Published By Deborah Negron
February 3, 2018
1 Samuel 5 :1-5
When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord . So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord , and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
No it can’t be. It appears things are worst than they have ever been. The news has come and it is unbearable. The diagnosis alarming…
The issues severe, the calamity great and we may ask ourselves, where did God co?
How could he allow this?
The moment we consider the visible surroundings, the lacks, the difficulties we begin to think the Lord can’t be in this matter. The Lord has surely abandoned us.
Psalm 121:4 says that the one who keeps his people, us, never sleeps nor slumbers.
He is present even when we have losses.
He is present in the midst of our despair.
When we are most anxious, He is present. His arm is not shortened. His power has not dimjnished. He is still at work.
Often times we jump to desperate conclusions when things appear to be out of control. But I want go tell you that in the midst of adversity the Lord has not walked away.
The Bible tells us that all things work together for good for those who love God.
Things though bleak may be his very plan to destroy the gods of the enemies. He is working out his purpose in the very moment things are the hardest for you.
No life is not free from affliction. Nor is it a breeze. For even in a rose bed there are thorns to contend with. Even when there is a joy to be experienced as in the case of a mother giving birth to a child, the birthing process is a hard one. The labor pains are severe. The blows to our lives leaves some wounds. Yet in spite of this He is still at work.
The people of Israel were in despair. The enemy appeared to be in control. The enemies of God’s people had stolen the Ark of the covenant. How could it be. This was the very representation of the God they seved. They were afraid, and felt as if now they would be forever cursed. The enemy had triumphed. This is what the had determined. Yet the Lord God of heaven allowed the philistine to take the Ark of the Covenant from their possesion.
He allowed this and though they did not understand the Lord had their best interest at heart..
We see the situation of our lives and we panic. But The Lord is In The Midst of Your Storms.
When Jesup was busy tending to others matters he received word that his friend Lazare was ill, then that he had died. Lazarus’ sisters were angry. Jesus took long to finally arrive to them. He did come too late, they thought.
When they then saw him weep, they were surely in their darkest moment. Yet the Lord would reveal his great Power. That day they found out that Jesus had the power to even give life to the dead.
God allows us to go through hard issues so he can manifest his glory. He allows the evil day tog come to prove our faith. He allows the loss so we can come to terms with the fact that He is Lord over all.
But no, death has come. Illness is terminal…
That loved one has passed away. How could God be in this.
Oh if you knew that His plans are ton prosper you and not to harm you. Even when life does not make sense. He is working out something glorious. I know of A dearly loved pastor, who had a daughter who was beautiful and vibrant and no strong. Truly even her birth was and miracle. Yet one day addiction plagued their home..the beautiful child became a victim of addiction. Many said, oh my but isn’t he a man of God? Oh my God, but is that not the daughter of the pastor? How could it be?
I want to tell you that this beautiful girl came to know the Lord. She even appeared to have become clean. She went to church and even appeared to turn her life around. The family was thrilled. But somehow one day they found that their daughter had taken the drugs once again. But she had already accepted Christ. How is it possible? How could this beautiful true. I Want to tell you of The God who knew her struggles were real. I want to tell you of a constant battle with her enemy. I want to tell you that though it may have appeared that the addiction won, God is not limited by the addictions of this life. He is not held back by our wraknesses. The Bible tells us in Romans 8 That there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
It also tells us not to be afraid of he who can kill the body but rather the one who can kill the body and soul. What does that mean?
This means that the only one who has control over life and death is God.
He knows the deepest struggles of each person. The Lord knew this young lady had given her life to Jesus. He knew the carnal pull and addiction was debilitating. But He knew her desire to be free of the bondage. He saw her heart. I believe that at one moment God in his mercy just took her home to be with him.
The proof is in the fact, that there was a duality in her life. She demonstrated a desire for the Lord. She had made that profession oft faith. But her condition was already such that the body was frail.
Oh don’t sit there and judge anyone. You and I don’t know the heart of people. We don’t see their genuine struggle. But nothing escapes the Lord. He uses even our calamity to fulfill his purpose for us.
This family hurt for so long with the pain addiction can cause. It had taken their time, efforts and hope. Yet The Lord had not forgotten the prayers of his saints. He heard the cried of that pastor, Lord take this and way from her. He heard the weeping of that mom, Lord I want her to be free. In his sovereignty he just took her home. He freed her eternally. Her body had been stripped of strength and her very will was clear. God knew her heart.
The illness may have taken its toll, but God is still in control. The loss may be great, but God God has the victory. Scripture tells us that iwsnn the presence of God iwsnn fullness of joy. Instead of healing her body. He took the better plan…. He freed her soul.
For others illness may be the very thing GOD uses to bring them to a place where they come to know God in a more profound way.
For others that divorce, that painful life maybe be the very thing He uses to bring you close to himself. But rest assured, He has not abandoned you. He is present. He is still drawing us to him.
You see in Lazurus’ case he chose to raise his body from the grave. But eventually Lazurus did die again. For it is appointed for every man to die and then comes the judgement. but for some God has chosen to take them home. he saved them for eternity. now they will not have to deal with the bandages of the flesh. The struggles of this body and the constant fight.
How can I say that? I can say that because only the Lord knows the struggles that each person faces. for some their choice of life is not a struggle. They continue in their sin without regret. evil permeates their minds and hearts and they do not struggle at all.
But for others, their desire to live and to do what is right and to seek after God is evident. God sees the heart.
God knows the struggle. where the Flesh and the Spirit War against each other there is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work.
Where there is no struggle there is no evidence of a newness of life.
God does not judge us on what is seen on the outward appearance the Lord knows the heart.
Psalm 139 speaks of how the Lord newest even when we were in the womb of her mother. Jeremiah 29 11 states that he has a plan for each life. but regardless of the path we may have chosen, he understands when there is a true desire to come to him and repent and turn from our Wicked Ways.
they were two men crucified on either side of Jesus Christ. One was mocking Jesus and telling him that if he was the son of God that he should come down and also take him off the cross with him. but the other Thief on the other side of Jesus wanted to be free. he recognized Jesus as the life Giver and the Savior when he stated, remember me when you come into your kingdom.. this man did not have any time where he could change his ways, neither did he have any time to make things right with those he had stolen from. Who knows perhaps he had even killed in his act of stealing. Yet, Christian saw this man’s heart. the Lord recognized how this man was remorseful and how he felt repentant. God knew his heart. and so Jesus told him today you will be with me in Paradise.
the Bible also says absent from the body, present with the Lord.
No, I am not saying that everyone makes it to heaven. No, because without accepting Jesus and genuinely asking to be forgiven …
Without a true desire to turn away from sin we cannot be saved.
What I am saying is that when the Lord knows how the person has desired him and received him. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Romans 8:37-39says it this way,
” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
So what ed very you may be going through, I want to tell you, If you repent and surrender your life to Jesus, He promises promises to promises to never promises to never leave you nor forsake you.
Run to Jesus, he is mighty to save.
Life and Faith By Deb 
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