We are entering a time when Christians are preparing to celebrate the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The general ideas that are being preached and talked about in Sunday School rooms and from the pulpits are how "mean" and how "awful" these religious bigots were. As mentioned in the previous blog, they refused to give credence to the miracles and good works that Jesus accomplished through the power of God. At every turn, they called for His ouster of every synagogue and some tried to kill Him at the very beginning of His ministry. Many a sermon has been preached and many lessons have been taught about the evil subtlety with which the 'religious' leaders tried but failed to catch Jesus at His words.
Do you remember hearing a sermon or a teaching series on how STUPID these religious bigots were? Well, you are about to. Plus, I'll give you something to think about as you travel through your own trying times.
The religious leaders, up to and including the high priest, were borderline incompetent. They were so fueled by their anger and jealousy that they could ONLY haphazardly put together a mockery of a trial. As a matter of fact, their accusations and testimonies were so-o-o-o weak and illegal, that the trial was only going down hill. All they needed were two witnesses to agree on ANY death-worthy claim by the high priest. Even though they paid witnesses to conjure up some lame testimony, they still could not get two of them to agree.
They were so incompetent, that it was up to Jesus, Himself to bring in the evidence to convict Himself, in their eyes, and bring about the cry for His crucifixion. Time was running out these bunglers and Jesus needed to die on the right day and the right hour.
It did not fully, fully dawn on me until yesterday. Jesus' enemies, and the enemies that we face, were in all actuality ONLY 'footstools.' (Psalm 110:1) Jesus could not have crucified Himself. He had to have someone to accuse Him and carry out the sentence. There were more than enough jealous people to carry out the will of God. (Remember that.) The angry, jealous bigots were ONLY puppets in God's hands. Did God make them bigots and make them crucify the Lord? Absolutely not. God left them to their anger and jealousy and let it boil all by itself. God doesn't create jealousy and anger. It is already here on this earth and it will accomplish the evil that the devil intends it to do ONLY as it suits the will of God.
Point to Ponder: Just as in Jesus' life, we have enemies that are stirred up because of satan's jealousy and anger. The intent of satan is to destroy the work that God is trying to accomplish in our lives. Keep that in mind as you are fought by 'religious' demons, also. (Sorry, that's all I can call them.) You come under attack in the market place and in the church by people fueled by anger and jealousy.
That is not an indication that you are out of the will of God. Just as in Jesus' case, He was doing EXACTLY what God told Him to do and He got into trouble for it. But, now think about it, God WORKED that trouble around to where the END of it brought glory to God. It brought glory to His Son also, the object of their spite. When all THEY wanted to do was bring Him shame, they were only puppets in God's hands to exalt the Son of God through what He suffered. (Plenty of scripture for that. Find it. It'll do you good to look it up.) GOD'S plan for Jesus far outweighed ANY plan that His enemies had. Plus, every plan that His enemies had only turned to His benefit when God got through with it.
His enemies were INDEED His footstool. And, so are yours. Just rejoice that God is working His will in your life and when He is finished, you will see that you needed those enemies after all. God will manifest His will in your life and the glory that He brings will far outweigh ANYTHING that your enemies have thrown at you. Pass this on to other enemies of the devil. They need it just like you did.
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