In His Grip

Post Abortion Stress Syndrome – though not recognized in the medical community as a real diagnosis, thousands of women and men live with guilt, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, depression and more in the aftermath of abortion. In this interview Jill, a woman who has had four abortions, offers her story as a means to encourage women and men to discover the healing that is possible. Marian, director of a crisis pregnancy center, describes alternatives available to those terrified by an unexpected pregnancy.

For more help and hope visit:

www.rachelsvineyard.org/ 
Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.

Facing an unexpected, crisis pregnancy? Find Help and Hope at a local Crisis Pregnancy Center:
www.lifecall.org/cpc.html

In this message we enter into an intimate experience of the first Passover. Passover means “to skip, to jump, to passover.” It symbolizes a divine consecration, an outward severance from the land of Egypt and an inward severance from everything Egyptian or heathen. We see in this Passover a type of our own salvation.The feast of the unleavened bread is a type of the walk of the Christian. The instructions to the elders is a type of the Christian home. As we study this pivotal chapter in the biblical record, we will see the beauty of the rich spiritual heritage which is ours as Christ and we will be challenged to walk in the Spirit in our everyday lives.

In this message we enter into an intimate experience of the first Passover. Passover means “to skip, to jump, to passover.” It symbolizes a divine consecration, an outward severance from the land of Egypt and an inward severance from everything Egyptian or heathen. We see in this Passover a type of our own salvation.The feast of the unleavened bread is a type of the walk of the Christian. The instructions to the elders is a type of the Christian home. As we study this pivotal chapter in the biblical record, we will see the beauty of the rich spiritual heritage which is ours as Christ and we will be challenged to walk in the Spirit in our everyday lives.

While enslaved by Egypt, many Israelites embraced the worship of Egyptian gods. They served idols, defied God. Yet God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Why? And how does their deliverance parallel with our own deliverance from sin into experiencing the redeeming love of Jesus? Could the people of Israel claim that God delivered them because of their goodness? Can we? In this message we not only see a picture of our own redemption, but we learn about the beautiful meaning of the Passover and how it applies to us today.

While enslaved by Egypt, many Israelites embraced the worship of Egyptian gods. They served idols, defied God. Yet God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Why? And how does their deliverance parallel with our own deliverance from sin into experiencing the redeeming love of Jesus? Could the people of Israel claim that God delivered them because of their goodness? Can we? In this message we not only see a picture of our own redemption, but we learn about the beautiful meaning of the Passover and how it applies to us today.

During the Plague of Darkness, God instructs Moses regarding the tenth and final plague and also instructs him about the Passover. Moses continues to dialogue with Pharaoh but Pharaoh's heart is hardened. God is about to send a plague that will destroy Pharaoh’s claim to deity and his attempt to lead the Egyptians to worship their many gods.

During the Plague of Darkness, God instructs Moses regarding the tenth and final plague and also instructs him about the Passover. Moses continues to dialogue with Pharaoh but Pharaoh's heart is hardened. God is about to send a plague that will destroy Pharaoh’s claim to deity and his attempt to lead the Egyptians to worship their many gods.

Darkness so dark you can feel it. Darkness in the Old Testament symbolizes two things: Divine judgement and alienation from God. Consider how terrorizing total darkness is. Now apply that terror to separation from God. The Plague of Darkness struck at the very heart of the Egyptian worship system. The sun god, Rou, was “faithful” in providing warmth and light. The Egyptians had numerous other sun gods. While other plagues resulted in loss of property, personal discomfort and physical pain, this plague stripped the Egyptians of all of their gods. They were alone in the universe, alienated from their “creator, stripped of any hope with death knocking at the door. Yet Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go.

Darkness so dark you can feel it. Darkness in the Old Testament symbolizes two things: Divine judgement and alienation from God. Consider how terrorizing total darkness is. Now apply that terror to separation from God. The Plague of Darkness struck at the very heart of the Egyptian worship system. The sun god, Rou, was “faithful” in providing warmth and light. The Egyptians had numerous other sun gods. While other plagues resulted in loss of property, personal discomfort and physical pain, this plague stripped the Egyptians of all of their gods. They were alone in the universe, alienated from their “creator, stripped of any hope with death knocking at the door. Yet Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go.

Did Pharaoh think that God couldn’t possibly have any more “tricks up His sleeve?” His hardened heart refused to let God’s people go. God wasn’t finished sending plagues to break the power of the Egyptians belief in their gods. But God also was teaching the Israelites to understand His power as the one true God. He sends swarms of locusts whose abilities to shear, loudly swarm, and annihilate show similarities to the progression and devastation of sin. Locusts start out small and almost invisible but they slowly grow into thousands of swarming insects bent on one thing, to devour and destroy everything living thing in their path. The lessons of the plague of the locusts pull us up short as we consider the “little sins” we allow to take up residence in our own hearts.