“YOU ARE THERE!”

 Psalm 139:7-12                            (ESV)

    “[7] Where shall I go from YOUR SPIRIT?

        Or where shall I flee from YOUR presence? 

    [8] If I ascend to heaven, “YOU ARE THERE”!

        If I make my bed in Sheol, “YOU ARE THERE”! 

    [9] If I take the wings of the morning

        and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

    [10] even there YOUR HAND shall lead me,

        and YOUR RIGHT HAND. 

    [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

        and the light about me be night,” 

    [12] even the darkness is not dark to YOU;

        the night is bright as the day,

        for darkness is as light with YOU.”

There are certain times in life where we find ourselves in the midst of darkness, possibly a place where FEAR and DOUBT cause us to calculate our next move with great hesitation to avoid making a mistake!  In my frailty, knowing that “YOU ARE THERE” guiding and directing my paths SHOULD bring PEACE and ASSURANCE to my life?  But we tend to live in a “rat-race” environment where our emotions and hastily construed decisions are not influenced by OUR CREATOR, the ONE WHO IS “YOU ARE THERE”!!!

Just a few verses later in Scripture, Psalm 139:14 says “I praise YOU, for I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY made. Wonderful are YOUR works; my soul knows it very well.”  Since we are FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY made, we MUST get past what our minds and circumstances SEE and focus on what OUR CREATOR has PLANNED for us!  “YOU ARE THERE” is written for us to SEE that HE is in control, and we are HIS!  YOUR RIGHT HAND is guiding me and my FAITH shall NOT BE distracted by the cares of “this world”!

Even though I am weak and tend to NOT HAVE a WAIT mechanism in my body, HIS GREATEST BLESSINGS are waiting where “YOU ARE THERE”!  Psalm 27:14 rings TRUE once again for me, “WAIT FOR THE LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; WAIT FOR THE LORD!”  WAITING FOR THE LORD should be a mindset that we embrace as “YOU ARE THERE” SHOULD BE where we desire to be???

“THE LAST DAYS!”

 2 Timothy 3:1-5                        (ESV)

Godlessness in “THE LAST DAYS”

“[1] But understand this, that in “THE LAST DAYS” there will come TIMES OF DIFFICULTY. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE.”

Scripture is brutally honest and explicitly plain when it speaks AVOIDING SUCH PEOPLE!  There are some who “will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power”!  The next sentence we are told to AVOID SUCH PEOPLE!!!

Not all of us have the mentality to cut certain people out of our lives?  We might have to work with them, or associate with them, or just be subjected to them through daily objectives?  But do we actually make an effort to AVOID SUCH PEOPLE?  Or do we allow the SPIRIT OF GOD living inside of us to TRANSFORM us so greatly that our testimony is used to GLORIFY GOD?  In Matthew 5:16 JESUS is recorded as saying “In the same way, let your LIGHT shine before others, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE your good works and GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”  

There are times when we should AVOID SUCH PEOPLE, those who are blind to TRUTH!  But JESUS says when THEY SEE good coming from us it will GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN!  But those who are LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD should not be ones that we prioritize company with!  Our LIGHT should ALWAYS be shining so that this lost, dying world can SEE TRUTH!

“THE LAST DAYS” are coming!  It might be today, or it might be 1,000 years from now?  We are charged to AVOID SUCH PEOPLE whose main agenda is listed in the verses above.  But we ARE REQUIRED by JESUS to “let your LIGHT shine before others”, with no exclusions given!  We are instructed to make certain that THE LIGHT we have living inside of us shine the the darkness of this world in “THE LAST DAYS”!!!

“AT THE PROPER TIME!”

 1 Peter 5:6-9                           (ESV)

“[6] HUMBLE YOURSELVES, therefore, under the mighty hand of GOD so that “AT THE PROPER TIME” HE may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on HIM, because HE cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your FAITH, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

For me, operating at a fast pace was the normal thing to do until the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007.  Remembering those days of seemingly mandated “response times” appeared to be the default in my personality.  I’m not sure whether the Brain Hemorrhage or the maturation process is the driving force, but recognizing that I operate better when I WAIT ON THE LORD (Psalm 27:14) is definitely something that my EYES are OPENING to SEE!  

GOD ALMIGHTY isn’t limited by the finite minds of our humanity.  Having to HUMBLE YOURSELVES was something that was never very “comfortable” for me.  My childhood left me with some rather significant insecurities that were evident in some ways, but my fast-paced lifestyle covered my frailties and allowed me to “cover-up”what I had become.  Since THE CREATOR “revealed” HIS PLAN for me to SLOW DOWN with the Brain Hemorrhage, my ability to comprehend what HE needs me to understand has been “enhanced” tremendously!  

Being able to SEE what GOD was implanting in my life wasn’t identified as rapidly as my younger person would have “demanded”!  “AT THE PROPER TIME”has NOTHING to do with what I want, but what is in HIS PLAN for my life!  The Apostle Paul was sent “to Arabia” (Galatians 1:17) for three years as ALMIGHTY GOD prepared him for his ministry!  He returned “AT THE PROPER TIME” and was used in a TREMENDOUS way for GOD’S GLORY!  GOD has a way, unique and specific, to accomplish what ONLY HE can do in our lives!  But HE will only do it “AT THE PROPER TIME”!!!

“I WILL ANSWER!”

 Isaiah 65:24-25                        (ESV)

    “[24] BEFORE THEY CALL “I WILL ANSWER”;

        while they are yet speaking I WILL HEAR. 

    [25] The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

        the lion shall eat straw like the ox,

        and dust shall be the serpent’s food.

    They shall not hurt or destroy

        in all MY HOLY MOUNTAIN.”

    says the LORD.”

Yesterday I wrote that the LORD is “MY SALVATION”, but do I enjoy WAITING FOR THE LORD to ANSWER me when I am in a “tight spot”?  One of my biggest challenges in EVERYTHING I do is WAITING for the LORD to make HIS reply to a prayer in a way that “I WILL ANSWER” is unmistakable to me!  

When I initially observed these verses, I didn’t SEE anything that caused me to Believe that ALMIGHTY GOD was “speaking” to me!  But then I reread it and the words HOLY MOUNTAIN were SEEN in a manner that causes PEACE to flood my being.  “I WILL ANSWER” wasn’t just words in a Bible verse found while an answer to difficult questions was sought??  The words HOLY MOUNTAIN let me know that when GOD says “I WILL ANSWER”, it will be different than hearing from “normal” times.  “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together” IS NOT normal!  Hearing from THE CREATOR is different than “normal”!  

For me, a person who is Brain Damaged by “this world’s” estimations, KNOWING that ALMIGHTY GOD is ANSWERING isn’t something that I desire to take lightly!  If THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES is taking time to speak to a “broken vessel” such as me, why would I SLOW DOWN and make sure that “I WILL ANSWER” is coming from ABOVE???  When I am “hurried” I have the tendency to accept whatever I hear, AUTHENTICATED or not!  To HEAR what “I WILL ANSWER” is saying to me, I normally have to “BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD”!  

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT isn’t “rocket-science”!  HEARING from HEAVEN is essential though, and knowing that “I WILL ANSWER” will MOST LIKELY come when I SLOW DOWN and LISTEN isn’t a secret, it is GODS WORD!  How many times do you hear about people who HEAR FROM GOD at an amusement park on a ride going super fast?  Just as the amusement park can be fun, spending time with GOD can be fulfilling!  “I WILL ANSWER” is having THE CREATOR guide and direct you.  If HE wants to SPEAK to me, I will SLOW DOWN and LISTEN for HIM!!!

“MY SALVATION!”

 Psalm 118:5-7; 21                      (ESV)

    “[5] Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

        the LORD answered me and set me free. 

    [6] THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I will not fear.

        What can man do to me? 

    [7] The LORD is on my side as my helper;

        I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

    [21] I thank YOU that YOU have answered me

        and have become “MY SALVATION”.”

When we understand that THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE, it is very difficult to FEAR anything that “the enemy” tries to generate against us.  THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES is guiding and directing our paths, so why should I worry about the situation?  We can experience traumatic events in life, but we understand WHO IS IN CONTROL and ALL CREATION responds to HIS WILL!

The devil and his demons only can do that which THE LORD allows.  Isaiah 46:8-11 contains the words that “MY counsel SHALL STAND, and I WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL MY PURPOSE”!  In Psalm 23:4 David writes “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me”!  When we experience times that are seemingly more than we are able to bear, that could be GOD displaying that HE IS THE ONLY WAY OUT?!?

In Exodus 14 the Children of Israel were being led by a Pillar of Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night.  When they came to the Res Sea, they had to WAIT ON THE LORD for days!  They were trying to get away from the most powerful army known to mankind at the time, but GOD had a PLAN!  The army of Egyptians were buried at the bottom of the Red Sea and “not one of them remained” (Exodus 14:28)!  It is easy to NOT REMEMBER that the Children of Israel were “encamped” WAITING for the time when GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED!!!

In my Brain Damaged mind, I must always REMEMBER that THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE and HE IS “MY SALVATION”!!!  THE CREATOR dwells in me (John 17:23) and will NEVER leave me!  HE is “MY SALVATION” and that should make me calm, BOLD, and confident that everything has HIS blessing!!!

“GOD REMEMBERED NOAH!”

 Genesis 8:1: 20-22                          (ESV)

[1] But “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH” and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And GOD MADE A WIND BLOW over the earth, and the waters subsided.

[20] Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. [21] And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in HIS HEART, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. [22] While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.””

When I observed these Scriptures recently, my mind began to wonder IF GOD were even capable of forgetting any of HIS CREATION???  So I visited a website I often do to see what other translations offered about “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH”?  Almost ALL of the interpretations says “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH”, with the exception of a couple.  One said “GOD kept Noah in mind” and the other “GOD had not forgotten Noah”!  For this Brain Damaged Believer, this final translation OPENED my EYES to TRUTH!

It wasn’t as if GOD had been distracted by the flood that covered the entire earth.  HE then “MADE A WIND BLOW over the earth, and the waters subsided”!  The final verse of the previous chapter says “And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.”  It wasn’t as if GOD had forgotten Noah and his fellow survivors, it was that man (Noah and his family) might have been uncomfortable on an ark with destruction ALL around them and they were probably ready for some relief???  Regardless, that “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH” demonstrated that HE is merciful and has compassion.  

“GOD REMEMBERED NOAH” says to me that GOD also REMEMBERS me when I am in hopeless, destitute situations.  GOD can PROMISE, but until WE BELIEVE there is NO FAITH demonstrated!  REMEMBER, “without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please HIM” (Hebrews 11:6) and if “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH”, HE will CERTAINLY not forget us!!!

Jeremiah 17:9-10

 

“THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!”

 Genesis 22:9-14 (ESV)

“[9] When they (Abraham and Isaac) came to the place of which GOD had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And HE said, “Here I am.” [12] He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear GOD, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from ME.” [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caughtI in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called the name of that place, “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.””

According to secular one article, the Angel of the LORD speaking to Abraham in Genesis 22:11 is JESUS, GOD INCARNATE! The article says “The Angel of the LORD is an enigmatic figure WHO appears in numerous passages throughout the Old Testament. This Angel is often believed to be the second member of the Trinity—JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.” Since JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF is speaking to Abraham, we whose EYES have been OPENED can SEE that when JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF told Abraham “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear GOD, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from ME” that Abraham was the one who needed to SEE that “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE”!!

According to Romans 4:2-3, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before GOD. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Why exactly did ABRAHAM BELIEVE GOD? How many others had GOD asked for a son to be sacrificed from? Were I in the position of Abraham, I would WITHOUT A DOUBT insisted that GOD “consider” me before taking either of my offspring?  

ALMIGHTY GOD has a PLAN, one that we might not understand, NOR AGREE WITH! We don’t have the mental capacity available to even begin to interject our “wishes” into HIS PLAN! Neither did Abraham! However, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD and KNEW that “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE” something FAR BETTER than he could imagine or dream! It might not be for us to KNOW HIS PLAN, but we are to HAVE FAITH that “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE”!!!

“FIRM IN YOUR FAITH!”

 1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)

“[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of GOD so that at the proper time HE may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on HIM, because HE cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] RESIST him, “FIRM IN YOUR FAITH”, knowing that the same kinds of “suffering” are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in CHRIST, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To HIM be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

A recent “prayer” was posted on a social media site. The words were good, but their focus was on the desired results, not on the being the prayer was offered to. The power of a prayer doesn’t need to be confused with the POWER to WHOM the prayer is offered??? Understanding, accepting, and realizing that we humans are subjective to our CREATOR is the beginning of SPIRITUAL GROWTH that is evidenced by our ever increasing FAITH in THE ONE TRUE JEHOVAH!  

Our level of SPIRITUAL GROWTH won’t ever be what it needs to be until we are GLORIFIED, until “the enemy” is cast into the lake of fire for eternity! Although we are BLESSED with HIS PRESENCE in our lives, sometimes we don’t SEE TRUTH because “the enemy” disguises himself to give the false impression that he has ANSWERS, when his lies are the only thing he has to offer!  

RECOGNIZING and IDENTIFYING “the enemy” is probably one of the most under appreciated elements of being a Believer. We think we will know “the enemy”, but Genesis 3:1 says he is more “subtle, skilled in deceit” (Amplified Bible) than any living creature of the field which the LORD GOD had made! That mandates that we TRUST IN THE LORD that HE will “lead and guide” us away from the path of evil and into HIS MARVELOUS LGHT (1 Peter 2:9)!  

We have not arrived as Believers! Until we get to HEAVEN we WILL HAVE “the enemy” as a constant cancer to our relationship with JESUS. When THE ONE WHO we pray to is TRUSTED because HE IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING, and our very breath is given to us by HIM, we are just beginning to SEE WHO our FAITH is in, becoming “FIRM IN YOUR FAITH”!!!

“BE STILL!”

 Psalm 46:10                          (KJV)

“”BE STILL”, and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still and know that I am God.

The original Hebrew root of Be still

doesn't mean

"be quiet"; it means

"let

go." That's very different, don't you

think? Let go and know that I am

God! Let go of trying to control your

spouse! Let go of your worry about

your finances! Let go of your

unforgiveness! Let go of your past! Let

go of what you can't control-and rest

in the knowledge that God is in

control!

“This world” is becoming so complex with “busyness” that we seemingly don’t have time to “BE STILL” anymore?  I remember when I was growing up playing with a “top” that had to be spun so fast to keep it going. Instead of “BE STILL”, some translations say “CEASE STRIVING”, but a favorite translation of mine is “LET GO”!  

A short explanation about Psalm 46:10 was shared recently that expounded about “LET GO”.  It finishes with “Let go of what you can’t control—-and rest in the knowledge that GOD is in control!”  For someone who has been where I was TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, knowing that GOD had everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, well within HIS CONTROL has been made extremely evident!  Seventeen days of being in a drug-induced coma where you are unable to contemplate eating, drinking, bathing, sleeping, and basically LIVING enlightens your perspective.  

I am humbled to have been CHOSEN to sojourn this journey I have been assigned.  Few people have been in a coma period.  A seventeen day coma is very rare.  It does give me a perspective that I feel OBLIGATED to share with others, especially when “this world” is trying to accentuate “the need for speed”!  The words “BE STILL” aren’t written as a suggestion!  It is more like a prescription for our Souls!  “LET GO” of all of the cares of “this world” and realize that ALMIGHTY GOD IS IN CONTROL!  

It is true that I am only human, I am just a man (“One Day At A Time, Sweet JESUS), but I am led to share my experience of where I have been to possibly help others from experiencing similar trials.  “BE STILL” isn’t from a “how to be successful” manual, it is from our HOLY CREATOR WHO loves us!!  Are you moving too fast to hear HIM???

“TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD!”

 Matthew 14:22-33                      (ESV)

JESUS Walks on the Water

“[22] Immediately HE made the disciples get into the boat and go before HIM to the other side, while HE dismissed the crowds. [23] And after HE had dismissed the crowds, HE went up on the mountain BY HIMSELF TO PRAY. When evening came, HE was there alone, [24] but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night HE came to them, WALKING ON THE SEA. [26] But when the disciples saw HIM walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately JESUS spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

[28] And Peter answered him, ”LORD, IF IT IS YOU, command me to come to YOU on the water.” [29] HE said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to JESUS. [30] But when he (Peter) saw the wind, HE WAS AFRAID, and beginning to sink he cried out, “LORD, save me.” [31] JESUS immediately reached out HIS HAND and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “”TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD”.”

Having formerly sang in a Gospel Quartet, the Cathedral’s Quartet was my favorite groups.  George Younce (Bass) and Glen Payne (Lead) have since graduated to GLORY.  In December 1999 the group ceased performing.  However in 1997 the piano player (Roger Bennet (also deceased)) wrote a song entitled “DON’T BE AFRAID” (https://youtu.be/IKr2HwK0XM8) that is based on the Scripture above.  

“The disciples”, servants CHOSEN by JESUS HIMSELF, were MADE to get into a boat without JESUS as HE dispersed the crowd HE was ministering to…. then went to pray!  Why did JESUS “make” HIS disciples embark on a journey where HE KNEW they would be in a storm??  When HE came to them “walking on the sea” it wasn’t a smooth, calm sea!  JESUS knew that “the disciples” needed to have their FAITH built up, and the raging sea was chosen to do so!  

The storm was so intense that HIS disciples were unsure who was walking on a stormy sea?  WHO else could WALK ON THE SEA during a storm?  Why did JESUS need them to experience a fierce storm, when HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD RESCUE THEM from said storm?  The answer to that question is “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “”TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD”.”

JESUS hasn’t lost any abilities that HE had when HE spoke “these worlds” into existence (Colossians 1:15-16)!  Why don’t I/we express to HIM “TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD” more than we do?  When we SEE that HIS unending PRESENCE in our lives was provided by NONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF, it causes me to shout uncontrollably and shake with fear at the same time!  Forever let my life proclaim that “TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD” and YOU live in my heart!!!

“THE LORD!”

 2 Chronicles 20:24-30                      (ESV)

The LORD Delivers Judah

“[24] When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; NONE HAD ESCAPED. [25] When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until THEY COULD CARRY NO MORE. They were three days in taking the spoil, IT WAS SO MUCH. [26] On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed “THE LORD”. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. [27] Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for “THE LORD” had made them rejoice over their enemies. [28] They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of “THE LORD. [29] And the fear of GOD came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. [30] So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his GOD gave him rest all around.”

When we allow GOD to be GOD, HIS victory is unmatched and beyond our comprehension!  My biggest failure is wanting a certain thing to occur ON MY OWN TIMETABLE, but ALMIGHTY GOD usually has a different timeframe.  Jehoshaphat, the tribe of Judah, and especially their enemies weren’t able to GLORY in the outcome of the situation.  GOD alone was THE ONE WHO is credited with the WIN!

When will I “get it” that I need to allow GOD to gain GLORY rather than trying to share with HIM?  HE has brought me through so many difficulties and I want to “share” in HIS victory?  Isaiah 42:8 plainly says “I AM THE LORD; that is MY NAME; MY GLORY I give to no other, nor MY PRAISE to carved idols.”  

“THE LORD” is the ONE WHO provided victory for Judah in the above passage.  NONE of the enemies HAD ESCAPED!  The spoils were SO GREAT THEY COULD CARRY NO MORE!  If we desire to SEE something that ONLY GOD can receive GLORY for, we need to surrender to HIS WAY of doing things and TRUST in “THE LORD”!!!

“TOMORROW!”

 2 Chronicles 20:13-17                  (ESV)

“[13] Meanwhile ALL JUDAH stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. [14] And the SPIRIT of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. [15] And HE said, “Listen, ALL JUDAH and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS but GOD’s. [16] “TOMORROW” go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. [17] You will not need to fight in this battle. STAND FIRM, HOLD YOUR POSITION, and SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD ON YOUR BEHALF, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. “TOMORROW” go out against them, and the LORD WILL BE WITH YOU.””

Having to wait until “TOMORROW” for THE LORD to act on our behalf has proven to be the hardest thing to do for me!  As humans, we tend to have a tendency to expect things to happen in a Genesis 1 mentality, GOD SPEAKS and IT IS! We can’t SEE that we are not the only ones being affected by the results of everything going on in our midst, even our own health events!

Fifteen years ago next month I experienced “a massive Brain Hemorrhage”!  I didn’t “recover” in a few days.  As a matter of fact, my “recovery” is ongoing.  I had plans to begin a Non-Profit later on that very day, but GOD demonstrated HIS SOVEREIGNTY and orchestrated HIS PLAN!  For ESPECIALLY me, HIS PLAN would not include me getting back into the “rat race” of “this world” for almost two years!  Even then I believe that HE allowed me to experience having the insurance agency I had previously to SEE that I was NOT the same person that I was prior to the Brain Hemorrhage.  GOD has demonstrated over the past fifteen years that HE will take the TIME to INSTRUCT HIS servant to be WHO and WHAT HIS PLAN requires us to be!

In the passage of Scripture above, ALL JUDAH stood before the LORD, but did the REALIZE that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES was WHOSE PRESENCE they were in?  I was in a COMA for seventeen days, but I didn’t SEE WHO was keeping me alive for maybe even a few years?  ALL JUDAH was faced with a BATTLE that was more than they were able to win!  But GOD told them “”TOMORROW” go out against them, and the LORD WILL BE WITH YOU”!!

ALL JUDAH had to WAIT FOR THE LORD, even though the wait was just until “TOMORROW”!  For us, it could possibly be years that we have to WAIT FOR THE LORD for HIM to OPEN OUR EYES and SEE HIS PLAN?  ALL JUDAH, with their little ones, their wives, and their children were instructed to STAND FIRM, HOLD YOUR POSITION, and SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD ON YOUR BEHALF!  Although we might have to WAIT longer than “TOMORROW”, when we SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD ON OUR BEHALF it will GLORIOUS!!!

“WAIT!”

 Lamentations 3:25-26                     (ESV)

    “[25] The LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO “WAIT” for HIM,

        to the soul who seeks HIM. 

    [26] It is good that one should “WAIT” QUIETLY for the salvation of the LORD.”

THE LORD has many different ways to teach and grow HIS CHOSEN.  Some of them are LOUD and need very little SPIRITUAL MATURITY to grasp.  However as we continue to GROW in HIS GRACE, we SEE things differently than during our “youth”, before we were exposed to some of life’s experiences.  

In these two brief sentences of Scripture, we are treated to being instructed a couple of different times to “WAIT”!  The first let’s us know “The LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO “WAIT” for HIM”!  Does this indicate that we will experience great wealth and property when we “WAIT” on THE LORD?  Seeing so many Scriptures that state “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:10) gives us clear guidance that we shouldn’t be consumed with temporal gain, but ETERNAL (2 Corinthians 4:18)!

The second guidance where “WAIT” is assigned to we who BELIEVE is we “should “WAIT” QUIETLY for the salvation of the LORD”!  In my selfish ways I tend to CRY OUT (Matthew 8:25) about the position I find myself when JESUS is living inside of me because of the SACRIFICIAL offering of HIS LIFE on Calvary?   When we FINALLY SEE that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES actually lives inside of our bodies, a WHOLE NEW REALITY is made known to us.  

As I progress through “this world” and closer to my FAITH becoming SIGHT (Hebrews 11), my prayer is that I am becoming more of a person who is willing to “WAIT” for THE LORD, and I will do it QUIETLY and not whining about what I am going through!  KNOWING that because of HIS loving SACRIFICE, we are able to go through our trials with HIM in our beings is something that I MUST remember when difficult times approach!  HE doesn’t PROMISE the road will be easy, but “LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO “WAIT” for HIM”!!!

“TOO HARD FOR ME?”

 Jeremiah 32:26-27                     (ESV)

“[26] The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [27] “Behold, I am the LORD, the GOD of all flesh. Is anything “TOO HARD FOR ME?”

My EYES need to SEE WHO created the Heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and then be aware that NOTHING is “TOO HARD FOR ME”!!!

“WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST!”

 1 Corinthians 2:14-16                (ESV)

“[14] The natural person does not accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD, for they are folly to him, and he IS NOT ABLE to understand them because they are Spiritually discerned. [15] The Spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. [16] “For who has understood the mind of the LORD so as to instruct him?” But “WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST”.”

It can be very encumbering to observe people who are members of the the “Natural Man Club” which are seemingly Spiritually blind, “ignoring” the TRUTH when it is playing out right before their EYES!  My “Brain Damaged” mind tends to drift toward thinking of a person who has a disease that several medical professionals haven’t been able to diagnose, BUT THEN they go to a Doctor who has a host of patients who have experienced tremendous results from their protocols.  Why isn’t the successes of this physician made known to everyone???

The Amplified Bible translation of 1 Corinthians 2:14 says “But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].”  Humankind has limitations, regardless of what people admit.  In our “natural” state we are NOT ABLE to comprehend the intricacies of the SPIRIT OF GOD!  When “WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST” our actions should reflect this continuously.  

If and when our EYES are OPENED to SEE the TRUTH about our SPIRITUAL health, we quickly discover we are unable to save our souls!  We are TERMINAL!!  The ONLY CURE for the TERMINAL CONDITION is the BLOOD OF JESUS that was shed for us on Calvary!  John 14:6 explicitly says “JESUS said to him, “I AM THE WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE comes to the FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME”!  “WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST” all because JESUS paid an unimaginable PRICE!!!  It is NOT because we are worthy, but because “WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST” that we will spend eternity with HIM!!!

“ALL THINGS!”

 Romans 8:22-30                    (ESV)

“[22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the FIRSTFRUITS of the SPIRIT, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen IS NOT hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. [26] LIKEWISE the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT, but the SPIRIT HIMSELF intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [27] And HE WHO searches hearts knows what is the mind of the SPIRIT, because the SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS according to THE WILL OF GOD. [28] And we know that for THOSE WHO LOVE GOD “ALL THINGS” work together for good, for those who are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE. [29] For those whom HE foreknew HE also PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, in order that HE might be the FIRSTBORN among many brothers. [30] And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called HE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified.”

Admitting that “ALL THINGS” are being used to work together for HIS good can be a difficult concept in which to wrap our finite minds?  

Some find it “awkward” that I refer to the Brain Hemorrhage in July 2007 as a “blessing”?  However, GOD has OPENED MY EYES to SEE that HIM “correcting” the pace I was previously operating to a pace that HE is able to COMMUNE with me is something that is quite feasible!  The hardest thing for me to SEE is that ALMIGHTY GOD is NOT limited to our understanding (1 Corinthians 2:9: Ephesians 3:20), for HE IS the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES and doesn’t require a “human” for HIS actions as HE CREATED humans!!!

All of Humanity is in need of an ability to accept that GOD IS GOD and our perception of HIM DOES NOT LIMIT HIS ABILITIES!!  This is ONLY possible through FAITH in the Sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST on Calvary.  HE continually reveals TRUTH to me, even though I am as unworthy as the dirt HE made Adam from.  Why did HE choose to operate through mankind?  That is another question requiring more intelligence than GOD has bestowed upon me to this point.  All I can say is that GOD IS IN CONTROL of “ALL THINGS”, and “ALL THINGS” WILL GLORIFY HIM!!!!

“ALL THINGS” means “ALL THINGS”!!!  ALL!!!!

“YOU DO NOT BELIEVE!”

 John 10:14; 24-30                                         (ESV)

“[14] I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. I know MY own and MY own know ME,”

“[24] So the Jews gathered around HIM (JESUS) and said to HIM, “How long will YOU keep us in suspense? IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST, tell us plainly.” [25] JESUS answered them, “I TOLD YOU, and “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE”. The works that I do in MY FATHER’S NAME bear witness about ME, [26] but “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE” because YOU ARE NOT AMONG MY SHEEP. [27] My sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME. [28] I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, and THEY WILL NEVER PERISH, and no one will snatch them out of MY HAND. [29] MY FATHER, WHO has given them to ME, is greater than all, and NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH THEM OUT OF THE FATHER”S HAND. [30] I and the FATHER are ONE.””

The Jews that were hearing from JESUS in the passage of Scripture above were NOT Believers in JESUS being GOD IN FLESH!  As a matter of fact, the Jews mentioned above had their own agenda and it did not include any poor carpenter telling them how they should be living their supposed “righteous” lives!  They were interested only in seeing their agenda fulfilled, NOT what this lowly carpenter had to say to them!

In Acts chapter nine, a known persecutor of THE WAY (Acts 9:2), Believers in JESUS CHRIST, was interrupted from doing his evil deeds by a “strange” occurrence, something that did NOT make any logical sense!  Saul was a Hebrew among the Hebrews, a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), yet he was TOO BUSY with his own agenda, doing what he thought was the right thing!  What he “thought” had him on a road to eternal damnation!  He was “rescued” by JESUS OPENING THE EYES of his heart and changing his entire life!  

Saul, later known by his new name Paul, had a similarity with “the Jews” written about above, and that similarity was “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE”! The CHIEF difference in “the Jews” and Paul was that one (Paul) was CHOSEN OF GOD and “the Jews” were not!  Yes, Paul was of Jewish heritage, but when JESUS met him on the road to Damascus, his life was REGENERATED, made anew!  “The Jews” were identified by THE CHRIST as being “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE”, but Saul was renamed Paul and was shown “how much he must suffer for the sake of MY NAME”(Acts 9:16)!

Not ALL are CHOSEN to be apart of THE WAY, followers of JESUS CHRIST!  The ones who are left out have not their EYES OPENED to SEE the pure, undalturated TRUTH! JESUS told “the Jews” in John 10:25-26 “I TOLD YOU, and “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE”. The works that I do in MY FATHER’S NAME bear witness about ME, but “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE” because YOU ARE NOT AMONG MY SHEEP”!  Although JESUS said in Acts 9:16 about Saul to Ananias “For I will show him how much he MUST SUFFER for the sake of MY NAME”, we tend to try to NOT remember this verse!  We should ALWAYS remember that we ARE NOT part of the people of “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE”, and that ALMIGHTY GOD HAS OPENED OUR EYES!!!