Session 19–When the going gets rough.
Where do you turn when you have troubles with work, with people, with things, an addiction, a bad habit, any currant negative situation? Who do you turn to? Is God the first one on your list or, like 95% of Christians, is He the last person you go to out of desperation? I know you thought we would never talk about Adam and Eve one last time, but here we go… when they realized the error of their ways they hid, and then they diverted the blame to someone else, anything but be accountable for their own bad choices. We’ve been reading in the book in Job. And wow, Job used the word “trouble” frequently! He definitely had reason to do so. He lost everything he had and his wife wanted him to curse God and die. Things had gotten that bad! While Job is well-known for his trust in God, for a few chapters, he boldly asks the big question to God that we all ask when we just don’t understand. Why? We’ve all experienced our share of asking God why. Be encouraged; we may not understand why now, but someday we will. He is our Father and we need to know that. If we want to live in house we must obey His rules. We alone can decide not to obey and accept the alternative or repent. (Read John 14:15, John 10:27-30, Galatians 5:13-14, 2 John 1:6, Romans 2:6-8) Until then, claim His Word. As you may not know, there are many conditional promises that require your action and obedience in order to receive them. God always keeps His unconditional promises. We have written out a few of each here for you. Psalm 20:1. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Psalm 9:9. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 62:8. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Isaiah 26:4. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 86:7. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. Psalm 37:5. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Matthew 6:14-15. Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 17:20. Jesus said: "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 21:22. Jesus said: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Luke 17:6. Jesus said: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." John 8:31. Jesus said: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples." John 8:51. Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." John 11:40. Jesus said: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 13:35. Jesus said: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 14:15. Jesus said: "If you love me, you will obey what I command." It is one thing to ‘say’ you are a Christian, a Saint, a Child of God, it is another to walk the walk. You need to know how to walk that walk. You need to know where you may be needing help. This point is really quite practical. His presence comes in increasing measure as we practice these sessions, in private and in our worship. Beyond the songs and sermons are rich discoveries awaiting the faithful. The glory of God will begin to fill the air. At times this happens with explainable external manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Other times it's just a magnificent awareness that He is with you. For those of you tempted to point out the fact that He is always with us, I do understand and believe that, but more importantly, it lets me know that you do. There are wondrous times when the increased manifestation of His presence upon us is beyond reason. It heightens our emotions and sweetens our day. Please dwell in it Do not interrupt it. Of course this cannot be an excuse to skip the privilege of teaching the gospel. We need things we don't understand, can't control and can't explain. This is what life is when following Jesus. There are times when His presence comes with a specific purpose that must be discovered and obeyed. "And the power of the Lord was present to heal" (Luke 5:17). Our responsibility as leaders, as Saints, is to find out why He is present. While it may be challenging, it is not difficult once you have mastered the ‘mystery’. We may share similar personal routines: I send out love and then seek, thank, question, and even cry to God in private but after I send out love I allow the Holy Spirit to take the first step in public. When the breakthrough I desire does not happen, I trust that the Holy Spirit has reasons that I cannot comprehend. The ‘mystery’ truly is an ongoing encounter with the presence that enables us to live like Jesus did. Exercise 19 – On this your next to last exercise remember to begin by extending love. Then, when you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, surrender your expectations and agenda. Be willing to accept whatever He says. Ask one question about where you may have trouble at work, with a certain person or group of people, anything that is troubling you, an addiction, a bad habit, and any currant negative situation that you doing or causing or that someone else is doing or causing and you need to handle with the love of Christ. As you ask God to have the Holy Spirit work on a difficult situation be ready to accept the challenge. We encourage you to remain surrendered to His will, without complicating it with your agenda or expectations. Praise God for the ability to have the Holy Spirit as your personal body guard, supporter, and confidant.
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Michael & Judy Peck Archives
February 2020
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