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Author: Rob Collins
Possess the Promise
The desert is a place where things die! Some things have to die before you possess what you desire!
The children of Israel had to be delivered from Egypt (place of bondage). But, they had to die in the desert (place of letting go of the past), before they could ever dominate in the promised land (place of taking new ground).
There’s always a sequence when it comes to destiny. The children of Israel left Egypt, but they wandered in the desert before they possessed the original plan of the promised land. I’m seeing that the desert is the most significant place on your way to a destiny or in obtaining the promised things of God.
1. The children of Israel FLED Egypt.
2. They DWELT in the desert.
3. They POSSESSED the promised land.
@robalancollins: Gods plan was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. The desert was necessary so that Egypt’s mindset, (a place bondage) wouldn’t be brought in to the promise land.
The children of Israel was under bondage, what was their bondage? Doing the same thing everyday, under a burden of bondage.
Don’t Stop Believing!
Faith Looks Foolish Until the Promise Promised, Manifests.
- Abraham and Sarah being promised a child in old age.
- Noah building an ark with no rain falling from the sky.
- Moses stretching his rod over the Red Sea.
- The Children of Israel marching around the walls of Jericho Seven times.
- David releasing a stone from a slingshot to kill a giant.
- Elijah praying for rain and sending his servant to the sea 7 times to look for a cloud.
- Mary saying, “Nevertheless Lord, at your Word”, in regards to being Jesus mother.
- The little lad giving his lunch to the disciples.
- The blind man who wiped mud in his eyes.
- The disciples casting their net on the other side of the boat for a catch.
- The woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of His garment.
- Jesus, surrendering His life, dying on a cross, being wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of it.
#DON’TSTOPBELIEVING!
Through It
You may have been ‘through it’ but you don’t have to smell like it, sound like it or look like it! Maybe you’ve been through: divorce, a bad home life, a difficult marriage, betrayal, a bad church history, or a difficult work setting, but you don’t have to smell like, sound like it or look like it. Now, let me explain through these biblical stories what I mean by ‘smelling like it’, ‘sounding like it’ or ‘looking like it.’
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went through the fire, the only thing that burnt up was what bound them. And, what bound them was put on by man! What you go through is not meant to destroy you, it’s meant to develop. What you go through doesn’t define you. What you learn from what you go through and how you respond to what you go through is what actually defines you. Don’t just go through it, grow through it!
Joseph who was thrown in a pit by his brothers, lied about at Potiphar’s house by Potiphar’s wife and forgotten about in prison after prophesying to Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Joseph experienced many setbacks and difficulties, but remarkably, after going through all of these scenarios, he didn’t smell like, sound like or look like: the pit, Potiphar’s house or the prison. Nevertheless, when he had finally obtained the position of the prime minister at the palace, his brothers came to him asking for help and fearing for their lives. His brothers in which had started the entire process, the process of the pit, Potiphar’s house and prison. But, all of these setbacks were really a setup that ultimately led Joseph to the palace and put him in a position over the stewardship over prosperity, which in turn was a confirmation of his promise. Anyway, Joseph was now promoted to a position that would allow him to bless those that had caused him these difficulties. Joseph is now in the palace facing his brothers who are asking for help and he looks at them and says, “Do not fear, I’m not God, and what you meant for harm against me today, God is going to turn it around and use it for your good. Remember, when you are going through a difficult situation, not everything that happens is good, but God will work all things for your good. Joseph had grown through, what he had gone through!
Paul and Silas had been preaching Christ and baptizing believers, going through town to a prayer meeting they encountered a woman who had a python spirit, she followed them and continually declared, “these are men of God who will tell you how to be saved.” Nevertheless, she annoyed Paul, so he cast the spirit of Python out of her, and when he did, her master turned them into the authorities because she was no longer of worth to them. Paul and Silas were then prosecuted, beaten publicly, and thrown in prison, after bound in stocks hand and foot. However, they decided to pray and praise, instead of pouting or complaining. What they chose to do, affected everyone. All of the prisoners chains were loosed and every prison door was opened because of the earthquake that was experienced, as Paul and Silas prayed and praised. They didn’t allow what had happened to them, dictate their response. They rose above what had happened and sang praises to God and prayed. As a result, the Philippian jailer was saved, and his household. Maybe what you’re going through isn’t just about you. Anyway, here’s what I want you to see, Paul and Silas didn’t smell like, look like or sound like misfortune. He and Silas prayed and praised and when the prison doors opened and their chains fell off, they and all of the prisoners stayed in their cells and didn’t move. When the prison guard called for a light and was about to take his life because he presumed the prisoners had fled, Paul called with a loud voice and said, “Do yourself no harm!” Paul and Silas didn’t just go through it – they grew through it!
There will be times in life when you will experience misfortunate and less than desirable seasons of life. Nonetheless, you don’t have to smell like it, look like it or sound like it. And, you won’t, if you grow through, what you’re going through.
cOVERed
cOVERed
When you know you are cOVERed by God’s love, mercy and grace it will help you get over what you’re going through.
Being cOVERed is an Eternal promise that becomes an Internal reality that doesn’t change according to External circumstances.
All of Gods promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The word is eternal and establishes Gods promises – Jesus is the Word and He fulfilled and continues to establish God’s promises. He is the Word and He is eternal – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever more! Therefore, being covered by Gods FAITHFULNESS, FAVOR and FORGIVENESS are Eternal promises that are established by God and fulfilled through Jesus, these promises then become an Internal reality that doesn’t change according to External circumstances. The Eternal promise of God cOVERing us in our mother’s womb is established in Psalm 139, and this promise doesn’t change, because God has not changed His mind! His promises are eternal and established in Christ!
So, when I know I’m covered it’s an Internal knowing of an Eternal promise that says Gods got this, therefore I can get over whatever it is that I’m going through! And, External circumstances don’t determine the outcome, because what I know Internally is established Eternally and is not dictated Externally. When you learn to walk in what you KNOW, you will get OVER what you can’t see. When you know you are covered it will help you get over what you’re going through.
The Bible is Full of Pictures of the Word cOVERed or Being cOVERed:
- Jesus with Jerusalem (like a hen cOVERs her chickens with her feathers)
- Adam and Eve cOVERed themselves with fig leaves
- Noah sons cOVERed his nakedness
- Elijah cOVERed Elisha with his mantle
- Samuel cOVERed with his robe from Hannah to minister in the Temple
- Children of Israel cOVERed the doorposts of their homes with the blood of the lamb
- David cOVERed with Saul’s armor
- Lazarus cOVERed in clothes strips of linen and cloth on his face
- Jesus in (wrapped) cOVERed in swaddling clothes
- Jesus cOVERed in grave clothes
I Want You to Know You Are cOVERed by:
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- God’s Faithfulness
- God’s Favor
- God’s Forgiveness
- God’s Faithfulness
- Being cOVERED by God’s FAITHFULNESS will remind you of what you already know.When I think about being cOVERed by faithfulness, I think about God Himself who is and was and is to come. He is faithful, righteous, Holy and just. The One Who created the heavens and earth. The One who stood out on nothing and created everything. The One who sits on His throne in Heaven. The One who is ever present and always concerned, but who is never taken by surprise or wondering what to do next. The One who was the fire by night and a pillar by day. The One who was the fourth man walking in the fire. The One who parted the Red Sea. The One who will make a way where there is no way. The One who makes the cooked places straight. The One who creates streams in the desert places. The Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The One who was, and is and is to come.The One who is all powerful and all knowing, the One who is complete and lacking nothing! The One who saves, heals and delivers! The One who establishes our end from the beginning and our beginning from our end. The One who remains faithful, even when we are faithless! -II Timothy 2:13 | Lamentations 3:23
- Being cOVERed by God’s FAVOR Will Enable You to See Your Setback As a Setup.When I think about being cOVERed by favor, I think of Joseph – because Joseph was able to get over what he was going through. He was able to get over being thrown in a pit, he was able to get over being lied about at Potiphar’s house, and he was able to get over being forgotten about in prison. And, he had favor in every situation! -Genesis 50:20 | Romans 8:28
- Being cOVERed by God’s FORGIVENESS Will Get You Past Your PastWhen I think about being cOVERed by forgiveness, I think of the original sin in the beginning and what Adam and Eve did. They covered themselves. Genesis 3:7 tells us that Adam Eve were naked and afraid, so they sewed together fig leaves and covered themselves. They tried to do for themselves, what only God could do. However, Genesis 3:20 tells us that God made for them tunics of skin and clothed them. Thus, introducing His idea to make a way for us to be covered by Him, through Christ. Only God can do that, we can’t do it for ourselves. There are so many pictures and metaphors in regards to penitence and forgiveness and they all ultimately point to Christ being the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sin. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God id eternal life through Jesus Christ. With this in mind, think about the children of Israel covering their doorposts with the blood of the Lamb defeating the death angel, that had to passover. Also, think about the Father and the prodigal son. The Father ran to the son and covered him with a robe, placed a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, all before he was ever clean. God clothes us in righteous and cleans us as we continue to grow in Him. And finally, think about Jesus being clothed in grave clothes and coming forward victorious! Life defeated death and the victory over sin was ultimately and once and for all, defeated!
Now, we’ve talked about being cOVERed by: God’s faithfulness, God’s favor and God’s forgiveness. And, these are all good things to be cOVERed in and to be cOVERed by. They are also attributes in which we can find peace, hope and strength. But, I believe a person can also be cOVERed by the wrong things as well, things that you may have allowed others to put on you or maybe even things that you have believed for yourself and by default, you’ve chosen to wear.
Things Like:
- Doubt
- Fear
- Unworthiness
- Guilt
- Shame
- Peoples opinions
- Perceptions
They tried to put Saul’s armor on David. They put grave clothes on Jesus, who was life. And, they put cloth strips on Lazarus and cloth around his eyes. But, what they had put on him to prepare his body for death had to come off. When Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth!” He came forth bound hand and foot, with his eyes covered. What went on one way, had to come off the opposite way. Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go!”
What is it that you have allowed yourself to be cOVEred with? What is it that you are bound by that you need to be set free from? Remember, what you conceal God can’t heal. Nonetheless, what you reveal, God can heal. The Lord wants to cOVER you in His mercy, grace and peace. What you uncOVER, God will cOVER with His peace, power and strength, and when you know you are cOVERed, it will help you get over what you are going through!
Weary?
Last night right before I fell to sleep I said to Kelly, “I’m tired.” To which she said, “That’s good, maybe you’ll sleep well tonight.” What she meant was, it’s a good thing to be tired, since you’re in bed and ready to go to sleep. But, what I meant was I was tired of the way things are. I am tired of not knowing. I’m tired of believing and not seeing results. I’m tired of not having money. I’m tired of not having our own house. I’m tired of the daily routines that life sometimes demands. I’m tired of not knowing who my true friends really are. I’m tired of trying and exploring everything I know to do and to no avail. I’m tired of COVID and masks. I’m tired of not knowing what all of this even means or where it will all end. I’m tired of political agendas and social injustice and societal unrest. I’m tired of issues and acts that are a defilement and gross perversion being ok. I’m tired!
Now, as you can see, this may be the most vulnerable post I’ve ever written and posted and, in many ways it is somewhat therapeutic. However, I’m sure that there are people reading this that are tired too. When you’re tired it changes everything. It changes your mood and your perspective. It can even diminish your faith and make things appear bigger and worse than they truly are. I remember when the girls were little and they would get tired, nothing would satisfy them, until they found rest. They would become fussy and unsettled and someone would always say, “What’s wrong.” And Kelly and I would always answer, “They’re just tired.” Nonetheless, they always found comfort and rest on our lap or by laying on our shoulder. I wonder what would happen if we could find comfort and rest in coming to our Heavenly Father when we are tired, weary, or worn. What if we found rest in Him alone. Not in answered prayers, finances, homes, retirement, careers or secured futures, not in our agenda being fulfilled or not even knowing what the future holds, but in Him alone. As a side note, a meme I created a year ago came up in my Facebook memories today, thats right, the morning after I told Kelly last night, I’m tired. It was the scripture from Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I think it was a divine reminder that when I come to Him, I can find rest. And, I want to remind you, that when you come to Him, you can find rest also.
However, I’m also learning that true rest doesn’t usually come from more sleep. Actually, the weariness I’m referring to is more about fatigue that is caused from frustration, not from a lack of sleep. It’s being drained of energy and being worn down because of external circumstances or, from internal perceptions that have created disappointments. In other words, my being tired is derived form external scenarios and dilemmas. With that being said, there has to be a peace that’s internal that empowers us to not grow weary in well doing. This internal peace can only be anchored by the Word of God and given through the Holy Spirit. I’ve been so fatigued with frustration that I couldn’t sleep or find rest. I don’t believe that this is God’s plan or His best for us, His children. Psalm one hundred twenty seven verse two, tells us that we shouldn’t toil in vain and that He gives His beloved rest. And, in the New Testament it records Jesus in a boat during a storm that was so bad, the disciples, whom several of them were fisherman, fisherman that were used to boats, water and storms, thought they were going to die, while Jesus was asleep resting.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” This scripture is a scripture of promise, but the promise is contingent upon what I do. He will keep me in perfect peace if my mind is *stayed (*to lean or lay upon, to lean against, to rest upon) on Him, because I trust in Him. So, I will have peace when my mind is resting upon who He is, and I will have peace and rest upon who He is, because I trust in Him. We are to come to Him, find rest in Him, and trust Him. This is where true rest can be found for a tired, weary and worn soul.
In closing I want to leave you with this scripture:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Fruitful
When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored. – John 15:8
A seed contains within in it, the ability to reproduce itself through the law of reproduction and multiplication.
A seed has the ability to become more and produce life.
A seed is the beginning of all things, and the Word of God is a seed.
A seed has to break through the restrictive confines of the soil to produce life.
It’s time for you to break through the restrictions that confine you, so you can produce life and bear much fruit.
Pray this prayer:
“Lord help me to bear fruit in my life. May I stay connected to you in a way that sustains and nourishes me, so that I will become healthy and whole, that I may bear fruit that glorifies you and benefits others.” In Jesus name, Amen.