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I KNOW SUFFERING IS EXHAUSTING AND PAIN HURTS! That is why it is called pain and suffering. If there were an escape a person of great wisdom and insight would have done it already!

By Mary Lindow

SUFFERING AND SORROW ARE A PART OF LIFE

Knowing this, however, doesn’t make it any easier to cope when you find yourself in the midst of the deepest, darkest trials of faith, and mentally anguish and strain.

Don’t you wish Christianity could make you exempt from suffering? That would be great, but as most of us have learned, following our faith doesn’t give us a free ride.

We catch as much trouble as unbelievers—often more.

The difference, of course, is that we can turn to Jesus when things go wrong. Unbelievers might argue that we’re only turning to our imagination, but we know better.

At some time in your life, however, suffering will hit you so hard that you won’t be able to do any of those things, and that dark time will probably visit you more than once.

“Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright,

for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”

Psalm 112:4

 

WE ALL WANT THINGS WE DON’T GET.

Maybe it’s a person you’re sure would make a perfect spouse, and the relationship crumbles apart. Maybe it’s a better job or promotion, and you don’t make the cut. Or it might be a goal you poured your time and energy into, and it doesn’t come to pass or others sabotage it all.
All of us have prayed for the recovery of loved ones who were ill, but they died anyway.

It takes real spiritual maturity to stay faithful when things go wrong, but severing our relationship with God punishes us, not him. It’s self-destructive behavior that can put us on the path to a miserable life. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) teaches us that God always wants us to come back to him.

Whether your problem is discouragement, illness or aging, sometimes all you have left is Jesus.

When you’re angry and bitter, you can still cling to Jesus in the midst of your tears. You can grab onto him and refuse to let go until he brings you through it. You’ll find, to your surprise that he holds on to you even tighter than you hold on to him.

 

JESUS UNDERSTANDS SORROW

He knows about being hurt. He remembers the terrible moment on the cross when his Father was forced to abandon him, because he was filthy from taking on our sins. Jesus won’t let you go.

And as you age and start down the path from this life to the next, Jesus will take your hand to guide you. He appreciates all that you have done for him through the years, but what he has always wanted most is your love.

So there you are in the middle of one of life’s train-wrecks-dazed, wounded, wondering what shoe-or bomb-will be dropping next, and up walks Job’s comforters.

We all remember Job from the Bible. A rich, powerful man, a great father and good in every way was Job.

Then, in a series of overlapping upheavals, he lost everything and everybody except his wife-who turned out to be a whole lot less than sympathetic in her changed status.

Battered Job ends up sitting alone on a pile of dirt, scratching his boil-covered body with some broken pottery.

 

WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH POOR JOB.

Life drags us through some tough times of loss that make us feel every bit like Job. Caught in a vortex of pain, and wondering if we’ll ever make it to safety.

And, boy, do we recognize Job’s so-called friends who showed up to by all accounts offer support and comfort. As they sat with Job in his misery, they took turns playing a self-centered, self-righteous, can-you-top-this game of knowing for certain that every bit of Job ‘s disaster had to be his own fault or a lack of trust in God. They weren’t sure how or why because Job seemed so decent, but deep down, they insisted, he just couldn’t be all he pretended to be.

 

THIS IS FAMILIAR TERRITORY

You get fired, and friends smirk knowingly when you try to explain the political nature of the event. Your child gets into difficulty-well; you know the kind of comfort you’ll get from friends about that. (It probably started sometime during potty training.)

Yet others try to “help” you with what I call “prayer lecturing.” While praying “for and with you” they let you (and God) know just how lucky you should be to even have running water, had a meal that day and more! Not really comforting in any way, and very very short on compassion.

Yet, from the story, it’s clear that Job was completely innocent.

Dreadful things do happen to completely innocent people, good people.
Because of their opinion of Job’s guilt, history has bestowed his friends- (and their current replicas) – the label, “Job’s comforters.”
So-called friends who add to a suffering person’s anguish by piling on false charges of blame and guilt and harsh reprimand for daring to show sadness or agony.

You may never have met anybody like Job, but you’ve met his comforters on more than one occasion. They seem to be everywhere.

 

WE CAN CHARGE SOME OF IT OFF TO JEALOUSY

Job had everything a person could dream of wanting-and then some-so jealousy was never more than a stone’s throw away. The green-eyed monster is a little more subtle with people living everyday, typical lives, but jealousy doesn’t need much ground to take root and grow with vigor.

 

WE DON’T WANT TO ADMIT BAD THINGS MAY HAPPEN TO US!

If bad things happen to people who don’t deserve them, they could happen to anybody, including me. If I don’t want bad things to happen to me, (who does?), I have to persuade myself and everybody around me that the victim’s actions caused the problem. If blame can be assigned, then I’ll be safe as long as I’m good.

In other words, if I can claim that the cause of your problem is something you do that I don’t do, then what happened to you can’t happen to me. There is, of course, no logic to this, but it brings some shaky comfort to frightened hearts.
We see this thinking at work when people stare numbly at adversity and ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” Sometimes the answer is, “nothing.”

 

HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF "WHY ME?"

And it doesn’t have to be bad; you could be excited from something wonderful. Most often then not, I ask myself this after something I am looking forward to goes wrong.

Even at times when something goes wrong I lay awake at night and my thoughts wonder to what previously occurred. I am sure everyone does it at times, wishing for another try or chance.

You may lay awake thinking about your suffering, part of life’s suffering is misery’s shadow persisting/hanging on; not only do you suffer but you have to think about suffering.

I can’t prove this with statistics or find it any book I know of, yet I would say that more people either come to the faith or fall away because of this reason above all; the disturbance of suffering.

YOU SEE GOD USES TIMES OF SUFFERING…

...TO TEACH AND GROW US.

If you allow yourself to recount your sufferings, did you not learn more about faith while suffering then any other time?
 It has been said that; “Blessings are God’s whispers, he speaks in our conscience, but shouts to us in our suffering.”

“O my Comforter in sorrow,

My heart is faint within me.”

Jeremiah 8:18

Suffering becomes the only way to realize our hollow spiritual self. Pain is unmasked, and every person knows when something is not right when they are hurting. Pain insists upon being attended to.

So when you travel down this line of thought you come to the idea, why do I or someone else suffer when others don’t?

 

I KNOW SUFFERING IS EXHAUSTING AND PAIN HURTS

That is why it is called pain and suffering. If there were an escape a person of great wisdom and insight would have done it already. Yet Discipleship demands such trials to compel us towards renewal.

Read Hebrews 2:10

“God, for whom and through whom everything was made,

chose to bring many children into glory.

And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering,

a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

The real question is what to do when life has just punched us a good one, and Job’s comforters show up at our door.

Nobody says we have to let them in.

And certainly nobody says we have to entertain them.

And, most positively, nobody says we have to believe them.

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,

So also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
2 Corinthians 1:5

We can sort out the who’s-to-blame-for-what after we get some solid ground under our feet and a little energy back into our lives.

But we still won’t want Job’s comforters anywhere around us…

...We will want people who care.

"Compassion"

To me not to be kind
 is evil of the mind.

No need to pray or preach,

Let us our children teach
 with every fond caress,

Pity and gentleness:

So in the end may we
God’s Kingdom cause to be.

Author - R.W. Service

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Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Blog Materials.

THANK YOU!

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UTTERLY HOPELESS UPSIDE DOWN WORLD?

F E A R   IS   A   L I A R !   HOPE IS A FORTRESS!

 

Mary Lindow

 

DO YOU FEEL AS IF THINGS ARE UTTERLY HOPELESS

AND COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN RIGHT NOW?

Maybe you have you been in that scary place before. Most people, if they are being transparent and honest will admit to times of experiencing hopelessness and feeling alone and afraid.

 

Friend.

You aren’t without hope,

You aren’t hopeless,

But you ARE helpless!

 

God has allowed this time and position of helplessness and complete dependency on Him, and you are helpless to help yourself.

 

We struggle to gain back some measure of control over our lives when this pressure is upon us, but our personal pride (that we didn’t even know that we had) is being crushed, and the only thing for us to do is to surrender!

 

NOW YOU MAY FEEL HOPELESS, BUT REALLY…

…IT’S THE CONDITION OF HELPLESSNESS THAT IS CAUSING YOU PAIN.

God wants you completely dependent on Him, and He will keep you a “prisoner of hope” until you are.

 

OH HOW WEARY YOU ARE OF THE AWFUL REFINER’S FLAME AND THAT SEEMINGLY ENDLESS TWEAKING OF YOUR ATTITUDE!

“Okay, God, you can stop now!" you scream.

But He doesn't stop.

 

You're caught in a prison of hope and He will not let you out until He is finished with what He began in you.

 

There are times during the process of pursuing heartfelt dreams and callings in life that you might feel that your "hope" seems to have been locked up in a prison. You can't seem to make your dreams come true, and yet, you find it impossible to stop believing in them!

 

YOU CAN'T GO FORWARD ANY FASTER THAN GOD WILL LET YOU,

and yet, you sure don't want to return to where you once were before you were overshadowed and given a "life vision" with a promise from God!

 

GOD JUST WILL NOT LET YOU GIVE UP!

During this time you might feel like saying,

"Okay God, this is enough! I don't want to hope anymore!

I am tired of being like an egg in an incubator with this promise!

I want out of this prison of hope!"

 

IT'S DURING THIS TIME THAT YOUR DREAMS FEEL SO VERY REAL TO YOU,

YET TO OTHERS THEY DON'T!

There is a big conflict between what you discern in the Spirit and what appears to be moving so slowly in the natural, and that grates at our souls!

We feel like we are on a Ferris wheel.

You have your “up times” when you can see your dream's fulfillment far into the future, but you also have your “down times” when you can't see anything and everything seems to have crashed into a messy heap.

 

YOU THINK TO YOURSELF,

“AM I CRAZY TO THINK THAT GOD COULD USE ME? NOW?

IN THIS TIME?"

The enemy comes in like a rushing flood and you begin to doubt, causing anguish to your soul.

 

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN GOD IS DOING HIS GREATEST WORK IN YOU!

This is when the refining process REALLY hurts, because He is getting down to the very core of your soul, to the deep regions of your heart.

 

HE IS DEVELOPING THINGS IN YOU

THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU LACKED.

THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU NEEDED.

 

You think, "Okey Dokey God, this is deep enough!"

But, every builder knows you must dig down deep to lay a proper foundation first, before you start to build upward. And the greater the height of the structure, the deeper the foundation must be.

 

YOUR FORTRESS OR PLACE OF REFUGE IS TRUSTING IN A LOVING GOD.

Trusting Him in spite of all the reasoning of your mind, in spite of the circumstances that surround you.

 

YOU WERE CONTENT TO GIVE GOD CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE UNTIL HE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE, YOU DIDN’T LIKE.

You were happy to surrender all to Him, until He decided to give your promotion to someone else.

 

You believe in His sovereignty, until His sovereign will conflicts with, your will.

Then you are sure He has made a mistake!

 

You want to run from Him, but He is your refuge.

How do you run from your refuge? How do you run from the only one who really loves you or understands you?

The answer is . . . you don't.

 

SO, RETURN, MY FRIEND, TO YOUR FORTRESS,

AND REMAIN A PRISONER UNTIL HE IS DONE WITH YOU - UNTIL HE DECIDES THAT YOU ARE READY FOR ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU.

 

Zechariah 9:12 says,

“Return to your fortress! Yes!

You prisoners who have hope!

Today I declare that I will return double what has been taken from you."

 

PROPHETIC WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

 

The Spirit of God says,

“Even now I announce to you that not only will I restore to you all that has been taken from you, but I will give you double for all the trouble you have endured."

 

He says, "Don't stop now . . .

…Keep trusting me, because I can see your future and it is very blessed.

 

Keep walking with me and keep trusting in me and I will give you rest."

 

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened,

And I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

 

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Thank You!

Copyright © 2021

"THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow


www.marylindow.podbean.com

  www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

 

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

For many weeks now, just as I was about to fall into a good deep sleep, I have heard in my spirit the words, “The Winter of our Malcontent”. Trying to reconcile those words in my own thinking, I would then say to myself, “You mean the winter of our discontent don’t you?" (I was thinking about the fact that Shakespeare wrote this and put into print in Richard III,1594.)

Again and again the same event would take place until I was made aware of what the Lord would have me write and share with those - who may have ears to hear. For you see, the subject can be one that many FEAR.

Malcontent; definition

Disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, frustrated, unfulfilled; disquieted, disturbed, perturbed, upset; dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent

THE WRINGING OF HANDS AND HEART

For some, it is easier to simply live in a shell of denial or self concocted false spiritual bliss than to look soberly and head on at the turmoil and drama that the world is rapidly spinning and bobbing in.

It will not easily or wishfully go away, and at this time we are and will be, facing severe repercussions for wicked choices made by governments, banking systems and yes religious institutions.

All three can do good things, but many currently have chosen the ways of corruption, selfish ambition, deceptive story telling and above all, the giving away of their heart and minds to the god of this world. A god who traps its victims with promises of greater power, influence, and an adoring mass of lesser gifted humans who are expected to give homage without asking questions.

These pressures and practices can tear at the soul of the discerning hearts who see more than the handwriting on the wall.  They know, regardless of a solid stance of Faith in Gods providence and care - that something is very very wrong and, it is escalating.

THE FEAR AND HOLLOW ACHE WITHIN YOUR HEART 

Many are panicking and poring over every website and news bulletin to see if there are falsities that they can catch and prove in the wrong, or truths that they can exploit. Neither of these will help.

And, the fear mongers believe that we all must be totally obsessed and baptized in fear by pouring it out to their audiences.

They will feed the panic and give power to the spirit of terror that is looming large and with insidious precision.

Where do apparent Bible believers get reliable information to nourish their fears? From you and me. We do it to each other all the time.

Why do we deliver information to our brother or sister that will feed his or her fears?

THE FIRST CAUSE OF FEAR IS THE FEAR OF LOSING PLAYTHINGS AND SAFETY.

We believe that "my God shall supply all your needs," but our old nature cannot believe that, especially when we hear news from worldly sources telling us someone is trying to take our toys and life resources away from us. When we give place to fear, and feast on it, feed it, and pass it on to other people, we are boldly denying that Christ will be our supplier.

If you have a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind that has no hope, no light, and you have the Church headed straight into a train wreck instead of looking at the light at the end of the tunnel, you are WICKED.

If all you do is sit around and talk with wide-eyed terror about the New World Order, the crash of the banks, the collapse of the dollar, and the concentration camps and micro chips getting ready for us you’re not only feeding fear, you also are a promoter and preacher of it.

Harsh words? No.

Honest words intended to get you to shake off morbid living and to decide to truly serve the LIVING GOD or serve - Fear.

 

WHAT FEAR IS

Fear is a harsh and wicked taskmaster.

Fear will not let you sleep well at night.

Fear brings condemnation and shame.

Fear causes hoarding and secret self-protections.

Fear will make you betray others to hide and protect your way of living and your opinions.

Fear will join with accusation and destroy safe relationships, by isolating you.

Fear is a liar and gathers clusters of other tormenting spirits to join with it.

Fear creates excitement for those who use it as a tool to gain attention or - control.

 

JESUS HAS TAKEN CARE OF HIS BRIDE FOR OVER 2000 YEARS

He is still doing so, and will never ever stop!

Know this! The light of Christ that shines in very dark times is the ONLY light that is available. I say this because this light is on "until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." The light of prophecy is the light at the end of the tunnel of human history, and that light is a person:

“ I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you, these things in the churches.I AM the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16

So, the darker it is, the more blessed that light is.

The stars shine at night, not during the daylight.

Light a candle in a room that has many lamps on, and no one will notice, but strike the smallest match you can find in a totally blacked out room, and EVERY EYE WILL BE ON THAT LIGHT!

 

WHY ARE OUR EYES, AND MOUTH FIXATED WITH HOW EXCEEDINGLY DARK IT IS?

1 Thessalonians 5 says

“You are all the children of light, And the children of the day.

We are not of the night, Nor of darkness.”

 

WHAT TO DO NOW

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Tell me, what good is it to obsess or prepare to survive the coming crash or doom if you end up living a stressed and tormented life over it?

You’re afraid because you don’t think God can handle your situation.

You’re afraid you are going to die, you are afraid you’re going to get sick, you’re afraid your kids are going to get hurt, you’re afraid the roof is going to fall in, you’re afraid the demons are going to get you!

Whatever it is, it comes from two things.

Number one: 

You have a guilty conscience.

 

Number two: 

You have weak faith in God.

 

You can deal with both of those. 

Have a guilty conscience?  

Confess your sin and get it all cleaned out.

Weak faith? 

Get your Bible open and read what God says about Himself and learn to trust Him.... And pray.

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit, which God has given us, Is not a spirit of cowardice.

But one of power and of love and of sound judgment.

 

FAITH OBEYS GOD IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONSEQUENCES

Fear can creep into the hearts of the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the most educated and the least educated, the powerful and the powerless.

What can one do to be freed of fear?

Faith is not afraid of what others may say or do.

An Elijah complex can rob you of power and joy, so beware! Elijah went from victory to defeat because he started walking by sight and not by faith. He believed the wicked queen Jezebel's words but not God’s word, and he forgot how God had cared for him for three and a half years. Fear replaced faith, and he ran for his life. We need to obey the words

 

Do not be afraid; only believe (Mark 5:36).

Faith and fear are opposites, and yet, strange to say, they are often found dwelling within the same person; but where one is forceful the other is undeveloped. The constant attitude of the Christian must and needs to be,

“Behold, God is my salvation, 

I will trust and not be afraid; 

For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, 

And He has become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:2

 

WHAT OUGHT TO BE, AND WHAT ACTUALLY IS

ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 

Psalm 56:3

However, when the grace of faith is in practice, its verbal communication will be:

One thing that must be addressed as well is the situation where there are believers who are currently in trauma, loss, or who are persevering through very difficult and possibly harrowing situations. Very often those who have a shallow development of the fruit of Mercy and attributes of discernment are often found to spout out well rehearsed “shotgun lines” of scripture at those who are in the throws of battle and sorrow.

THIS IS NOT OK! It shows a great lack of genuine Christian Character and even worse, a lack of the nature of Christ. The following verse will clear up any religious sputtering about this, and hopefully bring a nice bit of conviction to the legalistic and hardhearted.

So those of us who have a strong [faith] must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose [faith] is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves.

Romans 15:1

Jesus Stood up in the Storm and spoke PEACE.

He did not scold and hammer away at the frighten men in the boat with him. He did not shame them with a tone of superiority or condescending blather when he said,  “Why do you struggle with trusting Me (faith) to take care of you?”  He used moments of doubt and fearfulness all throughout the bible as teaching moments, to disciple His beloved children. We too - Can learn from this. It will be much needed in the days ahead.

LET’S PRAY TOGETHER AND BE FREE FROM FEAR

Dear Jesus Christ,

I know that all power and authority on Heaven and Earth belongs to You alone. I come to You today, asking for supernatural divine deliverance from fear.

I am facing numerous issues that are scaring me, sometimes tormenting me! 

I ask you right now Jesus, in faith and with all of my existence, please, please deliver me from all fear. I gave You my soul when I became a Christian.

So right now, I choose to symbolically, hand literally hand you my problems, my fears. 

I pray, Jesus take these fears, and strengthen me against them! Protect me from every lie of the enemy that has come my way trying to deceive me.

You have told me:

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27.

Right now, I give it all to You Jesus. Please deal with these fears for me. 

In the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God almighty, I renounce satan and all of his lies that are trying to make me afraid!

I pray that you Lord would bind every enemy and spirit of fear attempting to operate in my life and rebuke it! Protect me from it!

Lord Jesus, please also help me recognize if there is something that I am doing to allow fear to manipulate me. Please let me know if there is something wrong that needs to change. Please let me know if there is something in my environment or home, that is causing my mind to have fearful reactions.

Help us, O Heavenly Father, to dwell not on our fears, but on who you are. We can conqueror our fears only by focusing on you. Then no matter what is the cause of our fears, they will dissipate like the morning fog.

This we ask in the name of Him who overcame all of His fears by fixing his eyes on You and You alone. Amen

Thank You! Amen!

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed

provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank you! Copyright © “ 2020 " The Messenger " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

If you would ask the true "heart determined" believer in Christ today just what it is that they need now more than ever, it would be totally answered by the very raw words;

“I am need to have full clarity of mind and a fearless trust in the knowledge of how much God loves me.”

 

WE ARE IN ONE HOT REFINERS FIRE!

People are winding up in anger, disbelief and frustration over this "Unfair" season the Bride of Christ is in! It just isn't fair! We have been so good! We have laid down everything!

Why oh why are WE being singled out?

“I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;

My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

~ Psalm. 69:3

 

“ I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim,

I dissolve my couch with my tears.

~ Psalm. 6:6

Does this sound like you right now?

 

EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TESTED SOMETIME!

The strongest impression I have received from the Father about the condition of His Bride is this. When things are going "fabulously" for her, when all of heaven is blessing, she wants to keep it that way! If she is not in a place of great humility and thankfulness for what the Lord is doing, she tends to assume that, “It’s about time folks knew just how long I've been waiting for them to see just how great this church, or ministry or intellectual skill I've been soooo blessed with is!”

 

Then comes the attitude that we have to keep it allotted to only a few “real winners” like ourselves, and we become exclusive and look for only high rollers to run with.

And then. AGAIN comes the TEST.

Persecution comes, mug slinging, attacks on personal integrity, character assassination, and again the fiery trial.........of our soul.

 

TO REMOVE IMPURITIES - GOD USES A HOT OVEN!

These trials as if by fire are only to test our faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-- and our faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.

“So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” ~ I Peter chapter 1: 7

 

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

The Lord is working the Bride overtime right now to deal with selfish ambition, personal comfort, and any other areas of personal agenda or presumption.

YES! Presumption.

We as Christians have often presumed that because we are Christians…

…we should never experience severe sorrow, grief, loss, or devastation.

This “fairy tale” stems from a huge level of denial and total self focus. It is also a very Western culture mindset.

 

A dear friend of mine who went to China and who was visiting a Chinese underground church group, had a reality check that shook her to the core of her faith.

She thought that she was coming to this group to “help and bless them.”

When they asked her what could they pray for the church in American about in order to bless them she was flummoxed! Her reply was, “We came to see how we might help you! ” How can we pray for you?”

The response back was, “Pray that we would not be fearful or silent about the gospel of Jesus we share when the authorities beat us or imprison us. Pray that we remain strong enough physically to endure the persecution we receive and not fear what man may do to us.”

SOBERING ISN’T IT!

When others around us are going through loss, trauma, or heart breaking circumstances, sadly, many believers turn away in disgust or even more disturbing, display an arrogant attitude of thinking they are more blessed by God because their lives are not so complex or “shattered” as those around them who must have done SOMETHING wrong to bring these things upon themselves.

Regrettably, some of the pain some saints are experiencing is due to the disobedience of those in the Body of Christ around them! They resist the hand of God and react against others in retaliation toward God bringing correction or exposure to their secret lifestyle of personal gain or need for power!

 

WE ARE NOT ALONE!

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners

against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”

Heb. 12:3

 

Admit it! It is hard to not lose heart right now!

The world is in a tailspin and lukewarm Christians are showing their true colors! It's time to deal with this! It is NOT going to go away!

AGONY IS MORE SEVERE WHEN IT IS "ENHANCED" BY BETRAYAL!

Jesus went through it. Stephen went through it and so did hundreds of others! AND it hurts, and disillusions, and causes us to be so very very weary!

 

“You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and

brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will

put to death.

Luke 21:16

 

THE TRANSFORMATION FROM FRAGILE …

…TO FERVENT IS COMING!

“When?” You may ask…..

For my determined purpose is that I may know Him. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death, in the hope…

… That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead even while in the body.

Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do, it is my one aspiration, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

_Philippians 3:10-14 (Amplified Bible)

 

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THE LORD WOULD REQUIRE:

1.) To gain HIS strength, we must relinquish our power or control

over what we think of others. We will be judged by the way we

judge others when they struggle. Pious and lofty lectures are not

the Kingdom language of healing and restoration. Loving-

kindness and Mercy reveal the heart of godly maturity in a

believer when dealing with the sorrows and anguish of others.

“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

Or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs

To a heavy heart.”

Proverbs 25:20

 

2.) Reach out in kindness to those under fire.

Encourage them to stand. Encourage them to seek the Lord.

Bless them and don't talk about them when they struggle!

"The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples,

That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.

He awakens me morning by morning,

He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple."

Isaiah 50:4 3

 

3.) Get still. Stop organizing, planning, and pushing ahead into

oblivion! God really does have a plan!

“Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

Yet those who wait for the Lord, Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become cynical. “

Is. 40:30 -31

 

4.) TRUST FOR A MOMENT!

It's all about trusting God in the end. Oh yes it is!

Will He REALLY refresh us in this time of struggle?

His Loving Word says so.

“For I satisfy the weary ones,

And refresh everyone who languishes."

Jer. 31:25 5

 

THE LORD IS PRODUCING ENDURANCE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT!

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;

For once he has been approved,

He will receive the crown of life,

Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

James 1:12

 

THE FATHER IS URGING US TO RUN TO HIM.

He is there! Even in the fog of struggle, loss, anxiety, and also in seeming success.

He wants us to be desperate for Him and rely wholly on His voice.

To make all of our decisions based on His plan for the whole earth!

 

Seek Him.

Lean into His Voice.

Elevate Grace and Mercy…

…And lower your own opinion of yourself and your abilities to

“lecture” others into healing or restoration.

 

WALK SOBERLY IF YOU ARE LIVING IN ABUNDANCE AT THIS TIME, ON ANY LEVEL.

Keep the vigil of prayer you are keeping for others well lit by the reflecting memories of past times when you yourself needed the Merciful Hand of God to lift you from agony and redeem your life from the pit.

 

Let us be so devoted to the “One” who lavished and spilled out all He had, that we might repeat His actions, and in so doing, bring His Glory to it’s fullest measure and depth.

His Mercy….

…Endures.

Forever.

 

“Then will the lame leap like a deer,  And the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness,  And streams in the desert.”

Isaiah 35:6

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Copyright © 2019 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

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By Mary Lindow 

I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumb lines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life.

 
WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD and therefore, have the “effects and affects” of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh.

Plumb line: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical or in alignment)  

A plumb line is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. The Lord also used, and uses, a "plumb line," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight.

How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God.

 "Behold, I WILL set a plumb line in the midst of My people". -Amos 7:7 

 

A PLUMB LINE SET OUT BY THE HAND OF GOD IS ONE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OUR HEARTS TO.

It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain, loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to. 

It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the directive positioning of the Master. 

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.” 

-Isaiah 28:17 

 

LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION 

I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God’s care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping holes or slow leaks in them. 

Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope. 

 

I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42 

He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It’s at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are down and in turmoil. 

But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God’s faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what is the answer? 

When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace? 

When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God’s promises? 

 

AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS” … 

…And perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who appears to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord would have such difficulties! 

Well! Guess what?

I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes.

And boy oh boy! Those skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain! 

 

BUT, THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL 

The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the anguish and toll of their aftermath. 

We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again. 

We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves. 

We must say to our soul: ‘Why are you cast down’–Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace? 

We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope in God’–instead of remaining in this paralyzed, aching state!” 

 

AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER

We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who “God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do. 

Having done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people’s wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” 

The hope and promise of the fairness of God’s justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never turn away from me in my need. No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day.

His power is greater than my weariness and suffering. 

The comforting and instruction that comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply…

…. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself. 

 

THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL! 

Human willpower alone will never be able to change this. 

We need God's help to truly change our hearts. 

REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of anyone else either. 

If you try to, you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter. 

Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure!

We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander. These types trample the warnings and urging for repentance and humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds. 

"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. 

Don't throw your pearls to pigs! 

They will trample the pearls, 

then turn and attack you.”

Matthew 7:6 

 

"GIVE ME THE FACTS MA’AM JUST THE FACTS” 

I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts. 

And so, Here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman.

1.) The good man or woman: Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart. And the facts about an evil man or woman. 

 

2.) The evil man/woman brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart. For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 

 

THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE 

The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and bragging rights! We are always to depend on the will and leading of God. 

 

OUR TIMES ARE NOT IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT ARE INSTEAD IN THE TIMING OF GOD. Our heads may be filled with cares and plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment. All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end. 

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, 

a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” 

-1 John 2:16

 

LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS 

People don't need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or struggle! Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued. 

Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn't need to hear any of them. 

He needed their love, not their value judgments. 

In fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in anguish over. 

 

WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE

How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed up in a major conflict. On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went though in his sufferings. This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt. 

This is the 'fellowship of his sufferings' (Philippians 3:10), one of the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives. The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything. We never feel more revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us. 

The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth: 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God".

-1 Corinthians 1.3-4 

 

SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES, 

Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world. We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer. 

The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory! 

 

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR! 

We are to bear one another's burdens. 

We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us. 

Your hard time becomes my hard time. 

We join hands in the journey. 

When you succeed, I succeed. 

When you suffer, I suffer. But we do it together. We share it together. 

And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence. 

 

THAT'S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT! 

But not “bland” fellowship. It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing. Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I'll be there. Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ. The word for "comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also can be of comfort to those around you. 

 

WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. 

To mourn with those who mourn. To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called… … To do this. As the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again, I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven.

HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE WANTS

Let's focus on bowing low and seeking His heart and plans in what matters to Him.

Indeed, HE is the Plumb line. 

Prayer 

God, I ask in Jesus' name, that you comfort, strengthen and encourage all who are hurting deeply right now and are going through so much pain and heartache. 

Don't allow them to give up in the heat of the battle. 

Let them feel your arms wrapping around them and your love overflowing and filling them up. Lord, I will pray often and I know that you will hear my voice, even when I speak to You in my silent thoughts. 

To You, I am crying out and my prayers are now before You. 

Father, I give to You my problems, I do not want them. 

Father, please restore them to You. I know that you have compassion for your children. Father, show them your ways and teach them your paths. Lead them in your truth and teach them you are the God of our salvation and on you we will wait. 

Protect them from the evils of this life and guide them through all of their days. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer Father and for considering and for having compassion on all who hear and read these words, and all who hurt, in this troubled world we live in. 

Keep them in the center of Your love. 

In Jesus’ Name

~ Amen 

 

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit


Preface:

The Lord was tremendously intense with me about the preparation and study that went along with the prophetic insights and words intermingled with this message. I would like to encourage you to read it all thoroughly and to not only skim through it quickly.

This is an hour when the Word and the Spirit are being brought together to demonstrate the ultimate power of Christ!

In His Shadow, Mary 

 

 "A PLACE AT THE TABLE"

A PROMISE FOR THE DISPLACED AND BROKEN HEARTED"

A Prophetic Insight

By Mary Lindow

 

"Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. 

Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate endlessly at the

King’s table, even though he was crippled in both feet."

- 2 Samuel 9 vs. 11b-13

 

Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy and completed, to perfect her by the washing with water through the word, and to establish her to himself as an exultant church, without imperfection or wrinkle or any other defect, but holy and guiltless.

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church for we are members of his body. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5: 25b 32

MEPHIBOSHETH: MEANING "ONE WHO SUFFERS SHAME"

The name was a joining by two members of the family of Saul - his son and his grandson. Let's look at this man Mephibosheth.

His life is a picture of a life of disaster, disappointment, and anxiety.

You think you have troubles?

In reading the story we already know that Mephibosheth is motherless and fatherless, because he is under the care of a nurse.

2 Samuel 4:4 also says that at the age of five his father, Jonathan, David's best friend, was killed in battle along with Jonathan's father, King Saul. To add injury to insult, we are told that when Mephibosheth's nurse heard the news of the murder of Jonathan and Saul, she panicked as she ran from harm's way. And in her running, the nurse dropped the child - causing him to become crippled. So the baby prince who was in the line of succession to the throne became a crippled beggar living as an orphan in hiding.

What should have been a life of wealth became a life of misery, tragedy and heartbreak. While his family was being assassinated, murdered, and banished, his future, as a king would never be fulfilled.

AND MORE THAN THAT, MEPHIBOSHETH WAS PERMANENTLY SCARRED!

We can relate to Mephibosheth's being a victim of sad circumstance. Perhaps you can even testify to being victimized by other's mistakes for yourself. Like Mephibosheth who trusted his nurse, some of us can relate to being dropped by those in whom we've placed our trust.

We're living crippled lives because a person in whom we loved and gave our hearts to...has dropped us.

JUST LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH WE KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DROPPED BY SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TRUSTED.

Our lives are still suffering from the crippling effects of those disappointments. Everyone has been "dropped" in some way. And if you haven't, you will be. Some are still so proud in heart that they never admit to any weakness and therefore shame those around them who stumble their way to the cross of redemption.

It's no wonder that we are afraid to trust againbecause we've been lied to or used as scapegoats for the escape of others who hide their sins and egos behind loud opinions about how others should behave or...might have done better in the way they have handled the things that have happened in their life's journey!

MANY ARE AFRAID TO TAKE CHANCES BECAUSE OF PAST FAILURES.

Many more are afraid to follow their heart because the plain idea of making one more mistake sends shivers through them. We can't handle another anguish. Sometimes it feels as though we are hanging on by a fine thread.

If God is a merciful God, we wonder when we're going to start seeing the mercy. Our words echo the psalmist as our soul cries out,

"Lord, have mercy on me!" "Have mercy on me, Lord"

BUT THE THING IS, THERE IS MERCY...  ...IF YOU WILL SEE IT.

If you will allow that mercy to saturate your soul. If you'll see that you have an important role to play in that mercy. In fact, "mercy" is really the only reason that you and I are existing today, whether you know that or not.

You are here today because at some level - consciously or subconsciously - you know that God has been and is merciful to you and you are expressing your appreciation for that mercy. You are here today because you know that despite the hurts that have been inflicted upon you, you want to trust, you want to go on, and you want to find hope.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE IS BOTH A BIT OF MEPHIBOSHETH AND 

A BIT OF KING DAVID IN ALL OF US.

And, perhaps a bit of King Saul's fear of the loss of power, position, and need for control and honor. That is, we have been hurt, but we have also been healed.

We have been helped, and we also have opportunity to help others. We really have received mercy, and we can offer mercy as well.

WHEN MEPHIBOSHETH WAS CALLED INTO DAVID'S PRESENCE, HE WAS TERRIFIED!

Why shouldn't he be? As the grandson of dead King Saul, Mephibosheth was an heir to the throne that David now possessed. So his first thought was that the king would kill him because he might see him as a threat.

Secondly, Mephibosheth has experienced little in his life that would make him believe that something good could happen to him, so he expected injury. His own words were, "What is your servant that you should look ona dead dog such as I?"

Then King David sent and brought him out of the house: Mephibosheth must have been terrified when messengers from David knocked at his door and demanded that he come with them to see the king. In the back of his mind he must have constantly anticipated the day when David would do as other kings did and murder every possible enemy to his throne.

UP TO THIS POINT MEPHIBOSHETH AND DAVID NEVER HAD A RELATIONSHIP AND IT WAS BECAUSE MEPHIBOSHETH WANTED IT THAT WAY.

HE AVOIDED DAVID OUT OF UNFOUNDED FEARS. BUT DAVID REMOVES THE FEARS OF MEPHIBOSHETH.

Verses (7-8) So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

Then Mephibosheth bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?

Mephibosheth didn't feel worthy of such generosity. He considered himself a dead dog, meaning a worthless and insignificant person.

All the years of hiding from the king and Living in fear and poverty made Mephibosheth thinks of himself as Worthless.

THE OFFER OF MERCY

David didn't want to add to Mephibosheth's Misery. David offered mercy.

Mephibosheth - in his amazement and skepticism - is restored.

No, he didn't retrieve the ability to walk. Mephibosheth's weakness did not vanish. The end of the scripture is clear about that. "He was crippled in both feet."

But he was given a place at the table of the king.

This goes far beyond giving Mephibosheth what was rightly his!

THE HONOR OF A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KING

David gave Mephibosheth the honor of a close relationship withthe king. The miserable, unfair, undeserved events of his past didn't change. But he was re-established within the kingdom and given an opportunity to live out the rest of his life with dignity.

Because David - the King - was merciful.

 

DAVID KNOWS THAT HE HAS BEEN AN OBJECT OF GOD'S MERCY IN HIS LIFE.

That he has already been delivered from extreme circumstances and from ...his own unpredictable behavior.

David is merciful, because he has received mercy - a melody that will continue throughout David's entire life, even when David didn't deserve mercy. And - on another level - David knows that, as he acts as the status of king - also by God's anointing, and not his own skill - that he must model the mercy of God within the kingdom.

BLEMISHES OF THE "CRIPPLED" BRIDE

Just like in Ephesians 5 are the blemishes of the "crippled" bride...she is much like Mephibosheth.

Hiding, fearful! And....the King of our souls, Jesus...restores and cleanses us...brings us to His table as His Bride, and covers our lameness, our disfigurement underneath the linens of the bridegroom's table where no one dare point out our imperfections.

We are perfected BY His Mercy! David knew that human beings and a society that exist without forgiveness and mercy are already doomed to self-destruction by their bitter doubt.

JESUS DIED FOR THIS VERY REASON. SO THAT WE MIGHT MODEL HIS KIND OF GUTSY FORGIVENESS AND MERCY.

AND SO THE STORY FALLS TO US AS EMERGING LEADERS IN THE KING'S KINGDOM!

We who are like Mephibosheth who have been injured by dreadful circumstances and by careless people; and we who are like David, have the opportunity to be instruments of mercy.

We who are like Mephibosheth and David who have received mercy; and we who must decide if we will live lives of resentment because of prejudiced facts or ...live lives of gratitude because of undeserved and unexpected mercy.   The story falls now to us.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE. 

AS WE HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED,

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DELIVERED.

Remember, David - the King - had to decide if his kingdom would be one of dread or grace. David had to decide if his realm was going to be established on grounds of vengeance or the refinement of mercy. In being an instrument of grace, David is setting the stage for his great, great, great grandson Jesus, who will be the ultimate expression of mercy to all of us.

In the entire history of humanity no one was more misunderstood or viciously abused than David's ultimate successor, Jesus. Yet no person was ever more merciful.

AS HEIRS OF DAVID AND CHRIST IT IS NOW UP TO US TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE VERY TREASURE THAT DAVID HONORED IN THIS STORY.

Loyalty, respect, unwavering love, and the well being of others.

Like David did for Mephibosheth, God has honored and blessedus with the promise of eternal life, inviting us to dine at His table, in His kingdom eternally. Also, God does this, not because of any goodness upon our part, but "because of Jesus."

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY 

AND WHY WE ARE PART OF THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

And because He has restored - and is restoring - US by His mercy, He invites us to His table, we MUST look around to see who else needs a place at the table, on His behalf! Not out of our great "earned reputations" or past accomplishments! No!

We as models of the Fatherly and Motherly compassion of a heavenly King invite others, to the table of "covering" and honor. We bring mercy, expressed with "tender hearts."

The best person to want to be like is not always the strongest or the best looking!! When we become like Mephibosheth, we can truly understand mercy and grace.

BEING LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH MEANS:

1. Realizing that the king sought me out.
2. Understanding what I deserved from the king.
3. Acknowledging the ones who brought me to the king.
4. Humbling myself in the sight of the king.
5. Rejoicing in the words of the king.
6. Accepting the provision of the king.
7. Adjusting my life to the requests of the king.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,

And make me willing to obey you.

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