Symbolic instruments of Praise, Worship, Warfare and Intercession

When we talk about these instruments, we are talking about tools that are symbolic. The bible is a book full of symbolism. We see in Col 2:16 & 17 that the festivals are referred to as shadows of things to come. Heb 10:1 also refers to the law as a shadow of things to come, but not the same image of those things. The Israelites were given these things as symbols of the things to come. The definition of shadow is “an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object”.

Romans 6:4 talks about us being buried with him in baptism and then raised again to newness of life.

Colossians also makes reference to being buried and raised again. Every reference to the communion tells us that the bread represents Christ's body, the juice, His blood. The relationship between the church and Christ is said to be like a marriage. When Christ was on earth, he taught in parables. These very parables are stories created to portray things of the Spirit with natural means.

These are only but a few symbols that the scripture uses to give us things in our natural realm, that connect with our natural senses and intellect to help us understand the things of the unseen spiritual realm.

So we need to remember that these things in and of themselves have no power. They are objects used to express things in the natural realm that are being revealed in the Spirit.

With this said, I will also state this. There are some of these instruments that are used propheticallythat as far as scriptural referencing, I feel is a little on the thin side. However, I have also experienced that power when these are used. I will make it clear that I would rather tread lightly in thisarea then to use scripture in what I feel is not an appropriate interpretation.

Alright, let's start with color interpretation. There are so many color interpretations out there. I heard it once said that if you had a room full of people that moved in prophetic color interpretations that you would have as many color interpretations as there were people. This is true for the most part.

I will present two interpretations:

One I have found to be the most scriptural I have truly ever seen represented. It from a teachingdone by one of my dearest friends, who has moved in the area of prophetic worship for many, many years. She has traveled and taught extensively for a large part of that. Her name is Mevalene Anderson. She uses the colors of the stones of the priestly breast plate, and coincides this with the blessings that were bestowed upon each of the 12 tribes.

Rueben is red - God's love

Simeon is gold - refined

Levi is yellow - anointing, like liquid gold

Judah is green - healing, prosperity

Dan is blue - God's glory

Naphtali is silver - we were bought with a price

Gad is orange - warrior, or used with red as fire

Asher is pink - childlike faith, innocence

Issachar is purple - royalty

Zebulan is aqua - refreshing, haven

Joseph is black - new beginnings

Benjamin is iridescent - white, purity

Many of these coincide with other interpretations. Most other interpretations rely on nature to help interpret the meanings. But God does give divine revelation when He is actually consulted.

Red is the blood and sacrifice, power and passion

Black is sin, but also of things hidden

White is purity, without blemish, holiness

Silver is redemption and righteousness

Brown is the earth and flesh

Green is prosperity and abundant life

Pink is innocence and intimacy

Orange is war and fire

Purple is royalty and kingship

Gold is divinity

Bronze, brass or copper is strength, trials and testing

Yellow is glory and sonship

Blue is open heaven, revelation, Holy Spirit, priesthood

Aqua is water, refreshing

Burgundy is new wine

The most important thing to remember is that the Spirit has a reason for moving us towards colors.

If you are constantly drawn to the same color flag all the time, or your home is filled with certain colors repeating itself throughout your home, there is a message being relayed in that. Ask the Holy Spirit, He will bring the revelation.

Now moving on to flags.

Scripture actually does not use the word flag. It refers to banners, ensigns and standard. Flag is a more modern term, and is used in some more recent translations. Each one of these words has slight differences in their meaning.

Standard (Strong’s #1714) Banner, used more towards a military reference; also #5127 to put to flight, to drive hastily, to cause to disappear.

Banner #5251 Something lifted up, signal, pole, sail, ensign.

Ensign #226 sign, signal, a distinguishing mark, remembrance, miraculous sign. It is used in this context 77 times in scripture. Sign of something past, or future, or sign of something unseen such as covenant. Gen 17:11

Webster’s: Banner: a piece of cloth attached by one edge to a staff, an ensign displaying a distinctive or symbolic device.

Flag: A piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol, a signaling device, to attract attention.

All of these are sometimes used interchangeably.

IDENTIFICATION:

Uses in scripture:

Standards were used as a mark of identification. Num. 1:52 “The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies.” (NKJV) Num 2:2 “Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by their own standard,”

There are others along this same line.

Each standard was unique and identified the individual tribes. We are familiar with the Lion of Judah, however, all of the tribes had a symbol on their standards. There is some controversy as to what those were. Much has been lost over time.

I have taken what seems to be the consensus:

Reuben: Palm tree-Mandrakes or water

Benjamin: Wolf

Joseph: Ox (Ephraim and Menassah) Two oxen, one domestic, one wild

Gad: Troop

Naphtali: Stag

Dan: Scales, or serpent

Zebulun: Ship

Issachar: Donkey

Levi: Breastplate

Simeon: Tower

Asher: Olive Tree

Judah: Lion

The flags are believed to have been the color of each of the stones in the breastplate. These interpretations come mostly from the Midrash. There are about a 100 of these books and they are written as a means of scripture interpretation and historical documentation.

Nations today still use flags as a means of identifying themselves. These flags contain colors and symbols that represent something about the country itself. Take the american flag. The red stripes are symbolic of shed blood. Many lives have been lost that the people of this country might have the freedom that we have. The white stripes symbolize higher realms of light. The stars represent the states that are part of this country, and the blue is symbolic of Americas relationship to the Almighty, Creator of all. Other interpretations are red for valor, white for purity, blue for justice. Nothing is without some kind of meaning in the flag. Even the fact that all these things are woven together.

MILITARY, RULERSHIP, POSSESSION:

The majority of scriptural references to banners is used in a military context. The references in Numbers 2 states that they set these standards according to their armies. Song of Songs 6:2 makes reference to the awesomeness ,(some translations say terrible) as an army with banners. When the word terrible is used, it creates a picture of how an approaching army with it's banners looks to the enemy!!

It strikes dread in their hearts. When we look at Is 31:8 & 9 we see the enemies perspective.

“Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor. He shall cross over to his stronghold of fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner.”

Raising the standard is part of the preparation for war, together with strengthening the the guard and posting the watchmen.

Jer 51:12 “Set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done what he has spoken against the inhabitants of Babylon.”

Banners and flags are used to make proclamations. To declare a thing that will happen. Jer 50:2 (NLV) This is what the Lord says: “Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back! Raise a signal flag so everyone will know that Babylon will fall!” (NKJV) “Declare among the nations, Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim and do not conceal it. Say Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed. The idols and strongholds are coming down.

THE LORDS BANNER

In Ex 17 we see that the Israelites were at war with the Amalekites. After the victory was won Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi. The Lord is my banner.

The Lord himself has a banner/standard. Is 11:10 “and in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the gentiles shall seek Him and His resting place shall be glorious. “ This banner/standard is Jesus.

This banner is used to call the lost to himself Is 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

The Lord raises this standard in battle on our behalf. Is 59:19 “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him”

The Lord himself gives us this banner to display: Ps 60:4. “You have given a banner to those that fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.”

We are also his banner Zec 9:16 “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over his land.

And of course this banner is waved over us in love Song of Solomon 2:4

As we use banners/standards we are making declarations and decrees. We put the enemy on notice, he is going down and celebrate the victory as he is defeated. As the Lord leads us to certain flags, certain colors/images, we are declaring our identity in Him and who He is to us.

TABRETS/TIMBRELS

The word tabrets means a timbrel a drum. It was made with a wooden circle and covered with a membrane. It had a leather strap attached that was slung over the shoulder. We see this instrument used often in ancient worship and celebration. This is the closest definition we have, this instrument has virtually disappeared over the centuries.

Ex 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

2 Sam 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even harps, and on psalteries and on timbrels, on cornets, and on cymbals.

Ps 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

And the list of these references can go on and on. The amazing significance of this instrument is that Lucifer was made with a tabret. Ez 28:13 After listing the stones it says, the workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created.”

This instrument is so pleasing to the Lord that he created the first worship leader to have one as part of his very being.

WARFARE/JUDGMENT

These awesome instruments can be used in warfare as well. Is 30:32 “And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him, It will be with tabrets and harps, and in battles of brandishing he will fight with it.”

As the staff of judgment comes down, it comes with the beat of the tambret and the sound of the harp.

Praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy. These instruments were used as celebration and praise unto God. Praise breaks the enemies power over us and places our mind, will and emotions in a place that lines up with the word.

The word tells us that this instrument will once again be returned to us in its original form. Jer 31:4 “Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin os Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tabrets, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.”

Interesting thing about this passage. It refers to us adorning ourselves with tabrets. These instruments were apparently beautiful to look at. This word adornment not only means to decorate, but it means to attack in a hostile manner.

The design of current tabrets is of course symbolic. They resemble the ancient drum by stretching a piece of fabric across the middle of the ring, leaving enough room for a hand hold. The colors and streamers used on these tools are symbolic much the same way it is for flags or other instruments. They are also used as an adornment, to decorate, much like the above passage says they do for us.

TESTIMONY PG 22

STREAMERS

The definition of a streamer is a flag that streams in the wind, any long narrow wavy strip resembling or suggesting a banner floating in the wind.

Since banners and flags have already been covered I do not see it necessary to go elaborate.

ROD OF GOD

The Hebrew word for rod is Matteh. #4294 which means a staff, branch, tribe but also references a scepter and a sword.

Some translations use the words stave, staff, and scepter.

Ex 4:20b “and Moses took the rod of God in his hand” Ex 17:9 also refers to the rod of God.

IDENTIFICATION

These rods or staffs were used an a means of identification. Num 17:2 “Speak to the children of Israel and get from them a rod from each father's house, all their leaders according to their fathers's house, all their leaders according to their father's houses—twelve rods. Write each man's name on his rod. “

Gen 38:25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child. And she said, Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

In the new testament we see this reference to identification. Mark 6:8 “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff--”

DISPLAY OF SUPERNATURAL POWER

We are all familiar with the Exodus story. The Lord used the staff that was in Moses hand to symbolically represent the expression of His power. The water into blood, the parting of the red sea, the water coming from the rock. As an expression of his power, the Lord used the actions of Aaron to execute judgement upon Egypt. Aaron repeated what the Lord was doing in the Spirit, Ex. 7:17 By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I WILL STRIKE THE WATERS which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.” vs. 20 “And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod an d struck the waters that were in the river, in the sign of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the rifer turned to blood.”
Ex 4:17 “And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

ROD OF TESTIMONY

The staff itself was used as a way of remembering the acts of God in their lives. They would mark their staffs with symbols of significant events in their lives. The birth of their children, promises God had given them, the fulfillment of those promises. Whenever the Lord moved in some miraculous way, they would mark it on their staffs. Jud. 5:11 “Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, there they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord,”

JUDGEMENT

Is 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smith the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Rev 19:15 “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

Rev 2:27 “He shall rule them with a rod of iron”

Is 30:32a “And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him”

THE LORDS ROD

What is the Lords rod”

Is. 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod, out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Fathers rod is Jesus.

This is why David could say Ps 23:4 “Your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

I have found this to be an extremely powerful tool in warfare and in staking the territory. I have used to to walk my home, my church building and other places. Aaron was a priest before the Lord. When he used his rod to exhibit the Lords awesome power, he was doing it in the role of a priest before the Lord. When you use this instrument especially with the mindset that you are a king and priest before the Lord, there is tremendous power in the realm of the Spirit.

BILLOWS

There are two scriptural references for this and two definitions.

#1530 heap, spring, wave, billow, over a dead body, used in ratifying a covenant, spring

#4867 breaker, breaking of (sea)

Ps 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your waves and billows (1530) have gone over me.

Jonah 2:3 For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the floods surround me; all your billows (4867) and Your waves passed over me.

I personally love using billows. When you pass them over someone it is like they are being washed over by the depth of the Lord. They are covered and encapsulated in His presence. As you wave them up and down in the air, it's like casting things to heaven and pulling things down from heaven.

VEILS

Typically when the scripture refers to a veil, it is talking about something that is a covering around the head and face.

Spiritually speaking it is referred to being blinded or unable to see spiritually clear.

2 Cor 3:14 “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ,”

Clear sign only comes through Christ.

2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when on turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The veil in the tabernacle/temple, kept the Holy of Holies separated. The priest was only permitted to enter into the presence of God once a year to place blood upon the mercy seat. But Christ went into the Holy place for us once and for all. Through him, the veil of his flesh we can now go into the presence of God anytime we want to and come before him with boldness.

Heb 10:20 “by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.

To come before the Lord and use this instrument is a powerful way to intercede for others. As we pray for the veil to be removed off their lives and for our lives as well. That we may see clearly all that he is showing us. 

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Article borrowed from  http://unveiledheartworshipflags.com

Why Do We Use Flags In Worship?

Why Do We Use Flags In Worship?


Flags and banners have been used for centuries to identify tribes, as in the wilderness for the tribes of Israel , to mark territory or boundaries. Flags were used to signal battle field movements, and to signal messages between ships. Flags were also used in war to judge the direction and velocity of the wind. Even today sports announcers and players will look to the flags and banners flying over a stadium to see which way the wind is blowing.

We use flags in worship :

To Give Honor – When we wave our instrument, we minister in love to our King and proclaim the magnificence of Who He is. We declare a name and an aspect of God's character.

To Declare Our Allegiance – When we wave our instruments in worship, we admit our loyalty as members of our Lord's army. We do this in the presence of men on earth and before powers and principalities in the heavens.

To Communicate – As a flag is raised, the prayers over it, the colors used, and the words or symbols on it are used in speaking to our Lord in the aspect of His character depicted in the flag. We ask Him to reveal Himself and related matters of His heart to us. For example, if a flag exalts Him as Jehovah Roi (The Lord Our Shepherd), we are asking to speak to Him who leads, protect, and comforts us. Perhaps our hearts are crying out to Him to bring us to that place of restoration, or to show us specific direction for a situation. We ask, and then await His response.

To Signal the Presence of God - Lifting flags in worship is symbolic of the action of Moses as he lifted his rod (a shepherd's staff, a symbol of a flag) as a visible sign of God's presence, power and authority over the enemy.

To Rally the Troops - We know our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, powers and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph.6) . Raising a flag stirs unityand loyalty in the King's army, gathers warriors together for strategy and strengthens our commitment to victory.

To Declare Territory – Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) tell us, “ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” By claiming territory in the name of Jesus and asking Holy Spirit to purify, to bind and cast out any and all demons and evil spirits, we establish our Spiritual boundaries. When we do not do this we are leaving our selves open to the realm of the enemy. With the flags, we claim our territory and ask Holy Spirit for protection.

To Direct Warfare and Praise - Early records show that in ancient Egyptians battles, soldiers looked to flags(ribbons or fabric tied to poles) to determine the direction of the wind, then shot their arrows accordingly to reach their target. In terms of spiritual warfare, a particular flag might be flown in the physical realm to reveal what is happening in the spiritual: it relates the direction of the "wind" of the Holy Spirit on a particular day.

To Put the Enemy to Flight – Isaiah 59:19 tells us, "...When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Flags are God-given, God anointed, Word-based instruments that display His truth. Truth and light cause the enemy to flee. "Nuwc" is a Hebrew word which means “lift up a standard."

To Boast of Victory - Another Hebrew word for banner is "dagal" and the definition of it is "to flaunt, be conspicuous, and set up with banners." Ps. 20:7 says "we will boast in the name of the Lord."

To Be a Touchpoint of Faith - God directed Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole as a focal point and promised that whoever would have faith enough to look on it would be healed of the deadly serpents' bites in the wilderness. As we look to the Cross in faith, we find healing in the blood of Jesus. Flags are not idols and do not contain healing, nor any other manifested gift of God, but serve the Body of Christ as a visual reminders of His faithfulness as Jehovah Rophe, the God Our Healer, or Jehovah Shalom, The Lord Our Peace, or any of the wonderful qualities of El Shaddai, the All Sufficient God, God Almighty.

To Herald an Event - Flags declare a specific event or season. Through the use of flags in worship, the Bride of Christ is announcing in the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist, “The King is coming! Prepare the way of the Lord!” 

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Article taken from  http://www.itsaboutworship.com/Why_Do_We_Use_Flags_In_Worship_s/26.htm

The Reality Of Faith

 

 Many people think faith is acting like something is so when it really isn't so, and if we do that long enough, then it will become so. But that's not it at all. Faith is real.

 

Hebrews 11:1 says,

 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

 

Faith is substance. This is saying that faith is real. It is the evidence of things not seen. Notice it didn't say "things that don't exist." They do exist. They just aren't seen.

 

Even in the natural world, we've come to realize that there are things that do exist that we can't see. We can't see television signals, but they do exist. In fact, wherever you are right now, there are television signals right there with you. If you say "No there aren't" just because you can't see or hear them, that doesn't mean they don't exist. It just means you aren't very smart. They do exist, they are just unseen. They are unseen realities.

 

A television set can make unseen signals visible. When we see the images is not when they became real. They were already there. A television set doesn't generate images. The set just receives the signal and converts it into sights and sounds that we can perceive. But the television signals were already there, before we tuned them in.

 

Probably every person reading this letter has watched television when suddenly the picture went blank. What did you do? I bet you didn't call the television station and complain about them stopping their broadcast. The first thing you did was check and see if everything was working on your television set. Was the electricity on? Was it plugged in? Did a tube go out or did some circuit melt? You checked your receiver to see what was wrong with it. You trust that the station broadcasts 24/7. You don't question that until you eliminate all the possible problems with your set.

 

Likewise, God is real and does exist. He just can't be seen. He is broadcasting all His power and blessings 24/7. It's never God's transmitter that is broken. It's always our receiver that is the problem. If we ask God for something and we don't see it manifest instantly, most people question why God hasn't answered that prayer yet. They assume that because they haven't seen or heard anything, nothing has happened. That's all wrong. We need to have more faith in God than we have in a television station.

 

There is a very good illustration of this truth in 2 Kings 6. Elisha, the prophet of God, was revealing the Syrian's battle plans to the king of Israel. Every time the king of Syria tried to ambush the king of Israel, Elisha would warn the king of Israel, and he would ambush the Syrian's ambush. This happened so often that the king of Syria finally asked his servants to reveal who the traitor was. He knew that the king of Israel could not be maneuvering like he was without inside information.

 

When one of the king of Syria's servants said that Elisha, the prophet of God, was revealing the words that the king of Syria said in his bed chamber to the king of Israel, the king of Syria sent his armies to capture Elisha.

 

Second Kings 6:15 says,

 

"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?"

 

When Elisha's servant saw the Syrian troops, he panicked. He knew why they were there. They had discovered Elisha was the one telling the king of Syria's battle plans to the king of Israel. They were in big trouble. Look at the response of Elisha to this situation in 2 Kings 6:16: "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.".

 

People who don't believe anything exists beyond their five senses would say Elisha was lying. He was confessing something was so when it really wasn't so, hoping that it would become so. But that's not the way it was at all. Elisha spoke the truth. There were more with him than was with the Syrian army. It's just that Elisha's forces were in the unseen reality.

 

The key to understanding this is to recognize there is another realm of reality beyond this physical world. Those who are limited to only their five senses will always struggle with this. They think Elisha was lying, and indeed, he would have been lying if all that exists is this physical world. You could count the Syrian troops by the thousands, and there was only Elisha and his servant. But Elisha wasn't lying because there was another world of reality. If you looked at the whole picture, the physical and spiritual world, then Elisha was right on. In the spiritual realm, there were many more horses and chariots of fire around Elisha than there were Syrian troops.

 

According to 2 Kings 6:17,

 

"Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And he LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

 

Gehazi's physical eyes were already wide open. God was opening his spiritual eyes. He was able to see with his heart into the spiritual world. And when the spiritual world was taken into consideration, then Elisha's statement was perfectly true.

 

Those who see faith as an attempt to make something real which isn't real will always struggle with those who see faith as simply making what is spiritually true a physical truth. Those who limit truth to only the physical realm would have called Elisha one of those "name it, claim it," "blab it, grab it" cultists. But in saying such things, they condemn themselves. They show they only consider what they can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel to be reality. They are what the Bible calls "carnal."

 

When Gehazi's eyes were opened, the Syrians didn't disappear. They were still there. The physical truth was still true, but there was a greater spiritual truth that emerged. True faith doesn't deny physical truth; it just refuses to let physical truth dominate spiritual truth. True faith subdues physical truth to the reality of spiritual truth.

 

Because Elisha believed in the realities of the spiritual world, he raised his hand and smote all the Syrians with blindness. Then he led the whole Syrian army captive to the king of Israel. Praise the Lord! That's not bad for an old prophet whom carnal people would say was all by himself.

 

Elisha was not just speaking some wishful statement, hoping that it would become a reality. He knew what was real in the spiritual world, and he controlled his emotions and actions accordingly. There is no indication that Elisha saw the horses and chariots of fire around him. He didn't need to. He believed it. Those who operate in true faith don't need to see with their physical eyes. Their faith is evidence enough.

 

There was a woman at a campmeeting who had a huge goiter on her neck. She went forward for prayer and knew that she knew she was healed. So, she got up in front of the audience and gave a testimony of her goiter being healed. However, the goiter was still visible. But the people praised God, thinking that the healing would manifest itself shortly.

 

The next year at the same campmeeting, the woman got up again and praised the Lord for her healing, but there still wasn't any visible proof. This concerned a lot of people, but they didn't say anything. Then the next year, the same thing happened. This was too much for most of the people, and it caused the leaders of the meeting to approach this woman and tell her she couldn't testify of this healing again until the goiter was gone.

 

The woman told the Lord that she knew He had healed her, and she didn't have to see visible results to believe it. But for the sake of the unbelievers, she asked the Lord to physically remove the growth. It disappeared and the woman showed them what she already knew was true. You can get that strong in faith. Your faith is substance and all the evidence you need. Faith is real.

 

I've experienced this in my own life. When my youngest son, Peter, died on March 4, 2001, my wife and I spoke our faith and said, "The first report is not the last report." We spoke resurrection life back into Peter's body, and then we headed into town. It was one hour and fifteen minutes from the time we got the call until we got to where Peter was. During that time, I was operating in faith. I remembered prophecies that had not yet come to pass in Peter's life, and therefore, I knew it wasn't time for Peter to die. I rejoiced by faith, seeing Peter alive and well.

 

My oldest son, Joshua, met me at the door and said, "Dad, five or ten minutes after I called you, Peter just sat up." Thank You, Jesus! This is the point: I didn't rejoice more once I saw Peter raised from the dead than I did while I was still driving. During the drive, I knew Peter was alive, and I was rejoicing with all my might. It was actually anticlimactic when I saw in the physical what I had already seen in the spiritual. Don't get me wrong; I was blessed and I rejoiced to see my son raised up after being dead for five hours. But the physical reality wasn't more real to me than the spiritual reality of faith.

 

This is the way I live. I know it's not "normal," but I'm not getting "normal" results either. I've been believing big, and there have been big results from that believing. When we moved into our new offices, and when we see the warehouse finished, that was, and will be, anticlimactic. I'm seeing all these things in the spirit now. When they manifest physically, others will be impressed, but I'm impressed now.

 

I'm not believing for something that isn't real to become real. I've seen into the spiritual realm by faith, and I'm simply making what I've seen in the spiritual world manifest in the physical world. All of the things I'm seeing with my physical eyes now, I have already seen in my heart. I saw it on the inside before I saw it on the outside. This is a wonderful way to live. This is the normal Christian life. This is walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). 

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Courtesy of Andrew Wommack : http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/reality_faith

Losing Control and Learning to Trust: My Unexpected Diagnosis

This is a very personal column. In December of last year, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. There were no symptoms or problems, just some results from a routine blood test that needed to be checked out. I remember being on a conference call when I saw the doctor was phoning with the results of a biopsy, but continued on with the other call assuming I could return it later to hear that there were no problems. There were problems, he told me, and I would need to see a surgeon.

Surprise was not the right word -- not even shock. The news felt incredulous to me. I was about to launch a new book tour early in 2013 and everything seemed to be in control. And Sojourners was involved in intense advocacy work around immigration reform, gun violence, and the budget/sequester battles. There had to be a mistake, or surely some convenient treatment that would suffice. Certainly, I would work this all out privately, and stay on schedule for everything else. But then the conversations started, as did meetings, further testing, time-consuming activities, discussions of medical options -- and a deepening anxiety began to grow over the next several weeks.

The book tour for On God's Side, both U.S. and U.K., had to be postponed and reset without saying why. I kept the health news and discussions in a small and close circle of family, friends, and senior staff. And I did my best to go on as if this wasn't happening. But it was.

A quick surgery at the end of the year didn't work out for a number of frustrating reasons, discussions about medical options continued, and my care shifted to the research center at NIH, the National Institutes of Health. There, I took part in a new program using resolution MRI to guide surgical decisions -- still a research effort, and not currently in use elsewhere. Such opportunities are available to anyone in the general public, and people can find out about the work going on at NIH and across the nation at its website. The NIH strives to innovate constantly in all areas of medicine, and their constant hope is that participation in such programs can provide both direct benefits to the individual, and an opportunity for their physician researchers to learn more about how to improve diagnosis and treatment for others in the future. (And, of course, this critical work is being severely cut in the sequester.)

The NIH staff's extraordinary knowledge of this cancer and all cancers, which is prolonging and saving lives, was immediately evident, as was the wonderful care they were showing to me. After more and much deeper testing with their extraordinary methodologies and new technologies, a plan was reached and a date for surgery was set for last Wednesday, June 5.

About one week ago, I had major surgery for prostate cancer. It all went very well; the cancer was contained and removed with no signs of further spreading, pending more pathology reports. This significant surgical procedure, the recovery in a hospital room, and then coming home from such a major impact on my body were all new experiences for me. I went back to the hospital this week for follow-up procedures and check-ups. Everything seems to be fine. The surgery "couldn't have gone better," the doctors say, and I seem to be recovering well, too. They keep telling me to go slow and take my time, which is a very good reminder for me.

It's not only good physical advice for healthy recovery but also spiritual counsel for those of us who sometimes tell time by how much we hope we are changing the world.

This was certainly more "major" surgery than I was acknowledging and admitting to myself. I was stunned by the news in December, and wanted to keep it private -- partly to avoid answering too many public questions on it, but also likely because of some self-denial about it all. I really didn't want to let it affect my book tour, but of course it did in significant ways. During this whole process, I'm learning more and more lessons about losing control and learning to trust instead.

I was in very good hands with my surgeon, and I feel our work is in good hands with all of my colleagues at Sojourners, as I take a few weeks now to rest and recover. It's never just about a leader here at Sojourners because we have such a remarkable team; and it's never just about the team because we have such an extraordinary mission; but it's never even just about our mission because we have a God who will always find ways to bring love and justice into the world with and without us, and sometimes despite our best efforts and human attempts to keep "control."

I spoke with a few close friends before going in for my cancer surgery, a day full of anxiety for someone who had never faced a major health issue before. My old and dear friend, Wes Granberg-Michaelson, contrasted our need for control with the "Prayer of Abandonment" by Charles De Foucauld. So I went back to that classic prayer, and found it the right one to take into surgery for someone who had been totally preoccupied with the absolute craziness of an 18-city book and media tour and was now facing a very personal health crisis.

"I abandon myself into your hands;


do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you:

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me,

And in all your creatures --

I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul:

I offer it to you with all the love of

my heart,

for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,

and with boundless confidence,

for you are my Father."
It was a perfect prayer for surgery and recovery, and I hope one I remember before my next book tour! A week after surgery, my wonderful colleague at the publisher Brazos/Baker, BJ Heyboer, wrote me what a member of her discernment committee for the Episcopal priesthood had said to her: "Control is an illusion, an illusion that we all pursue. But the sooner you see it as the illusion it is, the better off you -- and your ministry -- will be."

My friend Richard Rohr, who also had a bout with cancer, told me that "these things change our relationship to God." He writes these days about how the "fallings" and "failings" in the second half of life, which are completely beyond our control, can lead us to deeper places than the first half of life can ever go.

And after agonizing repeatedly about how the changes in timing, preparations, focus, and unexpected events significantly altered what I expected this book tour to be, I encountered these words from Soren Kierkegaard, "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward."

I am trying to live into that with this book now too, trusting God to use it and take it to the places and people it needs to go. The "tour" was certainly affected by this cancer, more than I wanted to acknowledge or admit. But I believe in the message of the book even more than when I wrote it on sabbatical last year, and the signs of the times suggest that a renewed understanding of "the common good" is absolutely central to a better future for us all. These more relaxed summer weeks for me now will give me time for physical recovery, spiritual reflection, and perhaps some creative space to think about how I might be useful to what God wants to do with this common good message in the days ahead.

Sitting in that hospital room, even in times of pain or anxiety, I was thinking about the billions of people around the world who don't have all these health care resources available to them as we do, and don't even have the chance or option to fight for their lives. That must become a fundamental issue of love and justice for us; and I hope this experience will make it all more personal for me.

My pastor, Jeff Haggray, suggested I not be so private about all this, and that it might be time to offer some personal reflections on this whole process which might be helpful to other people. So I decided to write this.

But life goes on, and I am still coaching my son's Little League baseball team through the play-offs (but in a chair and behind the dug-out fence, at doctor's orders not to risk dodging line drives while coaching at third base!) Our Tigers won their semi-final game last night and we are now in the Championship Game on Saturday! My time with these 10 year olds is my best therapy for recovery.

I would appreciate your prayers for all of us who are wrestling this summer with issues of physical health and spiritual transformation.

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Article written by Jim Wallis for the HuffingtonPost

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/losing-control-and-learni_b_3436506.html?utm_hp_ref=religion 

Mothers balance work, faith, family

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- She is worth far more than jewels, cites the Bible's Proverbs 31 — among many other praises — about wives, mothers and women who do it all.

The Old Testament scripture — sometimes sung or read to mothers during the Sabbath in traditional Jewish homes or quoted from the pulpit in churches — celebrates the ideal mother who provides, nurtures and oversees the affairs of her household.

Translations vary, but words used to describe women's character include virtuous, noble and valiant. Pastors, friends and relatives of some local women say the ancient text still rings true, even in the face of modern challenges: income inequality, redefined gender roles, raising children in a media-saturated world, a rise in single motherhood and the distractions of social media and mobile technology.

Despite the obstacles, Port St. John resident Annetha Jones says that raising children, with all of the joy and pain involved, is worth it. "I wouldn't trade anything for being a mother," said Jones, an assistant principal at a Merritt Island middle school.

Jones is married with a 16-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter now attending Florida State. The professional educator's world is a whirlwind of meetings, late-night work sessions, crunched with church gatherings and nightly family prayers.

She is among thewomen who make up about 46 percent of the labor force, either providing primary or supplemental income for their families, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jones, who was raised by a single mother, said work does not mean the negation of family time.

"We try to have family dinners almost every night ... I cook but my husband and I both try to share in that," she said.

Despite all she has going on, Karen Davis says she is far from feeling overwhelmed.

Davis recently stood near the concession stand at Knecht Park in Palm Bay, working the booth and cheering on her son's youth baseball team even as the 10-year-old sat sidelined by a foot injury.

           

Annetha Jones reads her Bible at her Port St. John, Fla., home on May 8. She says that raising children, with all of the joy and pain involved, is worth it. "I wouldn't trade anything for being a mother," she said.(Photo: Craig Bailey/Florida Today)

Her brown hair — salted with a touch of gray — is close to her scalp, the result of sitting under shears earlier this year as she, her 12-year-old daughter and 81-year-old mother donated their hair to help raise funds for children suffering with cancer.

And the mother of three is preparing to adopt two young orphans from Ethiopia.

"There's definitely prayer involved, I try my best to be focused and keep my priorities in order," Davis, a full-time pharmacist, said about finding balance between her family, faith, community work and career.

Scriptures

The valiant or noble woman as described in scriptures carries a passion for directing her household. In that light, Pastor Jarvis Wash of R.E.A.L. Church in Rockledge points to Ilene Herr. She moved to Melbourne Beach in 1990 from New York with her two young sons, Joshua and Jason, fresh from a divorce.

"The most important thing for anyone going through that is to have a support system. I always tell people that if the mother is OK, then the kids will be OK," said Herr, now 61 and an assistant principal at Satellite Beach High School.

She also is the principal of the religious school at Temple Beth Sholom, a Conservative Jewish congregation in Melbourne where she took her sons for Sabbath services.

Herr says her focus is always on her students, sometimes sharing advice or even bringing in a hot tray full of hot dogs-in-a-blanket while also overseeing the medical needs of her ailing mother.

"I don't sleep a lot. What I've found is that you do in your life what's most important. I take care of my family and my mother. Maybe the ironing doesn't get done quite right or you don't get a chance to pick the weeds, but you do what you have to do. It's a passion."

Chaotic

Yolanda Artis, 33, of Rockledge said having her grandparents as a support system, along with her faith, helped lift her from alife that started with a chaoticchildhood into the order of a life as a working mother.

Artis, who said she survived sexual, emotional and physical abuse while growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., also was abandoned by her mother. Artis never married but remains determined to see her three children seek their education and contribute to the world.

"I let them know they're loved, regardless of our situation and I don't regret having them. I tell young people today to never let your life situation make you feel like you don't have any opportunities," said Artis, a professional health care worker.

"You have to create your opportunities. Every Sunday we do family dinners, no matter what. We play cards, hang out at the house," she said.

Artis, pursuing a nursing license at Brevard Community College, says she manages her time to take care of her family and work.

"My cellphone is my life. I can also work at home to get things done and I'm one the phone with the school," she said.

Her dream; is to one day open her own hospice center.

"People choose their destination. You have to think bigger than yourself," Artis said. "You can do better."

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 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/12/mothers-balance-work-faith-family/2152857/

Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening (Devotional) - Saturday, April 27, 2013

Morning

"God, even our own God."
Psalm 67:6

It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it is stranger still how little use we make of God himself. Though he is "our own God," we apply ourselves but little to him, and ask but little of him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we go about our business, without seeking his guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord, that he may sustain us! This is not because we may not, for the Lord seems to say, "I am thine, soul, come and make use of me as thou wilt; thou mayst freely come to my store, and the oftener the more welcome." It is our own fault if we make not free with the riches of our God. Then, since thou hast such a friend, and he invites thee, draw from him daily. Never want whilst thou hast a God to go to; never fear or faint whilst thou hast God to help thee; go to thy treasure and take whatever thou needest--there is all that thou canst want. Learn the divine skill of making God all things to thee. He can supply thee with all, or, better still, he can be to thee instead of all. Let me urge thee, then, to make use of thy God. Make use of him in prayer. Go to him often, because he is thy God. O, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege? Fly to him, tell him all thy wants. Use him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark providence has beclouded thee, use thy God as a "sun;" if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah a "shield," for he is a sun and shield to his people. If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use him as a "guide," for he will direct thee. Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art, remember God is just what thou wantest, and just where thou wantest, and that he can do all thou wantest.

Evening

"The Lord is King forever and ever."
Psalm 10:16

Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but he is really and truly the Lord's anointed! "It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." God hath given to him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, he is now head over all things to his church, and he reigns over heaven, and earth, and hell, with the keys of life and death at his girdle. Certain princes have delighted to call themselves kings by the popular will, and certainly our Lord Jesus Christ is such in his church. If it could be put to the vote whether he should be King in the church, every believing heart would crown him. O that we could crown him more gloriously than we do! We would count no expense to be wasted that could glorify Christ. Suffering would be pleasure, and loss would be gain, if thereby we could surround his brow with brighter crowns, and make him more glorious in the eyes of men and angels. Yes, he shall reign. Long live the King! All hail to thee, King Jesus! Go forth, ye virgin souls who love your Lord, bow at his feet, strew his way with the lilies of your love, and the roses of your gratitude: "Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all." Moreover, our Lord Jesus is King in Zion by right of conquest: he has taken and carried by storm the hearts of his people, and has slain their enemies who held them in cruel bondage. In the Red Sea of his own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins: shall he not be King in Jeshurun? He has delivered us from the iron yoke and heavy curse of the law: shall not the Liberator be crowned? We are his portion, whom he has taken out of the hand of the Amorite with his sword and with his bow: who shall snatch his conquest from his hand? All hail, King Jesus! we gladly own thy gentle sway! Rule in our hearts forever, thou lovely Prince of Peace.

Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate: Forgiveness Heals But It's Often Not An Easy Thing To Give

Watch Atonement on PBS. See more from Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate.

In the new PBS film Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate, acclaimed writer, producer and director Helen Whitney explores a compelling range of stories, from personal betrayal to global reconciliation after genocide.


Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate provides an intimate look into the spontaneous outpouring of forgiveness: from the Amish families for the 2006 shooting of their children in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania; the struggle of '60s radicals to cope with the serious consequences of their violent acts of protest; the shattering of a family after the mother abandons them, only to return seeking forgiveness; the legacy and divisiveness of apartheid and the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in South Africa; the penitential journey of a modern-day Germany, confronting the horrific acts of the Holocaust; and the riveting stories of survivors of the unimaginably, brutal Rwandan genocide.

Once a uniquely religious word, forgiveness now is changing and there is no consensus about what it is and what it is becoming. However you define forgiveness, its power is real — and never more so when it struggles with the unforgivable. Inevitably, as Whitney reveals, its new role in the world raises serious and complex questions: why is forgiveness in the air today; what does that say about us and the times we live in; what are its power, its limitations and in some instances its dangers; has it been cheapened or deepened... or both?


                                      "If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive."
                                                             –Mother Teresa

People across the globe, from all cultures and traditions, embrace love and forgiveness in daily life. These values are universally viewed as central to the fabric of humanity. Yet, the emerging global community has few institutions dedicated to deepening the understanding and spreading the application of these values. In this context, the Fetzer Institute pursues a unique role—working to investigate, activate, and celebrate the power of love and forgiveness as a practical force for good in today’s world.

The Fetzer Institute launched The Campaign for Love and Forgiveness in 2006 as an experiment in capacity building and community building at the grassroots level. The campaign has touched thousands of people by inviting them to bring love and forgiveness to the center of individual and community life.

Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate is designed to encourage contemplation and spark conversation. The Institute invites viewers to engage with additional resources developed by The Campaign for Love and Forgiveness including curriculum-based conversations and activities.


Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate is written, produced and directed by Helen Whitney. Executive producers are Paul Dietrich and Ian Watson. WETA executive producers are Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson.

• Download the Conversations About Forgiveness Facilitator Guide (6.1 MB) for information, suggestions, and tools for facilitating conversations about forgiveness in your community, organization, or school. For more Forgiveness video:

• Filmmaker Helen Whitney discusses her latest project, Forgiveness: A Time to Love and A Time to Hate.

• Helen Whitney discusses her hopes for Forgiveness: A Time to Love and A Time to Hate.

• Author Terri Jentz tells her personal story of being savagely attacked while camping as a college student, her search for her attacker and justice, and, ultimately, her journey from denial and depression to righteous anger and health.

• 1960's anti-war activist Kathy Power talks about her surrender to authorities after decades on the run, her imprisonment and search for forgiveness from the Schroeder family.

• Hear the story of Dan Glick and his former wife Liesbeth Gerritsen, whose family is torn apart by Liesbeth's decision to leave to start a new life thousands of miles away. Her family grapples with the idea of Forgiveness.

• The Rwandan genocide of 1994 is examined through first-hand witness testimony. It brings up the question, can forgiveness can be legislated by a natio

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Courtesy of http://www.pbs.org/programs/forgiveness/

Testing of our faith

 

 Let us continue to work for the Lord as the New Year begins. Our lesson today is one of a series from the book of James. You can prepare to learn more by reading this very practical book each week.

 

OUR FAITH MUST BE TESTED

In almost every area of life things must be tested before there can be any benefit to the human family. Medicine is one example where much testing must be done before it is made available to the public. These wonderful drugs are often tested for years to see if they will do what they were designed to do.

 

Aerospace is another area where repeated testing is done to see if planes, rockets and missiles will do what they were designed to do by the engineers.

 

The same thing is true with computer products. Software companies test these products for months before they are marketed to businesses and the private sector of our economy. Even after much testing often the consumer will discover that the product has a “bug” that must be corrected.

 

Even nations are not exempt from testing. Our country was severely tested on Sept. 11, 2001 like it has not been tested for some time. This tragic event tested our people to see what we are made out of and to see if our country will do what it was designed to do—live in liberty and have justice for all.

 

In like manner God has chosen to test your faith and my faith. God does not test our faith for his benefit, but for our benefit to see if our faith is genuine. This testing is to see if our faith will do what it was designed to do. Scripture says, “Without faith we cannot please God” (Hebrews 11: 6). Faith is therefore the basis of our hope of eternal life and heaven. We may think that our faith is strong, but until it has been tested we do not really know for sure. We may say, “I will survive anything that comes my way.” But we do not know until we have come through the various trials that come our way.

 

We are all aware that there are religious leaders today who teach that if your relationship with God is right you will always be healthy, wealthy, and wise and you will never have any problems in your life.

 

While it is true that many of our problems are self-induced, that is not always the case. Jesus also was tested, and the early church went through many trials that were not of its choosing. Jesus was sinless but nevertheless was crucified on Calvary.

 

Hebrews 2:10

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

NIV

 

My Bible teaches that our faith will be tested by passing through various trials. We should believe God’s Word rather than the mere words of men.

 

James 1:1-4

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

NIV

 

Will God allow your faith and my faith to be tested? The answer is in the affirmative. Yes our faith will be tested! “Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James also says, “count it all joy my brothers when you fall into various kinds of trials.” Our faith will definitely be tested.

 

Have you heard the story of Frankie the pet ferret? The owner would let him play in the laundry basket. He would climb into the laundry basket, roll around and have a big-time. One day the Lady of the house came in, grabbed the laundry basket, dumped it into the washing machine, poured in the washing powder and turned the machine on. You can guess what happened! All of a sudden Frankie did not know what hit him. The agitator is going back and forth, suds are bellowing forth. About the time that stopped, the emptying cycle began and Frankie was whirling around like a merry-go-round. But it was not over. The rinse cycle started and Frankie went through the same trial again. Finally, the wash was through, the laundry was put in the basket, and Frankie the pet ferret was alive, but he never played in the laundry basket again!

 

Has your life ever been like that? Life is like that. Things can be going great, the sun is shining, the birds are whistling and you are singing. Then all of a sudden, dark clouds appear, and a storm breaks out in your life that will test your faith, your resolve, strength, endurance, and determination.

 

The Bible teaches that God’s people will definitely be tried and tested.

 

Acts 14:21-22

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

NIV

 

Paul and Silas strengthened and encouraged the disciples in the new congregations to remain true to the faith, “for we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

In the Old Testament the best example of faith being tested is Job. Job was one of the best people who lived in that time. None of us would want to go through the trials of Job. The greater our faith the greater the hardship will probably be, in order to test if that faith is genuine:

 

Job 23:10

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

NIV

 

To refine the pure gold it must go through the fiery furnace. It must be tested to see if it is what it is claimed to be. In like manner our faith must be tried. False faith will not stand the fiery furnace of trial. James refers to Job’s faith and how it proved to be genuine:

 

James 5:10-11

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

NIV

 

The greater our faith the greater will be our trials. I believe that. This is because great faith must be tested by great trials to prove it is really great faith!

 

Big ships may venture ore,

 

But little ships must stay close to shore.

 

If our faith is little we better stay close to the shore, if our faith is strong, like a mighty ship we can go out on the open raging waves of the sea. Perhaps David had this in mind in one of his psalms:

 

Psalms 107:23-33

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground,

NIV

 

When you are out in the mighty deep and the storms of life are about to overwhelm you, do you cry out to the Lord for help, or do you run to the devil for his consolation? Actually in the church we often see that happen. When trials come, some people are drawn closer to the Lord and cry out for his help, while others leave the Lord and seek consolation and comfort in the arms of Satan.

 

PATIENCE

When our faith has been successfully tested, the end result will be patience, perseverance and endurance! I have never sought out trials and tribulations, but when they come my way I do not run from them—I run to them, because God has allowed them to test my faith. So do not run away from your trials, run to them and deal with them. Deal with your problems, don’t try to run away and hide from them or sweep them under the rug:

 

1 Peter 1:5-7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

NIV

 

When we observe a fellow Christian falling away during trial we must conclude that their faith was either weak or not genuine. Weak and false faith will not stand the test. But when our faith endures the test then the Christian can say: “now I know that my faith is genuine and that I am stronger from this experience.” Perseverance develops strength. People who have gone through many sicknesses and surgeries are usually stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally than those who have never been sick. The same thing is true in trials and tribulations that come our way in the Christian life. Someone may say, “But my trials and tribulations are so heavy that no one could endure what I have had to go through.” Scripture says we can prevail over all of our trials:

 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

NIV

 

Therefore, God will not allow anyone to be tempted above what they are able to bear. To prevail one will bring their faith into play.

 

There are two kinds of trials or temptations that are mentioned in James the first chapter. In this lesson we are looking at external trials, things beyond one’s control, things that just happen. There is no moral blame that can be attached to one who goes through some trial not of their doing.

 

In James 1:13-16 there is the inward temptation or solicitation to sin brought about by Satan in conjunction with man’s desire to do things forbidden by the Almighty. When we give into this temptation we sin and moral blame attaches. Faith is being tested in this kind of trial also! If we live long enough we will all be tested by trials, tribulations and temptations?

 

WHAT IS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD TRIALS?

We ask, “What should our attitude be toward the trials that come our way?” James says, “consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds.” Does this statement mean that when we are faced with trials we are to go out and say, “I am so happy today, because my life is falling apart?” You do not usually feel that way when your life is falling apart and you are surrounded by all kinds of trials, tribulations, troubles and problems? When we are surrounded by trouble are we to circle the wagons, smile and sing? No one rejoices because of trials and tribulations as such. However, we can rejoice in trials and troubles when one considers what the result can be of having endured such trials.

 

The people of this world are watching Christian people at all times to see if your faith is genuine. Our neighbors watch and notice that you have the habit of worshiping God each Lord’s day. And they will watch the Christian more than any other time when your life is falling apart. This is a test for you and they want to know what you are made of and if your faith is genuine.

 

James says, “count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations…” The word “fall” in the original language means when you are surrounded by troubles. Like the Old West when we are surrounded by trials we must circle the wagons to protect us from the onslaught and fiery darts of Satan. Satan seeks to injure us and destroy our faith. James says, “Count all joy.” The word count means to consider, deem, reckon—so when you are surrounded by trials just consider that God is allowing your faith to be tested, and having come out of the trials successfully, then the end product of perseverance, endurance, and patience is a good thing. This is the basis of our joy. You will be a stronger person and therefore you can rejoice because you have had an opportunity to prove your faith to yourself and your God.

 

As an example, let us notice the process of giving birth to a child. My mom used to say, “If men had to deliver a baby there never would have been but one!” Almost all mothers will say that there is a certain amount of pain, sorrow and suffering in childbirth. But even in the ordeal of childbirth most mothers have a joy in their heart because they know when it is finished there will be a beautiful boy or girl that will bring love and joy to them and the family. Mothers overcome the pain, anguish and sorrow of childbirth because they know that they will hold in their arms a little human being that will bring joy to their heart and family. Christ verifies this statement in the book of John:

 

John 16:21

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

NIV

 

And I say to you Christian people that the same thing is true of your trials. When trials come your way, let your attitude be that while you do not like it, you’re not going run from them, you will run to the problem and deal with it. You will prevail and overcome and be a stronger person as a result of testing your faith. Never give up, never fail or falter. Keep your faith strong in God who will never leave you but will help you to overcome any trial.

 

Hebrews 13:4-6

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

NIV

 

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW US TO BE TESTED?

Why does God allow us to be tested with trials of many kinds? The answer is that God has a purpose in testing our faith. Solomon said for everything there is a purpose. Our purpose is to serve and glorify God. Our trials have the purpose to produce patience, perseverance, and endurance. The only way we are going to learn patience and trust the Lord, and yield to his will, is to learn to yield our stubborn will to his. This is often best accomplished when we are weak and we trust the Lord as a result of the trials in our life:

 

James 1:4

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

NIV

 

Perseverance must finish its work so we may be complete, mature and not lacking anything. By the word “perfect” we usually mean sinless. Generally the word “perfect” in the Bible means complete and mature. So when patience is complete and mature, it will make our faith complete and mature. In the original language the word for complete is a word from which we derive the word holograph. A circle that is a complete 360 degrees can illustrate a holograph. Therefore your faith will not be a complete circle of 360 degrees until you have persevered through the trials and tribulations of life.

 

GOD OR SATAN?

When trials come our way either God or Satan will work in your life! Let us be like Job who in the midst of severe trial never gave up on God. We can give in and allow Satan to work in our life or we can allow God to do his work in our life. Either God or Satan is going to do a work in us when trials beset us. Which will it be?

 

Often we see Christians fall by the wayside and we know that Satan is doing his work in them because either their faith was weak or false and would not stand up under trial. However, others go through the same test and survive even becoming stronger because they allow God to do his work in and through them.

 

When Paul wrote the church at Philippi he commended them for allowing God to do his work in them:

 

Philippians 1:5-6

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

NIV

 

Let us all be confident that the good work God has begun in us will go on unto completion until the day of Jesus Christ. God has begun a good work in you! Are you going to allow him to continue that work on to completion or will you give place to Satan to do his work in you? It is up to us to decide who will win.

 

The faithful Christian whose faith is mature and complete understands that nothing can separate us from the love of God but ourselves:

 

Romans 8:28, 35-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NIV

 

If we therefore become separated from God we can only blame ourselves. We cannot blame God, the church, our family or anyone else. No, blame can only attach to us, because we can choose whether God or Satan does a work in us.

 

EXHORTATION

We have established that our faith will be tested. Our attitude toward all trials should be one of joy because of the result of enduring trials—patience and endurance. Our faith will be stronger and more enduring. Also we have concluded that for the Christian, God has a purpose in all trials—to make us mature, complete and lacking nothing.

 

Let us notice another statement concerning trials from James:

 

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

NIV

 

The idea presented is that rewards and punishments are to be given at the last day. Life is short—we are like a vapor that appears for a while and then we vanish away from the earth. But we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ:

 

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

NIV

 

The joy we are to show while undergoing trials is not a temporal joy—it is an eternal joy throughout all ages. We will be forever blessed when we receive the crown of life! The crown of life is for all who love the Lord and his appearing:

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

NIV

 

Do you want that crown of life? It is yours if you will allow the Lord to begin a good work in you and make you complete and whole even in the face of trials.

 

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

NIV

 

All who are out of Christ are now encouraged to repent, make the good confession and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2: 38). Those who have failed the trials of life are also encouraged to repent and pray to the Lord for forgiveness and strength to overcome (Acts 8:22). *

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*Shelby G. Floyd delivered this sermon January 6, 2002, at the Heartland Church of Christ, 2455 Fairview Place, Greenwood, Indiana 46142. Copyright © 2002, 2008 Shelby Floyd All Rights Reserved