The Final Word

Last evening while attending an event for our church, I was worshiping and I believe I heard the Lord say something a bit strange, at least to me.  I felt like He said ‘He was going to change my perspective on 666’.   

Now, I am not one who worries about or concerns themselves much with "end-times" and some of the numerological or superstitious stuff associated with 666.  However, I was certainly interested in what He meant so I pursued the train of thought and asked for some clarity and I felt led to turn to page 666 in my Bible.  When I opened it up, the verses on page 666 were from Jer. 29, which are some of the most famous verses about God’s plan for good.  Here are the verses - Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV:

[11] “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

There have been many times that the Lord has spoken these words into my heart during times of difficulty or struggle, and especially when it seems that our future is bleak.  As I let these words settle into my heart and mind, I asked for additional clarity as to the meaning of HIs somewhat cryptic opening line.  The following is what I understood. 

There are many people who under great stress, oppression, or pronouncement, or curses.  For many with a more spiritual / religious viewpoint this may seem like the enemy is winning the battle, and they have little to no hope of being rescued or freed.  This could include people who struggle with addiction, grievous family trauma, diagnosis of terminal or incurable illnesses, or even those who live with significant self-hatred or suicidal thoughts.  In all of these situations people can lose all sense of hope, or think there is no escape.  There are also those who greatly fear the enemy and his works, and believe that he has equal power to the Lord.

I felt the Lord’s words, first spoken in Jer. 29, and fulfilled later in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, were to demonstrate that it is the Lord’s word that is the final word!  There is no situation on the earth that His word cannot change!  There is no pronouncement or curse that He cannot break, or prove untrue!  “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18 NIV)

He broke the power of the enemy, of sin and death.  He demonstrated His ability to break every curse, to set free those possessed by the enemy, the oppressed, those sick with incurable diseases, the maimed, those who were disabled or missing body parts, even raising one dead 4 days back to life!  He is doing the same thing today, He is at work all around the world and His word is the only TRUE WORD about every situation and circumstance! 

(If you want get a good scholarly overview of what He is doing in the world today, check out  “Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, Volume 1 & 2” by Craig Keener)

The point is that God has demonstrated, and is continuing to demonstrate that He is God, the one and only God, over every power and god. I am reminded of the following great verses from Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:9-11 NIV:

[9] “Therefore God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We don’t need to fear the power of the enemy, the pronouncements of doctors, the situations we find ourselves in, the woundings of past trauma, for God can redeem us from all of these!   Let us believe in His healing, redeeming grace, love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and goodness!  

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV:

[17] “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Lord, I pray that You would move, that You would make a way, that You demonstrate Your power, that You do what only You can do in our lives!  That Your name would be glorified and exalted over all the earth!  

Amen and Amen!