APPOINTED AS VICEROYS
I have already written here that the One who brought order out of the chaos of Creation also formed Humanity and gave us the office of viceroys – partners with God. He called us to bring more order out of the chaos around us.
Things went well with Humanity. They named the animals and plucked sustenance from all the trees in Eden, except that forbidden one.
Then God’s Enemy deceived Humanity into giving their allegiance to him instead of to God. They gave up trusting obedience to the Creator and trusted in the Enemy’s lies…and brought death and destruction into Creation. They gave up being partners with God.
PLAN OF REDEMPTION
Still desiring a Heaven and Earth in which everyone faithfully trusts and obeys Him, God put in motion a plan to redeem Humanity and His Creation. He made promises to people He chose for His purposes. And He still chooses people, gives them promises, and uses them to the limits of their trusting obedience. He merely asks us to seek Him for the solutions to problems, trust Him to solve the problems, and be partners with Him.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED FOR A PROBLEM SOLVED
Abraham had a big problem. He had no offspring to whom to pass his wealth. “…a servant in my household will be my heir.” God didn’t promise Abraham – then called Abram – merely an heir; He promised him as many descendents as the stars in the sky. “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:3-6, NIV)” He partnered with God by exercising his belief.
Abraham and his wife proceeded to have two sons, one by their own methods, one by the fulfillment of God’s promise when it was impossible for their methods to work.
DAVID ENABLED BY HOLY SPIRIT
As a youth tending his father’s sheep, David partnered with God to rescue sheep from a bear and a lion. Sent with food to his brothers in the army, David heard the taunts of Goliath against God’s people and was outraged. He declared that God would partner with him. (1 Samuel 17:45-47) He then killed the monster with his sling and cut off his head. David went on to partner with God as king over Israel.
ELIJAH AND ELISHA
Elijah believed the curses in the Law against those who disobeyed Yahweh. He rose up in partnership with God and declared that Israel would not have rain until Elijah declared it. For three years, Israel had no rain until the prophet called Israel together for a demonstration by fire of Yahweh’s power. He went on to heal the sick, raise the dead, and bring supply to a widow in poverty.
His intern, Elisha, took up the prophet’s mantle and the double portion of sonship. He proceeded to partner with God to declare and to do twice as many miracles as his mentor.
ISAIAH 61:1
This prophet partnered with God to speak rebukes to His people’s enemies and far-reaching promises of One who would rescue His people from their rebellion against Him. In Chapter 61, Isaiah confessed his own anointing by Yahweh to
- preach good news to the poor
- heal the heartbroken
- announce freedom to all captives
- pardon all prisoners (The Message).
JESUS ANOINTED
That One came and used the same passage from Isaiah to confess His anointing (Luke 4:18-21). He went about Israel, partnering with Holy Spirit and healing the sick, raising the dead, driving demons away from people in bondage, and supplying food to two huge crowds of listeners.
To His interns, Jesus declared His governing body of believers would not be stopped by the Enemy’s seats of authority (Matthew 16:18-19, The Message).
JESUS COMMISSIONED HIS APOSTLES
Jesus also appointed those interns as leaders of His colony on Earth. After His death by Roman execution and return to life, King Jesus commissioned His apostles to partner with Holy Spirit to spread His Kingdom to every nation (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV).
ACTS 2 ANOINTING
On the day for celebrating the giving of the Law to Israel, 120 believers – leaders and colonists alike – gathered in a room to pray. They were anointed by Holy Spirit and Peter spoke to a huge crowd of Israelites. He declared their rejection of God’s Anointed One, which led to His death and return to life. Peter’s hearers begged for rescue from God’s wrath against those who would not believe. He and the others partnered with Holy Spirit to spread the Good News of God’s rescue of His people and those of other ethnic groups. And they were followed by signs and demonstrations of God’s loving power (Acts 5:12-16, The Message).
PETER, JOHN, AND A LAME MAN
For example, Peter and John went up to the Temple one day to pray. Along the way, they came upon a beggar who asked for a handout.
Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8, The Message)
TO BE CONTINUED
Modern-day Christians tend to believe all these stories because they’re in the Bible, but do not believe they are relevant for today. In my next posting, I will share several Bible passages that argue we must continue to partner with God for healing the sick, raising the dead, driving out demons, and supplying food to people in need.