Tag: trust in god

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GOD'S STORY

GOD’s STORY: part 179 Did Joseph trust GOD?

What do we do with a total betrayal, a total loss of personal agency and freedom? 

This is what Joseph experienced in an instant!

How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.

Genesis 37:36

“Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.”

It would have taken only a matter of hours to get to Egypt. To be betrayed, kidnapped, sold, bought, all without any ability to take control over your own situation… What a fall Joseph fell. And so quickly! How did he cope?

Joseph’s Experience

What would it have been like to experience his brothers’ betrayal?

What would it have been like to be amongst a foreign band of enemies who bought you for a price? 

“Where am I going?” “Will I be murdered?” “What is to become of me?” Are these the thoughts that ran through his mind?

Or did he think of his father first and foremost? Did he count the days — of which there might be all too few remaining? How did Joseph reflect on his young life? 

I wonder, did he stand in faith knowing, ‘My brothers’ sheaves bowed down to mind. All will be well.’

Do we draw on our Faith?

Have you ever been in a predicament but you know, somehow, you will be okay?

As the world spins out of control, as we are warned (in the UK) to stock up on food, do we measure our steps, assured the LORD has us in the palm of His hand? I hope so…. Because if you are saved by His grace through faith in Him, you can rest assured He has the power, will and authority to look after you.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” 

I wonder, did Joseph catch a message like this spoken by Jesus and recorded in Matthew 6:25-26?

I don’t know what I would have said or done if I were Joseph. But I do know, at some point, He knew He could trust is faith to GOD. We can trust and rely and do likewise.

Shalom, shalom. He will keep us in perfect peace, who’s mind is set on Him, because He trusts in Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Psalm 67: a pause from GOD’s Story

There is a marriage between the Lord Jesus and we, His beloved bride:

And so we must wait upon Him and praise Him for the Father’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven…

Psalm 67

God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

2 

That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

3 

Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.

4 

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth. Selah

5 

Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.

6 

Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.

7 

God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

As we reflect on the LORD, we ask Father to allow Jesus’ face to shine upon us;

As we wait upon Him (Selah = pause), and all the peoples (learn to) praise Him, and He — Jesus judges the nations and the people, He will govern all the nations.

When the praise and the righteous judgment comes, then the earth will yield all that she has…

The Father will bless us

And all the earth shall fear Him.

So, let us wait upon Him, let us praise and praise and praise Him, and let the nations be turned to Jesus and be saved.

Hallelujah, and Amen.

Categories
Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

What angers GOD and how does He measure anger?

GOD’s anger is for a moment but His favour is for a lifetime. (Psalm 30:5)

What angers GOD?

Israel and the Hebrews disobeyed. At the heart of it all, this is what dismayed GOD and caused Him to be angry with them.

Likewise for us, we must walk with Him, surrendered to the degree of our understanding, willing to grow in His likeness. This is our call as disciples of Jesus. This means we are called to obey Him. He seeks a “contrite spirit” and to be followed on His terms, not our own.

Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.”

In this GOD takes delight.

How does GOD measure our obedience?

GOD looks to the heart of mankind, and of an individual, to see How close (or far) from Him is their walk.

“I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease;

For I was a little angry [at the Israelites], 

And they [other nations] helped —

but with evil intent.” (Zechariah 1:15)

Let’s look at GOD’s behaviour towards Israel

When we look at Zechariah 1, we see that the LORD allowed nations to overcome Israel as a consequence of her disobedience. And yet, when entreated upon by Zechariah, GOD says that although He allowed “four horns” — four nations — to rise against and conquer Israel, their motive was impure. Part of their motive was for evil. And so, He was even more angry with these Gentile nations.

GOD recognised the evil in the nations who conquered Israel and they would not have their reward.

So we today must discern our motive

Today, why are we following Jesus? Is it out of fear? Yet perfect love casts out fear. Fear is unnecessary.

Why are we following Jesus? Out of duty? 

Why are we following Jesus? Because He’s True?

We need not be afraid

When we look through scripture, we see how devoted GOD is to Israel, in spite of her sin.

Inevitably, the people of Israel are brought back to the land Israel, as promised in Zechariah 1,

“I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;
My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,
“And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 1:16)

So, that temple later is rebuilt…. and in 1948, that nation is reborn. GOD keeps His promises.

And we who are In Christ

We who have Jesus and abide through the Holy Spirit, have no excuse or reason to disobey, to frustrate the plans and purposes for our individual lives nor as the Church. Just as we see GOD keep His promises to the nation of Israel even though they are disobedient, we also can trust He provides for us and protects us. We need not fear… nor disobey, but must allow ourselves to surrender fully to Him so His work can be achieved in and through us as is His intention and desire.

Let our Light Shine

Matthew 5:16 say, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Let us not grow weary nor disobey His voice when He speaks to us. Let us not take lightly the following of His will and His timing. Let us not frustrate the will of GOD but let us shine brightly, so that others can see the path and follow it.