Intercession
God has always protected people in agreement with Him during a time of judgment. Noah's Ark, Lot being rescued from Sodom, the protection of the Israelites in Goshen while Egypt was hit with plague after plague. God even spared the entire evil city of Nineveh from judgment when Jonah reluctantly preached the message of judgment there. God is so reliable, Jonah didn't want to deliver the message because He knew God wanted to save Nineveh.
God's mercy is great. He is literally dying to save anyone who will agree with what He is doing.
The world is entering a time of unprecedented judgment. I hear many talking about the best days of this place, or that place, being ahead of us. I hear many saying "God is not done with this place." While I believe this is true, it is important to be sober-minded about God's written plans. God's glory is going to cover the whole earth as the water covers the sea. God is not done with any place, but the story of how that takes place in my town is up to me and those I live with. Whether Jesus' dealing with my town is glorious or terrifying is entirely dependent on how the people in my town feel about agreeing with Jesus and His agenda. His agenda is to change every government in the world to agree with Him, one way or the other. This was Joel's warning:
Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?
Joel 2:18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
God has demonstrated time and time again that repenting, which simply means agreeing with God, changes a time of judgment to a time of blessing. While Egypt was under judgment in Exodus, the wealth of Egypt was literally being wiped out, but God blessed Israel. Israel actually became wealthy while Egypt's wealth was carried away:
Exodus 12:35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
The Book of Revelation describes unprecedented judgment coming to every nation of the earth, but there will be many "land's of Goshen," geographic areas of protection. We decide if the place we live will be a land of Goshen. It is our heart response to God, and the response of those around us, that determines how God deals with our land. Will He be zealous to bring it in agreement with Him, or will He be zealous of our agreement with Him. There is a big difference. One results in judgment, the other in the pouring out of the Spirit in a way we have never seen!
Lot got to choose His city of refuge:
Genesis 19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” 18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there ( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
There is so much to learn from Lot's story, but what is on my heart this morning is Lot himself. Lot was no super-saint. God saved Lot because Lot agreed with God and did not agree with the evil in Sodom, but the Bible is clear about what ultimately saved Lot:
Genesis 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
Abraham intercession saved Lot. Mercy was offered to many in Sodom who would not respond, but the angels took Lot and his wife and kids by the hand and led them out of the city. No one else got this kind of treatment. Our prayers for our city and those we love REALLY matter. Who knows, maybe God will bless our city in a time of judgment? How will I respond to that possibility?
Luke 18: 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
God's mercy is great. He is literally dying to save anyone who will agree with what He is doing.
The world is entering a time of unprecedented judgment. I hear many talking about the best days of this place, or that place, being ahead of us. I hear many saying "God is not done with this place." While I believe this is true, it is important to be sober-minded about God's written plans. God's glory is going to cover the whole earth as the water covers the sea. God is not done with any place, but the story of how that takes place in my town is up to me and those I live with. Whether Jesus' dealing with my town is glorious or terrifying is entirely dependent on how the people in my town feel about agreeing with Jesus and His agenda. His agenda is to change every government in the world to agree with Him, one way or the other. This was Joel's warning:
Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?
Joel 2:18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
God has demonstrated time and time again that repenting, which simply means agreeing with God, changes a time of judgment to a time of blessing. While Egypt was under judgment in Exodus, the wealth of Egypt was literally being wiped out, but God blessed Israel. Israel actually became wealthy while Egypt's wealth was carried away:
Exodus 12:35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
The Book of Revelation describes unprecedented judgment coming to every nation of the earth, but there will be many "land's of Goshen," geographic areas of protection. We decide if the place we live will be a land of Goshen. It is our heart response to God, and the response of those around us, that determines how God deals with our land. Will He be zealous to bring it in agreement with Him, or will He be zealous of our agreement with Him. There is a big difference. One results in judgment, the other in the pouring out of the Spirit in a way we have never seen!
Lot got to choose His city of refuge:
Genesis 19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” 18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there ( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
There is so much to learn from Lot's story, but what is on my heart this morning is Lot himself. Lot was no super-saint. God saved Lot because Lot agreed with God and did not agree with the evil in Sodom, but the Bible is clear about what ultimately saved Lot:
Genesis 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
Abraham intercession saved Lot. Mercy was offered to many in Sodom who would not respond, but the angels took Lot and his wife and kids by the hand and led them out of the city. No one else got this kind of treatment. Our prayers for our city and those we love REALLY matter. Who knows, maybe God will bless our city in a time of judgment? How will I respond to that possibility?
Luke 18: 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
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