Poney Express insights-"Good work against heavy odds" - Accelerate
We are living in the "last hour" before the return of our Lord to get his bride, the church! The time of transition from church age We hear cries of Peace and Safety everywhere, especially in the middle east! The peace agreement between Israel and much of the Arab world has been signed. Dreams of Christ's return are overwhelming! We see revival all over the world, even in places where the gospel had not been preached! This is yet another important sign of His soon 2nd coming, as he promised that when the gospel has been preached in all the world, he would return. ( Mark 13:10, Matt.24:14) The young and fearless will take this message of salvation to the lost The reviews of the young band of riders read, "short time, much accomplished with little resources". They braved harsh conditions, rode at high speeds, even risked their lives to deliver packages, money and messages across the country. They rode for only 18 months. 18 months that were crucial to th development of this nation. Through Civil War, Indian wars, and through the Gold Rush. They delivered the messages of riches, messages of freedom from slavery as well as devastating messages of native American captivity. I found that during this same time - longer than 18 months, however, the "Circuit Riders" were on the move! These were Godly men - itinerant preachers" who rode from town to town or village to village on horseback. They often stayed in a location, bringing salvation to the lost and helping where help was needed until moving to the next place. We have had a small window of time in which to repent and take the message of the kingdom of God to the lost. We have an adversary as we press through danger and perils. We must be brave, loving not our own lives. Not selfish. Not fearful. We work with what we have, whether little or much. Deliver the message of freedom! Freedom from sin, freedom from death, freedom from self. Deliver the message of salvation! Deliver the message of His soon return! While we look for His return, in this short time of transition, we must make the most of technology as we rush to spread the news of the gospel of salvation . The gospel is being spread in traditional as well as unprecedented ways. Transitional methods of communication are essential in this time of pandemic. The Poney Express lasted only 18 months until, with the development of the Western Union global telegraph system, there was no more use for it. During this past week, the Lord impressed upon my spirit suddenly that this transitional communication will be very brief, almost as brief as was that of the Poney Express. There will be no use for this soon, as the return of our Lord will curtail any further communication of salvation. We have to use the methods He sends us quickly! Similar to the account of 12 very young, fearless, "ignorant and unlearned" disciples of Jesus received and delivered the message of salvation to a world in sin after centuries of darkness and waiting for a redeemer, the message was spread by all means possible, through danger and with loss of lives. The communication of the gospel has been improved in efficiency and speed as technology improved with translation into languages for the nations. The Word of God has been spread by word of mouth, then by hand printed word, then the printed Bible. We have been blessed by the invention of newspaper and magazine presses in later history of our world. Radio, Television, Sattelite inventions in very recent years have now all but given way to Internet capabilities with cellphones, computers, etc. Also recently brought to my attention is the "circuit riders" who spread the gospel through America in her early days as well. Our entire world seems to have been put on hold with the latest worldwide pandemic threatening to destroy all means of communication and shutting down many jobs as well as shutting down the ability of houses of God to worship together. This appears to be a time of realignment for the Body of Christ. A time to re-think our manner and motives for fellowship and our love for God. Just as the Poney Express had only a short time (18 months) to step in for the time of transition in America, It may be that the bride of Christ has only a very tinly window of time for this time of transition before the 2nd coming of Christ. The Express happened to be run during the perilous time of the Gold Rush, The Indian wars, the Civil War, etc. in a time of great evil, greed and peril. The heart of man has grown even colder and more deceitful, even as prophesied. The signs of the end are everywhere! Now we have more ability to spread the word than ever before. With Facebook, Instagram and many applications for even the least able communicator we have personal ability to communicate globally if we desire. Here is a quote a portion of an ad for recruitment of Riders for the Poney Express: WANTED: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen," noting that applicants "Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. He said His disciples must hate mother and father and his own life to be His disciple. Pick up your cross and follow me. It seems that we are scrambling to develop strategies for this "new normal". This new way of meeting virtually, or socially distancing, etc. is more challenging as it is still developing. The world is seeking Peace amongst the nations, seeking peace of mind, seeking a cure for the pandemic, seeking cures, seeking financial stability, etc. The saints of God and His bride are seeking salvation of the lost. The Lord seeks for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is seeking intercessors to stand in the gap. When we think we've got the hang of the "new normal', just like there was no further need for the Poney Express, there will be no more need for these new ways of communicating the gospel. Well, just think, during the tribulation, angels will be warning the world! In an ad used to recruit Poney Express Riders, Can you see the notice the similarity between requirements for riders and the requirement for Jesus' disciples: "WANTED: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen," noting that applicants "Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred." This advertisement reminds me of Jesus' warning/requirement to those who want to follow Him: Whosoever will follow me must take up your cross and follow me. Luke 14:26, 26: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” The hardships involved and the readiness of the young riders also reminds me of Jesus' call to his disciples, Take Up Your Cross (Matthew 10:37-39; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-27) 24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Here is the world's congratulatory word after the closing of the Poney Express: "Good work against heavy odds". Does this remind you of the welcome that servants of Jesus Christ will receive at the end of their race? "Well done thou good and faithful servant".
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AuthorPastor Angela Miller Archives
October 2021
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