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Twenty years ago our church was in the midst of 40-day period of prayer and fasting. Almost everyone in the congregation participated in various forms of fasting. The emphasis of the meetings was waiting on the Lord for the prayers that He wanted us to utter. Intercessions for our nation, evangelism and for the increase of righteous behavior within the Body of Christ were common. There was a notable absence of prayers about personal matters. The gatherings were successful, one hundred plus people were coming to the sanctuary each morning for the 5-7 AM prayer meetings. Many would have their children in tow. Older kids were dressed for school and the toddlers would still be in their pajamas.
I Lost It
One family, with 8 children, who had attended every gathering failed to appear one morning. I made inquiries and discovered that the whole family was down with the flu. My heart sank and the meeting continued with tangible evidences of the Lord’s presence. Upon arriving home I began my routine duties, which included watering my hunting dog. The faucet handle was stubborn and I had trouble getting the water turned on. The next thing I knew, I was in a rage. The dog cowered in the corner of his pen as I hurled anything that I could get my hands on around the yard and screamed shameful profanities.
A whisper that I recognized to be the voice of the Lord drifted into my mind. “You are upset with Me, aren’t you Jim?” The truth trembled my soul. In reality I didn’t have a faucet problem. I had a God problem. He was a disappointing embarrassment. The least He could do is keep a faithful family in health, especially while they were in the midst of 40 days of prayer and fasting. “Remember God, it was You who said that fasting would cause health to spring forth speedily (Isa 58:8).”That experience led me into a study that has spanned through the years. “How are we to respond when perplexing things happen to God’s people?” I cannot claim that I have all the answers. However, I might have some insights that could prove soothing.
Formula Failure
The well-taught believers of the Western Church have a tendency to reduce the apprehension of God’s blessing to formulas. If I do xyz, everyday will be a zippity-do-dah day. All I need do is to marshal faith and confess this verse plus that verse. The result will be healing, family harmony, financial prosperity and so forth coming my way. Granted, these things are effective for a time. However, many believers discover that formulas that were successful while in their spiritual infancy become less so as they mature.
The reliability of the spiritual principles that we have been taught is not the problem. The problem is that God rejects the notion that spiritual formulas will bring blessings without an intimate relationship with Him. The Lord’s willingness to bless us with the provisions inherent in redemption is a constant. The manner in which we apprehend them is a variable. It is subject to Divine discretion that is revealed during Spirit-to-spirit personal communion with the Lord
God Values Relationships Over Religion
God loves you and values the intimate time that you spend with Him. Love is a relational matter. Love is incomplete, if all concerned do not treasure face-to-face interchanges. Apparently, though God is not a man, He has wounded Himself with the capacity of man-like emotions. He gives loves and likes the sensations of love that flood through Him when we demonstrate that we care by spending time with Him.
Religious exercises that give God the feeling that He is perceived as a remote vending machine who dispersers blessings are not always welcomed. As our Father, Friend and Counselor, He desires that we commune with Him about our needs and aspirations. The blessings of His interventions and assistance are more apt to flow in abundance when directives about apprehending them are birthed from intimacy. Perplexing situations that seemingly belie the availability of Redemption’s provisions of healing and reasonable prosperity occur in every believer’s life (3Jo 1:2). The duration of such can be greatly reduced when encounters with the Lord are habitual in our lives.
Plead Your Case
In the Old and New Testaments the Lord extends an invitation to believers. It is to come and reason with Him about events that are contrary to what we know to be His revealed will for our lives (Isa 1:18, Heb 4:16). The words “reason together’ in the passage from Isaiah convey the concept of pleading/arguing/adjudicating one’s case, as in a court setting. The verse from Hebrews echoes the same. It encourages us to “boldly” argue our case before His throne/judgment bench of grace.
The basis for our litigations is His Word, His nature, and His reputation. The boldness of our arguments is greatly enhanced if we know from intimate experience that the Lord treasures our friendship with Him. God, like most of us, isn’t really concerned about what those outside of His friendship circle think. He in fact considers the arguments of the heathen laughable (Psa 2:1-4). Not so with us.
There are examples of notable biblical characters pleading their cases before the Lord on a variety of grounds. God ruled in their favor on each occasion. Abraham entreated Him on the basis of what he understood about God’s divine nature. During one of the Lord’s visits with Abraham, His old friend treated Him to a sumptuous picnic. The Lord commented to the two angels who accompanied Him that it would not be right for Him to hide His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah from Abraham. Fearing that his relatives would perish in the destruction, Abraham appealed to God’s just nature. “Lord, it’s not like you to destroy the righteous with the wicked (Gen 18).”
God had become exasperatingly angry at the entire nation of Israel. He told Moses that He wanted to annihilate them and give him a new people to lead.Moses was clever in his approach. He mentioned that such would be bad for God’s reputation of power and a denial of His description of Himself as the God of everlasting kindness (Num 14:11-21). “Lord, how is it going to look if people hear that you brought Israel out of Egypt but couldn’t bring them into the Promised Land? Wouldn’t that tarnish your reputation for being powerful and forgiving?”
Hezekiah was exceedingly bold when pleading with God to heal him from a terminal illness. He had the chutzpah to remind the Lord that he had been diligent in performing good works during his reign as King of Judah (2Ki 20:1-11). “God don’t let me die. Don’t you remember how I have walked in truth and have done all that You wanted me to do?”
Some Jewish elders who wanted Jesus to heal a Roman centurion’s servant confronted Him with similar reasoning. “Lord, this Gentile is worthy. He loves our nation and built the city synagogue (Luk 7:5).” Good works were also the basis for Peter raising Dorcas from the dead. She abounded with charitable deeds and acts of kindness and her friends showed the Apostle the beautiful things that she had made for them (Act 9:36-42).
Filthy Rags?
Most believers harbor misconceptions about the quality of their righteousness and the value of good works. Isaiah 64:6 and Titus 3:5 are used as proof texts that our righteousness is like contaminated garments and that our good works carry no weight with God. It is important to understand that those passages do not represent God’s final say about righteousness and good works. The Old Testament reference applies to Israel at a particular time when it was in a backslidden condition. There are scores of other scriptures wherein God and His representatives describe His people as righteous.
Because of Jesus’ imputed righteousness, believers are the righteousness of God in Christ (2Co 5:21). Good works cannot earn one’s initial salvation. However, Christians are appointed for good works (Eph 2:10). New Testament characters that were faithful to their callings were frequently commended. Widows who were known for charitable deeds, conscientious motherhood and being intercessors qualified for systematic benevolence from church funds (1Ti 5:9-10). The white robes of resurrected Christians are woven from righteous acts (Rev 19:8). Therefore, good works that are birthed from righteous responses to the Word of God do carry weight with the Lord. While pleading one’s case for the favor of the Lord, it is legitimate to remind the Lord of such (Heb 6:10).
Acceptable and Unacceptable Tribulations
Jesus said that while in this world we would have tribulations (Joh 16:33). After being stoned for preaching the Gospel, Paul exhorted the disciples that the entrance to the Kingdom of God was paved with tribulations (Act 14:22). The stench of Salvation that emanates from Christians is intolerable to many who are not yet born-again. All of us should anticipate and joyfully bear the persecutions that come our way because the aroma of righteousness permeates the air around us (2Co 2:15-16).
Christians can experience other forms of adversity that are totally unacceptable. We are not under obligation to endure tribulations that infringe upon health and reasonable prosperity. These are inherent provisions that accompany redemption. Whenever attacked in those areas we can use every spiritual tool available to vanquish the opposition. This is especially true when we or ours are attacked with sickness.
All sicknesses are the evidence of satanic activity. The Devil goes about like a lion seeking people to devour with devastating diseases (1Pe 5:8-9). Every hospital ward ministers to those who have been raked by his claws. The Bible is abundantly clear about how to respond when illness strikes. We are to resist the works of the enemy through confessions of what the Bible says the blood-stripes of Jesus accomplished on our behalf. They healed us 2,00 years ago (Mat 8:17, 1Pe 2:24). Our present-day applications of spiritual concepts to quench sicknesses are simply up-dates of what happened at Calvary when Jesus bore our illnesses and pains.
If the problem is stubborn, it can indicate that we need to shift to the “reasoning with the Lord” mode. In such instances it is kosher to remind Him of numerous things. The fact that He healed Bible characters that had less than flawless lives is pertinent. He will smile with appreciation as you reminisce about the previous occasions when He intervened in your life. Heaven’s court will rule in your favor.
Dom of All Doms
It is not uncommon for Christians to become painfully aware that they are guilty of falling into sin from a temptation. On these occasions, many don’t have the confidence that they can reason with the Lord about life’s perplexities (1Jo 3:19-22). They figure that they got what was coming to them. If you are such a person, I want to encourage you to muse on the court of heaven from a new perspective. I’ll use some Mafioso terminology.
Saint, you are a made-man, a good-fella, a wise-guy in the real Godfather’s crew. Anytime that you are in trouble, even when it’s of your own making, jury tampering goes into affect (Psa 91:15). Your Godfather is also the Judge. His Son is your court appointed Attorney. Your Attorney handpicks a jury of your peers who were previously charged and acquitted of the same misdemeanor for which you have been arraigned. Relax the “fix” is in. Envision the following scene.
The sheriff of condemnation apprehended you within hours of one of your weak moments. The clarity of your guilt causes the prosecutor, better known as Satan, the accuser of the brethren, to call for your arraignment before the court (Rev 12:10). You cannot afford a lawyer, so the court secures one for you. The Judge, God the Father, selects His Son who happens to be a lawyer (Psa 75:7; Heb 12:3; 1Jo 2:1). He is unique because He has never lost a case. Your Advocate chooses a jury of your peers. Actually they are your blood-bought relatives in the faith. These are saints who have previously been tried for the misdemeanor with which you are charged. The court is in session, and the Judge opens the trial by reminding the jury that they are to judge others with the equity with which they would want to be judged (Mat 7:1; Jam 5:9).
The prosecutor points his finger at you and recites his eyewitness account of your crime. Your Advocate majestically rises in your defense. He confidently smiles at the Judge and winks at the jury. He requests that the court dismiss the charges. He explains that you were formerly tried for the same crime and that Another had paid your debt in full (1Co 5:21). He then asks the Judge to search the records to verify that the charges against you exist and have been duly recorded. The Judge fumbles through His papers and responds that He cannot find any record of the charge. He smiles and tells the prosecutor that the charges were forgiven 2,000 years ago and that the record has been permanently deleted (Isa 43:25; 44:22).
Your Advocate then demands that the case be dropped on the basis of insufficient evidence and double jeopardy. The prosecutor begins to complain about jury tampering in that the Judge is the Father of your Defense Attorney and the jurors are your relatives. The Judge’s gavel sounds with finality. Your case is dismissed, and the prosecutor is charged with contempt of court. Take heart. The “fix” is in. Go ahead and argue your case. Eternity’s best are on your side.
A Counterproductive Misconception
Some claim, “God has the Devil on a leash”. Just like he couldn’t touch Job unless God allowed him to do so, he can’t touch me without God’s permission.” Satan is not God’s vicious pet that He walks through Christendom on a leash. God is not a malicious COP who delights in frightening folks with a police dog that is straining at its tether to gobble up their prosperity, property, peace and health. At Calvary Jesus set the Dispensation of Grace in motion (Joh 1:17). Grace credits believers with righteousness and exempts them from the penalties due them for not fully obeying the works of the Law
Satan is God’s enemy and ours. Every Christian is in a wrestling match against his schemes to disrupt their lives and to hinder their exploits for the Kingdom of God (Eph 6:10-14). Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (1Jo 3:8). He was ordained by God with the Holy Spirit’s power and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil (Act 10:38). Jesus commissioned His Church to do the same (Luk 10:19, Mar 16:17-18).
Satan is not the Lord’s domesticated pet. He cannot be domesticated. He is a thief, a murderer, the father of lies and an unconscionable renegade and rebel. Satan goes about seeking lives to devour (1Pe 5:8-9). Christians have the authority to overcome him by the blood of the Lamb as they testify to what Jesus accomplished for them on the Cross (Rev 12:10-11). Believers are admonished not to give place to the Devil (Eph 4:27). We are commanded to be steadfast in faith and to resist him at every juncture (Jam 4:7). These injunctions are the distinctive privileges of Christians until the Lord shackles the Adversary and all of his cohorts in the lake of fire during the Kingdom Dispensation.
The notion that God has Satan on a leash and looses him on believers defies the admonitions of the verses that have been cited. God is not the author of confusion. The Bible says that we are to obey God-ordained authorities (Rom 13:1-5). God is the ultimate authority. If He indeed had Satan on a leash and commanded him to attack us, it would be rebelliously wicked for us to resist His authority. We would be obligated to allow Satan to chew us up. In addition, the Word states that when we rebuke Satan, he will flee from us (Jam 4:7). It is the authority delegated to believers by God’s eternally obedient Son that makes the Devil flee. It is hard to imagine that Jesus would encourage His saints to issue commands that would cause His Father to restrain a leashed pet that was attempting to flee.
But, But
Some may question that which I have stated about Satan by citing portions of Isaiah 54:16. “But doesn’t the Bible say that God created the destroyer who invents weapons of ruin?” Yes, it does. However, the context of the surrounding verses reveal that those weapons will not prosper against believers (Isa 54:17). The Lord comforts us by emphatically stating that oppressive terrors will be far from us and that if anyone assails us it is not at His request (Isa 54:14-15). The Psalmist, David, confirmed this by saying, “The Lord has not given me over to the hand of my enemy (Psa 31:8).”
Conclusion
It is essential that you understand that you need not battle the perplexities of life alone. The Body of Christ is a real body. Every member is vital to the welfare of the other members (Rom 12:4, Eph 4:16). We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn (Rom 12:15). The Apostle Paul provides us with a good example of how the body works for an afflicted member. He stated that at one point he felt pressed beyond measure and sensed the powers of death rallying against him. He said that his relief came through the prayers of many and gave him reason to praise God with a new confidence (2Co 1:8-11).
When perplexities strike, I urge you to call upon members of your local church for help. If it is a season to smite the powers of Satan, they can stand in the midst of the battle with you until the victory is obtained. If you are reasoning with the Lord, they can also plead your case before His throne of grace. It will be satisfying to God to see His children arguing for one another as opposed to arguing with one another.
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