PJP2 PROLOG 151119 PROLOG Focus Ezekiel 20:38.....

Psalm 56:10-11 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."In God, Whose Word I Praise, in The Lord, Whose Word I Praise, in God I Trust; I shall Not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 151119 - Ezekiel 20:38 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."(The Word of The Lord came to Ezekiel....and He Said)...."I Will Purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me. I Will Bring them out of the land where they Sojourn, BUT they shall Not enter The Land of Israel.  Then you Will Know That I AM The Lord."....

I often wonder what the Ancient Saints thought as God The Father Revealed His Plan for Redemption to them one lego-block at a time.  Granted one slight advantage we have is that He Has Given us (1) His Written Living Word; (2) His Holy Spirit indwelling with us; (3) Last but indeed not least, His One and Only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, when I read a Passage of the Word Select (POWS) such as we find in Ezekiel 20:38, I can be somewhat puzzled and dazed by it.  I can readily see why God's prophets (such as Jeremiah, 'The Weeping prophet', or Ezekiel - who in POWS via his writing, we find him Interceding on the Exiles of Judah's behalf) lamented and were troubled by God's Message.  Yet as just noted, God's Graced us with a bit of a fuller Context of His Word than what Jeremiah and Ezekiel et al had available to them.

Here what the Lord Jesus Shares with us - overlay His Encouragement upon the backdrop of the challenges and tensions we see going on all around our globe.....

John 14:29 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."(Jesus said to them) I have Told you Now Before it happens, so That When It Does Happen you Will Believe."

Matthew 24:9-14English Standard Version (ESV)....“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations For My Name's Sake.  And Then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, The Love of many will grow cold.  BUT the one who Endures to The End Will Be Saved.  And This Gospel of The Kingdom Will Be Proclaimed Throughout the whole world As A Testimony to all nations, and Then The End Will Come."....

John 16:33 (ESV)/(emhasis added/jaj)...."(Jesus said to them) I have Told you These Things, so That In Me you May Have Peace.  In this world you Will Have trouble.  BUT Take HEART!  I Have OVERCOME the world."....

Now, Team, I am not saying put on our rose-colored glasses and say it is all going to be ok.  I have no doubt we have dark days still ahead.  BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth) I am saying that we do Have a Rock we Can Stand Upon that will Not Be shaken.  John 16:33 is one of His POWS I do Cling to, especially during the times of challenges we see unfolding before us.

Thus my Prayer for us today would be simply this - Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Mercy and Grace.  Father God, we Praise You for Your Forgiveness.  Holy Spirit Help us and Open the Eyes of our Hearts and Souls to See You and Focus on You even in the midst of the storms raging all around us.  Lord Jesus, I would also Pray that You Continue to Encourage and Empower us to Reflect Your Light of Love and Salvation.  Father God Please Continue to soften the Hearts of those who do Not Know You.  May Your Grace and Comfort be with those who mourn.  Strengthen us O Lord, to Be Your Hands and Feet.  Lord Jesus in Your Name we do Lift Up these Prayers.  Amen/Amen....jaj

Blessings to you and yours/jaj