THE DEALINGS OF GOD
I find it hard to believe this is my 700th blog, I give the Lord all the glory for the privilege of sharing the Word of God through this medium, and that literally hundreds read my blog from many nations, many I do not know personally, I do trust every blog has been a means of blessing, encouragement and challenge.
I have been on an interesting journey these last few months, and you will have picked up some snippets in some of my recent blogs. I went through a period where the presence of God was so tangible in my life I was at times overwhelmed. One particular prayer I have been praying much is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been praying the Lord would do a deeper work of grace in my life. I also decided to take King David’s word seriously and practically in Psalm 100:4 NKJV I looked on the brazen altar and thanked God for Jesus being the Lamb of God who shed His blood for me, then I would look on the brazen laver, and thank God for the washing cleansing ministry of the Rhema Word. then go in and praise God for the Golden lampstand, which to me speaks of the Holy Spirit’s illumination on the Word, and the refining fire ministry. I am so thankful for the Blood of Jesus, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit to do a work of Sanctification in me. I would then go on through the veil past the Table of Incense (Prayer), into the Holy of Holies and stand in the glory
In hindsight I should have been more aware that the Lord was preparing me as a result of my constant prayer, and His strong presence in my life. As I have written previously I believe I came under attack from the evil one, and sadly was not winning. It reminded me of Job’s experience, there seems that there was a fence (protection) around him, and the enemy could not touch him, but God said, I will take some of the fence down, and although Job suffered he came through victoriously. The Lord had to remind me of some truths like Romans 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. The Lord had permitted the experience, not only in answer to my prayer to live a holy sanctified life, but because He loved me. Hebrews 12:5-8 NKJV And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
The Holy Spirit gave me the grace and strength to REPENT, and the JOY & PEACE flooded back into my heart. I am reminded of Mother Basilea Schlink’s book “Repentance -The Joy filled life”.
It has been a painful lesson, which I thought I knew but needed to be painfully reminded of what I must do continually if I am to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of all the above I had a nasty fall, which really shook me up, I was reminded of the words of Charles Spurgeon who said
I HAVE LEARNED TO KISS THE WAVE THAT SLAMS ME INTO THE ROCK OF AGES, God used the fall very much to make me see that what was going on was His DEALINGS IN MY LIFE, He loves me so much, and so wants me to be more like Jesus in every way.
It is a daily lesson I must continue to learn, I trust the above may bless you and encourage you, remember GOD IS SOVEREIGN, NOTHING CAN TOUCH OUR LIVES WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION, and then it is because He loves us He wants us to embrace personally and practically the glorious inheritance He has for us now, so we can live holy, victorious pure lives before Him NOW. amen.
