GET UP! STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

There is a very interesting controversy that is going on in America now and it is the Chick-Fil-A fast food Christian principled stand that has ticked off some arrogant gay rights activists and supporters (which unfortunately includes some ignorant Christians). This is instructive for all Christians as it is the new face of what to expect now and in future regarding our faith.

Yes, even America is becoming intolerant to Christians beliefs which is heart-breaking for a nation that was founded on Christian principles and once loudly proclaimed that IN GOD WE TRUST. The lesson from what you are about to read is a wake up call that anyone can slowly slip into unbelief if you don’t daily take a bold stand for your Christian faith which happens to be the TRUTH.

I have borrowed the title of a Bob Marley song and used the Chick-Fil- A story to illustrate the challenging times we are in and how we must gear up, stand strong in the CHRIST to fight the good fight of faith if we are not to be overwhelmed by these strange ungodly doctrines that are shrouded in the garb of human rights and legal rights. I am reminded of two scriptures that speak to these times. The first is 2 Timothy 3.1-4

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves....unholy...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” NKJV

While in 2 Corinthians 1. 18,

“For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” NKJV

What is this controversy? Simply, a Christian businessman, Dan Cathy, owner of the fast food, Chick – Fil- A with over 1900 franchises across America and a great place to eat as both sides have agreed is being hounded, persecuted, insulted, threatened by some politicians, gay rights groups and their supporters for his defence of Godly marriage (as between a man and woman) and financial support to anti-gay groups. It is incredible that a country that shouts about its defence of individual rights would attack ferociously a man for his personal faith and giving. But that is the NEW FACE OF AMERICA. NO LONGER A LAND OF FREEDOM BUT ONLY ANTI CHRISTIAN FREEDOM.

Let me state the following. Chick-Fil-A has never discriminated against anyone in their service to customers. Dan Cathy just like these gay groups has taken a stand on his faith - the Word of God and has chosen to put his personal resources just like these gay groups to the advancement of what he believes. So what is the controversy about? What law has he broken and why is what is good for the gays not good for Dan Cathy? The answer is the hidden agenda of gay rights activists and their supporters to FORCE EVERYONE TO ACCEPT THEIR BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR AS RIGHT. They are angry that Christians will never do that and so they are now using every means possible to accomplish their goal.

I am glad that Billy Graham and a lot of Christians have stood up to give support to Dan Cathy and Chick-Fil-A on their stand. I am very glad that Mr Cathy issued a statement that read “guilty as charged for supporting the traditional definition of marriage”. However, I am disappointed but not surprised that many American Christian leaders are not rising up to support not just this man but what he stands for – THE DEFENSE OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH regardless of whether it is about marriage or not. Therein lies the tragedy of Christian behaviour. We are often too laidback, timid and fearful on what really matters and major on what is insignificant. It is Chick – Fil –a today but it may be yours tomorrow.

I know what Mr Cathy is going through because I face such trials about my faith all the time. I have seen Christians compromise to the point that they are used as a reference point for me to back down. I have been refused, rejected, insulted because I refused to quit on my faith. I HAVE NO REGRETS AND WILL NEVER HAVE ONE. I have seen God continue to triumph on my behalf and I am content with that. But it is sad when Christians shy away from taking a stand. It does not mean you should be rude, militant or annoying. No! Rather, it is simply refusing to back down on what is God’s Word in order to gain momentary pleasures of whatever kind – financial, marital or just relational.

So what is really your stand? Is it theoretical faith that does not march up with action? If you were Dan Cathy and knowing the implications of financial consequences, will you find some excuses to shift your ground or will you continue to take a stand on the TRUTH – CHRIST, THE WORD. Have you really suffered for the WORD and allowed unbelievers to see CHRIST revealed in you or are you found on any side of a controversy (sitting on the fence position)? Let this story help you question your daily belief and action to know whether it is in alignment with the WORD OF GOD or else you really are falling for strange doctrines.

It may not be financial loss but friendships, status or whatever you want to hold on to and forsake the WORD. The world is not going to get better but only people who are daily living by the Word will do. Don’t be deceived as strange doctrines are becoming more subtle and only those who walk with God through the HOLY SPIRIT will pass the test and trials of life each time.

What should you do? Recognise that each day brings its fair share of challenges to your Christian faith and so rise up daily asking God for His Grace to deal with it. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you all the time.  Take ALL ISSUES TO GOD FIRST not men. It is this SIMPLE. Nothing is complicated or complex about God. Understand that you can’t live the Christian way without the HOLY SPIRIT. Anything to the contrary is a LIE.

As Paul also took a stand when he spoke this word, I also believe it to be the TRUTH” For I am not ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES...’ Romans 1.16NKJV

I am daily encouraged by the words of Jesus to us”...In the world, you have tribulations and trials and distress and frustration but be og good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome the world. (I have DEPRIVED IT OF POWER TO HARM YOU AND HAVE CONQUERED IT FOR YOU) John 16.33. Amplified (emphasis mine)

I make no apologies for my being a Christian or my Christian principles. While I recognise that anyone can hold any belief yet I will not be browbeaten nor hounded for my faith. Neither will I QUIT ON THE WORD OF GOD THAT I HOLD AS MY BELIEF. I fully support Chick-Fil-A and Dan Cathy on his Christian faith practices. I shall continue by the Grace of my Lord Jesus Christ to rise up each day and defend my faith regardless of whatever challenges and sufferings I face. IN CHRIST I STAND! I continue to pray that those who do not yet have the TRUTH shall come to the LIGHT. That is my IRREVERSIBLE STAND!!!

EMBEDDED IN GRATITUDE

I am often amazed at the various events and experiences that give us a new understanding of life as seen from the Word of God. Such was my 34 day experience of taking care of my cousin at LUTH while on admission. For all of those days, I was embedded at the hospital, not as a patient or visitor but as a full time care giver.

 But before I reveal this new perspective, I am sure some of you may recall the term ‘embedded journalism’ that was coined during the Desert Storm war  by America against Saddam Hussein in the 90s where journalists were attached to military convoys during the war in other to report from a much closer angle than before. Since then, it has opened up a new type of journalistic reporting.

This message is not about the time spent at LUTH. Rather I have chosen to speak about the lessons of gratitude from what I saw at very close proximity of my daily responsibilities and which has given me a better outlook on life, health and appreciation of what I have.  

I often resume very early in the morning and got home between 9 to 10pm. My responsibilities were all inclusive of a nurse aide. Because of the breakdown of some systemic structures, I had to clean my cousin morning and night, feed, run errands of various types from purchase of drugs, making payments, taking body fluid samples to the laboratory, follow her to various scan and x-ray centres – the list was endless and no two days were alike.

I belonged to an unrecognised, unregistered and underappreciated association of patient relatives (PRA) that are a VERY HUGE SUPPORT STRUCTURE to nurses and doctors. We were often insulted by the nurses whose jobs we did most of the time while they claimed the glory. You will not fully comprehend this experience except you feel it. I know because I was once like that when I only came as a visitor to LUTH.

This message is not to complain about the systemic failure of a public hospital or about my commitment to a loved one. No! It is to let you know how my being implanted in the system, what I saw and felt taught me to be VERY GRATEFUL ABOUT MY LIFE AND GOOD HEALTH. It is let you know that when we have not been incapacitated even temporarily as my cousin and others in a hospital and in various degenerating illness, we don’t often do not appreciate how blessed we are. I know because I was once like that.

At LUTH, in my cousin’s ward, I saw all manner of horrible diseases that made me weep for the patients concerned; bodies reduced to skeleton in pains, another in coma. Oh! satan is wicked. In the first week of her admission, three people died in a ward of twenty and by the time she left, eight had left this world. I saw various degrees of helplessness daily. At another ward where I went to visit a church member, an 11 year old girl had her left arm fully amputated. What a life! Just thinking about the challenges she faced in Nigeria is disheartening.

When I came to LUTH, I asked God to teach me some lessons while there temporarily. I didn’t want to be consumed in my responsibilities that were quite challenging. He answered by teaching me through all I saw daily in one word – GRATITUDE FOR LIFE DESPITE ALL CHALLENGES.

Before, this, I probably thought like a lot of people that I had tough issues to deal with – the feeling that yours are the biggest. Well, no more for with what I saw, I am truly blessed. Yes, I have daily trials BUT I HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND MOBILITY and that counts more than any problems I face. I can deal with them independently not from a state of helplessness as these patients; some in a very terrible state and some went on to death.

Financially, we spent a huge sum of money. That is money I consider could have been put to better use but was utilised to hospital expenses. So when next you think you don’t have so much, remember my cousin and others who spent what they had just to have what YOU HAVE AND MAY NOT OFTEN APPRECIATE.

To complain is a part of the natural life but with all I saw in these five weeks, I ask the Holy Spirit daily to help me overcome the urge to complain and rather be thankful for EXCELLENT HEALTH AND A GREAT LIFE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES IN CHRIST and the fact that I am able to rise above what is at the root of any complaint.

 My cousin was discharged five days ago. She was one of the few who left alive and well and not as a dead person.  We have come through the crisis period by the HUGE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD. As I go about my daily tasks I have this feeling of gratitude with me.  During my time at LUTH, time stood still for me, my feet hurt, my body ached and when I got home, all I did was sleep. BUT there is a new appreciation for life that I now have.

 Despite all I went through, I went home, slept on my bed and enjoyed good health. Many at LUTH were not so fortunate. Some ended up dead while some are still there having stayed for months and years (the latter is true of a patient that has been there for a year and half) God was good to me to keep me from a physical breakdown as I took in His Word daily.

Truly, in some unplanned yet remarkable way, being at LUTH has me EMBEDDED IN GRATITUDE FOR I AM BLESSED WITH A PRICELESS EXPERIENCE OF GOOD HEALTH AND LIFE. I choose to keep that in focus always. I hope in some way, my story will help you to be more thankful for your health and well being than before.

STAND YOUR GROUND!!!

The title of this message was inspired by the controversial Florida Law called ‘Stand Your Ground Law’. It has also been adopted in half of the states in America under different names yet the same form. It simply states that a person may use force in self defence when there is a reasonable belief of a threat without any obligation to retreat. In some cases, a person may use deadly force in public areas without a duty to retreat. The law would be a defence or immunity to criminal and civil suit. In short, a person has no duty to retreat when under an attack BUT RATHER STAND THEIR GROUND AND FIGHT BACK EVEN WITH  DEADLY FORCE.

This law may be a subject of debate with recent misuse of it by racist persons against innocent blacks but it is the right approach to SPIRITUAL WARFARE. How ironic that what does not seem to be working in the world is exactly  we should  use to deal with the wiles of our enemy – satan. The law was made to deal with genuine cases of attack but like everything else, it has become a tool by certain bigoted whites to kill blacks as seen in the Trayvon Martin murder by George Zimmerman using that law.

 Consider these facts – we have an enemy, satan whose clear mission is to “steal, kill and destroy” our lives (John 10.10). He does it with zeal. This is not an enemy to fool around with or underestimate. The Bible says of him “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5.6nkjv  We are dealing with a life under threat of death situation all the time just as the Florida law envisaged. But how does the Scripture say we should act? In retreat – fleeing from him? In fear - afraid to do anything and only complain about our helplessness? OR STAND YOUR GROUND AND FIGHT BACK!!! The latter is what God has said to us many times and it begins by saying” Resist him, steadfast in the faith...”1 Peter 5.9nkjv

The beautiful aspect of it all is that we have been given both power and authority to act i.e. stand, attack and WIN. Really, we have the upper hand in any confrontation with the enemy whether direct or through people under his influence but we must maintain the victory position -STANDING. What are those positions?

Well, the scriptures tell us that it is not a fight against the devil for Jesus has dealt with that on the Cross and gave us the victory – Hebrews 2. 14 - 15(The reason why you must have a victory mindset) but a fight to unleash and enforce that victory over satan. It is therefore aptly called “Fight the good FIGHT OF FAITH” 1 Timothy 6.12(emphasis mine). It is a fight in which you exercise your authority by THE WORD in any situation to experience the victory already prepared for you.

So here are some of such positions that you should STAND ON IN VICTORY- IN CHRIST

·        Faith – “ Watch, STAND FAST in the faith, be brave, be strong”   1 Corinthians 16.13 nkjv(emphasis mine)

·        “... for by faith you STAND.  2 Corinthians 1.24nkjv(emphasis mine)

·        Freedom from ‘ the spirit of religion - self righteousness’ -  “ In (this) freedom, Christ has made us free(and completely liberated us); STAND FAST then and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery(which you have once put off)” Galatians 5.1 Amplified Bible(emphasis mine)

·        Trust in Christ ONLY -  “Therefore, my beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and crown, so STAND FAST IN THE LORD, beloved” Philippians 4.1nkjv

·        Deadly force - “Put on all God’s armour so that you will be able to STAND SAFE against all strategies and tricks of satan” Ephesians 6.11. Living Bible(emphasis mine)

·        Victory Position – “ So use every piece of God’s armour to resist the enemy whenever he attacks and when it is all over, you will still be STANDING UP” Ephesians 6.13. Living Bible( emphasis mine)

Unlike the Florida State Law that maybe be subject to repeal, misuse or misunderstood, God’s promises are INCONTROVERTIBLE, UNSHAKEABLE AND ETERNAL. They are your only form of action when confronted with life’s challenges. They are neither subject to human interpretation nor action and they only give VICTORY. In the end, you must decide whether to STAND YOUR GROUND IN VICTORY or to retreat in fear and failure. The decision is only yours to make..............Court ARISE; Case adjourned.

H-E-L-L-0! GOD CALLING - IS SOMEONE LISTENING?

I was inspired to write this message by a very important incident that happened to me last week. I have a daily simple fitness workout (recommend it for your physical wellbeing) and my commitment rate is 80 -90%. Sometimes, I am not in the mood to work out and in those moments, I call for help from Heaven and I bounce back to action (It works always). 

However, last week Friday was different. I woke up ready to begin my exercise regimen when my body just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong but it just wasn’t right. So I thought, it was playing out in weakness and once again I offered a silent prayer to God... to stir this lazy body to work.

But I was shocked to hear that I shouldn’t do any workout. It was so clear that I realised it was a command and not an option. So I obeyed and rested for that day and next. My body was restored and by Monday I was back to my routine. I took time to ponder on what happened and realised that God just saved me from whatever danger signals my body was sending that all was not well. 

Thankfully, I responded and lived. But imagine the scenario if I didn’t and decided to push my way through? I could have slumped, been hospitalised or even died. A friend’s relative slumped and died at 26years but she had earlier informed her friends that she felt some unease in her heart AND DID NOTHING. I was once saved from death from a counsel that God gave me to have surgery in a specific hospital which I obeyed.

Incidents like these occur daily in our lives – warning signs that prompt us to stop and listen to what God is saying but the key question is are we listening. Consider the traffic light and the three signs of which the amber is the most important to get you ready for the go or stop sign. Many have disobeyed the amber sign to their peril and endangered the lives of others.

God gives us AMBER SIGNS all the time but how many of us take time to hear Him. Here are some of those scenarios of life. You are faced with a business deal that is a ‘great opportunity’ yet you can’t shake off some strange feeling; You like a man/woman that seems to fit heavenly description but your heart isn’t comfortable with this person; There is a job that has attractive benefits’ the to die for’ type yet you have some doubts and the list is endless. How do we respond?

Most times, we are carried away by our senses; we push it away and think it is just a feeling and will pass or seek the advice of others who unintentionally push us in the wrong direction. Other times, we deny such cries of our heart and push our agenda through only to suffer consequences from losses to physical death. I am sure we have all experienced this in one form or other in our lives. But we don’t have to undergo such needless suffering. The scripture only wants us to experience the sufferings of Christ not disobedience.

What does God say of such behaviour?

“Oh how blind and deaf you are towards God! Why won’t you listen? Who in the world is as blind as my own people who are designed to be my messengers of truth? Who is so blind as my “dedicated one” the servant of the Lord? You see and understand what is right but won’t heed nor do it; you hear but you won’t listen” Isaiah 42. 18-20. Living Bible

This is a correct description of a lot of us for we are so busy and focused on getting our plans in place, we don’t pause to hear what God is saying about our lives and then we come crashing, fall and fail and guess what? WE RUN FROM PILLAR TO POST TO HEAR GOD SPEAK. What contradiction? And often too late to stop the consequences and then we suffer and back again to deafness/ blindness...... the unending circle of disobedience. The life of an average Christian but it DOESEN’T HAVE TO BE SO.

I have been there many times taking the unnecessary knocks of life until I quit and decided TO SEEK A BETTER LIFESTYLE. Why do we want our way when God who knows the end from beginning wants to HELP US to have the experience of the ABUNDANT LIFE? WHY was the Holy Spirit given to us? Perhaps we need a constant reminder that it was to GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH. Jesus emphasised this:

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (The Truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all truth (the whole full truth). For He will not speak His own message (on His own authority); but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future) John 16.13. Amplified

What does this imply? That regardless of our intellectual abilities, the truth is not always so OBVIOUS. The TRUTH cannot be gleaned from our own wisdom (as we often think). The TRUTH is God guiding us. If we and the world would understand this even in a small dimension, the ‘merry – go – round’ of global misdirection that we are all bearing the consequences from terrible climate changes, terrorism, wars, famine to inhumanity to mankind would be nonexistent. The TRUTH is neither in the world nor our senses but in CHRIST. Contrary to what we have been taught, our senses were not given to us to act independent of God, our Creator but to reflect His wisdom. That is why the Bible speaks about the “mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2.16, Philippians 2.5)

Our minds are meant to function with the truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit in order to bring about the right results. The world is suffering from a very cancerous disease called DECEPTION. SIN has never seemed as attractive as we have it today in various areas of life yet Christians are falling for it hook, line and sinker. The outcome is a weakened position to exercise spiritual power to deal with life’s challenges.

Who can deliver us from all this? The TRUTH REVEALER – THE HOLY SPIRIT. Again are we listening to Him? There is no aspect of our lives we don’t need HELP. Therefore we must be attentive at all times – keeping our hearts open even in small matters. A lot of times we CANNOT SEE THE WARNING SIGNS because they are not within natural sight and often times when it does, it may be TOO LATE. I was reminded of this when I listened to Gulliana Ransic, the top anchor of E News, and the hit show ‘Gulliana and Bill’ speak of how she discovered she had breast cancer. It was undetected until an off chance decision by her fertility doctor to conduct one. She almost didn’t accept but went with the decision when the doctor made it a condition. That led to its discovery and surgery to save her life by removing her two breasts. A refusal would have led to her death if detected too late. I know because I lost a beloved cousin to cancer two years ago.

When you make a commitment to hear from God, it is not just a decision but a LIFE SAVING ONE TOO. For in the end, that warning sign may be the last sign before danger strikes. As I look back on that Friday when I didn’t insist on my way but LISTENED, It could have been otherwise and led to consequences that may be life threatening or fatal. I know this because it happened to a close relative. He was a workaholic even in retirement and sometimes does not know when to quit and rest. On this unfortunate day, he had come from rigorous pension screening exercise and he didn’t feel well. The right thing was to rest but he barely finished his meal and insisted on working with the generator repairman to fix the generator for over six hours. He went to bed and had a heart attack a few hours later. If ONLY HE LISTENED.

We think God’s counsel will come in dramatic ways like the parting of the Red Sea. Don’t be deceived. God speaks in a multitude of ways but mostly from within you to nudge you to action. He will DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET YOUR ATTENTION if only you are LISTENING. Elijah thought so too when God wanted to speak to him but he found that God was not in the obvious – strong wind, earthquake and fire

“But the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire, a small still voice. So it was when Elijah heard it....” 1 Kings 19.12-13 NKJV

Many of the problems we encounter, challenges we face, frustrations we feel and sufferings we undergo come as a result of our not LISTENING TO GOD CALLING TO US.  That is why He said who is as blind and deaf as His children (Isaiah 42.18).We can begin a fresh start TODAY by repenting of our arrogance and receive His mercy and grace to respond when He calls. The solution is before us but can only be discerned by spiritual guidance.

I understood more of this truth as I trimmed the hedge in my house. I usually use a chair to raise me up for a better cut but this is a tough challenge because the chair is not suitable. But I bore it for three years. Just recently, I stepped out in wisdom and made a CHANGE to use A DIFFERENT CHAIR and it was a beautiful partnership (I and the chair) which made my work so much easier. The LESSON? I didn’t have to experience that discomfort because the new chair was also there when I made the choice of the first one and continued to endure until I had enough. I DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT THREE YEARS TO EXPERIENCE THIS GOODNESS.

You can begin today to make changes in your relationship with God. Ask Him for help to listen and then when He speaks, OBEY. The more you allow God into your affairs, the better your decisions and more experience of the abundant life that Jesus spoke about (John 10.10). It can’t get any better than SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. What is God calling you to do today? LISTEN UP AND LIVE.

FAITH, FOOTBALL AND LIFE - SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM BOLTON FOOTBALLER FABRICE MUAMBA'S LIFE

 

The wisdom of God is found all around us even in the most unusual places and all that is required of us by God is to be discerning to learn and act. Thus, the amazing and miraculous recovery of fabric Muamba from ‘death’ on the pitch during a game with Tottenham Spurs is a minefield of faith lessons from which we can appropriate into our lives. Excerpts from him, his father Marcel and fiancée, Shauna’s story in the British newspaper, Sun of 22 & 23^rd April will be used to reveal God’s wisdom for us to learn.

HAVE A DAILY CONSISTENT FAITH LIFESTYLE

How often do Christians acknowledge their faith in their careers?  Rather we expend much time and resources building up our knowledge in books, seminars and any self development programme. Good but a consistent prayer life about your career and allowing Christ to guide you is what will ultimately provide the key to your survival as seen in Fabrice’s life.  The Scriptures in proverbs 3.3-5 tell us to “Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” nkjv

How regularly do we commit our lives and career to God for in times of sudden adversity, there is usually no time to pray. Preparation is very important to your success and survival as the lifestyle of Fabrice shows. In his words

“On Saturday, my dad called me at the team hotel and we prayed like we alwys do before games”

Shauna “I held his hand. Fabrice reads verses from the Bible everyday so I borrowed one and began reading out psalms to him”

The conclusion in Fabrice’s words “I asked God to protect me and He didn’t let me down.”

I am walking proof of the power of prayer. For 78minutes I was dead and even if I lived was expected to have suffered brain damage.

TRUST GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS.

When fabric fell on the pitch, he was fortunate to have immediate and appropriate medical intervention before he was taken to the London Chest Hospital where doctors battled to save him yet the family (father and fiancée) didn’t place their trust in medical intervention even though they were respectful of it. A good lesson to many who give up because of various medical reports and facts of life rather than putting their trust in Christ the Healer and Saviour.

Marcel locked himself in the hospital toilet and prayed

“I told God, please take care of everything.

“Then I said to God, you are the One who resurrected Lazarus from the dead, now in this moment glorify yourself”

Marcel and Shauna chose to place their trust in God to come through for fabric and they received of what they believed. Isn’t that what Jesus, the Word taught us in Mark 11.24?

“I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them”nkjv

Faith is a prerequisite for prayer and not the reverse. Many people don’t really trust God when they pray because their heart is full of fear and anxiety and sometimes a weak or nonexistent relationship with God and so they find it difficult to BELIEVE BEFORE PRAYING. Therefore the consequence is that they never receive and frustration sets in and with continued ignorance of the real problem (faith issue), they get angry with God and people.

A POSITION OF REST COMES FROM FAITH

When we are faced with challenges of any kind, a natural response of concern, anxiety comes at us like a fast flying object in our path but where the chaff of unbelief is shifted from the wheat of faith is in our response. Too often because we are not grounded in faith (not theoretical/mental assent of scripture but practice), panic sets in and eventually leading to decisions and consequences taken in error.

But a person of faith despite looming challenges and fears responds with a faith position and thereby enters a place of inner rest about the matter.

In Hebrews 4.2, it says “...but the word which they heard did not profit them not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believe do enter that rest as He said”nkjv

The rest of God is the overwhelming and inexplicable assurance within that everything is okay contrary to all facts. Such was the case with Marcel about his son’s condition. It was very serious and impossible yet he was not moved. His words

“I was obviously very concerned that fabric would not make it but our faith is very strong and I really believed God would answer my prayers to save him. Inside the van, I remember calmly turning to the Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside and saying”Fabrice will be fine” he probably thought I was crazy. But somehow I knew fabric would be safe in God’s hands.”

It is easy to be distracted at such a time but we must be resolute to find hope and comfort in The Word that cannot FAIL.

DEALING WITH UNBELIEF

How do you handle the actions of people in the face of your faith stand in impossible situations? Do you cower at their facts and figures that are right or you rest in the assurance of the Word. In life, we will sometimes have to deal with unbelief from others but we don’t have to cave in rather stand firm in our victory. That was Marcel’s position in relation to the opinion of doctors and others about his son’s critical situation.

“People around me at the time were amazed at how calm I was after I prayed and how sure I was that Fabrice would be ok. They thought I was blocking things out and just refusing to let myself believe my son was going to die because I couldn’t accept what was happening. At that stage, many people believed even if he survived he would end up brain damaged and could never be his old self”

His resolute stand? “But I was calm because I had put my trust in God and God did not let me down”

Listen to Shauna, his fiancée

“Doctors told me to expect Fab to be brain damaged” but she refused to accept that medical report and instead turned to God’s Word to read to him scriptures from the Book of Psalms. It was as if she was saying (in my own words to describe her thoughts) “I don’t deny your facts but I would rather choose God’s word as the final report on this matter”

It helps when you can find support from people of like minds in times of crisis and trials. Such was the comfort from Fabrice’s father

“He told her” Fabrice will be fine” She said of him” His faith is incredibly strong. That really helped calm me down

CHALLENGES ARE A COMPONENT OF LIFE ON EARTH

Dealing with problems that arise in our daily lives is often a daunting task yet it is a part of life. You can’t wish it away neither is denial a way out. But confronting such issues with faith in the promises of God is what is expected of us. Unfortunately bad things happen to good people and it is normal to ask why me? Fabric did that too. He couldn’t understand why he had to go through such a life threatening experience. In his words

“I never had any problems with my heart or major organ and there’s no history of heart disease in my family. And on that day, I remember feeling particularly fit and was really looking forward to the march” Yet the inevitable happened.

His fiancée said” Fab’s the most clean living person I know. He doesn’t drink or eat junk foods and is always the player who stays for extra training”

Even the doctors at the London Chest Hospital are still baffled that despite a battery of tests on him, it has failed to reveal the cause of his collapse. They call his recovery, one of the most amazing in medical history.

Thinking on this, I am reminded that we live in a world that has evil influences. The scriptures tell us that our enemy, satan’s only agenda is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John10.10). Yet Jesus gave us the Word of assurance in times such as these that are perplexing. He recognised our concerns and says

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world” John 16.22nkjv

This was at the heart of Marcel concerning his son that he believed Christ had overcome the challenge and indeed it was.

WHAT IS YOUR CONFESSION IN ADVERSITY

There is tremendous power in words we speak especially as a people of faith. Proverbs 18.21 says” death and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it (for death or life)”Amplified.

Throughout his son’s ordeal, Marcel never wavered from his position of faith which was expressed in the words he spoke to God, doctors, Bolton Club Chairman, his son’s fiancée and even to Fabrice in his unconscious state. It was a consistent word of life over his son. He recalled

“I told Fabrice” I know you are listening to me. I am telling you that you will come out of this hospital through the front door and not the back door”

It is easy to consider the various issues we have to deal with including unpleasant conditions of life and speak out of those experiences instead of the Word but you must exercise spiritual discipline over your tongue. Failure to do this will only allow what was never intended to happen. Never, ever speak words that negate God’s promises regardless of whatever facts, reports and opinion to the contrary.

Marcel could have chosen the overwhelming doctor’s report and bleak conditions over his son’s life but he REFUSED and the result is what he got – a miraculous recovery that has astounded medical science and triumphed over impossible circumstances.

I hope you will allow these spiritual truths to encourage and convict you wherever you presently stand in your faith life. We need to live by the spirit always in other to overcome the unexplainable and unexpected adversities of life. Fabrice’s story can be yours in any area of life. It is a tale about the power of the unseen over the natural. Faith in God caused him to walk out in an impossible situation. That can be your story too.

The question is do you live more of a sense led life or from the spirit? The Word states

For our light affliction which is for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Kjv

I pray that your faith will continually grow as you live the spirit led life. At all times be prepared by maintaining a faith lifestyle for in the end that is what really counts – your salvation in all things. As it happened with Fabrice, so is it possible for you too.