“Here comes the dreamer” (Ge. 37:19)!
Dear Partner, 2015
Greetings in Jesus Name!
When I first received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8) in Flint, Michigan fifty years ago I had a “dream” of reaching the troubled teens in the city. Little by little God has continued to expand my vision over the years.
Today . . . we have hungry people from 93 nations logging on to Full Life Crusade’s website and blog. Even as I write this I can scarcely believe it. The original “dream” of reaching a few troubled street people has become almost a world-wide reality!
Many people do not like a DREAMER.
Because some folks do not dream, and seem to enjoy the mundane, they do not want anyone else to break out of the tiny world in which they have chosen to live. Perhaps the dreamer embarrasses them and shows them what they could have been if they would have only yielded to God’s call.
Joseph’s brothers planned to kill him as he approached (Ge. 37:18). But Reuben had him thrown into a cistern, secretly planning to rescue him later. Joseph was stripped. Later his clothing was dipped in blood and presented to his father. His father recognized it immediately because it was a special robe he had given to his son.
This was the biggest heartbreak of Jacob’s life!
And, when you really think about this incident, it was one of the cruelest things the sons could have ever done to their Father.
The Joseph Story is filled with more than 100 arrows (foreshadowings) pointing directly to the life of Jesus: A special robe, Stripped, Sold for silver, Betrayed by his brothers, Rescued from the grave, Rejected and condemned to die, Resisted temptation, Promoted to honor and glory, A Savior, etc., etc. Look these up on Google or email me and I will send all of them to you.
Like the teenage girl said while I was teaching last summer: “I’ve got the chills!” Only God could have written this book.
When Jacob saw the robe and the blood it convinced him that his son was dead. The word “Blood” is mentioned 447 times in the Bible. Hebrews tells us that Jesus presented his own blood to the Father. Jesus was the God/Man. None of us know what kind of blood was in Jesus’ body.
But when He shed his blood on the cross for our sins, His Father accepted it as atonement for the sins of the entire world. Anyone who puts his faith in Jesus and His shed blood is guaranteed entrance into heaven and eternal life!
Talk about a GIFT! Yes, the blood of Jesus is supernatural.
Consider this: As God the Father watched Jesus scourged, humiliated, whipped, and crucified, He could have stepped in and stopped it. He had the power to easily “call for ten thousand angels” and rescue His Son.
Now we come to the part that none of us fully understand: “We see through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12). If God would have rescued Jesus from the cross then there would have been no other way for the human race to be rescued. Think about it: NO OTHER WAY!
You might say, “Wes, how do you know that there was no other way?”
It’s a simple answer. If there was another way do you think God would have stood back and allowed His Son to suffer such torture and death? The obvious answer is a resounding NO!
So Joseph’s brothers showed the bloody robe to their father! And Jesus presented His blood to His Father as eternal proof that His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
But that was not the end of the Joseph Story. And your life is not over yet, either. Joseph rose to the top. He saved two nations! His brothers finally had their eyes opened. And the entire family was reconciled. What joy! What an incredible ending. What an amazing God!
Never stop dreaming!
Your life is not over for many reasons. This God of ours can do anything. He has no limitations. He is able to take broken lives, broken past, messed up situations, broken relationships, . . . ANYTHING, and turn them around for good.
Talk about shock and awe!
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers they were “stunned” that Joseph was standing there in front of them (Ge. 45:3). We, too, will be so “stunned” when we see Jesus face to face.
According to Revelation 21:4, God will come to each one of us and wipe our tears away. From that moment forward into eternity there will never be any more DEATH, SORROW, CRYING, or PAIN!
Yes, this is the “blessed hope” of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. No other religion on our planet offers anything even close to what we are promised in the Scriptures. No wonder the fire in our belly urges us on to tell everyone.
As the song writer declares . . . “There is coming a day.”
Even at the end we will see proof of this. Revelation 19:12—“He wore a robe dipped in blood!” Mounted on His white stallion and splitting heaven open, He will release the fierce wrath of Almighty God by striking down the nations.
And we will be following Him, riding on white horses---everyone who places his or her faith in what Jesus did on the cross and His shed blood.
So the entire Joseph Story points clearly to Jesus Christ!
At the beginning of this New Year I encourage you to go back and read Genesis 37-50. Look for all of the types and shadows that foretell the life of Jesus. One of the amazing things about this is that Joseph had a free will. In spite of that, God used at least 100 episodes in his life to clearly point to Jesus.
Only God could have written the Bible!
The longer I study God’s Word the more I stand in awe of this amazing book He has given us. And the stronger is the urge to take this message of His wonderful love to the nations of the world.
I’m old enough now to actually see my children and grandchildren growing up with this same fire in their bones. This encourages me so much!
I want the people I lead to Christ to run past me and do greater things than I’ve ever dreamed of doing. Back in my day we did not have the internet, web sites, or blogs. But today each of us has the potential to reach nations!
As we physically travel to these various countries we continue to see the hunger for Truth. Multitudes are coming into the Kingdom of God in these last days. It is truly HARVEST TIME.
Thank you for being part of our team and helping us to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth in 2015. May the Lord richly bless you for your prayers and gifts.
In His Service,
Wesley Smith
P.S. My videos and audio messages are FREE, FREE, FREE on our website and blog. Do you know someone who needs encouragement? Do you know someone who needs to get saved? Direct them to our sites. 93 nations are tuning in! Keep dreaming because God is bigger than any of your dreams!
Full Life Crusade, P.O. Box 398, Winona Lake, IN 46590
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