“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” Revelations 1:19
Dear Ones:
When Abraham was faced with daunting task of believing God for a son when he was ninety-nine years old, God told him: “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be perfect.” (Genesis 17:1) Why did God address Abraham in this manner? Essential to faith is the vision of God according to the truth. If faith’s vision is small, then faith’s apprehension of what God would have us trust Him for will be small. We know that “…where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov. 29:18) We also know one of Paul’s prayers to the Ephesian church dealt with the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (God).” (Eph. 1:17) The true vision of God is essential to faith, and its applications. When the glorified Christ addressed the seven churches, mentioned at the beginning of the book of Revelation, He unveils Himself in His glory, a sight so powerful and overwhelming that John would fall at His feet “…as dead.” Why the revelation in this way? It is because the churches, if they would rise to where they should be in their walk and witness, overcoming all obstacles without and within, must see the Almighty power, authority, and wisdom of God. It is at this time, like that moment when the Lord spoke to Abraham, that He reveals Himself to be the ALMIGHTY GOD. Only the Almighty God can do the impossible, and it is the impossible that calls Abraham and the church to believe Him for. It is the same for us. But, does He reveal Himself to us as such in our day and time?
In the book of Isaiah, well after God’s revelation to Abraham, the Lord declared, for all mankind to read and to know: “For unto US a child is born, unto US a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6) This God of Abraham is the child of Bethlehem, and the Father and Spirit. He is “almighty” in that all power and authority is His in heaven and in earth. For Him, nothing shall be impossible, if it is His will, according to His purposes and nature. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are one, as are the will, purpose, and means of God by which He works. Our response to such a revelation is first to behold Him, hence the importance of worship in truth and by the Spirit. Secondly, it is to receive, to open our mouths wide (…also our hearts), for Him to fill them with that which is good. Then we shall have that which is good, and lasting, to give to others. Lastly, we are to believe His words, His promises, and obey His commandments. When God speaks of making His covenant with man, He does so of His own initiative, having devised and constructed it, that man can, and must, trust Him according to it. Why? Because God’s word is the expression of Himself, and in giving to man a covenant, He is giving Himself in all of His power and authority for its accomplishment. This is why the Lord says through Isaiah, “…So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth…” (Is. 55:11) Paul would write of the same concept, but in a different way: “Faithful is He who calls you who also WILL do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24)
Dear Father, open our eyes to see Thee as Thou art, the Almighty God. And grant us to see that You desire to work in and through us in the measure that we see Thee, know Thy word, and believe Thee fully. We praise You that You are the covenant God, who always speaks the truth, and will work always according to Thy promises. Give us grace, in the light of Who You are, and by Your grace, to walk before You, by the power of Your Spirit, for Your glory. We thank Thee is Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad