Pastor's Ponderings, June 18, 2018

Delayed But Not Denied

In the June 16, 2018, “Times of Israel” paper, it was reported that Eric Abramovitz, a McGill University student in Quebec, attempted to get a scholarship to study under the renowned clarinetist, Yehuda Gilad, at a prestigious university.  The scholarship covering everything is “virtually a guarantee of a high-paying symphony career directly out of college.” 

However, his girlfriend intercepted his email and turned down the offer in his name to prevent him from moving away from her. She deleted Gilad’s email offering the scholarship, created a new email address similar to Gilad’s real one, and wrote Abramovitz a rejection letter. Later, Abramovitz found out her scheme and two years later he received the scholarship. 

This was a reprehensible scheme to maintain a relationship, but in the Bible, Satan constantly demonstrates that he will attempt to kill, steal, and destroy whatever one attempts to do (John 10:10a).  In the book of Daniel, Daniel had been praying to God about understanding a vision that he had been given with no results.  Suddenly, he saw an angel who said that he had been delayed from answering Daniel’s prayer because a powerful demon had held him up for twenty-one days. Fortunately, the angel was assisted by Michael, one the most powerful heavenly angels, who helped him to get through to Daniel with the answer (Daniel 10:11-13).

We have to know that we must wait upon the Lord and not give up because we will be victorious (Galatians 6:9).  Although what we feel God has promised has been delayed, it does not mean that He has said “No.”  In fact the Bible says His promises are “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).  It can be difficult to go through life waiting for God to answer prayer, but He will answer.  The Bible says that when we ask for what He has promised us, He hears us and if He hears us, we have what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15).

We must not listen to the worldly message of doubt, fear, unbelief, anxiety, or worry. His promises may not come when we want them or in the way that we want them, but He is a faithful God (Deuteronomy 7:9).   We may feel that our answer may be deferred, but let us not give up hope and decide that they are denied since He knows there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Let us encourage each other and ourselves that our God is a faithful God who loves us and will keep His commitment to us.  

John 10:10
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10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

Daniel 10:11-13
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11He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Galatians 6:9
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9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2 Corinthians 1:20
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20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

1 John 5:14-15
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14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 
15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Deuteronomy 7:9

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9Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments

Ecclesiastes 3:1
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3There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens