Beat The Rush – Fear God Now!
September 4th, 2007 | Michael Q. Pink
I left off last time saying I would address the fact that if adversity is a test to reveal our strengths and weaknesses, then how can we prepare for the test so we can pass it and not be numbered among the ones Scripture declares as being small in strength (Prov 24:10)?
Well, to answer that question, let me ask you something… What do you do when a storm of adversity comes? Do you pray? Fast? Search the Scriptures? Get Godly counsel? Get in fellowship with other believers? All these are good things, but when the storm hits, it’s not the time to start putting a roof on your house so to speak.
You need to prepare now. Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice.” Was He just saying that or is it true? Of course, it is true. So, how well do you know His voice? One way I have found to recognize His voice is to spend lots of time in the Word. Reading His thoughts helps me recognize how He speaks and the kinds of things He would or would not say. Develop your prayer life now. Feed on the Word now. You will need it when the storm comes.
Several years ago on a sunny day in Tucson, my wife and I were in the pool when a whirlwind came out of nowhere sucking a float up high into the air and out of sight. Sand blasted us so we quickly got under water till it passed. When I inquired of the Lord about it, He showed me a number of things. One of which was there is a day of adversity coming that will come unannounced and pin people down so to speak. We need to walk in the fear of the Lord now or be very afraid of Him later. I choose the first. How about you? From that understanding, I created a new screen saver for my computer which read, “Beat the rush… Fear God now.”
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September 4th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I believe everything you have said here is EXACTLY what one must do. I say this from my most current expereince these last nine months of my life. I’ve been tried, tested, and through it all, I have dove deeper into PRAYER and FASTING, searched the SCRIPTURES constantly. I am still experiencing this, I go CLOSER, & longer in duration in prayaer time, WORSHIP is also a BIGGY. I have spent 2 hours in WORSHIPPING THE LORD…A PEACE which is not explainable has come…The answer ….The LORD has told me “WAIT ON ME”… that is exacatrly what I am doing and will always do…Blessings sto you all & EXPECT MIRACLES TODAY..We have a LORD of MIRACLES & THE IMPOSSIBLE “becomes possible”..
September 4th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I know Michael knows what he is referring to regarding adversity. Likewise, James helps us gain deeper persepective when he tells us to consider various trials with joy. God allows us to be tested to get stronger and to mature.
We’ve been tested recently at work. Our staff was questioning business decisions, as well as issues regarding respect, character, and loyalty. What the enemy intended for division, God used to unite us and He received the glory. Why? Management chose not to defend their actions or mandate compliance. Instead everyone’s concerns were heard. Genuine interest, compassion, and grace was extended. With light being directed into all places, the truth was exposed and the team has grown closer - one may even say that the staff is been unified.
My advise is to disassociate yourself from the test or remove yourself from the anxiety of the trial. Jesus often got away from the crowds to hear the Father. Likewise, what is the Father trying to teach you in this trial. God wants to teach you something - so I consider that an honor and I would be joyful that the Creator of the Universe is taking the time to train me. The tests in life will take on a new perspective. The greatest preparation for the trial is learning how to hear God’s voice and having a plan when the test comes.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Amen, Michael,
Here is one story of one mans fight through adversity.
Henry Martyn’s Fight
We simply must learn this lesson. Let me illustrate before we turn to Romans 15:4. Henry Martyn was a young missionary to India and Arabia and Persia in the early 1800’s. He had left his fiancé Lydia Grenfell behind in England in 1806 and would never see her again—he died at 31.
On the boat he fought back self-pity and discouragement with the promises of God’s Word. He arrived in Calcutta in May and two months later had a devastating experience. One of the veteran missionaries preached a sermon directed against Henry Martyn and his doctrines. He called his teaching inconsistent, extravagant, and absurd. He accused him of seeking only to “gratify self-sufficiency, pride and uncharitableness.”
How could this lonely young man endure such a crushing experience, and not only endure but during the next six years have the perseverance to translate the New Testament into Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic?
We can hear the answer in his own journal:
In the multitude of my troubled thoughts I still saw that there is a strong consolation in the hope set before us. Let men do their worst, let me be torn to pieces, and my dear Lydia torn from me; or let me labour for fifty years amidst scorn, and never seeing one soul converted; still it shall not be worse for my soul in eternity, nor worse for it in time. Though the heathen rage and the English people imagine a vain thing, the Lord Jesus, who controls all events, is my friend, my master, my God, my all.
Henry Martyn fought the battle against discouragement and hopelessness with the truths of God’s Word: “Jesus is my friend, my master, my God, my all!” And that is the way we must fight every day, and never stop until the war is over and the Commander puts the wreath of victory on our heads.
Three Truths from Romans 15:4
To instruct us and encourage us in this battle, let’s look at Romans 15:4.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by the steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
It focuses on three truths from this verse.
1. All the Scriptures are for our instruction.
2. All the Scriptures are intended by God to give steadfastness and encouragement.
3. All the Scriptures have this goal: to sustain our hope.
Read and read God’s Word. I find the Psalms very comforting especially Psalm 42:5 & 6
September 7th, 2007 at 5:03 am
I LIKE IT- BEAT THE RUSH- FEAR GOD
God is Geat, thank you for the message if the world would be full of people like you righteousness will rule the world
may God help us to follow his footsteps.
thank you. i like 1John3:5 it tells the love Jesus asks us to have if we could have that love and love each other hopefully the world would change
God is great