|
Living in a Dying World
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
September
2007
God is love and full of
compassion. Jesus Christ demonstrated the love of God to all mankind while He
was on earth. His wisdom has no limits, so also His understanding. He
understands what each and every one of us is going through, because He has been
through it before. He knows what
the world can do to us, because the world has no understanding of those with the
Spirit.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except
the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God.. 1
Corinthians 2:11
Satan’s
Machinery
My heart feels sorrowful
when I see how people easily allow their flesh to dominate every aspect of their
life, making the deceivers to deceive them easily.
One aspect of our sinful nature that people do not often talk about it is
our tendency to quickly believe rumors about what others have done or said.
That is, we often draw conclusions about someone else’s character based
on what others tell us that person said or did. If we knew the spiritual
ramifications of our actions before the Holy Spirit, we would be less likely
to jump to those conclusions. In
fact, we would quickly turn a deaf ear to such rumors and tales.
Rumors
often start with:
“I
think…”
“They
said…”
“They
think…”
“People
say…”
“He
said this…
“She
was the one who…”
If the words that follow
these phrases convey a rumor or scandalous remark, they are Satan’s machinery.
What
causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that
battle within you? 2You want something but don't get
it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and
fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When
you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may
spend what you get on your pleasures. James
4:1-3
How does Satan’s
machinery work? Very simply.
Rumors and scandalous tales bring or create tension, conflict, fear,
anger, hatred, bitterness, frustration, and despair.
For those who are wrapped up in them, they can smother the Spirit and
make your prayers ineffective.
For out
of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The
good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man
brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But
I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every
careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:34-36
Spiritual Ramifications
In terms of spiritual
ramifications, people often get confused about the forgiveness of sin and the
consequences of sin. The Bible
clearly states that if you confess your sins in the name of Jesus, all can be forgiven
except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. God wipes away your sins so that He no
longer keeps a record of them. It
is as if they are buried at the bottom of the sea.
However, the consequences
of those sins are not wiped away. You
will surely pay, either now or in the future.
There are many passages
of scripture that show how God hates deception and evil. Some examples of how God dealt with evil include: David &
Bathsheba; Sodom & Gomorrah; Samson & Delilah; and Ananais &
Sapphira. The accounts of these
incidents are included in the Bible so that we can know that it is dangerous to
mock God. If you are living a
life of denial or hypocrisy today, please be aware that God is not fooled. He
knows all, even what you believe is hidden.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The
one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap
destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8
We often fall into evil
because our heart is hardened. Just
as the physical hardening of the arteries is deadly for your heart, the
spiritual hardening of your heart is deadly for your soul.
Avoiding the Trap
As followers of Christ,
how are we to deal with the evil in this world? First, we should learn to practice the sorrowfulness of our
heart towards those who are hurting us and those who are still in their evil
work. Sorrow will ensure that our
heart remains soft, not hardened. Sin
angers God, but it also saddens Him. Likewise,
those who are seeking God’s heart should feel the sadness sin causes, not
laugh at it, gossip about it or attack with it.
We should also remember
that Satan’s schemes are like a spider web and we must protect ourselves
against them. Satan’s web is
strong enough to hold the weak, but too weak to hold the strong.
Who are the strong? Those who carry the whole armor of God with them at
all times. The weak mind is like a playground for Satan.
He can easily scatter it with thoughts of self-doubt, bitterness, and
hatred towards others. He can
deceive you to the point that you are like the leaves of a tree that the wind
blows here and there
For
though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The
weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they
have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2
Corinthians10:3-5
As
an ambassador of Jesus Christ, no matter the situation, with the power of the
Holy Spirit at work in you, clearly present the scripture and never respond to
hurt with evil or retaliation. Do
not judge others. Seek
the good of all mankind. Do
not fear in doing what is right, forgive others, and pray for those who are yet
to know the Lord Jesus Christ and those believers who still have unconfessed
sins in their lives. Mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who
rejoice.
Whatever you may be
passing through right now, continue to persevere because the spirit that
perseveres is the spirit that conquers. The
scripture made it clear :
Let us
not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if
we do not give up. Galatians6:9
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
Weathering the Storm
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
July 2007
My
experience in this particular business in Princess Anne has really revealed to
me that God almighty will not allow things you cannot handle to happen to you.
He does allow storms in the lives of true believers. Jesus told us we will be
tested, and woe to those through whom the test comes.
Satan
plays into what God planned. For example, Jesus Christ told His disciples at the
Last Supper that one of them would betray Him.
He said it would have been better for that person (Judas) not to be born.
In this instance, Satan played into what God planned. The lesson we can
learn is that when you are in a storm, do not beat yourself about it.
It may be that Satan is only playing into what God has planned.
Remember when you are in a storm
Ephesians
6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
When
you are facing a situation that is distressing, it is good to assess the type of
situation it is, so that you will know how to respond best.
Many believers confuse storms, problems, and consequences.
A storm is unpredictable. You don’t know when it will happen.
It is something that God allows to strengthen the spirit and for other
reasons best know to Him. A storm
is also uncontrollable. You cannot have it under control. In fact, trying to control the situation will often only make
matters worse.
In
contrast to storms, problems and consequences can often be
foreseen and controlled or prevented. A problem is a situation where something is wrong and needs
to be corrected. Consequences are
times of suffering which result from your own action or inaction.
Prayer
and wisdom from God, acquired through actively reading His holy word, can guide
you in avoiding problems and consequences.
These same disciplines are also the best strategy for solving problems
when they occur.
Storms
come in various ways and test your faith. Two
biblical examples from the Old Testament of men who experienced storms are Job
and Joseph. Both men passed their test.
They woed the devil and kept their faith in the sovereignty and goodness
of God.
So
how are we to deal with a distressing storm when it is unpredictable and
uncontrollable? The answer is to
look outside of yourself – and up to God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
First, you must remember that storms are a part of life.
Jesus said that if you follow Him, you will experience friction with the
world. The true storms that darken
your life are not God singling you out – they are simply the facts of life in
this mortal world.
John
16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world."
A second important point to
remember that there is a spiritual realm. When
you are faced with a troubling situation, it is easy to get wrapped up in the
physical details. However, you may
find it easier to bear if you consider the spiritual aspects. In that vain, scripture warns us to test every spirit.
Practically, that means to test every piece of information that comes to
you so that you will not be deceived or tossed here and there like the dust when
the winds blow. Jesus Christ made it clear: “I’m sending you out like a
sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as
doves.” (Matthew 10:16).
1
Corinthians 12:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom
but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual
words.
In
my own life, I have seen storms come and go.
Through it all, I praise almighty God.
He has blessed me abundantly, most recently with the birth of my first
son in June 2007. He increases my
wealth and adds to my family. More importantly, His peace reigns in my family
and me. My confidence and strength grow more each day, as does my relationship
with Jesus.
Deuteronomy
28: 1
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give
you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2
All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD
your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed
in the country.
I
am convinced that all of these blessings would not have been possible if I had
not drawn closer to God before and during the storms.
I cling strongly to my faith and the vows I made with God, even the vows
I made with my wife, before and during the storms.
I know I am called to serve others and I will continue to serve without
reservation.
If you are living through a storm
today, remember the God we serve is a God of salvation, not of revenge. No matter the storm you will overcome it.
Isaiah
60:21
Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my
splendor.
Romans
12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord.
God is
Powerful!
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
Perseverance
gives great Testimony
January
2007
It can be frustrating
when you plan and pray for something and then when you embark on it, you face
challenges, trials, and hardship. At
these times, it’s important to remember that God would not send you to a place
if He knows that you are going to be a disappointment to Him.
The challenges and trials you face may be attacks by the devil to keep
you from the purpose God intended. On
the other hand, God may be allowing hardship in your life to draw you into a
closer with Him.
As I enter my third year
as a business owner in Prince Anne, I can’t help but reflect on how the past
two years have really revealed to me how powerful God can be when you are facing
tough times. I never thought that I could accomplish the things we have
accomplished within my two years of taking over the operation.
At the beginning, I thought it would take at least five years to reach
goals such as replacing the old, out-dated equipment with new, more efficient
equipment that we accomplished within two years. God is so merciful and
gracious! God almighty just kept my flag flying!
What is more remarkable
is the lessons I have learned through this process and how my faith has grown.
I have learned to persevere and to display patience and forgiveness in
all circumstances. I have learned
that Satan’s arsenal of evil tactics relies on man’s weakness and can only
be countered with God’s power.
Most importantly,
however, I have become powerfully aware of God’s desire to bless and prosper
us, if only we will rely on Him. This
lesson came most mightily during periods of low sales.
At these times, my human mind would obsess on how the bills will be paid.
But one day I realized that every aspect of the business has to be
continually committed to God. When
I turned everything over to Him, miracles began to happen.
I don’t know how He does it, but the bills always get paid, regardless
of the sales. At a point, I no
longer look at the sales anymore. I
just look at the bills, write the checks, and commit it all to God’s hands. Thousands of dollars in expenses will be paid each month and
all will be paid without a single check bouncing.
As equipment broke down, I was able to replace it without incurring debt
– somehow God always provides! I
look around with awe as I see the appearance and quality of the store improves
each day, without human planning and engineering.
If you persevere during
the time of the storm, instead of running away, you not only strengthen your
spirit and draw closer to God. You
also woe the devil! Remember that
you can face anything if you put on the FULL armor of God:
Ephesians 6
10Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put
on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's
schemes.. . .13Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
When you persevere in
your hardship, God will not only get you through it. He will help you rise above
it. For me, He brought me to a
place where my sound education, solid employment track record, years of
experience, and stable and loving wife and children were not enough.
I had to rely completely on His strength to persevere and to continue
working towards the goal He had set for me, despite of the obstacles.
He encouraged me to woe the devil and lead people to Jesus Christ through
my reaction to the circumstances that I’m facing.
I tell you the truth, God will never forsake you or turn away from you so
long you keep from any things that will lead to evil, such as prolonged anger,
greed, unloving, hate, unforgiving spirit, bitterness, immoral acts and above
all takes the focus from yourself onto others who are in real needs.
What people often do not
understand is that God doesn’t bless us just so we can be happy and at peace.
He blesses us so we can pass the blessing to others. As a business owner I see
serving others as part of my calling on this earth. People often wonder why I
still involve myself in the day-to-day operations of the business: cooking;
taking orders; cleaning; and sometimes even making deliveries. It is because I
know that Jesus wants for us all to serve others. That is why He set an example by washing His disciples’
feet. I truthfully believe that
there is no greater service than to provide people with a hot meal and excellent
service. It is difficult for us to
understand with our human minds the call to serve others.
But serve we will and with joy in our hearts.
Having survived the "worst case
scenario" of the past two years, I remain confident that, by God's power,
the business will flourish and continue to serve the community for the next 20
years.
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
Romans 15:17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18I
will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished
through me. . . .
1Corinthians 12:4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There
are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There
are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
2 Corinthians 9:12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of
God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Matthew 5:11"Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me.”
©©©©©©©©©©©©©©
Prayer
Is Wonderful!
June 2006
Even as a boy growing
up, I strongly believed in prayers. My
mother called me a prayer warrior. From
what I can remember, though, my prayers were mainly for my own needs, or
sometimes for my parents when they fell sick. Prayers became my daily routine;
sometimes I would pray two or three times a day as a child.
Today some people think
prayer is only needed when you are in need of something from God – healing,
solution for a problem, comfort when you grieving.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I often did the same thing, praying only
for my needs and the needs of my loved ones. I prayed for to have my education
as I worked my way through two Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s.
I prayed for a good job and God blessed with a position as a general
manager. I fasted and prayed for
one week before I met my wife. After one year of my marriage and no child, my
wife and I fasted and prayed. Our
first child was born about 10 months later.
In each of these instances, I was blessed with the answer I desired to my
prayers. However, I was really
caught up into what I needed and wanted, without even really considering God’s
purpose for me on this earth.
As I became a
Guideposts Ministry Prayer volunteer, my perspective changed.
I’m now beginning to see and understand how much more powerful prayer
is and how very important it is to lift up the needs of others.
I am heavily involved in praying for several prayer requests daily,
sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to pray for others.
I am often moved to tears as I read through the requests and pray for
them. Praying for others has shown me that this is a way to begin serving God
and to seek His will in what He would have me do.
Praying for others takes your focus off of yourself and onto God and
others around you with real needs. It
reminds you to count your blessings, It helps me to cope with tough challenges
and draws me closer to God.
One example of a
challenge I have been able to deal with has to do with my business.
I left the corporate world to take over a small business.
My focus was on making the business a success through hard work, prayer,
and discipline. I was shocked
though when my efforts were met with personal attacks, rumors, and lies by those
who did not want to see the business succeed.
I couldn’t believe it when even those who knew the truth chose to act
as if the lies were true.
Although the days were
dark, my faith in God and our savior, Jesus Christ, remained steadfast.
My wife and I prayed daily for those who were attacking us, that their
hearts would be opened and God would reveal the truth to them.. As a follower of
Jesus Christ, I simply applied Matthew 27 verse 12-25 and Psalm 37. I
found that if the eyes of your
heart are opened by God, you will know the truth, fear will disappear, and you
will not entangle yourself with false rumors and the deceitfulness of the devil.
The
confidence and strength that I have in me comes from the Lord.
Being a member of Guidepost Prayer Ministry has helped me focus on
others, many of whom are in more desperate situations than mine.
This pleases God the most and my attacker never succeeded in me, because
God is doing the fighting and victory is mine. I praise God almighty for He has
shown himself to me again and again that He is in control.
Not
only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and
character, hope.
- Romans
5: 3-4
The
grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands
forever. - Isaiah
40:8
For
everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through
endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans
15:4
If
you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from
his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then
make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and purpose. Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. - Philippians 2:1-3
May our Lord
Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us
eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage
your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. - 2
Thessalonians 2:16-17
|
