The rain – water – outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming. I believe this with all of my heart. God brought a couple of scripture passages involving water to my attention this weekend. I want to share them with you.

The first passage has to do with the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Before they could fully leave Egypt (symbolic of old ways and slavery to old masters) they were faced with a huge body of water called the Red Sea. Before they could walk through this huge body of water they had to deal with some old fears and bondages that were in their heart. They had escaped physical slavery but there was still slavery in their souls.

When they got to the Red Sea they realized they were being pursued by the Egyptian army. What caught my spirit was that the Israelites were caught between certain death and water. They were caught between death and the next move of God.

Exodus 14:9-11 (NLT) All the forces in Pharaoh’s army all his horses, chariots, and charioteers were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. Then they turned against Moses and complained, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave?

You cannot get the water without facing death. This death is to whatever is in our lives that we are having trouble trusting God for. This death is to deal a blow to that part of our soul which does not trust that God can deliver you.

The response of the Egyptians is the response of many Christians who are faced with certain death in some area. Instead, of screaming for God to take them forward they get mad that God was even leading them out of Egypt – “Why did you make us leave?”. Most Christians choose the old ways when faced with the cost of what it takes to go into the water. The cost is simply this – do I trust God to deliver me? If we go back the answer is no.

A second passage involving water is:

Matt. 8:23-25 (NLT) Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a terrible storm came up, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Again, we see the water or the waves. We desire the waves. The wave is part of our church logo. But from the point of view of the disciples they were going to die! Before the water there is death. Before victory you have to be caught between two hard places – certain death and certain life. You have to be caught between these two places and be able to do nothing but believe. It did look like certain death according to the natural senses. But look at Jesus’ response:

Matt. 8:26a And Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

If you think you are going to die you will not unless you give into your fears and go back to where you have already been. If you are mourning for the old days you are mourning for things that you cannot return to and if you could you would be enslaved in some area of your life. Do as Moses said to the Israelites at the Red Sea – Get moving and don’t look back! The choice is death or water.

Ex. 14:15 (NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

Death comes before deliverance. The coming water is worth it. Who cares if we die?