June 28
2 Kings 13:1-14:29 | PS 146:1-10 | Prov 18:2-3 | Acts 18:23-19:12
Uterine inversion is a rare obstetrical event, with an incidence ranging from 1/3500 to 1/20000. I have been an obstetrician since 1988, and have delivered around 7000 babies, have read about this condition, but never encountered it until the other night around midnight. With conditions this rare, you know how to answer the questions if given a test question, but it is quite different when it is occurring real time. After the delivery of the baby, generally the placenta comes out easily within 30 minutes. In this case, the uterus turns inside out. Once out, the uterus contracts in the lower part and renders it difficult if not impossible to immediately replace the uterus back into its normal configuration. When this occurred the other night, it took around a minute to recognize what it was that I was looking at. The concern in this condition, and which then started occurring, is that without the uterus in its normal position it can't fully contract, and the bleeding gets excessive quickly. Without getting into too many details, I brought the patient back to the operating room, called anesthesia, called for the other attending physician who represents a different group (also with over 30 years experience, who had only seen one before), prayed multiple times quietly along the way, and replaced the uterus back inside after general anesthesia was given, then gave medications to make it contract, and gave a couple of units of blood. I mention this all, because there were many parts involved in this successful outcome.
Concerning the new believers in Ephesus, there were multiple encounters on the way to th successful outcome of receiving the Holy Spirit, as we read in Acts 18:24-26, "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." Apollos obviously loved Jesus, and spoke out boldly to this group, without hesitation. Priscilla and Aquila wisely further instructed Apollos, but did so by taking him aside, rather than debating things publicly. It was when Paul encountered these individuals soon after that things were completed, as we read in 19:3-5, "And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
The most important thing is to repent (one needs to understand what this means), and accept Jesus' free offer of salvation paid for by the blood that He shed for us on the cross, then make Him Lord of our lives. We need to abide, immerse ourselves in, and surround ourselves with His Word, the Bible. But God has also surrounded us with many fellow believers, all with separate gifts, endowed by the Creator. He doesn't tell us to go it alone. He sends helpers, the Holy Spirit, and other ambassadors to assist us in our commissions. This is why belonging to a church is so helpful for our walk. We may lose some family and friends along the way, as we step out, but He will provide new brothers and sisters in the faith to come alongside us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: