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A Covering

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A covering is used to cover something else, typically in order to protect or conceal it.  When I begin to think in terms of our spiritual covering that God has provided, my heart is overwhelmed by the depth of God’s love for me.  I know that many have written and spoke on this subject and that my few words will be feeble in comparison but sometimes as one of the Redeemed I just need to say so.

First of all, if something needs covered this means it is vulnerable or weak and needs protection from the elements surrounding it so it will not suffer harm or damage.  When God came to me I was lost and undone and needed my sins to be covered by the blood of His Son.  I am reminded of a couple of scriptures that describe this covering so well.  First in the garden of Eden when Eve and Adam sinned against God and knew they were naked they tried to make their own covering to cover their nakedness and sin by sewing fig leaves together.  But this did not work.  They were still ashamed.  When God came to them in the garden and they confessed what they had done wrong, God himself made them tunics of skin and clothed them.  This highlights that there would have to be a sacrifice now to cover the sin of mankind which would be Jesus’s death upon the cross.  God himself provided the sacrifice that was needed.

The other scripture that I identify with so well is in Ezekiel 16.  In this scripture we find a babe that has been cast out without a father or mother to care for it.  As others passed by no one had compassion or pity for the babe.  But when He passed by, He said it could live.  He spread His skirt over the babe and covered it.  He entered into a covenant with the babe.  It now belonged to him.  He washed away all the blood and anointed it with oil.  Then  He dressed the babe with the best garment and shoes.  Aren’t you glad that when Jesus came by your way that he reached down into the depths of your sin, picked you up, cleansed you, filled you with his Spirit, and dressed you in new garments-made you a new creature and made a covenant with you?

Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.

I am also so glad that He not only saved my soul but that He is ever present upon this journey of life to be our Protector and Provider.  Many times I think about the mother hen and her little chicks and how that they may be all over the place but when danger arises they flock to their mother and she spreads her wings over them to protect them.  I want to stay under the wings of God’s protection.  A great example of God’s protection is shown when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness.  It took the blood on the doorpost to bring the deliverance but also on the journey through the wilderness God protected and provided for their every need.

Exodus 13:21  And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.

In the desert the heat is unbearable during the day and the nights are so very cold.  The cloud provided them shelter from the sun and the pillar of fire provided heat and light for the night.  At one point the Egyptians were so close that the children of Israel could see them.  They began to worry and complain and blame Moses.  Moses told them that the Lord shall fight for you and to hold their peace.  So the angel of the Lord which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them.  It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians and a cloud of light to the children of Israel and they came not near each other all night.  Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea and the Lord caused the sea to go back all night long to create a path wide enough for the thousands of Israelite’s to cross over.  If anyone had decided to leave the camp they would not have survived.  If you want God’s protection and favor you have to stay in His camp and do His will.

God is in control of everything and I definitely want to be in a place where I can be covered by His protection.  I have been in this way for several years and know that many times in my life that God’s hand has kept disaster and trouble from overwhelming me and mine.  I believe that He can do anything and that He will work on my behalf when I have needs or problems.

Deuteronomy 33: 12  And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

 

 

 

What’s Your Story?

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Luke 8:35-39

35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

First, the exorcism left the men with a new posture, that of sitting and resting, in direct contrast to the constant roaming and wandering about the tombs and mountains and wilderness day and night. Christ says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” A problem of sin is discontentment, the lack of peace and rest (Isaiah 57:20-21). However, that all changed when Christ entered the lives of the demon-possessed men to deliver them from the evil adversary.

Second, before the exorcism, the possessed men want nothing to do with Christ, but afterward a tremendous change in attitude occurs: The delivered men want to go with Christ out of reverence and respect for their “Savior.”Jesus, though, has something else in mind: It is more important that they witness to others of what happened. Jesus instructs His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The man wants to follow Jesus physically, but Jesus wants him to take up his cause for Him.

Third, before their deliverance they wear no clothes, yet afterwards they are clothed (Luke 8:27, 35). Sin makes people shameless and immodest, a natural development due to their separation from the righteous God. The men’s spiritual cleanness is indicated by visible changes; modesty, cleanliness, and appearance improve, as it does when anyone is delivered by Christ. Wherever God’s truth is received, people’s morals improve, reflected in modest clothing.

Fourth, they regain their sanity. Fools, not wise men, reject God (Psalm 14:1), and sin invites Satan into a person’s mind. Ultimately, his influence causes madness. Jesus explains: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order” (Luke 11:24-25). When a demon is removed, a person’s mind is cleaned of chaos and made orderly. To avoid being possessed again, he needs to replace what was swept out with God’s Spirit and truth.

Fifth, the words “right mind” (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35) suggest the controlling of thoughts and actions, so it indicates, not only sanity, but also self-control. The demons in the men are uncontrollable (“neither could anyone tame him,”Mark 5:4), but when Jesus comes, they recognize God’s authority over them. Evil people cannot control their desires, and society cannot control them, so crime rages on. Living God’s way of life as revealed in the life of Christ is the answer. God provides the right mind to produce the fruit of the Spirit, including self-control (Galatians 5:23).

Jesus instructs the healed man to tell people about his deliverance, particularly those who were familiar and intimate with him. He wants him to be an example of God’s grace, first among his own family and friends, so that they can come to repentance. A Christian is first responsible for witnessing to those closest to him, who will see the greatest difference in him as he lives God’s way of life.