There is no doubt that this has been a year of great turmoil and one that seems to invite fear, anxiety, and a mixture of despair regarding the future. We have had a pandemic that has caused lockdowns, as well as destruction coming from storms, not just here in the States, but in other parts of the world as well, and at the writing of this letter I’m not sure about the outcome of our presidential elections that have been held.
For those of us who know the Lord, it is important to have a grasp of what God is doing. The one thing that is coming to me over and over when I pray about it is that God is in the process of preparing the Church, the Bride of Christ, to meet her Groom – the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter said: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17
The Apostle Paul said, regarding the church, the Bride of Christ: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27
Jesus Christ said: “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.’” John 5:19
Why is it important to know what our heavenly Father is doing – so that we can work along with Him? What the Lord has been speaking to my wife and I is that He is getting us ready (part of the Bride of Christ) to meet the Groom. He is wanting to remove the “spots” and “wrinkles.”
In my November 12th letter I mentioned how the Lord led me to pray for my wife’s healing ‘little by little.’ I could not understand why He would lead me that way, but then going to the verse that mentioned ‘little by little,’ I saw what the Lord was doing. “Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.” (Exodus 23:30) We know that this is speaking about the Children of Israel going into the Promise Land and defeating the seven nations that were there. However, this also became a Rhema-word for Anneli and I that in the healing He too wanted to drive out things in our life that would be characterized by what Paul called “spots” and “wrinkles.”
The Psalmist said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
The Lord began to work in our hearts, and we put down what He showed us:
- Solution to self-pity: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:21
- Solution to negativity because we have the tendency to be more negative than positive: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
- Solution to stubbornness: (First noting that both my wife and I have been, and still are stubborn people, but in some ways, to do what needs to be done does take a certain amount of stubbornness, but often what is a strength can also be a weakness) “So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord greater delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22) Obedience is what God desires.
God told Israel, and I believe He is also telling the Bride of Christ: “Therefore, thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” (Amos 4:12) We need to prepare!