When He had called unto Him his twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
The names of the 12 disciples he gave this power to are listed in Matt. 10:2-4. The last one mentioned...Judas Iscariot. I noted that the last of this verse, it said behind mention of his name, "who also betrayed Him."
It is certainly true that God holds "no respect of persons" when dishing out blessings, OR in the allowance of sufferings. He shows no partiality. It is all ultimately to bring glory and honor to HIM, either way. Even though He knew that Judas was a traitor and full of satan, He still gave Judas the power to do great things in Jesus' name. I marvel at this. God, in His infinite wisdom, could allow such a man to be used...in spite of himself...to further the Kingdom.
What about ME? In spite of "myself," He's willing to use me. Wow. "I" can be a "Judas." If I let one nudge of the Holy Spirit go ignored and not act when He calls- then ultimately, I have also-betrayed Him. Oh, that God would always break my heart with what causes Him pain.
I cannot say that I have been guiltless of ignoring His plea on my heart about certain things over the years.
Scripture says just before these previous words, in Matt. ch. 9:35-38, that Jesus went all over the place. He was preaching, teaching, and healing. Then, when He realized the masses of people in need...He was MOVED WITH COMPASSION because they were weary...and scattered- as sheep with no shepherd.
Haiti? YES. This is where my mind went as I read this, today. I believe indeed, that God is clearly sending us all a message through allowing such things.
ROMANS 13:11
Knowing the time, that now it is HIGH TIME to awake from SLEEP; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
If you read my blogs, you will probably see this verse quite a bit- as God has clearly imprinted this on my heart to repentance.
I think of the situation In Haiti, when I think of so many "scattered as sheep without a shepherd." I think also, of the great Tsunami in our not too distant past. 9/11. Holocaust. Catastrophes.
It is so ridiculous to even try to make sense of any of it, yet it plagues our minds and hearts if we are a child of The King. It draws us to PRAY.
Christ says in Matthew 10:34:
Think not that I am come to "send peace," but a SWORD.
I personally view all this, as God's sword.
He said back in in vs. 14 & 15 of ch. 10 in Matthew, that (as disciples), when we go into one's personal space and try to bring the gospel- if they will not hear...we are to "shake the dust off of our feet." (do not turn back- be DONE). He says that those who reject will have a harsher judgement than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Woe. Does He send EVIDENCE that this be true? CERTAINLY. We have all kinds of warnings in Scripture and God says that He "cannot lie." Is what happened in Haiti a direct result of sin? SURE it is. Scripture speaks to prove such. The sad part is...that "I" in my sin, may have helped to bring this to pass. Oh, that we would repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven TRULY IS AT HAND.
Matthew 9: 37-38
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are FEW;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.
PRAY for Haiti. Pray and ask God to send more laborers into that harvest.
It is too late for many...but what about those who remain? The field is already white and ready to harvest. (John 4:35 & 38)
God can redeem those who remain. We must ASK in accordance to His will- and He WILL deliver.
Please join me in praying Matthew 9:37 & 38 for Haiti. For the U.S.A. ...for the WORLD.
The U.S.A. is nearer than we once thought, to the very same type of devastation, if we remain unrepentant as a nation and continue to omit the Holy God that created us, from everything possible.
God is capable.
God is able.
God is IN CONTROL.
We must FOLLOW THE LEADER.
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