God - the Eternal Optimist!!

This could also be entitled; "Hope for a Monday morning!". I must admit it hasn't been the most joyous of weekends for me. It's not been a great week really. And the news of Todd Bentley didn't help matters at all. I worked a night shift last night and I must admit God was pretty silent - which always makes for a frustrating night. But I love Rob Rufus's perspective - that when God is silent, it is like He is inviting you to a game of hide and seek! So seek Him I did - and this morning when I was walking back in the rain, I felt Him remind me of His agony and His pain after the children of Israel refused to go into the Promised Land.

His response?

"So the LORD said, "I have pardoned them according to your word; but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD".

It seems slightly out of context for the Lord to say this! Moses was just begging for mercy for the children of Israel who had refused to go into the Land. Why could God not just say "Okay"? His response was to look down the corridors of time to a point in history when all the earth WILL be filled with the glory of the Lord! How can we be so sure? The oath of the Lord rests on it! We don't need to be depressed or upset at the news from "Fresh Fire Ministries" - because the promise - the oath of the Lord stands firm. The day is coming (and I believe is already in progress) when the glory of the Lord shall sweep over the earth like a tsunami.

The second verse that God reminded me of that speaks again of His eternal optimism is one that is very close to my friend Jesse's heart;

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days".

A day is coming when ALL people will encounter a lavish outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It's coming! F F Bruce - the famous commentator - agrees that the Pentecost outpouring in Acts 2 was merely the commencement of the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. So we can look at the Lakeland Outpouring and not fret that it will wane because of the Todd Bentley news. If it does - it was a man-centred event anyway. A day is coming when all people will encounter what those in Florida have been experiencing and more! Our children will prophesy and utter forth the glories of God! Our fathers will dream dreams and we will see visions! Let us look forward with great hope and optimism and share in God's eternal perspective!

The word is "ALL"! ALL the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord! The Holy Spirit will be poured out on ALL people! What a lavish God we love and adore!

PS: I mentioned my mate Jesse - I was vastly amused and excited to find a video of his very self on You-Tube quite by chance! I have had phone conversations with this awesome servant of God but have never met him. So this video is kind of second best. He's talking about technological stuff that some of us like me may not follow - but at least this puts a face to a name! Great stuff Jesse! Awesome to see you at last!