A Message That Will

Raise The Dead

       

by

 

John Giordano

(Connie's 23 year old son)

 

The Bible states in Psalm 30:5 - "For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night; but joy cometh in the morning."

 

A couple of weeks ago, the Lord brought this Scripture to mind. With it, He brought several other examples from His Word to correlate with Psalm 30:5.

 

I soon remembered that many things that were done literally in the Bible hold a symbolic or figurative meaning for the church today. For example, when we read of Joshua and the children of Israel possessing the land of Canaan and vanquishing the Canaanites who lived there, this could be applied to the church today fighting Satanic forces for the souls of men, financial breakthroughs, etc.

 

As I began to think about and study the subjects of "night" and "morning" in the Bible, I found a similar reoccurrence. God chose to move during the "night" but to manifest His power and glory in the "morning." I believe that the symbolism behind these literal occurrences was that there are two phases of the Christian walk - "night" and "day." During the "night" in the Christian's life, he or she may feel like God is nowhere to be found. Satan and his hordes may be closing in from all sides. It may appear that the end is near. Then comes the "morning." The "dark night of the soul"(as some have called it) is over. A new day has come, and with it, comes a turn around in the Christian's life. He or she discovers that God was working through the "night" to bring about miracles of deliverance.

 

Let me give several examples.

 

In Genesis 32:6, Jacob discovers that his brother Esau is coming to meet him. The last time that he had seen his brother was several years earlier when Esau had threatened to kill him(Genesis 27:41-45). Now, Jacob feared that Esau was coming to kill him and his family. He cried out to God for help(Genesis 32:10-11). His answer came in the form of an angel who wrestled with him"until the breaking(dawning) of the day"(verse 24). He was wrestling through the "night" for a blessing from God(verse 26). He was wrestling for his promises that God had given him. He was wrestling for his family, future, and destiny. In the "morning," he got all that he desired. God changed his name to "Israel" - meaning a prince who has power with God and men and hast prevailed.

 

Child of God, do you feel like you are wrestling through a long "night" for a blessing from God?

 

Be encouraged! God is about to bring the "morning" to your life. With it will come a change in your future and destiny. You will no longer be cursed but blessed. You will no longer be destined for mediocrity. When your "morning" comes, God is going to give you new goals, a new vision, mission, and power that you have never had before.

 

In Exodus 14, we find that Moses had just led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Pharaoh, however, had hardened his heart and determined to pursue after the people of God(Exodus 14:1-10). Israel was in quite a predicament. They had the Red Sea at their backs and Pharaoh and his army coming to meet them head on. During the "night," the angel of the Lord came in a pillar of fire to block the way of the Egyptians(verse 20). Also, at the direction of God, Moses stretched out his rod over the Red Sea, and the Lord caused it to go back all "night"(verse 21). As the children of Israel started to cross the Red Sea which the Lord had parted for them, the Egyptians pursued. Then came the "morning." The Bible states - "And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians. And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians"(verses 24-25).

 

Brothers and sisters, are you feeling like you are backed up to the Red Sea?

Do you feel as though Satan and all his fallen angels have been unleashed against you?

Do you feel like they are closing in on you and your family?

 

Be encouraged! During the "night," the Lord has been parting your "Red Sea" and making a way for you. Just when you thought the enemy would destroy you, God provided a buffer between you and him. During your dark "night," He was giving you a pillar of fire - the light of His Word - to lead you. Then your "morning" will come.

 

Here is the best part. Not only will God part your "Red Sea", but now, in the "morning," He'll turn around and look at your enemies and trouble them. He will take off their chariot wheels or inhibit their purposes. All that have been coming against you will have to watch as you are blessed and they are destroyed.

 

In 2 Kings, we find that God did a similar thing for King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. In one "night," the Lord destroyed the army that was threatening Jerusalem and in the "morning," they "were all dead corpses."

 

2 Kings 19:35 says - "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand(185,000): and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

 

The people of Judah went to bed that "night" with the Assyrian host closing in around their capital city. When they woke up, however, they found that the Lord had been working through the "night." In the "morning," they were not the conquered but the conquerors.

 

People of God, don't be discouraged by a dark time in your life. Things can change quickly. When they do, you will see that God has been working through the "night" to bring about victory in the "morning." You will come out on the top. Jesus is for you. He will turn your seeming defeat into victory. One day, you'll be the underdog; the next day, the overcomer. One day, you'll be the vanquished; the next day, the victorious. One day, you'll be the conquered; the next day, more than a conqueror(Romans 8:37).

 

Now for the grand finale - if you will. Jesus had been crucified(Matthew 27, John 19). It looked like Christianity would die before it was ever born. It looked like the gates of hell had prevailed against the church. It appeared as though Satan had won the battle of the ages - the battle for the souls of men. For - you see - the Savior of the world lay lifeless in a tomb for three days and three "nights." Then came Resurrection "morning."

 

Matthew 28:1 says - "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."

Verses 5-6 record what these women saw and heard - "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: He is risen, as He said..."

 

Friend, do you feel like something in your life is dead?

 

It could be a dream that God gave you that you feel will never happen.

It could be the salvation of a loved one for whom you have prayed which you feel will never occur.

It may be a financial situation, a healing, or some other miracle that you've believed for but now seems dead.

 

Rejoice for joy comes in the "morning"! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can do the same for any dead circumstance or situation as well(Romans 8:11).

 

The "night" may seem dark and dismal. But your "morning" is on its way. With the "morning" will come joy, a new mission, a way out, the vanquishing of all enemies and hindrances, and the resurrection of all that was dead.

 

This Resurrection Sunday, I pray that each one of you will get a glimpse of this truth - "Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning."