9/17/11
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Jesus told us in Jn 14:1-4; “I go to prepare a place for you … and I will come again so that where I am, you may be also.”
We typically think of this in future terms; that is, that it refers to when Jesus will come to take us to Heaven. But I believe this also has an application here in the present. Those who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit can find they are with Jesus where He is, even now!
Although many people think so, it is NOT the case that when we face a problem it is primarily ours to deal with; and we just have to hope that Jesus may send His Spirit to be with us as we struggle. In fact, the true situation can be seen to be the exact opposite of this.
Ever since I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I am with Jesus wherever He goes. Thus, it isn’t that when I’m in trouble, He comes to be with me. It is that He is going to those places of trouble to deal with them; and since I have chosen to be with Him wherever He goes, I find myself in those situations as well. In other words, because of my choice, I am in those circumstances to witness His glory displayed in the vanquishing of those troubles.
If you’ve read through the Gospels, you’ve seen the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene (Mt 26:36-45; Mk 14:32-41). Jesus was facing a BIG problem — a life & death, weight of the world, type problem. So, just as we do, He called on His best friends to give Him a little moral support. All He asked was for them to “watch and pray” with Him. But instead of helping, they fell asleep.
As you have read this passage, if it moved you emotionally, perhaps you said to yourself, “If I had been there I wouldn’t have fallen asleep; I’d have helped Him!” Well, today you can prove the truth of that resolve. When you face a situation, you can either cry and complain and say that God has abandoned you; or you can recognize that Jesus is there, within you! He’s facing this situation, and He wants you to “watch and pray” with Him as He deals with it.
If you do this, you’ll find your change in perspective has a profound effect on your entire reaction to the situation. Further, as you see Him working for you, your relationship with Him grows. Before long you then see He is willing to work through you, if you’re willing, as He resolves these problems. More than that, as you learn His ways and learn to trust Him, He will give it to you to do!
For example, as I follow Him, if I find I’m led to the edge of the sea and become trapped with a sea before me and an army behind me, He may ask me to stretch out my staff and part the waters (Ex 14:21). Or, if I find myself facing an army singlehanded and unarmed, then He may have me look around till I find a donkey’s jawbone; or whatever else comes to hand (Jg 14:15). In any event, I will be the one used by God to reveal His glory and power over that situation!
As our relationship grows and we learn our status before Him, we see His willingness to share with us His power and His glory. As we start to do bigger and greater miracles, we understand that sharing in His authority doesn’t take anything away from God; to the contrary, it reveals more about Him. For example, when we speak of Moses parting the Red Sea we know it was done with God’s power, so we praise God that He was willing to share His strength with a man. Likewise, we see the same principle in the life of Jesus: people marveled and gave glory to God that He would share His power with a man (Mt 9:8). This too helps us to know our God better.
So, if I should find myself being led into a “wilderness” to face a struggle, then praise God! Not only am I where He wants me; I also know that when I emerge I will be filled with power, just as Jesus was after His wilderness trial (Lk 4:1-14). Through these experiences we come to see the truth of His promise in the verse above; we come to recognize that, “Where He is, we are also!”
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