JOSIAH-MINISTRIES

NOW WHAT ?

 Acts 2: 37     Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38    Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be  baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

     Our family has been meeting together for almost a year now. We worship and pray and I usually bring a message. A couple months ago, it seemed like I was finished or had ran out of things to teach. As I sought the Lord,  Acts 2:38&39 came to mind. The words “repent and be baptized“stood out. All of us are saved and Baptized. We have been serving the Lord for some time. My question is “Now what” I realize now that we are growing and being prepared for what ever or where ever the Lord brings us.

       I’ve read that the trip from Egypt to Canaan should have only taken about 11 days, but because of Israel’s rebellion it took 40 years. When David was anointed King in

                  I Samuel 16, he did not push Saul aside and try to begin his reign. Instead, he went back to his flock. I believe that during that time David’s character was being formed. David went on to be the “King after God’s own heart”. In the account of Joseph and his brothers, we learn that Joseph was sent to Egypt to prepare a place for God’s people. Joseph eventually became the second most powerful man in Egypt. But before that came to be, Joseph was prepared.

                         Psalms 105:17 He  sent a man before them,           Joseph, who was  sold as a slave.                          18 They afflicted his  feet with fetters,           He himself was laid in irons; ¹⁹       Until the time that his 20    word came to pass,           The word of the Lord  tested him.

       

      When Josephs’ brothers stood before him, he could have reacted in anger over what they had done to him. But he didn’t. Instead he welcomed them.

 

        As the Lord prepares us for service, he already knows what we are going to face. I believe that I have a choice to submit to him and to let him prepare me for what’s ahead or resist Him and try to go on my own strength. In my own life I have had many things that I gave up without a whole lot of resistance (11 days). But there were other battles that took a long time (40 years).  I have seen many Godly men and women fall away, many because their preparation was not complete. I don’t believe that most of these even saw it (their fall) coming. My goal is this, that we be servants of the Lord fully equipped and fully armed for the battles ahead.

 

        As we prayed for our next step we asked the Lord, “now what?” We did not hear an immediate answer. Not to long after this, my sister-in-law was offered a very good job in Bellingham. My brother-in-law and his wife have accepted jobs in Jamaica. In a couple weeks we are joining with some brothers and sisters in the Lord to pray over, equip and send them out for service like the early church did in the book of Acts. I believe that that is lacking in a lot of churches today. We should be raising up ministers through our ranks to be sent into ministry. It’s not easy to see our group shrink by three members, but I know that in the same way that God has a plan for these three, he has a plan for us. As I said before, when Jesus returns I want to be found doing the Lords work. Fully prepared.

  

   May the Lord bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and give you strength, yours in Christ, Marty

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