God's Process
God's people wrestle and respond. The big things God calls us to require a response. Jesus will never wave His hand and fix everything. He has chosen "process" as an integral part of creation. Process is a part of everything. The mountains erode, the vapor collects off the water, forms a cloud, and rain falls. The ground cleans the water the earth pollutes.
The Bible is the story of the brilliant process the Father has selected to fix the garden He made and renew anyone who wants to live there with Him. That process is culminating in a perfect storm of trouble designed to declare, then yell, then scream "now is the time" to decide if you want life forever. The storm isn't an overflow of hate, it is an overflow of love.
God's process REQUIRES human participation. It has ALWAYS required human participation. Moses had to say yes and go do the hard thing. Joshua had to say yes and go do the hard thing. David, Daniel, every person called faithful in the Bible had to wrestle, prevail over the flesh and the world, and go do the hard thing. The problem many have with the end of the age is not that they see themselves as too great to endure the tribulation,but rather too weak. God would say "only those who make me their strength...who wrestle through doubt and fear and prevail...are called my people." This is the generation of Jacob. This is what Jacob did:
Genesis 32:24-28 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
The process God has selected to drive evil off the planet and usher in the reign of love is no different than any other story in the Bible. It happens over time and requires the participation of God's people. It is the time of the Bride's victory, not her defeat. By increasing the heat and agitation, pouring out the water of the spirit and the strong soap of the word, Jesus is going to orchestrate the perfect conditions to get a pure and spotless bride through 7 years of trouble called tribulation. Paul said this about tribulation:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
If you are looking for Jesus' return in the same frame of mind the first disciples where, then you are looking for the tribulation, patience, and kingdom of Jesus to come...all three. You don't get one without the other two:
Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Jesus confirmed what John said. Looking at the room full of 11 young world changers who had no clue what they were about to be thrust into...I can see Him staring at John...Jesus said this:
John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John called his experience one with mine. Jesus prayed a perfect prayer that my experience would be one with John. Am I praying the same thing Jesus and that cloud of witnesses is praying? Or am I praying "you would never do that, right?...."
The Bible is the story of the brilliant process the Father has selected to fix the garden He made and renew anyone who wants to live there with Him. That process is culminating in a perfect storm of trouble designed to declare, then yell, then scream "now is the time" to decide if you want life forever. The storm isn't an overflow of hate, it is an overflow of love.
God's process REQUIRES human participation. It has ALWAYS required human participation. Moses had to say yes and go do the hard thing. Joshua had to say yes and go do the hard thing. David, Daniel, every person called faithful in the Bible had to wrestle, prevail over the flesh and the world, and go do the hard thing. The problem many have with the end of the age is not that they see themselves as too great to endure the tribulation,but rather too weak. God would say "only those who make me their strength...who wrestle through doubt and fear and prevail...are called my people." This is the generation of Jacob. This is what Jacob did:
Genesis 32:24-28 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
The process God has selected to drive evil off the planet and usher in the reign of love is no different than any other story in the Bible. It happens over time and requires the participation of God's people. It is the time of the Bride's victory, not her defeat. By increasing the heat and agitation, pouring out the water of the spirit and the strong soap of the word, Jesus is going to orchestrate the perfect conditions to get a pure and spotless bride through 7 years of trouble called tribulation. Paul said this about tribulation:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
If you are looking for Jesus' return in the same frame of mind the first disciples where, then you are looking for the tribulation, patience, and kingdom of Jesus to come...all three. You don't get one without the other two:
Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Jesus confirmed what John said. Looking at the room full of 11 young world changers who had no clue what they were about to be thrust into...I can see Him staring at John...Jesus said this:
John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John called his experience one with mine. Jesus prayed a perfect prayer that my experience would be one with John. Am I praying the same thing Jesus and that cloud of witnesses is praying? Or am I praying "you would never do that, right?...."
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