Warriors Arise: June 16th, 2020
Luke 24:28-29 (NKJV) Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
Does that challenge your mind, "And He went in to stay with them"!? Do you agree that He will come stay with you, if you ask? Too many people, believers and non-believers respond, "Yes, I believe God wants to be with us." but not with me. Meaning, sure, He will be there for others but not for me. But nothing could be farther from the truth; because He is there for others, you can be assured He will be there for you.
When Scott and I led a youth group in Texas, I facilitated a girl's small group Bible study. We spent time together outside of our study. I went to their games and work places. They came over to my house and hung out. Our door was open to any of our youth to come and hang out. One particular girl would come over, call, chat, and spend time with us. The other girls said, "You like her better."
I responded, "What makes you think that?"
They said, "You two spend a lot of time together."
To which I shared, "Yes, we do, but the same door she walks through has always been open to you. They same number she calls me is the same number for you."
The point is, she took the time to develop our relationship outside of our small group Bible study. They were off doing their own thing, even though I went to all of their events, the others did not engage in a relationship with me the same. This is very similar to our relationship with God. He comes and joins us on our walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, wherever you are going. He listens and tries to teach us. Then when we reach our destination we fail to constrain Him. We go do our thing, because we don't have any more time to fit God in. So, we leave Him outside while we go on with our regularly schedules lives. These two disciples ask Jesus to join them after they reached their destination.
These two disciples were not perfect. Jesus called them foolish and slow of heart to believe. Yet, here is Jesus, walking with them. Out of all the disciples heading home, trying to work things out, why was Jesus walking with these two disciples? Why not His close group, the 11, or at least His inner circle of Peter, James and John? Why not His closest friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha? Why was Jesus walking with these two disciples who He is obviously irritated with, because they are foolish and slow of heart to believe?
The Bible tells us Jesus did only what He saw His Father doing. Do you think it still applies "after" His resurrection? God saw the potential in these two men. Maybe what they needed most was to be hand selected by God to have a personal encounter and tutoring by Jesus Himself. I can't wait to hear the rest of their story when I get to heaven. I hope Biblical history is all on video with God narrating. The best OmniMax ever!
God put before these two disciples an opportunity, a God-opportunity. Jesus finds them on the road, listens to their perception of what happened in the last several days, but they do not say they believe the testimony of the women about angels sending a message to the disciples that He is alive, and will meet you in Galilee." Jesus is pretty bothered. This is why He calls them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe...!" They were thoroughly rebuked. But God had His son personally tutor these two disciples about Moses and the Prophets. God set these two men up for a God-opportunity. They were selected for a meeting with Jesus. Jesus taught them and then was headed further on. But they constrained Him with three words! "Abide with us". Scripture continues, "and He went in to stay with them."
We are in a world-wide chaos, a lot like what happened in Jerusalem before and after Jesus' crucifixion. God will give people the opportunity to know Him. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ so that none would perish. It is NOT God's plan for people to go to hell. He created hell for the angels who rebelled against Him in heaven. Hell was NOT created for people. In our time of world-wide crisis, I have no doubt God is reaching out to His people all over the world. He may be sending messenger angels, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, believers, even go Himself. God wants His people to rise above, to shine the light of His truth in this time of darkness. When He meets with them, teaching them of His truth, I pray they will call out after Him, "Abide with me." Because when they do, He will stay with them.
Father, I thank your not giving up on me! I thank you for continuing to share Your truth, unfold the wisdom in Scripture for my life. I thank you for reaching out to me and opening my heart to receive Jesus and my mind to embrace Your Word. I ask for You to come and seek out those who are on-their-way. Some are going but do not have a direction. Others are caught up in the spider's web of media, the twisting of lies and unable to know Your truth. I ask for You to come and free Your people from the spider's web. The enemy has wrapped them up in his lies. I pray for Your truth to be made known. I pray for their eyes to be opened to see Who has come to set them free. I pray they will call out to You and make Jesus their Lord and Savior. I ask for Your Word to reverberate through every cell in their body and every thought running through their mind. I ask for You to come and breath life into the depth of their beings. I ask for You to make known You ways, how Your love is available to all. I ask for each one to soak in Your presence and be made whole. I ask for each one to rest in Your peace as the worries of this world fade away in Jesus' name. I ask for their minds to be open to following all You have before each one. I ask for boldness to testify of Your goodness, how You spoke to them. I pray for each one to have courage to share their God-opportunity with the world. I pray for the fire of revival to come in Jesus' name. I ask for each one to call out to You, "Abide with me" and for You to stay with them in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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