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.
The fed ex man, who they placed in the Senior class tried them and he did not let them get away. More importantly, truly, he was an oddball, in their hearts and minds because no one wants to speak of their own behavior, no matter how weird or outlandish and no one wants to speak of Satan's presence in their lives-their possession, in the church. We like to think, once we reach the grounds of the church that we are on holy ground, unreachable, untouchable, safe, in the refuge of Christ Jesus, away from the grasp and workings of Satan's possession and his demon foot soldiers. Simply stated, “This is not true!”If, there is compelling evidence, obviously so, of Satan's presence in the church, then, the church should exorcise the demonic presence.
Most importantly, God's will must supersede Satanic folly that distracts us, for we must “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:” (Psalm 66:1, KJV [Blessedness of God's chosen]). In the distraction, is the possession, the deception that we fight in battle, against, so that we might “make a noise”, for Satan does not want us to make a noise, in agreement, in one body, rather, suffer, broken in the quietness of the darkness that engulfs us, covers us and seeks to take us, from the light. “Do not go gently into that dark night”. Do you remember the saying in the poem?
Make a noise and finish your course. “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob” (Psalm 81:1, KJV [The miseries of the church]). Do not let the shame of the offense, force you to remain in the darkness that seeks to take you. “O Come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1, KJV [A prayer for justice]). Do not let the madness of the fright push you down into dark silence when God said to make a noise and finish your course! “With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King”(Psalm 98:6, KJV [Exhortation to praise God]).
MAKE SOME NOISE! HOW ABOUT THAT FAITH!:
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence
with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God; it is he
that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people,
and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful
unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good, his
mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all
generations” (Psalm 100, KJV [Exhortation to praise God]).
For Joshua, took Jericho after they marched around the city and shouted seven times. “And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you a city” (Joshua 6:16, KJV [Jericho is shut up]). Give God the praise! MAKE A NOISE AND FINISH YOUR COURSE!
For there was a baptist minister that preached the third night during a baptist church's 112th year anniversary, “Don't say you will never!” I agree that you should not think in your mind or in your heart, “I will never see them, again! I will never speak to them, again! I will leave and never return!” More importantly, separate but do not enter into such absoluteness that stunts your spiritual growth in forgiveness. How are you in forgiveness?
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Stand up for Christ Jesus and never fail him. Be absolutely sure you are a follower, a believer, a
true servant, for Christ Jesus! Stand up to uplift, do not sink down, slither into a defeatist view of life, as if, you are incapable of overcoming then, incapable of arming up to fight the good fight, in spirit, for
righteousness sake, as a soldier, in the army of the LORD! Now, is the time to make noise!
Lift up your voices and shout! Praise God!:
“And Joshua had commanded the people, saying,
Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice,
neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth,
until the day I bid you to shout; then shall ye shout”
(Joshua 6:10, KJV [Jericho is shut up]).
Hear the word of God! SHOUT! MAKE A NOISE! THE WORD SAVES!
God is present (Jehovah-Shammah). He is with us. His spirit is with us. God spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16-18; 3:9, 13, 16-17, KJV). The LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day (Genesis 18:1, KJV). God spoke to Jacob between Beersheba and Haran when he lighted upon a certain place to rest for the night (Genesis 28:10-11, KJV [Vision of Jacob's ladder]), God appeared on Mount Sinai and spoke to Moses (Exodus 18:18, KJV), God spoke to Joshua to go over Jordan (Joshua 1:2-18)...
“Firstly, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, after resurrection – first appearance (St. John 20:18, KJV [Christ's resurrection]); next, Jesus meets the women (Mary mother of James, Salome, and Joanna) on their return to the city – second appearance (St. Matthew 28: 8-10, St. Mark 16:8, St. Luke 24: 9-11, KJV), Jesus seen by Peter (Cephas, I Corinthians 15:5 – third
appearance (St. Luke 24:34), seen by the two disciples on way to Emmaus – fourth appearance (St. Mark 16:12, 13, St. Luke 24: 13, 35, KJV), later, after eight days, Jesus came again to the disciples and Thomas who missed him the last time, was there (St. John 20:26-29, KJV [the incredulity of Thomas] (Jesus appears to the ten, Thomas being absent) – fifth appearance (St. Mark 16:14, St. Luke 24: 36-49, St. John 20:19-23), to the disciples came Jesus and stood in the midst, and breathed on them so that they received the Holy Ghost (St. John 20:19, 22 KJV [Christ's resurrection]), Evening of Sunday after Easter day, Jesus appears to them again, Thomas being present – sixth appearance (John 20: 24-29), The eleven go into Galilee, to a mountain appointed. Jesus appears, and commands them to teach all nations – seventh appearance (St. Matthew 28: 16-20, St. Mark 16:15-18, KJV), Jesus shows Himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, he stood on the shore, -eighth appearance (St. John 21:1-24, KJV), Seen of above five hundred brethren at once (I Corinthians 15:6), probably along with the eleven – ninth appearance (St. Matthew 28:16), He is seen by James, then by all the apostles (Acts 1:3-8; I Corinthians 15:7) – tenth appearance. In all, 538 (549 if the eleven (Matthew 28:16) be distinct from the 500) persons are specified as having seen the risen Saviour: also, after His ascension, St. Paul (I Corinthians 15:8)” (Holy Bible, n.d.).
In reflection, the salvation history of woman reminds us, Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:13, KJV), Sarah laughed at God (Genesis 18: 12-13, 15, KJV), Hagar despised (competed against) Sarah; for the wrong of Sarah's decision was upon her when she gave Hagar to Abraham. Hagar had to flee away pregnant with Abraham's child, Ishmael (Genesis 16: 5-11, KJV), Rebecca switched Jacob for Esau to take Esau's blessing (Genesis 27:15-23, KJV), Rachel took her father's idol god when she left with Jacob (Genesis 31:30, 32, 34, KJV, [Laban pursueth Jacob]), Tamar dressed like a harlot to deceive Judah, her father-in-law, in order to bear children, under her dead husband's name (Genesis 38: 13-16, 26, KJV [Tamar deceiveth Judah], Rahab, the harlot saved her family by hiding Joshua's spies (Joshua 2:1, 3-5, 6:25 [Rahab's covenant with the spies and Jericho is destroyed]... Esther replaced Queen Vashti, who refused to come at King Ahasuerus' commandment by his chamberlains (Esther 1:11-22, KJV [A queen to be chosen]). In trying times, like these, we find an even stronger need to
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draw nigh to God, so he will draw nigh to us...than ever before, forgetting the past...as we press toward the mark for the prize... and run our course to the finish (James 4:8, KJV; Philippians 3:13-14, KJV; II Timothy 4:7, KJV).
This is the word of God. Amen. Amen. Amen.
