Glorious Father, thank you so much for your love showered upon us on Calvary's tree. Jesus, our hero and champion, thank you for your faithfulness to Father God and your great love for us. The first of many brethren, oh may we worship at your feet forever. Holy Spirit, show us the Father and the Son according to Your Word. Keep us, show us the pathway of righteousness continually and give us grace. Help us to love You, ourselves and others. In Jesus Name...AMEN.When God takes us out He never takes us back in. Never. Complete and everlasting was our deliverance from Egypt (the world, hell and the grave). Our redemption in Christ Jesus was perfect. These things are known to us and usually leave no room for doubt. We apply faith. We believe. God will never take us back. If so it will be our doing.
But there is a place our loving Father, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, will take us into. A place which precedes the time our hope of Glory is displayed in us and on us. A place which precedes our promised land. The place called Babylon.
Likened unto the children of Israel, we will be taken in to be brought out. God will bring us out. But first He takes us in. This is his doing and it is marvelous in our sight. God takes us in to bring us out.
In Babylon we proceed to come to the end of ourselves. We encounter many enemies most of which are within our very soul. A time and place where we struggle with unbelief and all false gods with their dainty foods. A time of questions. And while we are wrestling with God a divine thing will occur if we let patience have her perfect work. If we continue to run after God. We will have divine Rest. A place where we finally surrender to the One who took us in. God takes us in to bring us out.
Understand this. The faith Jesus began in us will be completed. Babylon brings out the ones who are chosen. These earthen vessels will be sanctified in the testings of Babylon. They will be honorable vessels. Fit for the Master's use in these last days. We will be the Ark of the Covenant displaying God's Glory for the world to see. Are we willing to endure Babylon? Are we willing to be sanctified? Are we willing to be brought out? God takes us in to bring us out.
What happens in Babylon? Well, in this place we are shaken. Our faith, what we believe, our hope...everything shaken. Do we esteem others above ourselves? Do we think more highly of ourselves than we should? Do we question God's faithfulness when adverse circumstances seem to be on a road which has no end? What do we think about? What do we do with our money? What do we covet? What kind of friends do we keep? What do we watch on TV? What do we do with our computer? Are there secret sins? Do we hold regret in our hearts for things we should have done but didn't? Surely a place of self inspection. A place of confusion and doubt at times. Even anger. Trust. Hold on. Believe. Forgive yourselves and others. If knowledge and wisdom becomes too confusing at times, kick back..and like Paul and myself say "All I know is that Jesus loves me and was crucified in my place." God takes us in to take us out.
And what is to become of these sanctified vessels once we finally enter God's Rest? Once we are brought out from the introspection of Babylon then what? Once we become the victor as we wrestled with God...limping as we came out then what? What blessing awaits us? We will be called Children of Light. Sons and daughters of God. The chosen ones. Priests and kings of the most High God. All fears and doubts washed away. Thinking like Jesus. Doing things we see the Father doing. Does it sound unbelievable? Believe it. God takes us in to bring us out.
God does nothing before He reveals His plans to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7) The prophets have spoken and continue to speak. The great calamities coming upon the world are not for the unbeliever only. Sure when disaster strikes they will run to the church houses or to the child of God placed in their path for help and salvation. No, these calamities and hardships about to begin (the shadow of the 7 year tribulation) are for the believer too. With our release from Babylon we will be rooted and grounded. We will have great faith to endure to the end with dances of joy. We will be God's Ark. The Ark containing His very Glory. And let me tell you a secret, when that part of God shows up all will bow and be convicted of their frailties before a most Pure and Holy God. On the other side of Babylon our kingly and priestly garments will fit properly for all to see. Like Moses, we will glow with the Glory of God. The people of the world will see the face of Jesus. And that my friend is the great time in history when God will draw all men. What a revival is coming our way. The love and power of God reaching from between the cherubim to fallen man through the face of Christ Jesus our beloved. God takes us in to bring us out.
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