Just as there is a lot of activity inside the mother’s body that we cannot see, so there is a lot of activity in the spiritual world concerning God’s promises to us. Just because we cannot see or feel anything happening does not mean that nothing is taking place. God does some of His best work in secret, and He delights in surprising His children.
Ishmael Is Not Isaac
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.
And Sarai said to Abram, See here, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abram listened to and heeded what Sarai said.
Genesis 16:1,2
Abraham and Sarah got tired of waiting. They were weary and began to wonder if maybe there was something they could do to help things move along faster. In Genesis 16:1,2 we see that Sarah (then called Sarai), Abram’s wife, had an idea to give her handmaiden to her husband that he might have intercourse with her. She felt perhaps this would be God’s way of giving them the promised child. It seemed to her that God was not doing anything, so she would do something.
Does that sound familiar? During the waiting times, do you ever get a bright idea and try to be “Holy Ghost, Jr.”?
Abraham listened to Sarah, did what she asked, and the result was the birth of a child called Ishmael. But, Ishmael was not the child of promise.
Ishmael was fourteen years old when Isaac, the child of promise, was finally born. It probably took longer than originally planned because, once we give birth to the “Ishmaels” in our lives, we have to deal with the repercussions. I always say that once we have Ishmael, we have to change his diapers and take care of him.
We would like to do our own thing and have God make it work out, but He let me know years ago that what we give birth to in the strength of our own flesh, He is not obligated to care for or pay for.
Ishmael never brings us joy. We may love him, because we certainly love the fruit of our labors. What we struggle and labor to bring forth usually means a lot to us, but that does not mean it has the inherent ability to bring enjoyment to our lives.
There are many frustrated people with no joy who head up major works. God did not say we could not build, but the psalmist did say, Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it … (Ps. 127:1).
It is terribly frustrating to labor and build and have all the visible signs of success, yet be without an ability to enjoy it. We can build, but if our labor is not in the Lord it can be in vain (useless).
Many people spend their lives climbing the ladder of success and find when they reach the top that their ladder is leaning against the wrong building. I don’t want to do that with my life, and I’m sure you don’t want to do that with yours either.
It is vitally important to realize that whatever God calls us to do, He provides enjoyment for. God has not drawn you and me into relationship with Himself in order to make us miserable. Instead, He brings us righteousness, peace and joy. (Rom. 14:17.)
Many people have no joy from their labors, but this should not be so for the Spirit-led children of God. Enjoying our labor is a gift from God. (Eccl. 5:19.) Enjoyment itself is a gift from God, and a blessed one I might add. I had a position and things, without joy, and I don’t ever want it again.
Enjoyment Is a Gift From God
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is for one to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun all the days which God gives him — for this is his [allotted] part.
Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil — this is the gift of God [to him].
Ecclesiastes 5:18,19
This passage was written by a man who had tried most everything the world has to offer, and he wrote to inform us that the ability to enjoy what we have is a gift from God. But if we give birth to it ahead of time — an untimely birth — it will drain us instead of providing us joy.
Abraham and Sarah made a human mistake. The fruit of their mistake was Ishmael. Because he was Abraham’s son, just as Isaac was, God blessed him by making a nation of him also. (Gen. 17:15-22.)
It is good to know that God loves us so much that even when we make mistakes, He can get value out of our blunders if our heart is right toward Him. Yes, God blessed Ishmael, but the promise of God to Abraham could never be fulfilled through Ishmael because Ishmael was Abraham and Sarah’s work — not God’s.
Like Abraham and Sarah, if we are not careful we may move into the area where we have some of God’s will and some of our own, which doesn’t work.
Ishmael Cannot Be Heir With Isaac
The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for her as He had promised.
For Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time God had told him.
Abraham named his son whom Sarah bore to him Isaac [laughter].
Genesis 21:1-3
Isaac was finally born, and he and Ishmael were raised together for three years, but not without some challenges.
In Genesis 21:10, Sarah told Abraham that Ishmael had to go, and God confirmed her words in verse 12 saying, … Do not let it seem grievous and evil to you because of the youth and your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said to you, do what she asks, for in Isaac shall your posterity be called.
Ishmael could not be heir with Isaac. The work of the flesh could not share in the work of the Lord.
There always comes a time when the works of our own flesh must experience death or total separation. God wants us to be inheritors, not laborers. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:17 KJV.) An heir receives what another has worked for. He doesn’t work himself to obtain what is already his, by inheritance. And if he tries to, he will definitely lose his joy.
I mentioned earlier that Genesis 16:12 KJV says that Ishmael will be a wild man, his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. … while Isaac’s name means “laughter.” This really says it all.
When we do our own thing in our own timing and refuse to wait on God, we are going to get war. When we wait for God’s promise, it will always bring us joy. The waiting is difficult, but the joy of receiving the prize is worth the wait. How to enjoy the waiting is the key.
God’s Way Is Better
For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor?
Romans 11:34
We need to come to the realization that God is smarter than we are. His plan really is better. No matter what you or I may think, God’s way is better than ours.
I look back now at many of the frustrating times I went through trying to give birth to things in my timing and being frustrated about waiting, and I realize now that I really was not ready for them.
God knew I wasn’t ready, but I thought I was. I spent so much of my time asking, “Why, God, why?” and “When, God, when?” I asked questions only God had the answers to, and He had no intention of telling me.
Remember, God wants our trust — not our questions.
I have discovered over the years that trust requires unanswered questions.
When we face puzzling situations, we should say, “Well, Lord, this does not make any sense to me, but I trust You. I believe You love me and that You will do Your best for me at the right time.”
God does not need our counsel in order to work; He needs our faith.
In Exodus 33:13 Moses prayed for God to show him His ways: Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. …
We should pray that prayer regularly, remembering that God’s ways
include His timing.
God’s Timing Is Not for Us To Know
He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.
Acts 1:7
Often we experience a lot of disappointment, which hinders joy and enjoyment, due to deciding for ourselves that something has to be done a certain way, or by a certain time. When we want something very strongly, we can easily convince ourselves that it is God’s will for us to have it when we want it, the way we want it.
I always believe for things. I am goal-oriented and always need something to look forward to. Many years ago, I was letting what I thought was faith frustrate me. I attempted to use my faith to get what I wanted. When it did not arrive on time, I felt I had failed in the faith department, or that some demon power was blocking my blessing.
Now, after almost twenty years of experience working closely with God, I know that I can and should use my faith, but God has an appointed time.
“In due time,” (1 Pet. 5:6), “at the appointed time” (Gen. 18:14), at “the proper time” (Gal. 4:4) — these are things the Bible says about God’s timing. Jesus Himself made it clear that it is not for us to know what these times are.
Remaining expectant every day no matter how long it takes is one of the things that will keep you and me flowing in joy.
When a pregnant woman is waiting to deliver her child, people say that she is “expecting.” I am sure most of us are expecting.
I know I am expecting.
There are things God has spoken to me — things He has placed in my heart — that I have not seen manifested yet. Some of them have been there as long as fifteen or sixteen years. Other things He spoke around the same time have come to pass.
I used to be confused. Now, I am no longer confused, I am expecting. My time can come at any moment, any day — maybe today — and so can yours.
Suddenly!
We can expect “a season of suddenlies” in our lives. We can get up in the morning with a major problem and go to bed without it.
God moves suddenly.
Actually, He is working behind the scenes all the time, but just as the birth of a baby comes suddenly, so God manifests what He has been doing for us, suddenly!
In Acts 1:4, after His resurrection Jesus instructed His disciples and other followers … not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. They were instructed to wait.
It is hard on our flesh, when God’s instruction to us is to wait. There have been times when I have said to the Lord, “What do You want me to do?” And all He said was, “Wait.” He did not tell me how long — just to wait.
We must be willing to wait “indefinitely.”
In Acts 1:13 we read what the disciples did after Jesus gave them the instructions to wait and then left them behind as He ascended to the Father in heaven: And when they had entered [the city], they mounted [the stairs] to the upper room, where they were [indefinitely] staying. … When they went into the upper room, they did not place a time limit on how long they would wait. They had heard from Jesus, and they intended to obey.
Then in Acts 2:1,2 we are told what happened as they waited: And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
As they waited — suddenly — what they were waiting for arrived.
Just think of it, one minute they were waiting, and the next minute they had the manifestation. That makes life exciting!
We can expect and be full of hope.
A pregnant woman, when her time comes near, goes to bed each evening thinking, “This could be the night.” She awakens each day thinking, “Maybe today I will have the baby.” She continues in that frame of mind until the blessed event takes place.
We should have that same attitude, and as we do, we will enjoy the trip. We can enjoy the waiting room, but only with the proper attitude.
God Is Passing By!
And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory.
And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness.
But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live.
And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock,
And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.
Exodus 33:18-23
In this passage we see God doing something for Moses that we can definitely learn from and be excited about.
The lesson the Holy Spirit revealed to me from these verses is that we cannot always see God coming, but we certainly know when He has been there.
Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock, and God hid his view by placing His hand over Moses so he could not see His face.
In other words, we are hidden in the Rock, which is Jesus, and we can rest there while God is on His way to bless us.
We often cannot see Him coming — our situation seems the same day after day — and yet, every day God is getting closer.
Suddenly God passed by, and when He removed His hand, Moses could see His back.
When the wind of God’s Spirit blows into our lives, we definitely know that He has passed by.
My ministry team and I see this principle all the time in our conferences, or as a fruit of our radio and television programs or our teaching tapes. People continually tell us that they had such and such problems for years and were set free during one of these events. People often come into our meetings sick and leave well.
A woman with back pain for twenty-four years testified that, after receiving prayer in a Life In The Word meeting, she never had pain again. When someone has had a problem for twenty-four years, that individual is anxious to see God. He passed by in that meeting, and this woman went home healed.
Another woman was carried to the altar because she was violently ill with a migraine headache. Hands were laid on her and prayer offered in Jesus’ name. We stood for about three minutes, speaking words of life into her sick body, and suddenly, we saw that God’s power was affecting her. As a result, she danced out of the meeting, shouting praises to God.
When a person is carried in and dances out, I think we can safely say that Jesus has passed by.
A couple wrote and said that they were on the verge of divorce. Their problems were serious. They saw our television program about relationships and why people don’t get along. We offered some tapes on marriage, which they ordered and listened to. God touched them mightily, and now not only are they not getting a divorce, they are both in church and are involved in prison ministry!
I think Jesus passed by!
They did not see Him coming, but suddenly there was a major change. Hope replaced hopelessness.
People are living in victory who were previously victims — all because God passed by!
The Lord Will Come Suddenly!
Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:1
You may be seeking God and waiting on God. Don’t give up! God comes suddenly! Your “suddenly” may be today or tomorrow.
God loves you, and He definitely has a good plan for your life.
Believe it! Expect it!
Put your hope in Him, and you will never be disappointed or put to shame. (Rom. 5:5.)
The Silent Years
Jesus spent thirty years in preparation for a three-year ministry.
Most of us might be willing to prepare three weeks for a thirty-year ministry, and even at that, we would rather it not take so long. We are so accustomed to our “instant, everything now” society that we bring these carnal expectations into our relationship with God. It keeps us in a state of turmoil until we see that God is not going to promote us before we are thoroughly prepared.
In His humanity, Jesus went through some things that equipped Him to do what God had called Him to do, as we read in Hebrews 5:8,9: Although He [Jesus] was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered and, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him.
Jesus had what I call “silent years,” and so did many other Bible heroes who were mightily used by God.
The birth of Jesus was recorded in Luke chapter 2. He was circumcised when He was eight days old according to the Law, and shortly after, He was dedicated in the temple, but we hear nothing else about Him in the Scriptures until He was twelve years old. Then, we find Him in the temple sitting among the teachers and asking questions. (Luke 2:41-51.)
The only thing I can find in the Word of God regarding those “silent years” is that He … grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him (Luke 2:40).