* Neither Be Dismayed

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, 

but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27

The same God that intervened in Moses’ life intervenes in our life. Despite our obstacles, our shortcomings, our fears, struggles and weaknesses, there is a one that is capable of stepping in and making everything alright.

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Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5

Reality Check:  God himself is always at work around you

Jesus paved the way for us to make the journey from earth to heaven by promising us the gift of His Holy Spirit which intervenes on our behalf.  

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7

Sometimes we forget that this journey called life is to lead us to eternal life.  Jesus’ prayer in the garden describes eternal life: 

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:1-3

God granted Jesus the authority over our life:  that He might give eternal life.

That they may know God is the only true God (progressively become more acquainted with us); experiencing God more clearly and more strongly.  [Jesus helps us to do this]

Key word:  Know

We have to trust that God is able; that He is capable of seeing us through each and every obstacle we come against.  The only way we can accomplish this is to know God in a better way; in an intimate way; understanding that He is the only one that is in full, complete control.  He is the potter, we are the clay.

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.  Isaiah 64:8

God is the one who is at work and the servant does not ask the master, the servant needs to be where the master is.  The servant patterns himself after the master. 

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?  Isaiah 29:16

The question is what are you doing God?  Whatever you see the father [God] doing that is what we should do.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.  John 5:17-20

God – seeking to save that which is lost

            

God seeks out an individual and puts that individual in the midst of the people of God and then works through him

[God’s plan is to bring the people of God together corporately]

While you’re waiting – God will show up in the midst of your activity (normal traffic place of our life).

God comes to us and makes His will known.  Scriptural references:  Moses and Peter

Accept that God will do the same with us.

The natural man never seeks the will of God but God causes us to seek His will.  Immediately adjust your will to His. 

God’s standards are different than man’s:  There is a consequence to sin that man has lost sight of.  God says deny self, God says be a master servant, God says lose your life for His sake to save it.

There is a conflict in what we see and what God wants us to see.  We need to make our ways God’s way.  This is the only way that we can be victorious in Christ.

Remember without God we are nothing, without God we can do nothing.  This is not a statement of negativity or a pessimistic attitude, it is truth.  What keeps us going and stops us from being dismayed is what Jesus tells us:

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  John 15:5

(Biblical Studies)

11/15/19
05/10/21