Page 69 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

So, the north wind blows and there is a loss. “For this cause I came
to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” A disappointment comes
in or a sickness comes in or a grief comes in or a time of suffering
comes in; “What should I say, ‘Deliver me?’ For this cause I came
to this hour. Glorify Thy name.” Sometimes it’s prosperity that
blows in; wonderful health, good times, opportunities, open doors,
provision. “What shall I say, ‘Deliver me from this hour?’ For this
cause I came to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” That is the
goal of childlikeness. Everything is moving toward, “Glorify thy
name.”

We are the Lord’s garden and we invite any wind that will make
Him happy. That’s fine. Redemptive living is not me living for
Jesus. When He lived on earth in His incarnate body He went to the
cross. He went to the cross to reach the world. It’s the same Jesus
and He now lives in my heart. If He went to the cross in His first
body, where is He going in His new body? He’s going to the cross.
He lives in me; it’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about
redemption. Everything that comes into your life, you just please
Him and He reaches the world. You are not out to reach the world.
You live to please the Lord. When you please the Lord He will
reach the world.

That’s why my life is so exciting now. It wasn’t always this way.
When I was young I prayed, “Deliver me.” As He opened my eyes
more I say, “Keep me.” But now I don’t care if He delivers or keeps.
Now I say, “Father, glorify thy name.” My wife has muscular
dystrophy. It’s missionary muscular dystrophy. I have congestive
heart failure. It’s missionary congestive heart failure. It’s all about
missions. It’s all about others. It’s not about us.

Some people have missionary singleness. Some people have
missionary cancer. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the north wind or
the south wind. Sometimes when Jesus lives in you He’ll go to the
hospital. That’s exciting! What is He up to?