Where is God In Hard Times?

Betsie, Nollie, Casper, Willem, Cornelia, Corrie ten Boom in 1900. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:1

Throughout the history of our faith, the question has often been asked, “Where is God when tragedy strikes?” And as often as that question has been asked, there’s been no shortage of answers put forth by Christians and non-Christians alike. But even deeper than that question is the concern by some that God is aloof when hard times hit.

I just love what Corrie ten Boom, the great Christian who served the Lord during World War II and was a prisoner in a concentration camp, was once quoted as saying. She said, “There is no panic in heaven; only plans!” What a perspective from a woman who knew what suffering and tragedy was all about!

Has it ever sunk in that nothing takes God by surprise? When tragedy strikes our lives and takes the wind out of us, God remains steady. When sickness and death seem like they’re winning and we’re tempted to panic, God doesn’t flinch. You see, while we’re often taken by surprise, nothing takes God by surprise.

No matter how great the power of Satan appears to be in this world… no matter how it may appear that evil is winning, God’s power is mightier than the power of our enemy. God is in control. This is our Father’s world!

GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL. TRUST IN HIM WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH BECAUSE HE’S NEVER TAKEN BY SURPRISE EVEN WHEN YOU ARE!

Pastor Graham

 

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How Much Sin Do You Bear?

Bumble bee hovering near azalea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

I once heard a story about two brothers. They were outside working one day, and a bumblebee came and stung the older brother. While he was looking at his wound, the bee began to fly around his little brother.

The little brother started to panic. He started screaming, “Help, help, help!” And the big brother said to him, “That bee can’t sting you because his stinger is already in me! All he can do is fly around and make a lot of noise. He’s already stung me; he can’t sting you!”

There was a moment when Jesus Christ accepted the sting of sin. He took all that sin could give and He died for our sins. That’s why we have freedom in Christ, because we’re liberated from the punishment of sin… it can never, ever touch you when you are safe in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

Yet, the tendency for so many today is to fall back on a works-based type of religion, which says, “Maybe Jesus didn’t take the full sting of sin, and I still need to make up for the difference.” But the truth is that Jesus paid it all and if you’re in Him, you’re washed white as snow and never have to feel the sting of sin.

IN JESUS CHRIST, YOU’VE BEEN MADE WHITE AS SNOW AND NEVER HAVE TO BEAR THE PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR SIN BECAUSE HE TOOK IT FOR YOU!

Pastor Graham

He Still Prays for Us

Closeup on the tulips. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Zechariah 3 describes a high priest named Joshua standing before the Lord, and
Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. Also present was an angel, who
had to be Christ because angels do not judge.

Joshua was a real man, not just a type of Christ. He was the high priest during
the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. In Ezra 10:18 it appears that Joshua had married
a heathen woman; at that time, the worst way a Jew could defile himself was by
marrying a Gentile.

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel”
(Zechariah 3:3). Joshua stands before the throne in his filthy garments, and
the devil is at his side, accusing him. Satan argued: “This man has broken Your
law and sinned against You.” The devil‘s accusations were correct: Joshua had
sinned and now Satan claimed Joshua for himself.

Beloved, this is exactly what happens with us. Satan comes before the throne of
grace to accuse us. He points at us and says, “You know all things, God, and You
see the compromise in this one’s life. If You are just, You must give me his
soul.” In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called “the accuser of our brethren” and
he stands before God right now to oppose you and me — to accuse us of sin.

That is when Jesus, our Advocate, steps up and says, “It is true, Father. He
has failed but there is faith in his heart — faith in the power of My blood.
I have paid for every sin he has or ever will commit.” Jesus then turns to
those standing by, “Take his filthy garments and put My robe of righteousness
upon his shoulders.”

Jesus said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan . . . Is not this a brand
plucked out of the fire?” (Zechariah 3: 2). What a picture! The devil was
forced to leave with a sound rebuke and Joshua walked away with a pardon, a new
garment and a crown of righteousness on his head.

“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous” (1 John 2:1). Jesus has been in glory for these 2,000 years praying
for us and He is still praying for us.

Where to Find True Emotional Fulfillment

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Psychologists tell us human beings have three very basic emotional needs or desires: The desire to be accepted, the desire to be approved, and the desire to be appreciated. It’s the fulfillment of these three needs that dictates a person’s emotional state. If someone is fulfilled in these three areas, they will be emotionally fulfilled.

One key aspect of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ provides for all three of those emotional needs. In Christ, we are accepted by God, we’re approved in right standing before Him, and we’re appreciated and valued by God!

Now, much of the world today tries to find emotional fulfillment in the world. Because of that, there’s a large amount of constant discontentment in their lives. They’ll never understand what it means to be fully known as Christ knows them, and will always be looking for the spiritual companionship that only Jesus can provide.

While close emotional connections can be made with others, there’s no one who can truly meet your deep emotional needs like Jesus Christ. It’s in Him alone that you can truly be made complete. So instead of just looking to others to make you complete, stick with Jesus, who’s the closest companion you’ll ever have!

Pastor Graham

INSTEAD OF PLACING ALL YOUR TRUST IN EARTHLY RELATIONSHIPS, LOOK TO JESUS FOR YOUR EMOTIONAL FULFILLMENT AND YOU’LL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED!

Promises And Prophecies

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. - Matthew 5:18

 

Christ referred here primarily to the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. There are thousands of blossoms on the trees in the spring-time that never become fruits; but there are no lost blossoms on the Old Testament tree. The exact fulfillment of prophecy is an irrefutable evidence of Christianity. But the assurance of these words refers also to every promise of the Scripture. Not the smallest of these shall ever fail any one who trusts them.“No word He hath spoken shall ever be broken.” Every pledge God has made He will surely keep. Whenever we find a divine word we may lay hold of it with perfect confidence, and know that we are clinging to a rock that never can be shaken. “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.”

This is true also of the divine threatenings against sin. Not one of these shall fail to be accomplished upon those who reject God’s words of grace and mercy. Christ said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;” and that word will prove true to every one who receives it. But He said also in the same sentence, “He that beieveth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him;” and this word shall just as surely be fulfilled a the other.

In these days, when so many people hold loose views of God’s Word, it is well that we fix it deeply in our minds that whatever God says in the Holy Scriptures He says with authority, that His promises are sure as His own eternity, and that every sentence of His is absolutely irrepealable. “Only words,” we sometimes say, as if words were unreal and unsubstantial; but the words of God are more real and substantial than even earth’s great mountains.

Following God’s Schedule

 

Twisted Tree and canopy. This is one of the many beautiful trees in Cheam park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Most of us enjoy feeling in control of our own schedule and grow frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. Yet if we truly desire to walk in the center of God’s perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame.

Consider how you pray about situations in your life. Without realizing it, you may be demanding that God follow the schedule you’ve constructed according to your very limited human wisdom. Yet if we believe He is who He says He is, how can surrendering to His way not be to our benefit? Think about His unique, praiseworthy qualities:

• His all-encompassing knowledge. Unlike us, the Lord has complete awareness about our world and the details of every individual life–past, present, and future.
• His complete wisdom. God understands man’s every motive, whereas none of us are able to accurately discern people’s intentions. We make choices based on partial information, whereas He has the wisdom to take action based on truth.
• His unconditional love. Our Creator is always motivated by love and constantly has our best in mind. Unless we trust His heart, our view of reality will be distorted.
• His perfect sufficiency. At just the right time, God will provide us with everything we need to carry out His plan.

Submitting to God’s timetable requires faith and courage. Believe in the goodness of His heart and His plans–and determine to wait until He gives the signal to move forward. Then, as you follow His schedule, you’ll experience the joy of watching Him make all things beautiful in His timing.

Dr. Charles Stnaley

 

Learning from Failure

 

Several types of Cirrus clouds. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Luke 22:31-34

 

The disciple Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of “miserable failure” rather than that of “obedient servant.”

We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a learning process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God’s authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.

Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered that humility is required of believers (John 13:5-14); that God’s ways are higher than the world’s ways (Mark 8:33); and that one should never take his eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30). He took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn’t that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter’s failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.

God doesn’t reward rebellion or wrongdoing. However, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth.

We would probably all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake before God’s eyes, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches believers that it is much wiser and more profitable to be obedient to the Lord. That’s a lesson we all should take to heart.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Trained to Discern

Hebrews 5:11-14

In today’s world, impatience is all too common a trait. We want food, help, and information fast. Just waiting for the computer to boot up or the “next avail-able agent” to answer our call can cause frustration. But the Lord specializes in slow, steady work. He’s more interested in a quality outcome than a speedy process.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of spiritual discernment. When we become Christians, we aren’t instantly wise and knowledgeable. It takes a lifetime to grow to maturity. Some believers, however, don’t seem to grow up at all. They get older, but their understanding of God’s Word never goes very deep.

This lack of godly wisdom is caused by ignorance of the Scriptures, apathy and complacency about spiritual things, and a failure to apply biblical truths. Discernment requires time and effort. You can’t simply move through life, thoughtlessly reacting to situations yet never learning from them. Take time to reflect on your responses and observe the consequences of your actions and choices. If you feel convicted by what you notice, let that motivate you to begin a lifelong pursuit of the Lord and His ways. Start reading the Bible regularly. And as you do, ask the Lord to open your heart and mind to understand what He’s saying.

But just reading God’s Word isn’t enough. Without applying what you’ve read, all you’ll have is head knowledge. Obedience trains us to discern good and evil. Through practice, we learn wisdom and develop spiritual maturity. If you’ll begin today and patiently persevere, in time discernment will come.

Dr. Charles Stanley

Peacemaker’s

Here’s Today’s Devotional from The Vine…

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. – Matthew 5:9

This seems to be too much an overlooked beatitude. There are many people who are really strifemakers rather than peacemakers. They do not seek to heal estrangements between others, to prevent quarrels and contentions, and to bring together those who have begun to drift apart. Indeed, their whole influence goes toward widening breaches, intensifying bitterness, and exciting anger and hatred. When they find in any one a germ of suspicion or dislike of another, they stimulate the evil growth. Is it not time that we should get our Lord’s beatitude down out of the skies and begin to work it into our lives? Is it not time that we should become peacemakers in a world whose beauty is marred by so much strife?

The peacemaking spirit is divine. No one in heaven finds delight in separating friends. Just so far as we get the peacemaking spirit into our lives do we bear the mark of God’s image. To be peacemakers we must first of all strive to live peaceably with all men. “If it be possible , as much as in you lieth,” says St. Paul, “be at peace with all men.”

But, further, we are also to strive to make and promote peace between others. Our ministry is not to be confined to the settlement of great quarrels, but may find even its most fruitful work in the healing of the petty contentions which we discover all about us. Whenever we find one man angry with another, we should seek to remove the angry feeling, The little rifts in others’ friendships we should strive to heal. The unkind thoughts of others which we find in people’s minds we should seek to change into kindly thoughts. We can do no more Christ like service than to seek always to promote peace between man and man, to keep people from drifting apart, and to get them to live together more lovingly.

The Power Source for Discernment

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Spiritual discernment is a supernatural ability, which requires supernatural power. In our human strength, we can rely only on what we see, hear, feel, and know in order to make decisions and evaluate circumstances and relationships. But when the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, He opens up an entirely new dimension of understanding. He shows us things we could never figure out by ourselves.

Although the Bible is the basis for spiritual discernment, without the interpreting power of the Spirit, reading it would be strictly an academic endeavor. But the Spirit takes the words and brings them to life in the hearts of those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. He knows precisely how to apply God’s Word to our exact need at just the right moment. Haven’t you found this to be true? You’ve read a passage many times, but just when you need a particular message, that familiar verse jumps off the page right into your heart.

That’s the work of the Spirit. He is the only one who knows the thoughts of the Father, and His job is to open our minds to understand “the things freely given to us by God” (v. 12). The Lord isn’t trying to hide His thoughts from us; rather, He wants us to know how He thinks so that we can proceed wisely.

So what should we do if we’re struggling to understand Scripture? First of all, the Lord wants us to seek Him and ask for wisdom to comprehend. This requires time and energy invested in Bible study and prayer. Second, the more yielded we are to the Spirit, the more we’ll be able to hear His voice.

Dr. Charles Stanley