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Walking Toward the Fullness of Redemption
By Audrey Wyatt
Redemption - deliverance by payment of a price. In the New Testament, redemption refers to salvation's provision which "buys back" what has been lost.
In the Old Testament, redemption was applied to the recovery of property, animals, persons, and the whole nation of Israel. These things typify the dimensions of recovery and release New Testament believers experience in life in through the price Jesus paid (His blood). So the Old Testament evidences the New Testament promise - God's ability in Christ to redeem from the slavery of sin (Psalm 130:7-8), from the enemy oppressors (Dt 15:15), and from the power of death (Job 19:25-26; Ps 49:8-9).
I want to remind you that we have been redeemed. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" (Psalm 107:2-3)
While we know, in our heads we have been redeemed, sometimes we forget this in our hearts. When we are waiting for God to fulfill the promises He has made to us, it is easy to ask the question, "God if we are redeemed from bondage, the enemy, and even death, why do we have to struggle so much?"
Many of us have been in the wilderness. Perhaps, right now, you are experiencing times of sustained barrenness or dryness in one or more areas of your life. I'm not talking about not having the ability to produce children, but about any area in your life where there has appeared to be sustained unfruitfulness.
Maybe you have been on a spiritual roller coaster like the people were in the book of Judges. For a season of time, you experience peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, the good times cause you to forget God. Next, God allows an oppressive situation to come into your life. Then, you repent for your lapse of memory. You recommit your life to God. Finally, God delivers you from the oppressive situation. Then you experience peace and prosperity all over again. I have to admit, I have been on this ride a time or two in my life. This cycle reminds me of a line in a hymn we used to sing in church, Come thy Fount of Every Blessing… "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love."
In this case, it's easy to see why we struggle. We have to constantly work on our relationship with Jesus or we will drift away from Him. Sometimes our bad circumstances are God's attempt to help us refocus on Him.
But what about when you are doing all you know to do unto the Lord, and still you struggle? Let's explore four reasons why after believing in full redemption for your life, you seem to be barely staying afloat. After crying out to God for deliverance, why does He appear to be silent? Why is God delaying our full redemption?
Reason #1
Perhaps you are being plundered by the enemy. Remember, one of the definitions of redemption is being delivered from oppressors (Ish 42:21-22). We know that there are demons assigned to us and to our entire family lineage. These demons try to stop us from reaching our destiny in God. Satan has stolen much from us.
Reason #2
Let me disturb your theology a little bit. Perhaps God has caused your struggle. Perhaps God has delayed helping you or has caused your barrenness. The King James version of the Bible says that the Lord shut up Hannah's womb (1Sam 1:5). And remember Lazarus? Jesus purposely delayed so that a very sick Lazarus was surely dead. (John 11:6). By the time Jesus reached Lazarus, he had been in the grave four days (John 11:17). Now why would He do that?
Reason #3
This leads me to reason #3. God has delayed so that your complete deliverance brings greater glory to Him. Lazarus's and Hannah's deliverance brought glory to the Lord. Therefore, after you have done the "Is it me?" inventory, conclude that it must be God. It really does not matter if Satan is involved or not. Because as I heard Jill Briscoe say, "Nothing happens to a child of God outside the will of God." This also reminds me of when the disciples asked Jesus who was it that sinned when they saw a man who was blind from birth (John 9). Jesus said that neither of them sinned, but that He was going to manifest the works of God through Him. Many times, the longer the delay the greater the glory God receives. (Also see Ish 42:6-8 and Exodus 34:5-7).
Reason #4
Why would God delay our full redemption? He is looking for a sound that He wants to come forth not from the prophet of the hour, but from you. This sound can only come forth after you have been through some things. This sound will shake the enemy that has been assigned to stop you (1Sam 2). We will be the ones who cry out restore. He wants you to call upon His name and know that He knows your name (Ish 28:13) (2Tim 2:19). He wants you to know that He has chosen to have mercy on you.
Jesus has fully redeemed us. He has paid the price in full with His own precious blood. Now, we are walking into the full redemption purchased for us by Jesus. We must not give up. We will be the restored. We will be fruitful and multiply. We will be productive in the perfected works of God. Everything you touch as you live your life from the seat of the Son will prosper, grow, and increase. Your marriage will increase. Your finances will increase. The Word in you will increase. We will bring glory to His name. We are walking toward full redemption.
© 2005 Audrey Wyatt, www.greatlightcoaching.com
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