In That Moment Something Changes

Warriors Arise: August 1st, 2020

John 20:28 (NKJV) And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Is this how you expected Thomas to respond when Jesus came? Notice the exclamation point after he acknowledged Jesus. He doesn't call Him Jesus or Rabbi. He calls Him, "My Lord and my God!" Something changed in that moment.

How we think we will respond and how we actually respond are two different things when it comes to being in the presence of the Lord our God. Thomas had said with all kinds of vigor the ultimatum, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (verse 25) But then when Jesus does appear eight days later, Thomas has a very different response.

There are many people who know about Jesus. They could tell you a few facts. Mary was His mother; people tried to kill Him; He taught good things to people; He healed a lot of people; and then they killed Him on a cross. From here they might get a little sketchy, because it seems unbelievable to say, "He rose from the dead." But they believe that somehow this all gets them to heaven. Even with Christianity many do not really want to search out the truth. They don't really want to engage in a discipleship, relationship with God. It takes effort and time to build a relationship, to really get to know God.

For those who will seek to know God, to be a student of His ways, an ambassador of the Gospel, a teacher of His Word, a warrior to thwart the plans of satan, a child imitating their Father, something changes when they embrace the fullness of the salvation Jesus offers.

We have been praying together since April 1st. We have been praying for God to meet with those infected with COVID-19, comfort those who have lost, stand with those defending their businesses, homes, and families during the riots, asking God to reveal the truth to those trapped in the middle of a whirlwind of lies created by the media, declaring kingdom of heaven come, and will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven. People all over the world need a change when God steps into the room.

Thomas got more than what he was asking for. His eyes were opened and He no longer called the man standing before Him, Jesus or Rabbi. He called him, my Lord and my God. In that moment something changed for Thomas. His eyes were opened, His mind was receptive to the miracle. What God the Father had spoken over Jesus at His baptism now became evident to Thomas. Jesus is not just another man; He is Lord. He is God.

Thomas skips the declarations, "Now, I believe. Now I know You are alive. Now I know You are the Messiah." Because now it is not about who Jesus' identity being revealed, it is in a moment something changed. Thomas declares, "My Lord and my God."

At this moment, when Thomas makes the declaration, Jesus became Lord in Thomas' life. Lord means Jesus is the supreme authority in Thomas' life and it implies that Thomas declared Jesus as his master. In that moment, Thomas knew who Jesus was and he knew his place. He was not over Jesus, demanding He show him His scars. He was not equal to Jesus, even though Jesus had called him His friend and released him to do the the same miracles. No, in that moment, Thomas knew his place and He declared Jesus His Lord.

Thomas continues with his declaration to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" Thomas recognized Jesus as Lord, one He will serve wholeheartedly. He also recognized Jesus as Divine. Jesus is not just to be honored and served as Lord but He is to be seen as One who is over all that ever was, is , and will ever be. Thomas knows Jesus is God the Son.

In that moment something changed for Thomas. Many people can recognize Jesus as Lord and God, but that doesn't mean one has embraced Jesus as their Lord or as their God. This can be scary to consider when reading the following passage of Scripture.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

I do not want to hear when I get to heaven, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" Yes, we can prophesy in the name of Jesus, yes, we can cast out demons in the name of Jesus and do many other wonders in the name of Jesus. God used pagan kings to accomplish His will. He used the Chief Priest to do His will. God can use unbelievers. He can use people who know Him but do not give Him the place as Lord in their lives. He can release His power through people who do not recognize Him as God. There are numerous examples in the Bible. They were given the same opportunity as Thomas. When they saw God working on their behalf did they allow something to change them on the inside.

There comes a time when we get our moment with God and something needs to change. Jesus has to be more than just our way to heaven. And God has to be more than the Creator of our world. There comes a time when Jesus appears to us and draws us close to Him. He wants to be more in our lives on a daily basis. He wants us to operate in the fullness of what He died to give each one of us. He wants us to torment the tormentor. He wants us to be the head and not the tail; no longer the victim but the victor; no longer the pauper but the prince and princess; no longer an orphan but adopted as God's very on child; no longer the over come but the overcomer. In the moment, when Jesus comes to us, we have an opportunity to live in the fullness of what God dreamed for us as we declare Jesus as "my" Lord and "my" God. Own your relationship with Jesus when you are in that moment; because something is about to change in your life.

Father, I ask for You to visit Your people. I ask for each one of us to be ready to embrace Jesus and all He died to give each one of us. I pray we would be ready to make Jesus, "my" Lord. I pray we would pronounce Jesus as "my" God. We need a change. In Your presence is where we have the opportunity to recognize You in all Your glory. In Your presence, we can see through all the confusion this world brings and we can think with a sound mind. In Your presence, we are strengthened to overcome the enemy. In Your presence, we are made whole and healed. In Your presence, worry and anxiety melt away and fullness of joy is restored. In Your presence, we know You are Lord. In Your presence, we know You are God. I pray people would be ready for a visitation from You and they will declare Jesus is "my" Lord and "my" God. In that moment, I pray for lives to become all You dreamed they would be 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, riots, and lies. 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.