God as he led his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep to the foot of the mountain. In the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the account of Moses leading these sheep to Horeb in the wilderness where he would encounter the glory, the presence and voice of the living God, as the living God called and chose him to return to the land of Egypt and bring deliverance to and for His people which had spent four hundred plus years suffering under the oppression, bondage and slavery of Pharaoh and his Egyptian taskmasters. Consider if you will the first account of Moses encountering the glory and presence of the living God at the mountain of God in the wilderness beginning to read with and from the first verse of the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses staid, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honesty; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the HIttitutes, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusties. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now there, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain” (Exodus 3:1-12).

SHADES OF THE SECOND ENCOUNTER WITHIN THE FIRST! SIGNS OF THE SECOND ENCOUNTER WITHIN THE FIRST! I have to admit that I absolutely love this first encounter which Moses had with the living God at Horeb in the wilderness, for not only was it here at the mountain of God in the wilderness where Moses would encounter the glory and presence of the Lord, but it would also be here at this mountain where there would be signs pointing to a second encounter. How absolutely incredible and remarkable it is to think about and consider the fact that within the first encounter which Moses had with the living God at the mountain of God in the wilderness there would be glimpses and shades of the second encounter, for the Lord told and declared unto Moses that a token unto him concerning that which he had spoken unto him would be that when he brought forth and delivered the children out of their slavery, bondage and oppression within the land of Egypt, he would serve God upon this mountain—the very same mountain where he encountered and experienced the burning bush and experienced the holy ground of encountering God. THE HOLY GROUND OF ENCOUNTERING GOD! It would be there in the wilderness where Moses would encounter the glory and presence of the living God, and not only would he encounter and experience the glory and presence of God there in the wilderness at the mountain of God, but the Lord also promised Moses that he would return to this same mountain and would serve him a second time. FROM CALLING TO SERVING! It is absolutely wonderful and incredible to think about and consider the fact that when Moses first came to the mountain in the wilderness he experienced the glory and presence of the living God in calling, while the second time Moses came to the mountain of God he experience the glory and presence of God in serving and in ministry. There was a wonderful and powerful transition that took place within the life of Moses, for what began as a calling at the mountain of God in the wilderness would transition to the place of serving and ministry, for the Lord would bring Moses back to this very same mountain in order that he might serve and minister before him. That which the Lord foretold and promised unto Moses would be found later on in the book of Exodus, and specifically in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters of the book. It is within these two chapters found within the book where we read of Moses leading the children of Israel unto Horeb in the wilderness where the glory and presence of the living God would descend upon the mountain, and Moses himself would go up and meet with God. Consider if you will the accounts of Moses and the children of Israel there at Horeb in the wilderness before the glory and presence of the living God beginning with the nineteenth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus:

“IN the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the dessert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain,s axing, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.A Nd Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall surely be put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people. Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought for the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount: and Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargest us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And the Lord said unto him, Aaway, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them” (Exodus 19:1-25).

“And all the people saw the thundering, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to p rove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of god. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice therein thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not built it of hewn stone: for if thou left up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered therein” (Exodus 20:18-26).

What we find within these two passages of Scripture is a wonderful and powerful picture of the Lord fulfilling and keeping his word and promise unto Moses by bringing him unto the mountain. It would be here at the mountain—here at the very same mountain where Moses had appeared before the Lord years earlier with the sheep of his father in law Jethro that Moses would first encounter and experience the glory and presence of the Lord. It would be that first occasion and that first occurrence where Moses would receive calling in the midst of the glory and presence of the Lord, and yet on this second time we find Moses encountering and experiencing ministry and service before the living God, as Moses would now minister before the Lord by worshipping Him, and by receiving and writing down the Law of God which was given unto him atop the mountain. It would be there atop the mountain where Moses would once again encounter and experience the glory and presence of the living God, and it would be there atop the mountain where the word of the Lord which was promised years earlier would be fulfilled as Moses would serve and minister before the Lord atop the mountain as he would not only receive the law which would be given unto the children of Israel, but he would also receive the pattern and blueprint of the tabernacle which would stand in the midst and in the center of the children of Israel. Oh, how absolutely wonderful it is to consider the fact that there in the very same place of calling and commission Moses would find and experience ministry and service before the living God, as Moses would not only receive the law given to him by the living God, but Moses would also receive the pattern of the tabernacle which would be used of the people of God to worship before the living God. How absolutely wonderful it is to think about and consider the fact that there atop the mountain Moses would once more encounter the glory and presence of the living God, however, this second time would take his first encounter and magnify it a hundred fold. When Moses first encountered the glory and presence of the living God from the midst of a bush that was burning with fire and yet not consumed, Moses would now find the entire mountain itself engulfed with thick clouds, fire and smoke, as peels of thunder and flashes of lightning would be seen and heard round about the mountain as the Lord descended upon the mountain. This is worth noting, for when you come to the Old Testament book of First Kings you will find that when Elijah was running for his life from the murderous threats of Jezebel he sought to have his life come to an end before the angel of the Lord came unto him and instructed him to eat in order that he might have strength enough for the journey. Consider if you will that which is written and that which is recorded in the Old Testament book of First Kings beginning with the first verse of the nineteenth chapter:

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. The Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-Sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and rink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophet with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and break in pieces the Rockies before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small. Voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou hear, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Alel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room” (1 Kings 19:1-16).

It is worth noting and pointing out that which is found within the life of Moses and within the life of Elijah that both men were led to the mountain of God in the wilderness, and both men encountered the glory and presence of the living God atop the mountain. Moses encountered the glory and presence of the living God first through the burning bush at the mountain of God before returning to that same mountain and experiencing the glory and presence of the living God the second time—this time with the entire mountain engulfed with fire, smoke, thunders, lightnings and a thick cloud, as the Lord descended upon the mountain. Elijah too would come to this same mountain and would experience the glory of the Lord passing by, and while the Lord was not in the wind, nor was He in the earthquake, nor was He in the fire, but was in fact in the still small voice, Elijah encountered and experienced the glory and presence of the living God. The encounters which these two men had with the glory and presence of the living God are quite remarkable, for they would again find themselves atop the mountain—this time before the transfigured Christ as His appearance was altered and changed before the disciples whom He had brought with Him up to the top of the mountain. These two men who themselves had their own experience with the glory and presence of the living God would now find themselves talking and speaking with the transfigured Christ atop the mountain where Peter, James and John would be as dead men in the glory and presence of the living God. What’s more, is that just as Moses heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the thick cloud, from the midst of the fire and from the midst of the thunders and lightnings, and just as the children of Israel heard the Lord speaking, so too would the disciples hear the voice of the Father, as the Father would not only declare that Jesus was His beloved Son, but would also instruct them to hear and listen to Him. Just as Elijah would hear the voice of the living God while at the entrance of the cave at Horeb, so the disciples would hear the voice of the Father speaking in the midst of the cloud once more , and not only declaring unto them that Jesus was His beloved Son, but instructing them to hear and listen to Him. It would be there atop the mountain where grace would meet together with the law and the prophets, and where the disciples would hear the voice of the Father speaking unto them concerning Jesus, and instructing and commanding them to hear and listen to Him. It would be there atop the mountain where the disciples would find a meeting between mercy, the law and the prophets, as Jesus was elevated and exalted above both when the Father instructed them to hear and listen to Him and His words. Oh, please don’t miss the tremendous importance and significance of this, for it is absolutely remarkable and astounding to think about and consider, for there atop the mountain the transfigured Christ would appear speaking with him whose face and appearance shone with the glory and presence of the living God, and with one who was taken up into heaven in chariots of fire.

Now you might be wondering what all this has to do with that which is found in the portion of Scripture that is highlighted today, however, it’s worth noting that when Jesus and His three disciples—Peter, James and John—came down from the mountain returned unto the disciples they found themselves encountering a great crowd of people about the disciples. Upon witnessing and seeing what was taking place Jesus consulted with the scribes and asked what they were questioning with the disciples. Mark writes and records how all the people, when they beheld Jesus, were greatly amazed, and running to Him and saluted Him. When Jesus pressed the matter of what was being questioned among His disciples, one from among them came unto Him and declared how he brought his son unto Him, which had a dumb spirit—a spirit which took him, tore him, and caused him to foam at the mouth, and gnash with his teeth. This desperate father declared unto Jesus how he brought his son with this unclean spirit to His disciples with the hope that they would be able to cast the unclean spirit out of his son but was disappointed when they could not. Undoubtedly this man was already in a desperate place when he brought his son unto Jesus and unto His disciples, and that desperation must have given way to disappointment as the father realized and recognized that the disciples could not cast and drive out the unclean spirit from within this young boy. This is actually quite remarkable when you consider it, for this desperate father brought his son together with his need unto the disciples of Jesus, and even unto what might be perceived and considered to be the church, and yet the church—those who should have been able to help him in his place of desperation—could do nothing for him. Oh, please don’t miss the tremendous significance of what is taking place here, for I am convinced that what we find here is a tremendous picture of many churches within this generation today, for there are countless churches where men and women come in their desperation, in their brokenness, in their hurt, in their pain, in their sorrow, and in their anguish, and where they seek relief, and yet they find themselves being disappointed and let down because those within the church, and the church itself could not do anything to minister to them in the place of their need. In fact, I am convinced that there are countless men and women within many of our churches today who have grown disappointed, discontented, frustrated, and perhaps even bitter and angry because they have entered into the house of the Lord expecting to find solace and rescue in the midst of their desperation, and yet the disciples of Jesus could not do anything to help them in their situation and in their place of need. There are men and women who have entered the church and haven’t returned because when they entered into the house of God, they did so expecting to find deliverance, healing, wholeness, solace, and the like, and yet found themselves no better than when they entered into the house in the first place.

What I find to be so incredibly intriguing about this passage of Scripture is how the disciples found themselves transitioning from a place of revelation to the place of warfare. Earlier on in the gospel written by Mark we find the disciples moving from the place of rest to the place of the storm, and now here they are finding themselves transitioning from the place of revelation to the place of warfare. I am thoroughly convinced that there are times within our lives when we encounter and when we experience revelation of the living God, and when we experience the glory and presence of the living God, and yet immediately following such revelation is not rest, or quietness, or even peace, but being thrust right into the trenches of warfare and battle. The disciples were atop the mountain in the presence of a transfigured Christ and witnessed Him speaking with Moses and Elijah, and now the disciples come forth from the place of revelation to find themselves entering into the place of warfare and struggle. I can’t help but find myself coming face to face with the tremendous reality that there are times within our lives when the revelation we experience—the revelation of the glory and presence of the living God—is not intended to bring us into a place of rest, but is intended on thrusting us into a place of spiritual warfare, conflict and battle. More often than not we think that revelation immediately and automatically means that rest, peace and quietness can and should follow, and yet this simply isn’t the case. I previously wrote about the unpredictability of walking with and following Jesus, and how there are times when we come forth from a place of rest only to find ourselves entering into the storm where we find ourselves crying out in desperation before and in the presence of Jesus. I would like to, and I feel the need to build upon that, and to declare that there are times when we are led forth from the place of revelation into the place of spiritual warfare, conflict, struggle and battle as we find ourselves encountering needs that having absolutely nothing to do with us. The disciples came down from the mountain with Jesus only to find themselves to be confronted with a father in a desperate place as he sought deliverance and freedom for his son who was violently tormented and oppressed by an unclean spirit which sought to destroy him. The disciples were met with a father who declared of his son that the unclean spirit oftentimes threw him into the fire and into the waters in order that it might destroy him. What’s more, is the disciples were met with a father who cried out with tears declaring unto Jesus that he believed, but also asking for Jesus to help his unbelief. Please don’t miss and lose sight of this particular reality, for it’s okay to believe in the Lord and to believe in the living God and what He is capable of doing, and yet there still be unbelief within our hearts. It is okay to find ourselves in a place of desperation within our lives, and within and from that place of desperation we have a measure of belief, but that belief is married together with a degree of unbelief.

As I continue reading this passage of Scripture I find great comfort in the words which Jesus spoke unto the unclean spirit which tormented, oppressed and possessed this young boy, for when Jesus spoke to the unclean spirit, He not only commanded him to come out of him, but he also declared unto him to enter into him no more. IN other words—it wasn’t enough for the unclean spirit to come out of and leave this young boy, but this unclean spirit was no longer to enter into this young boy’s life. I have to admit that I absolutely love that which Jesus spoke unto this unclean spirit, for Jesus wasn’t merely concerned with present deliverance and freedom, but Jesus was also concerned with future and continued deliverance. The command which Jesus spoke unto the unclean spirit not only solidified and guaranteed the freedom and deliverance of this young boy in the present, but it also secured it moving forward. I absolutely love that which I read concerning this young boy and his encounter with Jesus, for Jesus was not only concerned with his immediate freedom and deliverance, but Jesus was also concerned with this young boy’s future deliverance and freedom. Jesus wanted to make sure that this young boy would remain free and would experience deliverance within and throughout his life. This is absolutely astounding, for it isn’t enough for that which torments and oppresses us to come out and to leave us, but it is necessary that that which torments and oppresses us to come out, to leave us, and to never again return. In fact, I am convinced that there is a great need within my own life for that which oppressed, that which afflicted, that which kept me in bondage and captivity to be completely and utterly removed from my life, and to never return again. THE IMMEDIACY OF DELIVERANCE! THE PERMANENCY OF DELIVERANCE! I am utterly and completely convinced that there is not only a deliverance that is experienced in the here and now, but there is also a deliverance that is ongoing and continuing—a deliverance that continues with each and every day as that which once oppressed, afflicted, bound, and held us captive no longer has any authority, dominion and power within our lives. Oh that we would today recognize and understand the awesome and incredible reality that not only does the living God desire to bring about an immediate deliverance and freedom within our lives, but the living God desires that the deliverance He offers unto us continues within our lives as that which once bound, and that which once afflicted us is no longer permitted access and authority within our lives. ACCESS DENIED! ACCESS RESTRICTED! I am convinced that the word which the Spirit of the Lord desires to speak to us today is what Moses spoke unto the children of Israel when they stood between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. I leave you with the words which Moses spoke unto the children of Israel and declare unto you that these words are the words which the Spirit of the Lord desires to speak and in all reality is speaking unto you:

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you this day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13-14).