OVERCOMING THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION - Part I

OVERCOMING THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION - Part I

For quite some time, many of you have experienced patterns of pain in your lives.  It seems that, although you have tried your best to be open to and accepting of others, your unconditional love is not always reciprocated.  Fact is, you feel more often than not that you are ignored, excluded, or simply tolerated by people that you might expect to GET YOU, that is, to understand what you are all about.  But somehow they fail to SEE YOUR HEART, i.e. who you REALLY are or where you are actually coming from.  

Some of those people (perhaps even close family and friends) might have even LABELED you, using unforgettable words that are soul piercing and perplexing.  They SEE you one way – through their own perspectives or life experiences – and since they are SURE that you must really be the person they have pegged you to be, they not only place you in a permanent pigeon-hole, they communicate their narrow and restricted image of you to others as well.  All of this hurts you – much more than you are willing to admit or talk about to others.  So what can you do?

Before delving into the details of proactive and positive strategies for handling REJECTION, I want to share some wonderful news with you.  YOU ARE NOT A REJECT!  YOU HAVE BEEN “ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED!” (Ephesians 1:5-6)  That is, the FATHER has already ACCEPTED YOU as a prime candidate for grace and glory.  Your simple requirement is to ACCEPT HIS SON and to cut a constant covenant with Him.  Your growing intimacy with HIM will produce both the fruit and gifts of the Spirit in your life.  My friend, GOD has very positive plans for you, i.e. “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11-NIV)

In order to be effective with this devotional, I must be totally transparent.  So I will elaborate on something I have mentioned before.  Since birth, I have struggled with a profound speech impediment.  Today, when others hear me teaching and preaching, they typically have difficulty believing this since God has been so good, gracious and transformational in my life. But my childhood struggle to speak clearly was (and is) a monumental force in my personal development.  How can I explain my feelings about this to you?  SPEECH is such an integral part of daily life.  It is the means and mechanism for communicating our desires and dreams, our pains and our pleasures.  NOT to have the capacity to communicate on a level where one is absolutely SURE that others understand produces an internal struggle of monumental proportions.  

So even though I was raised in a Christian home, within a positive cocoon-of-love and surrounded by marvelous parents and tremendous siblings, somehow I FELT LESS THAN OTHERS.  Whenever I needed to say something twice or even thrice to be understood, I FELT SUPREMELY REJECTED.  My young mind was incapable of processing the possibility that this might be a temporary problem.  And believe it or not, even now when I am speaking, I am still UNSURE if people clearly comprehend the words that I say!  It is important to note that others were not rejecting me or classifying me as someone who lacked the ability to speak.  In truth, I was rejecting and negatively classifying MYSELF!

There is another important phenomenon to highlight here.  Feelings of inadequacy never occur in a vacuum.  In other words, we human beings have the tendency to filter ALL of our life experiences through what we perceive as the WEAKEST LINK within ourselves.  For example, if as a child I was selected last in a pick-up game of basketball, I interpreted it as REJECTION OF ME, when in reality I was a mediocre basketball player.  Later, I discovered that I could excel in football and track and field, but those early ‘rejection episodes’ on the basketball court (amplified by my sense of insecurity about my speech) were difficult childhood experiences.

Kingdom Principle Number One: SATAN LEVERAGES OUR FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY TO CONTROL OUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS, AND TO PRODUCE LONG-TERM NEGATIVE RESULTS.

There is both good news and bad news to mine from this first Kingdom principle.  The BAD NEWS is that ALL of us have SOMETHING that causes us to struggle with ourselves, whether it is an ongoing physical challenge, the tragic death of a loved one, a traumatic childhood experience, a sense of inferiority or superiority, academic difficulties, or whatever one’s individual case may be.  Indeed, that is the nature of the human condition.  

The GOOD NEWS is this: While Satan’s agenda is to intensify our emotional struggle in order to produce long-term negative fall-out, GOD’S AGENDA is to TRANSFORM AND USE OUR SHORTCOMINGS in ways that enable us to systematically grow stronger and wiser, so we can assist others with similar life experiences and thereby become key players in developing the Kingdom of God.  Know this: To offset our perceived MINUSES, God sovereignly grants us unique PLUSES, both for our present sense of balance and for our future achievement.  Have you discovered yours yet?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

FORGIVENESS IS MISSION CRITICAL

FORGIVENESS IS MISSION CRITICAL

There is a fascinating story-beneath-the-stories in the Acts of the Apostles.  Its principal characters are Paul, Barnabas and Mark, and the sub-plot involves hurt, disappointment, separation, reconciliation and forgiveness.  Before I explore details of this story, allow me to make an important observation.  If you have never been disappointed by the actions of others (or by your own actions), you are likely living in that gray neutral zone where you neither experience failure nor defeat because you have been paralyzed by fear and you steadfastly refuse to embrace new relationships or experiences.  Think about it.  Disappointment and pain are part and parcel of the human experience.

The downside of focusing on those twin negative experiences is eventual personal frustration.  If there is anything worse than unresolved anger with others, it is inward rage at one’s own self for never trying, never failing and thus never succeeding.  Over time, those inward frustrations and negative feelings become festering wounds, and festering wounds are very dangerous wounds.  You must eat from the garden of your own inner thoughts, so don’t grow anything there that you don’t want to consume, or be consumed by.  You and I must learn how to forgive other ‘HUMAN’ beings; and, our very first step toward accepting the clay feet of others is learning how to forgive ourselves for past errors and transgressions.

Now, on to our story.  Barnabas was the traveling companion of the Apostle Paul and an accomplished co-laborer in the gospel.  Mark was the nephew of Barnabas, and he dearly loved traveling with the great evangelist Paul and his preaching uncle.  Perhaps, there was no kinder person in the New Testament than Barnabas.  You can tell a lot about the character of Barnabas from his name, which means “son of encouragement.”  On the other hand, Paul, the New Testament’s greatest missionary and most prolific author, could have seemed somewhat rigid and inflexible to the youthful Mark.

During one of Paul’s missionary journeys, a course correction moved them inland from Pamphylia to a place that was known to be quite dangerous.  Young Mark spoke loudly by his actions, ‘NO, this place isn’t for me, and this is as far as I’m going!’  So Mark took the ‘first flight’ home, to a more secure environment.

Later, as Paul was planning his next evangelistic expedition, Uncle Barnabas wanted to take Nephew Mark along again.  In so many words, Paul said “Absolutely not - he failed us before and might fail us again!”  Paul and Barnabas ended up separating because of their divergent views and the disagreement that followed.  Nevertheless, I love how the story ends.  In the twilight of Paul’s life, while he on ‘death row’ in Rome awaiting execution by Emperor Nero, it was Mark who served as the courier for important spiritual letters penned by the apostle.  Paul had apparently forgiven Mark and true reconciliation had occurred.  The apostle not only spoke highly of Mark, but he fully trusted him with the delivery of epistles that were destined to become a prominent part of The New Testament.  Wow!

I believe that Mark was on Paul’s heart when the Holy Spirit inspired him to write the following: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

True biblical forgiveness not only pardons the offense, but IT fully restores the offender.  All of us have heard this saying, “I will FORGIVE, but I will never FORGET.”  To be completely transparent, I have said it myself.  But in my times of spiritual self-examination, I had to ask an important question: ‘Lord, am I truly forgiving if I AM WILLFULLY holding and harboring the memory of a misdeed?’  The emphasis here is on “willfully” since we cannot completely control the autonomic function of memory.  Only GOD can truly forget.  I love Hebrews 10:17, where God declares: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”  Since we lack the capacity to completely forget, we must, as an act of our will, make the decision not to continuously replay the act of offense, via our private meditations and spoken words.

Here are some practical steps I have learned about the process of forgiving:

1. Honestly confess to God your true feelings about the offense and the offender. Ask for His help.
2. As much as humanly possible, stop replaying the act of offense in the mental loop of your thoughts.
3. Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts from the Word.  Speak and declare only what the Word speaks and declares.
4. Pray often for the offending party.
5. Refuse to be drawn into gossip pertaining to the offense or the offender.
6. Try to reflect on the good qualities or characteristics of the offending party, and speak them aloud, to yourself and to others.
7. Greet the offending party with sincerity and love.  You do not have to hold extensive conversation with them just yet, but you will eventually ‘feel better’ if you do not try to avoid them.
8. Always consider your own flaws and imperfections.  This keeps you humble and more likely to forgive the flaws and imperfections of others.

Finally, we must never forget: God forgives us in the same manner that we forgive others. (Matthew 6:12;15)

In closing, I am firmly convinced that strife, ill will and division are designed in hell, deployed as satanic tools that can nullify our ability to be unified and cohesive families, both naturally and spiritually.  Remember this: Families are the basic building-blocks of the Kingdom of God.  God wants to transform and show off our relationships as clear reflections of divine love.  To wit, God’s power is on display in us.  When we fail to forgive, we bring joy to the powers of darkness.  When we prayerfully and lovingly forgive, God smiles and divine favor rests upon us.  Thus, genuine forgiveness is mission critical to all we were designed to BE (and DO) in the perfect plan and purpose of God.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part V

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part V

As twelve disciples were dispatched by their Lord from one shore to another, Peter had no way of knowing that before this night ended he would literally go where no man had gone before.  While twelve boat-boys huddled helplessly in desperation and fear, wild waves, deep waters and deadly winds dashed against their vessel, threatening to overwhelm and sink them.  Peter had no clue that in just a few moments HE WOULD BE WALKING OUTSIDE THE BOAT…confronting and conquering crazy circumstances…literally striding along on top of terrible waves!  Isn’t it just like GOD to transform times of anxiety and anguish into opportunities to demonstrate that HIS POWER ON DISPLAY IN US?  What an awesome God!  I say it often: God is always up to something behind the scenes! 

Let’s reread a pertinent portion of the scriptural passage for this devotional series:

Matthew 14:25-32
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go 
to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith,
wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

We are somewhat prone to criticize Peter for failure to sustain his miraculous water walk.  My response to the critics is simply this: Who among us can testify personally to walking on water like Peter?  To be candid, most of us (myself included) would never have requested an exit out of that boat – especially in light of the horrifying sea experiences those disciples were navigating in complete darkness.  And a careful reading of this passage informs us that the storm was not abated until AFTER Peter and Jesus entered into the boat together.  Think about it.  Peter had such great faith, that he volunteered to head out INTO THE STORM in order to be in close proximity to Jesus!  Wow!  Skeptics suggest that Peter was only able to do this because JESUS was there.  My response to every shore-hugging skeptic comes in the form of two key questions: (1) Whenever you and I are HESITANT or REFUSE to launch out into the deep and fulfill our purpose and destiny, isn’t GOD THERE?  (2) And any time you and I garner sufficient faith to move ahead and launch out, isn’t GOD THERE?  That’s why we call Him Jehovah-Shammah, because “THE LORD IS THERE!”  (Ezekiel 48:35)

Nevertheless, most of us gaze LONG AND HARD at the water BEFORE we get out of the boat, and many of us fail to ever disembark.  In other words, we become psychologically and spiritually frozen – trapped in the paralysis of analysis – STUCK IN PLACE for days or decades.  May I make a suggestion to ALL OF US, myself included?  What we really need is A NEW ATTITUDE!  Don’t judge me for highlighting a secular song here, but years ago I listened to Patti LaBelle singing about a new attitude.  The lyrics went something like this: “I’m feeling good from my head to my shoes.  I know where I’m going and I know what to do.  I’ve tidied up my point of view.  I’ve got a new attitude!”  Finishing with her unique flair, Pattie crooned “OO-OO-OO-OO…I’VE GOT A NEW ATTITUDE!”

Sisters and brothers, I dare you to STEP OUT OF YOUR BOAT at the command of the Lord!  If you should somehow falter along the way, JEHOVAH SHAMMAH IS THERE for a rapid rescue; you only need to CALL HIS NAME!  The Word reveals that when Jesus and Peter finally came into the ship, the wind ceased.  I dare you to invite JESUS onboard; conditions will instantaneously change!  In the presence of His demonstrated power over their storm, the twelve disciples gathered around to worship the Son of the Living God.  And with JESUS on board, they sailed forward with strength, security, stability and success.  

This scripture passage ends with a simple status report: “And when they were gone over, they came unto the land of GENNESARET.”  That name literally means “a garden of riches.”  Jesus knew the character and content of the place He had dispatched them to, but He also knew that their faith would be enhanced by encountering challenges along the way.  GENNESARET was a divine appointment awaiting fulfillment.  Wherever God guides, God provides.  So if JESUS ever sends you anywhere…JUST GO because HE has great expectations THERE for your service and your security.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part IV

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part IV

Since Spirit-filled believers are endowed by OUR SOURCE with deeper understanding of situational times and seasons, we never need worry or stress about OUR RESOURCES. OUR TIMES AND SEASONS are faithfully committed to (and controlled by) the ever LOVING AND SUSTAINING HANDS OF GOD.  So even when circumstances in our lives ‘seem’ to be dead or dying, the all-wise God has preordained our ultimate victory and success.  According to Jude, HE is “the only wise God” and HE is to be accorded “glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.” (Jude 1:25)  ONLY GOD knows the end from the beginning, and for that reason alone, we confidently commit total trust in HIM.  Kingdom Principle Number Six: APPEARANCES NOTWITHSTANDING, THE ALL-WISE GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL!

Daniel gave an insightful praise report on the wisdom and power of God.  (Reference Daniel 2:20-22).

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And HE CHANGES THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 HE REVEALS THE DEEP AND SECRET THINGS: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Any believer who operates out of reverential fear of God is the benefactor of SECRET KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.  The Psalmist David penned two closely related revelations concerning this.  First of all, he wrote “The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of WISDOM.” (Psalm 111:10)  And then David revealed the direct result of this reverential fear: “The SECRET OF THE LORD is with them that FEAR HIM; and HE WILL SHOW THEM HIS COVENANT.” (Psalm 25:14)  As believers, we have a covenant relationship with God.  And never forget: GOD is a PROMISE KEEPER!  Every single day, we walk hand-in-hand with THE ALL-SUFFICIENT ONE (who has already ordered and walked out our steps), so why should we ever worry?   Think.

This reminds me of our granddaughter, Sydney, who visits us almost daily.  At seven years old, she is fully able to navigate the stairs alone, but whenever Sydney is beside me, she always reaches for my hand.  It is her way of feeling safe and secure – since she apparently believes that her ‘Pop-Pop’ would never let her fall.  Is there a lesson here for believers who should invest total trust and confidence in the hands of ‘Abba-Father’ to guide our way through challenging circumstances?  If we would only stop to reflect on the power of God, we would realize that we are anxious for no good reason.  The seemingly major issues we encounter are minor matters to the Creator of Heaven and earth!  Too often, we doubt whether God will bring all His promises to pass.  The clock seems to move so fast, and our progress seems to be so slow.  One insight from yesterday’s devotional bears repeating: “Stop fuming, fretting and fussing about what TIME it is…GOD KNOWS YOUR SEASON!”

That is why the twelve disciples should never have surrendered to doubt and fear.  The ‘place’ they occupied and the ‘problem’ they experienced were directly connected to the command of Christ, and therefore subject to their delegated authority, the awesome power of The Living Lord.  So when TROUBLE showed up…JESUS showed up!  Kingdom Principle Number Seven: GOD IS OUR PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. (Psalm 46:1)  Let’s look briefly at part of the text again.

Matthew 14:24-27
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night JESUS went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, BE OF GOOD CHEER; IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID.

Kingdom Principle Number Eight: WHEN GOD SHOWS UP, DON’T DOUBT HIM.  Our Lord really knows how to make a grand entrance, doesn’t He?  Jesus is not only a water-walker; JESUS IS A WAVE-WALKER!  Be assured that there are NO tempestuous waves…NO life-circumstances…that are too hard or too heavy for Him to bear.  Take a mental snapshot of that stormy night on the sea.  The drama and the noise of that night were quite literally off-the-chain!  Howling winds…tempestuous waves…fearful disciples crying out…it was loud and noisy beyond belief.  But the Lord of Heaven and Earth strolled by (atop the wave caps) and whispered a Word of now-faith to those fearful boys in the boat: “BE OF GOOD CHEER…IT IS I…BE NOT AFRAID.”  Sisters and brothers, I have noticed something somewhat similar in my own life.  Whenever my ‘boat’ tacks perilously close to troubled waters, over the background noise of my personal storm, I can always tune in to that still small voice speaking soothingly to my spirit: ‘Don’t worry…don’t be afraid.’  As one composer penned, when JESUS SPEAKS, “the sound of HIS VOICE is so sweet that the birds hush their singing!”   In tempestuous times like these…He still walks with me…and He talks with me…and He tells me I am His own!  David said it even better: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3)  Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part III

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part III

Wisdom dictates that on this voyage called life, we anticipate and prepare for the unexpected.  In other words, LIFE HAPPENS.  Regardless of how seaworthy or stable your vessel might be, sooner or later some challenging life-circumstances will appear on the horizon to likely rock your boat!  Sailors call them rogue waves.  They can roll through at any time, even in the calmest of seas; and their intensity and magnitude potentially disturbs and damages the best-of-the-best ships in the fleet.

Don’t ever worry about rogue waves.  Since they are completely out of your control, you might as well relax and enjoy the ride.  Right?  Some choose to pass their days with a mindset that is riddled with quiet desperation, high anxiety and paralyzing fear.  True believers choose peace.  The prophet Isaiah surely understood the sovereignty of God and His unending care for His children.  He wrote: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

In these financially troubled times, we are tempted to fret and worry about our RESOURCES, instead of focusing our attention on THE SOURCE.  Kingdom Principle Number Three in this series is simply this: GOD IS OUR SOURCE!  “The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)  We might lose jobs, cars, homes, or even family and friends, but in a very real sense they are just RESOURCES.  As long as we don’t lose THE SOURCE…we will find shelter and security in the time of our most vehement storm.  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

It bears repetition: STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR RESOURCES!  Don’t you know who you are?  YOU are the “blessed (wo)man” described in Psalm one.  Since you always delight and meditate in the law of the Lord, here is what your Creator says about you.  “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)  Let me share a powerful revelation with you…something God showed me years ago.  Those things that you feel you have LOST are not FRUIT, they are just LEAVES.  And leaves were created to serve a temporary function…and then those leaves fall off!

Kingdom Principle Number Four: LEAVES LEAVE!  You need to declare this liberating Rhema aloud, one more time: “LEAVES LEAVE!”  But Jesus said “I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, and ORDAINED YOU, that ye should go and bring forth FRUIT, and that your FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN.” (John 15:16)  Just as long as we are “ROOTED and GROUNDED in LOVE,” and God is love, (Ephesians 3:17) we will never again worry about the leaves.  Just as long as we are abiding in the vine, Jesus Christ declared that we will bring forth “MUCH FRUIT!” (John 12:24)  Always remember this: TREES LOOK DEAD during the winter season.  Typically, fruit does not manifest during winter.  God says a blessed (wo)man, will “bring forth his fruit IN HIS SEASON.” (Psalm 1:3)  Stop fuming, fretting and fussing about what TIME it is…GOD KNOWS YOUR SEASON…and you WILL produce!

Understand this: Your winter season is analogous to your ship being far away from shore.  God is simply saying: ‘Your ship has not come in YET’…but it WILL…if you learn how to WAIT (actively wait) with faith and with diligence!’  The winter season of your natural or spiritual life is similar to the foreboding circumstances in which the twelve disciples found themselves.  They were far out “in the midst of the sea” (Matthew 14:24) and their remote location precluded any help (and any hope) when stormy conditions circumscribed them.  They felt very much alone and completely ‘victimized’ by contrary winds and tossing waves.  Kingdom Principle Number Five: YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM…YOU ARE A VICTOR!  Nevertheless, those disciples FELT seasick and heartsick.  And all of this was going on during “the fourth watch of the night,” when they were enveloped in pitch-black darkness.  They could see…absolutely nothing!  Light was totally unavailable; the sun had long since set and the moon was hiding in the obscurity of ominous and gloomy clouds.  Their sails had been trimmed, and they were rocking, rolling and reeling in the midst of the sea, totally at the mercy of terrifying currents and horrific winds.  Nevertheless…

NEVERTHELESS…at their moment of deepest despair, along comes JESUS CHRIST…the Author and Finisher of their fading and failing faith!  Along came JESUS CHRIST…walking calmly over raging seas and through howling tempests!  Along came JESUS CHRIST…on a life-or-death rescue mission…because (from a distance) He had heard the cries of His children.  Do not be afraid; JESUS CHRIST has already heard YOUR CRY… and help is on the way!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part II

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part II

Our faith-walk involves a process which seldom presents instantaneous results.  That’s why Jesus Christ declares “in your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)  Patience may be defined as the elapsed time between earth’s cry and Heaven’s response.  Although Jesus hastened forthwith to lift ‘Water-Walking-Peter’ from troubled seas, perhaps (to the despairing sinker) it felt more like an eternity, while he was trapped within those terrible seconds of anguish and anxiety.  Nevertheless, despite our human perspective, we serve a GOD who always shows up on time to transform tragedy into triumph.  That’s why we wait (expectantly) on Him.  David said “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

When Jesus issued the directive, ‘Get in the ship and go on to the other side,’ His disciples never hesitated.  Numerous experiences had produced a knowledgeable confidence that it was both reasonable and right to invest total trust in THE MASTER.  What they did not know is that every divine commission requires both risk and sacrifice.  But our God consistently comforts us ahead of those testing times: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when you walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2)  

However, after our initial call, with its subsequent and inevitable challenges, it is tempting to question whether we were actually called by God, especially when we stand face-to-face with tenacious troubles.  Our thoughts so something like this:  ‘Lord, did you REALLY say we should get in this ship and go to the other side?  Was that YOU, or was that our imagination working overtime?’  But since the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, He always breathes soothing and sustaining Words of life into our spirits.  After his trial-by-water, Peter nailed it!  “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” (I Peter 5:10)   We WILL make it through the storm; our perspective will be changed and our faith strengthened!  The mere fact that we are experiencing danger or detours along the path of our journey does not invalidate or nullify the original call of God.

Faith in God’s eternal Word always produces fulfillment within the context of time.  But here’s the rub: We don’t know the precise ‘when’ of God’s timing; which is to say that CHRONOS is never intimately acquainted or synchronized with KAIROS.  Stated more simply and in the vernacular…God’s timing ain’t ours!  In our foundational scripture (Matthew 14:22-34), there is what I call a ‘frustration gap’ between verse 22 and verse 34.  Jesus says “GO” in verse 22, and the disciples have finally “LANDED” in verse 34.  But it’s the IN-BETWEEN-STUFF that is the real trial of our faith.  I smile when we testify confidently and enthusiastically (after the fact) with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.  But the real truth is that there are times WHILE we are passing through troubled waters that we are not feeling or sensing any measure of victory.

There are several Kingdom principles in this scriptural passage that should be highlighted.  First of all, after Jesus issued the command to cross over, He went up onto the mountain to pray.  This was surely a targeted prayer, with the express purpose of undergirding the disciples for whatever challenges they would confront while obeying His command.  I love the fact that JESUS CHRIST is still our INTERCESSORY HIGH PRIEST!  Hebrews 4:14-15 informs and inspires us: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  And I Timothy 2:5 confirms this fact: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  His High Priestly function positions Him as our effective and eternal advocate, so why should we ever worry?  Think about it.  Jesus strongly advises against anxiety of any stripe, since our Father is the Supplier of ALL our need. (Matthew 6:25-32 and Philippians 4:19)  G-O-D HAS OUR BACK!

The second Kingdom principle to be highlighted is found in verse 24.  It seems that whenever we decide to ‘launch out into the deep’ that our milestone-of-obedience becomes a perilous moment-of-manifestation for buffeting waves and contrary winds.  One of my friends is an excellent sailor, and he tells me that every good sailor lives in expectation of robust and hearty winds. I t seems that smooth and polished seas are a death knell to sailing forward with power.  Sisters and brothers, those contrary winds do not come to break you; they appear to MAKE YOU…GO…and GROW!  God somehow repositions angry-looking winds at your back, but they are divinely transformed into gusts of dunamis (vigorous spiritual power) to transport you forward with passion and purpose.  So stop cursing those prevailing winds, and start blessing them via fervent prayer and faith-filled praise. (James 5:16)  Indeed, they are the unseen and unexpected vehicles that will carry you THROUGH your tests and TO your destiny.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part I

HOW TO HANDLE FRUSTRATING CIRCUMSTANCES - Part I

The Gospel of Matthew (chapter 14) records a fascinating adventure story, one that begins with Jesus issuing a clear command to his disciples: ‘Go on ahead…to the other side.’  I really love reading, but I confess that I never peruse the final pages of a novel ahead of time since I love navigating through the excitement and tension of testing and triumph.  In this case, however, I will deviate from custom and reveal the conclusion of the disciples’ journey: “When they had crossed over…they landed at Gennesaret.” (Matthew 14:22-34) Their ultimate at Gennesaret was never about the conclusion of THEIR journey; it was all about the fulfillment of CHRIST’S command.  Bottom-line: Wherever God guides…He provides!

Here’s the thing.  In order to arrival at their final DESTIN-ATION, i.e. their place of divine destiny, the twelve disciples had to traverse through tremendous trouble.  It occurs to me that the corporate culture of today’s church is reflective of what we might term a microwave mentality.  That is, we seek (and require) instantaneous solutions to long-term problems.  We demand that GOD work out (in four minutes or less) situations which we have created over the course of four or more years.  But please hear this with your spirit.  Our faith-walk involves process.  It bears repetition: OUR FAITH-WALK INVOLVES PROCESS!  It’s not that our God is incapable of NOW-MIRACLES.  After all, “He is ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”  But the latter part of that scripture verse is key to understanding the ways and works of God.  After all is said and done, GOD operates in the earth “according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

This scripture could be interpreted in a couple ways.  It could mean that God works through the Holy Ghost power that is resident within us.  II Corinthians 4:7 says “we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”  It could also mean that God is fully capable, albeit fundamentally limited (by the practical application of OUR FAITH) in His capacity to reveal and fulfill His Word.  Consider this.  Even after Jesus had publicly presented his profound Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew chapter 13), he was rejected by those he knew during his formative years.  “In his own country,” he went into the synagogue and taught.  Those who knew him longest were “offended” because someone they saw ONLY as a fellow resident of Nazareth (a homeboy if you will), had the audacity to try to teach them something.  The result?  “He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:54-58)  In truth, the omnipotent God is rendered powerless in our life-situations when we allow doubt and fear to dominate us and cause us to place God in a limiting box!

Listen carefully.  Whenever Jesus commands His disciples to ‘GO’ anywhere, there is a 100% probability that turbulent weather will show up somewhere during the journey.  In your own walk, whenever you move in the direction of the eternal, i.e. whenever you finally make up your mind to settle on God’s will and way, you can count on the manifestation of trouble.  An unfortunate myth is frequently perpetrated on new believers.  It suggests that decisions for Christ will culminate in flowery beds of ease.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Here is the real deal, according to the Word of God:

Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that TRIBULATION works patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Dictionary.com defines “tribulation” as “grievous trouble; severe trial or testing; affliction; hardship; distress; adversity.” Nevertheless, pain, pressure and problems are always pregnant with purpose. Some years ago, God revealed something vitally important while I was throwing a private pity party disguised as prayer.  Heaven’s advice?  “Stop asking WHY!  Start asking HOW!”  In other words, we don’t need to know WHY we are in the middle of these conditions; all we really need is a REVELATION of HOW we are going to emerge on the other side!  Think about it.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!  Stay tuned…more to come!