Gary & Linda Brownlow
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Translations:
Prophecy expert and Hebrew scholar Bill Cloud once asked the question, “Why was Joseph thrown into the pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison?” He then answered his own question with this statement: “Because the favor of God was upon Joseph!” Are you kidding me? Is this what the favor of God brings? This is sure not the “favor” we hear about in the modern church. It seems that when God showed Joseph his destiny in his dream, He left out a few details. We tend to define favor only as it relates to and appeals to our flesh; a growing church, a bulging bank account, and no problems. We forget that God thinks long term. In fact, He has declared the end from the beginning in Isaiah 46:10. God is also multitasking on many levels. Think about it. Before Joseph was born, God was preparing for the great famine coming to threaten His covenant people Israel. If Joseph doesn’t go to prison, he doesn’t meet the cupbearer and baker. If he does not meet the cupbearer and baker, he does not interpret their dreams. If he does not interpret their dreams, he does not get to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and Israel perishes in the famine. There is an iconic line in American literature in the great Charles Dickens novel, “A Tale of Two Cities.” The story begins with this, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” What an accurate and vivid description of our Christian walk and life. Christians are not exempt from problems but they do have a covenant connection through the cross of Christ to mercy, (unmerited favor), and grace, (applied power) to rise above and overcome. Mercy and grace are always available to the believer. Hebrews 4:16 says, Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Mercy is a gift. It is not earned or maintained by performance. Grace is the power of God that enables us to do what we can never do in our own strength and willpower. The apostle Paul endured a “thorn in the flesh.” Scholars have long argued what that thorn was. Was it a sickness, a physical disability, or a demonic assault? God does not place the emphasis on the thorn, but on the solution. God says, “MY grace is sufficient for you”, 2nd Corinthians 12:9. A favorite scripture for many is Romans 8:28; and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Notice two things. The scripture does not say all things are good, but that God works them all out for good. And notice it is for His purpose, not ours. The Christian life is bittersweet. There are ups and downs, highs and lows. We sometimes prosper and we sometimes suffer. “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” 1st Peter 4:1. God sometimes allows setbacks, disappointments, and trials. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trials among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you, but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation,” 1st Peter4:12-13. We continue to pray, even though our prayers are not always answered to our expectations. Sometimes the answer is wait, and sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes it takes years to look back on a bad experience such as a divorce, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a career to see God’s hand working purpose even in the darkest hours. Our flesh nature is at continual war with our born again spiritual nature. This is a fight between fear and faith. No experience, either good or bad, is without purpose. The greatest compliment and accolade ever given a mortal man was given by Jesus to John the Baptist. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, among those born to women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” This is even more amazing since John, at the end of his ministry, doubted the things he had both seen and heard. He was the first man to see the full expression of the Trinity. As he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” He saw the blessings released and the miracles worked, along with the relentless persecution that always comes against a true servant of God. And he had the revelation, “I must decrease, that He may increase.” And yet, in the end, the human part of him doubted. Maybe he, like so many today thought that the favor of God meant he would retire from ministry with a golden parachute. He ended his ministry in jail and sent someone to ask Jesus, despite all he had seen and heard, if He was really the “One”, or should we look for another. Jesus sent a reply, “Tell John that the sick are healed, the blind see, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” That is all He said. He did not break John out of jail as He would one day do for Paul and Silas. And in Matthew 11:6, Jesus says, “And blessed is he who is not offended in me”. This is the mark of maturity. Can we maintain our spiritual equilibrium in any situation, good or bad? One thing for sure is that we will all have our opportunities. The great thing is we have a faithful high priest, Jesus, who understands our human weakness, and is always there to supply abundant mercy and grace, as we fix our eyes upon Him. And we never fail a test. We either pass or get to take it over. Even a decrease in size, visibility, finances, or anything else, if it is in the will and destiny of God, is always a spiritual promotion!
Gary Brownlow, PhD Fire and Rain Ministries Burleson, Texas |
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