In this sermon Apostle Allison Smith Conliff offers spiritual encouragement from a popular biblical teaching. The discourse emphasizes the importance of living righteously and maintaining unwavering trust in God during times of hardship. By recounting the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, Apostle Allison illustrates how divine intervention can provide a way forward when escape seems impossible. The narrative serves as a metaphor for overcoming modern struggles, urging the congregation to remain humble and obedient to God's instructions. Ultimately, the message reinforces the belief that God is an invincible protector who fights on behalf of those who remain faithful to Him.

Living a righteous life empowers believers by establishing a profound connection to divine strength and protection, allowing them to navigate significant worldly difficulties with a confidence that transcends human capability.

Living righteously provides a spiritual refuge during times of trouble. The Bible describes God as a "strong tower" that the righteous can run into for safety. Furthermore, God promises to strengthen and uphold those who live righteously with His "right hand of righteousness," ensuring they are not discouraged or dismayed by their circumstances.

A significant aspect of this empowerment is the assurance that the believer does not fight worldly battles alone. When a person lives a righteous life, their battles become God’s battles.

• Divine Intervention: When others "pick a fight with the righteous," they are effectively picking a fight with God Himself.
• Victory Over Enemies: Just as God fought for the Israelites against the Egyptians, He is described as a "mighty warrior" who fights for His people today. This empowerment allows believers to see their "enemies", whether they be physical, spiritual, or situational, as defeated through divine power rather than their own artillery.

Righteousness empowers believers to "keep pressing" even when faced with specific worldly hardships such as:

• Health issues and physical afflictions.
• Financial distress, including low funds and mounting bills.
• Family and relational struggles, such as concerns for children or spouses.

When a believer feels "locked in" by circumstances, they are not "locked out" of heaven's influence; a righteous life keeps the "heavens open" in their direction, preventing them from being held hostage by any earthly "prison".

Empowerment also comes from an internal shift in identity. Living loyally to God means that "Christ lives in you," and the life of the believer is no longer driven by their own limitations but by faith in the Son of God. This internal presence acts as a source of power:

• The Holy Spirit as Fuel: Believers are described as vessels or lamps; for their light to shine and overcome the darkness of the world, they must be "filled up with Jesus and activated by the Holy Ghost".
• Humility as a Tool: Maintaining humility, as Jesus did, is identified as a "key" to navigating worldly life without being affected by its labels or status.

Finally, that the "significant victory" often follows exact obedience to God’s instructions. By living a "set apart life" and following divine guidance, like Moses stretching his hand over the sea, believers can see obstacles that appear impassable (like the Red Sea) transformed into "dry ground".

To clarify this relationship between the believer and divine power, consider the analogy of a kerosene lamp: a believer is the vessel (the lamp), but without the "oil" of the Holy Ghost and the "wick" of a right connection to God, they cannot produce the flame necessary to light up the darkness around them. Without that internal fuel, the vessel remains empty and unable to perform its purpose.