By the Mercy of God, Do Not Lose Heart During Times of Adversity!

 

Quotation

          Since antiquity, humans have been fascinated with numbers. Like the concept of God, numbers are infinite. Like God, very few numbers can be expressed in a meaningful way. For every number you can represent in an incisive way, there are infinitely many more that you can’t, the transcendental number or irrational numbers. In mathematics, the best-known transcendental number is the Greek number pi. Like these infinitely more common irrational numbers, God is transcendental -- God is not part of the universe He created and cannot be understood by humans, because He is above and beyond the earthly things we know of.

 

Barry Denzil Haney, MD

 

Scripture

 

Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

 

2 Corinthians 4:1-9

 

Reflection

 

We are all ministers when we are born again. Our ministry is by the mercy of God, and we do not lose heart during times of adversity. We need to remain stable and steadfast. Our country has been through one of the most challenging chapters it has faced during the pandemic. Masks, closures of our schools and churches and death of loved ones by an unseen enemy, the COVID-19 virus. 

 

Today, there is tremendous pressure from the secular world to compromise the inerrant Word of God. We are out of step with the world who is trying to define the word gender. 

 

During the Reach Educators Campaign, a group of Gideon’s asked school administrators during this global campaign and all the things you have faced, what is the number one challenge you are facing now. They said our students don’t understand what gender they are.

 

Wow! That’s the greatest thing our administrators are facing in our schools today.

 

We are stable as we build this ministry on Biblical principles and values. Men of God, men of faith it is a privilege to handle the Word of God. As Gideon’s we never take for granted the honor and privilege of handling God’s Word.

 

We understand there are lost people throughout the world, including our own neighborhoods, and even our families. The Gospel is veiled to billions throughout the world. The Great Deceiver has blinded the minds of unbelievers.

 

The pandemic has created an urgency for the unsaved who want hope and we have it in our testaments and our Jesus. Remember, Jesus is the subject! We are stable when we have compassionate hearts for lost people and a boldness to those blinded and perishing. We are stable when we give all glory to God and not to us.

 

During the past year we suffered racial tension across many of our cities which spewed out around the world. The Gideon’s responded by reaching out to first responders, both police and firemen, thanking them for their service and offering them New Testaments, most gladly received. These responders described anxiety and depression making life saving decisions while being accused of racism and negligence. They said it was a blessing to receive positive response as opposed to those calling for defunding the police.

 

Yes folks, Satan is alive and well. We are in a spiritual battle! But our hope is in Jesus, whose work on the Cross at Calvary provides us with a way to spend an eternity with our Creator God in Heaven. To God be all the glory! Amen!

 

Illustration

 

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis likened God’s use of adversity to walking a dog. If the dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the owner are after the same end, forward motion, but the owner must resist the dog by pulling him opposite the direction he wants to go. The master, sharing the same intention, but understanding better than the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely opposite to that of the dog’s will. It is in this way that God uses adversity. (Green)

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Thank you for the hope You give me in

Your Son Jesus! Because of this gift of

salvation, I am never giving up! No matter

what adversity I might face, I will not lose heart!

 

Because Satan is alive and well, we will put on the

full armor of God to protect us from Satan’s lies!

We pray for this country facing unrelenting pressures

to compromise on the absolute truths found in Your Word!

 

We pray for revival in the hearts of men to see the light

through the work of the Holy Spirit in their minds and hearts!

Help us to build our ministry of spreading the Good News of

the Gospel, on Biblical principles and values found in the Bible!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

 

Worship

 

Never Give Up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoA8xkiuts0

 

God Bless You,

Barry

 

Green, Michael P. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.