The Pharoh In Us

Reading the Exodus story. Pharoh is an interesting person. As I read about his stubborn refusal to cooperate with God's plan, I thought about the Pharoh in all of us. Pharoh showed a few flashes of remorse, regret, or something, but never really got on his face before God in repentance. I wonder how much the Pharoh in all of us is hindering the Lord from doing a new work in His church. Our refusal to repent, our attempt to manipulate the situation, our personal sin that we sweep under the rug, all hinder the Lord from pouring out the Holy Spirit upon us. How desperately the body of Christ in America needs an exodus from our current status into the promised land of victory over sin and world. A life of power and victory, of light and love awaits us in the promised land of the Spirit filled life. The pharoh in us resists any call to repentance. We run to our comfort zone of experiences from long ago, and rationalize our personal and corporate coldness and lethargy. We blame the culture and Christ remains outside knocking on the door. Hard and cold hearts fill our churches. We have become like the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day, thinking we are the holy ones, we have moved into the abyss of self delusion and spiritual darkness. Lord, remove the pharoh spirit from our hearts in order to do your new work in us and through us, for your glory. I repent-revive me again O Lord.