Ministry Helps
Adversity
Joshua 1:9-10, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Psalm 147: 3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Special Note: All of us face adversity, discouragement, or disappointment. When we do, God stands ready to protect us. When we are troubled, we must call upon God, and then, in His own time and according to His own plan. He will intervene in a way that will glorify Christ in and through our lives.
• Intercession with the Lord
Matthew 7:7-11, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
James 5:16b, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Special Note: Prayer changes circumstances and more importantly it can change us. Instead of nursing thoughts in your mind that are displeasing to God, just turn those thoughts into prayer. Instead of worrying about your next decision, decide to let God lead the way. Christians too often limit their time in prayer, when God’s Word says pray continually, this is a commandment and it is our privilege to pray constantly about everything great and small. It is true the Lord wants to hear from you, NOW! He is always listening to prayers offered for the glory of Christ and in His perfect will.
Are you, your family, your friends and your church in great need? Ask of God in Christ’s Name to intervene. Are you troubled? Take all your concerns to the Lord in prayer. The Lord hears your prayers and will answer for the glory of God and Christ. In heaven we will fully understand all that He has allowed us to go through for Him. D. L. Moody wrote, “Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.”
• Courage
Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Special Note: When the trials of life come rolling in like a severe storm and when we find ourselves in despair, our faith in Christ is put to the test, sometimes to the breaking point. The Word of God holds promises of supernatural peace found in and through Christ. Rest upon the truth the Lord loves us and He cares, therefore, be courageous and live courageously for with the Lord.
• God’s Plan
Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
Special Note: The Lord always has a plan to use you regardless of what circumstance you find yourself in. The Holy Spirit of Christ indwells the child of God and is fully able to use you. When it seems like your life is useless or you find yourself unable to do as you hope or once did, there is always the ministry of prayer which is the key ministry that has moved the Lord to deliver nations, brought healing into lives and brought souls to Christ. Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “God manages perfectly, day and night, year in and year out, the movement of the stars, the wheeling of the planets, the staggering coordination of events that goes on at molecular level in order to hold things together. There is no doubt that He can manage the timing of my days and weeks.” Why not take opportunities such as these to beseech Him?
• God’s Support
2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
Nahum 1:7, The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
Special Note: The Lord God is fully able to protect His obedient children in times of trouble and give comfort through the Holy Spirit. It does not matter what we face the Holy Spirit of Christ is as near as our next breath. Therefore, build your lives on the rock that cannot be shaken, trust in Christ. C.H Spurgeon wrote, “He stands fast as your rock, steadfast as your watcher, valiant as your champion.”
• God’s Timing
1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
Special Note: The sinful flesh of man makes him impatient. He knows when he wants something and exactly how he thinks he should have it. However, the Lord knows best. He created the world and everything in it. He will unfold everything according to His timetable, not ours. Therefore, pray for patients and wait upon God to reveal the glorious plan that he has for our lives. A. W. Tozer wrote, “God never hurries. There are no dead-lines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”
• Maturity
Hebrews 6:7, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith toward God.”
Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Special Note: When the children of God cease to grow in their relationship with Christ they do themselves a profound disservice. The Holy Spirit illuminated child of God continues to grow daily through prayerful study of God’s Word and by surrendering to the enabling of the Holy Spirit, he comes to know and accept God’s will for him. Martin Luther said, “A Christian is never in a state of completion but always in the process of becoming.”
• Miracles
Psalm 77:14, “Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.”
Hebrews 2:4, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Special Note: The children of God are imperfect human beings and do not a full understanding of God, therefore, the safe guard is to pray in faith as Christ did, fully trusting in His Father who does all things well and in the full will of God. The Lord is a worker of miracles both great and small, and when we trust in Him with everything we have and everything we are, we experience the miraculous results of His endless love and His awesome power. Andrew Murray wrote “We have a God who delights in impossibilities.”
• Patience
Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…”
Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Special Note: Being fallible human beings Christians are instructed by the written Word to be patient in all things, and that is how it should be. After all consider how patient the Lord has been with us. Peter Marshall wrote, “Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.”
• Peace
John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Special Note: The timeless Word of God gives all Christians a sure hope of having the peace promised of Christ as they truly live in Him. This peace is not as the world gives, but a supernatural peace that transforms lives. Today, you can choose the peace offered by Christ Himself and receive this enabling for the sake of yourself, your family, your friends and all who observe your life. This peace is offered freely and has been paid in full by the blood of Christ. Oswald Chambers wrote, “The peace that Jesus gives is never engineered by circumstances on the outside.”
• Praise
Psalm 9:1-2, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Special Note: Too often our carnality has reduced giving praise to God to special moments such as being in church, before dinner is served, tucking our children into bed, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Scriptures teach that we should praise God all day, every day to the greatest extent we can offer. This praise is to come from the heart and come out our mouth in speech, song and total life expression. Christians owe Him everything and giving praise to the Lord is Biblically commanded, our privilege and our purpose for being created. Max Lucado wrote, “Praise… reestablishes the proper chain of command; we recognize that the King is on the throne and that He has saved His people.”
• Trusting
Psalm 118:8-9, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalm 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength , in whom I will trust”
1 Chronicles 5:20, “…they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.”
Special Note: All Holy Spirit inspired Christians have great hopes of doing great things with the Lord. The Bible warns of a great adversary who uses the world and our sinful nature to wear Christians down in this continue battle for the souls of mankind and the adoration of the heart. Christians are called to trust Christ always and they are to wait patently for God’s revelations, His blessings and His purposes to come to pass. Trusting God involves praying through to completion all He has called us to do. Trusting in God will enable you to enjoy blessings far beyond your imagination. Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved, upheld and placed purposely, exactly where we are. Can you believe that? Can you trust God for that?
