Yes, it's been a couple of months since I last posted. If you have followed many of the previous posts, you might remember that I have been praying for an unbridled revival. As a matter of fact, I have been praying for an all out move of God's Holy Spirit for close to eight years. God began getting me up at 4:30 a.m. and a couple of times at 3:30 a.m. just to pray and seek Him for revival. So, where is this revival and where is this mighty move of God? That's a good question. The only answer I can come up with is----it's coming.
I have had two of the hardest, darkest months I could ever remember. God seems so far away at times. There is no outward evidence of answered prayer. Have you ever wondered like I do---What is God doing?
Did you know that between the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, and the first book of the New Testament, Matthew was a long dry period of about four hundred years? No prophets prophesied, there were no open visions. There was no mighty move of God or even a small move of God. What was God doing?
Around 334 B.C., Alexander the Great began to conquer that part of the world. He took slaves of the cities and nations he conquered and made them soldiers. Since almost every place he conquered spoke a different language, he made all the countries learn to speak Greek. That way, he and his troops could easily communicate with the conquered nations. Around 264 B.C., the Romans began their conquest of the Mediterranean World. To better facilitate their ability to conquer and control these areas, they built roads. The original intent was to make their own progress to the conquered areas easier. They not only built them, but they maintained and guarded them. Keep in mind that the Roman rule did not end until around 450 A.D. That's a long time. I'll get back to that.
So, here's the picture of the land of Israel. They were conquered by two armies. Some of them were made slaves. They all had to pay taxes. They were no longer free. So, where was God all of this time? I am sure that Godly people prayed. I am sure that they were hurting and needed deliverance. Yet, for four hundred years, it seemed that heaven was shut up and God had gone on an extended vacation. Have you ever felt like that?
Here's the rest of the story. Just before He ascended, Jesus gave this command in Acts 1:8-But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Because of Alexander the Great, His disciples could easily spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everybody spoke Greek. Communication was no problem. Because of the Romans, they had easy access to travel. Remember, the Romans not only built them, but maintained and guarded them, also. The early Christians enjoyed four hundred years of safe travel to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. And the Romans thought that God's people were their slaves. No, No, No, No, No! On the contrary, the Romans did just what God wanted them to do. They thought they were conquerors but they were actually slaves to a Sovereign God. The Romans didn't have a plan. It was God's plan all along.
What was God doing during the silent years from Malachi to Matthew? He was busy getting the area ready for HIS PLAN. What was God doing when He let Joseph be taken as a slave to Egypt? He was busy getting Joseph and Egypt ready for HIS PLAN. What was God doing while the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt for four hundred years. He was busy making Canaan land fertile and prosperous for HIS PLAN that He had spoken to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
What is God doing when it's all quiet on the Heaven front? He's busy doing exactly what He said He would do. He hasn't forgotten any one. He hasn't forgotten His Word. Instead of looking at how bad it is now, let's set our hopes and dreams on His Word. Let's give Him praise in advance for what we KNOW He is working on for us right now. He's got a plan and it's a doozey. Pass this word along, will you?
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