Jesus Has No Problems Visiting with Us, Sitting With Us, Breaking Bread With Us, So, What Is The Problem? We Are. We Must Extend Him An Invitation. He Wants to Feed The Hunger In Our Soul Where Frustration Eats Away Our Faith! The Struggle Is Real.

Luke 24:13-19, “That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who He was. He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?” They just stood there, long faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?” He said, “What has happened?” (MSG)

Now, in Luke 24, beginning with verse 13, two of Jesus’ followers are battle-scarred and going down for the count (ever feel like that?) Well, in this instance, their Savior had been crucified, His body is now missing from the tomb. They’re on the road to Emmaus and here’s how our text reads: “And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred. And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them. But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him. And He said to them, what is this discussion that you are exchanging (throwing back and forth) between yourselves as you walk along? And they stood still, looking sad and downcast. Then one of them, name Cleopas, answered Him, do you alone dwell as a stranger in Jerusalem and not know the things that have occurred there in these days? And He said to them, What [kind of] things?” (AMPC)

First, can I be real with you? When I read, “And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] …”, I immediately thought, as a disciple of Christ, why should the road be so rough for us? I am being honest now. These two disciples were walking away from a gruesome scene of cruelty, their hopes dashed, and they are walking, talking, and trying to figure out what now and what next? And sometimes I think that is what hurts us as believers, because we are often taught that there is this ‘bed-of-roses-faith’ that occurs once you receive Christ. As if all the bad things in the world that happen, will not happen to you. You are suddenly exempt from it all. It is the ‘bad guys ‘that get the bad stuff, not us. We are believers, children of the Highest God, rescued, ransomed, and redeemed. It is all well with our souls! But truth is, even as disciples we must deal with some rough roads, and some harsh circumstances. Contrary to popular belief, we are not exempt. We blame the devil for more than he needs to receive credit for, because we were warned by our Commander-in-Chief well in advance: John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have TRIBULATION and TRIALS and DISTRESS and FRUSTRATION; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you].” (AMPC)  

Yes, disciples of Christ, we too will have to deal with discouragement, distress, tribulation, trials, and frustration. Again, we are not exempt. But we are to be encouraged because there is absolutely nothing that can overwhelm us that has not already been overcome by Him! So even when we feel something is “not fair”, bear in mind all His soldiers must fight in battle, and many of those wars will leave us with painful, bloody, battle-scars. However, it will not take our lives! So, what must we do? Keep fighting! 2 Timothy 2:3-5, “Take [with me] your share of the HARDSHIPS and SUFFERING [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him. And if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully (fairly, according to the rules laid down).” (AMPC)

We must take our fair share of the fight! Yes, life gets hard and life is hard, but all that means is that we fight harder!

Truth be told, the battles you have been fighting lately are taking their toll on you! Making you feel as if you have been shot at, run down, blown up, I mean there simply hasn’t been much of a break in the action, and you’ve got some serious combat fatigue. You have been battling in marriage, on the job, in finances, in the ministry, in the family, in your health, in school. Every direction you have turned in has been an uphill battle! In fact, maybe it feels like you are losing the battle right now. And if so, you know what you need? You need some personal time with your Commander-in-Chief. Not the President of the United States, because no human leader can hold a candle to your Real Commander-in-Chief! He is, after all, according to the Bible, the King of all kings! He is King Jesus!

These two disciples were discouraged and downcast because of what they just experienced. And so, they are walking and talking on the road to Emmaus with heavy hearts. Jesus appears and asks them, “What has happened?” and they begin to explain: “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and could not find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.” (vss. 19-24 MSG)

Can you hear the frustration in their voices? They are DOWNCAST, CONFUSED, FRUSTRATED, their faith is being tested as their hopes began to seep away. Ever walked in those shoes? I know I have, and still do on many days. I had a friend share with me recently of her struggles when her mom was sick. For example, she shared with me that her mom had some extreme health challenges over the last 5 years prior to her passing in 2017, and as her caregiver, it was extremely confusing, discouraging, frustrating, scary, worrisome, and yes, even my faith and hope has had to be resuscitated a time or two (or 200, if we’re really being honest!) You see, she would go for one test, we would get the diagnosis, then as soon as they would put her on medications and start treatment, something else would go haywire! Every time they treated one thing; it would trigger off something else. Every time it seemed as if one thing was finally under control, it caused something else to go out of control! It has been the worse see-saw experience of my life! As soon as our hope would go up, within moments we would watch it come crashing back down with one phone call from the doctor or doctor’s visit. And truth is, that is hard for anyone. As they say, “the struggle is real!” You see I have noticed even caregivers sometimes pass away before the person they are taking care of because their own health takes a toll, sometimes without even knowing it, they get exhausted and worn out, eventually this affects their health.

Well, what is next is, Jesus allows them to vent (just as He allows us to) and then He speaks: “Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him…” (vss. 25-27 MSG)

One of the things I love most about this text is Jesus’ response! First, I just told you I was frustrated and confused, then I explained why. My hopes are dwindling, and my faith is fading fast. I do not know where my Jesus is, who took Him or why. I do not know what these women are talking about. I have no idea what to do next. Cannot trust any of the leaders since they are the ones who killed Him in the first place. And yet, Jesus bypasses all of this and calls them “thick-headed and slow-hearted…” Um, Jesus, that is not very encouraging! LOL! But I love the way He simply addresses them, because He most certainly pulled no punches! Let’s be real, if we went to one of our leaders in the church and shared all of our struggles and all they said to us was “you thick-headed, slow-hearted numbskull”, we would have left that church that Sunday! But Jesus gets to the heart of the matter, in a nutshell, ‘why are you allowing the battle to beat up your belief’?

However, Jesus doesn’t leave off His words there, nope, He goes on to the very beginning of the Books of Moses and all of the Prophets carefully pointing out to them everything that the Scriptures say in reference to Him. Why is that so important? Because can you imagine the time and patience it took for Jesus to do this? He started at the beginning and worked His way all the way through all the prophets just to encourage, empower and inspire their faith. And believe it or not but He loves you enough to do the very same thing. Question is: Have you taken out time to walk and talk with Jesus? What might He share with you to rekindle the flame and fire of your faith, if only you took time to take your frustration to Him (instead of everybody else)? How might He enlighten you; encourage and empower you; inspire and impact you?

Let this be a challenge for you today, do not take your next battle to people take it to Jesus! Tell Him all about it, and do not mince your words. Speak from the heart like the Psalmist often did. Pour it all out to Him in honesty, not eloquence, and have a listening, attentive ear to what he may say that will strengthen your walk of faith as you journey through this life with Jesus.

Well, the story does not stop there. Let us see what’s next: “They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on, but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So, he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?” (vss. 28-32 MSG)

How personable is Jesus? Truth is, you can rarely find leaders today who are that personable. Not only had He walked and talked with them, but He sat down to bless and break bread with them. You know, I often hear people say when they are going through that they feel distant from God. But in reading this text it makes me wonder how can that be? Jesus loves spending quality time with us, encouraging our faith, and even sitting at the dinner table. Though they did not recognize Him yet, they invited Him to dinner. We who do recognize Him, do not. How can that make sense? Maybe the next battle you must endure would be better if you invited Jesus into the midst. Note: He did not invite Himself, He was asked. When is the last time you asked Him to come and sit with you? After all, we will sit on the phone for hours, we will sit among our friends and family, we will sit at the altar, but when is the last time you sat with Him? Inviting Him into your personal, and even painful, space.

Revelation 3:20-21, “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I will come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!” (MSG)

James 4:7-10, “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he will be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” (MSG)

Clearly, Jesus Has No Problems Visiting with Us, Sitting With Us, Breaking Bread With Us, Drawing Near to Us. So, what is the problem? The only problem is us extending to Him an invitation!

He blessed and break bread and gave it to them. In essence, He was feeding them. Makes me wonder if when we feel hungry and empty if it is because we have not invited Jesus to come and sit with us and feed us. Remember:

John 1:1, “In the beginning [before all-time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.” (AMPC)

John 1:14, “And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacle (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) AMONG US; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.” (AMPC)

This Is What We Need to Dine On When We Feel Hungry And Empty…Jesus…The Bread Of Life! John 6:35, “Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst anymore (at any time).” (AMPC)

With this as your option, how can you choose anything else?

Invite Jesus In, He Wants to Feed The Hunger In Your Soul Where Frustration Eats Away At Your Faith!

And what happens next? “…At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us? They did not waste a minute. They were up and, on their way, back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up – Simon saw him!” Then the two went over everything that had happened on the road and how they recognized Him when He broke the bread.” (vss. 28-35 MSG)

The Bible goes on to say they returned to Jerusalem totally pumped! They started exhausted; they ended excited! They started on empty; they ended on full! What made the difference? The personal presence of their Commander-in-Chief. He is the one who makes all the battles worth it. Experiencing the reality of His presence is what always makes the difference. That is exactly what you need right now, and maybe what you have been missing. You’ve been running all over the place, but it’s too long since you just had a walk with Jesus; a time when you pour out your heart to Him and He pours some of His heart into you. Maybe you forgot Who it is all for – the One who loved you enough to die for you. He is the reason for fighting the battles. He is the joy. He is the reward, you are in essence, suffering from a Jesus-deficit. You might be serving Him with everything you have got, but you are missing Him still. Other things are looking bigger than they really are because you have not been with the One who is bigger than all those battles combined! The bottom line is simple. It is all about Jesus, and you are missing Him during all your battles. But your King, the Commander-in-Chief, has come your way today, and He is asking you to just take a walk with Him; to have a heart-to-heart talk with Him. Not just today, but every new day. There is something very re-energizing about a personal visit with the person that you are fighting for. Believe me, there is nothing to turn the tide in the battle that you are fighting right now like the personal presence of your King of kings.

These two disciples were headed to Emmaus, and after a walk, talk and sit with Jesus they return to Jerusalem re-energized for whatever may come next. They also go back and tell the rest of the disciples what happened. And that is exactly what you need to do with this devotional today. Allow it to encourage you to walk, talk and sit with Jesus during your battles. And once you have been refueled, take the message to the other empty disciples you know and encourage them by what happened to you!

Truth Is, This Journey with Jesus Gets Hard! And when it does, allow His word to soften your heart. Hear Him and Heed Him. Your Commander-in-Chief wants to spend some time with His best soldiers. So, are you going to let your battles keep you from Him, or lead you to Him?

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

We Need Not Attempt to Understand God or His Ways or His Timing, or His Supply. We Need Only to Remember That He Is and Will Always Be…UNLIMITED! The Problem Is That When It LOOKS LIKE Nothing Is Happening, We Tend To Say, “I’ve Got To Do Something!”

 Micah 7:7, “But Me, I’m Not Giving Up. I’m Sticking Around To See What God Will Do. I’m Waiting For God To Make Things Right. I’m Counting On God To Listen To Me” (MSG)

You May Be Facing A Need or Situation Right Now Where That Is Literally Your Only Hope – That the Lord Will Provide. Maybe it is a job, a friend, or much needed finances; maybe it is the house, the healing, the breakthrough, or soundness of mind you need. Well, if that’s the case, today you need to be reminded that we have a rock-solid promise in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). Understand that this Scripture lets us know that God’s supply has nothing to do with what is happening in the economy, in the news, at work, or in what your limited resources can or cannot do! It is all about His Unlimited “Glorious Riches in Christ Jesus” account in Heaven, which transcends every limitation earth can provide!

You Need NOT Attempt to Understand God or His Ways or His Timing, or His Supply. You Need Only to Remember That He Is and Will Always Be…UNLIMITED! Which is why you should never fret over your LITTLE, when you serve such a BIG God! Another quote I love says, “If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.” (Author Unknown) And the truth of the matter is, you may never understand before you allow your fears to get the best of you.

The Problem Is That When It LOOKS LIKE Nothing Is Happening, We Tend To Say, “I’ve Got To Do Something!” And Most Often, It’s The Wrong Thing To Do.

Philippians 4:19 says He promises to meet all our needs, But He does Not promise WHEN! See, most of us already know that He can do it, and that He’s promised to do it, but if only He’d share WHEN He’s going to do it, we’d be less likely to flip out when the last grain of sand is found in the hourglass! But then that wouldn’t be considered faith, now would it?! Ramona C. Carroll said it best: “Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.” But unfortunately for many of us, when we get to that last grain of sand, we panic, and come up with desperate and oftentimes ridiculous ways to so-called meet our needs on our own!

Will the wait be easy? Absolutely not, in fact it is one of the hardest things to do! But remembering that God watches over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12); remembering that God does not and cannot lie (Numbers 23:19); remembering that God keeps His Word and every promise He makes (Isaiah 55:11), certainly makes the wait a little easier! And yes, I understand that the mortgage is over-due; the tuition seems impossible to pay; the car note is about to turn into a bus pass; the doctors may as well sign your cause of death certificate; the marriage is on life-support; the job is strangling your sanity or the lack of one is strangling your empty bank account. And yet, I still say wait on God and watch Him work, even at the 11^th hour! He has done it before, and He can and will do it again! Do not lose heart, patience, peace, joy, or faith. God sits too high to let His people down! Hold on and hang in there, before the last grain of sand falls, God will step in with a last-minute miracle!

Three of the greatest keys to blocking God’s blessing that’s trying to spring forth in your life is: YOUR EYES (“I Saw”); YOUR MIND (“I Thought”); AND YOUR EMOTIONS (“I Felt”)!

When Your Something Looks Like Nothing the Last Thing You Need to Do Is have BLURRED VISION, IMPURE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS AND UNCONTROLLABLE EMOTIONS!

When Your Something looks like Nothing and you are tempted to do Something about it, Beware of the Dangers of YOUR EYES, MIND AND EMOTIONS and bring them under subjection quickly! 

Why? Look at what the Bible admonishes: 

1...CONTROL YOUR EYES: The Bible says, “For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] NOT BY SIGHT OR APPEARANCE” (2 Corinthians 5:7 AMP). “But GOD told Samuel, “LOOKS AREN’T EVERYTHING. DON’T BE IMPRESSED WITH HIS LOOKS and stature. I have already eliminated him. GOD judges’ persons differently than humans do. Men and women LOOK at the face; GOD LOOKS into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG). Wisdom Nugget: DON’T LET YOUR PHYSICAL SIGHT, DESTROY YOUR SPIRITUAL VISION! 

2...CONTROL YOUR MIND: The Bible says, “But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. For out of the heart come EVIL THOUGHTS (reasoning’s and disputing and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]…” (Matthew 15:18-20 AMP). “Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the THOUGHTS OF THE MIND [our cravings dictated by our senses and our DARK IMAGININGS].) AND A RENEWED MIND (Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.") Will Determine Whether You Continue To Reign Or Come To Ruins! Bear In Mind, The Choice Is Yours!

3...Control Your Emotions: The Bible Says, “A Fool Expresses All His Emotions, But A Wise Person Controls Them” (Proverbs 29:11 Gwt). “In the End They Will Be Destroyed. Their Own Emotions Are Their God, And They Take Pride in The Shameful Things They Do…” (Philippians 3:19 Gwt). Wisdom Nugget: Fulfillment Comes Not from Feeling, But from Following! Look at It Like This: The Coat of a Rottweiler Is Soft, But Haphazardly Reaching Out to Feel It, Might Result in Your Going into Your Future With A Few Less Fingers! Likewise, Following Your Feelings Is Just as Dangerous! Do not Let Your Emotions Maim You! “Maim” Means: “To Wound or Injure (Someone) So That Part of The Body Is Permanently Damaged!” In A Nutshell: Temporary Emotions Can Permanently Maim You! 

Example: In 1 Samuel 13, beginning with verse 7, we receive a sobering example of how much we must lose when we cannot WAIT for God to do it His way! You see, Saul, Israel’s first king, has been told by God’s man Samuel, to go down ahead of him to Gilgal. Samuel assures him that he will surely come down to him to sacrifice burnt offerings…BUT Saul must WAIT seven days UNTIL Samuel comes to him and tells him what he must do. HOWEVER, with the Philistine forces massing against them, the Bible says this, “…Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.” (vss. 7-8 NIV). SAUL PANICKED, AND HE DID WHAT NO KING WAS ALLOWED BY GOD TO DO: HE OFFERED THE BURNT OFFERING HIMSELF AND HE CROSSED A SACRED LINE! The Bible says, “Just as he finished making the offering…”, (hear this), “…Samuel arrived…” (vs. 10). And Samuel asks, “What have you done?” (vs. 11). 

Saul answers by talking about what “…I SAW” …” I THOUGHT” …” I FELT…” (vss. 11-12 NIV).

Here is the text in full: “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I SAW that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash,  I THOUGHT, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So, I FELT compelled to offer the burnt offering.” (NIV)

Saul messed up with what he SAW, THOUGHT AND FELT, therefore, Samuel informs him, “You have done a foolish thing…You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure…because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (vss. 13-14 NIV). Saul Forfeits The Major Legacy Of His Life Because Of Disobedience That Disqualified Him; A Disobedience That Came Because He Couldn’t Wait For God To Do It His Way! 

Instead, He Obeyed His Eyes And Missed Out On Seeing His Kingdom Endure! 

He Obeyed His Thoughts Instead Of Respecting The Fact That God’s Thoughts Are Not Ours. Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Oftentimes your real sacrifice is in waiting the full seven days, and even when nothing seems to happen, even on the appointed day, Waiting, Trusting And Knowing That God Does Not Fail And Does Not Lie, He Will Perform It And I’m Going To Continue To Sit Until He Does, Is The Best Thing You Could Ever Do!  

Lastly, He Obeyed His Feelings And Forfeited A Promised Future! 

However, Before You Point Your Fingers At Him, Know That You And I Are Prone To Making That Same Kind Of Mistake! Nothing seems to be happening, things are starting to fall apart, and it LOOKS LIKE we are at the point of no return! So, we take matters into our own hands and, in so doing, WE RUIN WHAT GOD WAS GOING TO DO! God is so often the God of the eleventh hour! He waits until the moment when everyone will know IT HAD TO BE HIM! He waits so our faith can stretch farther than its’ ever stretched before so He can do greater things for us than He has ever done before!  God is working in ways we cannot see, but ultimately something beautiful will be born for all to see! 

In the words of the Psalmist: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and HE WILL DO THIS…be still before the Lord and WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM” (Psalm 37:5, 7). Let God Do It His Way and In His Timing! And no matter how long you have to wait, remember: “God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 AMP). Yes, He Will!

Regardless to what you See, Think or Feel, Your Nothing Has Something…You Just Have to Wait for It! SO, WAIT! The Bible Admonishes Us: “WAIT and HOPE for and EXPECT the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, WAIT for and HOPE for and EXPECT the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 AMP).

Some of the most exciting moments in sports are the touchdown or field goal that wins the game, especially, when there is no time left on the clock! That game-winning basket as the final buzzer sounds is unforgettable! The game-winning home run with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning is remarkable! I have come to find out that whatever the sport, there is nothing like a sudden victory when victory seemed out of reach! It makes the fans go ballistic! Which reminds me of a quote I love: “I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people’s accomplishments: the front page has nothing but man’s failures.” (Earl Warren). Truth be told, it can be nerve-wracking when you are behind, and time is running out! But it is an awesome moment when a hero pulls out an unexpected victory…at the last minute! And the longer I walk with this God of ours, the more I’ve come to appreciate Him as the God of the last-second victory, or the God of the eleventh hour, as I’ve called Him so often. The Bible reveals many names by which God wants us to know Him. One that has meant so much to so many for so long is “Jehovah-Jireh”. It means, “The Lord will provide, or the Lord will see to my provision. “

So, remember: “The Fear of God kills all other fears!” God supplies rivers in the desert, but when you are thirsty, knowing that He can, and He will be Enough! 

Now to be honest, I believe God often waits a while to meet our needs…On Purpose! Let us look at Scripture: “A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany…the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Master, the one you love so very much is sick.” When Jesus got the message, he said, “This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son.” …Then Jesus became explicit: “Lazarus Died. And I Am Glad For Your Sakes That I Wasn’t There. You’re About To Be Given New Grounds For Believing. Now let us go to him.” (John 11:1-4, 14 MSG). So, before you panic, know that God always has a reason for allowing you to sit in the waiting room! And His reason is always the same: “…it will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son…and…You’re about to be given new grounds for believing…”. Your waiting, while wounded, gives God Glory and Increases Your Faith by giving you New Grounds or New Reasons to Trust Him even at the Eleventh Hour! That is why you cannot get discouraged because “…it’s usually the last key in the bunch that opens the lock” (Author Unknown)! So, be patient, a door of opportunity is about to open just for you…all you must do is WAIT!

Again, let us look at Scripture: “Sarai, Abram’s wife, hadn’t yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “GOD has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her.” Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.’ (Genesis 16:1-2 MSG). And believe it or not, nations are still paying for that ridiculous attempt at “helping God out”! Too often we abandon our trust in God because, He is – if we dare be honest—TAKING TOO LONG! Even the Psalmist knows what this feels like: “Please, God…Treat me nice for a change; I’m so starved for affection. Can’t you see I am black-and-blue, beat up badly in bones and soul? GOD, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO LET UP? Break in, GOD, and break up this fight; if you love me at all, get me out of here. I am no good to you dead, am I? I can’t sing in your choir if I’m buried in some tomb!” (6:1-5 MSG). See, you are not the only one who wants to stamp “Federal Express” or “Overnight Delivery” on God! But such actions take us right out of the Will of God and aborts what God was going to birth on our behalf if we would have trusted Him enough to wait the full 9 months!  “But those who WAIT for the Lord [who EXPECT, look for, and HOPE in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP).

Now, it is in Genesis 22, where we find that God is known as Jehovah-Jireh for the very first time. We can learn a lot from how He worked that day for Abraham. See, Abraham had, by faith, obeyed God’s direction to take the son God had once promised to him, climb Mt. Moriah with him, and sacrifice his son there; as God (the Father) would do Himself one day with Jesus (His Son). Believing that God will somehow provide something he cannot imagine, Abraham yet promises his servants that both he and his son Isaac will return from the mountain. Genesis 22:10 says his faith and obedience went so far that “he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” At that very LAST MOMENT, God stopped him and showed Abraham a ram, stuck in a thicket, who would be sacrificed instead of his son. And the Bible says, “So Abraham called that place, ‘The Lord Will Provide.’ “Remember: Jehovah-Jireh – often steps in right on time, which is usually—when there’s no time left! Which reminds me of a quote I love, “Faith isn’t faith until it’s all you’re holding on to.” (Author Unknown)

God loves to come through for us when there is absolutely no place else that answer could come from, and there is no time left on the clock. It is 11:59! The buzzer is about to sound! But that’s when God shows up with His provision, at a time and in a way that will blow you away, give Him all the glory, and show people around you the greatness and faithfulness of your God! Then it is only natural that you will experience a whole new level of faith in Him and worship for Him! God’s last-minute victories are some of the most awesome moments of your life! So, do not lose faith now! “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” (Oswald Chambers). Keep in mind: The greater the need, the later the hour, the more amazing God’s work on your behalf! That is why you need to determine to be like your sports heroes and hang in there until the end of the game! And when God steps in and grants you a last-second victory, before the last grain of sand falls in the hourglass, remember, like the sports fans, go ballistic…in praise, worship, and thanksgiving!

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

“All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it is not only around us; it is within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We are also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, do not see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” (Romans 8:22-25 MSG).

“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37:7 AMP).

“So, we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times; the lavish celebration prepared for us. There is far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org

Many Of Us Are Sometimes Embarrassed By Our Relatives, If We Think Our Family Is Messed Up, Just Look At Jesus Family Tree & The Junk That Was On His Tree. What Junk Is On Your Tree? Was Abraham A Pimp, Didn't He Profit? Read What The Bible Says.

 Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, READY TO BE USED] for good words, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMP) I 

If we think our family is messed up, just look at Jesus family tree and the junk that was on his tree. What junk do you have on your family tree? Abraham was a pimp he pimps out his wife Sarai and made profits from it.  "God recruits from the pit not the pedestal." "God is not looking for gold vessels or silver vessels. He is looking for willing vessels." Never allow where you start to dictate where or how you will finish.

You see many of us are sometimes embarrassed by our relatives, we think we have dysfunctional families, dysfunctional is defined as something that is flawed and doesn't operate correctly, or someone that deviates from normal and accepted social behavior. An example of something that would be described as dysfunctional is a family that fights all the time and that deviates from the accepted way a family is supposed to behave.

I know I am going to get some eyebrows raised on the reading for today. Why? Because some of my male friends in leadership roles, have questioned me using such a strong word "Pimp"and there are some others who agree with my message. While searching some scriptures to validate my reading, I was quite surprised to see this topic appear over and over again during my search by leaders who had preached the message "Abraham Was A Pimp." Now, let us see what the Bible have to say about Abraham and many other relatives on Jesus family tree.

When David first arrived at King Saul's palace, he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive résumé nonetheless! God, in essence, said, 'I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching your courage, leadership, fighting ability and strength when you didn't even realize I had my eye on you.' Solomon wrote, 'A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.' (Proverbs 18:16). David's ‘gift’ may have only been the ability to accurately swing a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel's king! So even though what you have got does not seem like much, give it to God and watch what He can do with it! You say, 'But I'm not formally trained.' But All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available! When you give God what you have, He gives you what He's got; and that alone makes your odds unbeatable! People of God, regardless of where you come from, your family structure, gender, ethnicity, age, education, employment, handicaps or even failures, you still have enough to accomplish great things!

Now, you need some ‘biblical’ examples instead, here are a few you should always revert to when you feel unqualified or unequipped: Jesus’ family tree is filled with the sorts of people you would expect to see on TMZ. If God were to take human flesh, you would expect him to take the flesh of a much different family.

For instance-

There’s Abraham, who tried to cut his son Isaac’s throat. Isaac survived to be the father of Jacob, an unscrupulous but entertaining character who won his position in Jesus’ family line by lying and cheating his blind, old father. Abraham tried to pimp out his wife Sarai PSA: Do not model your family by Abraham’s example. I am sure he was a nice guy, but still.

First off, as the story begins, God appears to Abraham (still named Abram at this point), and promises to make of him a “great nation”—read, “a ton of offspring”—and a nice patch of land to call his own, presently (and inconveniently) occupied by the Canaanites (Genesis 12:1-9).

Well, the ink is hardly dry on that story when a famine enters the land, thus forcing Abraham and his wife Sarah (still named Sarai) to hightail it to Egypt so they cannot starve. And if that sounds familiar to you, well done looking to Egypt for food during a famine anticipates how the book of Genesis ends, with Jacob and his sons moving to Egypt because of a famine.

Anyway, all this is fine and dandy, but the problems begin when, on the way to Egypt, Abraham realizes that Sarah is a “woman beautiful in appearance” (12:11), and so surmises that the Egyptians are going to kill him so they can take Sarah into Pharaoh’s harem.

Abraham’s solution is not to turn back—since dying of starvation is still on the table—but to suggest a ruse. Namely, that she presents herself as his sister, for what appears to be an utterly self-serving reason.

. . . and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account.”  (12:12-13)

In fact, he seems to make a profit in the deal.

And for her sake he [Pharaoh] dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels. (12:16) Way to go Abraham. Gutsy move. Seriously. Way to pimp out your wife.

Pimp is defined as: (I decided to go with this definition) someone who caters to or exploits the weaknesses of females, a panderer who appeases the interests of a potential purchaser where he benefits off of the proceeds without care for moral principles and often in a negative, self-serving way. 

How about having some faith in God here? The same kind of faith you just showed when God called you out of your home in Haran to move to Canaan, and you simply up and left. Now, at the first sign of trouble (after all, what’s a little famine to the Almighty?), you press the panic button: Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me.

When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was incredibly beautiful. When the officials of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; …(GEN 12:14-16A)

So far, everything is happening the way Abram predicted. When Pharaoh heard his officials tell him how beautiful Sarai was, she was taken into Pharaoh’s house. As her “brother,” Pharaoh dealt well with Abram. Just how did he deal well with her “brother”?

…and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels.

Foreshadowing the Exodus

But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So, Pharaoh called Abram, and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.” And Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning him; and they set him on the way, with his wife and all that he had.

Abimelech, King of Gerard: Another Unwitting John? When Abraham sojourned in the territory of Gerar, Abimelech the king also took Sarah (Sarai and Abram’s names were changed in Genesis 17) into his household, because she was beautiful. This time, God speaks to the man who took Sarah from her “brother.”

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (GEN 20:3 ESV)

Now it sounds like he has had sex with her, and God is about to avenge her husband. But here is what we read just a little later. After Abimelech protests that he is innocent, because Abraham told him she was his sister, God says this:

“Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore, it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I did not let you touch her.” (GEN 20:6 NRS)

So, it says he took her, which would normally indicate they had sex. But it also says God kept Abimelech from sinning against me and did not let you touch her, which means they did not have sex.

If you only look at the text about Abraham and Sarah in the land of Egypt, you will have to conclude Sarah slept with Pharaoh, because he took her as his wife. That is usually what that means. But since we have this case where a man “took her” [as a wife] but never “touched her” (because God prevented him), it is possible this happened with Pharaoh as well.

Gerar “In the Hands of an Angry God”

Like Pharaoh, God visited Abimelech and his people with a plague (20:17-18; cf. 12:17). They must have been wondering what was wrong. Finally, they knew. God tells him how to remedy the situation.

“Now then, return the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.” (GEN 20:7 NRS)

This is the only verse that specifically calls Abraham a prophet, but he has already been playing the role of a prophet in many ways. Of course, the king must restore the prophet’s wife to him. Abraham, as a prophet, will then pray and heal Abimelech and his household of their plague of childlessness that started when he took Sarah into his household.

What Have You Done to Us?

Naturally, he is furious with Abraham for putting him in that position.

So, Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that ought not to be done.” And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?” (GEN 20:8-10 NRS)

How have I sinned against you, that you have brought this great guilt on me and my kingdom? That sums it up quite well. Abraham brought the guilt upon them. That is no way to treat your host. Why would Abraham do this? It is the same story we heard when he went to Egypt.

Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.” (GEN 20:11-12 NRS)

This is where we find out Sarah is his half-sister.

“Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him. Abimelech said, “My land is before you; settle where it pleases you.” (GEN 20:14-15 NRS)

More sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves. And this is to a man who already has a lot of these (13:2). After restoring his wife, Abimelech allows him to settle anywhere in his territory. That was especially important to a man like Abraham with no land of his own. Could he have negotiated this without bringing plagues on his host?

Sarah is Innocent … This Time To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” (GEN 20:16 NRS)

Abimelech declares in the open she is completely vindicated and restored to her husband, and nothing happened between them. She keeps her honor. But was that true in every place they went? Did she succeed in keeping every king from touching her? Or was Abraham pimping her out for cattle, sheep, slaves, gold, and silver everywhere they went? And was Sarah really unwilling? The first time, she might have just gone along because everything happened too fast for her to think it through. What if Abraham is right and they will kill her husband? But if they kept doing this everywhere, they went, she had to be a knowing accomplice.

There is no way Abraham and Sarah look good in this. Sarah might have done it reluctantly the first time to protect her husband. But by the time they got to Abimelech, they had to be a team on this. The king’s officials ask about her and Abraham’s relationship, and they say they are brother and sister. That is half-true but omits the most important detail.

The king takes her into the palace so he can woo her. Sarah plays coy but most likely slept with some of the kings they scammed. God shakes down the king with plagues. The king pays them, so Abraham will pray and remove the curse. So, every time, Sarah and Abraham leave richer than they came in. We do not know how Abraham became rich in Haran but doing this in every place is how they became extraordinarily rich.

And this is the man and woman God chose to initiate the God’s covenant with the Jews? The bloodline of the Messiah officially starts with them. That seems to be why God protects them. The Bible does say that God’s call and gifts are irrevocable, apparently even for such scoundrels (Romans 11:29).

Jacob’s name, "deceiver," does seem to characterize much of Jacob’s life. But he was also Israel, one to whom God made promises to which He remained faithful. God appeared to Jacob, and Jacob believed God’s promises. Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today.

The name "Jacob" means deceiver. Jacob was crafty, tricky, and skilled in the ways of lying and manipulation. He was the kind of person who had big dreams and ambitions and was always looking for an angle. He wanted a blessing.

True to his name, Jacob grew up as a conniver, deceiver, and cheat, and he eventually supplanted his brother’s position as heir to the birthright. After Jacob’s struggle with the Lord at Peniel, the Lord gave Jacob a new name: Israel. And God gave the reason: “Because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). Jacob got cheated himself when he ‘got to know’ the wrong girl by mistake and became the father of Judah. Judah made the same mistake with his own daughter-in-law, Tamar. Tamar had cheated him by disguising herself as a prostitute.

(I mean: Hebress with a heart of gold) I am telling you: these are not the sort of people you would invite for Christmas.

Many first-time Bible readers are surprised to learn that the New Testament begins with a genealogy (Matthew 1:1-16), Jesus’ family tree. Those same readers are even more surprised when Rahab shows up on the list.

Most of us know about her. She is almost always mentioned by in the Bible as “Rahab the harlot." But that is not all. Rahab was also a Canaanite-who were the hated enemies of Israel. Her most exemplary deed was telling a lie. Think about that. A Harlot, a Canaanite, and a liar. You would not think she would have much chance of making the list, but there she is.

You can read about Rahab in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6....

It is a great story with many lessons, but we must not miss the point that Rahab was a harlot. That was her “trade.” The men hid there because people would be accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night. We also cannot deny the fact that Rahab told a bald-faced lie. Is there anything good we can say about her? Yes! She was a woman of faith. You do not have to take my word for it. Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith Rahab ...” She was a believer! 3 Lessons from Rahab in the Lineage of Jesus3 lessons from Rahab in lineage of Jesus

What does your past whisper to you?

Maybe these whispers haunt you from choices you made years ago. Maybe those choices were yesterday.

Today, we are looking at Rahab, the second woman in Jesus’ family tree of Matthew. Rahab — a woman, a Canaanite, a prostitute. It is absolutely eyebrow raising that Matthew names Rahab in Jesus’ family tree. And yet, there are vital gospel lessons from Rahab in the lineage of Jesus.

Rahab’s story starts in Joshua 2. After wandering 40 years, Israel was poised to take the land of Canaan and the first city in its sights was Jericho. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho who went into the house of Rahab, a prostitute whose home was on Jericho’s walls. Surely with all the unknown men going in and out of the prostitute’s house, the Hebrew men would not be noticed. But they were, and when Jericho’s king demanded Rahab turn over the spies, she bravely hid them in piles of flax on her roof, telling the king’s men they had already fled. That night, as the two spies were safely hidden on her roof, Rahab made a bold claim and request. We know the LORD has given you this land, she said, and Jericho is utterly helpless and hopeless.

But Rahab had one hope. One Who is Hope. “[T]he Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below,” she confessed and surrendered herself to God’s mercy. She asked the spies to spare her life and her family’s lives when Israel attacked Jericho, just as she had spared the two spies. “Save us from death!” she pleaded. The spies promised to protect Rahab and gave her a scarlet cord to hang from her window. Safety would be guaranteed only those inside Rahab’s house.

As Jericho waited for attack, tension and fear were palpable. It grew worse as day after day the Israelite army marched silently around Jericho’s wall and then left.

Rahab kept the scarlet cord in the window of her house, where on the seventh day, the army advanced once more and marched seven times around Jericho’s thick walls. Suddenly, the Israelites let out a tremendous shout and the entire wall surrounding Jericho imploded on itself. Every bit of the city, its buildings, and its inhabitants were destroyed — except Rahab and her family. “So, the young spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, and brothers—everyone connected with her. They got the whole family out and gave them a place outside the camp of Israel.” (Joshua 6:23)

But God did not leave Rahab outside the camp. He brought her smack dab to the center of Jesus’ family tree. As we scroll through the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham we find Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Matthew 1:1-5, Okay, so Rahab was saved and brought into Israel. But why would God intentionally call Rahab out in Matthew’s lineage of Jesus?

Lessons from Rahab in Lineage of Jesus

1.God saves those with a past. No matter what our past whispers to us, no matter what our past holds, our past is the reason Jesus was born.

Rahab can come across in scripture as a shrewd businesswoman who chose her profession to make a good living. But maybe she was more like the women my dear friend ministers to in the adult entertainment world. Perhaps Rahab came from a place of deep brokenness or childhood trauma. Maybe her past was one of pain or abuse that left her trapped by disrespect and shame. Maybe Rahab had been rejected or abandoned and made a desperate choice to meet her growling stomach. Night after night, choice after desperate choice had become a life she never intended. What whispers did Rahab hear? Condemnation? Fear? Shame? Worthlessness? Too many mistakes, too much regret and too late for change?

The good news is that no choice we ever make, no scars ever inflicted, no drink taken, or words flung, or body misused can keep us from the saving grace of Jesus. Our past is never good enough to earn God’s salvation nor shocking enough to keep us from it.

2. God uses those with a past. Maybe you can nod and amen that God can save anyone with a past but here is where you get stuck: believing that God can use anyone with a past as well.

Let Rahab’s story convince you. God used Rahab mightily despite her past. In the first battle to conquer the Promised Land, God used Rahab to not only save the spies, but save her family. But God had even more for Rahab. God used Rahab to shape the character, faith and godliness of a son named Boaz, who would one day rescue a young Moabite widow.

I wonder what whispers might be keeping you from letting God use you mightily. What is the enemy bringing up from years ago or even last week to taunt that you are disqualified?  Do not give the enemy ground that Jesus has already taken. Jesus’ own lineage shows how God powerfully uses us despite our past.

3. God redefines those with a past. When scripture mentions Rahab, she is almost always called Rahab the harlot except in Matthew’s genealogy. Matthew calls her Rahab, mother of Boaz. God redefined Rahab —from a fallen woman to a chosen woman, from a bad girl to a bride, from a mess to a mother and from prostitute to progenitor of the Messiah.

God redefines you and me as well.

Our shame? There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… (Romans 8:1)

Our sin? If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:19)

Our hopelessness? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)

Our chains? Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)

There is a man named Boaz in Jesus’ family tree. Boaz was seduced by a foreigner named Ruth. He woke up in the middle of night and found Ruth climbing into bed with him. Not that Boaz ought to have been shocked. His mother, Matthew tells us, was Rahab, a ‘working girl’ who betrayed her people. Boaz’s son was the grandfather of David.

David was a power-hungry peeping-tom, who spied on Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop one evening. David arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be murdered. David and Bathsheba went to become the parents of Solomon, the next name in the family tree of Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Of course, the family tree ultimately winds its way to Joseph. Joseph, who, Matthew makes no bones to hide, was not the father of Jesus at all. He was just the fiancé of the boy’s mother- Mary, the teenage girl with a child on the way and no ring on her finger. Matthew does not tell us about shepherds filled with good news. Matthew does not bother with imperial politics or mangers filled with straw or inns with no vacancy. Instead Matthew tells us the story by first telling us about the messy and the embarrassing and the sordid and the complicated and the disappointing and the unfaithful parts of Jesus’ family. And then, having said all that, Matthew tells us this baby is Emmanuel, God- with-us, God-for-us, as one of us, in the flesh.

1...Joseph becomes the Pharaoh’s right-hand man. He can interpret dreams and he save Egypt from a famine. But before that, Joseph was two things that were not all that great. He was a slave and a prisoner! Yet, look how God used him and blessed him! The Bible says, “So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!” Joseph oversaw the entire country of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:41-43 MSG). Not bad for a former slave and prisoner! Likewise, friends, regardless of your past, you too can have a great future ahead of you. Even if you dropped out of high school; didn’t go to college; can’t find a job; battled with addictions and habits; lived in the projects; come from a broken home; and even have a criminal record! You are still a vessel that God can use!

What Junk Do You Have on Your Family Tree? All of us can relate to this question in one way or another because some of us have come from families that were just a mess. Aren’t you glad that God’s is not like people? People will find one flaw or one crack and discard you and your entire life. But not God! He does not make any attempts to replace you or use something or someone else because of the junk on your family tree. No, He uses the SAME old you to make you a better you! God does not throw us away when we mess up, after all Jesus was a carpenter! Why would He throw away what He possesses the ability to fix?! You are never so irreparably damaged that God cannot repair you! And no matter what ‘labels’ people put on you (even the ones that are true), cannot hinder you from still being a work-in-progress workmanship of God’s! No matter who you used to be; no matter what you used to do; God Still Wants to Use Even You! Will You Let Him?

In other words, it does not matter what your occupation is (or lack thereof), God can use you if you are available to be used! He does not ask for perfect vessels, just clean ones! 2 Timothy 2:20, “Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).” (AMP) God will use a gold or silver vessel just like He will use a wood or earthenware one. The importance is on the vessel being available and clean! So He’ll use you if you’re a dog walker or a police officer; a CEO or a chef; a firefighter or a mechanic; a senator or the fry cook at Applebee’s; a professor or a high school dropout; young or old; educated or uneducated; wealthy or poor; from the white house or the poor house! God has no favorites! He will use any clean vessel! 2 Timothy 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable – disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (AMP) No matter what you do for a living, as a clean vessel, you can still work for the Lord! God Can Use, Even You!

4...Jephthah is used by God to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Before that, Jephthah was only known as being the son of a prostitute! Listen: Do not you dare let your past identify you! Do not let your families’ highs or lows give you your value or diminish it! Look at this: Ruth was a Moabite, a pagan, and yet her genealogy changes drastically with a son from her own womb: “...they named him Obed He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. “(Ruth 4:17 NASB). So, do not let where you started dictate where you will finish! If you have to start broke, just get started; if you have to start living out of your car, just get started; if you have to start right after the divorce, just get started; if you have to start with no help or support, just get started; if you have to start with the odds against you, just get started; if you have to start as you get off the bus, just get started; if you have to start while having chemo, radiation, dialysis, just get started; if you have to start with cancer, heart disease, lupus, unemployed or homeless, just get started! Think about it, everyone knew Jephthah was born of a prostitute, and yet when the people had to go to war who did they come looking to lead them into battle? You guessed it, the prostitute’s son! So no matter what your lot in life has been (you don’t have to keep living there); no matter the cards you’ve been dealt (you can play well and turn it into a winning hand)!

Just Never Allow Where You Start to Dictate Where or How You will Finish! Start from wherever you are and keep moving forward! Remember, God Wants to Use, Even You!

Like Joseph, Esther was a slave before God used her to save her people from being massacred! Women of God, who you were cannot stop who you are destined to become! Eve had a hunger that cost her a garden; Potiphar’s wife had an unlawful sexual appetite; Lot lost his mate when she couldn’t get her eyes off the rearview mirror; Delilah should’ve left the hairstyles to the professionals; Sapphira needed a financial consultant; Jezebel should’ve remained single; Tamar never recovered from her brother’s rape; and Michal didn’t value the worth of her husband’s worship! These women did not get to redeem themselves, but you can! Take your past to the cemetery and start living life to the full! It is time to fulfill your purpose! Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” (AMP) You are still here on purpose, for a purpose, now fulfill it! God Wants to Use Even You, On Purpose!

7...Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A famous actress? A celebrity? A great athlete? A famous politician? Nope, the mother of Jesus (Mary) was a peasant girl! Please understand greatness is not attached to Wealth, it is attached to Willingness! “Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said…” (Luke 1:38 AMP). God is not looking for great achievements, just availability! Are you willing to let God use you? Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (AMP)

The very next time you doubt whether you have enough to do a work for God or dare to under-estimate yourself, your worth and value, just remember this: Jacob was a Moses had a speech impediment. Exodus 4:10. But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not particularly good with words. I never have been, and I am not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”  Jacob was a Master of Deception; Gideon was a Self-Doubter; David was a Premeditated Sinner; Solomon was an Unwise Lover; Paul Was an Adversary; Elijah was Suicidal; Noah was Drunk; Abraham was Old; Jeremiah was Young; Timothy had Ulcers; Job Went Bankrupt With Boils; The Disciples Fell Asleep During Intercession; Isaiah Preached Naked; Leah wasn’t exactly a Beauty Queen; Naomi Lost All the Men in Her Life; John the Baptist was Beheaded at a Birthday Party; The Samaritan Woman Had Too Many of Other Folks Men; Saul was Tall; Zacchaeus was small; Samson was a Womanizer; Rahab was a Prostitute; Jonah was a Prejudiced Prophet; Peter had a temper and Lazarus was Dead and yet God used each of them greatly! So why can’t He use even you?!

Believe it or not, but YOU HAVE ENOUGH! YOU ARE ENOUGH! AND GOD DESIRES TO USE, EVEN YOU!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.org