Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- Mighty works of God are done only after He has blessed adequate preparation. God planned to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and into their new home in Canaan. He planned to deliver them from idolatry.
He planned to make them into the people who were to receive God's revelation in the Old Testament and to be the people of the Messiah. But first God had to make great preparations. (Google image, Moses leading out of Egypt)
He prepared Moses for forty years in the desert before Moses was ready to lead Israel. Through the miracle-judgments of the plagues in Egypt, He prepared that nation to release Israel from their bondage.
Through these same events, Israel was prepared to accept the truth that Jehovah alone was God. It was necessary, too, for Israel to be prepared to receive the Ten Commandments and Old Testament law. For this purpose God used their experiences between Egypt and Canaan and His revelation of Himself to Moses at Sinai.
The coming of Jesus was also carefully orchestrated. God permitted the jews to be scattered across the civilized world and to build synagogues in major centers so that these could be used by the first heralds of the cross in the decades after Pentecost.
God permitted the Greek language to become the commercial or trade language of the Mediterranean world, including Palestine and Rome, so that the New Testament in Greek could be immediately usable throughout the whole area at the dawn of the early church.
Roman roads, Roman rule, and Roman peace were also used of God to expedite the spread of the Gospel. Babylonian captivity had at last cured the Jews of their repeated relapses into their besetting sin of idolatry. From that time until now the Jews have abhorred idolatry. Christ could not come until idol worship was utterly forsaken.
For four hundred years after Malachi, God raised up no prophet. Heaven seemed silent. The severity of Roman rule now caused the Jews to long for Messiah. Finally, everything was in readiness for God "in the fullness of time" to send Jesus.
The last public reparation was that made by John the Baptist. When asked who he was, John called himself "a voice in the wilderness" to "make straight a highway for our God." This pointed back to the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3-5.
The reference in Isaiah was to the well-known historical fact that ancient kings would send pioneers or messengers along the route which they and their armed guards planned to travel. Aided by the kings forces, the people of the area were summoned to prepare "the King's highway."
Highways in that day were literally elevated roads, built higher than the surrounding countryside in many places. Passes were opened through mountainous areas, rough areas were leveled, the crooked was made straight, and all impediments were removed. It was painstaking work, requiring hard labor on the part of many. But it was essential preparation for a road worthy of a king.
Only God knows how many hidden intercessors prepared the way for Christ's first coming. Just as the intercession of Ezra and Nehemiah enabled the Jews to return to their homeland, so heaven's honor rolls (Exod. 32:32; Ps. 56:8; 87:6; Mal. 3:16) include many names of intercessors over the centuries who prepared the way for the Incarnation.
Their role will be recognized at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Their testimonies will be shared with us and will undoubtedly be researched by the historians of eternity.
Among these faithful intercessors at the time of Christ, were Simeon, a righteous man (Luke 2:25-35)., and Anna, a prophetess who, by her fasting and prayer, was serving the Lord (luke 2:36-38). They were two of a much larger group (Luke 2:38) who were not only expecting but undoubtedly constantly interceding for the arrival of Messiah.
Another of these was Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:51). What an honor it will be in eternity to have shared in this role of preparation for the coming of Christ! Now you and I have the privilege of helping prepare for His second coming by our intercession.
In every great revival or time of spiritual harvest in the Christian church, history records preparation by God's people. God usually makes use of some evangelists with prophetic messages, especially just before some mighty work. But by far the greater preparation seems to be shared by many people. Often in hidden places.
Theirs is the preparation of prayer. Often the extent of the prayer preparation is unrealized until after God's work of power when research uncovers the true facts.
This was true in the revival of the united Prayer Meetings which spread across America in the mid-1800s and brought perhaps a million people to Christ. It was true in the revival in Wales in 1904-1906 when over a million were swept into Christ's kingdom.
It is true even today in many localities and cities across the world. Mission history proves that seldom is there a mighty work of God apart from the preparation of prayer.
Father, we can see that You carefully made adequate preparation for getting the Israelites out of Egypt and into their new home in Canaan. Your plan to make them into the people of the Messiah took great preparations.
Moses had to be prepared to lead them through the miracle-judgments of the plagues in Egypt in order to get them released from their bondage. Through their various events in the dessert, they had to be prepared to receive the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament law, and then, to reveal Who You were to Moses at Sinai.
Only You know how many hidden intercessors prepared the way for Christ's first coming. What an honor it will be in eternity for us to share this role of preparation for for His second coming by our intercession! By far the greater preparation of every important event seems to be shared by many people. Often in hidden places.
~ Mike Pohlman- In his helpful book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, Jerry Bridges applies Romans 8:28 to the sin of ingratitude. He counsels: “The meaning is that God causes all things to work together for good; for ‘things’—that is, circumstances—do not work together for good themselves. Rather, God directs the outcome of those circumstances for our good.” And what is the 'good' God is working? Christlikeness. Indeed, all of our circumstances God uses as a means of our sanctification. I began to abound in thanksgiving as I visualized God as the great conductor over my circumstances, using them as an instrument for my growth in grace.
This Thanksgiving holiday I want me and my family to be 'abounding in thanksgiving.' And for this to happen I know being thankful for God in a merely general sense will not suffice. We need to meditate on some particular glories of our great God—not least of which is His sweet providence over our lives. For this I am most grateful."
~ At times we're lonely, let's remember that we're really not alone. Jesus is with us, and He sees what's going on in our lives, for He cares. When we offer eye contact and a smile to those we meet, we could be brightening their day. May the Lord use us to help someone to not feel alone today.
Today's question-
What are the guidelines for endurance?
When we fix our eyes on what our present challenge is and what the future seems to hold, unless we understand that Christ holds both, we will fall short of His plan and expectations for us. He calls us to endure whatever comes our way, trusting Him to guide us through to victory; drawing on the supernatural strength He gives. (Ps. 31:3)
Plan to Celebrate the Holiday Season with a Joyful Heart
The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,
located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,
broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15.
Our pastors' recorded daily devotions are available too.
Check out the livestream with this link: https://www.cfconline.org/
You can view past services too.
All-Sufficient, All the Time
21st- Saturday's post by Arthur Jackson
Please note that I won't post on my blog next week, as I will be working on editing and setting up my booklet entitled, GODLY INSPIRATIONS. Pray for the editing and finishing of the pages, please. Thanks!
#75 Why is Preparation Necessary?
12/1st- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#76 How You Can Prepare the Way of the Lord
3rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
How to Regain Spiritual Strength
5th- Saturday's post by James H.Cagle
No comments:
Post a Comment