Patiently Resting and Trusting

“Patiently Resting and Trusting”

Psalm 27:14; 59:9-10; 62:1-2; Isa. 40:31; John 11

                                                            

SUBJECT: GOD’S STRENGTH IN FRUSTRATIONS. 

THEME: You Can Overcome the Frustrations by the Wisdom and Strength of the Lord.  

RELEVANCE: Why is this important to us? We need to understand the source of our frustrations is Satan (these are spiritual battles) and trust the Lord to help us overcome these hindrances. God prescribes specific practices to escape the trap of impatience like patience, rest, and trust. 

INTRODUCTION: 

God wants us to actively participate in the work he desires to accomplish. Waiting strategically can cultivate good fruit in our lives such as patience, perseverance, and endurance. It also draws us closer to our Savior and points those who are watching us to the gospel.

MESSAGE:

FRUSTRATION COULD BE ROOTED IN IMPATIENT ATTITUDES

Psalm 27:14, Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

 A.  ARE YOU RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD?

B.  WAITING ON GOD BUILDS ADVANTAGES AND PATIENCE.

C.  WAITING ON GOD IS A CHOICE TO PATIENTLY REST IN HIS PLAN.

Again, the disadvantages of getting ahead of God are evident. Peter was notorious for trying to get ahead of God's plan, even to the slicing off of a man's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus, on the other hand, never showed up too early or too late. He always arrived right on time, in keeping with what the Father was doing. Learning to wait on God's timing is one of the hallmarks of the maturity. 

Psalm 59:9-10, Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. [10] The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm 62:1-2, To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. [2] He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

The Lord doesn't catapult us into greatness; He grows us into spiritual maturity.

He stretches us slowly so that we don't break.

He expands our vision slowly so that we can take in all of the details of what He desires to accomplish.

He causes us to grow slowly so that we stay balanced.

The unfolding of God's plan for your life is a lifelong process. Relax in His presence and allow Him to lead the journey and do His work in you. (Dr. C. Stanley)

D. WAITING ON GOD IS AN ACT OF TRUST AND FAITH.

Waiting on God is not passive idleness, but a positive, active posture of trust, hope, and faithful endurance. Waiting with confident expectations are never put to shame and ultimately receive divine strength, justice, and deliverance.

1. King David Patiently Waiting on God While Trusting Him (Psalm 40:1-3)

a.      David details an agonizing season of waiting, often associated with his flight from King Saul. He emphasizes that this is not wasted time but a period where God hears prayers and prepares a firm foundation.

b.     Psalm 40:1-2, I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

2. The Prophet Isaiah Waited on God’s Promise with Solid Confidence (Isaiah 40:31)

a.      Isaiah provides the ultimate promise for waiting on God, teaching that divine waiting exchanges our weariness for God’s supernatural strength.

b.     Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Perhaps waiting on God feels impractical because we perceive a different outcome than God does…we want something quite different from what God has in mind. Sometimes we are guilty of wanting things far too small when God is thinking much bigger, grander, and strategically. Further, our expectations may even be more focused on ourselves and not necessarily the broader plan of God.

This kind of thing happen repeatedly in the Bible, but it was especially punctuated in John 11 with the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. Often, we impose our limitations on God restricting Him to fit into our expectations, when God is not limited like that at all. Our need for Him and the opportunity to transcend normal is presented through life’s challenges, but few seldom realize the opportunities to trust Him and surpass the limitations of our experience. It is true death, the grave, and the stench of death are very real limitations we cannot overcome no matter how sincere we are. It is also true that we allow ourselves to ‘think’ within the confines of those limits and we don’t even consider possibilities beyond them…. We err when we impose those same limits onto God only expecting or even requiring Him to operate within our ‘level’ of comprehension. He is NOT obligated to function that way, and further He really knows what He is doing with each opportunity. He has a strategic plan!

It is precisely at this juncture we feel acutely the frustrations not realizing God is itching to introduce something mind-blowing and life changing! Jesus requires ‘faith’—believing Him to realize the greater realities! Sometimes we are so consumed with the past… ‘what we perceived should have been’, we haven’t even entertained future possibilities yet. We would have been happy with a ‘healing’, but God wants a ‘resurrection!’ We may envision the local impact of a ‘resurrection’ miracle but not yet perceive the farther-reaching impact of such a testimony for future disciples. We can influence a ‘healing’ with our prayers, but only God can work His divine plan for our future. The first instance courts our pride, but the second option illuminates the ‘grace’ of God!

“With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26), means God is unlimited…His power transcends all the limitations that we must respect. Child of God, we have reassurance…that no obstacle is too great for God and that He can intervene in seemingly impossible situations. God's infinite ability and authority is not bound by natural, human, or earthly boundaries. So, whatever God calls us to do, He will empower and equip us to accomplish it. Beloved, let us align ourselves with His holy character, divine purposes, and eternal plans, rather than merely granting our personal whim, notions, or plans. 

You and I must trust Him to do the impossible…He knows no such limitations. We must stop thinking too small…too selfishly; start living by ‘faith’ in God’s limitless power and strategic plan. We will experience far less frustration when we do.

CONCLUSION: 

The Lord will do whatever it takes to prod us toward His higher places. He'll make us restless with where we are if it is time for us to move on. He'll cause us to hunger and thirst for more of Him. He'll plant within us a desire for things we never dreamed of desiring in our relationship with Him.

Trust God with all of the circumstances, relationships, and schedules in your life. Rest in Him. He desires to be your strong and sure haven in all times of frustration. (Dr. C. Stanley)

Exodus 20:8-11, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

However, these difficult periods are meant to build endurance and draw us closer to God rather than just being empty time.

When the wait feels overwhelming, these perspectives and practices can help make the season a bit more manageable. When the future is unclear, focus on what you know to be true about God's character rather than what you don't know about your life. Instead of just being passive, you can channel this time into prayer, writing down what you are grateful for, and resting in the present.

Are you currently waiting for direction in a specific area of your life, or are you just looking for encouragement to help you get through today?

 

Laying Aside Malice

1 PETER 2:1-2

SUBJECT: GROWTH THROUGH PERSEVERANCE

THEME: because God is always in control and our hope is in Christ, we are admonished to never despair or backslide due to difficult and unfair circumstances. We should rather strive to grow spiritually and persevere in practical righteousness. We must lay aside wrong attitudes because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth.

INTRODUCTION: How should I conduct myself when life seems to fall apart?  What does God expect of us when things are unkind, unfair, and filled with unwanted pressures? 1 Peter 1:6-7, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Pursuing the will of God despite our pressures is God’s answer, but how do we do that?

1) There is a tendency to quite living for God resorting to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments. Anger, revenge, backbiting, and resentment are the usual forms in which we vent our frustrations towards people. Backsliding is what happens to our fellowship with the Lord. When we are NOT growing as Christians, we are actually straying away, weakening, and falling behind.  Harboring wrong attitudes can significantly hinder our spiritual progress. In such times we need to refocus ourselves and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations in the realm of our emotional life.

2)  Instead of becoming cold towards God in our trials, we must maintain a correct attitude and spirit toward Him and others. Sometimes it is very easy to put on a smile and go through the motions, but to be real in our spirit, attitude, and heart is a different matter. Trials can be real opportunities to grow spiritually but we will have to be especially attentive to the purpose of living for God during these hard times.

When you come to the point of quitting draw on God’s strength, you’ll build endurance in your life.

MESSAGE: 

STRIVE TO GROW IN THE LORD BY LAYING ASIDE HARMFUL ATTITUDES  1Pet. 2:1

There is a great temptation to take on non-Christian attitudes and to assume a hostile spirit when difficulties come our way.  Sometimes extreme adjustments, out of the ordinary pressures, and unfamiliar challenges can generate negative energies that will eventuate into hostility, irritability, and shortness of patience with others. In such times the child of God must resist the temptation to revert back to the old sin nature and actually take off the “Old Man.”

     A.  WE MUST LAY ASIDE ALL MALICE “Wherefore laying aside all malice,”    

          1. Remember What You Have in Christ. “Wherefore” reaches back to the last chapter to continue a thought and to further substantiate an ongoing argument. 

               i) Remember Your Great Salvation.

Peter has admonished these Believers to Remember Their Salvation (2-3), their Hope (vs 3) and Security (vs 5) in Christ, their Inheritance (vs 4) that is being kept for them and they are being kept for that inheritance.  

              ii) Remember Your Godly Separation.

Peter has challenged them to live Holy (vs 14-17) in their corrupt world and to govern themselves with great reverence for God. Peter now continues by encouraging them to lay aside some things. This is practical righteousness, therefore prepare for instruction when you see the word “wherefore” in Scripture.

APPLICATION: God has a bases for this exhortation; therefore, we are obligated to take heed to every bit of council God gives us. We are admonished to live for the Lord since we are saved, regardless of our conditions or circumstances.  If God said it, we should obey him.

         2. Take Off the Wrong Attitude of Malice. “Laying aside all Malice” The allusion is to take off clothing items.

              i) “Lay aside” means to ‘stripe off’, much like you would take off a dirty or sweaty shirt. It means that we should cleanse ourselves of anything that defiles. We must cast off these things entirely; we are not to practice them any longer.

Accordingly, the garments of “malice” must be stripped off forever!  Our Spiritual hygiene is substandard when our attitude is dirtied by malice, and we need to cleanse it away. What does malice mean? Col. 3:8, But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.    

            ii)    External Malice: (Actions) Wicked Actions of All Kinds and All Forms of Evil. It is a word that accompanies all vices of people. The Greek word for malice includes evil of all kinds. This is External Malice! See the notes at Rom 1:29. Compare Acts 8:22, where it is rendered wickedness, and 1 Cor 5:8; 14:20; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8.

Rom 1:29-30, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents

Titus 3:3, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

            iii) Internal Malice: (Attitude) Deep Seated Feelings Against a Person; Lasting Hatred; Intense and Long-Lasting Bitterness Against a Person.

QUOTE: The word "malice" we commonly apply now to a particular kind of evil, denoting extreme enmity of heart, ill-will, a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification, or from a spirit of revenge—Webster.  It means wishing that something bad will happen to a person. This is Internal Malice!

                 a) Malice Inflames the Person to Do Mischief to Others.

                 b) Malice Inflames the Heart to Design Mischief Toward Others.

                 c) Malice Inflames the Heart to Delight in the Mischief That Befalls Others.

APPLICATION: The Child of God must lay aside ALL Malice.  Every wicked deed is to be taken off like clothing and every wicked desire is to be cleansed away because it defiles the Believer. We are to be unclothed of External wickedness and cleansed of Internal Wickedness. Peel it off like you peel a banana, and we are to clean it out like greasy pot. Romans 13:12, The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

ILLUSTRATION: George Washington Carver was refused admission at a university because he was black. Years later, when someone asked him the name of the university, he replied, “Never mind.  That doesn’t matter now.”  He harbored no malice.

 CONCLUSION: How does God expect me to conduct myself in troubled times? We must lay aside wrong attitudes of the heart because they hinder our spiritual appetite and growth. Let Us Lay Aside Wrong Attitudes!

1. God expects us to take off some things. He expects us to grow spiritually even in hard and unfair situations. 1 Peter 2:1-2, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2. There is a tendency to quite living for God and resort to the world’s way of handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments. But we no longer allow anger, revenge, backbiting, and resentment to prompt us to vent our frustrations. We do not have to relinquish our fellowship with the Lord. We must not stray away falling behind harboring wrong attitudes that hinder our spiritual progress. In such times we can refocus and adjust our perspective to live more completely up to God’s expectations choosing the power of the Spirit and refusing to be controlled by our emotions!  

Run the Race with Patience

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

One way to guard against quitting a race is to familiarize ourselves with the race course. By doing so, we can prevent the kind of shock that leads to discouragement while simultaneously stimulating adequate preparation and determination to complete it. Such knowledge also helps us as runners to pace ourselves along the course to ensure we endure and finish well. This article is a continuation of a previous post entitled, “My Soul, It is Another Exodus!” In that article we explored the astounding tendency of youths and young adults to leave churches and the practice of Christianity in general. Among several solutions, we mentioned the need to familiarize our young people with the real nature of Christian living. This article seeks to disclose some of the challenging realities of Christianity in the Twenty-first Century while prescribing just one biblical answer. In order to continue and not quit our faith, we must understand the nature of our Christian race. This should motivate us to adequately prepare and determine to reach the finish line.   

Demanding Discipleship 

Before I explore our race course with you, I believe it would be helpful to remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to potential disciples. Three times in Luke 14:25-35, the Lord Jesus stipulates that discipleship is predicated upon complete and entire devotion to Him. He literally stated that without such commitment, a person could not be His disciple. No matter how enthusiastic, talented, well-trained, broadly experienced, or highly accredited they may be; without whole-life commitment to Jesus Christ, one “cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26, 27, 33). The truth is it costs greatly to be an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ. It may cost us family, friends, employment opportunities, a certain standard of living, and the respect of our peers. At times and through the course of life, we all will have opportunities to examine and reexamine our loyalty to Christ and resolve to finish the course He has set before us as His followers. I can personally testify to this unavoidable reality along with thousands of other runners (2 Tim. 3:12). While this article heavily emphasizes Believers' obligations and responsibilities, it in no way disregards the grace and power of God at work deep within each believer (Phil. 2:12, 13). Attempting to live up to God's high expectations in the wisdom and energy of our carnal and fallen nature is utter futility (Rom.7:14-25). Therefore, with the demands of discipleship in mind, “let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1).

Discarding Impediments 

As we run our specific Christian race, we must remove everything that would impede our progress. God specified that we “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1). Among these impediments are gross misconceptions about practicing our Christian faith and life as a member of a church. While we are quick to identify what offends us about church and Christianity, it would prove more prudent to recognize what is required of each Christian runner. Newell (1995, p. 400) in Hebrews: Verse by Verse said, “runners strip themselves of every weight possible, wearing the lightest clothing, the lightest shoes! Many a weight carrier who eventually get to Heaven, will be passed on the way by those who have laid weights aside.” “Weights” may be harmless in themselves and yet hinder spiritual progress says MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 2202). Accordingly, they further observed, a Christian’s weights could include a yearning for even more material belongings, unreasonable loyalty to family, an apparently unquenchable thirst for luxurious living, an unequivocal deference to conveniences, and a defiant unwillingness to listen to God’s call to a more transient or itinerant lifestyle for the sake of advancing the cause of Christ. Unfortunately, our society elevates materialistic values for all Americans, and not for humanitarian reasons, but for business and sales—the bottom line. There are even elements in our national government who view gross materialism as “rights;” therefore, they demand them for everyone at the expense of the tax payer. Our young people are hearing these messages through every media form known to humanity in this technologically driven age. As a result, some of the things they should “lay aside” because they hinder their spiritual progress, they are clinging to reasoning that “God does not care about this.” They capitulate to immediate gratification, most convenient methods, whatever affords any emotion exhilaration, and they prefer quick fixes without even thinking through their options. Few possess the discipline of a competitive runner anticipating a day in the winners’ circle. God cannot advance such runners in the Christian race; if it hinders our spiritual progress, then it is a weight to us. Evaluate yourself in the light of Bible-truth, be honest about your experience, ask the Spirit of grace for the courage to lay some things aside, and follow through on that decision with accountability.  

Furthermore, in the Olympics, triathlons, Ironman competitions, and Pan American races, there are no rules against wearing over coats, packing extra changes of clothing, snow boots, several pieces of luggage, and a backpack with a variety of energy bars and drinks, but such runners can never traverse these challenging race courses to the finish in this manner. As Hebrews 12:1 prescribes, we must “lay aside every weight.” Start by evaluating and off-loading those endeavors, activities, plans, aspirations, associations, and dreams that interfere with the completion of the course Christ has set before us. Again it is not whether these considerations are bad, wrong, or sinful in themselves; they are however, hindrances to completing the course. Take courage and make the tough decisions; be decisive in this all important matter. Christians desiring to continue with the greatest loyalty to Christ must run their race light with the fewest distractions or impediments. We need all of our faculties and energies concentrated on the race that is set before us in order to endure to the finish line.

Dealing with Doubts

Christians must also take off and cast away sin (Heb. 12:1) because it readily ensnares and trips us in our faith marathon. Certainly this could refer to any form of sin, but the emphasis in this context is faith; therefore, this sin must specifically be a form of unbelief. Our sinful nature works in us through “unbelief.” Unbelief, doubts, and skepticism aggravate and obstruct our race of faith (Heb. 11) resulting in our failure to persevere. It is near impossible to persist in an arduous enduring task with zero confidence our efforts are of any value. In contrast, we can succeed in the most difficult tasks if we believe it is worthwhile in the end. At times we all are sorely tempted to forsake the Living God in some degree or particular (Heb. 3:12). As the hymnist Robert Robinson transparently quipped, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love” expresses well what we all sense deep within the precincts of our own souls on occasions. But like him we too must present our heart of hearts to God, “Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” 
Beloved, we continue because we trust God’s wise prescriptions for life and eternity even when they contradict every other source of information available to us. It does not matter if the tempting lie that engenders Bible doubts is highly attested by the most distinguished scholars in that field; it remains unacceptable if it diminish God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. While scholars can be helpful, they tend to exalt their intellectual prowess above inspired truth from God. This is the nature of the Christian race of faith! Christians are called upon to believe God regardless; to follow Christ no longer toying around with the ideas of compromise, doubting His Word, quitting, or walking away from Christianity in frustration. We must have unwavering belief in the promises of God, total confidence that the race of faith is worth running, and certainty that living by faith (Heb. 11:6) is the way to please God (MacDonald & Farstad, 1995, p. 2202). This is an absolute imperative.

Discarding Misconceptions

Along with weights, and sins, we must lay aside misconceptions about Christianity. Believers must strenuously resist the misconception that the Christian marathon race-obstacle course is easily navigated. It is helpful to have a working grasp of the nature of the race Christ has set before us. Our race is not a quick sprint to the finish line. The idea that enduring to the finish line will be easy, nice, always cordial, uncomplicated, and free of failures, hurt, or opposition must evaporate in the sunlight of this often painful reality. Genuine Christian living is no plush experience—such notions are akin to fairy tales. This is the nature of the faith race; it is a marathon with multiple obstacle courses along the way! It demands faith-toughness and perseverance! Christ would have genuine believers make necessary adjustments, and prepare well to press on with resolute and unwavering commitment through whatever challenges we must face. If living the Christian life was easy, everyone would presume to do so. 

Yes, there are difficult elements in churches, and Christian people do let you down. There is no excuse for this, but God does prescribe what course of action should be taken to correct this. Yes, one may be hurt badly in a Christian context—in relationships among the brethren. God answers this situation repeatedly throughout the Bible. Yes, there are problems of shallowness, pettiness, hypocrisy, and gross failures among Christian leaders. Genuine Spirit-filled discipleship ministry is a desperate need on most levels of the average ministry. In addition, discipleship should be focused more on developing Christian skills like Bible study, walking in the Spirit's power, obedience, grace living, prayer, witnessing, 360 degree stewardship, and service. Unfortunately many churches focus on information, lessons, and creeds; some do not even have a viable character shaping and spiritual skills developing ministry at all. Yes, the entire emphasis is corrupted in some movements. While all this may be true and inexcusable, God never prescribed in the Bible quitting on Christ, Christianity, or a relatively good church. Not one Bible passage even slightly or remotely endorses such a notion. Certainly, the answer for some Believers may be transferring to a solid church home. If this is the course of action one must take, then look for a church that exalts Jesus Christ as Savior, proclaims the Bible as the final authority, nurtures authentic spiritual discipleship for the glory of God, and sends out missionaries to reach the entire human race with the Gospel of Christ. Spiritual revival and refocusing are viable options for Christian individuals and institution while quitting is not. Also keep this uppermost in mind, no church is even slightly perfect and no Christian has arrived. This statement is not intended as an excuse for lazy Christianity; however, it is incumbent upon each of us not to expect either!

Though sinful problems among churches and Christian leaders have exacerbated the frustrations of young people, the New Testament documents and address these evils among First Century churches (1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians). God sternly warns, admonishes, challenges, and counsels churches to make the necessary corrections throughout the New Testament epistles. These ugly challenges can be corrected and worked through; they are not legitimate reasons for abandoning Christianity. Just as believers were historically exhorted to continue in Christian fellowship in spite of difficulties, we must be faithful today (Rev. 2 & 3). Christians in the Western world seem to give up far too easily and for the pettiest reasons imaginable. Beloved, God cannot possibly be pleased with this trend. Walking away from commitment to Christ and the Christian Faith entirely is a thorny path of terrible consequences. It is far better to search out a better church home; one that is alive with the truth and Spirit of grace. Quitting is not a legitimate option. Additionally, let us not fool ourselves. Those who quit good churches anticipating continuing for the Lord Jesus on their own will likely become great spiritual tragedies in the end. Christ gave Christians the institution of the New Testament Church for crucial reasons and not as a bonus.

Defying the Odds

 Finally, about 30% of the youth in American Protestant churches defy the trend and continue to attend church (Grossman, 2007). Grossman (2007) also reported that sixty-five percent of these young folks view church attendance as “vital” to their “relationship with God” and fifty-eight percent felt their church helps them with daily decisions. Fifty percent believes involvement with church helps them, “become a better person” (Grossman, 2007). It is important to also recognize this trend among youths and young adults in America. If these young people are continuing to be true to Christ and the Christian Faith in some measure, then others can do so as well. They are solid evidence that young people can be deeply committed to Jesus Christ today! With good churches and solid Christian leaders running the Christian race, more young people can be retained instead of lost. This is especially my desire for Independent Baptist Churches. Since we all are running a strenuous race while hurdling violent obstacles, we will need fresh energy, power, and strength to continue for a lifetime. Revival is the greatest need among Christians today. We desperately need a Heaven-sent, white-hot Spirit-filled, Christ-exalting, Bible-based, soul-cleansing, and cross-saturated revival in the United States of America. This is the hope of our youths and the future of Christianity in our country. Trust God to do a cleansing, renewing, and reviving work beginning with me and you.

Once again the developments surrounding young people and youths forsaking churches, Christ, and Christianity can be impeded, stopped, and even reversed. Nothing at all is too hard for God! We must trust Him with the smallest and greatest issues for His glory and our national welfare. I hope for a day when the trend is reversed and our churches are filling up with young people. I long for the day when our youth will be more like Daniel and Samuel, the both of which served God their entire lives and glorified Him in all their ways. American youths and young adults must come to grips with the reality that the Christian race is a marathon riddled with multi-layered complex obstacle courses along the way! There will be many opportunities to stubble, fall, and even refuse to get back up to continue the race. I say unto you in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the Most High God: Do not give up! Get back up and continue your race! Rise above the mediocrity of others, the apathy of some leaders, the distractions of too many, and the liturgy of the rest. Reach for higher plains in the Lord God Almighty and go beyond what anyone every anticipated for you in Christ. Break the cycle of quitters in your generation and determine to be a finisher! You can do this in Christ Jesus your Lord. You can indeed do anything He calls upon you to do if you trust Him for power and do it for His glory (Phil. 4:13).

What is needful in America may be needful in other places on the planet as well. The answer in all instances is Jesus Christ and revival by The Spirit of Grace. Churches can avoid these same developments if they communicate the challenging nature of the life of faith (Heb. 11), and help young people remain focused on Christ, the Author and Finisher (Heb. 12:2). By running our race, we help our youth remain focused on Him and in the race until they complete theirs to the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is the Ultimate High Priest!

Dear Believer in Christ Jesus,

Are you still having a hard time living up to God’s expectations? Maybe you have wandered away recently…. Feeling overwhelmed with guilt? Yes, sin is some pretty nasty stuff.... I have a suggestion though. Many Believers have discovered how High Priest Jesus Christ is able to provide aid as well as ‘first aid’ for Christian living. Turn to Christ; I am certain you have been on His mind.
God said, “Seeing then that we have a GREAT High Priest....” This is a referral to and description of the Lord Jesus in light of His Person, position, purpose, and propositions (Heb. 4:14-5:10). God has obviously set forth Jesus Christ—Our Great High Priest—as the key communication of vital spiritual aid for Christian living in desperate times.  Accordingly, Hebrews 4:14, 15 affirm that Jesus is able to sympathize with us in our frailties and weaknesses and it is crucial for us to realize this deeply within. We cannot live like Christians without Him and His important ministry to us. Therefore, He resides in the very presence of Almighty God representing us and interceding for each of us as we journey on. Through Him God fully accepts us; however, we remain quite flawed and imperfect in our adherence to God’s will. His service as High Priest bridges the great chasm between our being declared righteous and our actually living righteously. Jesus’ role as High Priest is fundamentally vital for me and you as we navigate through this world! How then should we respond to this extraordinary divine provision?

First, accept the Lord Jesus as your “great High Priest” (Heb. 4:14) and rely on Him to provide grace, understanding, empathy, mercy, and assistance as you require these for your spiritual journey. Unfortunately, people, even well-meaning Christian people, will let you down or disappoint you at times. If all the truth is told, so will you. In the interest of complete transparency, we have let ourselves down far more than another person could possibly do so. In contrast, our ultimate high priest never will fail us by any margin; in fact, He cannot fail us when we genuinely trust His promises. Our Lord is conspicuously postured to wisely dispense to His people in real-time whatever spiritual resources (Eph. 1:3, 4) we need to live up to His expectations in our respective ventures. Wherever His incredible will guide us, He obligates Himself to provide accordingly. Therefore, turn to Christ when you sense you are failing while resisting evil, when your conscience repeatedly thunders with soul-quaking guilt, when your mounting shame compels you to retreat and hide forever. Even when we resort to hiding behind a smile, friends, activities that salve our conscience, denominational titles, church positions, new outfits, cars, or a new address; there is no hiding from the God who knows all and still loves us. Still the shame in our soul has a way of finding, haunting, and pushing us to the very edge of insanity if we fail to acknowledge our ultimate high priest. It is past time to throw off our ‘fig leaves’ kneeling transparently before a holy God with honesty in our hearts and on our lips.  No excuses please--we cannot hoodwink God (Gen. 3). As God made provision for a fallen and guilt-ridden Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21), He has already made provision for me and you.

Secondly, look, therefore, to High Priest Jesus when you feel too small, weak,  inadequate, inexperienced, untalented, insignificant or far beyond your comfort zone. Run to Christ even as the very last fibers of your strength are taring away; it is not too late for Jesus to make a difference. Return to Him if you have been wallowing and wandering around in the darkness away from the Father's house for an embarrassingly long time. Believe this unmistakable biblical truth: it is the astronomical credentials of Christ, your ultimate priest, that affords you access to a holy God. Never your own! God will strengthen you to continue and overcome the temptation to quit or sin. In addition, He will restore you to fellowship with Himself based on who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He is doing (1 John 1:1-2:2). Yes, you must live for a season with the consequences of your choices, but God can supply grace to help you with this as you rely on Him. Neither the journey onward, nor the journey back to genuine discipleship will be easy. Yet, they are still worth the struggle, energy, time, and pains. Besides this sin destroys everything it gets its clutches into. Most importantly, God is extremely worthy of the glory for orchestrating your triumph through Christ. Because of the countless failures behind us, and for the numerous challenges before us there is real spiritual help available in Jesus Christ. Never ever, ever, forget, “we have a GREAT High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (Hebrews 4:14–5:10).

Following the Cloud

Christians in the USA are experiencing more social discomfort in recent years. This is because our faith has been maliciously stigmatized, and our country’s plummeting and shifting values are spawning a hostile environment. The emergence of unjustified castigation of Christian beliefs and principles saturate the media. The rise of antagonistic Secularism is beginning to impose a palpable threat to religious freedom in our republic. Many American higher education institutions and professors have viciously attacked the Bible and fundamental Christian teachings. Some actually endeavor to destroy the faith of their unsuspecting students (Zacharias, 2009). For years the ACLU has sought to remove Christian symbols, values, statements, messages, and images from any public entity associated with federal or state governments (Sears, et al. 2005). The misguided sanctioning of violently aberrant behaviors through legislation that flagrantly disrespects God’s moral laws has created a hostile climate of intolerance towards any Christian rebuttals. Pinpointed denials of religious and political freedoms to Christians in order to promote pluralism are an existing problem. An intensifying antagonism towards our faith fearfully looms on the cultural horizons. Together these developments cast an ominous shadow upon future generations of American Christians. The way has been paved to force the compromise of our faith and values into oblivion; if we refuse to conform, we will face serious consequences. Is caving in and capitulating to a diluted brand of Christianity our only option? 

Thankfully, a helpful parallel to Hebrew believers of the first century (Hebrews 12) who experienced various forms of social and official persecutions can be juxtaposed with instructive benefit. MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 2202) connected these Jewish Christians’ opposition to the fact that they “had forsaken Judaism for Christ.” As a result, they were facing bitter religious and social hostility. There was a danger that their distresses might be misconstrued as indications of God’s displeasure with their decision. Furthermore, they could become disheartened—more vulnerable to temptations—and cave in under the withering societal pressures. To seize a modicum of relief, they may return to the O.T. Law, the temple, and the obsolete sacrificial system (MacDonald & Farstad, 1995). In effect, they were being forced to forsake Christ, or face the grave consequences of loyalty to him.

Without question, continuing with Christ is the emphasis of Hebrews twelve, and the mandate to ‘press on’ is presented in the metaphor of a marathon race. In order to run this race to the finish, one must focus on the goal and determine to endure until it is reached. As our fundamental strategy, we must persist through this hostile climate with single-minded concentration on Christ coupled with untiring endurance (Heb. 12:1-4). But what motivates Christians to continue while facing formidable oppositions? First it is by considering the examples and limitations of those who lived by faith to navigate hostile seas (11:1-12:1). Secondly, it is imperative that we imitate Christ who effectively traversed these specific challenges to finish his arduous course (12:2-3). Thirdly, we can successfully complete our race by assessing our struggles with clarity and accuracy—freeing our hearts of any emotional inflation that tends to obscure reality (12:4). Categorically, careful consideration must be given to running our race well while facing the rising discrimination against Christian conventions and institutions in America.  

Consider the Examples and Limitations of the Great Cloud of Witnesses

These “witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) are messengers and examples to modern Christians who are struggling to complete their courses. They bear testimony to the faithfulness of God and the effectiveness of living by faith (Heb. 11). Their examples motivate and inspire us to remain committed to Christ (Guthrie, 1998) through all challenges and phases of life. We demonstrate wisdom when we learn from them and continue our marathon race with the strongest resolve to follow Christ.

This “great cloud” of Old Testament “witnesses” wonderfully and adequately demonstrates the life of faith according to Hebrews chapter eleven (Heb. 12:1). They also illustrate the importance of obedience to God in spite of the circumstances or consequences. Their exploits are inspirational and their experiences provoke succeeding generations to believe God and act on His truth. Modern Christians should also remember how many of these Old Testament “witnesses” suffered greatly as they followed God’s prescribed path (11:36-39). Suffering for righteousness sake is a part of the faithful’s journey according to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 5:10-12). This realization punctuates the truth that current Christian distresses are not unique, and like the “witnesses” we must be loyal to the Lord until our journeys’ end. As American Christians environed by growing hostilities to free expressions of faith, we must decidedly persevere through these demanding challenges. The “great cloud of witnesses” does not illustrate quitting, but continuation by faith in God and His Word.

Historically, unflinching perseverance was demanded of those who traversed the faith journey. In spite of the fact that O.T. worthies enjoyed significantly inferior privileges and greater oppositions, they continued! How then can we Christians who have access to God (Heb. 4:16; 10:19-22), the greatest Prophet (1:1, 2), the great High Priest (3:1;4:14), a new and living way (10:20), a better tabernacle (9:11), a perfect Sacrifice (9:12; 10:12), a new testament (9:15), an eternal inheritance (9:15), and a complete faith (12:2) cave in to social and religious oppositions? Can we justify cowering away from a bold confession of the Lord Jesus Christ in a declining culture? Obviously, we must not. In spite of their gross limitations and rather obscure insights, the “great cloud of witnesses” is accredited by God as having “obtained a good report through faith” (Heb. 11:2, 39). Though they have not realized all that God promised, they still governed their lives according to those anticipated spiritual realities (11:13). Indeed, the “better things,” Christianity, are a present reality—they belong to us now (Heb. 11:40). It is forcefully incumbent upon us to recognize that our superior privileges demand greater responsibility! Yes, consider the biblical examples and limitations of past believers who lived by faith to circumnavigate unfriendly seas. There we will discover a potent stimulant for continuing loyalty to Christ amidst a culture plagued by a growing resentment for Him and His followers. Never-the-less, follow the cloud.