Fact Or Fallacy

We carry on for a bit more with Joseph’s story, as we wend our way to the place where these words of Paul stand out most convincingly and clearly. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 13

We have been looking and seeing, with different eyes, I may add, at Joseph in this poor, dead state, of weakness and helplessness in its lowest form. Hey! If ever there was poverty, Joseph is poverty. It is in his poor, weak, dishevelled, empty and totally powerless state that providence guides his life to be sold to some Midianites. They in turn, take him, a poor, sad, helpless child of the Promise, and sell him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard. Is this not a fact, and no fallacy?

Providence moves her unrelenting, yet unfathomable hand in Joseph’s poor and empty slave life, an Israelite slave in Egypt, with great troubles and blessings. O the unstoppable hand of Providence, landing Joseph, with no authority of his own, no strength of his own, no power of his own, no family and friends of his own and no will of his own, to find great favour with, of all people in Egypt, Pharaoh. Pharaoh is the earthly multimillionaire! Have you got it? Are you beginning to get it?  Is this not Paul’s story also?

I simply can’t resist bringing you the previous paragraph again, but this time, I have changed the names. I bring it because, among other heart-tugging and electrifying life-moving facts, this has placed you, me and all believers who claim the Holy Spirit, in a position which none of us can deny. If we each know an un-seared conscience and a mind that is controlled by Him, then this must totally and thoroughly affect us, deeply.

Providence moves her unrelenting, yet unfathomable hand in Paul’s poor and empty slave life, a slave in law, with great troubles and blessings. O the unstoppable hand of Providence, landing Paul, with no authority of his own, no strength of his own, no power of his own, no family and friends of his own and no will of his own, to find great favour with, of all people in Damascus, Ananias. Ananias is the spiritual multimillionaire! Have you got it? Are you beginning to get it?  Is this not your story also? Is this not a fact and not any fallacy or fantasy?

Can this not be said of every single one of us also, who has known the unmitigated hand of our Lord’s sure and authoritative presence in our lives? Providence moves her unrelenting, yet unfathomable hand in our poor and empty slave lives, slaves to sin, with great troubles and blessings. O the unstoppable hand of Providence, landing us, with no authority of our own, no strength of our own, no power of our own, no family and friends of our own and no will of our own, to find great favour with, of all people in this dark and sinful world, Jesus. Jesus is the earthly and heavenly multimillionaire! Have you got it? Are you beginning to get it? This is your story and mine. This is fact, not ever fallacy or fantasy.

My song is love unknown , my Saviour’s love to me,

Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be,

Oh, who am I, that for my sake,

My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

In this amorous hymn by Samuel Crossman, even with just one stanza, we cannot but live God’s Providence in sending His One and Only Begotten Son to take us, poor,, empty, helpless and utterly powerless creatures, and lift us high, way beyond our wildest dreams, aspirations and expectations, to be not just a friend and servant, but to know Him as sons and daughters. He has made us all new in Him, for He has given us Spiritual birth that we may receive all that He has promised us, while here in human flesh, and beyond.

In Christ Jesus, the Living Word, Sovereign God has given us all that we need to do His will and live His life so that all may see and know truth. Is this not specified in Jesus’ prayer to His Father in heaven? I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You: that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17: 20 – 21.

I ask you, how can we be people for whom Jesus has already prayed answered prayers that we, as believers, may be living proofs that He is sent from God, if we do not believe? How can we live Jesus’ strengthening authority and power, to do all things in His Name? How can we not do all things through Jesus Christ, who strengthens all who are in Him?

Stand and See! Fact or Fallacy!