With the Angels

“‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself…and follow me…For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.’” Matthew 16:23-27

It was November, 2008 and I was spending the day with my younger sister, Beth. Her church had just had a fundraiser for her as she was battling cancer. The previous April, she had been given 3-6 months to live due to a rare and aggressive disease. I remember sitting on the floor with her writing thank you notes to those who contributed to the fundraiser. She had a wicked sense of humor and we laughed a lot that day. At one point she looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes and said, ‘Brenda, am I dying?’ My heart dropped into my stomach and all I could say was ‘Beth, don’t make me say those words.’ I didn’t want to think about the unthinkable. I became much like Peter in our passage this morning. I didn’t want to consider the possibility of her death but she needed to consider the truth of her reality. My sister battled for 4 more months until one Sunday morning Christ came in God's glory with the angels I am sure and ushered her home for her reward.

I remember after her death praying to God in tears…asking why she couldn’t have lived longer…why she had to leave her husband and 8 year old daughter. I felt Him explain that my prayers for an earthly healing only gave her in part what God was ready to give her in full. Her eternal gain was my temporary loss. I certainly did not have in mind the things of God for I was not ready to lose her…my grief… the things of man…denying myself…being joyful that she is experiencing the fullness of heaven surrounded by angels.

This is tough stuff but when we focus our mind and heart on the spiritual things of God we know that we all are born to die…that we are not citizens of this broken world but residents of a home to come. So with a heavy heart and the mind of man I still grieve…remember…consider, but then I lay it back down at the foot of the cross, thanking God for temporal dwellings, seasons that end and future reunions that will last an eternity.

‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’ Col 3:1-2.

Doorframes of Fear

“The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house…and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.’ ‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints…And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’ Acts 9:11-14.

Last year one of my children went through a very difficult time with a person in her life.  She was being constantly attacked, both verbally and emotionally.  She endured daily threats of her safety and fearful confrontations.  Like many of you who might face this situation, this mama bear wanted to take matters into my own hands.  I would go to God in prayer and tell Him all of the reasons I should take certain actions.  To make matters worse I had to face this person on a regular basis and did not want to extend a Christian hand.  This passage always makes we smile because it reminds me of my conversation with God during this time.  ‘Lord, this person has done this against my daughter.  Father, he doesn’t deserve my kindness and prayers.’  I would find myself in prayer reciting everything this person had done and might do.  Much like my own conversations with God, Ananias acted like he had information unknown to God.  But even after Ananias reminded God of all things, he was still instructed to go and face his fear and anguish.

It is easy to convince ourselves that God doesn’t have a handle on our life circumstances.  Surely He has forgotten some things when dealing with our situations.  We pray…we explain…we plea…we justify.  But friends, God has not forgotten the details of your life.  He remembers that your child has struggles… He is well aware that you are scared for your life…He has control over your future and your outcomes.  He knows the secret dreams of your heart and has the path to give you something even better.  We all face doors, some we walk through on our own and some through which life shoves us.  Either way, the walk before us has already been marked.  The door stands open to grab the hand of God and walk through the fear.  When the doorframe of fear seems opposing, let your faith do the walking to get on the other side.  God has not forgotten you…in fact…God is right there with you every step of the way.

‘…I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you…Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:5-9.

Our Very Least

“She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria!  He would cure him of his leprosy.’” 2 Kings 5:3.

Yesterday we considered the life and character of Naaman while today we will peek into the private quarters of his wife and their maid servant.  There is no doubt that Naaman’s wife battled continual concern and sadness for her husband’s condition.  There are fewer things that hurt my heart than watching my husband struggle over something.  My commentary stated that this disease had progressed over years.  I am sure that watching the deterioration of her husband’s condition was scary, heart breaking and required constant encouragement.  We can be confident that his wife turned to the young maid on many occasions in confidence, conversation and support.  What a blessing that young lady must have been when she offered a possibility for her husband’s healing.  The wife must have rushed to her husband immediately with new hope.  What was it about the humble servant girl that bolstered his wife’s confidence?  Was it the certainly of healing in the servant girl’s voice if only he would go?  Was there a spirit of peace and calm every time she walked into the room?  Was it the simple joy that she always possessed when dealing with her mistress?  Or was it just the pure desperation of his wife for a cure for her husband?

Whatever motivated the wife was directly connected with the humble service of the young maid.  We are all given a circle of influence.  God places people in our lives, and we are placed into the lives of others.  It is no accident with whom we come in contact, so we must be intentional in our words and steadfast in our faith.  We must look to others encouraging them in their faith, and comforting them in their challenges.  It cannot always be about our comfort and convenience.  There are people hurting out there…people who need to see a reflection of Christ on our face…people who need to borrow our faith for a moment.  My Bible Study states four important principles for being that little maid servant in the lives of others.  They are so essential I wish to share them with you:

-          Be confident – We have a great God, and there is nothing he can’t do.  Let’s live like we believe it!

-          Be credible – People always pay more attention to how we live than what we say.

-          Speak to people’s needs – If the people we desire to help are low on faith, lend them ours.

-          Do something small – Some of the most insignificant things we do have the greatest impact.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:40

Humble Rivers

“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram.  He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram.  He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:1.

We must understand that previously Naaman had led many battles resulting in great success.  He had experienced so much success that he was promoted up the ranks to the top of the army.  He enjoyed many years of financial success with great status among the people.  Over time, Naaman developed leprosy or something similar.  In an effort to gain healing at the urging of his wife’s maid, he traveled to the king of Israel.  There was a prophet of God in Israel who caught wind of his situation and sent for him.  He encouraged Naaman to go and wash himself in the Jordan River for complete healing.  This angered Naaman as he felt such great healing should come in the grand waters of Abana and Pharpar, not the humble waters of the Jordan.  ‘Like many of us, Naaman thought he could dictate the terms of his relationship with God. Like us, he was wrong.  When God didn't behave the way Naaman thought he should, Naaman acted: he rejected the Word of God toward him, took his marbles and headed home. Surely that would teach God not to trifle with someone as important as Naaman! Of course, God wasn't the one with leprosy...God gave Naaman his healing by grace -- and Naaman almost turned it down because the price was too low!’  Ivan Maddox, sermon. 

How similar we are when dealing with our own circumstances.  We live in the tension between successes and failures…advances and plateaus…comfort and pain.  There will be times when we are leading armies and other times when we are searching for a cure for our lives.  How can we avoid the mistakes of Naaman?  We must stay engaged and spiritually connected with the One who holds all of the answers.  We must recognize that deliverance comes from humble waters instead of expecting the grand flow in large proportions.  We must remember that God esteems the humble over the proud, using the small things of this world like little servant maids and small waters. 

When life transitions from calm to rocky…leading to following…delivering to needing deliverance let us drag ourselves to the banks of whatever river God calls us to.  May we be so connected with the Connection of heaven that we will recognize the cleansing and comforting hand of God.

When Jesus Runs Up Ahead

“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled…And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way…Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?'" John 14:1-9.

Jesus must have been exhausted showing His followers the trustworthiness of His heart.  They had walked with Him daily for 3 years, experienced over 100 miracles with Him and were comforted in scary situations by Him.  And yet, Jesus still has to encourage and comfort…remind and restate the obvious.  I do adore Thomas’ question and know that we can relate to his dilemma.  ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going so how do we know the way?’  I am sure this question resonates with many of us this morning.

Do you find yourselves in an uncertain season right now where you are asking God this same question?  Lord, I don’t know where we are going, so how can I keep on your path if I don’t know which direction to move?  How many times in our lives are we aware that the Lord has run up ahead and is preparing something for us?  We read the devotionals…we wear out our knees…we pray until our head is about to explode.  It seems that our resolution is as far as heaven is from earth.  We too, must be encouraged by God and comforted by His peace.  Just as Jesus reminded Philip, we must be reminded that God has been with us since He formed us.  Why would He give up on us now when He is bringing us into the place He has prepared for us? 

During these uncertain times, if we lose sight of Jesus we can at least focus on earlier times when we have been shown deliverance…mercy…resolution and blessings.  This is a remedy from the mouth of Jesus Himself:  ‘…at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.’ John 14:11. 

So this morning I will believe in my uncertain season because He has delivered my daughter from drugs…because He has carried my mother through her devastating journey of grief… because He healed my heart from losing my loved ones…because He has carried my niece without a mother for over 5 years.  Yes, I will believe in the miracles themselves as I wait on God’s purpose in steadfast peace and certainty.  Won’t we all join in this belief today and allow God to do the work on our behalf.

Carrying Our Mats

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.  ‘The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ John 5:8-11.

A while back I was invited to speak at our church’s Women’s Winter Warmer in front of a wonderful group of women.  The topic was comfort and I knew for this to be a blessing it had to come from God.  I originally thought I would speak on the comfort God gave me daily when navigating through five years of terminal illnesses in my family.  During the night leading up to that event, I felt God impress upon my heart to share the dangers of turning to the flesh for comfort.  Many of you are aware that when my daughter was knee deep in drugs I turned to secret spending as a means of running away.  After three years God forced the situation and I told my husband the reality of our financial standing…a mess to say the least.  Through God’s grace and my husband’s love and commitment to me, we didn’t just get through it but we triumphed over it. 

I knew God wanted me to share my journey with the group.  He wanted me to be transparent with the cracked and dirty mat for which I had gotten up and walked away from.  He wanted me to walk up on that stage with my mat under my arm and walk it out in testimony.  His desire was for me to declare that the man who made me well told me to carry my mat with me so others could relate.  I remember the evening before I spoke I was beginning to feel nervous about the number of ladies at the event.  Sweetly and faithfully God spoke into my spirit, ‘Bless just one and my will be done.’  That gave me the confidence and security that I needed to settle my spirit.  I tucked my mat under my arm, said a final prayer and walked up on stage.  After my speech, a woman in tears met me in the corner of the room with the same mat tucked under her arm.  Her story was my story but she had just recently rolled up her mat at the insistence of Jesus.  She will be fine…she will be free…she will be triumphant because the Lord has cured her.  She was the one God spoke to me about blessing through sharing my mat.

We all have had those ‘flesh things’ in our lives that have tempted us, molded us and defined us.  We are all in need of a Savior who not only cures us but saves us from ourselves.  No one has ever lived a perfect life but the man who seeks to save us…Jesus Christ.  It is through His cures that we can carry our mats declaring God as the reason for our freedom.  When we hide our mats from others we are only obeying the first part of God’s command.  We turn to Him, turn it over to Him but must be transparent in Him.  There is no comfort for others in hiding our mats.

Don’t just get through your mat journey, triumph over it by sharing your testimony.

Remembering Our Leaders

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.  He had James, the brother of John, put to death…he proceeded to seize Peter also…So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying for him” Acts 12:1-5.

When thinking about this passage this morning I am led to consider my own pastor and leadership of our church.  This scenario plays out in my mind and strikes the very core of my heart.  The message of God was emerging on a large scale during this time.  Many were coming to the faith and required the tenacious shepherding of a leader who walked with the ultimate Shepherd.  Peter led the church with spiritual authority and credibility.  His passion for bringing others into the faith was the motivation for everything he did.  ‘It’s important to understand that Peter was the leader of the early church.  He was their trusted pastor, the person whom everyone looked to for guidance – he was the one who slept, ate, and walked with Jesus.  To say the church was devastated is an understatement.’ Spirit Hunger, p. 86.

I am a member of an amazing church with leadership that has a mission of inviting all into a living relationship with Christ.  They work diligently and tirelessly to communicate this message, apply this message and plant this message deep in our hearts.  They make it look easy…they make it look perfect …they are putting spiritual oxygen in dead places.  I can’t imagine walking into church one Sunday with the news that our pastor has been arrested by a group of extremist who has already murdered another in our church.  I know that our church would relentlessly be on our knees, begging God for his rescue and deliverance.  Peter was a threat to the power of darkness and so is our pastor.

There is a power of darkness out there who at every turn seeks to destroy any Christian leader who poses a threat against evil.  As our church leaders emerge in God’s power and purpose, it is imperative that we are a praying Body for our pastors.  We must pray like they are in danger…we must include them in our prayers throughout the day as they face trials and temptations.  We must give them the benefit of our doubts, and look for ways that we may help them instead of demanding more of them.  We all have a responsibility to love our Christian leaders, keep them covered in prayer and work as tirelessly for them as they work for us.  Many preachers are on Satan’s radar to enslave them and bind them in spiritual chains.  Instead of wondering what else they can do for us, let us take the lead and find ways to further the message in our own churches by our own hands.  Let’s take some spiritual responsibility in our circles of influence and not assume it’s the churches duty alone.  As a church, let us pray for all of our leaders who God is using to invite all people to connect with His heart in this never changing commission.

'Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.' Hebrews 13:7