2020-05-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We find ourselves in challenging times. My husband, Peter, and I are in self-quarantine and have been for almost a week. I’m sure many of you are too. I want you to know that it’s essential that during this time, you don’t miss a week of doing what God wants most, which is for us to keep our eyes on Him and remember to live according to Christ’s teaching. It’s as important as it has always been to be sensitive to the needs of others and as kind about calling them with encouraging messages, as it ever was. By cooperating in this way, we will get through this virus outbreak challenge, which the doctors say has a beginning, a middle, and an end. I will answer my God-given task and write each week as I can. Thanks, and praise to God! We have not contracted the virus up to this point.
It matters that the Holy Spirit has commanded me to give you a short/concise recap of Israel’s history up to the point where He makes His entrance on the scene. The Torah [first five books of Moses] begins with the Creation in the book of Genesis [GN]. Leviticus [LV] gives the ethics God wants us to live by and the story of His commission of the Levites to be priests (spiritual leaders). The other eleven tribes of Jews were to follow these teachings. That was God’s plan, but as you already know, people sinned. How Moses [God’s mouthpiece at the time] conveyed the Ten Commandments was no easy job for him. What the Jews did in response to them, led to counting their numbers [discussed in the book of Numbers [NU], hearing their complaints as they wandered the desert [discussed in Exodus [EX], and taking an 11 -day journey on foot and ballooning it to 40 years. God’s teaching was so important that He felt the need to give us a second hearing of them in Deuteronomy [DT]. People who rebelled didn’t listen to the fact that God was telling them what pleases Him and what doesn’t. God’s love for mankind was why He eventually allowed the Jews to occupy the Promised Land, first known as Canaan, later Palestine, and even later, Israel. (see Joshua [JS] for this story). Israel means “he struggles with God” in Hebrew. I’ve left out a lot of details, events, stories of people from the Bible, which are better read in the Scriptures.
It wasn’t until Christ died on the cross that God would give believing mankind a way out of certain spiritual death. While we all must endure physical death, we don’t ever have to endure spiritual death, and all we must do is to genuinely profess faith in Jesus Christ. FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION! Fifty days after the crucifixion and resurrection, God instructed His second personality (Jesus) to send a Counselor (Holy Spirit) Who will inhabit the spirits of believers and will convey His will. The story of His coming is covered in Acts [AC] 2: 1-4. That was Pentecost. Peter gave a speech after receiving the Holy Spirit, and his listeners heard that in their own languages. If we are willing to look at what God is doing and listen to what He tells us, we will live lives which please the Lord. If we are sinning now, we should confess those sins (which can be done privately) and stop whatever the sinful attitude and behavior are. Nothing can separate us from the love of God [RO 8: 38-39].
Let me mention the six C’s: Creation, Catastrophe, Covenant, Christ, Community, and Consummation. If we know these prompts and have read the word of God (Bible), they act as an easy way to know what the Bible account of history is. Creation is self-explanatory. Catastrophe deals with the entrance of sin on the scene [GN 3: 1- 6, which is the story of the original sin] and God’s frustration with the human creation He loves. Covenant means a two-way promise between God and mankind. That covers everything in the OT. The arrival of Christ on the scene is taken up in the NT. The story of what happened to Him, and the changes are covered in historical narrative but also what arises from Christ’s Atonement. Mankind couldn’t deliver the grace that God has. The need for animal offerings comes to an end and is replaced as Christ is the One and only sacrifice for all. Salvation for eternity [JN 3: 16], eternal forgiveness for sin [1 JN 1: 9], and justification (being deemed acceptable by God -RO 4: 3) are now in place for all who believe. Community is what is covered in the epistles of the apostle Paul et al. Consummation deals with the future fulfillment of prophesy. This is covered in Daniel [DN] and Revelation [RV]. Whatever happens with the virus outbreak, we should never forget that God loves us and is near to us. Please pray the following with me…
PRAYER: O Lord, You allow us to go through trials, not to bring catastrophe but instead, to help us know that we must depend on Him and to learn to keep our eyes on Him. JER 29: 11-13, “I alone know the plans I have for you, to bring prosperity and not disaster, to bring about the future for which you hope. Call to me and you will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart.” Dearest Abba, we call upon you now in the face of this viral outbreak to protect us from illness and death from it. We pledge in Christ’s holy name to follow the precautions we have been given. We ask You now to grant researchers and doctors the wisdom to find a vaccine for us on Your time clock. We urge You to cause our government officials to cooperate with each other, regardless of party affiliations. If we are to get through this crisis, then we must learn to follow You and cooperate with each other. We will look at what you do, rather than the evil You allow. We thank and praise You for being the wise, loving God that you are. In Christ’s holy name, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit commands me to begin to write about the subject at hand. Christ’s coming was prophesied in the OT (Old Testament), and we will examine that. And, yes, He and what He has given us that subject. You will notice that I capitalize any word, which means God Himself. I also refer to God as He. This doesn’t mean that all that’s being said is only for men. But, if you are a new reader, understand that since Jesus is a male and it’s proper English to refer to people in the male gender, I will continue this practice out of respect for Him. If anyone were to ask me, “Do you think it’s right for women to be pastors?” My answer would be, “Yes, anyone who has the education and skill set for this difficult profession, should be allowed to be in it.” So, there is no need to continue the battle of the sexes. I love the Lord, and I know that if you are reading my messages every week, then you do too. We have an added responsibility to share the Gospel with any non-believer willing to listen. Get to know that person if you can and meet him where he is at in his faith walk. Sometimes just watching another person living according to Christ’s teaching is enough. The example he sets and the inner peace he has will be a lifestyle to emulate and acquire. Praise and thanks be to the Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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