* In the Meantime, Look to Jesus

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.   

Hebrews 12:2

Beloved, I want you to understand that our meantime - those times when God allows us a reprieve - should be viewed from a spiritual place. God wants us, - desires that we, expects us - to grow in Him, build a better, closer relationship with Him in spite of and yes, in the very midst of our meantime; right in the middle of "I give up and I want to quit!" But we can't look at our circumstances through our natural, jaded eyes, we must look and find inspiration through God. After all, it is He that started the work in you, trust that He will finish it.

God is strong, and He wants us to be strong. After all, we are created in His image and His likeness.  So take everything God endued us with - well-made weapons of the best materials. We are to use them so we can stand up to everything the devil throws our way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps; a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels.  [Ephesians 6:10-12 message]

So, how is it that we become disgruntled, discouraged, defeated, depressed and oppressed in our negative situations, when we know that by faith in Christ Jesus, we are victorious?  God does not give us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power to endure that which comes against us.  

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and  love, and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

We only have to look to the word of God.  Consider Moses’ fearlessness and endurance.  By faith, he kept the one who is invisible continually before his eyes.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.    Hebrews 11:27

We’re good during the good times but we lose it during the bad or difficult times.  We must take the same stance as Moses, Abraham, Apostle Paul and others in the biblical chronicles, and remain faithful and committed to endure the journey we began with God.  

A vital element that strengthens the heart for endurance is keeping one’s eyes on the Lord or staying focused on Him as our victorious Savior. While He is physically invisible to us, He is nevertheless revealed to us in the written Word. It is there, in the Word, that we can keep our eyes on the Savior.

Jesus endured a great deal of suffering and yet remained faithful unto the end. 

We have to learn how to endure “in the meantime” just as Jesus did:

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love 

Ephesians 4:2

Jesus is our example!  Saints of God, we have a look!   The bible says:

Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.  2 Corinthians 6:2-11

Endurance is a Christ-like quality that God wants to develop in our lives as a part of our spiritual growth - 

And the Lord direct Your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.  2 Thessalonians 3:5

The word of God has to be fully rooted and grounded in Your heart and it will help You to endure as a good solder during hard times.  You will learn how to:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

In the meantime, during the reprieve, as we’re going through, we develop spiritual growth and maturity.

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance; and endurance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

We are strengthened and comforted by the Holy Spirit within us:

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:   Colossians 1:11-12

 Dear Heavenly Father,

We want to thank You for this day; for one more opportunity to come before You; to acknowledge You as the sovereign one; our Lord and our Savior.

We not only count it an honor, but a privilege to come before You, to say thank You and give to You our supplications.  We are thankful and exceedingly grateful for all that You have done and all that You are doing and all that is coming our way because of You!  We thank you for this reprieve!

We beseech You heavenly Father because we know that power, deliverance, healing, comes only through You.  On behalf of all of our families, loved ones, friends and acquaintances, we ask in the precious name of Jesus that You bring restoration to our health and our well-being.  Lord strengthen us to endure the race; knowing that there is a great reward awaiting us.  Give us the patience to endure and not to faint at the challenges presented to us; that if we only have faith in You, we can make us.

You tell us in Your word that we are more than conquerors we are overcomers.  We are victorious through You!  You tell us that the battle belongs to You; we only need to be still in You!  In this time of reprieve, teach us to be still.  Teach us how to get out of Your way so that You can move; so that Your glory can be revealed through us. 

Wake us from our slumber; we know that Your return is soon and we won’t be able to hear the trumpet in our sleep; we need to be alert to the sound of Your voice and busy about our Heavenly Father’s work. 

We need to be laboring in Your fields; leading the lost and those that have gone astray back to You!  We are crying out for the backsliders and those that have lost their way; those that need You and don’t even realize it.

We have much to pray for and yet we want to take the time to say thank You heavenly Father for what You’ve given us – everything to make this journey toward You possible.  You sent Your son to be the propitiation for Your sins, You gave us Your Holy Spirit so that we have power to do Your will, You gave us authority in the name of Jesus, blood was shed at Calvary for the remission of our sin.  Everything we need can be found in You.   What a mighty God You are!   You tell us in Your word that power belongs to You,   Power to be victorious, power to resist the enemy, power to be pleasing unto You, power to be righteous, power to worship You in the beauty of Your holiness.

Lord, we are asking for a quickening in You; a stirring of the gifts that You placed within us!  Refresh us in the precious Holy Spirit during this reprieve!  Fill our cups until they overflow!  In this reprieve, teach us how to empty ourselves of every thought, deed and action that is not of You so that we can receive all that is of You. 

In our local and national assemblies, Lord we ask that you strengthen our spiritual leaders; that you pour out a fresh anointing; they are the shepherds that are to feed us with your knowledge and wisdom.  Help them Lord to remain built up and encouraged in You; not to fall prey to the wiles of the enemy; keep their godly integrity intact; allow their souls to prosper in you first!  Keep them from all hurt, harm and danger; send your angels of protection to keep them in their comings and their goings.  Even our governmental leaders; let them be surrounded by men and women of good and godly integrity so that they make good moral and sound decisions.

Lord, we are praying in the name of Jesus, that our spiritual legal counsel, our prayer lawyers,  our soldiers; the prayer guards, the intercessors, each and every faction be awake, alert and ready to fight this great spiritual battle that we are in.  We know the gross darkness that is in the world, but help us to be the light on the hill that the lost may run to and find salvation!

And now, to the only wise God, our Lord and Savior,  the only one is able to keep us from falling, and present us - to Him and only Him be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever!  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Remember the work of Christ did not end on the cross!  We have continuous access to Him!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Therefore beloved, be strong in the Lord in the power of His might; rejoice knowing that God is the great avenger and all will work out to those who endure to the end!

Blessings,

AP Candy

03/05/20

01/29/22