There's A Way Out

What “Not” to do

As a child growing up, there were things that I learned to do and what not to do. I learned the patterns of life through the actions of my parents, siblings, and family members. Learning from their experiences, right in front of me, taught me and helped mold my logic, and that’s what experiences do, they help shape your logic. And it’s almost like your brain goes through a filtration process, keeping the things that we should do but eliminating the things we shouldn’t do.

Looking into the life of one of my sisters, one to do I learned, is that when you truly love someone that you should get married and not even play with it. That’s something I caught and held on to. My logic memorialized her wedding date.

On the other hand what not to do, also creates a marker in our life.

So when you walk in your room and you see pine needles on the floor, your logic starts to work and say whatever my brother did… I probably shouldn’t do.

Or when you have a family member that one night decides to hang with his partner and playing around my cousin threw a rock at his friend and his friend shot him dead, ending his life at a young age. That taught me to always be careful of what I’m doing and who I associate myself with, it taught me that even though you can go over board sometimes, that you should know when too far is too far.

Now we do have moments when we see the bad examples and yet we still decide to go beyond the point of no return, and into the land of what not to do. Our logic is built and has been manipulated to believe, that just because it happened to them doesn’t mean it’s going to happen to me. And for those of us who are really smart, we know what not to do, possibly knowing the outcome won’t change but we do it expecting a different outcome, which is the definition of what... “INSANITY”.

example:

Learning what not to do is so important to our development even as christians. We have to learn from the past experiences of what not to do in order to avoid some of the same heartaches that people before had to deal with.

*16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Ga 5:16)

This is something that Paul had instructed the church of Corinth. He had to remind them of the history of the children of Israel.

1 Corinthians 10:6–11 NKJV

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Destroyer- Ex 12:23–24

23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.

1 Cor. 10:11-13 (Passion Translation)

11 All the tests they endured on their way through the wilderness are a symbolic picture, an example that provides us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced. For we live in a time when the purpose of all the ages past is now completing its goal within us.

12 So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall.

The Way of Escape

13 We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.

Severity

2 Corinthians 4:8 NKJV

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

The New King James Version Chapter 4

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed

Nature(Interior)

The essence of what the trial is… Well let’s look at Joseph in

Genesis 37:18–20 NKJV

18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! 20 Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Timing(Order)

Psalm 31:15 NKJV

15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.

Severity/Leniency

*God uses the severity of a trial to get rid of the leniency that’s in your life.

Nature(Interior)/Exterior

-God changes you through the interior of your trial to be an exterior blessing

Genesis 50:20 NKJV

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

*God uses the nature of a trial so when people see the glory on your life, they know it’s the Glory of the Lord.

Timing(Order)/Disorder

-God puts into order what could happen in disorder.

2 Peter 3:8–9 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

13 We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.