Matthew 25:1-13 and 1 Samuel Chapter 25
I hope you’re receiving some new things to think about. I am.
It seems every time I write I receive something new, becoming the richer for it.
I’m not talking about new theology, but the coming together of Scripture, the unfathomable depth and richness of the mystery and revelation of Christ.
You cannot outspend its wealth or deplete its resources, nor, outsource your personal “mining,” “discovery,” and “adventure.”
Oh, how the Lord delights in revealing his Word to those who delight in him.
Now is the time to be filled to overflowing in the things of God. It’s your time to eat and drink at the banquet he’s prepared just for you.
“We pray, Lord, create a hunger and thirst in us for more of you, more than we could imagine or think.”
“Increase our desires and passions for you, our capacity to hold and maintain goodness, bearers of good fruit.”
“Help us recognize and receive grace and care. Place us securely in the work of grace you’re revealing in this hour.”
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The Lord spoke to me about writing in 2016 and it took over two years to get to the place where I could start. How marvelously patient he is in our struggles to move toward him.
Be encouraged.
He longs for our hearts to pant after him; to long for the expression of Christ in our life.
If you find yourself lacking the desire to ask for “increase,” – it’s not too late – he knows how to remove the barriers to your well, and where you can buy oil for your lamp while it is still day.
I know what it’s like to feel broken and languishing. I know what it’s like to invite others into my pain and angst, and receive care and love.
You may find out you’re not as broken as you thought and amazed at the options and resources the Lord brings your way.
If you find yourself on the mountaintop of glory, receiving God in measures you never imagined, an open heaven – invite Jesus to take you yet deeper in him; to surface and cleanse the secret and hidden things in your life.
Latter Days
In the last few posts I’ve noted I believe the Scriptures reveal the body of Christ is in the latter part of the New Testament age.
I will be doing some posts in the future about the “spiritual signs” of the latter days. The focus will be on the work of God in the Church, and not the work of the enemy in our culture.
I believe we are on the precipice, threshold, of unprecedented things in God. Things seem to be moving at a faster clip than past moves of God.
The signs of the times are not what’s happening in the world but what is happening in the Church. That is the measuring stick and thermometer for us to watch – experience – keeping our eyes on Jesus.
The Lord has been leading the Church for decades to go deeper in him.
We are in the midst of events put into motion since the beginning of time that will ultimately culminate in the thousand-year reign of Christ.
You and I do not want to miss that!
There’s an invisible church in the womb of the visible church today.
The baby is growing in the womb, and someday, the Lord will bring the Church to labor – the pain and anguish of giving birth – and bring forth sons and daughters to be fathered by God into the likeness of his Son.
Only God knows how developed the baby is in the womb today.
There will be pioneers and forerunners as with all moves of God. You can count on that.
There is a generation to see this from beginning to end. It may be alive today.
This is a most exciting time for the Church, and the potential we have in Christ.
The horizon beckons; unprecedented change is coming, to the good and evil.
Now is the time to ask God for wisdom from above, to convert our hearts – those areas held captive to sin and darkness, to grace.
Jesus knows how to convert the heart of “Nabal,” a type of the foolish virgins, to the heart of “Abigail,” a type of the wise virgins.
It is not too late for Jesus to minister to the broken and wounded areas of your heart and mine.
Let’s not be like Nabal, who fails to perceive the protection and kindness of God toward him and his, rejecting his day of salvation, nearly costing the lives of those under his charge.
Let’s be like Abigail, who is familiar with the ways of the wilderness, the marketplace of God, the voice of God, the need to receive care, willing to buy oil for her lamp.
The world and the church are moving toward their appointed times, even now in our life time.
The spiritual calendar of this dispensation is nearing the end. Only God knows when mankind will receive a new calendar for the Millennium.
Let Jesus take you into the deep waters of his Spirit and conceive in you the “seed” of Christ.
“Seeing” Yourself in Scripture
It’s important we see the adventure and journey Christ has for us in Scripture and in the lives of those who’ve pioneered the faith.
James
For example, I believe the Lord directed the thoughts of the apostle James towards the life of Elijah at some point in James’ journey with the Lord.
James was probably in need of reassurance, confirmation, or guidance, in what he believed God was calling him into and choosing him for.
I believe there were certain aspects of Elijah’s sojourn that exemplified and were peculiar to James; evidenced by James’ account of Elijah’s prayer in the closing lines of his letter.
It is highly likely the Lord led James into the hope of persevering prayer, by “quickening,” “making known,” to James, by the Spirit of the Lord, Elijah’s similar journey in prayer.
In doing so, James became connected to Elijah’s journey and the revelation of himself in Scripture. He saw himself in Scripture.
The Lord delights in bringing his Word alive to us, and connecting us as deeply as possible with the Word of God, and in some instances, with the lives of those who pioneered the faith.
James writes about pure religion, ministering to the orphan and widow. Could perhaps Elijah’s ministry to the widow at Zarephath and her orphaned son, been helpful to James’ in resolving uncertainty he was feeling about his calling and ministry at a particular point in time?
I can imagine James praying something like, “Lord, is this really something you want for me at this time, I feel I should be doing such and such.”
Is it possible, James was in a quandary, dilemma, uncertain about what God was working in him, how to respond or proceed, asked the Lord for clarification, and the Lord answered by pointing to someone facing similar circumstances in the past?
I believe the answer is yes.
His references to Abraham, Job, and Elijah are more than story telling.
These are heart experienced, heart lived, expressions from James, conveying in words their (Abraham, Job, Elijah and James) joint testimony of the work of God in their lives.
Similar people facing similar things, called and chosen by God to advance his kingdom, separated by two covenants, the former a promise, the latter, a promise fulfilled, connected together in Christ.
The latter saints (e.g., James) receiving the fruit of the former’s testimonies, together building the kingdom of Christ – completing the adventure and journey of those who prefigured the Messiah.
This is part of the mystery of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, connecting us one to another, the body of Christ, transcending generations and millenniums, Old and New Testaments, and beyond. (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Today, many in our generations have been prophesied over, or given a “word,” an utterance by the Lord over their lives conveying similar “calls” and “commissions” to those of by-gone eras.
Maybe you are one of the many who the Lord has spoken to, connecting you in some form or another to the spiritual exploits or journey of someone who prefigured Christ.
Peter, Another Example
I believe Peter was connected with the sojourn (in no small way) with the lives of Noah, Lot, and Abraham – referring to their testimony in his letters, Noah on two occasions.
Noah, because of what he typified in Christ’s baptismal journey – putting to death the deeds of the body to walk in newness of life. This is the heart of Peter’s first letter and his own personal testimony – see my “A Peculiar People” series.
Lot, because of the distress Peter experienced living in the “sight” and “sound” of unremitting immorality, having seen and experienced the transfigured Christ and the battles he (Peter) endured and persevered in, to be cleansed and healed by the Lord – and to stay that way.
Peter may have complained to the Lord of the darkness he had to walk through in the communities he ministered in, and the wear and tear on his spirit, the temptations and what have you, and the Lord may have quickened to Peter Lot’s journey, and his battle to keep his head above water as well.
John
And what can be said about the Apostle John.
John is so connected with Jesus that’s all he can talk about! How marvelous.
(By the way, just to clarify, the word “connected” to the saints of old does not mean a literal relationship, talking or such, with them. What I’m referring to is a journey where you relate with something specific, they faced or endured – the Holy Spirit quickening your spirit, bearing witness to the similarities of your journeys.)
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And of course, the volume of the book was written about Jesus – he is connected in one way or another with all those who typified him and his journey.
What about you? Whose story in the Bible resonates in your heart?
Has the Lord spoken or given you a word about an ancient, old covenant, or new covenant saint, that sheds light on your current calling, journey, and what the Lord is preparing you for?
Do the stories of Nabal, Abigail, David in the wilderness, the foolish and wise virgins, or maybe the criers heralding the coming bridegroom, resonate in your heart, and strike you as something to either move away from or move toward?
Taken Deep by Jesus
When the Lord takes you deep in him (see “A Peculiar People, Part Five, regarding being “taken” by the Lord), he will impart, make known, Scriptures peculiar to your healing and restoration.
For example, if you are disposed to judge, condemn yourself and others, God will work on imparting Scriptures into those places in your heart held captive to condemning sins and wounds, uprooting what the enemy has planted.
He will work to cleanse, heal, and restore you to humility and grace through the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
There are two stories vying for our attention, one which leads to the likeness of Christ, and one which leads to eternal sin and brokenness.
Nabal’s choices took him on one path, and Abigail’s choices took her into the arms of the next king of Israel.
Concluding Thoughts
I hope you see the need to see yourself in the Scriptures, more than just a word, or a situation, but connected to the Word and the journey, and adventure of saints of old. Jesus did. So too should we.
Only Christ can reveal who you are in him, and how your calling, what he has invited you into and chose you for, compares to those who laid the foundation of being made into the likeness of Christ.
Today, more than ever, we need Christ to connect us to the story of God and man, our unique restoration journey, and ultimate commissioning.
Blessings, Drake
