Standing When everything Around You is Falling

'...Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.' 1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

Satan is out to tempt, trap and topple you. One of his favorite lies is that you can't fall. He appeals to your ego: 'You've got your spiritual act together; you're too strong to stumble. Weaker people wouldn't be able to handle it, but you can.' This lie is intended to make you over-confident, to lead you to '...Trust in man...depend on flesh for (your) strength' and '...turn away from
the Lord.' (Jeremiah 17:5 NIV) It's designed to get you to lower your guard and make you vulnerable to his schemes. Don't play into his hands! Be wise: 'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.' (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV) Live on your knees. Fortify yourself with God's Word. Another of Satan's favorite lies is that you can't stand. This appeals to your underlying sense of unworthiness, fear and inadequacy. He whispers, 'Look at your track record. Compared to all those other good folks in church, you're not worthy to be called a Christian. Just give up.' Satan wants to divert you from '...Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.' (Jude 1:24 NAS) He wants to get you
focused on your negatives, your wayward friends, spiritual giants who fell, and tell you that because they couldn't make it, you've no chance. He'll replay your list of shortcomings to discourage you. Don't go for it. '...He is a liar and the father of lies.' (John 8:44 NAS) Believing him makes you his victim. Refuse to let either pride or inadequacy defeat you.

How God Reveals His Will to You

'...Did not our heart burn within us...' Luke 24:32 NKJV

Look at the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and you'll discover how God speaks to us and
gives us direction. They thought they'd seen the death of Jesus and His movement. Fearful and disillusioned, they packed their bags and headed for home, when suddenly Jesus appeared to them. How does the Lord reveal His will to us? The simplicity of the process may surprise you. First, through others. The travelers' first mistake was to disregard the words of their fellow disciples. '...Today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, but they did not find his body there. They came and told us... Jesus was alive!' (Luke 24:22-23 NCV) God
still works that way. He still speaks to us through others. That's why you need to attend church regularly and build relationships that strengthen you. Secondly, through Scripture. '...Starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about Him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about Himself in the Scriptures.' (Luke 24: 27 NCV) Their second mistake was disregarding the Word of God and listening to their fears. Are you doing that? God still speaks through His Word; the answers you need are in your Bible. Thirdly, through our heart's desire.
'They said to each other, It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us....' God reveals His will to us by giving us a burning desire. What fuels and focuses you? Singles? Helping Children? The inner city? Untouched nations? Forgotten orphans? Youth? Whatever it is-heed the fire within you!

You Must be Faithful

'...He was faithful to God, who appointed him...' Hebrews 3:2 NLT

Faithfulness is more than just a nice concept; you must be faithful to something or someone. Actually, it's in making and keeping commitments to others that we demonstrate our faithfulness to God. '...And whatever you do in word or deed,do all in the name of the Lord...' (Colossians 3:17 NKJV) That means: to be seen by Him, to bring glory to Him, and to be rewarded by Him. If you don't love those around you, you don't really love God. Jesus put it this way: '...Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' (Matthew 25:40 NKJV) The
Greek word for faithful means 'to be trustworthy and reliable'. When you give your word, can you be trusted to keep it? Many of us just aren't reliable. We can't be counted on to do what we say. It doesn't matter how gifted you are, if you're not trustworthy, God cannot use you. And God will test you! How? By assigning you to do something for a period of time that you don't want to do, something that's not fun or exciting, something that may require you to submit to someone else's authority, something you chafe under. Then He will say to you, 'Just be faithful.' And faithfulness is not merely showing up day after day-it's showing up with a good attitude. God rewards that kind of faithfulness. Jesus said, '...If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?' (Luke 16:12 NIV) Simply stated, if you want to be successful, you must be faithful.

God Hears your Prayers

...Lord, the one you love is sick.' John 11:3 NIV

John records, '...Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick.' (NCV) Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus and because they went, Jesus
responded. The healing didn't take place for several days, but it was set in motion the moment the Lord was called on. Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? '...There was silence in Heaven... And...another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden pan...with the prayers of all God's...people. The angel put this offering...before the throne. The smoke...went up...to God with the prayers of God's people.' (Revelation 8:1-4 NCV) Why was there silence in
Heaven? Because someone was praying! Heaven pauses to hear the prayers of someone like you. The prayers of all God's...people...went up...to God. Isn't that awesome! Your words don't stop until they reach the heart of God, so keep praying. Notice, the friend who went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus said, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' He didn't base his appeal on he imperfect love of the one in need, but on the perfect love of Jesus. He didn't say, 'The one who loves you is sick.' He said, 'The one you love is sick.' That's different. The power of prayer doesn't depend on the virtue of the one who prays, but on the unchanging love of the one who hears. Aren't you glad? You may be deeply flawed, you may not understand the mystery of prayer, but this much is clear: action begins in Heaven when someone on earth prays.

What You Learn in a Crisis

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''..."Why are we sitting here until we die?"'' 2 Kings 7:3
The armies of Syria had besieged Samaria and the people were dying of starvation. Four lepers, whose disease forced them to live outside the city walls, had got used to living on scraps of bread people threw over the wall each day. But now no more scraps were coming their way. So they said to themselves, '..."Why are we sitting here until we die?"' So they took action. '...They rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians... to their surprise no one was there. For the Lord had caused... the Syrians to hear... the noise of a great army... Therefore they arose and fled... and left... their tents, their horses, and their donkeys... these lepers... went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing... Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent... let us go and tell the king's household"' (2 Kings 7:5-9 NKJV). This story teaches us three important truths. First, that crisis becomes our friend when it moves us to take action. Only when we're sick and tired of being sick and tired, will things begin to change for the better. Second, that - once we take a step of faith - God will move on our behalf. The only thing that can limit Him is our doubt, our stubbornness and our complacency. His Word says, '...Therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you...' (Isaiah 30:18 KJV). Finally, it teaches us that when God blesses us, we can't keep it to ourselves. Others need what God has given us, and we must get it to them - on time.

Building Men & Women of God

'These commandments... Impress them on your children.' Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV

Teach your children to respond the right way to God's direction and correction. Help them to understand that God's correction is not rejection. 'My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.' (Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV) To help them understand this, first teach them to respond correctly to your discipline. The rules you don't enforce now will be enforced by others later, at a higher cost. But let your discipline be fair, not excessive. And be consistent. Don't permit today what you punished yesterday. Saying things like, 'How many times have I told you?' or, 'If you do that again you're grounded' means you're not serious and that they have several warnings before you act. Enforce it! Don't threaten unless you intend to follow through. Secondly, teach them to respond correctly to authority figures. 'Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established...' (Romans 13:1 NIV) Don't belittle police, teachers, head teachers, pastors, and so on. If you do, it will come back to bite you and your children. Thirdly, share your own experiences of personal growth through correction. Let them know you're not perfect; it will help them relate to your humanity as a parent and it'll give them hope.
'If Mom and Dad learned by being corrected when they blew it, I can too.' Well-chosen times of personal sharing are much more effective than nagging and 'sermonising'!

Building Men & Women of God

'These commandments... Impress them on your children.' Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV

Teach your child the importance of standing up for what's right. Our children gravitate towards whatever pleases the important people in their lives-right or wrong-out of their need for acceptance. If their peers are doing it, peer approval will be a powerful influence on them. It's not always about good kids versus bad, or about morality versus immorality-it's about being kids! Solomon, recalling his own youthful tendencies, counseled, 'My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, Come along with us...do not go along with them...' (Proverbs 1:10-15 NIV) We become like the company we keep, and if our kids are to stand for God against destructive influences they need instruction in several areas. First, the qualities of true friendship. Teach them that true friends seek each other's best interests, and whoever leads them into danger or sin is not a friend. Secondly, the inevitable law of consequences. '...A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature...will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit...will reap eternal life.' (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV) And reinforce your teaching by refusing to rescue them from their consequences. Finally, the right kind of heroes. Instead of rock stars or sports celebrities of questionable character, introduce your children to Bible heroes who modeled godliness, righteousness and courage under pressure! That may seem old fashioned, but when was doing right before God ever old fashioned?