Blessed after 12 Years

For 12 years I have served the churches of Memphis, Tennessee. I have ministered in all kinds of places and served all types of pastors.

For 12 years a woman in the Bible suffered from a serious medical condition. She visited many doctors but never found relief.

For 12 years a little girl grew up. She was the delight of her father Jairus. By all accounts, her’s was a happy and normal childhood.

In this stage of life, after 12 years of ministry in Memphis, I need the Lord. My experience is similar to the two ladies mentioned above. I have known both heartache and happiness. How can the Lord heal me / help me? What can I learn from these two ladies?

  1. I MUST BE HUMBLE. Both of the petitioners described in Luke 8 got down low before the Lord. One approached from the front, the other from the back. Yet both stooped low in the presence of the Lord. If I want God to bless me after 12 years, I also must lower myself mentally and physically to seek the Lord.

  2. I MUST BELIEVE. Both of the miracles happened because of faith. “Your faith has made you well” and “Don’t be afraid only believe.” So I too must trust the Lord in this 12th year of ministry in Memphis. Don’t despair, don’t doubt, remain confident in God!

Three happy endings. The older woman, the young girl, and this Tennessee preacher. Thank you Lord.

The Attitude of a World Changer

The Apostle Paul was accused of “turning the world upside down.” Clearly, he and his missionary brothers rocked the ancient world for Christ. How did they do it? We could look at their techniques, but today let’s only look at their attitudes. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul acknowledged two attitudes we would do well to emulate.

  1. “We have such trust through Christ toward God,” (2 Cor. 3:4)

  2. “We have such hope” (2 Cor. 3:12).

Suggested Prayer: “God help us to have unbridled confidence in You and fill us with excitement about our God-filled future.”

Mark 4:35-41

The story of Jesus calming the storm is a meaningful passage to me. Three truths emerge from it.

  1. Sometimes Jesus leads us into trouble. "Let us cross over to the other side." He intentionally took them straight into a storm. Jesus knew what He was doing. He could read men's thoughts, He could certainly predict the weather. Adverse circumstances do not mean you are out of God's will. 
  2. Always Jesus is able. He has power over all things. "Who can this be that even wind and waves obey Him?" Omnipotent God can handle any situation. He can overcome any problem or person. Nothing or nobody is too difficult for God, and this includes your current predicament.
  3. Today I must respond with faith not fear. Jesus asked the disciples, "Why are fearful? How is it you have no faith?" Fear looks at the storm. Faith looks at the Savior. How will you respond today?
  • Are you looking at the problem or the all-wise Lord?
  • Are you looking at the sickness or the Great Physician?
  • Are you looking at the mountain or the Mountain-mover?
  • Are you looking at the shortage or Jehovah-Jireh, the Great Provider?
  • Are you looking at the conflict or the Prince of Peace?
  • Are you looking at the decay or at Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life?

 

The Second Coming like the Days of Noah and Lot

In both the days of Noah and Lot there was 

  • destruction of the many
  • deliverance for the few

Prior to the flood God told Noah

 

 

 

Before the fire and brimstone fell on Sodom

Current events may be frightening, but we must keep trusting the Lord. He will see us through the coming storm. 

For further study see Luke 17:26-30.

Have you Hugged Your Cross Today?

The cross is the central symbol of the Christian life. But the cross is not just about Jesus. The cross is also about us and how we follow the Lord in His death and resurrection.

Temptations and struggles frequently come our way. How do we respond? Bite the bullet? Grin and bear it? Will power? I am learning one of the best way to way to overcome life's struggles is to embrace the cross and consider myself dead to sin and self. 

Romans 6 says that when we become Chrisitans we are immersed into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) and share in his crucifixion. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ." This is a mystical reality that is difficult to grasp, but somehow all believers are transported back in time to that lonely windswept hill of Golgotha where Christ died upon the cross. We participate in His death in order that we may share in His resurrection life.

Meditate on Romans 6:11. When someone or something agitates you remember you are dead and you can't tempt a dead man!

Gospel Living

Genesis 37 contains the familiar story of Joseph's brothers throwing him into a pit and then selling him into slavery.

Joseph was loved by his father, sent to find his brothers, mistreated, and then raised to new life.

This of course foreshadows the same path Jesus would follow many years later. He too was loved by His Father, sent to save the lost, crucified, buried in a tomb, and then raised again.

And moreover, this is our story too! We also are loved, sent, hated, and will be exalted. We are living out the gospel.

A Theology for Suffering

Christians have established teachings on many topics including God, salvation, church, and the end times. But we also need a doctrine on the subject of suffering, because if our belief system is unsettled pain can potentially derail our Christian life.

Here is a simple set of beliefs based on Psalm 34:19, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

I. CHRISTIANS SUFFER

II. CHRISTIANS OFTEN SUFFER

III. JESUS DELIVERS

IV. JESUS ALWAYS DELIVERS.

These four simple statements provide comfort and reassurance. I encourage you to adopt, memorize, and use these truths the next time your experience heartache.

What is your theology of suffering? Please share it with me.