A Miracle Before Dunkirk

This is an incredible story of God's deliverance at Dunkirk that the movies/history books seem to leave out:

Studying some remarkable events in the history of World War 2, we find the deliverance of the allied armies at Dunkirk; a true story of Divine providence in modern history. It was on May 10, 1940, that Hitler unleashed his armies against France and Belgium. Within days, the British army found itself outmaneuvered and unprepared for the German blitzkrieg assault led by General Rommel and his 7th Panzer division.

The German high command began boasting of the demise of the allied armies, particularly the 300,000 soldiers of the British army sent by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to protect France and the low countries of Europe. As the prospect of victory waned Churchill was prepared to announce an unprecedented military defeat of a third of a million soldiers.

But then a miraculous turn took place initiated by King George VI, who ordered the observance of a National Day of Prayer. The British Monarch, along with members of the cabinet, attended Westminster Abbey to pray, while millions of Britons all across the Kingdom in unprecedented unity, attended churches to join the King in prayer. Newspapers throughout the UK reported, "Nothing like it has ever happened before."

Then the miracles began: First, Hitler ordered his troops to halt their advance for no apparent reason, which angered his generals and continues to baffle historians to this day. Secondly, a massive storm broke out in Flanders which grounded the German Luftwaffe squadrons, allowing the allied armies to travel to the beaches at Dunkirk unhindered by the German air force. A third miracle involving the weather was that simultaneous with the storm which grounded the Luftwaffe, the English Channel was as still as a millpond...an unprecedented calm which allowed ships of every size to evacuate over 338,000 troops including 140,000 French, Belgian, Dutch and Polish soldiers from the beaches at Dunkirk.

Winston Churchill addressed the British nation and described the evacuation of Dunkirk as a “miracle of deliverance.”

The following Sunday, the nation in celebration of God’s answer to prayer, sang Psalm 124 throughout churches in the United Kingdom.

Psalms 124:1-8 A Song of Ascents. Of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Today, be encouraged knowing that our God responds to prayer and is ready to act upon it at a moment's notice. The armies of darkness may surround us, in fact, they are sure to sooner or later; but we also know the Lord is standing ready to defend His own. "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth" [Psalm 124:8]

Bible Points to Jesus! - John 5:30-47

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

41 I do not receive glory from people.

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 5:30-47

In a court of law, a statement is proven by the testimony of witnesses. If Jesus alone testifies about Himself, His testimony will not be accepted because at least two witnesses must testify in order for a thing to be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus presents four witnesses to testify. These are John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father and the Scriptures. Jesus states John testifies of Him and Jesus knows this testimony is true. Jesus then said His works should have been all the proof any would need to know that the Father was with Him and sent Him (John 3:3, 7:31). He then added His Father and the Scriptures as additional witnesses.

Jesus was not upset because they didn’t endorse Him, but because they had no love for God. Jesus said they did not like His claim to be from the Father. Moses, whom they claimed as their defender, will be their accuser even though they have set their hope in him. If they really believed Moses, they would believe in Jesus because Moses wrote about Jesus. But if they do not believe Moses’ writings, they won’t believe Jesus either.

*Do you believe Jesus is God? Why or why not?

John 5:19-29 - Jesus' Authority

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:19-29

In verses 19-21 we see Jesus, God the Son, claiming the same power as the Father. Jesus begins by saying the Son only does things He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does in the same way. The Father does not judge anyone, because He has given the Son that task – so all who honor the Father will honor the Son. Any who fail to honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.

Notice that we will not be getting eternal life someday. We already have eternal life now by faith. Jesus then says an hour is coming and is now that the dead who hear the voice of the Son of God, and those alive who hear, will live. The Father has life in Himself and has given the Son Who has life in Himself as well. The Father has also given the Son to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13). 

Don’t be surprised at this. An hour is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good to a resurrection of life and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment. Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (John 11:43), everyone from their tombs, or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life. 

Please note the words those who have done good and those who have done evil do not mean a salvation by good deeds or damnation because of evil deeds. We are saved by the Lamb of God who, as our substitutionary Sacrifice, takes away the penalty of our sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ. Damnation is the consequence of rejection of God’s Son (John 3:36).

*According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the true source of our good works?