Who Knew? The People God Puts in Your Life (Part Three)

The Dependent.  “Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, ‘Mephibosheth?’ And he answered, ‘Here is your servant!’” 2 Samuel 9:6. David owed nothing to the house of Saul, especially considering Saul’s treatment.  But God put a desire in David’s heart to do something good for the disabled Mephibosheth, one of Saul’s sons, out of a sense of gratitude.

Never harden your heart against people in need.  God places them in your life to test your spirit.  Not everyone should get a handout, but some people give us the opportunity to let God’s grace and generosity flow through us.  Hebrews 13:16.  

The Temptress.  “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” 2 Samuel 11:2. Bathsheba was forbidden fruit for David.  He had no right to her.  She did not necessarily do anything wrong, but David indulged himself in lustful thinking which led to sin. 

There will always be a seductress (or seducer) strategically placed somewhere in your life.  You may complain against the unfairness of the situation, you may blame the person by whom the temptation comes, but you are responsible for your own reaction.  We know what David did, but we can only piece together the plan of action that he should have taken.  (1) You are responsible for your eyes.  Psalm 101:2-4. (2) You must take responsibility for your thoughts.  Proverbs 23:7. (3) You must initiate your own cleansing. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

The Victim of Your Sin. “Then David sent to Joab, saying, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite.’ And Joab sent Uriah to David.” 2 Samuel 11:6. David sent Uriah to the frontlines of battle where he would surely be killed.  Thus, he covered up his sin with the added sin of murder.  As time passed, David suffered from the knowledge that his own actions destroyed an innocent man.  (I Kings 15:5).  He wrote Psalm 51 as a response to his sin.

You may have hurt someone in your lifetime by word or deed.  Whether or not the person is still living, you know in your own heart what you did.  If you can, seek out forgiveness and make it right.  If not, ask God to forgive you.  While the sin and guilt will be washed away, never forget the propensity in your own life to do wrong.  This does two things: (1) It keeps you humble and contrite.  (2) It helps you to deal with other sinners more mercifully. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”  Galatians. 6:1.

Your Great Embarrassment. “After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.” 2 Samuel 13:1. This is an instance where we find the Bible to be a forthright and objective book.  It did not conceal the mortifying fact that David’s own son, Amnon, committed incest with his sister. 

Someone will always exist in your life to develop grace and restraint.  Be very careful how you disparage others or hold others responsible for their own misfortune.  You may have a far greater embarrassment emerge from your life, family or background.  For perspective, read the parable of the debtor in Matthew 18:23-35.  Many critical and judgmental people engage in destructive diatribes against others because they despise themselves, they seek to exonerate themselves for their own shortcomings, or they want to divert attention from themselves. 

Who Knew? The People God Puts in Your Life (Part Two)

The True Friend.  “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1.  God provided a friend for David in Jonathan who truly loved him and understood his struggles and triumphs.  David could bare his soul to Jonathan and not fear being misunderstood or used. 

All of us need a true friend, but too many people today don’t know how to be one. 

• Faithfulness.  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
• Loyal.  “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, Proverbs 18:24
• Right motive.  “He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
• Honest.  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6
• Encouraging.   “The sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” Proverbs 27:9.
• Remembering.  “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend.” Proverbs 27:10
• Forthright.  “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 

The Threatened Leader. “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 18:8-9.  Saul, at one time, favored David, and David served Saul, the king.  When Saul felt that David was destined for his throne, however, he changed his attitude to one of hatred and murder. 

What do you do when someone you’ve honored and loved turns on you and tries to hurt you or cut you off?  David gives us the right response.  (1) Stay out of their way as much as possible.  Avoid conflict.  (2) Do not strike back.  Retaliation against an authority figure never appears right to others.  2 Chronicles 16:22. (3) Leave it to God to make it right.  Deuteronomy 32:35. 

The Tale-Bearer.  “So, David said to Abiathar, ‘I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house.’” 1 Samuel 22:22.  Doeg was an opportunist who sought to ingratiate himself with Saul by turning a good deed by the priest, Ahimelech, into a deadly bit of gossip.  When David found out that the priest’s good deed led to his death, he was grieved.  What was his response?  He did not seek out Doeg personally and kill him.  He modeled his response in Psalm 52. 

Sooner or later, someone who tells tales will disrupt the flow of your life.  Too many times people focus on who told, why they told, and then go to great lengths to deny or distort the truth.  What should you do about gossip?  (1) Deny it if it is untrue.  (2) If it is true, admit it and accept responsibility for the outcome. (3) Forget about it.  The more you make an issue out of the wrong doing of someone else, the more you cast the shadow of suspicion back on yourself.  There are just enough gossips in this world to keep all of us on the straight and narrow. 

The Fearless Prophet.  “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” 2 Samuel 12:7. Nathan, the prophet, appeared at the lowest ebb of David’s life when David had committed adultery and murder.  Nathan did not vacillate just because David was the king. 

Everyone needs a fearless prophet.  It may be the pastor, but it could be another anointed servant of God.  Never react with anger or resentment against someone who is inspired by the Holy Ghost to tell you the truth. If you do not permit someone to confront you, you never receive correction for your sins. 

Who Knew? The People God Puts in Your Life (Part One)

We begin our Christian life in a personal relationship with God.  We soon discover, however, that our continuing walk with him puts us into a world of people.  Some of them help us, some of them hinder us, but all of them must be dealt with.  A biographical sketch of David from the perspective of the people God interwove into his life provides a rich background for our own associations.  

The Unknown Servant.  An anonymous servant endorsed young David, jump-starting his career.  “Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.” 1 Samuel 16:18. 

The grace of God sees to it that unnamed persons contribute to who we are and what happens to us.  We should take care not to take undeserved credit and glory for the blessings and benefits of life.  1 Corinthians 4:6-7. 

The Benevolent Dictator.  “Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, ‘Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.’”  1 Samuel 16:22. King Saul knew David long before the Goliath incident.  Although Saul’s favor was short-lived, he gave David a chance to minister to him and use his talents. 

Somewhere in your life, God has put a person who will deal kindly with you and open doors that otherwise would stay closed.  Be grateful for this person and show them appreciation.  David never forgot that he received something valuable from Saul.  

The Jealous Brother.  “Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, ‘Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.’” 1 Samuel 17:28.  Eliab was the first person to despise David.  In truth, this older brother was covering up for his own cowardice.  Older and stronger than David, Eliab should have confronted Goliath instead of David.  David did not allow Eliab to throw him off course.  In fact, his courage benefited all of Israel, including his jealous brother. 

You will meet people who have a world of problems of their own yet would rather criticize you than deal with their own shortcomings.  Many times, they attempt to heal themselves by hurting others.  They will lie on you, criticize you, refuse to treat you with respect and undermine everything you do. You can try to make such people stop their destructive behavior, but it usually does no good.  Your reaction must neutralize their hatred and reverse it.  

The Mortal Enemy.  “And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.  So, the Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!’” 1 Samuel 17:42-44.  Goliath hated the God of Israel and the Israelites.  David only became a personal enemy after he answered the challenges of the giant. 

There will be people in our lives who put us in their crosshairs and vow to destroy us.  They live in our neighborhoods work at our offices and factories or even share in the same family with us.  Remember two things about these people: (1) Don’t take their threats and curses personally.  That will only hinder your ability to do the right thing.  If you end up hating someone and trying to get personal revenge, you will lose the battle. (2) Sanctify every response by the name of the Lord.  Our weapons don’t consist of slings and swords but praying in the Holy Ghost.  “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

The Middleman

“And what do you have that you did not receive?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. 

Business people know about the middleman.  He is the person, or company, who buys a product from a wholesale manufacturer and passes it on to you, with a slight markup added on.  He doesn’t produce the product and he doesn’t use the product.  He only handles it in your area or neighborhood for your convenience.  Most of the time, it makes good business sense to “cut out the middleman.”  We see him as an unnecessary expense.  But there are some things you cannot get on your own.  You don’t have the time, the equipment, or the know-how to make it happen.  We must have somebody who will be the bridge, the connecting-point, the mediator between the manufacturer and the consumer.  

Jesus Christ, is our Mediator between the Producer (God) and the consumer (sinners).  The Son of God, the incarnate flesh that we know as Jesus Christ serves as the only mediator for us to receive salvation. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5.  We don’t have any other mediator than Jesus Christ for our salvation.  Only Jesus can save a soul.  But this world needs a mediator, a middleman who can bridge the gap between the world and God. 

Who is this middleman?  It is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. This explains the profession of Paul to the elders in Acts 20:24. “But none of these things move me; so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” 

The church is the middleman, representing Christ on this earth.  The church is: The agency chosen to dispense the gospel message; the vehicle of missionary service; a soul-saving station; the tower of salvation; the city set on a hill; the light which cannot be hidden; the body of Christ; the hands and feet of God; the voice of truth.  But instead of being the middleman, sometimes we could be better described as the “bottleneck!”  We have the riches, the wealth, the abundance of God’s blessings flowing unrestrained into our lives, but how much of it is flowing out?  

You can either be the reason someone serves God, or the reason they don’t. Are you the accelerator or the brakes? A giver or a taker? A door or a wall? A road or a roadblock? The hand that serves or the hand that steals? The sweet refrain or the sour note? The encouraging smile or the scary scowl? The stepping-stone or the stumbling block?  A following sheep or a cantankerous goat? Judge yourself by the parable of Jesus in Luke 12:16-21.  There are eleven personal pronouns in the rich man’s words to himself. (Check it out.) Moreover, he decided without consulting God; he believed that the harvest was his, not God’s; and he thought that there would be no end to his self-indulgence. 

We operate as the repositories of truth. Will the blessings of God flow through you to the world, or will you misappropriate God’s blessings and waste them on selfish interests? If God saved you, he wants to use you for His purposes. If God called you, use the call for His gain and His glory.

The Meaning of the Stones

“What do these stones mean to you?” Joshua 4:6 

Commemorative objects are worthless unless we consider the meaning behind them.  What is a tree, a stone, a tiny baby, a human brain if we do not know where it came from and what its existence means?  We forget birthdays and anniversaries.  We forget history.  Fullness today erases yesterday’s hunger.  Present health wipes out former pain.  Safety now laughs at yesterday’s danger.  General Joshua did not randomly throw down these stones. He deliberately arranged them to send a message.  Israel must not forget its historic past.  

So, God went to the rocks.  He has a history with the rocks.  Each of us will stand upon the Rock, stumble over the Rock or be crushed by the Rock.  Thus, God instructed Joshua to take stones out of the Jordan River and put them in a circular monument like a tower.  Why?  First, never forget divine miracles.  Remember the Red Sea, water from the rock, manna and more. These weren’t theories, legends or fairy tales.  These were real events and had to be woven into Israel’s history.  Otherwise, they would be stripped of heritage.  Second, God wanted His message to be proclaimed—forever!  “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that you might fear the LORD your God forever.”  Joshua 4:20-24. Popular wisdom in our culture insists that faith is a private matter.  Shut up about your love for God.  That’s not what my Bible says!  “But you shall … be witnesses of me in Jerusalem and in all Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8. Even so, Apostolics have miracles to remember and a message to proclaim.  Let’s look at the stones that stand for monuments to us today: 

• What means this pulpit?  “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2.  Preacher, stand up, don’t shut up!
• What means this baptistry? “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16. It’s the water way!
• What means this altar? “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19. Confession is good for the soul!
• What means these offerings? “On the first day of the week … lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
• What means this prayer room? “Pray for one another …  the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16.
• What means this modest appearance? “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.” Romans 12:1
• What means this disciplined life? “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you … and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
• What means this Bible? “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable …” 2 Timothy 3:16.

A story is told of a “mystery stone” in Larabanga, Ghana.  Whenever road builders moved it, it came back to its original position. Eventually they built the road around it.  This is just a legend.  Monument stones that get moved away will not come back on their own.  We must bring back the stones and preserve them until Jesus comes back for His church!

Do not despise the stones.  Revelation 21:18-21 speaks of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.  The stones that appeared worthless, stones that were simply monuments to the past made their way into the Holy City.  Could it be that the doctrines, the practices, miracles, the stories of the past are not just curiosities of a bygone era, but are integral to our present and our future? 

There’s only one way to remember—keep going back to the stones.  Keep telling their stories.  Shake off the dust. Go back to your miracle, your enlightenment, your experience with God.  Be refreshed.  Worship God for the past—and He will do it again!

The Law of the Wineskins

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins.” Mark 2:22-28 

New wine provides a familiar metaphor in Scripture for the Holy Spirit.  “Thus, says the LORD: ‘As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all.’” Isaiah 65:8. The prophet Joel said, “And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip with new wine.” Joel 3:18. The critics of the first Pentecost used the nature of new wine in a pejorative sense.  “Others mocking said, ‘These men are full of new wine.’” Acts 2:13.  

Fermentation creates enormous pressure on its container.  Alive and dynamic, the new wine seems innocuous in its nascent stages of development, but it soon turns into a powerful agent. The pressure it exerts must be anticipated with a container that will expand with the fermentation process.  It will either have its way or it will burst open the container.  

What was Jesus talking about? The new wine of the Holy Spirit calls for a new wineskin of a relationship with God. Specifically, He meant that the Jewish religion and tradition was not adequate unless major, radical changes were to take place. The sacrificial system, the observances of feasts, moons and sabbaths— especially given the Pharisee’s bigotry and man-made doctrines—had to go.  Most importantly, the Jewish rejection of their Messiah was an error of the first magnitude.  This is why John’s gospel contains these verses: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13. The old wineskins had to be replaced with new.

Today, the Apostolic church cannot expect to see or embrace the full range of Apostolic revival unless we are willing to make major changes in our concepts of having church. Our traditional definitions of pastors, saints and the basics of serving God must not set the standard for new growth.  While the authority continues to reside in the ordained ministry, the power of God’s Spirit must be decentralized into a free-flowing wave that saturates the church.  How are we going to move into the next level of revival?  It will be through people.  Not just any people, but people who are willing to be bothered, to be responsible for the souls of others, to give up glory, to work without pats on the back.   

The body must be cohesive. When the Spirit of God begins to move, we must not come apart at the seams with confusion, negativity, anger or jealousy.  The body must be flexible.  Be willing to give up your seat. Be willing to put up with some mistakes, some differences in operation.  Be willing to see others move into a more prominent position than you have.  The body must be expandable.  We’ve got to have a growth mindset.  Witnessing, outreach, friendliness, cheerfulness, helpfulness, must be our disposition.  We’ve must be willing to get bigger!  What changes are you willing to make?  What conceptual transformations will you embrace?  If you cling to old, rigid, stale wineskins, you are headed for disaster.  

The real tragedy is this: Not only do old wineskins lose their usefulness, they also lose the wine that they contain! The precious Spirit of God will not be harnessed by human fear, pride, arrogance or stubbornness. Let the revival come!  

Plateau Perils

“Plateauing” entered the language back in frontier days, when wagon trains pushed along mountainous paths for long, grueling months.  Suddenly, the punishing pathway opened up into a high, level plain or plateau, bringing a welcome relief to the climb.  Today, business analysts use the term to describe flat lines in their growth charts.  Plateaus describe times when we’re neither climbing higher nor going downhill.  We’re just taking a break.  Spiritual plateaus do not bode well for believers.  They yield a false sense of security and beguile weary travelers with smug satisfaction.  On a plateau, distant goals lose their luster, the stretch of tomorrows in the trail ahead blurs together with numbing sameness, and the temptation to stop and camp is nearly irresistible.  The following dangerous mindsets signal perilous plateaus: 

• I have a good understanding about the basics.  (I don’t need to learn anymore.)  Two illusory courses lead to error.  Either you lose interest in the Scripture or you venture off into novel doctrines.  Continually refresh yourself in the basics of the Gospel: salvation, the nature of God, separation from the world, discipleship and the fundamentals of the faith.  Never think you have no need for rehearsing them yet again.  God has packed more treasure in the bedrock foundations of the church than you will deplete in your lifetime. 
• I have my personal life in order.  (Relax!  I am not going to do something stupid.)  The basics of prayer, church attendance, giving, Bible reading and ministering to others are not little things that will take care of themselves.  You must take care of them.  Otherwise, you will indeed do something stupid if you assume you won’t.  Personal responsibility never stops being important in your heavenward journey.
• I have achieved a level of respect.  (Everybody thinks I’m okay.)  Reject the elixir of popular opinion. Reputation cannot save you.  Regardless of the favorable opinions others may have of you, your spiritual welfare is between you and God alone.  Please God, period. 
• I have accomplished something of significance. (I’ve done enough.)  None of us has done enough.  God may have rested on the seventh day, but man still labors on in the sixth.  Your duties may change and your performance may diminish, but you haven’t arrived until the pearly gates click behind you.  Work for God and resist the temptation to look back and admire your accomplishments. 
• I have nothing to prove.  (The big battles are behind me.)  Satan never gets discouraged and quits, even after years of hassling you unsuccessfully.  He continues to probe for a point of entry.  When major transitions take place in your life such as graduation, marriage, children, new job, pay raise, moving into a new home, death of a loved one, and so on, brand new battles will crop up on your horizon. 
• I have no pressing spiritual needs.  (No need to pray, fast and study).  Plateaus have no discernible inclines or declines, so you may feel cocooned into security.  But, the danger is not the climb; it’s the respite at the end of the climb.  Just as eating and sleeping are daily needs, so also your spiritual life makes constant demands.  No one matures past his or her spiritual needs.
• I’m not perfect, but I’m not as bad as others.  (Actually, I kind of like myself.)  This is the favorite refuge of the flesh.  Don’t forget that there are infinite ways to fail, but only one measurable way to succeed.  Peg your progress to Christ, not to the bad guys, or even the good guys around you.  You may be more perfect than others, but the goal is to be remade into the image of Christ.   

One final danger that plateaus represent: loss of spiritual momentum.  Sometimes momentum carries us through a crisis when nothing else can.  The only way to keep up momentum is to keep climbing.  Jesus said, “While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares.”  Matthew 13:25. Stick with the task.  Stay “on message.”  God’s will in your life does not reside in the status quo, but in the unrelenting reach for higher ground.   

The Irresistible Force vs. the Immovable Object

The familiar axiom, “the irresistible force versus the immovable object” is a conundrum, an impossible encounter for which there is no solution.  If the force is irresistible and the object is immovable, then they effectively cancel each other out.  The riddle’s author, however, did not factor in the Almighty God.  If God is your irresistible force, then there is no immovable object!  In spiritual terms:  Satan tries to convince you that your problem is an immovable object.  He says that you are stuck in your situation; whether addiction, sin or generational curse.  But, he omits the Word of God that says, “[God] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!” Ephesians 3:20. 

Never underestimate the irresistible force of God.  Remember, “the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”  But the Spirit of God did not accept the deadness as the final word.  Instead, “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” But after the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, something else happened.  “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”  He set the coldness on fire; He penetrated the darkness with light; He broke up the silence by the sound of worship.  It was the irresistible force of God that the dark, foreboding cosmos could not stop. Three misconceptions make your problem seem immovable:  1. It is too big.  2. You’ve had it too long.  3. It is you, not someone else. 

First, how big is your problem? Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20. Mountains are big.  Mountains are rocky.  Some mountains have paths, cliffs and caves.  Some are home to wild animals and some have dangerous rockslides. Your mountain may seem so huge, so complex, and so evil that nothing can be done about it.   But, Jesus told us to say, “Move, mountain!”  He didn’t say it would disappear or be destroyed.  He said, “Mountain, get out of my way!”   How big is your problem?  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were dwarfed by a gigantic, ugly problem—an idol ninety feet tall—but they didn’t bow to it.  Their resistance landed them in the fiery furnace, but that’s where they were delivered and that’s where Jesus showed up!  

But, you say, things have been this way for so long that it can never be any different.  A man named Jairus had a twelve-year-old girl who was dying.  He wanted Jesus to come to his house to heal her.  But, on the way to the house, a woman who had been sick for twelve years touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and was immediately healed.  (Luke 8:43-44). Did you catch that?  This woman had a TWELVE YEAR-OLD problem!  Right in front of Jairus’ eyes, Jesus healed a twelve-year-old problem with one touch!  How long had the problem been in existence?  A twelve-year problem was no match for the irresistible force of God!  

Finally, you say it’s you. You can believe God for others, but not for you personally. You feel you’re not worthy.  You think you have disappointed, hurt, been unfaithful or failed to believe God for so long that He won’t hear your prayer.  Your prayer is not selfish.  You are exercising faith!  Let your faith soar!  Your God is so powerful that devils flee at the mere mention of His name!  And, just so you’ll know, the scientific answer to the conundrum of the irresistible force against the immovable object is that no object is immovable. All objects can be moved.  The irresistible force is just that—it cannot be resisted!  The Spirit of God, the Name of Jesus and the Word of God constitute an irresistible force! 

Have you thought that your object is unmovable?  Have you believed the devil’s lie?  Have you collapsed in a heap of failure and disappointment?  It is time to rise up! “Arise, shine; For your light has come—but the LORD will arise over you!” Isaiah 60:1-2.