Happy Are You

But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it (Matthew 13:16-17).

We truly live in a blessed time. We are permitted to see and understand spiritual truth that many generations before us were unable to see and understand. We have the Holy Spirit with us who gives us understanding of God’s Word, who opens our eyes to the plans and purposes of God, and to see God’s Kingdom at work among us.

Many prophets and righteous men longed to see the times of the Messiah. They looked to it as a time when the hopes of the world would be fulfilled, and when the righteous would be happy. Jesus said (John 8:56). Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. The Apostle Peter wrote (1 Peter 1:10-12), Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into. The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote concerning the Old Testament people of faith (Hebrews 11:13), These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Moses, David, Isaiah and the prophets all looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as the fulfillment of their desires and the end of the prophecies.

That which is always dearest to the hearts of all of God’s people is to witness the coming and advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. That Kingdom has come, but not in its fullness. We long for that Kingdom to be established on the earth when Jesus comes again. Until then, like the prophets and the Apostles, we wait patiently in faith for the time of His appearing, rejoicing in the fact we have a foretaste of that glory through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We truly are a blessed people!

“Thank You, Lord, for the promise of Your return. Thank You that through Your Holy Spirit we have seen and heard and understand Your Word and Your Kingdom, though only in part. We wait patiently, and continue to work diligently for Your return. May our work bring honor and glory to Your name, Amen.”

Pastor