Before the activity of the Lord can be demonstrated, someone must know His ways! This was so clearly seen in the partnership the Lord had with Moses. This method of operation is also seen in the ministry of Jesus with His followers. The Twelve walked in a privileged, up-close observation of the Master's ways while the masses saw only His powerful acts among them. This unique "mentoring for miracles" was the topic of discussion in Matthew 13 as the disciples asked Jesus why He told them things that the "people" only knew in parables. Jesus doesn't apologize for differentiating! Rather, He explains in vs. 11: "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you..." The original language for "secrets" is actually drawn from some of the "secret orders" which existed in their society. In those settings, you didn't know things until you had been received...until you were over the threshold and a committed insider. When applied to the kingdom, this is never "elitism" but rather increased responsibility which accompanies the knowledge of His ways! (Luke 12:48b)

Three times in the Gospels the Lord draws Peter, James and John aside. Thus, even among the Twelve, there was an "inner circle". Their eyes saw what the others didn't see. Their ears heard what the others didn't hear. They observed His ways. This became foundational for them to replicate His deeds in the days ahead of the Early Church! Careful attention to these three incidents will allow us to glean more about the ways of the Lord as well! In Luke 8:40-56, the activity has been very dramatic along that pathway through the crowds enroute to Jairus' home! This synagogue ruler had humbled himself at the feet of Jesus...and the Lord has graciously responded to his plea to come to his house to heal his 12-year old daughter who was at the point of death. You recall that their trek was delayed for a miracle (!). Although it is now "too late", Jesus continues on to Jairus's house. Now it is a corpse which awaits them. Upon arriving, Jesus does not allow anyone except Peter, James, and John and the parents to go with Him behind "the closed door". This likely doesn't seem much like privilege but rather more like peril as the three of the "inner circle" have to "press passed" the mocking crowd who are emotionally charged with grief.

The disciples are on location to observe His ways. They must "press past the apparent"...agreeing instead with what the Lord has declared: "..she's not dead; just sleeping". They must disallow sights and sounds to distract them! They have to press past their own criticism of how Jesus "could have/should have" done this...aligning themselves instead with all His sovereign choices of timing. He had used valuable time enroute to stop and heal the desperate lady; now it seemed that a corpse was the result of His decision! They had to press past the conclusions of other people for even the servants had said, "Don't bother the Master any further..." The disciples must align themselves solely with what the Lord chooses to bring about in the situation...truly allowing Him to be Master! Behind that closed door their eyes saw the supernatural demonstration of the power of God...and had the privileged opportunity to observe and learn His ways! The restored, resurrected young girl was "seen" by a shocked and stunned crowd...but to the disciples behind the door, the ways of the Lord were now deposited into their inventory of supernatural power! This privileged observation surfaces again in the story of Peter in Acts 9:36-43. A corpse now awaits him as he arrives to Joppa. The beloved Dorcas is dead. Peter, what will you do? The Master isn't in the room now...death is! How will he access the supernatural power of the Risen Lord? The ways of the Lord arise out of his inventory of the supernatural. He puts the grieving group of believers out of the room...Ah, this sounds familiar! And, the end of the story is what he had experienced back at Jairus' house! Life swallows up death by the power of God! Like Peter, there are many who have been faithfully observing the ways of the Lord in obscurity...behind the closed door...but, we've come to an hour when the knowledge of His ways gained in obscurity are demanded by the extremity of needs! Dorcas will live; the Lord will be glorified! You are more ready than you think!

[This is Part 1 of a three-part series as we see the prophetic preparation of many for this hour!]

With rejoicing,
Rev. Peggy I. Kennedy

www.TwoSilverTrumpets.ca
"Sounding a prophetic voice to Canada and beyond..."

Learn to trust Him more for the moments coming to "press past" as you read A is for Apple ~ Daily Delights from the Song of Songs!

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