Debilitated… Humiliated… Disgraced… Irrelevant…
How did they fall so far, so quickly?
Britain 2026
Suddenly, Britain’s Global Reputation Is Shattered!
They are a nuclear power, a P5 country – one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The UK is the second most important player in NATO. They are in the G7. Britain is still the fifth or sixth biggest economy in the world. They have superlative security and intelligence services, and colossal reach and influence.
But as former British Prime Minister Boris Jonson points out:
“Britain is now not merely a laughing stock but something actually worse – a piffling irrelevance.” (dailymail.co.uk)
In Just A Few Short Days…
Britain’s global reputation is shattered!
Britain reduced to a “piffling irrelevance”…
The special relationship with America all but destroyed.
People are asking: “What happened to us?
How did we fall so far, so quickly?”
Meanwhile, President Trump is boasting about America’s power - is he in danger of falling into the same trap as ancient King Nebuchadnezzar?
It is interesting to note that a key event leading up to the Great Tribulation appears to be an attack on Europe by an Arab confederation – with no mention of American involvement!
If world leaders realised why God allows them to be in office, they might think and act differently. (More about that later.)
The Whole World Situation Has Suddenly Changed!
Right now, we see several major changes taking place in the world: in politics, finance, energy supply and trade. We need to be alert and watch as we live through this time of rapid change! As the Apostle Paul warned:
“So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” (I Thessalonians 5:6, NLT)
Akrotiri Exposes Atrophy Of UK ‘Military Might’
First, the humiliation!
“The president of Cyprus was appalled to discover that Britain was unprepared for the drone attack on Akrotiri last week. In a panic, the Cypriots turned to Greece (as normal) then Spain and France (unprecedented) asking to be protected from the risk Britain’s bases had exposed them to.
They didn’t have to wait long. Greek frigates and F-16s were on the island within hours. A French warship is there already, soon to be joined by a full air wing. If HMS Dragon ever does reach Cyprus, the cavalry from half of Europe will have long since arrived to the defence of Brits and Cypriots alike. Quite the humiliation.” (thetimes.com)
HMS Dragon’s Mission To Cyprus ‘Is Being Delayed…’
“The deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus has been delayed amid claims from union officials that the naval base responsible for its repairs only operates on a ‘nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday’ schedule. According to the Prospect union, these delays are a direct result of ‘cost-cutting’ measures introduced by the Ministry of Defence and private contractor Serco. The union alleges that the Portsmouth naval base has abandoned its around-the-clock staffing model in favour of a standard 9-to-5, weekday-only operation.
General secretary of Prospect, Mike Clancy, said: ‘Our members are stepping up to help, but such a vital service shouldn’t be dependent on goodwill from staff. Out-of-hours support should be locked into the contract.’” (dailymail.co.uk)
“France Is Sending An Aircraft Carrier To The Middle East.
Why Isn’t Britain?”
“This weekend, Iran, or possibly one of its proxies on the Mediterranean shore, launched two attacks at British sovereign territory: RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The first salvo fell short, the second, possibly a single drone, hit. Thankfully there were no casualties and damage was minimal.
To be clear, British sovereign territory has been attacked and remains under threat.
Their response? Very slow.” (telegraph.co.uk)
Britain - SO IRRELEVANT On The World Stage
“Until 1956 and the Suez crisis, Britain was the pre-eminent Middle Eastern power. Even after having been displaced by the United States, we remained its most trusted and often indispensable ally, fighting together in both Gulf Wars…
Now, under Starmer’s feeble leadership, we have become mere spectators. It is the first time this has happened in my lifetime. Donald Trump doesn’t care what we think or do as we sink into irrelevance.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Britain: Debilitated, Humiliated And Disgraced
“What happened to us?
How did we fall so far, so quickly?
Where is our moral compass, our self-respect, our pride?
Sir Keir Starmer’s Britain stands alone, but for the most deplorable of reasons, unwilling to fight back when our bases are hit by drones, incapable of deploying what is left of the Royal Navy, unable to respond to the implosion of the old world order other than by incanting Leftist platitudes – debilitated, humiliated and disgraced.
America and Israel are waging a moral and just war to punish an evil, millenarianist, Iranian Islamist regime that kills and maims, and yet Britain is a no-show, pathetically asserting the war violates ‘international law’, sabotaging Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s heroic efforts at every opportunity. Starmer’s non-response to the attack on our base in Cyprus by Iranian proxies is an act of such breathtaking cowardice and strategic self-sabotage that it would have made even Jimmy Carter blush. It is the modern equivalent of the fall of Singapore, a debacle that will obliterate our remaining influence over the region.
September 11 wasn’t the West’s Pearl Harbour, a disastrous blow that led to ultimate triumph: it now looks as if October 7 2023 was. Two and a half years on, the multi-part war it triggered is turning into a historic disaster for Islamism and the authoritarian axis, including Russia. It has realigned the Middle East: Iran’s demented extension of the war could turbocharge a new Abraham Accord-style rapprochement.
Lebanon has banned Hezbollah’s military wing.
Syria is condemning Iran.
The Gulf States are shooting down Iranian missiles and are effectively in coalition with America and Israel, an astonishing development.
The Greeks are fighting Iranian-funded drones.
The Turks are angry, though they remain hostile to the West.
The Gulf states thought they could stay out of this, especially Qatar, which spent a fortune demonising Israel. They couldn’t.
Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement with China is over. The blow to Beijing is profound: its Iranian ally is being blown to smithereens, and it has lost all influence over the region.
The change in Europe is also seismic.
Friedrich Merz has slammed international law, drastic for a German leader.
The French leader Emmanuel Macron talks nonsense but his new nuclear doctrine, which involves an expansion in warheads, breaks decisively with the pacifist, legal-driven order.
Britain, by contrast, is doubling down on its stupidity. Starmer understands nothing and learns nothing.
OUR FALL FROM GRACE IS TOTAL.” (telegraph.co.uk)
Britain: Impotent On The World Stage
“It wasn’t like we didn’t know that American forces were massing in the region. Did it not occur to anybody that we might benefit from deploying a few ships just in case?
Before our eyes, the worst evil humanity has faced since the time of Hitler is locked in a battle of survival against the forces of democracy.
Yes, a transition to a stable and democratic Iran is far from certain; Yes, the inhabitant of the White House is mercurial at best, depraved at worst;
Yes, our forces are depleted after generations of decline.
But where is our love of freedom?
Where is our sense of right and wrong?
Where is our courage?
In 1940, after Dunkirk, Churchill roused our spirits and plunged into the fray.
Sir Winston Churchill - 4 June 1940
“… We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender…” (winstonchurchill.org)
Sir Keir Starmer - March 2026
Britain can now confirm:
…That it is NOT fighting on the beaches;
…That it is NOT fighting on the landing grounds, except for limited defensive operations that have shot down one drone;
…That it will bravely check the legality of fighting in the fields and in the streets;
…That it shall follow Lord Hermer’s advice about the legal position of fighting in the hills.
IN SHORT, IT HAS ALREADY SURRENDERED.” (telegraph.co.uk)
The Special Relationship Goes Into Meltdown
“Keir Starmer accused Donald Trump of lacking a ‘viable, thought-through plan’ for the Iran war today as Transatlantic tensions rise. The PM sounded defiant over his refusal to allow UK bases to be used for offensive strikes, insisting he was worried about ‘escalation’.
Mr Trump condemned the premier as ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’ last night, as the situation became more personal. Sir Keir shot back that letting the US use UK bases to shoot down drones ‘is the special relationship in action’ but ‘hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not’.
The premier said that when the crisis erupted on Saturday he was not willing to ‘join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable thought through plan’. He added: ‘That remains my position.’” (dailymail.co.uk)
Starmer Has Delighted Our Enemies, Disheartened Our Friends And Debased Our Nation
“Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the ayatollahs have violated the immunity of our embassy in Tehran, abducted and assaulted British citizens, including diplomats, kidnapped British naval personnel, pronounced a fatwa against a British subject, seized a British tanker and sponsored at least 15 terror plots on British soil. To pretend that this is none of our business is both cowardly and cretinous.
As the rest of the world picks sides, Britain is left muttering about due process, nitpicking over niceties, proclaiming its loyalty to a legal order that others have abandoned, searching for one last international tribunal to which to surrender. Far from making us look noble, it makes us look fatuous. Shifty and unreliable, too.
We have relations in the Middle East that go back hundreds of years, and that are based on the idea that Britain is a dependable ally. Overnight, Starmer has thrown that reputation away.
What an opportunity we had.
We might have helped topple a regime that was slaughtering its civilian population and spreading chaos beyond its borders, a regime that regards Britain as its third enemy, behind only the US and Israel.
We might have strengthened our relationship with our Anglosphere cousins and our local allies.
We might have acted with honour and dignity.
Instead, we delighted our enemies, disheartened our friends and debased ourselves.
SHAME ON US.” (telegraph.co.uk)
Woke MoD Asks Troops: ‘Guys, Do You Want To Wear Make-Up?’
You couldn’t make this up! At a time when the whole Middle East is at war, and Britain stands on the sidelines, look at what’s important to the UK’s army leaders:
“Army chiefs have been criticised for launching a review – just as the Iran war intensifies – into whether male soldiers can wear make-up. While British personnel in Cyprus called for more protection and HMS Dragon was stuck in port, all serving soldiers were asked on Thursday whether they thought men could apply cosmetics and wear their hair like women. They were surveyed on woke ‘gender-free’ changes which could see men wearing make-up with long hair or hair extensions, painted nails and earrings.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Back To Reality…
Tehran’s Miscalculation:
How Iranian Missiles Brought Gulf States, Israel Together
“By targeting every GCC member with missiles and drones, Tehran has achieved the unthinkable: placing Israel and Qatar on the same team. This strategic blunder may finally cement a regional axis. After five days of war with Iran, the Iranians have succeeded in putting Israel and Qatar on the same team – to say nothing of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and even Saudi Arabia – all countries targeted over the past five days by Iranian missiles and drones. By some estimates, Iran has fired more missiles and drones at Gulf states combined than at Israel.” (jpost.com)
Mohammed Bin Salman ‘Secretly Lobbied Trump To Attack Iran’
“Many Gulf states believe Iran to be a danger to the region and a destabilising force. Saudi Arabia joined Israel in lobbying the US to launch strikes against Iran. Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, argued in favour of an attack during multiple phone calls with Donald Trump in the past month, sources told the Washington Post.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, also continued his long-standing campaign urging the US to join strikes on Iran, the Post reported. Iran has continued its retaliation after the US and Israel launched a barrage of strikes on Saturday morning, killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has so far launched attacks on six of its neighbours, inadvertently uniting the Middle East against the Islamic Republic. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, the Emirati political commentator, told The Telegraph that Iran was the unifying threat bringing Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nations together, ‘regardless of differences’. He said: ‘When things get tough, they come together.’” (telegraph.co.uk)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
“The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional, intergovernmental, political, and economic union and military alliance comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The council’s main headquarters is located in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. It was formally established in May 1981.” (wikipedia.org)
Iran Threatens To Nuke Israel
“Iran has shared a chilling image of a nuclear missile striking an Israeli city, which appears to be Tel Aviv. In a post on X, the account previously belonging to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that ‘Khorramshahr is ahead’, in reference to the ballistic missile named after the Iranian city. This comes after Tehran launched an overnight attack of cluster bombs targeting Tel Aviv, which were seen in shocking videos flying through the air before crashing into the ground.” (express.co.uk)
Where We Are - Now!
Britain once controlled one of the greatest empires in history, but has now sunk into “piffling irrelevance”!
The special relationship with America is in tatters…
America and Israel are attacking Iran with ever increasing intensity - but at what cost? It’s all being done on borrowed money.
Iran has attacked most of the Middle Eastern nations - causing many Arab nations to work together (Psalm 83:2-5), laying the foundation for the soon-coming King of the south (Daniel 11:40).
The King of the North is hastily rearming and making ready for war.
America is sinking deeper and deeper in debt!
There is a problem with a lack of real leaders:
”As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)
Key Point
WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED THESE LEADERS TO FULFIL HIS PLAN.
What we are witnessing right now is God’s will in action!
Our minds have been opened, we have been given understanding of God’s great plan - for ALL of mankind!
The leaders and the world at large cannot understand what is going on - they have no idea! We can understand because “we have also a more sure word of prophecy.” (II Peter 1:19)
GOD HAS A MASTER PLAN
Mr Armstrong explains:
“We have seen that there is indeed a PURPOSE being worked out here below. Winston Churchill stated that before the United States Congress. There is a REASON for the presence of humanity on the earth. And for the working out of that PURPOSE there is a MASTER PLAN.” (Mystery of the Ages - Chapter 6)
“God is working out a PURPOSE here on earth! That PURPOSE is dual: a) God is reproducing Himself – forming future GOD BEINGS from mortal humans made from material soil, b) restoring the GOVERNMENT of God through these future born children of God.
For this transcendental PURPOSE God has a MASTER PLAN for its accomplishment. There are seven major steps in that Master Plan. The annual Festivals of God PICTURE that Master Plan.” (Pastor General’s Report – September 15, 1980)
The patriarch Job, after many serious trials, finally came to this understanding:
“I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose [plan] of thine can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2, RSV)
God tells us to…
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
Note This Example Of God In Action!
Right at the end of the age, 10 nations in Europe finally unite. How does this come about?
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” (Revelation 17:12-13, 17)
At The End Of The Age…
Britain And America To Be ‘Corrected’!
“The prophecies do not stop with revealing the unprecedented multiplied intensity of punishment already beginning to descend upon America and Britain. The prophecies record also the RESULT of that intensified punishment. The result will be a corrected people.” (United States And Britain In Prophecy - chapter 13)
Right now, that correction is under way!
The pride that Britain once had as a world-ruling empire is gone as the nation “sinks into irrelevance”, “debilitated, humiliated and disgraced”. Britain no longer has any power to be proud of! The special relationship between Britain and America is in tatters. Just as we were warned in the book of Isaiah:
“Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they shall be against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.” (Isaiah 9:21, NKJV)
Watch out for events that will turn America and Britain against Judah!
Watch as the pride in America’s power is broken…
The End Result?
“The result will be an eye-opening realization of what we have done to ourselves. The supreme punishment will teach us, at last, our lesson!
The punishment will break our spirit of REBELLION!
It will lift us up from the cesspool of rottenness and evil into which we have sunk.
It will teach us the way to glorious peace, prosperity, happiness, abundant well-being!” (United States And Britain In Prophecy - chapter 13)
Our Walk of Faith
"For we walk by faith, not by sight:" (II Corinthians 5:7)
Context
It is interesting to note that such a profound scripture as that above is given by the apostle Paul almost as an aside, and yet when you look at the context in which it is found, it's in the framework of what this physical life is all about. Paul ends the preceding chapter with an equally profound observation in that what we can currently see is merely temporary, whereas right now, what is eternal cannot be seen. He then goes on to expand on this point; how individually we have at the very least the blueprints of our new spirit body currently being prepared – on high – ready for the resurrection. And it is in this context that we daily must walk in faith and not merely by what we witness or experience at the present time.
- While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
- If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
- For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
- Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the [downpayment] of the Spirit.
- Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
- (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (II Corinthians 4:18 to 5:1-7)
God Still Creating
How many times did we hear Mr. Armstrong declare of God the Father and the Logos "they were creators"? And in the same vein, how many times did we hear him describe mankind as "His supreme masterpiece" of creation? For the fact is that God the Father and Jesus Christ are at this precise moment STILL creating! They haven't changed their basic nature ... creating is what they do, creators are what they are – and it is what we as human beings are destined to become.
For us to fulfil this role we must quite literally be born again – born of the spirit, with a spirit body as described in I Corinthians 15 – the same kind of spirit body Jesus Christ Himself has, following His resurrection, and described in Philippians.
- So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
- It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
- And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (I Corinthians 15:42,44,49)
- Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)
Needless to say, what God must also create as the true complement to this new power-filled 'house not made with hands', is a spirit-born MIND, having the same calibre, of the same quality as Christ's. So our walk of faith is not just how we conduct ourselves daily in the light of the body we are destined to be given, but also in the creative power of God and Christ to literally create within us the same kind of mind as they possess. Fortunately we have been given an astounding example to reinforce our perception of the creative genius of the One with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13). That example is the way in which a baby grows within the womb, from two microscopic half-cells into the myriad of complex systems the human body contains. I recently read the following amazing recognition of this process. It has been estimated that around 250 babies are born each minute of every day – each one is a miracle in itself, but something we rarely give adequate recognition to is the complexity of the preceding gestation process. As the following two paragraphs attempt to convey:
"The development of the embryo with its staggering panoply of continuously morphing cells – each finding its unique way through the seething and dynamic yet highly ordered embryonic web of cellular matter, touching and feeling its neighbours in search of spatial and temporal clues and obediently changing its own chemical, genetic, and physical state in response – is by far the most complex phenomenon on Earth, far more complex by many orders of magnitude than the assembly of the most complex human artefact ever built.
"Indeed, the developing embryo is a phenomenon far beyond anything in the realm of our ordinary, or extraordinary, experience. The unimaginable immensity of spatial and molecular clues and molecular and genetic responses exploited by this innumerable host of nanobots navigating the embryonic ocean is far greater than all the maps, charts, and devices used by all the mariners who ever navigated the oceans of Earth. No human machine built to date nor any on the drawing board of the most ambitious and farsighted gurus of nanotechnology is remotely as complex as a developing embryo." (The Miracle of the Cell, by Michael Denton, chapter 7, The Matrix, p115)
Faith by Hearing
It is within this breathtaking context that we currently must conduct our present walk of faith, firmly trusting that a Creator God who could design and bring into reality such a system – and tailored as a unique individual through the DNA – can also be clearly trusted to do the same with us spiritually. We are thus given this confidence ... "that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)
When we were an embryo within our mother's womb all those years ago, we didn't question this incredible creative process, but accepted all the changes and various stages of growth as laid down by the Master Designer. And shouldn't we have the same approach and trust today – as He conducts His supreme masterpiece of creation with each one of us? That is the faith by which we must walk day in and day out. God doesn't have to explain to us everything that is going on ... the whys and wherefores of our daily trials, for instance. He is in overall control, just as much as He was when we were being "curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" (Psalm 139:15)
And how does that all-encompassing faith develop? The bottom line is that it is based not on something that we see but rather on something we have heard or read, that originally proceeded from the mouth of God Himself. This is why Paul declares in Romans: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17).
When Christ was asked what is the greatest commandment in the Law, He quoted a section of scripture which is known as the "Shama" ... called such as it begins with "Shama" or "Hear", O Israel;
- Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
- And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
- And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)
"God's Way Works"
However, the word "shama" implies much more than passively hearing the words uttered, but additionally it implies to both listen carefully to and to obey. "To hear with attention or interest" might be a better translation. In a similar way, faith doesn't come merely by passively listening to the word of God, it comes when we make it our own. It takes more than just having God's words physically registering on our brain – but as also brought out in chapter 10 of Romans – obedience to the word of God is vital if we are to understand His mind, His way. The motto for the youngsters in SEP back in the 1980s was "God's Way Works", and as we – young or old – individually witness the positive results of obedience to His laws, then our faith and confidence in God grows and matures. As brought out in Galatians 5, faith is very much part of the fruit of God's spirit and it takes a spirit-led mind to really grasp it.
- But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world ...
- ... But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and [obstinate] people. (Romans 10:16-18,21)
This is why the example given in the Old Testament for kings back then – and, by extension, for future kings now in training for the world tomorrow – involves not only reading daily in the Law of God, but as is pointed out in verse 19 of Deuteronomy 17 ... "to do them" ... ie. to faithfully WALK in them.
- And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
- And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: (Deuteronomy 17:18,19)
Faithfully walking in the ways of God brings blessings in this life now and a future for our "seed" - and this war-torn world! - that we can hardly imagine:
- Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
- The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
- Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel. (Psalm 128:4-6)
Patience is Needed
Along with Abraham, Moses was able to speak to Christ, the Word of God, face to face, but we don't have that privilege – yet. But what we can do, and are very much encouraged to do, is to delve into the word of God and learn from the experiences of those that have gone before, who God was dealing with: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4)
That patience, as part of our walk with God, is illustrated over and over again in the examples of faith and patience recorded within scripture. Take Abraham, as a supreme example: Christ made the comment "... Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do; ..." (Genesis 18:17) when He decided to do something about the decadence within Sodom, but that approach did not manifest itself in every aspect of Abraham's personal life, as he waited for the heir that God had promised. Over and over again the promise was repeated and amplified, but with the crucial ingredient of 'when' deliberately missing. He simply had to continue patiently walking in faith – believing the promises that had been given – regardless of the physical circumstances of advancing age for him and his wife.
Similarly, Christ could have easily stepped in to halt the mistaken perception that led to Ishmael's birth, but He didn't. Instead, He chose to have Abraham patiently continue his walk of faith for another fourteen years (Genesis 17) In like manner, Jacob was deliberately kept in the dark by Christ when he was led to believe Joseph had died, as reported by his other sons. (Genesis 37) Years earlier, Christ could have intervened – but chose not to – when He allowed Jacob to suffer the loss of his beloved wife Rachel, dying in childbirth with Benjamin (Genesis 35:18). And of course, with Joseph himself – to whom God could have revealed something of the timing of his dreams – but didn't. Instead he simply had to patiently keep on keeping on, based on what God had previously revealed to him, leaving the rest in God's hands entirely, trusting Him in spite of the exceedingly negative circumstances in which he found himself. (Genesis 39-41)
Through Paul, Jesus Christ emphasised this patient walk of faith that would remain necessary for all of us, and that He is cognisant of the day-in and day-out struggles we have:
- For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
- That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:10-12)
And Christ not only is fully aware of the challenges and heartaches we face, but desires to help us cope with them:
- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
- For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-31)
- Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
- For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Walking the Walk
As we see within the example of Abraham – the father of the faithful – even though Christ made the comment in Genesis 18; "... Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do; ..." only certain things were revealed, and other aspects, and particularly the timings – were withheld – hidden! – deliberately, encouraging him to simply walk the walk of faith, regardless. Should we therefore wonder if something similar happens at this time also? We quote passages such as; "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) and yet fail to recognise how so often in the past the mere outline of events was revealed, God expecting His servants to trust Him implicitly in regard to the details. The prophet Daniel being one example:
- And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
- And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Daniel 12, 8,9)
And so often we too have to "go our way" ... and keep putting one foot in front of the other – in faith – trusting God to guide and direct our paths, in the same way as did our forefathers. We are currently witnessing unprecedented mayhem in the Middle East, which could well spill over into our personal lives in no time at all, but this is simply not our world. Deep involvement in worldly political manoeuvrings has no place in our present walk with God, as the apostle Paul brings out:
- These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
- And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
- But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
In all cases the walk of faith involves focusing on the spiritual future that we cannot see as yet, placing greater emphasis on that future Zion – promised by God – than on the physical circumstances we happen to be facing at the time, or witnessing around us. It is where we focus our mind that is all important. The way we think – be that future spiritual or present carnal – will very much govern the way we'll subsequently walk.
- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit ...
- ... That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:1,4,5)
It is interesting to note that the above passage comes straight after what we read in Romans 7, of the personal battles that Paul himself had. How much more should we apply the same principle to the problems and difficulties we face? It's very easy to get disheartened at times, wondering if God even realises what battles we're facing, but the antidote is to focus on the rock-solid promise God has given to never leave us or forsake us ... and take the next step forward – one foot in front of the other – trusting Him with the timing of our rescue.
God Does the Impossible
And back to Abraham once more ... becoming a father at one hundred years old, because ; "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Genesis 18:14). Amazing 'impossibilities' are recorded in Genesis and Exodus for us to read and ponder ... The crossing of the Red Sea, the daily provision of manna, quail, water from a rock etc. But sometimes these stunning miracles lose their impact as we have heard them so often. What can help us keep going when the going gets tough, is to remember God's previous intervention in OUR lives, the times when He seemed to do the impossible for US, individually, personally. These personal stories may not be on the scale of the Red Sea but the chances are we saw God's hand in certain situations that brought about the best result and in a way we would never have thought, or could have manipulated ourselves. And also, that although God does want to see us develop patience and perseverance, once He acts everything quickly falls into place.
Israel forgot these incredible interventions by God on their behalf (Psalm 78:10,11). They lost sight of the fact that God does indeed do the impossible – as they had personally witnessed repeatedly. For it requires faith through the action and focus of God's spirit to truly appreciate His hand in our lives ... something that is so vitally important for us today, as Christ brings out in the book of Hebrews:
- And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
- So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
- Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
- For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 3:18- 4:2)
Conclusion
Like Abraham, Daniel and the prophets, we have an outline of future events that is sure – that we 'can take to the bank'. But the timing and the details are not crystal clear as we do indeed see through a glass darkly. During the grim days just ahead of us, it would be helpful to keep in mind the lesson of the apostle Peter, recorded for us in Matthew 14:
- And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
- But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:29-31)
If we focus on the present physical circumstances ... "the wind boisterous" ... we may well sink. We need to keep our eyes firmly focused on the goal ahead, remembering Who is working with us, and Who has already created each one of us once – individually – from those two minute half-cells:
- But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
- When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
- For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
- Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
- Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
- I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
- Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:1-7)
- Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
- To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24,25)
Latest Audio - 2026-03-07
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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