Trying Times - "Make Noise And Finish Course" Series

Trying Times - “MAKE NOISE AND FINISH COURSE”

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (5/29/2013, 6/1/2013, 6/15/2013, 6/18/2013)

“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Numbers 10:9)

Giving honor to our Lord and Saviour, in trying times, let it not be said that you have no redeeming virtues! Satan is in the church with his bag of tricks! Satan is possessing the temples and vessels of the holy people of God. Lord have mercy, for when the holy people sin and Satan is permitted to try them in temptation, standing against righteousness. Truly, we are trouble bound.

What about the pastor who felt the fist of the little old lady, land on his face, after he delivered Sunday's sermon? What about the assistant pastor that slapped the hands of the women ministers as they dressed her in a robe, feeling they placed evil satanic spirits on her from witchcraft, causing her to flee the church never to return? What about the deaconess that poked her fingers in the minister's face and stood up to spin around on her heels? And, the same deaconess that mowed down a pew to get out when she sat at the end of the pew and only needed to step-out, still she chose to go the other way and mow down those in her way?

And, yes, the same sister (deaconess) put her fist in the breast of another sister while going to the collection plate, when usually she passed her monies to a deacon, minister, pastor's wife or an usher to place in the collection plate? What about the sister in the choir, who slapped another sister in the back as she walked to the pulpit? What about the deaconesses (sisters) that laughed hysterically at anything in your face? And, the same deaconesses (sisters) that mimicked the singing of another sister, while she sang with loud laughter? What about the baptist seminary that came and refused to return?

What about the fedex man at the funeral repast questioning the righteousness of the deaconesses, with second marriages while their first marriage partner was still alive and questioned more than one set of children because the first marriage failed and possibly the second marriage failed and even more, maybe the third marriage failed or there was no marriage at all, just children born to illegitimate unions between man and woman? I chose not to minister at the funeral's repast because I do not think it mattered at all, if, I ministered to him that God said to Adam and Eve, to be fruitful and multiply, in Genesis (1:28) before he gave judgments, ordinances and statutes on “unlawful marriages and lusts” (Leviticus 18, KJV), then, so no matter what your circumstance or situation are you bound to still be fruitful and multiply or is the consideration within reason? For Sarah gave Hagar, in order to be fruitful and multiply:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of

God created he him; male and female created he them. And

God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and

multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have

dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the

air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”

(Genesis 1: 27-28, KJV [creation of man]).

I did minister to the fed ex man, in part, mostly questioning so he could reflect on his feelings, even though he held strong convictions about why he only married once and failed at it and why he did not bear children in that marriage? I do not know whether he heard anything I said or not. Obviously, his mind was made up because he disputed even his placement in Sunday School class. He said, “They put me in the Senior class?”

I could feel his disappointment in his placement, for to him, it did not mean he did not know the word of God or understand the word of God. It was because he tried his teachers, for righteousness

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sake, with the word of God, exposing their foibles, corruptions, and false teachings. However, at the end of our talk, he acknowledged that he processed what I said and seemed to agree at least that he should not leave his job. He did not ponder leaving the church. Satan possesses anyone and sets up shop anywhere so why not the church, on holy ground?

In trying times like those, make a noise and finish your course? When holy people sin, is it righteous to say, “He is a sinner! She is a sinner!” And, dismiss them, choosing to focus on those who do not try us for righteousness sake, for how we live our lives and glorify God in our lives, for real.