I AM IN CONTROL

Celia R. Okhuysen (USA)
 
 
 
 

DREAM

A) I was alone as I walked down the center of a long, dark, wide, empty corridor. I looked up at the left wall as I approached dimly lit portraits hanging at a height of about twelve feet, and ten feet apart from each other. Each portrait was approximately four by six feet in dimension. I stood about ten feet away from the wall as I paused to look at the first of six portraits. It was of a man dressed rather handsomely in a business suit. He appeared to be in his forties. As I began to study the portrait, I was startled when I looked at his face. His cold, steely eyes were looking directly at me! Although the figure sat, carefully posed as any subject in a painting, I also noticed that the portrait subject was a live figure. It was a VERY chilling moment. I quickly looked away and immediately began walking down the dark corridor toward the next portrait. I paused to study it, and it, too, was of another man, professionally well dressed, who also sat carefully posed. I was startled again, as it was also a live figure looking down at me with cold, watchful eyes. The chill penetrated deeper. I quickly walked toward the next portrait. Again, it was of a well-dressed man who also sat, and whose cold penetrating eyes watched me approach him. He, too, was a live figure. I did not pause, but slowly walked past the portrait while his eyes followed me. I was beginning to feel intimidated by these live figures.

I walked a little faster down the dark corridor, as I looked up at each of the subjects in the remaining portraits. Without stopping, I noticed that they, too, sat and were carefully posed, well dressed, live figures. Their cold and proud stares watched me as I walked past each one of them. None of the six portrait subjects moved. They remained motionless. Each of them faced left, and all were in their mid forties to mid fifties. Some of the figures had mustaches, and all the men were Caucasian. Each of the figures appeared to be individuals in positions of wealth and authority. They intimidated me with their proud condescending stares.

B) I continued walking down the dark corridor. Ahead, a faint light quickly became brighter. Suddenly, to the right, I SAW THE LORD, JESUS, CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS. The light that surrounded Him was tremendously bright. It was a strong golden glow. I slowly approached the Lord wide-eyed, deeply stunned, and in a hushed spirit. As I approached and came close to the Cross, the Lord's lower slender body faded to above His loin cloth. I stood before Him with approximately five feet of space between us. Jesus hung on the Cross, slightly suspended in mid air, three feet above me. If I had tried, I could have stepped forward a few feet more and touched Him. My heart almost stopped beating. This was the most holy and exalted moment of all eternity. I was speechless.

The Lord, Jesus, hung completely limp. He was horribly disfigured. He had been beaten and severely whipped (deep stripe type lashes and open wounds on His body were evident), and was bleeding in various parts of His arms and body. Besides its intended mockery of His Kingship, the thick crown of thorns He wore was oversized, emphasizing ridicule. It rested just above His eyes. The thorns were about two inches long. They dug deep into His Head. His slender, bearded, bruised face was slightly covered with His Blood which trickled from the thorn pricks in His forehead. His hair was slightly tossed and matted, and dampened with His Blood. There appeared to be no strength left in the Lord. His head hung limp to His right. He seemed almost dead, yet His breathing was slow, long and deep. My heart ached as I silently stood before the Lord in His agony, watching Him slowly die a tortuous death. I could not believe what I was looking at, nor could I speak or cry. I was totally speechless. The pain and sadness I felt was deep and grievous as I watched Him suffer so cruelly and horribly. As further words fail me, the following Scripture discloses the full account of the Lord's crucifixion and suffering.

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm [power] of the Lord [God] been revealed? For He [Jesus] shall grow up before Him [God] as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form of comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem [consider] Him. Surely He has born our griefs [illnesses] and carried our sorrows [sufferings]; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised [revealed as the Sacrificial Lamb] for our iniquities; the chastisement [correction] for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray [wandered away in sin]; we have turned every one, to his own way [all have sinned]; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity [sin] of us all.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not his mouth [did not plead self-defense]. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation [testify of his executioners]? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

And they made His grave with the wicked--but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit [lies; spin] in His mouth. Yet it pleased [satisfied] the Lord [God] to bruise Him [make Him an example]; He has put Him to grief [diseased and afflicted Him]. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed [rewards of His suffering], He shall prolong His days [resurrect from the dead], and the pleasure of the Lord [redemption of man] shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the travail of His soul [restoration of man], and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify [set free] many, for He shall bear [take upon Himself] their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil [reward] with the strong [faithful], because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah, Chapter 53 -- NKJV)

 While I continued watching the Lord, His face revealed pain as He began to slowly move His head and open His Blood stained eyelids. He struggled to lift His head up as it began trembling strongly. He fought for strength to turn His head forward. The Lord was in great pain but did not make a sound. Yet, he firmly persevered to bring His trembling head into a position where He could hold it and gaze down upon me. It took what seemed like minutes for Him to slowly bring His head to a forward position, but He finally did. Despite His continuous trembling head, He held His gaze firmly upon me. All I saw was love in His eyes. I was overcome with strong emotion within. Yet, I could not move, nor speak. He continued in His perseverance to keep gazing upon me in the midst of His pain and agony. He conveyed His love to me with His eyes without saying a word. They simply declared, "I love you." Time seemed to stand still.

Jesus continued struggling with all His might to hold His head forward while continuing His gaze upon me. I found no words to say to Him. Not even, "I love You, Lord, Jesus." My Savior and my Lord was in the midst of loving me as no one ever could, or ever would love me enough to suffer and die such a tortuous and painful death in my place. This was the moment for which He denied Himself and left the glory which He had with the Father. (Jn. 17:5) This was the moment for which He came to suffer in my place for all my sins. This was the moment for which He came to take upon Himself the wrath of God so that I would never have to suffer the pain and agony He was now enduring for me. He willingly became my Substitute.

"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:29)

"…You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (Jn. 17:2,3)

 Jesus endured total abandonment by the Father because of all the sins of the world, which He bore on His Body as He hung on the Cross. God is holy, and cannot dwell with sin. (1 Pet. 1:15,16) "My God, My God, why have You forsaken [abandoned] Me?" (Mat. 27:46) Jesus lovingly and willfully suffered ALL MY punishment so that I could be justified (found "not guilty") before the Father because of His tortuous and horrendous suffering--the shedding of His Blood, and His death on the Cross. In the fullness of His power and His majesty, He resurrected triumphantly from the grave the third day after He died to give me the victory over the penalty of sin--eternal death (separation from God) in hell and the lake of fire. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Jn. 15:13 -- KJV)

"…I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (Jn. 10:15-18)

"…the Son of Man…[came] to give His life a ransom [as an exchange] for many." (Mat. 20:28)

 Through His suffering, Jesus pressed into the kingdom of heaven to reconcile me to my heavenly Father. This was the holiest moment in all of eternity: the atonement for sin by the Son of God. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (Jn. 3:16) After a time of forcefully struggling to continue holding His trembling head as best He could, there suddenly appeared a display of large black bold words in an arched form above His Cross, which read, "I AM IN CONTROL." The Lord continued gazing upon me. I would gaze at the words, and then into His eyes. Again, at the words, and then into His eyes. He was saying that He was not only in control of what He was doing, but that He was in control of the eternal life He gave to me and to everyone who embraces Him as Savior, the Son of God. Though I did not see Jesus die, I fully understand today that He loved me with His Cross to the end. …having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (Jn. 13:1) INTERPRETATION

A) Six is the number of man. The six live figures in the portraits characterize the ever-present proud and intimidating influence of the flesh in the world. Pride and vanity are preeminent in the heart of man, and proper appearances are utmost in masquerading sin and deceit. The cold penetrating stares represent hostility in the hearts of men toward those who are not equally yoked--compromised--with the world. The eyes are the windows to the soul of man, and in this dream the eyes of these men are depicted as cold and proud. The world sees itself as upright in its ways, therefore considering itself to be above those who walk with a humble and uncompromising heart and lifestyle as viewed by worldly standards. The live figures are positioned "above" me while I am positioned "beneath" them. This representation portrays the proud versus the humble in the sight of God. The portraits hang in darkness with dim light bulbs illuminating them, clearly illustrating the superficial light--measured life span--of man. In time, that small superficial light will burn out. Without Christ, lost, sinful man will cease to be and descend into everlasting darkness.

B) The light at the end of the long dark corridor is the Eternal Light--Jesus Christ. The light, which He radiates, reveals Him the Light to the dark, lost sinful world. His crucified form is bathed with light for the world to see--to witness His living sacrifice for the sins of the world. He willingly became the Sacrificial Lamb, dying in place of every one born into this world, to deliver them from eternal death. His triumphant resurrection from the dead gives hope to everyone that they too can resurrect from everlasting death to everlasting life--from eternal darkness to Eternal Light. They become the Children of Light.

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12)

"You are the light of the world." (Jn. 5:14)

 The Children of Light bear witness of the Light to the dark, dying, lost world through their testimony of Jesus Christ, their love, their deeds, and their uncompromising lifestyles. They are holy vessels unto God.

Love is the overwhelming theme in this dream: the Sacrificial Love of God--His Son, Jesus Christ. The love revealed here is plain for everyone to see and understand. OBSERVE: the live figures in the portraits looked down upon me with cold and disdainful stares, revealing contempt for me. When Jesus gazed upon me, His eyes spoke, conveying His love for me from His heart and with His sacrificial death. Their proud lofty appearances totally contrasted the brokenness and humility of the Lord's appearance. Their neatly groomed appearances contrasted the beaten, bloodied, disfigurement of the Lord's body. The figures were dressed in their splendid haberdashery while the Lord was humiliated in his nakedness. The figures were carefully posed as they sat in total comfort. The Lord Jesus was in torment and pain as He hung nailed to the Cross. The figures in the portraits distanced themselves from me with their display of seclusion--comfortable enclosure--as portrayed by the portrait frames. In contrast, there were no barriers set around the Cross of Jesus Christ. I was drawn CLOSE to the Cross to be embraced by the greatest gift of all: the Love of God, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Clearly, this is a strong portrayal of pride and vanity versus love and mercy--lost man versus Divine Grace. God sacrificed His Son to save man from suffering His judgment and wrath. There is nothing more that He can do. God so loved the world--you and me--that He sacrificed His Son to redeem and reconcile man unto Himself. (Jn. 3:16) GOD LOVES YOU.

Jesus' declaration that He is in control is profound and absolute. Even while in the flesh as the Son of God, He held all power over Satan and death. Yet, as King, He majestically displayed His power and authority to the world by openly and triumphantly defeating Satan SINGLE HANDEDLY through His death on the Cross, thereby destroying Satan's works, and rendering his evil stronghold powerless over the souls and lives of men. "I AM IN CONTROL." Amen.

God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they….But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Heb. 1:1-4) The true, believing, faithful, humble, serving and OBEDIENT Church denies herself, takes up her cross DAILY, and obediently follows Jesus. (Lk. 9:23) She has her hope of glory in Him. (Col. 1:27) The love that He has for His Church is eternal. (Jn. 14:23) Nothing, nothing, nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:38,39) We are victorious over the power of Satan, sin and death. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) We shall triumph over the grave and the sting of death. (1 Cor. 15:54-57) We shall ascend into the Eternal Light of God's glory, and dwell in His presence forevermore. (Ps. 140:13) Yes, we shall rejoice eternally in our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus, because of what God has done. (Jn. 3:16) He has given us His love by sacrificing His Son to give us Eternal Life with Him. ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN GOD IS IN CONTROL. Amen and Amen.

(PERSONAL NOTE: This dream was given to me years ago at a time in my life when I came under an attack straight out of hell. At the time, I often wondered why the Lord permitted such an ongoing attack in my life that lasted several years. My state of mind became such that I was beginning to wonder if I would lose the spiritual warfare. I had persevered in prayer, the Word, worship, and singing and dancing before the Lord in my quiet moments with Him. However, it pleased Him at the time to let me carry my cross for as long as I did. Finally, when I thought that I was about to cave in, the Lord appeared to me in His crucified form to GREATLY strengthen me, and give my faith greater inspiration at the moment that He knew I was about to go down. He revealed to me that because He suffered, I, too, would suffer trials in life, and that because He triumphed over Satan, I, too, would triumph over Satan.

Upon awakening the next morning, I KNEW THAT I KNEW that the battle was over and that I had the victory. The peace that followed thereafter was indescribable in my heart, in my soul and in my spirit. Jesus gave me the victory over Satan's attack that had almost defeated me. But because I had waited on the Lord, I conquered! Shortly after this dream, it came to pass that my victory was openly manifested without my ever having to justify myself to anyone, or even utter a word. The love and strength of the Jesus, and my faith in Him, gave me the victory.

What have continuously mystified me over the years were the portraits. I often asked the Lord what they were all about, as they were not related to the attack I had endured. Recently, upon completion of INHERIT MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, http://www.do-you-love-me.org/wsomers/1_inherit.html, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to post this dream as a follow-up to the INHERIT file. (Every spiritual dream I have ever dreamt "lives" within my spirit, and every detail is as fresh as if I had just dreamt it the night before. I never recorded this dream on paper. It's just there--ALIVE!) In light of God's wrath that is about to bear down upon America, and what the Church here and throughout the world is about to enter into, I quickly understood how the message in this dream will bring strength to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He encourages His Beloved to faithfully persevere as she enters a great time of much woe and deep sorrow. Thereafter, when all the tears and sorrows come to an end, we will enter an eternal time of peace and rejoicing. Especially fascinating to me now is the unveiling of the complete interpretation of this dream at this time--many years after I had dreamt this dream. The Lord is just amazing, amazing, amazing!)

COMMENTARY

As Jesus hung on the Cross, He declared that He would be in control of every trial and tribulation I would encounter in this life, and that through His suffering I would also learn to suffer and persevere through hardships, trials, afflictions and persecutions. And, because of His control of my life, I would be filled with His love to forgive hurts and offenses. I would also be empowered to endure every trial and tribulation, and to conquer all spiritual warfare through the Word and His strength.

"I will never leave you nor forsake [abandon] you." (Heb. 13:5) The public display of Jesus' suffering and death demonstrated before the world His love and mercy for everyone who will humbly embrace Him, the Son of God, as Savior and Lord. His public display witnessed to the world His triumphant victory over Satan's power and bondage of the lives and souls of men. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 Jn. 3:8)

…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Heb. 2:14,15)

"He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." (Jn. 8:44)

"The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (Jn. 10:10)

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:10)

 IN SEARCH OF GOD

Jesus was in complete control at Calvary as He will always be over His Beloved Church. He earned that right through His precious suffering and death for her, and also for all those who will seek Him, accept Him as their Savior, turn away (repent) from all their sins, and follow Him.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

And he…said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…" (Acts 16:30,31)

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'" (Jn. 3:3-7)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:9)

For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Joel 2:32; Rom. 10:13)

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Lk. 9:23)

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Jn. 14:6)

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die. (Jn. 12:32,33)

"Behold, I stand at the door [your heart] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine [fellowship] with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Rev. 3:20,21)

 THE SINNER'S PRAYER

"Most holy God in heaven, I humbly accept your gift of eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and now embrace Him as my Savior and Lord.

"Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me all my sins, for I repent. I renounce Satan and sin, and give you my heart and my life. I accept You, the Son of God, as my Savior and Lord. Come into my heart, cleanse me from all sin with Your Blood, and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Lead me in Your ways of righteousness and peace. Give me strength and wisdom, and teach me how to love and forgive as You did on the Cross. I humbly surrender my life to follow and obey You, and to serve You all the days of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for loving me, and thank You for dying for me. Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Amen."

Accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the new birth: Born Again.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but [born] of God. (Jn. 1:12,13)

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (Jn. 10:28)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (Jn. 11:25)

"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys [power and authority] of Hades [hell] and of Death [separation from God]." (Rev. 1:18)

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Rev. 3:5)

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate [spiritually separate him or herself from] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple [follower]. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple….So, likewise, whoever of you does not [spiritually] forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Lk. 14:26,27,33)

"And everyone who has [materially and spiritually] left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life." (Mat. 19:29)

"The words that I speak to you are spirit [spoken with spiritual meaning] and they are life." (Jn. 6:63)

 TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH "But I say to you who hear [have spiritual understanding]. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you….But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Lk. 6:27,28,35,36,37)

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn. 13:34,35)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.…For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. (Eph. 5:2,30)

"…for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (Jn.16:27)

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33)

"But take heed to yourselves [consider your ways], lest [for fear that] your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Lk. 21:34-36)

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have [your salvation and faith], that no one may take your crown." (Rev. 3:10,11)

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb. 3:12,13)

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries [defectors; deserters; enemies of Christ]….Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:26,27,29)

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed [urgent attention] to the things we have heard lest we drift away….how shall we escape [judgment and hell] if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,… (Heb. 2:1,3)

…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ,…(1 Pet. 1:18,19)

…who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (1 Pet. 3:22)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1,2)

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thes. 5:9-11)

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last….I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star….Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:12,13,16,20)

 CONCLUSION

Saints of God, BE NOT DISMAYED! Be encouraged in the Word, and strengthened in prayer. We CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US, for without Him we can do nothing. He is, and will continue to be the strength of our faith, and the hope and peace in our hearts. Be of great cheer for the Lord has overcome the world. He has given US the victory, and our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say, rejoice! Amen.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Jn. 14:27)

"I will never leave you nor forsake [abandon] you." (Heb. 13:5)

"…lo, I am with you always…" (Mat. 28:20)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear… (Ps. 46:1,2)
 
 

 COPYRIGHT © 1999--CELIA R. OKHUYSEN--ALL RIGHTS RESERVED--CROSS GRAPH WITH WORDING, "I AM IN CONTROL" WRITTEN ABOVE IT. (Representation not displayed here.)

NO GRAPH, FACSIMILE, SIMILARITY, REPRESENTATION, LIKENESS OR COPY OF A CROSS WITH THE WORDS "I AM IN CONTROL" DISPLAYED ABOVE OR BENEATH A CROSS, MAY BE PRODUCED AND OR USED FOR PROFIT BY ANYONE, ANYWHERE. A GRAPH OF A DRAWN CROSS WITH THE WORDS, "I AM IN CONTROL" WRITTEN ABOVE IT MAY BE USED IN ANY FORM IN SPIRITUAL MINISTRY WORK, OR FOR INDIVIDUAL USE, OR TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED, THE GRIEF STRICKEN AND THOSE WHO MOURN. (Celia R. Okhuysen)
 
 

Submitted for May 9, 1999 Web Posting.
 

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