Not in an Instant

 Sometimes victory is not recognizable after one strike. It takes time. One little win after another until it is complete.

This too is a victory that God allows. It is His strategy to preserve His people while defeating the enemy.

²⁸I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. ²⁹But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. ³⁰Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. Exodus 23:28-30 NIV

Why does God sometimes seem to prolong and not take away in an instant our problems in one strike?

Why wouldn’t He just get our enemies, troubles, and trials out of the way in one blow?

1. God's protection.

²⁷“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ²⁸“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ²⁹“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” Matthew 13:27-30 NIV

There are times when enemies and troubles must stay so we can be taken cared of. It is for our protection.

God, in His unfathomable wisdom, takes care of us even in the presence of those who harm us.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 NIV

2. God's intention.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV

Joseph went through a great deal of "not-in-an-instant" type of victory.

• One moment he was his father's favorite, next thing he knows he is a slave.
• One moment he is his master's most trusted servant. Next thing he knows he was in jail.
• Then most trusted by jailkeepers. Then the 2nd most powerful man in the most powerful country in the world.
• Not a single moment was recorded that he was complaining. He just kept doing what trusting God looks like.
• When he had the chance to act in revenge against his brothers who sold him for slavery, he did not take it. Instead, he assured them he got their back.

Learn to embrace your God-ordained situation. Pray that God will take it all away but let His will be done.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 NIV

3. God's provision.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

Take the days leading to the Day of the Pentecost as an example of how sometimes God sends His provision..

• ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 NIV

• ¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4 NIV

Jesus could have just sent the Holy Spirit while He was still with them. Or maybe right after he left. His plan was to get them to wait on God's move, and they did. The result was victorious. 3000 people received Jesus. We remember how the heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. 

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 NIV

On the Day of the Pentecost, 3000 sinners repented. There must have been an overnight celebration in heaven!

Listen, the enemy knows he has been defeated. Jesus made sure of that. What he does now is to try to deceive us into believing that he is the victorious one – a life most unbelievers find satisfying, giving in to the lust of the flesh and calling it good, seemingly getting in control of one’s life and choices.

Hear me out, if your choice or your newfound relationship, or your definition of success forces you to become a professional liar, if it isolates you from your usual support group, from your loved ones, from your family, from the people who have always been there for you, something must be up. You are switching sides when that begins to happen, and that is Satan’s scheme. He makes you feel like you are winning in life but his plan is leave you empty and broken. He wants you to value INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

The problem is that if you are switching to the enemy’s side, you’re already in too deep when you realize it. This is why we learn from the Word before these things happen. God’s Word is our guide.

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Remain connected to your Christian brothers and sisters. Remain connected to God’s Word.

Remember,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

Our victory might not always be in an instant, but our God's track record is a clean slate.

He wins all the time!

CONCLUSION:

With Jesus, even what seems like a loss is a part of the journey to victory.

Blessing our Nation in Perspective

 Elections are done. Winners won. Regardless of who we vote for or who we wanted to win, we now must do what a believer does to bless the nation.

When blessing our nation, we must be sure why we do it. Otherwise, it will be easy to just change our minds.

Here are 3 questions to help us put blessing our nation as an individual in perspective.

1. Why pray for authorities?

...so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 2 Timothy 2:2

It directly benefits us from its blessing.

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7 NIV

God directs their hearts.

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. Proverbs 21:1 NIV

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. Psalm 33:12 NIV

Praying for authorities keeps us from cursing them. It makes us hold on to the fact that God can do something.

Of course we don't just pray. We do our part - pay taxes, abide the law, help our community.

2. Why trust in God?

If it is us making things happen, or if politicians direct our nation's path, then why do we need to trust in God?

Clearly, the Bible teaches us to pray for those in authority and to submit to them. The same Bible teaches us to put our hope in God and God alone.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

“Only God can give us the protection that we need. Even the most powerful people who may have shown delight in us can suddenly change their minds and become against us.”

Here are two actual authorities who changed their stand about protecting certain individuals:

Pilate on Jesus

• ³⁸“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. ³⁹But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” John 18:38-39 NIV

• Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” John 19:4 NIV

• Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. John 19:16 NIV

• When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Matthew 27:24 NIV

Notice how Pilate went from, "I find no basis of charges against him" to "handing him over to be crucified" to "I am innocent of this man's blood" in just a matter of hours. This must be a warning to anyone who puts their trust on man, and not in God.

King Nebuchadnezzar on Daniel

• ⁴⁷The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” ⁴⁸Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Daniel 2:47-48 NIV

• ¹³Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. ¹⁵Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” ¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” Daniel 6:13-16 NIV

There is Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, so as John the Baptist. Protected by authorities until they did not.

This is how fast man's decision change. Therefore, we must put our trust in God, not on man, not on any authority other than God Himself.

3. Why look unto Jesus?

On all these events, God, not any high-ranking government official, was the one who saved these men. Because they put their trust in God, not on man.

Jesus is the God who never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV

If we don't keep our eyes on Jesus,

• we might look at authorities as our savior.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV

• we might believe we are self-sufficient.

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:21-23 NIV

• we might end up following the enemy.

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:23 NIV

Remember our goal

• To be Christlike, not just a model citizen.

• To win souls, not recruit party members.

• To make Jesus the center, not our heroes nor ourselves.

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

 

Conclusion

By praying for authorities, trusting in God, and looking unto Jesus, we begin to be a blessing to our beloved nation.

When a Mother is Mothering

In Exodus 1, Pharaoh ordered Hebrew midwives to kill newborn Hebrew boys. When they refused because of fear of the Lord, he gave the order to his people.

Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” Exodus 1:22 NIV

Jochebed, mother of Moses refused to be part of killing her own son. She put him in a basket and laid it in the riverbanks. The Pharaoh's daughter saw him.

⁷Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” ⁸“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. ⁹Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. ¹⁰When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:7-10 NIV

I believe mothers of today's generation can still learn from Jochebed. Her motherly instinct to save, to take care of, to remain connected to and to train her child is a picture of what it looks like when a mother is mothering.

Mothering is the process of caring for children as their mother or of caring for people in the way that a mother does (Cambridge Dictionary)
When a mother is mothering, the best possible care is given to her child.
Let us look at how Jochebed mothered Moses and its implication in today's Christian mothering.

Intentional protection from literal death.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Hebrews 11:24 NIV

Moses was born in Egypt at a time when Pharaoh ordered that all newborn Hebrew baby boys be killed. Perhaps this makes the part, "when he had grown up" in Hebrews 11:24 is significant.
He grew up because God has a plan to use him to lead His people.
Jochebed, when she did what she did for Moses was not just protecting her son's life. She was acting according to God's plan.

She could have just chosen to be controlled by fear of the Pharaoh, but her reverence to God and love for her own child drove her to protect the life of Moses when he, as a baby cannot.

Today's mothers have far more power to protect their child's life. The law has empowered them to have this “choice” during pregnancy. Although it's odd that mothers in newborn Moses's time struggle to protect their boys, there are some mothers today who would rather choose not to have a baby at all. They are even backed up by the law.

I pray that, like Jochebed, may present generation mothers choose to protect life.


Intentional preservation of godly culture.

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25 NIV

Moses's choice to be identified as a Hebrew even when identifying as a prince of Egypt is more advantageous of him is deeply rooted in his mother's influence and intentional training. Remember, his mother took care of him during his formative years. As she nursed him, she taught him living the Israelite way - loving the Living God above all.

As a result, he did not forget who he really was - a servant of God.

When the Lord called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he had reasons not to do what God wants him to, and he actually bargained with God. But his final response was still to obey his God.

His first 40 years of existence was spent as a prince. The second 40 as a fugitive. His last 40 as leader of God's people on their way to the Promised Land. Therefore, Jochebed's protection of him as a newborn and as a boy, and her preservation of his godly culture was just as significant as him leading the Israelites. All these were pre-conceived in God's mind. That was His plan all along.
Only an all-knowing God can execute that.

I pray that, like Jochebed, Christian mothers of today choose to preserve godly culture in their own children.


Intentional influence to imitate Christ.

He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:26 NIV

Some parents worry that when their children grow up, they might forget what their parents taught them.
The thought of them choosing not to become what you have influenced them to might be terrifying.
Those worries are for tomorrow. The Bible teaches us to not worry.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

You see, every generation has its own dilemma of drifting away from God. Yet, every generation has someone or some people raised up by God to effect revival. So, don't worry about the world your children will inherit. Just make sure you do your best to intentionally influence them to imitate Christ.

As much as you can, protect, preserve, and influence your child while praying and declaring that they will choose to be Christlike amid changing times.

Look at how the Apostle Paul commended Timothy's mother and grandmother, pointing their influence on him.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 NIV

Intentional Mothering to raise children.
Someone once shared to me the phases of parenting. I can't find it now, but the closest one is, Focus on the Family's "The Four Phases of Parenthood." A slight difference on  "Controller," the article used "Commander" and there was no specific age mentioned. I am sharing this from memory of when it was shared with me.

• Controller (0-6 years old) - The phase when we control almost everything about our children - what to eat, when to sleep, when to go out, what to wear, etc.

• Coach (7-15 years old) - the phase when parents coach their child. Since this is the age when they go to school, this is where we teach them, "Don't talk to strangers," "What do you do when you are bullied," "This is how you behave when in someone else's house," etc.

• Counselor (16 - 24 years old) - This is when parents listen more to their children. They have their own thoughts, own understanding, own opinion, own experiences, etc. Therefore, listening will make us understand them more. When they share their feelings or experiences, we let them talk and not take the spotlight from them. When they come for help in decision-making, we present them possible options and let them decide.

• Consultant (25 years old and above) - This is the phase where parents just wait for their children's availability. This is where we should be able to say, "I did my part as a parent. It's time you do it on your own, but if you need me, I am here." They are no longer kids. They are adults.

It is wrong to be a consultant when you are supposed to be their controller. Likewise, it is wrong to be their controller when you are supposed to be their consultant.

When we get things mixed up, some children feel like they are not loved.


What about the motherless?
I acknowledge that there are those who felt or experienced not being properly taken cared of by their own mothers. There are also those who did not have a mother figure at all. God does not forget them.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 NIV

As long as our focus is Jesus, God can turn our story into an inspiration and a display of His goodness.



CONCLUSION

Remember, when Jesus came to earth as a man, He had to have a mother. God, in His sovereignty could have chosen not to, but He values family and the role of a mother in developing god-fearing people.

Christian mothers mothering are part of God's great plan to preserve people whom He uses and will use for their own generation.

This verse sums it up:

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 NIV