It is a thrilling Line of Scripture. And It will excite your soul in direct proportion to whatever burden you are carrying this morning!

“God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us.” Quoting the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:6.

Do remember too … this this same man of Faith (Paul) who sincerely called our Lord … “the God of all comfort!” 2 Corinthians 1:3, the last few words in the verse.

Is anyone today carrying a load, maybe even a heavy load?

Anyone in need of that soothing Hand of God?

That divine smile from Heaven?

In a way the Scripture I’ve used constitutes a PROMISE from God! One amplified in Matthew 11:28 … “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Where “rest” and “comfort” are at least synonyms.

Actually our word “comfort” is in Greek spelled “paraklesis,” when functioning as a noun. And “parakaleo” as a verb. It suggests that our Lord will “come down” and place His almighty “arm” firmly around you and “walk” with you throughout the day! Encouraging and strengthening you hour by hour! It is too the very word Jesus uses of the ministry of the holy Spirit in our lives right now. He is the COMFORTER!

Praise His Name!

Prior to God’s comfort showing up in Paul’s life (2 Corinthians 7:6 above) … he was in pitiful shape … “Our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” 2 Corinthians 7:5, King James Version.

Then Comfort came, then God came!

Now I want to say this: NONE CAN COMFORT LIKE THE LORD CAN COMFORT! FATHER/SON/HOLY SPIRIT, THE VERY TRINITY OF COMFORT!

In fact, some merely human attempts to comfort backfire! “As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre (sodium), so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.” Proverbs 25:20, one example anyway.

But when the Lord comforts … He has a 100% success rate!

One more blessing for the Christian to enjoy … that remarkable COMFORT our Lord offers us constantly!

Enjoy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I am not wondering about the sheer fact … “God answers prayer.” In my heart that is a settled issue. YES, He does!

I am today wondering if God “enjoys” our prayers. I mean to the level that He remarks about such delight!

A verse in Ezekiel this morning. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” Ezekiel 36:37

Looks like God “wants” to be consulted (“enquired of,” means “sought” a total of 84 different times in our Bible, Old Testament) about the issues we face in life!

(I know He commands us to pray. I am just wondering if He “delights” in our prayers! For example, Jeremiah 33:3 is a clear command, beginning with imperative mood verb: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.”)

In our Text today … in Ezekiel 36 God has just promised something He IS GOING TO DO for Israel. As far back as verse 33 (in Ezekiel 36 God informs the Jews … “In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.” Three promises are here … Salvation, Resettlement, then Restoration! (Cleansing, Gathering, Rebuilding!)

Abundant blessings to this point … “And they (people) shall say: This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.”What word pictures!

God is obviously determined … He will accomplish these goals!

No doubt about it … “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.”Hear His Resolve?

But still … He wants His people to pray for these “sure things” to come to pass! Again, verse 37: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I WILL YET FOR THIS BE ENQUIRED OF BY THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.”

The idea behind “will be required” (in Hebrew “darash”) is to approach God, seek God, spend time in God’s Presence, present Him petitions, in other words PRAY!

This is God’s DESIRE!

This is His LONGING!

This is His DELIGHT!

He wants to have His people come to Him for communion, praying even for “sure things!”

Jesus informs us in John 4:23 … “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the FATHER SEEKETH SUCH to worship him.” See that? The Father “seeketh” us to worship Him! “Zeteo” (in English that little verb “seeketh”) means “to desire” 3 times in the New Testament!

God thrills at our worship of Him!

God enjoys our prayers!

If we live godly lives anyway!

Point made, I trust.

“I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” Absolutely amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, one or two more Bible thoughts.

“The sacrifice (worship) of the wicked is an abomination (sickening, disgusting) to the LORD: but THE PRAYER OF THE UPRIGHT IS HIS DELIGHT.” And “delight” here means “pure pleasure!” Proverbs 15:8 (We end where we began … YES, God “delights” in our prayers!

Then too Proverbs 28:9 … “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even HIS PRAYER SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION.” Here is prayer, however, that nauseates God!

Surely, enough said.

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The great Old Testament man of God named Job asked this one day, “Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me.” Job 10:2

Job was suffering and he knew God was almighty! He had buried ten children, though each had grown into adulthood. (It sill hurts!)

He had lost all his assents (millions of dollars in today’s economy) then his very health had failed!

“Little wonder Job is so resolved: “I will say unto God, shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.”

That verb “contendest” is “riyb” in Hebrew and means (essentially) “to strive, to debate, to chide,” and carries a forensic insinuation “to sue in a court of law!”

Job figured God was mad at him, condemning him, prosecuting him!

Many a saint since Job has asked similar questions!

“God, what’s going on? Are You angry with me? It’s been one trying thing after another lately! I am nearly exasperated.” (Like Paul maybe: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” Even that great Apostle, in 2 Corinthians 1:9!

“Wherefore, Lord?”

Well, we gradually lean from Scripture that all harsh dispensations from God are NOT signs of His displeasure! God often tests us to reveal our weaknesses. Or our strengths!

God “sues” us to help us grow in Grace!

And He does this to “every son, every daughter, every child of His! (Hebrews 12:6 … “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (literally, ‘child trains’), and scourgeth (‘whips’) every son whom he receiveth.”) Maybe a little like basic training in the military, hard days indeed! But you’re being turned into a soldier, a warrior!

I saw this single line earlier this morning, take heart Christian! “Hope itself is like a star … not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.”

Wow!

Some of the most beautiful flowers of all … grow best in the shade! And likewise some of the most beautiful Christian qualities (graces) … also grow in the shadows of adversity!

Dr. Wiersbe used to say, “When God has you in the fire … His hand is always on the thermostat!” He knows what we are experiencing! And He is in control!

Of course Job is now in Heaven … with a pretty good understanding of “WHY” God allowed such suffering in his life!

Some day you, dear friend … will understand it too! God likely will answer the plea … “Show me wherefore why Thou didst contend with me.”

And with that, in His Hands, we must rest the issue.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Those are Peter’s words, inspired by God the Holy Spirit. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18, the last words the Apostle ever wrote, as far as we know.

He was obviously burdened that we “grow” in the Lord.

But as soon as he names the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, he bursts into this doxology … “TO HIM BE GLORY BOTH NOW AND FOR EVER.”

Maybe this acknowledgement, this heartfelt desire … is one of the “keys” to genuine spiritual growth, truth be told.

The Greek noun for “glory” used here is “doxa.” It derives from the verb “dokeo.” Which means “to be of opinion, to evaluate, to account.” Suggesting that when we give God “glory” we tell Him “what he means” to us. Our opinion of Him, how much we “value” Him!

And we are to so “brag” on Christ … the rest of our lives! “YES RIGHT NOW!” Because we certainly will be bragging (adoring, reverencing, worshipping, highly evaluating) on Him “FOREVER,” in Heaven above and on earth (during the Millennium) below! And in the New Jerusalem and new earth eternally thereafter!

Sounds like the Christian way of existence consists of constantly focusing on Jesus! Giving Him GLORY!

To than I can say a deeply felt “AMEN!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Both now and for ever.”

Let’s get started this Monday morning!

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These being heavy travel and preaching days. (Speaking three times each Sunday now, with the Evening Meditation being included.)

But you can readily access this week’s Lessons here on the Website … Monday through Friday.

Meanwhile …

I thought of this verse earlier today, Jesus is teaching about His Second Coming … “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)

But we can still hope for it! (Titus 2:13)

And pray for it! (Revelation 22:20)

And love it! (2 Timothy 4:8)

Jesus IS coming again!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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