My dearly beloved in Christ, when we read the Old Testament in The Holy Bible we see that Israel is the Church and God delivered the church of Israel from the bondage of Egypt (Pharaoh) and from the tribulation of Egypt by sending his servants Moses and Aaron to Egypt and by striking Egypt with plagues. After that God tells Moses, Aaron and the church of Israel to kill a lamb without blemish and he tells them to make the Passover ready. He tells them to take some of the blood and sprinkle it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of their houses. He tells them that none of them should go outside the door of his house until morning.

God’s word in Exodus 12: 12, 13 says - For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

In this way, God delivered the church of Israel and destroyed the Egyptians.

In Exodus 12: 29 - And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

There was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exodus 12:31 says - And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

This is the pattern that God demonstrates of how he brought the Church from Egypt. (How the Church of God is strengthened). What is written above shows us how we have to be strengthened.

Next in Matthew 2:19-21 - But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

In the same way, God saved us – who were living in the bondage of Egypt through Jesus Christ. That is what is written in Psalms 80:8 -Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Our God sent his son Jesus Christ into our souls, destroyed the deeds of the Gentiles that was in our lives and strengthened Christ in us.

But most of the time, we leave God for various other things in our lives and thus we are committing harlotry. So God removes the hedges that he had put around us.

In Isaiah 5:1, 2 - Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved regarding his vineyard. My well beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. (Our evil deeds – wild or bitter). Due to our evil deeds, God is removing the hedge around us.

That is why in Psalms 80:12 - Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?

As the hedges have been broken – It is mentioned in Psalms 80: 13 -The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it. (We give place for worldly pleasures, deeds of the devil and fleshly thoughts)

So we become weak hearted. Christ, the vine sheds his tears within us due to our deeds.

If we repent and change our minds once again, Psalms 80: 14 - Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, and visit this vine.

Hebrews 10:38, 39 - Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Many people do not realize the meaning of Back sliding or drawing back. In spite of knowing and hearing regarding the laws, commandments and precepts that God has given they blame their circumstances for their deeds. Those who blame their circumstances and walk according to their hearts desire, leave God and go far away from Him and those who serve other gods in spite of knowing the living God are Back sliders. These are the weak hearted. Those who have to strengthen such people have to be strong in all these circumstances and be victorious. Jesus Christ won over all these things on the cross. He is the Firm foundation.

Psalms 80: 15, 16, 17 - And the vineyard which your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.

Today if we analyze ourselves once again and submit ourselves to God He will keep his hand over us and bless us.

Psalms 80:18 -Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

Psalms 80:19 - Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and walks in this manner. Psalms 112: 7 says - He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Psalms 125: 1, 2 says - Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Dear children of God, dearly beloved, let us meditate on God’s word daily, pray and unite with the Lord.

Regarding the Back sliders – Zephaniah 1:6 says - Those who have turned back from following the Lord, and have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him. God says he will cut off every trace of them from this place.

But my dearly beloved, if we decide firmly in Christ that we will not back slide in any circumstance then God will surely bless us.

Psalms 125: 2 says - As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

II Timothy 2:19 says - Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Those who are weak hearted, let us be comforted by the true living word of God. Those who are comforted have to leave behind all evil deeds. Only if we live in this manner we can protect our holiness. Let us submit ourselves and pray. May the Lord bless you all.

                                                       - To be continued