Unharmed Woman Witnessed

Unharmed Woman Witnessed

Revelation 12: Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. ² She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out.

³ Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. ⁴ With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. ⁵ Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. ⁶ The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days.

 

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Everyone was working normally until a sudden moment. An armored car pulled up and I could see the tension on the manager’s face as the guards entered the facility. They quickly went into the back, grabbed what they needed and quickly left. I asked what was going on. Someone said, “We had a lot of cash that needed to be deposited and required a special level of protection.”

 

• The cargo was precious and required a different level of protection.
• The place that held the cargo was at risk, so it needed special protection.
• Once the cargo was delivered, normal operations continued and all was well.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, had heard the seventh trumpet blow. JESUS was revealed and was now showing him a recap of life from the beginning of human time. JESUS showed John a woman about to give birth. The woman was precious to GOD as well as the baby. They both needed special protection from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Life is precious to GOD.
• JESUS chose to become a human and was born by a woman who belonged to one of the twelve tribes.
• Satan tried to stop JESUS from being born, but his plan to harm the baby or the woman, was thwarted.

 

As fragile as this plan seemed, GOD’s protection was always there. Satan did a lot of harm and JESUS showed us that everything was in control. The birth of JESU was the beginning of a victorious story.

 

HE will one day return and rule with an “iron rod” meaning this time HE won’t be so gentle. GOD’s power protected JESUS and the nation HE chose to be born through. That same power protects me and you.

 

Challenge

• Do you think the writer knew what was being shown?
• Have you ever needed a recap of events to know what was going to happen next?
• Will you believe that the woman, also known as the nation JESUS chose, was safe and did give birth to JESUS and HE did die and was raised to life and is victorious for you and me today?

Facing Decrees

Luke 2: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,  who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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As I walked out of the interview, something told me to speak with the official looking person walking towards the parking lot. The company I had just interviewed with was just placed on a global hiring freeze and I felt a bit dejected.

The person in the parking lot confirmed the statement but said something amazing. “Call our company. I am a recruiter.” I called and weeks later began working for that company.

• Some human decrees seem devastating to me.
• Some human decrees seem like they add hurdles to my life.
• Some human decrees seem like snap judgments leaning towards greed.

Joseph and Mary had to do what the government said. Registering with the government meant more money for the government and Joseph complied. Little did he know that this decree was being used by GOD.

• GOD places huge situations in front of me so I can tell it is HIM.
• GOD uses human decrees for HIS good, even when I think the decree is harsh and filled with greed.
• GOD has a plan for me that includes human decrees especially when humans think they are in control.

Whether it is government or work or an of track church, GOD laughs at human plans. “They think they are in control” HE giggles. The reality is GOD is in control. HE knew towns would be flooded with people who would stay at the best hotels, so HE took the lower route and had HIS SON born in a barn and laid in a dirty feeding trough.

GOD sees the enormity of various situations in my life as well. HE knows the barriers before me are laughable to HIM. HE carriers me through the troubles and lays me down beside HIS still waters of peace. GOD is my refuge.

• Are you facing something huge?
• Do you see a huge human decree that seems to be immovable?
• Can you put your trust in GOD today knowing HE has already taken care of your situation in spite of what humans think?

Obedient to the Weird Plan

Matthew 1: ¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

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What a strange plan. As I pondered this plan to save all humans I said to myself, “I would never have done it this way.” I mean in this chapter I read that Joseph was a descendant of murderers, liars, adulterers and thieves. Then it turns out that this guys’ fiancé turns up pregnant without having sex.

• GOD says to me “MY ways are not your ways. MY thoughts are not your thoughts.”
• GOD says to me “I WILL be your GOD and you will be MY people.”
• GOD says to me “I AM.”

Joseph had to do something so divorce was a nice quiet option. BUT GOD said something different. GOD wanted all of humanity to know this was no ordinary plan. It had to be weird, extraordinary, and supernatural. GOD does the same in my life. HIS plans are weird and sometimes seem that they will not work.

• GOD’s plan for me is extraordinary.
• GOD’s plan for me is not the norm.
• GOD’s plan for me sometimes seems strange but when I am obedient it always works!

I did not have an example that compared to the birth of my SAVIOR, but I do recognize that GOD doesn’t always tell me everything up front. HE requires me to have faith without fault. The more I can have the better off I will be.

• Does your plan seem strange?
• Does it seem like you will never get to the finish line?
• Can you stop trying to make sense out of GOD’s plan and ask HIM for the faith to continue?