God's Due Time

"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way." Matthew 26:53-54

"But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfil lied." Matthew 26:56

As we read the accounts of Jesus' life, death, and Resurrection, we see references over and over to Old Testament prophecy. Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise thousands of years in the making. God, through his mighty sovereignty set the course for our salvation before the formation of the world. He knew Adam and Eve would sin, he knew we would be bound by death unless He provided the means of our salvation.

Do you know where the first prophecy of Jesus appears? In Genesis 3!! God, admonishing the serpent says, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) Her offspring would be Jesus....who would deal a fatal blow to the head of sin and death but only after Satan had struck His heal (crucifixion is the only form of corporal punishment that bruised the heal!!).

If you were like me and ignorant to this passage and it's significance, take a moment to let the magnitude of it soak in. God knew from the moment sin entered the world how and when it would be conquered once and for all!! From that point on, there are many references to the coming Christ throughout the Old Testament, some more subtle than others. Most notably Isiah 53, written some 600 years before the coming of Christ and ending with Malachi 4:6, when God shut His mouth and the people waited.....for 400 years!!

The perfect solution to conquering sin and death once and for all took time and great patience. God knew what He was doing, creating the exact moment when all the prophecies would be fulfilled and we would be given THE promise. Many people question why God would take so long, if He is the Sovereign Lord or all, why he didn't just kill the serpent in the Garden and be done with it? Why allow sin and death in His world at all?

Well, let me say, I don't think our little pea brains have the capacity to comprehend or understand God's grand plan. We are not God. That being said, I believe everything was designed so that faith would be our key. God took the time to lay out His plan so we could see promises made and promises fulfilled thereby building a faith in us which would be the key to salvation.

"But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:22-29

I don't know about you, but God's abundant grace in patiently and perfectly laying out the plan for our salvation, for our reconciliation with Him, shows me just how much He loves us and wants a relationship with us. In His final appearing to the Apostles, Jesus said to them,"This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms,"..."This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise form the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these of these things." Luke 24:44-48

For 2,000 years the faithful have been charged with spreading the Gospel of Jesus, so that "none will be lost." In God's due time, we, the faithful, will rule and reign with our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Jerusalem!!!

Jesus Knew

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:36-39

The eve before He was to be crucified, Jesus was "sorrowful and troubled". He was standing at the precipice of humanity, knowing what laid ahead. Knowing he would take on the darkest, ugliest, most vile sins of mankind, suffer brutally at the hands of evil men and hang until dead on a cross. He knew.

As if that weren't enough to be "sorrowful and troubled" about, Jesus knew he would be separated from God. He knew God, in all his Holiness, could not be in the presence of sin, so Jesus knew He would have to endure the hardest thing imaginable, separation from God, His Father. Jesus, who had always walked in oneness with God the Father, knew He would be alone. He knew.

Jesus asked God three times to let this cup pass from Him. To find another way. However, He also knew it was God's will not His. When it became clear God's answer was NO, Jesus obediently submitted to the will of the Father, for He knew the prophecies must be fulfilled. The Kingdom of God was at hand. He knew.

I know it sounds crazy to say it brings me great peace to know Jesus, while facing the ultimate sacrifice, was "sorrowful and troubled" and probably a bit frightened. However, the knowledge that He was human, that He experienced in the flesh just how hard it is for us, gives me an everlasting peace. Because He endured the cross at the will of God, suffered great pain, great loneliness, separation from His Father, He builds a perfect bridge for mine and your relationship with God,our Father.

As I face the struggles of my day, wondering sometimes how I will make it through my current situation, the reminder that Jesus knows, HE KNOWS, is all I need to take the next right step.

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" - Revelation 5:12

Great Faith

""And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

My journey to release worry and anxiety has been truly tested. As I have found out, when we try to obtain a better understanding of God, the devil works hard to interfere with our quest. I have been dealt a few things in the past few weeks which have pushed me to the edge and I have been fighting very, very, very hard to remain committed to releasing it to God. Praying for guidance.

And my faithful, merciful and loving God has answered, as He always does. He has spoken to me through His word. Brought it right to me, a mirror reflecting back the message He wants me to hear. The key to releasing the worry and anxiety is having GREAT FAITH.

First, He brought me to the lesson in Numbers 13 and 14. If you don't recall the story, I would suggest you stop and read it now. God has brought the Israelites out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, sustained them through the desert and brought them right to the border of the promised land. God directed Moses to send spies into the land, which he did. The spies came back and advised it was indeed a land of milk and honey as promised but there was no way they could take the land because it was inhabited by giants and people of great strenght. They spread this bad news to all the people.

The Israelites, instead of relying on their faith in a God who had seen them through their flight from Egypt and through the desert. A God who was constantly visible to them as a pillar of cloud and fire. A God who had proven His majesty and faithfulness in countless miracles. Their faith was not strong enough to believe He could deliver the land He promised.

In His wrath, God would not allow them to enter the promised land. In fact, He would have struck them all dead had Moses not intervened. God said to them "Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert."

At first I read that story and though, what a bunch of daft folks. How could they doubt the God who had brought them so far. How could they not know he would deliver on what He promised. Then the light bulb went off...."you daft girl, you are doing the same thing. You worry, you doubt God will bring you out of this!".

After that realization, I was brought back to Hebrews 11, which begins, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." This chapter shows all of God's most faithful. How they persevered in their faith and how they were rewarded for remaining faithful to God.

If you research references to God's commands for us not to worry or be anxious but to be strong and courageous, you will find it is the most repeated command in the scriptures. Why do you suppose that is?

God knows how hard our life here on earth is....Jesus certainly knows it first hand. He knows we need great faith to remain on the path of righteousness. He has given us abundant examples of that kind of faithfulness. Mentors in our quest for great faith. I bet if you look around your church or community you can find people you know who exhibit this kind of faith. Seek them out, talk to them, understand how they get through the worries of life. God gave us each other for a reason!!

I heard someone the other day wrap this up in a nutshell. They said "fear is the opposite of faith". When I heard her say it, I knew how right she was. Overcoming fear strengthens our faith. As we continue on our journey to be a person of "great faith", fear will release its hold on us. This is my goal. I know I can't do it, but God can. I am asking him to forgive my fear and to fill me to the brim with His spirit, so I too can become a person of GREAT FAITH.

Lastly, I saw these points written out in a blog and found them helpful....

"Great faith isn't given to some and not to others. It is a choice we make to trust and pursue God even when at first there appears to be no response.
* Great faith leads to great undertakings
* Great faith brings about great expectations
* Great faith awakens great earnestness
* Great faith conquers great difficulties
* Great faith achieves great victories"

So, today let us all pray for God to help us be a person of great faith. Let's also pray for everyone who is on this journey with us.....everyone here at A Closer Walk....that God will continue to guide us in His word on our quest.

Peace and love to you all and thank you so much for praying for me....I certainly did feel it!!

Submitting Without Resistance

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) - Numbers 12:3

Last week we looked at meekness in the eyes of God. What it means and how, when we stop fighting against our circumstance, we realize God is sovereign and in control of everything. If we will call upon El Elyon (Most High God) any time we feel that tug of worry or anxiety creeping in, we can find peace in knowing He is in control.

This week I would like to look at two people in the bible who were considered models of meekness. How can we study their reactions to stressful situations and apply it to our lives?

I asked you to read Numbers 12. In this chapter, Moses was facing persecution by Miriam and Aaron. However, Moses didn't rise up against them. In his meekness, he did not rebel against his situation or circumstance, he left it up to God. Did God take care of him? You bet He did!! And after God had taken up for Moses and put Miriam in her place, Moses in his meek and gentle nature, asked God to spare her. Would you have asked God to spare someone who treated you like that? This is a great lesson in what it means to be meek, gentle and humble before the Lord.

Next, we look at the example of Jesus. His entire life was that of being meek and humble before God. Jesus endured great persecution and suffering but he never once rebelled against His circumstance. He never once resisted the will of God. He did not worry or fret. Sure there were times he asked to be relieved of the burden, but he accepted the answer and proceeded to carry out the will of God.

You see, anxiety and worry come from us trying to figure out ways to change our circumstance; trying to control the will of God instead of letting the will of God control us. When we learn to submit to God's will and understand that God uses everything for His good, we can find peace in any circumstance. Yes, we endure things that aren't pleasant, situations we would rather forgo. However, if we truly understand that whatever we are going through, it is for God's greater plan, we can find a peace in even the worst circumstance.

I realize it is hard. It takes great faith. It takes giving up control and placing all your requests, concerns, hopes, desires, dreams....everything at the feet of your Lord and saying "Your will, not mine Lord".

Over the next week, let's look at the rewards God promises for submitting to his Sovereignty and allowing Him to be the Lord of our lives.

Peace and God Bless.