When Jacob left the promised land, he had a vision of Angels ascending and descending a ladder
After years of being away Jacob returns from serving Laban.
In Genesis 32 The Angels are there again
Jacob is coming home to the land the Lord had promised to give to Abraham and his off-spring.
Wherever we go, God’s hosts are all around us. We never go alone. We’re never abandoned.
These Angels are God’s elite special ops. They are a squadrons of special forces to protect us
These are the Lord’s “ministering spirits,
sent out to serve all who call on His name in humble faith
John Wesley spent fifty-two years in the saddle riding through toils and snares, fronting dangers at every turn as he preached Christ Jesus to his generation.
John Phillips writes that In those days
traveling was dangerous for a lone man.
There wasn’t a Police force to defund
There wasn’t a National Guard to call up
Prayer was the only 911 of that era
Stage coaches traveled with armed guards,
Robbers and Highwaymen lurked in ambush waiting a chance to shoot down the unwary.
John Wesley was riding one day on a lonely stretch of road when he noticed shadowy forms ahead,
These forms that vanished behind trees almost as his eye took them in.
He couldn’t turn back; but riding on meant danger and possibly death.
There was no hope of human help, so John Wesley prayed.
Suddenly he heard hoofbeats coming behind him,
He turned in his saddle as another traveler rode up alongside. Wesley gave the newcomer a greeting than silently the two spurred on down the path,
They past the place where the robbers were concealed.
Seeing two men instead of one, they passed through safely
When Wesley turned to say something to his companion, he discovered that there was nobody there!
The mysterious rider had vanished into thin air.
John Wesley had received an unusual glimpse of his Angel escort protecting Him.
Why are people haranguing us with their condescending abrasive remarks?
Why would He let people attack us?
Why would He put icky individuals in our lives who beat us down with false accusations?
We hear the ringing in our ears
We have their grinding continual attacks
Their guilting us
Their derision is falling all around us like a deluge of drenching rain.
We feel exhausted,
We feel paralyzed and lifeless.
We ache with loneliness,
We feel our failure
We feel their rejection.
But we listen to You
We know our life of faith consists in letting things alone.
We can trust in You God, we must keep our hands off it;
We know you will guard us
Rest in the Lord,
wait patiently for Him:
fret not because of those who prosper in their way,
Don’t worry because of those who bring twisted devices to pass.
Things may seem to be going all wrong,
but God knows as better then we
God knows what’s best;
God will intervene in the right moment as we trust Him.
We need to let Him work in His own way and time.
There is nothing so relaxing as inactivity in some things,
and there is nothing so damaging as restless working,
for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will.“
Adapted from A. B. Simpson.
“Being perplexed, we say, Lord, make it right! Night is as day to You, Darkness as light.
We are afraid to touch things that involve so much; Our trembling hand shakes, Our skilless hand may break; But You make no mistakes.’
“Being in doubt we say, `Lord, make it plain;
Which is the true, safe way? Which would be gain? We’re not wise to know, Nor sure of foot to go; What is so clear to You, Lord, make it clear to us!’ “
It is such a comfort to drop the tangles of life into God’s hands and leave them there.
Why was North America seen as a new opportunity for what was called Pilgrims?
In England, the Church and Government were tied together.
There were Separatists who believed they weren’t to be controlled by the Government.
These separatists were considered treasonous and enemies of the Government.
They lived in danger of persecution and imprisonment.
In 1609, a small group of Separatists left England for Holland. After 10 years in Holland this small group decided to come to the US.
But not all separatists left England
There were leaders like Thomas Watson, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, Andrew Gray, who stayed in England. Many spent time in prison for their faith.
They were told not to gather in groups. So they did it in secret places. They met in the woods and in barns. Like believers in the first centuries who met in caves and in the catacombs.
They showed us that a church can grow and flourish despite cruel persecution.
These early leaders were called Puritans. They wanted to clean the Church of state politics. They were very well studied in scripture.
John Wycliffe lived earlier then this era. He watched 60% of his village die through the Black Death.
During this plague people would look healthy one day and then drop dead a day later.
History shows incredible prejudice against those who had faith in Jesus. Like the times of the Roman Empire believers were blamed for any national problems.
There are amazing feats of faith through history.
During the great missionary movements of the 1800s. Hudson Taylor arrived in Shanghai during the start of the Taiping Rebellion, the fourth bloodiest event in human history.
Taylor saw the city on fire. But he stayed 51 years and created one of the biggest missionary organizations (800 missionaries) in Christian history.
These men were more than just scholars.
They were people with lives that shine the glory of God.
Even with their flaws, we see the amazing glory of God using broken individuals to accomplish incredible purposes.
Where are we now in the history of the Church?
It’s been 6 months since we’ve attended Church. We went to an outdoor service yesterday.
It was all done in compliance to the Governments control. But where are we? Are we again allowing a new tricky State run power take over of the faith?
Is the answer political? Or, is the solution in our walk with Jesus? The Puritans were incredible students of God’s word. We’ve become more students of local and national news.
Was the virus promoted by meeting in a field? Will 60% of Snohomish be wiped out? Nah, it’s doubtful. Covid-19 has a mortality rate of less then 1% by those who get the diesease. And not that many people get it.
The answer is not political. The solution is a closer walk with Jesus. Psalms 1 is still pertinent and relevant.
There is a blessing if we don’t walk in the counsel of those who reject God.
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