Today's Word of Encouragement

THE CALMING WORD OF GOD
Monday, May 11, 2020

    Since the late 1960s and early 1970s there has been a shift in the attitude of Christians to one of longing for the return of Jesus. Prior to that time, you don’t find many sermons or Bible studies on Christ’s return, though it is mentioned occasionally. Study of the Book of Revelation, trying to discern the ‘signs of the times’, the rapture of the church, the coming Tribulation, the 2nd coming of Christ, etc., have been a near obsession among Christians since the ‘Jesus Movement’ - it’s unparalleled in church history. I believe the time is drawing very near when our Lord will return. I believe the Holy Spirit is preparing the church to leave.
    In the ‘Kaph’ (K) section of Psalm 119 (vv. 81-88), King David grows weary and his ‘eye dims’, with the prolonged strain of watching for the fulfilment of God’s promise to deliver him.

    My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, "When will You comfort me?" (vv. 81-82)

    He describes his condition as that of a wineskin in the smoke. Wineskins no longer in use were hung up in the rafters for storage. They would shrivel up, the leather would dry out, lose its suppleness and become blackened by the smoke till it would almost lose its original appearance. That’s how David felt. Because of the Lord’s delay in fulfilling His promises, he believed he was wasting away by the suffering and sorrow of life, wondering when the time would come when he would be delivered.

    Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth (v. 88).

    How does Scripture revive a person anxious over the delay in God’s promises? The Bible not only inspires, it instructs. While it reveals the promises and future plans of God to His people, it also encourages us to trust Him, to ‘wait’ upon Him, for His timing is always perfect. His is a living Word, not like any other book. It speaks not only to the mind, but also to the heart and spirit, calming the anxious heart, counseling the questioning mind, quickening the despairing spirit.
    While we anxiously say ‘Amen’ to Revelation 22:20, He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus; we must also calmly say ‘Amen’ to John’s counsel in 22:21, The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

“It won’t be long, soon we’ll be leaving here.
I won’t be long, we’ll be going home.
Count the years as months, count the months as weeks,
Count the weeks as days, any day now
We’ll be going home.”

Pastor Martin