Exaporeo

Upon reading the March 15 entry of the book of Charles Stanley entitled "Enter His Gates," immediately, I knew it will be worth sharing this with our readers especially now that it is Lenten season and also, now that economically and politically, this nation seems to be at a state of exaporeo.

Charles Stanley wrote that "the Greek word Paul used for "perplexed" in his letter to the Corinthians was exaporeo. Poreo means " a pathway." When Paul added the letter a (alpha) in front of the word, it became " no way." When combined with the prefix ex, Paul's term became "absolutely no way out."

Charles Stanley asks, "Have you felt that way? Does it describe your current conditions?"

There are probably those among you who personally feel you are at present at a situation of "exaporeo?" There are also probably among you who feel that our economic and political situations seem to be at a state of "exaporeo?"

If one feels at one's Red Sea or a state of "exaporeo" personally, economically and/or politically, Charles Stanley's advice may be helpful.

"take heart. Even though it appeared to Paul as if there was no way out at times, he never despaired, never lost hope. He never walked out on his divine calling as Christ's ambassador to the Gentiles.

Why? Because he understood that Jesus Christ was his constant Companion in all of his struggles.

When you have Jesus, you have the Way to guide you although there seems to be no absolutely no way out."

Coincidentally, in a March 15 reading of L.B. Cowman's Streams in the Desert, John Henry Jowett seems to provide more details about how to get out when in a situation of "exaporeo." Quoting Isaiah 41:14-15, "Do not be afraid, o worm JacobI will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth," Jowett asks:

"Could any two things be in greater contrast than a worm and a threshing tool with sharp teeth? A worm is delicate and is easily bruised by a stone or crushed beneath a passing wheel. Yet a threshing tool with sharp teeth can cut through rock and not be broken, leaving its mark upon the rock. And Almighty God can convert one into the other. He can take an individual or a nation, who has all the weakness of a worm, and through the energizing work of His own Spirit, endow that person or nation with strength enough to make a profound mark upon the history of their time.

Therefore a "worm" may take heart. Almighty God can make us stronger than our circumstances and can turn each situation to our good. In God's strength we can make them all pay tribute to our soul. We can even take the darkest disappointment, break it open, and discover a precious jewel of grace inside. When God gives us an iron will, we can cut through difficulties just as an iron plowshare cuts through the hardest soil. As He said in the above verse, " I will make you" Will He not do it?"

In this season of Lent and in this historic period of our economic and political life as a nation, will God not make "worms" turn into threshing sledges among His people? Did He not promise salvation to those in their Red Sea or who are experiencing their "exaporeo?"

Let us continue to trust, pray, and fast as a people, as a nation. Nothing is impossible with the Lord. In this period of Lent, let us continue to raise our united prayers to the Divine Mercy for His intercession to have mercy on us, the whole world AND OUR NATION, amen!

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