Before you stands three doors to choose from, door #1, door #2, and door #3.
Door #1, refers to Make America Great Again. For many you may want to choose this door. However, for the purpose of this blog, I am not making a political statement; nor am I endorsing or repudiating political parties.
Door #2 refers to Making A Gross Assumption. Let me explain.
On February 8, 2023, at Asbury College, after the conclusion of their regular weekly Chapel service, something irregular happened. Students stayed after the conclusion of the service and the Presence of the Lord came and the weight of His glory was more than evident. For the next two weeks plus, there was continual worship and prayer. Students didn’t want to leave. Many came from many other college throughout the United States (the last number I read was 200), many people came from other nations to experience and/or check out what ‘ God was doing’. All of this you can discover for yourself on the internet and I recommend that you do so.
So, what does Making A Gross Assumption mean?
I am concerned that people in our nation, beginning at the top, in our government nationally, in our states, in our counties, and even in our local communities, spiraling its way downward into our churches, and coming to rest in our populace in their households will assume that the outpouring of the Presence of the Lord that began several weeks ago at Asbury College is a referendum of God’s approval of our lifestyle as a nation, a people, and even of the church. I do not believe that is true at all. Do I know God’s thoughts about the condition of our nation? No, but God has instructed us to examine the fruit of people’s work and words. Do you see good fruit or bad fruit? Do you hear words that lift you up or cause fear and despair? It is not wrong to judge such things.
There is no doubt that the Lord has come. As one pastor’s wife commented, who went to Asbury with her husband, and I paraphrase, it was as if God came seeking us, not us seeking Him; we are responding to Him; He is not responding to our initiative. This is not man-made; this is God-made.
I will say it this way, for us to assume that our lifestyle as a nation is pleasing to God and He chose to come is Making A Gross Assumption.
I would like to draw our attention to Isaiah 60:1,2 (Tree of Life Version, Hebraic emphasis). It reads:
“Arise shine, for light has come! The glory of Adonai has risen upon you. For behold, great darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples. But Adonai will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.”
In context, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to Israel about their wanton lifestyle. He is pleading with them to repent and return to Him. Why? Because He loves them.
Israel has committed spiritual adultery against their God. They forsook Him and sought out many other lovers. We, too, as a nation, have turned our back on God, rejected His influence and providence in the founding of our nation, and set aside His Word as an influence to govern our personal lives and the national affairs of this nation.
The Light that we as a nation, once abided in, has been ‘darkened’, if not close to being extinguished, ‘deep darkness’. (I recommend that you read Isaiah 59 in its entirety. )
Isaiah 59:1-2, TLV says: “Behold, Adonai’s hand is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. Rather your iniquities have made a separation between you and your god. Your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Sounds like there is no hope. But God….Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise shine, for your light has come…”
Question: What came? Light (John 1:1-5) Who is the Light? (John 8:12) Jesus; (I John 1:5) God; Who took the initiative? Ephesians 2:4 TLV, “But God was rich in mercy…” .
This is what happened at Asbury College? God came. He took the initiative in spite of our sinful lifestyle as a nation. Why? That’s Who God is; that’s the Father’s essence.
What we are witnessing here and throughout the world is God’s game plan.
What is that G.A.M.E. plan?
His Grace And Mercy Extended to a lost and darkened world.
We as a nation are shrouded in ‘darkness’; alas, ‘deep darkness’. What does it mean to be ‘shrouded’? wrapped in burial clothes, covered from view, to be concealed. We are dead in our trespasses and sins that have separated us from our God.
Can this nation be resurrected? Only God knows!
Jesus said to Martha, ” I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 TLV
There is hope! We can confidently say that because God has come; and as we respond to Him in faith, hope is present. God sent His Son because He loved the world (John 3:16). He still comes into the world to make Himself known and to minister to His people and to save sinners from their sin, and to forgive them of their sins. Such is the Grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Hebrews 11:1,6 TLV says,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen…Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
At Asbury College, God came, the students responded to His Presence, and in faith pursued Him. God initiated it; the students responded; and people were blessed; and that Presence is spreading all over the world.
At Asbury College, God, Himself, chose to intervene in the lives of a student body.
Again, let me bring our thought back to where I started regarding door #2.
Don’t misunderstand what God is doing.
MAGA does not mean door #1 is being opened; meaning God is making America great again and
Don’t believe that door #2 means that God is present because everything is ok in the nation-wrong! Don’t make that gross assumption.
There is still one last door.
Door#3.
Door #3 shouts out, let us Magnify Almighty God Always.
What is the Testimony of Jesus concerning this outpouring at Asbury?
God is being magnified for Who is He?
Our God is an Awesome God!
Jesus is being worshipped, magnified, exalted, extolled, praised, honored…
The Word is being read and shared.
Testimonies are being shared.
People’s lives are being changed, not by hype; but by a life changing encounter with a Person. The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As others have intimated that this ‘looks like’ pure Gospel ministry.
A Jesus ministry. Not orchestrated by people; but ‘conducted’ by the Holy Spirit.
In short, this is a Family affair, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the Three in One.
Examining Isaiah 60:1.2 closely, it is not far fetched to see God magnified in this passage. We are to rejoice that our light has come; we are to recognize that His glory is upon us (rejoice and magnify the Lord); and even though “darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples” that does not prevent God Himself, Adonai, arising upon you, personally. (rejoice your Heavenly Father has come to you…to you…to you-let that sink in.)
So, what door are you going to chose to walk through?
door #1
door #2
door #3
Upon what or who will you focus?
door #1 focuses on politics
door #2 focuses on a wanton lifestyle
door #3 focuses on a personal relationship with the Lord, worshipping God, and being helped by the Holy Spirit.
I encourage you to focus on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 62:2-3,6-9, TLV says,
“My soul wait in stillness only for God from Him comes my salvation–He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress–I will not be moved…My soul wait in stillness only for God–for from Him comes my expectation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my strong tower–I will not be moved. On God, my salvation and my glory is the rock of my strength. My refuge is in God.”
Jesus is Lord, blessings, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 