The pre-existence of the Word

 Tell the righteous that it shall be well Part 7b

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him (Isaiah 3:10, 11).

 

Perplexed, but not in despair 

Righteous people often find themselves in tough situations. Nonetheless, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Therefore, we rejoice in the Lord always as we prevail triumphantly through situations. Through it all, rest assured, no situation is permanent. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:2-4). We should always rejoice, when lying down in green pastures. Even so, when we walk through the valley of shadow of death, we will not be afraid, for we are aware that the Lord (our hope and strength) is with us.

 

The Lord’s company through the storms may manifest in two ways. He will either calm the storm or train us to calm the storm; command a miracle for us or command a miracle through us. Either way, our victory and safety are assured. All in all, I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). If the Lord calms the storm or works through us to calm the storm, one thing is certain, there will be calm. Therefore, we must discern; when to be still and see His finger in calming the storm. And when He is working through us to calm the storm.

 

When the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians, Pharaoh could not watch his free labor disappearing and his economy crumbling down. So, Pharaoh pursued them to the Red Sea. The Israelite found themselves between a rock and a hard place. Before them was the Red Sea and behind them was the aggressive Egyptian army. And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever (Exodus 14:13). In this instance, we note the Lord instructing the Israelites to be still and watch the miracle unfold. God will do this to develop our faith and train us to trust in Him.

 

In another instance, the sick man laid at the pool of Bethesda, by the Sheep Gate of the city of Jerusalem for 38 years. When the angel stirred the water of the pool, the first person who got into the pool received their healing. However, this man was hopeful for 38 years but lacked the strength to get in, or someone to get him in. Jesus came and healed him, his effort was not required. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (John 5:5-8). All that was required is for him to be positioned where the Lord would find him.

 

We notice a change in the paradigm as Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was tired and asleep. But the storms started beating the boat. The disciples lacked the discernment and labored to salvage the situation. However, when Jesus awoke, He did not labor with them. But, commanded the storm to calm. This means, to change some situations require our labor, others demand our faith, creative power and authority of the word of our mouth. Yet, other situations require us to be still and see the Lord fight our battles.

 

The four lepers as recorded in the book of second Kings, were in a desperate situation, on one side of the City. On the other side of the city, Elijah had spoken the Word of the Lord. And the Lord was hastening to perform His Word. However, just as the Lord required Elijah to speak His Word, He required a man to stand in the gap and effect it. In His own wisdom, God used the four lepers. If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die (2 Kings 7:4). When they dared the Syrian camp, the Lord worked through them, amplified their footsteps and the Lord’s Word was fulfilled. Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him (2 Kings 7:16-17). Sometimes, we wait on the Lord to command a miracle, while He is waiting to command a miracle through His righteous ones.  

 

Daring faith is required to break the rules, limits and barriers that stand between us and our miracles. Implying that some situations awaits us to act, for them to fizzle out like mist. The woman who had issue of blood had many limitations. Firstly, she was weak and poor after spending all her income on physicians. Secondly, the law had forbidden her to be in contact with the public. Finally, she was too weak to maneuver through the crowd that followed Jesus. However, her determination was unrelenting. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour (Matthew 9:20-22). She advanced against her limits and grasped her miracle. Therefore, the situations that the righteous find themselves in, require inexorable determination. Hope against hope, in order to push and breakthrough, despite the limits of; age, education background, economic, class and color.