He is just waiting to embrace you with his loving and comforting arms
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“I just love the cryptic promises about the salvation through the cross in the Old Testament;
Exodus 15:22-26 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore, it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
For 430 years the Israelites had been in captivity, slaves of the Egyptians, brutalised and continually abused. They had lost their dignity and their self - esteem.
They consistently cried out to their God for help and their prayer would possibly have been ; ”Please forgive me. If you deliver us and set us free we will never ever doubt you again“ The exodus from Egypt was enormous, probably close to a million however not everyone reached the promised land many turned away from God and lost their promise.
Fast forward to the wilderness and the pool at Marah, centuries before Jesus was even born. It was probably pure and clean at one time. However, over the years it had become contaminated with various foreign things that had got into it. It is of course quite possible that God made it bitter in order to bring the Israelites back to their senses and reminding them of the miraculous deliverance they had experienced when he made them free from their dreadful lives.
Tired hungry and thirsty, back to their old ways moaning, grumbling, blaming Moses and everyone including God,
“Why couldn’t we have stayed in Egypt at least we were never hungry and thirsty. We endured the punishment and brutality for over 400 years. We were far better off there. Instead, you, Moses let God bring us here into the wilderness on a stupid promise of some non-existent promised land just so he could see us die “Why can’t we ever find peace, why does God continually bring us grief, why must we go around in circles. Why doesn’t He show us what the future holds? If he would show us that our future was great and peaceful we would be o.k. we would never ever complain again, but there is just no hope“
I truly believe that the pool at Marah represents the human heart, because it has had all manner of problems and difficulties; illness, physical and mental problems, some of which are self - inflicted. The heart has become bitter and in many ways the individual needs to place the blame and eventually that usually is God. The wood represents the Cross on which Jesus died for each one of us. Look what happened when the cross went into the water (Heart); it became pure. Look what happened to the Israelites;
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.
They found rest and shelters, a much better life.
If you accept the cross and ALL it represents into your heart things WILL change. He is just waiting to embrace you with his loving and comforting arms. The key word here is WAITING.
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Jesus is standing here outside the door (your heart) He says; ‘Invite me in. I want to have an intimate relationship with you, love and comfort you, but I will not barge my way in and bully you it MUST be at your request“
If you feel that this could be you because of situations, relationships and most importantly decisions that you have made that have gone wrong. That, over the years, you feel lost and abandoned, let down by family and friends that you have trusted and confided in, and you feel betrayed and maybe your heart has become sad and even bitter. Then I can personally guarantee that, if you put your trust in Jesus and his amazing sacrifice on that wooden cross on Calvary, He will NEVER let you down.
I ask you to make that decision today and someone will come and pray with you.
In 2 Corinthians 6 it states: “In the time of my favour I have heard you and in the day of salvation I have helped you I tell you this this is the day of my favour This is the day of your salvation.”
Perhaps you did pray this prayer a long time ago but because of various situations, maybe the pressures of work, health, money worries, the loss of a loved one, you have, like the Israelites, lost your way a little.
If so and if God seems far away from you, I ask you simply, If God seems far away; Guess Who’s Moved?
Remember, if you pray this prayer and accept Jesus into your life as your personal saviour, your life will slowly change for the better, but it’s a lifetime commitment. Don’t be like the Israelites who lost it on the last stretch.
You will enter into Gods worldwide family who will be just waiting and willing to talk, listen and pray with you when you become hungry or thirsty for friendship, fellowship and encouragement.
Jesus said in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty again“
Amazingly, you will see people in your former situation, and you will be able to help them as you have been helped. I don’t want to embarrass anyone by asking them to come out to the front to be prayed for. If I had been asked to do that, personally I would have done a runner.
You may want someone to pray for a specific situation for healing, or a friend.
Remember we are here today to celebrate a saviour who has been taken down from the cross and raised from the dead to eternal life and NOTHING is impossible for the one true God. Now and again I get pictures of people or situations I would like to share this picture I have. It maybe for someone here today:
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Revelations 1:7: “Look He is coming on the clouds and every eye shall see Him…….. “
Sadly, the world we live in, is a world that’s lost its sight of the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for them and in many ways has become dark and uncaring, just focusing on their lives, totally unaware of what is to come.
We need to be like Jesus a Light in a Dark World. Its time to accept the invitation, the days of hesitation and reluctance are over.”
For the purposes of this blog, Roy offers this explanation of the picture:
Some years ago, as a young Christian, and having my doubts about salvation, the Holy Spirit gave me this picture:
“Like the films War of the Worlds and Gone with the Wind, there is a scene after a great battle. The earth and sky are black, charred and smouldering, people are crying out for help. Suddenly Jesus comes, a huge figure striding across the scene, in his hand He holds a HUGE glass jar. As he goes he keeps picking up small lights, ( a little bit like glow worms). These are those who shine with the light of Christ. People are shouting “ Here I am help me“
However, in Revelation 1:7 it says ALL eyes will see him NOT he will see everyone .
If we don’t shine with the light of Christ in this world then we are heading for a lost eternity.
“As we close our eyes and prepare to pray if you would like to respond to Gods invitation today just quietly raise your hand, someone will come and quietly pray with you."
Let’s Pray;
Heavenly Father I ask your forgiveness for the way I have lived my life. I, like the Israelites feel lost and alone in the wilderness and as you brought them to safety and a better life please touch my heart as you touched the pool at Marah with the cross and make it pure and worthy enough to follow you. In your precious name I pray, AMEN”
I make no apologies for publishing this in full, because not only is the message it contains vital in these days, but its very delivery is also a testimony to the power of Jesus in the life of this godly man.
Roy preached this message only three weeks after the funeral of his beloved wife, Sue, who went to be with the Lord after a tragic accident at home.
Be blessed as you read it and have a blessed week.
Author: Alan Cameron (with gratitude to Roy Westwood)
May God bless and enrich your life
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