Through Affliction

 To afflict means to cause continued pain to the body or mind. By that definition, millions are living through affliction at this current moment. Tens of millions lost their jobs due to the pandemic shut down. Millions struggle with the continued affliction of mental illness and others with garden variety depression. In a world of social distancing, countless numbers feel the affliction of isolation and loneliness. Others grieve because they cannot see their loved ones in assisted living facilities. 

Where is God in all this? There are two main lines of thought on this. One line is to say God in an infinitely wise sovereign ruler. In this mindset, one believes God, at the very least, allows people to suffer. Adherents to this philosophy would quickly point out how God allowed Satan to afflict Job. 

The other line of thinking is that God is a manager. People make choices and afflictions occur. Tragedies just happen. People suffer.  God is left to manage the pain in a responsive mode. He is not so much in control. He manages problems for the sufferers in response to their afflictions. 

Most people would do anything to avoid affliction. Who wants to suffer? I certainly do not and I am betting you are right there with me. When I take an honest look at my life, I have suffered. My family has suffered. Not life and death sufferings. We have known affliction. When I look deeper, I can see how many times God worked through affliction. Don't take my word for it. 

I point to three people in history who suffered. They all were afflicted. God worked through their afflictions to produce something beautiful and useful for His purposes. 

John Bunyan

John Bunya was imprisoned centuries ago for preaching the Bible. He could have been released at anytime if we would promise not to preach the scriptures anymore, which he refused to do. This meant his family living in harsh poverty. What did Bunyan do with his prison years? He wrote the second best selling book of all time. The book is titled Pilgrim's Progress. Many have been helped by this book. 

Think of it. Bunyan behind bars writing on whatever he could get his hands on for paper and writing sentence after sentence knowing his family suffered. He wrote against the backdrop of wondering if they had enough food to eat. He wrote staring temptation in the face to relent from preaching the Bile to gain his freedom. His convictions remained firm and he kept writing. 

Through affliction God used Bunyan to write a book that has reached far more people than his preaching ministry ever could. Out of the suffering of Bunyan, God produced something beautiful and useful for others who suffered. 

William Cowper

Cowper suffered from the affliction of mental illness. He fought depression most of his adult life. More than once he tried to take his own life. Nothing delivered him. Not worship. Not sermons. Not private devotions. Not even the loving counsel from friends. He suffered from mental illness even to the end of his life. 

Through affliction Cowper wrote poetry and hymns. Though he wrote hundreds, I only want to discuss two of them. He wrote the hymn There is a Fountain. Let me include just a few of the words from that hymn written close to 300 years ago. 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. 

How could a man suffering from chronic depression write such a beautiful song that has helped millions over the centuries? God did it through him. Somehow God used the furnace of affliction to forge an iron clad faith that did not give up on God or His mercy. 

My favorite Cowper hymn is one only one music minister I served with ever sang it. Most are not even aware it is the hymnal. The message is both powerful and timeless. It is titled God Moves In A Mysterious Way. 

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform, He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. You fearful saints fresh courage take the clouds you so much dread, are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust Him for His grace, behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to ere and scan His work in vain, God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain. 

Each line is profound. Who hasn't struggled to understand a frowning providence or to judge His work in vain. Those words have helped me through many afflictions. God has used them to build courage to get through some dark nights and some low valleys. 

I believe Cowper could write such profound words because he wrestled with those issues in his own life. He wrote to himself to remind himself of God's goodness, faithfulness and omnipotent rule. 

David Brainerd

Many Christians have never heard the name David Brainerd. I would hope people at Spring Creek have because, I have written about him before and certainly talked about him at different times. 

Brainerd was a missionary with a huge problem. He suffered from tuberculosis. He worked alone. He lived alone. He suffered alone. Brainerd devoted Himself to God and the missionary work. Brainerd also kept a diary like so many saints from history. 

Tragically tuberculosis caused Brainerd to leave the mission field where he labored to win Native Americans to Christ. By the infinite wisdom and design of God, Brainerd lived out his last days in the home of Jonathan Edwards. He died at the age of 29. By most people's standards it would appear Brainerd's life had little impact. 

Edwards read Brainerd's diary and was deeply moved. He thought the diary could help others, so he published it. God has used that diary for nearly three centuries to call and inspire thousands of missionaries to the mission field. God worked through even the affliction of tuberculosis. 

I don't know what afflictions you are going through. I do know God can work through afflictions. He can use your pain and suffering to touch more people than you can fathom. He has done it before. How might He want to use your afflictions to help fellow sufferers get through the hard times and to hold onto their faith. 

I am thankful for Bunyan, Cowper and Brainerd. God used their suffering to help me through some very hard times. I hope that my afflictions might help some who suffer on their journey to make it home to Heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be. 

If It Doesn't Move You

 I admit it. I sometimes watch Hallmark movies. I recently watched one where one statement in the movie formed the foundation for this post. The movie centralized around two painters. One a novice and one who lost inspiration. While the second painter had all the technical skills, her paintings were not inspirational. That is when a friend told her, "If it doesn't move you it will not move others." As soon as I heard it I grabbed my journal and wrote that phrase down so I would not forget it. I wanted to write about it later. Here goes. 

That defines exactly why I've written so sporadically as of late. I have not been moved. To put it another way, I have not been inspired. I read scripture. I see truth, but nothing moved me to write. I read other books that are informative, but neither did they move me to write. Then it came from watching a Hallmark movie. I often sat down to write something and just stared at the blank screen. I searched deep in my mind for ideas. I knew I could jot down words on the screen, but I also knew they would be void of passion and inspiration. 

I write for several reasons. One, I write as a ministry. My only desire is to help people. To move them. Sometimes I hope to encourage. Others times, I write to move people to repent. Many times I write to comfort people. I don't write for money or acclaim. I write to be a voice of God to help people in all walks of life in all seasons of life. I also write for God to be glorified and to point people to Him. Finally, I write because I have to write. Messages burn in me that must be expressed. I have to put those thoughts into print. This is something God created me to do. It goes back as far as my third grade. The passion for writing has followed me to now. 

I have been waiting on God to move me so I could write something that moves someone else. I have to feel it deep in my soul with conviction. I have to believe the subject matter deeply. When God touches me, I am able to write prayerfully to touch others. 

When I write to the grieving, I can feel their warms tears cascading down their cheeks and taste the salt from them. I can feel the hole in my heart along with them and know that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach that will not go away for awhile. I feel their pain in wishing it were all a dream but reawakening to the pain of their loss. 

When I write to the lost, I feel their tug of war in the soul to swear allegiance to Jesus or Satan. I feel the mental wrestling as they try to decipher truth from deception. I recall my own struggles with those issues as a lost teenager. 

When I write to encourage those in need, I feel their desperation. I feel their hopelessness and anxiety. I also recall all the exuberance from my past when God came through in dramatic fashion for my family. 

I did that today. I recalled a time when we faced a need of two vehicles and God came through. let me tell you about it. We got rid of Brenda's 2003 suburban this morning. 17 years old with 321,000 miles. We donated it to a charity. It has not cranked in months. I stood watching the tow service load it next to Turner. Turner commented, "That car has been a part of my whole life. It is the first car I remember mom driving." Turner was born in 2003. He walked off, but I stood to watch that suburban leave our lives forever. I got lost in my thoughts back to the time we got it. Please allow me to tell you that story. 

When we first came to Paradise, we only owned one vehicle. We were coming out of the most difficult time we ever faced. We lived below the poverty line by government standards. We had to get on food stamps. My ministry could not support our family without God's help. My car broke down. It could not be repaired without a whole new engine. We sold it for $500.  We had Brenda's minivan. Just months into our new ministry, Brenda called me one night during vacation Bible School. She took the boys to Sonic for supper before VBS. She said when she tried to crank it, she heard crackling in the ceiling and the van died. Later, the mechanic said the entire wiring harness shorted out. A church member picked up Brenda and the boys and we drove a borrowed vehicle for a little time. We were told the minivan was not worth repairing what it would cost to replace the wiring. We had no working vehicle. 

When our house sold in Hudson, TX, we decided to use the money for not one, but two vehicles. We bought me a little truck and we found that suburban. Burgundy. It had 23,000 miles on it. We paid cash for my truck and financed the suburban. It took a few years to pay it off. We drove it all over. We used it for ministry. We took family vacations. We drove it to make moves in ministry and residence from West Texas and back again to Weatherford. Finally it died. One day we tried to start it and it would not crank. A mechanic had already told me we needed to start thinking about another vehicle. It sat lifeless in the driveway for close to six months before we decided to donate it to the charity. I felt sentimental about watching that vehicle being towed away. So many memories. Also the memories of how God provided and we bought two vehicles on the same day. 

For a long time we piled the miles on that suburban. For three months we even drove it back and forth to preaching assignments in South Texas when it had over 300,-000 miles on it. It did not let us down.  For three months we made the 14 hour round trip in that suburban. 

As the tow truck driver pulled away, I prayed, "God, you are able to replace it. Without any debt. I ask you to replace that vehicle for my wife." 

I know there are others who have broken down cars and need a miracle. They cannot afford to finance one. They feel stuck. Trapped. Hopeless. I have been there.  I know God is able to provide vehicles. I have seen it first hand more than once. God gave me a vehicle in college through some people at the church I served as youth minister. He did it again through a doctor I never met when I travelled full time. He did it a third time with some friends who gave us a truck with some high mileage on it. He did it a fourth time through a friend of my mother in law. God did it again a fifth time with a lady from a church we served with few members. That car is 18 years old and the vehicle Brenda drives today. If you can believe it God did it a sixth time wit the truck I drive. Two people blessed us with a total of $14,000 so I could purchase a vehicle after I gave my other truck away to a friend who totaled his car. 

God can do it.  He is able. He has done it for others. He did it for me half a dozen times. I trust He will do it again for both you and me. When He does, we must give Him glory. We brag on Him and testify publicly about what He did. I end this praying for you to receive a miracle car. 

I am moved by all this. I pray God use this to move your faith and believe God for the impossible. John 14:14. Matt 19:26. Nothing is impossible with Him.  

Big

 The old saying goes everything is bigger in Texas. We love big. Big ranches. Big muscles. Big houses. Big bank accounts. Big trucks. Big tales. Big symbolizes Texas in many ways. We are fascinated with big. 

What is bigger than God. He is not only big, but He is the biggest. Nothing supersedes Him. He is the biggest of all. His power is big. His intelligence is big. His presence looms big on a planet breaking down on every level. He is big enough to still be in control during the chaotic times. He is big enough to maintain control over the affairs of current world events. He is big. 

Because He is big, it stands to reasons that His followers should pray big prayers. Honestly, is there a big prayer that any of could pray to Him. They may look big to us. I assure you they are not big to Him. He is bigger. His power is bigger than the biggest prayer we could ask or even imagine. This is part of the point of Ephesians 3:20. He is able to answer big prayers. He is capable of doing more than we can ask or think. We should pray big. Why?

Because God is big, the biggest, we should prayers worthy of Him. Granted, not every prayer is going to be a big prayer. We should not shy away from praying big prayers. They bring God big glory and that is what God desires. He wants His people to constantly boast about how big and powerful He is. God is all about glorifying Himself. Some might think that is egocentric. Not in the least. Not only is God the biggest thing in the universe, he is also the best thing in the universe. None compare to Him. Since He is the biggest and best, God knows the He is most worthy of praise and He is the best thing for people. Therefore, He wants to be praised, exalted, and honored so others will come to know Him. 

One way this happens, is when God does big things in answer to prayer. When He moves a mountain, heals a disease, meets a need, saves the lost, showing Himself faithful. I Thess 5:24. God is glorified by delivering His children out of impossible odds. Exodus 14:1-31. He is glorified when He does what experts say cannot be done. Luke 5:1-11. Mark 5:25-34. 

God is big. The biggest in fact. Let us pray big prayers. When He answers, let us give Him big glory. 

Right now I am praying some big prayers. Praying for God to pay my house off so I am not enslaved to debt. I am praying for three vehicles for my family. We have a son who has never had one and two others are old and in disrepair, and we are looking for something more dependable. I made a vow to God I would never go in debt on a vehicle again. I am forced to pray big prayers. Prayers that will bring Him big glory. He has done it before. I trust He will do it again. 

I have seen God answer big prayers in the past. Many times over. He got big glory for them. I look forward to doing that again in writing and preaching. He is a big God. Bigger than anything I face. Bigger than anything you face. Pray big prayers and watch Him do big things. Then, give Him big glory in response. 

So Much I Don't Understand

There is probably no topic I have studied more, other than God and Jesus, than the subject of prayer. I became fascinated with this in college. I got turned onto some authors like Leonard Ravenhill and E.M. Bounds who opened up a whole other world of prayer than I knew existed. 

My library is filled with dozens of books on prayer. Some of those books I continue to read over and over again. I listen to sermons on prayer. I try to practice prayer personally. I am a continuous student in God's school of intercession. I still get frustrated because I do not know how to pray as effectively as I would like. 

That was over 30 years ago I first investigated prayer back in college. Since that time, I continued to study the scriptures about prayer. I rad voraciously people like Andrew Murray, Rees Howells, Jim Cymbala, and my favorite, George Mueller. Each showed me something new. God used them to point me to different dimensions of prayer. 

Now I have to say there is so much about prayer and how it moves God to work I still do not understand. One thing I know for certain when it comes to prayer, it is never a question of whether God is able to answer or not. Gen 18:14, Jer 32:17 and Matt 19:26 settle that. It is a matter of whether God is wiling to answer. Does it please Him to answer. Does He desire to grant us what we ask. This is further iterated in I Jn 5:14-15, which I quote often when preaching, teaching, or writing about prayer. 

Even knowing all of that, there is so much I do not understand. Many times I have been left scratching my head wondering what went wrong when I thought I knew the will of God on matters and I prayed Bible promises. The desired outcome did not come, sometimes after years and years of fervent prayer. Many prayers I've brought before God in petition have still not been answered other than the message to wait. 

I know the key is all bound up in what He wills.  Learning to pray His will is crucial. Of course that means discerning His will in the first place. Truth be told I have often not prayed in accordance with His will. I allowed my own personal desires to influence what I convinced myself was His will. Many times I have prayed amiss and been left with empty hands and a wounded faith. 

That is something I am working on doing better. I want to be much more deliberate about discerning His will when I pray. Of this I am convinced. God desires to glorify Himself through a praying church that bears much fruit. Jn 5:7-8. I fall way short. I still have much to learn. I am eager to learn it. 

It should be our aim to pray prayers that God wills to answer and that will glorify Him. Tonight, with God's help, I want to unpack a tremendous verse on prayer. You can tune in on the Spring Creek Baptist Church in Weatherford, TX facebook page. An easier way is to go to myspringcreek.org and click on the facebook link. We will start at 6:30 and do a deep dive into this mystery of prayer. I hope you are able to join us.