"God Sent Me Before You...."

"God sent me before you to keep you alive by a great deliverance."  (Genesis 45:7, NASB)

Neither Joseph nor his brothers knew what was going on in the "love-hate" relationship.  Jealousy, envy, pride all seemed to be the obvious evil at work, but probably for them it was just the age-old family squabble.

But in our text Joseph came to the realization of something which is all too often overlooked in our day to day lives, and, for most of our lives:  Jesus is at work in us, "both to do and to will for His good pleasure."  It would greatly behoove all of us to keep this central, powerful theology in mind, and daily living.

When we look at the world around us and take note of the seemingly senseless suffering and turmoil, may you and I always remember that Jesus Christ, our Ever Indwelling Lord, has his Hand upon us and, "underneath are the Everlasting Arms."  Jesus is never on the "sidelines" of our lives, no matter how confused one may be, how many answers allude, Jesus "goes before you to keep you alive by a great deliverance."

Father, in Jesus' Name, what more can I say but, Thank You.  Amen.

"If"

"And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.'"  (Matthew 8:2)

The Gospels are full of Jesus' acts of compassion.  He never said to anyone, "I think you just need to bear this a little longer.  After all, a little suffering is good for you."  Such reasoning just helps us of, "little faith," explain why we don't see more of what we see our Lord and people of faith doing in the Scriptures.

I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is leading us into a "have-to" faith in this season.  If we don't believe that Jesus is still doing what He did in the Gospels, then we won't have the faith to navigate, "in the last days, perilous times will come." 

There are many who believe that we are in the days of the last great revival to sweep the earth, and that revival will be the most manifestation of what Jesus commissioned the Church to do since the First Century, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to be a part of what You are about to do in the earth.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I'm Giving You The Revelation Of A Mystery

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2, 3--NIV)

The Greek text reads, "....the mystery of God Christ...."

When I was a little boy in the United Brethren in Christ, which then became the Evangelical United Brethren, then became the United Methodist, I remember how I loved the hymn, "Jesus Is All The World To Me."  No matter what I was as that little boy, it spoke to my heart, and it was for me worship.

I read our text on Monday, and I thought, I just have to share this with my friends.  It is rich; it is a worship text, a praise text, an intercession text, a missionary text, an evangelism text.  Whatever words mean so much to so many people, words and phrases which they use in their spiritual talk, everything and all things are in our text, "....the mystery of God--Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  Read it several times; confess it; meditate on it, because the "it" is The He.

"....the mystery of God, namely, [Jesus] Christ."  One can pray, worship, read the Bible, listen to prophetic words, try to make sense of all that is transpiring in the earth, but until one realizes that God is a mystery Who can only be "known" in Jesus Christ, all is for naught, yes, for naught; therefore, I encourage you today to judge, discern, "try the spirits," all by, in, and through Jesus Christ.  Only in Jesus can one hope to have any glimpse of, "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

"Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ.  Apart from Him, we know not what is our life, nor our death, nor ourselves." (Blaise Pascal, Seventeenth Century French physicist and mathematician) 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much that You unveiled the mystery of You in Jesus.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"That Very Night...In One Hour...In A Moment"

"That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain."  (Daniel 5:30)

There are indeed things which we experience all of our lives.  For some it is physical illness, weaknesses.  Others have suffered the loss of loved ones, still others the heartbreak of abandonment.  But there is also, "that very night."  

Three times in Revelation 18 we read, "....in one hour...."  History is heading for the, "that very night," and the, "in one hour."  Never give up on life or yourself.  Remember the man who had been by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years.  Then Jesus came his way one day and, "in one hour," his whole life changed.  

No matter our personal situations, no matter the pandemic, the global uncertainties, our Lord Jesus Christ has shown that what seems as though it will last a life time can change in, "that very night," even, "in  one hour."  Don't quit "one hour" before the deliverance of Jesus.  Oh, and there is another:  "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump...the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so look forward to that, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Re: “That Very Night”

"That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom."  (Daniel 5:1, 2a)

Many historians would probably point out that the "transfer" of empire dominance can't happen in, "that very night."  But if one believes Psalm 29, "The Lord Jesus Christ sat enthroned at The Flood, and the Lord Jesus sits as King forever," you know anything is possible. 

Thursday, November 9, 1989, I was in Vienna, Austria.  It was, "that very night," when we got word that the Berlin Wall was open.  I had prayed for that, but never thought I would see it in my life time.  But Jesus is the God of, "that very night."

Don't be discouraged.  Jesus has had many, "that very night[s]."  You can probably think of several in your own sojourn.  And, there are more to come.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are the God of, "That very night."  Amen.

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