Pastor Ruth Nicolas

1 Peter 3:20 & 1 Peter 4:19.

The other day, we had a quiet moment, sitting relaxing in the lounge, enjoying some peace and quiet, while sipping tea. I looked up to see through a glass door the cutest little puppy, happily wagging its tail and looking at me through the glass. “How cute” I said and at that moment the awful realization hit: our own black monster of a dog was within striking range this tiny little thing, and its future looked less than hopeful at that moment and the moment was seriously turning ugly.

As Gaston frantically dashed for the door in an attempt to rescue the stray puppy, all I could do was stay inside and pray. I did not want to witness this bloodshed! I could hear the puppy yelping for its life, our dog had it by the throat! Praying I called every Scripture to mind I new concerning the animals of the righteous. In the midst of all this chaos, which included both dogs plunging in the swimming pool. Our dog swam the length of the pool with the puppy’s head under the water.

The Holy Spirit said to me: “Keep it together! I want to show you something”.

Eventually, the puppy was extricated from Splash’ s mouth, and brought inside. Amazingly, it was still alive and unharmed. Splash had not sunk his teeth in at any point. Perhaps he knew that this was a baby. I like to think it was my prayers. Before long, this little number had actually had something to eat and drink, and undaunted by the attack, began doing little tricks for me - hopping up and down like a Springbuck and chasing its tail in circles. Then it hopped up on the couch and on my favorite cushion fell soundly asleep!

Splash convinced he had protected his territory from some huge threat waited on us for approval. How could he view a tiny Toy-Pom puppy a threat? But he did, and went into a fit of aggression to subdue it!

The Holy Spirit said to me, ” My people do this all the time”.

Things happen that seem to threaten our domain, and we go into an overdrive of aggression. Our mind tells us, “This is the end of my life! I must react, and react now!” But God is saying, “You’re Mine! What are you afraid of? Why all the insecurity?”

We are commanded to cast our cares upon Him. Our supposed threats are so tiny they CAN’T hurt us!

If we consider Jesus in the moment of His greatest trial, we can learn some things.

He is hanging on the cross, adrenalin pumping through His body, nails tearing at His flesh and the thorns piercing into His head, He makes a statement of faith: “IT IS FINISHED!”

But was it in fact over? No, not just yet. Your declaration of faith is not the end of what’s still to be done.

The next thing, Jesus is forced to descend into the bowels of the earth. After all that he had so faithfully endured, He finds Himself in this desolation.

STAY FOCUSED! - Jesus understood his purpose - to preach the Good News to the captive. And so, without grumbling or questioning, He does what he was assigned to do. Here, in this dreadful place (Hell), He gives the ultimate altar call.

STAY IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! - Don’t fight the little dogs that snap at your heels. Don’t surrender the control of your life and purpose to fears of insecurity! You need to get to the place where you realize, “I’m anointed for divine purpose. This is my purpose”

Jesus conquers hell, takes the keys of hell and the grave, and ascends intending to return to the Father to present His Sacrificed Blood. At this point he could have said, ” NOW! It is finished” and gone and sat down at Father’s right Hand.

But, it wasn’t finished yet.

Outside the tomb Mary, who by faith had anointed Him for His burial, and witnessed the raising of her brother Lazarus. Mary, who had a revelation of resurrection power, was waiting. Jesus comes back to meet with these women and tell them, ” Run! Tell the disciples that I am alive! ”

Even then, Jesus cannot sit down and declare that his purpose is finally finished because, now, Father says to Him: “You will live in each one of them”.

Many of you have experienced the death of a dream, a hope, or an expectation. It’s all there in that tomb, waiting to be resurrected in Jesus.

Never give up. Never sit down and say my purpose is finished! God is saying “Not just yet“.