God‘s ways are not our ways. This can be a rude slap to the face if you don’t take the time to understand His ways. What God does is unique; He tests you in ways that completely reveal your innermost trust in His word. This is the reason why I believe what Paul said, “They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.” You must understand why God does things the way He does them.

A deadline refers to that moment when God is expected to fulfill a promise to you. We wonder why God waits past our deadlines to perform a miracle. Hopefully the purpose of our questioning is to understand God’s reasoning and to reveal His ways.

Scripture reveals great insight into God and His ways when we see how He dealt with King Saul. The Philistine nation had ruled over Israel for many years.  Two years after Saul became king he finally destroyed the Philistine garrison in a significant victory. The Philistines came out in full force with 30,000 soldiers and chariots. King Saul was ready to face them with very specific instructions from the Prophet Samuel, “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed.” The next sentence reveals God’s way, “but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.”

Why did King Saul see God breaking from His own set protocol of timing? There are multiple explanations for the king’s next reaction. It could be, “If God doesn’t care to come on time, I’ll take care of it.” Or maybe Saul was playing the victim, “What else can I do? I must defend these poor people.” I presume the king’s pride led him to take control. Let’s look at what the Bible says:

“And Saul said, ‘Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.’ And he offered the burnt offering.” This action blew up in his face when Samuel came to look at what Saul had done: “And Samuel said to Saul, ‘Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which He commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.’”

These actions by God explain why He makes you wait past the proposed deadline for your miracle. He wants to see if you will obey His command even when it doesn’t make sense to you or to anyone else. Let me give you a personal example. In 2017, on January 29, we were staying in a hotel in Rome, Italy. My daughter, Misty Déjà Vu, was very ill and had to stay in her hotel room. The following morning her brother and sister came to my room and said, “Dad, we must take Misty to the hospital.” I asked the Lord if I should call an ambulance. After waiting a few minutes the Lord spoke to me and said, “Yes. Misty is going to be alright. I have two doctors prepared for her and they will know exactly what her problem is.” God did not tell me that Misty was going to die for 15 minutes. When my daughter suddenly died in the arms of the ambulance workers we were all shocked. We didn’t expect this! But this is God’s way.

He tells you His promise, but He does not tell you the trials that you are going to have to face as you wait for His outcome to be accomplished. All I had to go on was God’s word. This is the way God does things.  He gives you exactly what you need at the right time. You must stand on His word as your rock and foundation to carry you through the most troubled waters.

When my family and I arrived at the hospital the doctor came out and told me, “Your daughter is dead.” I must tell you the truth. I did not even consider the words that came out of the doctor’s mouth. I looked at him as stone-faced as I possibly could and simply said the words of God, “Misty is going to be alright.” The doctors shook their heads and walked away, but it did not matter. I stood on the rock of God’s word and nothing else.

God’s word about the two doctors came to pass when the doctors said, “As soon as we saw your daughter, we knew she had Addison’s disease.” When we looked online and read about this disease, it was like we were reading Misty’s medical history. At that point, I knew God was totally in control, and He had chosen this situation to show me the reason for His ways. There are surprises that occur past the deadline, but just before the miracle. In this, another way of God is revealed. God always tells us to wait until the light is turned on.

Jesus and His disciples waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days. Talk about waiting past the deadline!  This story really takes the cake! I want to emphasize a lesson that Jesus teaches in the process. “Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.’ These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.’”

Look at this powerful revelation that Jesus is showing us. There is a light revealed in you if you understand why God is making you wait for the light to turn on. Waiting illuminates your pathway and shows to the world your faith and trust in God’s word. When waiting for your miracle, if it appears that the miracle has passed its deadline, you must understand that you are causing a light from heaven to light up your pathway. This light will be bright enough to shine forth into multiple generations and secure your family’s place and promotion in history.

Sent in love,

Pastor Richard Gazowsky

One of the most important skills in life is waiting patiently. Jesus felt it was so important that He warned the generation of the last days, in the most critical time of their existence, “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Why is patience so valuable to the human condition? Isn’t patience just the skill of waiting?

Waiting cannot be assessed alone, but must be coupled with believing that something really special is going to happen. I personally believe this is the very dynamic that Jesus is expecting. For example: I am traveling with my family praying for America. While we are busy obeying His word over us as a family, we believe the Lord Himself will win San Francisco to Jesus. It was almost three years ago when God gave me this word and we are still waiting for it to come to pass.

During the last three months, in dreams, visions, and revelations from the Scripture, God has begun to reveal His plan for our church in San Francisco. I could see how He could win our city, but at the same time it almost seemed impossible! Then I remembered, with God nothing is impossible.

My daughter Misty was sick for over five years. The Lord spoke to me in dreams and in words from Him that He would bring healing to her. Even though our family took her to the hospital and they misdiagnosed her condition, the Lord spoke to me, “Wait.” It is hard for me to articulate the internal turmoil that was going on inside of me, looking at my daughter’s physical condition, while at the same time God was saying ”Wait.” The Bible clearly states that patience has a dynamic of perfecting us internally like nothing else can.

Listen to what James said, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” According to that Scripture, patience is the only thing that will get you to the winner’s circle. With Misty’s health condition it was patience that brought us to not only the winner‘s circle, but to a prophetic happening that will be remembered by our family for generations to come.

Misty died in the arms of ambulance workers at Saint Valentine’s Gate, Rome, Italy. She was brought back to life at the Holy Spirit Hospital, which is right by Saint Peter’s Cathedral. In the 15 minutes that she was dead she went to heaven and saw hundreds of God’s angelic creatures ready to move on our behalf. This hospital was prepared with a doctor who knew exactly of Misty’s condition, was present when she came in, and immediately diagnosed her with Addison’s disease. This is how precise God’s plan is. It is also a reason why only patience gives us access to this precise fulfillment of everything that God has promised you.

God‘s plan for San Francisco is precise. It will bring joy to every household in our city, but it must be powered by people who are patient. We must rest in Him. Never assume God’s plan is late; it is always right on time. Never think that someone is going to jump ahead of you and take the prize God has reserved for you.

This morning when I woke up, I received a text message from Brother Doug Lanza (by the way, I have never talked to Doug about any plans for San Francisco). When I read what the Lord was speaking to him this morning, his words were line upon line, precept upon precept exactly what the Lord had talked to me about ~ and God had given me many details to fill in the gaps. God’s plan for our city is extremely detailed. But you will only need to grab a cup of tea or coffee, sit back, and then joyfully watch the God of the angel armies bring it together!

Part of my daughter’s recovery included neurological training, which reprograms the brain to perform all the functions of the body. After Misty‘s three months of hospitalization the general manager of our hotel told us that his wife worked at an Olympic training center where there was an excellent neurologist. Oh, how detailed and precise God is and His timing is amazing!

Misty’s lessons in Rome were so sophisticated that within a few weeks she began to recover all of her functions! Each day, as I sat in the Olympic pool house watching Misty I kept thinking of the movie “Sing”, where Mr. Moon was in the pool house. I giggled at how precise God is with our story. (The cartoon movie “Sing”, is a metaphor of what our church is going through).

God’s plan for A Place To Meet Jesus in San Francisco is so precise, so classy, and so elegant. Just be willing to “wait”.

Sent in love,

Pastor Richard Gazowsky

Many times I have wondered, “How do we break systematic poverty that continues generation after generation?”. Why is it when parents are poor, their children are often poor? It must be obvious to each of us, that for such a dramatic reversal to occur in our lives, the change must come deep from our innate way of thinking. Jesus said, “first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
The key to this dramatic change in a person’s life is learning this easy secret: Simply trust Jesus for everything. As I became an adult one thing which attracted my flesh was the automobile. This became almost a type of addiction which my pride needed. Becoming dependent upon things you own to achieve your personal well being and filling certain happiness in your life enters you into bondage ~ which usually has something to do with your finances.
In my case, the better the car, the happier I was… until the car payments became almost impossible for me to pay. At this time, the source of my sadness and poverty was the yoke of such debt upon my life. Through a long series of events which were very embarrassing for me, I finally got freed me from the yoke of debt. But that still did not eradicate my spirit of poverty.
Though I knew that getting into debt would lead to poverty, I still was tempted and felt it was necessary to accomplish God’s will in my life to get into debt a second time. This is the great quandary of so many Christians. They want to obey God’s voice, but are motivated by the spirit of anxiousness to get something done “now”. They haven’t learned the lesson of waiting on God. Even though I knew the pain of debt, I still entered back in to that horrible world. I thought that this time I would have it all under control.
But all the time I was going through this I was ignoring the elephant in the room, which is the statement that I started this blog out with ~ Simply trust Jesus for everything. Everything means before every purchase you go to God and let Him make the decision. Sometimes you must wait weeks, months, or even years to get exactly what God promised you will have.
I was slowly seduced to enter into the race of being in debt again, and this time God allowed my trouble to become more severe and embarrassing than it was before. It was a lesson I’ll never forget. It is very important for God to break the spirit of poverty in our lives forever. We must totally be disconnected from the bondage of debt, poverty, and other people’s control of our money. No wonder the Bible says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
It all comes down to listening to the voice of God every day and doing exactly what He tells you to do. Don’t think about it, nor worry about tomorrow. The Bible says that He is Alpha and Omega. God has our personal life completely planned out, and I mean every minute step of the way! That is why daily prayer is the foundation of this whole process. God will then lead you into a life where you are completely debt-free regarding everything you possess, and you will leave great wealth for your children and grandchildren. This is God’s will for you and your family.
You probably have heard about some of the dramatic stories that my family and I have gone through. Not everybody will experience such dramatic events, but you will experience similar transitions. God is transforming you to listen to His voice daily and to hear His whisper in your heart.  As you obey He will lead you out of poverty and debt, to a life full of great possessions. Remember Ecclesiastes: “‘Wisdom is better than strength.’ But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.” If your family members, relatives, and coworkers are to listen to your testimony, you can’t be a person of poverty. You must be wealthy.
Prepare to receive wealth! “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Sent in love,
Pastor Richard Gazowsky

Yesterday, as I woke up early to the most beautiful clouds in the sky, the Lord spoke to me and said, “I will teach you great lessons about clouds with rain.”
Zechariah 10:1 says “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” The Lord then spoke to me and said, “When the wind blows, clouds are manifested.” Clouds are a metaphor of God pouring out prosperity upon us. When you see a cloud you know rain is on its way, but if there are clouds without rain move away from them. “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.” Those clouds only suck wealth from you and they never give. Just like the horseleach from Proverbs 30:15 that has two daughters; the Scripture says the daughters say, “Give, give” ~ but the horseleach only has one subject, you must give to them.
A cloud full of rain sometimes leads to a storm. It is dark because its abundance is great. You don’t need to fear the unknown. The Lord says not to fear when blessings you are receiving are from Him. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Remember, the word of God says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.”
This is why the Scriptures teach us to always keep a distance between you and any financial decision. For example, when Israel inherited the Promised Land, the Lord instructed them to keep a distance between them and the ark of the covenant, “…because you have never gone this way before.” When you enter into making a decision about anything from a large purchase, to a marriage, a doctor’s appointment, a school, a job, whatever it is ~ keep a distance between your receiving the opportunity and the decision. Set aside a time for God to speak. He will give you a clear, “Yes, yes,” or “No no.”
The prosperity and wealth that is cumulated in the clouds is a divine miracle that only God understands and only God controls: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” Don’t ever find yourself resisting or arguing with God, who is the provider of great wealth. In Hebrews 3 we read, “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, they shall not enter into My rest.)” The rest that God is referring to here has to do with you receiving great wealth from God. You must not harden your heart against the storm cloud that is looming over your head to pour out this great wealth.
Storms dramatically change things. They alter the direction of rivers, they flood valleys, and they make lakes where there were once deserts. A river symbolizes the flow of abundance, or success, within a business, religious move, or even a nation. What our goal should be is to get in the center of this flow, bringing with us the vision that God gave us personally. This is His word concerning you and your marriage, family, home, career, and any vision that God has given you and that you have verified.
Remember, you must be incredibly honest and have integrity about your moves in this dramatic abundance of blessings that is occurring around you. If you recall, the blog I wrote a few weeks ago was about how dangerous this time of transition is. This is the dramatic transition of blessing that God is pouring out upon you, so you must be careful to be in His perfect will daily.
As most of you know, last summer when I was praying on Periscope the Lord told me to pray this prayer, “Let it snow.” What we agreed to in secret is now occurring. This week across the whole United States of America there is a fresh blanket of snow.
Bear in mind the Scripture that says, “the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.” This week, as you see the forecast, know that great wealth is coming to you now. I love you and I rejoice in your blessing.
Sent in love, Pastor Richard Gazowsky

Instead of a blog this morning, I give you this word given to me by the prophetess Susan O’Mara.  I have waited for 2 1/2 years for a word from God and I believe this is it!

Pastor Richard Gazowsky.

“God’s Fields Of Dreams Are Being Planted Again In The Earth For Men
To Give Them Birth”
Vision from friend & Prophetess Susan O’Mara, from In The Image Of His Glory Ministries

In the vision I saw cities and regions laid out like a map, and I saw little clouds pass over the map and begin to rain on certain cities and regions. As I watched I noticed the rain was golden and when it hit the cities I heard shouting and laughing coming from within their areas. I wanted to see what was happening, and I asked, “Lord, what is happening there with the rain?”
An angel came and said, “Sue, that is not rain. Those cities and regions that you see that are being highlighted to you, are the seedbeds for God’s fields of dreams. The clouds are not releasing rain like you think. That is not rain. It is the anointing that is impregnated, or full, of God’s dreams, desires, and thoughts towards them down there. God is planting entire fields of His dreams in the earth again.”
“The Father has desired for whole cities, regions, and even nations to inquire of Him, to look for Him, and to cry out to Him ~ for more of Him, and for His wisdom on how to begin. He is now moving in response to those who do cry out, and His heart is moved towards them, and He is releasing fresh dreams, visions, thoughts, and desires to those whose hearts have been prepared by Him. Come, let’s see what is happening.”
Suddenly the map came to life. I could see living cities right before me. I realized that indeed the rain was not rain, because I saw the clouds releasing golden sacks full of golden seeds, and the seeds were being implanted within the hearts and minds of His people who dwelt there. It was amazing! As I watched I saw fresh hope and inspiration, illumination, creative ideas, and understandings begin to fill them with brighter light within them. The angel nodded at my thoughts. He pointed and said, “Look over there.”
I looked over to where he was pointing, and I realized that it was my city. It was Rochester, New York! The angel smiled and said, “Sue, your city is one of the cities that is going to be a seedbed for God’s field of dreams. Your city has lost its hope, its purpose, and its vision for the future. When this happens people make wrong choices and decisions that will rob its destiny until only a shell of what God intended is left. The Father has released His golden seeds into the atmosphere and into the soil of the hearts and minds of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and who are crying out to know His Ways and to walk in them. That is why you are here.”
“It is time to understand more of God’s plan that is now at hand. You know that God wants to restore men’s trust in Him, but also in each other. When you begin to trust again then hope comes and when you cultivate hope in your heart it will give birth to faith, which will then break forth into fresh life, inspiration, revelation, and vision for your future. The Father wants you to live. His purpose for your city has not yet been fulfilled. You are His vessels that dwell here. He is going to release fresh inspirations, dreams, visions, and creative innovations to give birth to new vitality and productivity within the Body of Christ here. It is time to dream with God again. Come, lets go see!”
Suddenly the map again expanded before us, and we were now standing in the city. I saw the little clouds dropping the golden sacks full of seeds. I saw multitudes of angels who were everywhere take those seeds and begin to drop them into the paths of people’s lives and they would step right into them. I saw other seeds go right into people as they were sleeping and they would begin to dream God’s dreams. I saw one woman wake up from her bed smiling and laughing, and shouting “Glory!” I saw some seeds fall into people’s hands and people would receive a creative idea and they suddenly knew how to make it. It was like an explosion of light went right in them. I saw one man that this happened to suddenly smile, and heard him say, “I get it! I get it! I can do this!” and he ran down the street.
I saw more seeds fall everywhere. They fell in churches, in businesses, in schools, in dorms, in shelters, in hospitals ~ everywhere people were. As I watched I saw a very bright light that got my attention and I turned to see what had happened. I walked down the streets to see the bright light. I saw a homeless man that was sleeping in a cardboard box, but I saw that the man came out of the box full of light. One of the seeds had fallen on this man and he had received fresh hope and understanding. And when it burst within him he also got a vision of his future and he got up and left his box. He was so full of light!
The angel said, “This is what it is all about, Sue. God knows everyone’s struggles, their fears, their hopes and dreams that they struggle with. When men take their eyes off of God and put theirs eyes on themselves they will see their own failures and weaknesses. They then set in motion events that do not have God’s leadership in it. Instead of seeing His wisdom and strength to accomplish daily life they lose hope, faith, and vision, and many give up and quit. God wants to restore hope, faith, and vision again. He wants them to turn to Him and look at Him. Lets go look at your field.”
Again, the city drew backwards and suddenly we were standing at the edge of a huge field. It had been cultivated, furrowed, and made ready. The clouds came and hovered over the field, and began to release the golden sacks full of golden seeds. The seeds fell right into those furrows and angels came and gently covered each one and watched over them with love and care. I watched as they began to spring up quickly and send out shoots and blossom, and I realized it was a whole field of trees ~ young trees that were quickly spreading out their foliage and strength! Soon the whole field was full of great majestic trees with golden leaves.
Then I saw a wind come and begin to blow upon the field, and the trees swayed in the wind. The trees’ branches brushed each other, and some leaves dropped and the wind would blow the leaves out from the field to other places. Other trees dropped seeds as the wind blew them, and those seeds lifted up and were carried by the winds to other places. The angel smiled, and said, “It has begun. This is going to be so very good for all of you. As you each revive and come alive others will too. It starts with you. One gives hope to another. One inspires another. One gives faith to another. One stirs up gifts within the other. Fresh pollination and cross-pollination has already begun, but you must allow God to lift you up and take you where He wants to, and let Him work the future out His way. Let the winds of change carry you to into the fullness of His plans for each of you. The field of God’s dreams has begun for all of you who will yield in His field, and when you do you will produce the fullness of His yield.”
“You must understand that the Harvest has begun, but there are not enough harvesters to run so a great release has begun to inspire this generation by revelation to dream of God’s thoughts, plans, and purposes again. When men desire God’s thoughts above their own the seeds will burst within them. When men chose God’s ways above their own then you will be lifted up and blown by the Winds of Change into new fields of possibilities that will give birth to His eternal purposes for you. Seek His face, and do not look at things through your eyes. See what truly lies ahead. See the fresh things that are waiting for you. Step into them with Him, for the Father is ready to sow His fields.”
“He has already begun, but you are to write this vision for many will receive heaven’s plans and will believe their dreams and visions again, and not just quickly toss them aside as foolishness. But if they will seek the Father for understanding, He will illuminate them and they will find themselves birthing the new. It is time. The fields are ready. The quality of your field will be determined by how much you yield. Abandon yourselves to Him, and let the Father flood you with His Wisdom and you will see how wise He truly is in the midst of thee!”
The angel then turned to me, and dropped a small golden sack full of seeds into my hand. He said, “These are for you, Sue. There are many more plans that heaven has for you and we have waited for this time expectantly, when you would also step into the greater fields of men that lie across the earth. Life is being sown into your generation, and those who choose that life and those who will fully walk in it shall become full-grown and shall spread His life wherever they are sent.”
“You are responsible for what you sow. Sow only what He gives to you. Give to others what He shows you and says to you. Do not add to it or take away for the Father is precise in what He wants to do and to say. You don’t have to understand it all just give His heart unto men. Be faithful with your measure. Inspire His people with these seeds. His future plans and purposes are waiting to break forth among you all anew. Tend them with Him, and watch what shall shortly begin!”
“The Rain, The Word, The Thoughts Of God Towards Man”
Isaiah 45:8 “Let fall in showers, you heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness [the pure, spiritual, heaven-born possibilities that have their foundation in the holy being of God]; let the earth open, and let them [skies and earth] sprout forth salvation, and let righteousness germinate and spring up [as plants do] together; I the Lord have created it.”
Isaiah 55:8-11 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Joel 2:27-29 “And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am in the midst of Israel and that I the Lord am your God and there is none else. My people shall never be put to shame. And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit.”
Acts 2:16-18 “But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and [predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].”
1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.”
Examples:
Genesis 16:7-14 “But the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness on the road to Shur. And He said, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from, and where are you intending to go?’ And she said, ‘I am running away from my mistress Sarai.’ The Angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Go back to your mistress and [humbly] submit to her control.’ Also the Angel of the Lord said to her, ‘I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be numbered for multitude.’ And the Angel of the Lord continued, ‘See now, you are with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael [God hears], because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your affliction. And he [Ishmael] will be as a wild ass among men; his hand will be against every man and every man’s hand against him, and he will live to the east and on the borders of all his kinsmen.’ So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing’, for she said, ‘Have I [not] even here [in the wilderness] looked upon Him Who sees me [and lived]? Or have I here also seen [the future purposes or designs of] Him Who sees me? Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [A well to the Living One Who sees me]; it is between Kadesh and Bered.”
Jeremiah 29:10-14 “For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Susan O’Marra
02-10-2019

Waiting on God can be the most stressful experience that anyone can go through ~ especially when it’s God you’re waiting for. Evil forces know the gift you are waiting upon God for, and that what God is going to bless you with is a righteous blessing that is going to weaken their evil intentions. 

 

The Scriptures are very clear about this scenario. In the book of James, he writes, “But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.” Patience is female, like a mother. A mother‘s purpose is to help a child to grow up to its full potential in life. In the same way patience is right beside you, just like your mother, helping you to receive your highest promotion. This metaphor works for a person, a family, a company, a church, and even a nation.

 

First, I want to talk about this metaphor and its largest application in the Bible. When God wanted to change a nation, many times He began His work in a simple house, rather than with the leaders of the nation. In the Bible, in the book of Acts, we see the beginning of God’s transformation of the Roman Empire. 

 

Remember, Jesus said that if you clean the inside of the cup, the outside becomes clean of itself. He starts within then works outward. In the first hundred years of Rome, we never see a Christian emperor of the empire. Instead, the inner workings of the Roman empire were changing. The head of Rome was not purified yet because the inner workings within the nation were not completed enough for it to have godly leadership. 

 

This is patience doing her perfect work, as she was preparing a whole system of government to receive godly leadership. So it is with the governments of today. God intends to bring godliness to every nation on earth. But for this to work, it must begin with the inner workings, or the families, of every person in the nation.

 

The Bible is the only book on earth which people are working to translate into every spoken tongue. The New Testament has been translated into over 1500 languages. (If you want to verify this and you have a smart phone with a Bible app, take a second and look at how many languages are offered.)

 

God has been bringing His gospel to the whole world. Every day, people come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and through the miracle of technology can upload the entire Bible onto their phone. There are now nearly 2,500,000,000 people that have access to the word of God on their phones alone! But it’s not only happening on the smart phone, it is also happening in the church world. 

 

When I was a young man there were less congregations than there are now in America. Do you think that number has shrunk since then? No, it has grown exponentially and now there are close to 384,000 congregations in America alone. Why so many? Because God keeps calling more people into His invisible kingdom. Though a denomination is physical, it makes you aware that the invisible is increasing. 

 

It is hard to see immediate results when you are part of a nation that God is changing. It also can also be difficult for us to see that God is changing our family, because we are part of the family. This is why these things are only truly seen through eyes of faith. Sometimes a family member can make a large mistake and it looks to us like they have fallen away from God. But in actuality, their condition has become so bad that they can now realize that they are at the bottom of the barrel and that the only way out is up. A person in this condition does not compromise but surrenders their all to Jesus. This is patience having its perfect work.

Sent in Love, Pastor Richard Gazowsky