Lauren Daigle: Trusting God in the Midst of Grief
Sunday, September 2, 2018
The Importance of Being Praiseful!
A Victory of Prayer, Praise, and Song: 2 Chronicles 20
By Dennis Edwards
Praise is such an important spiritual discipline. I wanted to read to you a chapter from the Bible which shows you the importance of using praise in your daily life. I’m reading from II Chronicles 20. It says,
“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.”[1]
The children of Moab, and the children of Ammon were descendants from Lot the nephew of Abraham. At the time of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Lot had fled from Sodom with his wife and two unwed daughters with the help of the angels. Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pilar of salt. Lot and his two daughters fled onward to a small town near the mountains and later escaped to a cave to hide from the great destruction. The destruction was so terrible, the daughters feared that they were the only ones left alive. In their distress they decided to get their father drunk and each took a turn to lay with him, to give them seed. The children of Moab and the children of Ammon are the descendants form the sexual relations Lot had with his two daughters.
Back to II Chronicles:
“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”[2]
So here we see that there were coming three armies against Judah and Jerusalem, it’s capitol. But the first thing king Jehoshaphat does when he hears about it, is that he proclaims a fast throughout Judah to pray and seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat gets serious with God. He seeks God and makes sure his people do the same.
“And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord."
We note that the people responded positively. Why was that? It was a result
of Jehoshaphat having set out both prophets and priests to teach the word of
the Lord to the people previously. The people’s hearts were ready to seek the
Lord because they had been partaking of the teaching of the word through God’s
prophets and teachers. In 2 Chronicles 17:9 we read,
“And they (the prophets and priests) taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.”
Jehoshaphat’s people were ready to seek the Lord because they had been
learning from God’s word.
“And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in Heaven? And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
“Art not thou our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of the land before thy people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
“And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
“If when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”[3]
At that time God’s Holy Spirit was present in the Temple in Jerusalem. From the time of Moses it had been present in the cloud that led Israel out of Egypt and in the cloud came upon the tabernacle and dwelt therein. Later the Holy Spirit of God’s presence filled the Holy of Holies in the Temple that Solomon built. In 2 Chronicle 6:34-35 we read a part of Solomon’s prayer at the time of
the anointing of the Temple.
“If thy people go out to war against their enemies by way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.”
Jehoshaphat is reminding both the people and the Lord of the prayer of Solomon. Jehoshaphat is claiming God’s word, God’s promises in his word. He’s helping the people to believe and stand on God’s word.
“Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
“And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.”[4]
We notice here that the whole family was involved in seeking the Lord, in getting desperate with God. It was not just left to the woman, or to the men, but even the “little ones” and the older children participated.
“Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mataniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;
“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
“Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
“And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
“And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.”[5]
The Kohathites and Korhites were those who worked with the Levites in the service of the Temple and were the singers, or choral or choir for the worship services.
“And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.
In the book of Psalms in the Old Testament we can find at least two songs of worshipped used during the Temple sacrifice and service which repeat the phrase, “His mercy endures forever.” One is the first four verses in Psalm 118. I’ll let you read them here.
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercies endures for ever. Let Israel now say, that His mercy endures for ever. Let the house of Aaron (the priests) now say, that His mercy endures for ever. Let them now that fear the Lord say, that His mercy endures for ever.”[7]
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods; for His mercy endures for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endures for ever. To Him that does great wonders: for His mercy endures for ever.”[8]
The rest of the psalm recites the act of Creation, the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, and the defeat of great Kings whose lands the children of Israel went on to possess. Both these psalms were used regularly in Temple worship and would have been readily available for the singers to sing. The last verse in Psalm 136 concludes with:
“O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endures for ever.”[9]
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it.”
Also, in Proverbs 11:14 we read about taking counsel when going to war.
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
“And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”[10]
And now God’s word explains what the “ambushments” were.
“For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.”[11]
So God sent a spirit of division between the different armies. First, the two armies who were more closely related, descendants from Lot, destroyed the army that was descendant from Ishmael and Esau. Mount Seir got destroyed first. Afterwards, the descendants of Lot, Moab and Ammon, fought amongst themselves and destroyed each other.
“And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
“And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
“Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
“And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord.
“So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.”[12]
So here we see the importance of using praise to win victories over our enemies. The children of Israel believed that God was with them and therefore they went out in praise. They sent the choir in front of the army to manifest their faith in what the Lord had said to them, that He would fight for them and they would not need to fight. They sang probably from Psalm 118 and Psalm 136 which repeats over and over, “Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.”[13]
What was the results? Were they defeated? No, they won the battle without even fighting.
Step two, you are going to believe His prophets, those of His servants who are bringing forth the fruit of God’s goodness in their lives. In this case in our Bible study, the prophets were telling the people, contrary to the seeming impossible circumstances which they faced, that God was with them and would fight for them, if the trusted and obeyed Him.
Because the people believed, they used the weapon of praise to defeat their enemy, and their biggest enemies were their own fears and doubts about the situation. They started singing and giving thanks which manifested their faith that God was going to do what He had promised He would do. They sent forth the singers in front of the army to demonstrate their confidence in God’s promises. One man’s faith and desperation, that of king Jehoshaphat, had transformed the whole nation to faith and obedience to God.
So what about you? Will you lift up your voice, no matter how discouraged you may be, no matter how sick you are, no matter how bad you feel the situation is? Have faith in God. He will not fail you. Get desperate in prayer. Call out to God with your family and loved ones. Seek the Lord while He may be found.
God’s word says, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.”[14] Humble yourself. Call out to God. Use the weapon of praise. Sing and lift up your voice in thanksgiving and praise. And God promises to lift you up and defeat those armies, those difficulties, those demons of discouragement that are battling you. God’s going to raise you up, just like that popular song says. He will lift you up out of that valley of the shadow of death that you have fallen into and you'll stand on His shoulders.
Footnotes:
[1] II Chronicles 20:1
[2] II Chronicles 20:2-3
[3] II Chronicles 20:4-9
[4] II Chronicles 20:10-13
[5] II Chronicles 20:14-19
[6] II Chronicles 20:20-21
[7] Psalm 118:1-4
[8] Psalm 136:1-4
[9] Psalm 136:26
[10] II Chronicles 20:22
[11] II Chronicles 20:23
[12] II Chronicles 20:24-30
[13] Psalm 136:26
[14] James 4:7
[15] Psalm 150:6
[16] https://www.amazon.com/30-Day-Praise-Challenge-Becky-Harling-ebook/dp/B00C62S52U
[17] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvCDEuANWdI&list=PLXIQnDCwKXFtbmbwcUb8V8R-uGms34ovY
Friday, August 24, 2018
Isaiah 58
Today’s meditation will be on Isaiah 58.
The Lord is speaking to the prophet and says to him,
“Cry aloud! Spare not! Lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.
“Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.”[1]
So here we see the Lord explaining that the people of God are delighting in making a show of seeking God. It’s a big show that they are putting on, but their hearts are really not in following Him. Like Jesus is quoted as saying,
“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”[2]
Back in Isaiah 58 we see the Lord expressing the response of the people.
“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?”[3]
But the Lord responds,
“Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?”[4]
I remember going to a big fancy church in the Bermudas where my son had died. At the end of the service the pastor reminded the parisheners that the following week they were going to be fasting and praying for the situation of the young people in the church. Of course, that’s always a noble goal to pray for our young people as they pass through the troubled waters of adolesence and young adulthood. The pastor was reminding everyone, these big over weight African Caribian women, of the next week’s fast. He was telling them, “We’re not going to eat, we’re just going to have juices because we’re going to really seek the Lord.” And the woman moaned.
But the Lord says here, that instead of our fasting, that only enhances our self-righteousness, so that at the end of the week we can feel so good with ourselves because we’ve done some fasting. That instead of that, there is a fast that He has chosen. There is something that He wants us to do. He explains,
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?” to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”[5]
In other words, the Lord is saying that we even should help our own family. Maybe someone in our family needs our help, but we don’t want to help them, because we have hardened our heart against them. They are our own family and we know their sins, and short-comings, and undeservingness. But the Lord says we need to loosen the bands that the wicked have placed on the poor and needy. We need to let the oppressed go free. We need to deal our bread to the hungry, and bring the poor that are cast out into better living conditions. And finally we shouldn’t turn our backs away from our own family. If we do these things the Lord tells us what’s going to happen? He says,
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.”[6]
Are you sick and need healing? Start helping other people. Start opening up the windows of your life on others. Do you want healing? Do you want God to hear your prayers? Then follow the advice the Lord gives in His response to the self-righteous religionists complaining at God for not answering their fasting and praying. If you follow the Lord’s advice and start helping others, He Himself is going to be your reward and your face in going to shine because the Lord is going to be with you. Then it won’t even matter if your healed or not because you’ll have found the true meaning of life, the Lord Himself. But besides knowing the Lord, He promises,
“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”[7]
So there we have a beautiful chapter from the book of Isaiah explaining how God will answer our prayers. God Himself gives the conditions we need to fulfill if we really want Him to answer our prayers. It’s not the fast of denying ourselves food and drink that the Lord wants, where we just feel so righteous about what we’ve done and therefore feel God has to answer our prayer because of our self-righteous fasting, something that we’ve done and therefore God deserves to answer.
Yes, there is something we can do to have our prayers answered, and that’s to open up our lives upon others and help others. That is where God promises to hear our prayers. When we get busy helping the oppressed, and feeding the poor and taking care of those in need, even those in our own family, then, that’s what God’s going to bless.
However, in the New Testament, Paul reminds us that we can even do those good things, like giving to help the poor and helping others, in the spirit of self-righteousness, and not in the spirit of love. If we do our good works of helping other self-righteously, Paul informs us that it is nothing. He says,
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.”[8]
That’s because God is love and if we don’t have love, we don’t have God. Like the Apostle John has written,
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”[9]
So, if you want healing, if you want answers to prayer, get busy helping others, because when you do, you are putting yourself in the position for God to answer your prayers. God will bless you as you help others. You take care of those that God brings across your path and He promises to take care of you. His presence will be with you and will satisfy you, greater than any thing this world could offer. Try His formular. You’ll get answers to prayer and find happiness and fulfillment of heart, mind and body.
Notes:
[1] Isaiah 58:1-2
[2] Matthew 15:7-9
[3] Isaiah 58:3a
[4] Isaiah 58:3b-5
[5] Isaiah 58:6-7
[6] Isaiah 58:8
[7] Isaiah 58:9-14
[8] 1 Corinthians 13:3
[9] 1 John 4:8
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
We Are More Than Conquerors
A compilation
Download Audio (10.7MB) Audio length: 11:46
Romans 8:37 says, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” To conquer is to be victorious over an adversary. To be “more than a conqueror” means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious. ...
There are many illustrations in the Old Testament of God bringing miraculous victory to His people, Israel. Humanly speaking, Israel was no match for their enemies. But God cautioned them not to be afraid, that He would fight their battles for them. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” The Lord told Jeremiah that He was bringing armies against the rebellious Israelites as punishment for their disobedience, but even then, “‘They ... will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.”1 In one instance, an entire army fled their own camp when God caused them to hear the sounds of a great army coming. The famine-racked Israelites were able to plunder the enemy camp and provide for their families through no act of their own.2 Not only were they saved from an approaching army, but they actually benefited from the threat. They were “more than conquerors.”
Satan is our adversary. He sends all kinds of life-defeating, joy-stealing attacks to threaten the well-being and faith of God’s children. Many of those attacks are listed in Romans 8:35–39: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, and sword. Paul is encouraging us to stand firm in our faith when those attacks come, reminding us that not only will we win in the end, but Jesus enables us to win now. Satan lacks the power to steal our eternal destiny, and he cannot separate us from the love of God right now. Nothing we face worries God in the least. If we are His children through faith in His Son, then we have His pledge of love and protection. In John 10:27–29, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
To be more than conquerors means we face the trials of life with the certainty that we are not alone. We have a mighty Father who fights for us. We approach the darkest valleys with confidence, knowing that nothing can happen to us that is not permitted by our loving Father for our good.3 We have His promise of eternal life4 and the presence of Almighty God every moment of every day until we see Him face to face.5 No sin of ours and no attempt of the enemy can steal the loving care of God from our lives, and that makes us more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.—From GotQuestions.org
Count it all joy
Battles make you stronger. Hardships teach you resolve and perseverance. Crushings squeeze out the bad and bring forth the good. Fires of testing burn out the dross and purify you. Loneliness draws you closer to Me. Inadequacy helps you realize how much you need Me. Sorrow gives you compassion. Difficulties cause you to praise and thank Me for the good times. The rains of adversity help to clear your vision as you keep your eyes on Me.
So “count it all joy” when you face trials and temptations, knowing that in all these things you will be more than conquerors in Me.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
Overcoming obstacles
While your circumstances may not change—at least not immediately—God can help you rise above circumstances. If the obstacles won’t move out of your way, He’ll help you go over or under or around them. He may not take away all your troubles, but He will bring you through them.
The Christian’s life doesn’t get easier; it gets better. How wonderful that life can be once you have learned to use God’s power and grace to help you overcome the obstacles! Stumbling blocks become stepping stones. Wings are fashioned out of weights. You can gracefully rise above the daily problems, afflictions, and hardships of life.—Shannon Shayler6
What God hath promised
God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways,
All our lives thru’.
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
God hath not promised
That we shall not know
Toil and temptation,
Trouble and woe;
He hath not told us
We shall not bear
Many a burden,
Many a care.
God hath not promised
Smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel,
Needing no guide;
Never a mountain,
Rocky and steep,
Never a river
Turbid and deep.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love.
 |
| Annie Johnson Flint |
Strength for the battle
The great American civil rights leader Martin Luther King was a person with tremendous courage. He endured vilification, beatings, imprisonments, death threats. His house was firebombed, and as we all know, he eventually was assassinated.
So what kept him going? It was his strong sense of God’s call upon his life. King was just 26 years old when he was appointed leader of the civil rights campaign in Montgomery, Alabama. Apart from terrifying threats from the Ku Klux Klan, King was harassed by police. Arrested for driving 5 miles per hour over the speed limit, he was given his first stint in jail. The night after his release he was at home when the phone rang. A menacing voice on the other end said, “We are tired of you and your mess now. And if you aren’t out of this town in three days, we’re going to blow your brains out and blow up your house.”
King was unnerved and very afraid—for himself, for his wife and for his little children. Shortly after the phone call he sat at his kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. “And I sat at that table” he said, “thinking about that little girl and thinking about the fact that she could be taken away from me at any minute. And I started thinking about a dedicated, devoted and loyal wife, who was over there asleep... And I got to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore. I was weak...
The great American civil rights leader Martin Luther King was a person with tremendous courage. He endured vilification, beatings, imprisonments, death threats. His house was firebombed, and as we all know, he eventually was assassinated.
So what kept him going? It was his strong sense of God’s call upon his life. King was just 26 years old when he was appointed leader of the civil rights campaign in Montgomery, Alabama. Apart from terrifying threats from the Ku Klux Klan, King was harassed by police. Arrested for driving 5 miles per hour over the speed limit, he was given his first stint in jail. The night after his release he was at home when the phone rang. A menacing voice on the other end said, “We are tired of you and your mess now. And if you aren’t out of this town in three days, we’re going to blow your brains out and blow up your house.”
King was unnerved and very afraid—for himself, for his wife and for his little children. Shortly after the phone call he sat at his kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. “And I sat at that table” he said, “thinking about that little girl and thinking about the fact that she could be taken away from me at any minute. And I started thinking about a dedicated, devoted and loyal wife, who was over there asleep... And I got to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore. I was weak...
“And I discovered then that religion had to become real to me, and I had to know God for myself. And I bowed down over that cup of coffee. I will never forget it... I said, ‘Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I think the cause we represent is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now. I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage.’ ... And it seemed to me at that moment that I could hear an inner voice saying to me, ‘Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you, even until the end of the world.’ ... I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.”
Three nights later the menacing threat made in the phone call came true: a bomb exploded on the front verandah of the King home. Thankfully no one was hurt. But King was able to get through it: “My religious experience a few nights before had given me strength to face it.” Time and again throughout his ministry Martin Luther King returned to that experience to strengthen him as he faced terrible difficulties.—From storiesforpreaching.com7
Published on Anchor August 2018. Read by Jerry Paladino. https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/we-are-more-conquerors/ Music by Michael Dooley.
Notes:
1 Jeremiah 1:19 NIV.
2 2 Kings 7.
3 Psalm 23:4; Romans 8:28.
4 John 3:16; Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:11.
5 Psalm 139:7–12; Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20.
6 Obstacles Are for Overcoming (Aurora Production, 2010).
7 https://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/finishing-the-race.
Three nights later the menacing threat made in the phone call came true: a bomb exploded on the front verandah of the King home. Thankfully no one was hurt. But King was able to get through it: “My religious experience a few nights before had given me strength to face it.” Time and again throughout his ministry Martin Luther King returned to that experience to strengthen him as he faced terrible difficulties.—From storiesforpreaching.com7
Published on Anchor August 2018. Read by Jerry Paladino. https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/we-are-more-conquerors/ Music by Michael Dooley.
Notes:
1 Jeremiah 1:19 NIV.
2 2 Kings 7.
3 Psalm 23:4; Romans 8:28.
4 John 3:16; Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:11.
5 Psalm 139:7–12; Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20.
6 Obstacles Are for Overcoming (Aurora Production, 2010).
7 https://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/finishing-the-race.
Somos Mais que Vencedores
Romanos 8:37 diz, “Somos mais do que vencedores, por aquele que nos amou.” Vencer quer dizer que se é vitorioso em relação a um adversário. Ser “mais que vencedor” significa que não apenas conseguimos a vitória, mas que somo sobremaneira vitoriosos. ...
Há muitas ilustrações no Velho Testamento de dando vitórias milagrosas ao Seu povo, Israel. Em termos humanos, Israel não tinha como vencer seus inimigos. Mas Deus lhes advertiu para não terem medo, porque Ele lutaria Suas batalhas por eles. Êxodos 14:14 diz, “O Senhor pelejará por vós, e vós vos calareis.” O Senhor disse à Jeremias que Ele traria exércitos para lutarem contra os israelitas rebeldes como castigo pelas suas desobediências, mas que mesmo assim, “‘Eles ... não o vencerão, pois eu estou com você e o protegerei,’ diz o Senhor.”[1] Em uma ocasião, um exército inteiro fugiu de seu próprio acampamento quando Deus fez com que ouvissem o som de um grande exército se aproximando. Os israelitas famintos conseguiram de despojar o acampamento inimigo e prover para suas famÃlia sem terem feito nada.[2] Eles não só foram salvos do exército que se aproximava, mas na verdade se beneficiaram do seu inimigo. Foram “mais do que vencedores.”
Satanás é o nosso adversário. Ele envia todo tipo de coisas para destruir a vida, roubar a alegria e ameaçar o bem estar e a fé dos filhos de Deus. Muitos de seus ataques estão listados em Romanos8:35–39: problemas, dificuldades, perseguição, fome, nudez e a espada. Paulo nos encoraja a permanecermos firmes na nossa fé quando esses ataques nos sobrevierem, lembrando-nos de que nós não apenas venceremos no final, mas Jesus nos capacitará para vencermos agora. Satanás não tem poder para nos roubar de nosso destino eterno, e não pode nos separar do amor de Deus agora. Deus não Se preocupa em nada com o que enfrentamos. Se formos Seus filhos através da fé em Seu Filho, então temos o Seu voto de amor e proteção. Em João 10:27–29, Jesus disse, “As minhas ovelhas ouvem a minha voz, e eu conheço-as, e elas me seguem; E dou-lhes a vida eterna, e nunca hão de perecer, e ninguém as arrebatará da minha mão. Meu Pai, que mas deu, é maior do que todos; e ninguém pode arrebatá-las da mão de meu Pai.”
Ser mais do que vencedor significa enfrentar as provações da vida com a certeza de que não está só. Temos um Pai poderoso que luta por nós. Abordamos os vales mais escuros com confiança, sabendo que não nos advirá nada sem a permissão do nosso Pai amoroso, e será para o nosso bem.[3] Temos a Sua promessa de vida eterna[4] e a presença do Deus Todo Poderoso a cada momento de cada dia até O vermos face a face.[5] Nenhum dos nossos pecados nem tampouco nenhuma tentativa do inimigo poderá roubar o cuidado amoroso de Deus nas nossas vidas, e isso faz com que sejamos mais do que vencedores por Cristo que nos ama.—De GotQuestions.org
Considere motivo de alegria
As batalhas fortalecem. As tribulações ensinam determinação e perseverança. Os esmagamentos “espremem” as coisas ruins para fora e trazem as boas à tona. O fogo dos testes queima a escória e purifica a pessoa. A solidão o aproxima de Mim. Sentir-se inadequado o ajuda a perceber o quanto precisa de Mim. As ocasiões de tristeza lhe dão compaixão. As dificuldades o fazem Me louvar e agradecer pelos bons momentos. As chuvas de adversidade ajudam a clarear a sua visão ao manter os seus olhos em Mim.
Então, “considerem motivo de alegria” o fato de passaram por diversas provações e tentações, sabendo que em todas essas coisas vocês serão mais do que vencedores em Mim.—Jesus, falando em profecia
Superando obstáculos
Mesmo que as circunstâncias não mudem — pelo menos imediatamente — Deus pode ajudá-lo a se elevar acima das circunstâncias. Se os obstáculos não saÃrem do seu caminho, Ele o ajudará a passar por cima, por baixo ou pelo lado. Ele pode não livrá-lo de todos os problemas mas o ajudará a superá-los.
A vida de um cristão não fica mais fácil, fica melhor. A vida pode ser maravilhosa uma vez que tenhamos aprendido a usar o poder e a graça de Deus para nos ajudar a superar os obstáculos! As pedras em que tropeçamos transformam-se em degraus que nos levam para cima. Os pesos podem transformar-se em asas. Você pode graciosamente ascender a alturas superiores à s dos problemas diários, das aflições e dos sofrimentos da vida.—Shannon Shayler[6]
O Que Deus prometeu
Deus não prometeu
Toda nossa vida,
O céu sempre azul,
E veredas floridas;
Não prometeu
Sol sem chuva alguma,
Alegria sem mágoa,
Paz sem dor nenhuma.
Ele não prometeu
Que viverÃamos então
Sem labuta e tentação,
Problemas, inquietação;
Não nos disse
Que estarÃamos isentos
Dos fardos,
Dos desalentos.
Deus não prometeu
Caminhos fáceis de utopia,
Uma jornada tranquila
Que dispensasse um guia;
Que nunca haveria montanhas
Rochosas e escarpadas,
Nunca haveria corredeiras
Para serem atravessadas.
Mas Deus prometeu
Descanso da labuta,
Força para o dia,
Graça para a luta,
Luz para o caminho,
Ajuda sem igual,
Compaixão infalÃvel,
Amor imortal.
 |
| Annie Johnson Flint |
Forças para a batalha
O grande lÃder dos direitos civis americano, Martin Luther King, era uma pessoa com uma coragem tremenda. Ele foi vilificado, apanhou, foi preso, sofreu ameaças de morte. Sua casa foi bombardeada, e como todos sabemos, foi eventualmente assassinado.
Então, o que o mantinha seguindo em frente? O fato de ele sentir fortemente o chamado de Deus para a sua vida. King só tinha 26 anos de idade quando foi nomeado lÃder da campanha de direitos civis em Montgomery, Alabama. Fora as ameaças terrÃveis da Ku Klux Klan, King foi perseguido pela polÃcia. Preso por dirigir uns 7 km acima do limite de velocidade, ele foi preso. Na noite depois de ser solto, estava em casa quando o telefone tocou. Uma voz ameaçadora do outro lado disse: “Estamos cansados de você e seu tumulto. Se não sair da cidade em três dias, vamos estourar os seus miolos e a sua casa.”
King não ficou abalado ou temoroso—por ele, sua esposa e filhos pequenos. Pouco depois desse telefonema, sentou-se à mesa, na cozinha, tomando uma xÃcara de café. “E, sentado ali à mesa” diz, “pensei naquela menininha e no fato de que ela poderia me ser tirada a qualquer momento. E comecei a pensar na minha esposa dedicada, devota e leal, que estava dormindo... E chegou ao ponto em que não aguentava mais. Eu estava fraco...
“E descobri então que a religião tinha que ser algo real para mim, e que eu tinha que conhecer a Deus por mim mesmo. De modo que me curvei perante aquela xÃcara de café. Nunca me esquecerei... Eu disse, ‘Senhor, estou aqui tentando fazer o que é certo. Eu acho que estou certo. Acho que a causa que representamos é certa. Mas Senhor, confesso que estou fraco agora. Estou vacilante. Estou perdendo a coragem.’ ... E ouvi uma voz interior me dizendo, ‘Martin Luther, levante-se pela justiça. Levante-se pelo que é certo. Levante-se pela verdade. E eis que estarei com você, até os confins da terra.’ ... Eu ouvi a voz de Jesus me dizendo para continuar lutando. Ele prometeu nunca me abandonar, nunca me deixar só. Não, nunca estaria só. Não, nunca estaria só. Ele prometeu que eu nunca estaria só, nunca me deixaria só.”
Três noites depois a ameaça feita naquele telefonema se tornou realidade: explodiram uma bomba na varanda da frente da casa de King. Felizmente ninguém ficou ferido. Mas, através do ocorrido,, King chegou à seguinte conclusão: “Minha experiência religiosa poucas noites antes me havia dado forças para enfrentar a situação.” Várias vezes durante seu ministério, Martin Luther King recorria à quela experiência que o fortalecera para enfrentar dificuldades terrÃveis.—De storiesforpreaching.com[7]
Publicado no Âncora em agosto de 2018. https://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/somos-mais-que-vencedores/
[1] Jeremias 1:19 NVI.
[2] 2 Reis 7.
[3] Salmo 23:4; Romanos 8:28.
[4] João 3:16; Tito 1:2; 1 João 5:11.
[5] Salmo 139:7–12; Deuteronômio 31:8; Hebreus 13:5; Mateus 28:20.
[6] Superando Obstáculos (Produções Aurora, 2010).
[7] https://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/finishing-the-race.
