Have Peace, He Has Overcome the World

Greetings in the Lord!

Lately the Lord has been leading me to read John 16, which has Jesus telling his disciples plainly about the days of persecution that are ahead for his followers.  Maybe a little disheartening, and Jesus knows it, as he goes on to tell them that though the days of grieving are ahead, their sorrow will turn to joy just like the woman who gives birth and no longer remembers her painful delivery.  So it will be for us in these days.

"...in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.  They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me."  (John 16:2b-3)

But of course, with Jesus the story doesn't end there. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)

In Psalm 33 the psalmist leads the people in praise to the Lord for His Sovereignty over all the world, including those nations that may be planning devices against God's people.  It is a psalm of petition for national deliverance against the enemies that purpose harm against His inheritance.

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." 

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.  From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind....He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do....But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver from death and keep them alive...."  (Psalm 33:10-11, 18-19)

While we all can agree that there are no perfect nations in God's eyes, we can certainly say that the promises of God for protection and deliverance are for those who call on God, seek His wisdom and trust in His Words.  God has a day for all things, even a day of judgment for the wicked.

"You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.  O Lord, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me--what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.  Look at them!  Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.  Pay them back what they deserve, O Lord, for what their hands have done.  Put a veil over their hearts, and may Your curse be on them!  Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord."  Lamentations 3:60-66.

These words from the book of Lamentations are probably too strong for many to accept.  But we petition the Lord to move in His perfect way on our behalf so that the enemies of God will have a chance to come to know the one true God and His true nature.  Much deception prevails in the world today and the enemies of God bow their knees to that.  We humbly ask that the strong hand of God be manifest in our presence today, to bring the lost to Christ and return the backslider to the feet of Jesus.  To shine His face upon His people and to expose the works of the enemy to set its captives free.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

~Be blessed and be a blessing.   

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