WHEN THINGS DON’T PAN OUT: DON’T GIVE UP

January 25, 2014 at 6:13 PM (Christian Living, When Things Don't Pan Out)
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We all like to have things our way. It’s a natural and normal thing that comes with being human. It’s not necessarily the best, safest, or healthiest thing for us. God has a better way. His way. But sometimes people just can’t tell us differently or convince us otherwise: our way is the best way! It’s this stubborn, inextinguishable belief that’s a huge part of the reason why we like having our way.

As you know full well by now,  things don’t always go the way we planned. It’s a real downer and a source of frustration, disappointment, anger, and tears. But that’s life. And we find a way to go on.

But when things don’t pan out the way God said they would, then that becomes a really really difficult thing for me. I’m a believer. I take God at His Word. When He makes me a promise and I take Him up on that promise, I fully expect Him to do what He said He would do. And when He doesn’t, I go through a serious time of reflection and questioning. Is God’s Word true or not? Of course it is, silly! Then why didn’t it work?

I like to have answers. Sometimes, the answers are easy. Sometimes hard to fathom or digest. Sometimes there aren’t any answers. At least, not right now. Maybe down the road. Maybe never. But whether I understand the reasons or not, I’m still a believer. God expects me to continue believing Him. Continue serving Him. Continue praising Him. And since I’m a preacher, God expects me to continue preaching the Word of truth and life.

The Biblical characters were very much like you and me. They were, in fact, totally human. Just like you and me. Life didn’t always pan out for them too. How they responded and dealt with the mess they were faced with  can be a compass or a lighthouse to get us back on track with the Lord. So, from beyond the grave, as it were, the dead speak and show us how to continue being faithful when it looks as if God isn’t.

DON’T GIVE UP

Acts 3 tells the story of a beggar who was healed at the Temple. Instead of telling you the story myself, I’m gonna let the Bible do it this time. Take a trip back in time and see yourself as this beggar. You really can’t appreciate the full range of his emotions—his despair, hope, and finally uncontained joy—unless you put yourself in his sandals.

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.  (2)  As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.  (3)  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.  (4)  Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” (5)  The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.  (6)  But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”  (7)  Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.  (8)  He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them (Acts 3:1-8).

I worked for a time with handicapped people in a group home. It was there that I gained a new-found, and now life-long, appreciation for everything handicapped people go through. There would be an occasional complaint, but for the most part, they just concentrated on doing the things that we able-bodied people take for granted and do so easily and thoughtlessly. Everything they did, like getting dressed, took a lot of time and effort. But they just kept on plugging away until they did what needed to be done.

Life never really panned out for this lame beggar in our Scripture text. He was born with a deformity in his feet and ankles that kept him from walking. He lived without the hope of healing, at least the medical kind. For the rest of his life, from birth, he was stuck with having to be carried about everywhere he wanted to go. (Why did it take sooo long to invent the wheelchair?) He lived with the stigma of being a beggar. Do you realize how incredibly humbling and humiliating it is to beg? Yet, this fellow did it everyday except the Sabbath, at one of the Temple gates.

Luke tells us that he begged at the Beautiful Gate. Now the Temple had nine gates, eight of which were plated or overlaid with silver and gold. They were all gorgeous and grandiose. But the Beautiful Gate excelled the others in sheer beauty and magnificence. The doors of the gate were overlaid with Corinthian brass of the most expensive and exquisite kind that even gold and silver paled by comparison. It was the main and the largest of the Temple gates. Most of the people who went into the Temple went through this gate. So it was a busy place, and a good place, for a beggar to beg.

What amazes me about this beggar, like the handicapped people of our day, is the guy’s daily routine. His determination. His perseverance. He forced himself to get to the Temple every day, except Sabbath, to beg. He could’ve felt sorry for himself, stayed home, and pine away. Give up on life. Hate God. Turn away from Him. Just wither away and die. It’s tough, really really tough, living everyday when you haven’t got a hope for a better life. But the guy just kept on going, living life the best he could.

But, far and away, what’s even more amazing to me about this guy is what isn’t explicitly said in Scripture. How many times did Jesus pass by this beggar and didn’t heal him? How many times did the apostles do likewise? Jesus was the great Miracle Worker. The renowned Healer. Everybody in Jerusalem knew Him. Everybody recognized Him. Jesus healed gobs and gobs of people throughout Palestine. Even in Jerusalem. He went to the Temple gobs of time. He even healed some folks in the Temple! And some of these folks were lame (Matthew 21:14, John 5:1-9, 9:1-7)! Do you seriously think this beggar was ignorant of Jesus? Not on your life! THIS GUY HAD ONE HOPE OF HEALING AND THAT WAS JESUS. YET, FOR ALL THE TIMES THAT JESUS PASSED HIM JESUS NEVER HEALED HIM!

How disheartening is that? This just isn’t fair! Jesus healed lots of folks, but not me! Why not me? How do you answer these questions? How do you explain the fact that Jesus never healed him when He had the chance to do it?

Like I said at the start, you really can’t feel this guy’s pain unless you put yourself in his sandals. Maybe some of you already have his sandals on. You’ve lived with the pain and the disease for years. You’ve said your prayers. You’ve cried your endless rivers of tears. You’ve held tightly to the hope of healing. Only to have them dashed, time after time, when Jesus passed you by and didn’t heal you like He healed so many others, even others in your very same condition. How do you go on with life without the bitterness?Disappointment. Resentment. Criticism. Complaint. Disillusionment. Hopelessness. Self-pity. Depression. And despair. It’s tough to go on!

But you’ve got to do it! You’ve got to find a way to get past the heartache of unanswered prayer, the pain of an unhealed disease. Somehow, this beggar found a way to do that. He cried himself to bed that night after Jesus passed him by. He got up the next morning. And by some miracle of persistence, he got his clothes on, ate, then went back to the Temple to beg. HE DIDN’T LET UNANSWERED PRAYER STOP HIM FROM LIVING. STOP HIM FROM GOING ON. STOP HIM FROM BELIEVING IN GOD! Look at verse 8 once again. What did the guy do after he was healed? He praised God, loudly I’m sure, with excitement and enthusiasm. People who’ve given up on God, who hate God, who are mad at God, don’t praise or acknowledge God. The fact that this beggar went into the Temple, praising God, tells me he was faithful and true to God even when God didn’t heal him.

Do you see what I’m trying to say? WHEN THINGS DON’T PAN OUT DON’T GIVE UP! PERSEVERE! KEEP ON GOING! You may not understand why God didn’t heal you. Why He hasn’t healed you. You’re tempted to think you’re an exception. He’s never gonna heal you. It’s not His will to heal you. A thousand questions, doubts, and thoughts race through you mind. The devil’s talking to you, trying to keep you stuck in bed and let the world, let life, pass you by. Friends, he’ll rob you of your faith, your hope, your joy, your strength, your life…if you let him. DON’T LET HIM! HOLD ON TO YOUR HOPE. AS LONG AS YOU’RE ALIVE, AS LONG AS JESUS IS ALIVE, YOU’VE GOT HOPE!  How do I know that? Because you’ve got His Word! Heaven and earth may pass away, but My Word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Granted, we all have a time to die. When it’s time to die it’s time to die and no promise of healing , no amount of faith and praying, will keep you from dying. Death’s promised too and that’s one promise that God’s gotta keep too (Hebrews 9:27). But I’m not talking about the promise of dying. I’m talking about the promise of healing. God gave you His promise of healing (Exodus 15:26, Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15). If you don’t want it or don’t believe it, that’s between you and God. So, at this point, I’m not talking to you. But if you’re believing for healing, if you once believed for healing, if you want to believe for healing, then believe and don’t give up believing. GOD MADE YOU A PROMISE AND YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BELIEVE AND EXPECT HIM TO KEEP IT NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE YOUR SITUATION MAY BE! GOD IS NO LIAR! HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD IF YOU HOLD FAST TO THE END AND BELIEVE!

In hindsight, knowing everything we know, knowing how history later panned out and Peter eventually healed this beggar; we can say IT WAS A MATTER OF TIMING. GOD HAS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN. HE HAS AN EXACT TIME FOR HEALING. AND UNTIL THAT RIGHT AND PERFECT TIME COMES YOU’RE NOT GONNA GET HEALED. NOT YET. BUT DON’T WORRY! DON’T BE DISHEARTENED! DON’T GIVE UP HOPE! CHIN UP! CHEER UP! GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISE! May God bless you, dear saint of God, and fill you with all hope, grace, and peace in believing.

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GOD IS STILL FAITHFUL

December 4, 2012 at 6:16 PM (Attributes of God, Doctrine)
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A REASON TO BELIEVE AND HOLD FAST

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised). Hebrews 10:23 

Waiting does not come easy to many of us. As is so often the case, the longer the wait, the weaker the faith. Some give up faith altogether. Others get mouthier with God. Some even turn their back on Him.

But, brethren, we are persuaded of better things concerning you! The Lord wants to encourage you to continue to believe and trust Him. He has a word for His people and that word is, God is still faithful! What are you believing for, beloved? What trial of faith are you faced with? And how long has it been since you prayed and the answer still hasn’t come? God’s word to you today is, Hold fast! Because God is still faithful!

THE MEANING OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

What does God’s faithfulness mean? GOD’S FAITHFULNESS MEANS HE WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO. This is what God promised and this is what God will do:  What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11:24). God’s faithfulness, dear friends, means you’re going to get what you’ve asked and believed God for.

WHAT GOD’S FAITHFULNESS ENTAILS FOR US

1. God’s faithfulness is our guarantee that He will do for us whatever we’re believing and asking Him to do according to His Word. We’re constantly looking for guarantees and assurances. We want to make sure that the thing we’re planning to buy will work, or that the person we hired to do a job will do it right.

We all want proof that God’s going to do what He said He would do. Fortunately for us, we have the proof! The proof is our faith. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Evidence is proof. That’s what the word means. Our faith is the evidence or proof that we have the things that are not seen. We may not see the healing right now. We may not see our loved one saved just yet. We may not have the much-needed money at the moment. But the faith that we have in our heart is the proof that we have the things that we’ve desired of God that are not seen just now.

Of course, if we don’t have faith in our heart, if we don’t believe God’s going to answer our prayer, then we won’t have the evidence or proof. Instead, our heart will be filled with doubts, questions, and arguments.

But when we believe, our hearts are at rest and at peace because we believe, we know, that God will do what we asked Him to do. Our faith is the proof that we have what we don’t yet see.

2. God’s faithfulness gives us reason to endure our trials. His faithfulness is the basis for our endurance. We endure the trials because we know He’ll be faithful to deliver us and grant us our petition. We don’t suffer or endure or wait in vain! At the trial’s end we’ll receive the things we’ve desired of God.

How do we know that? How can we be sure of that? Because that’s what God said would happen! He said, Ye shall have them (Mark 11:24). We may not know the exact time this trial will come to an end. We may not know when exactly the answer will come. But WE CAN KNOW HOW THE TRIAL WILL END. God’s faithfulness means this trial will end and we’ll get what He promised us we could have.

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS ROOTED IN HIS NATURE

It is God’s nature to be faithful. He’s faithful because that’s what He is by nature. Birds fly because it’s built into their very nature to fly. Fishes swim because it’s part of their nature to swim. In much the same way, God is faithful because it’s His nature to be faithful.

II Timothy 2:13 tells us,  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.  The word deny means ‘to  disclaim, disown, renounce, or contradict’.

God cannot renounce or contradict what He is by nature. Birds can’t cease to be birds. Fishes can’t cease to be fishes. And God can’t cease to be faithful: He abideth faithful (II Timothy 2:13).  God cannot be anything other than faithful. His nature compels Him to be faithful. He cannot quit being faithful. He cannot stop from being faithful. It is utterly impossible for God to be unfaithful–at any time, in any circumstance or trial. He cannot deny Himself!

God’s faithfulness is tied in with His other attributes.

  • Why Can God Be Faithful? Because God is True. He cannot lie. If He promised it, He won’t break His promise. God cannot and will not renege on His Word! Numbers 23:19 assures us that  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  Hebrews 6:18  tells us that it  is impossible for God to lie. Do you know what ‘impossible’ means? It means no chance, no possibility, no way. Impossible means it can’t happen, it’s incapable of coming to pass, it can’t be done. What is impossible is inconceivable, impractical, unimaginable, unthinkable, unattainable, unachievable, unfeasible–it’s beyond possibility of realization or accomplishment. In other words, brethren, God cannot lie. He can never be unfaithful. He cannot deny Himself! Why? Because it’s impossible for Him to do so!
  • How Can God Be Faithful? God can be faithful because He is omnipotent. He is powerful enough to do whatever He wants to do. He is powerful enough to do whatever you need Him to do in your life! There is none more powerful that God! Nothing and no one can prevent Him from doing what He wants to do.

Isaiah 14:27 reads,  For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?  

Elsewhere, in Jeremiah 32:27 we read, Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?  The prophet himself answers the question in verse 17 of the same chapter:  Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. Hallelujah!

Have you settled it, my friends? Nothing is too hard for the Lord to do for you!  With God, all things are possible. Nothing is impossible for Him to do {except lie} because He has all the power to do whatever you need Him to do in your life.

God’s faithfulness lies in Himself, in His nature, in His very being. Do you know what this means? It means God’s faithfulness isn’t dependent on your symptoms; it isn’t conditioned on, or regulated by, the circumstances you’re faced with. God’s faithfulness, beloved, does not cease with the severity of the trial, nor is it diminished and threatened by the longevity of the trial. It isn’t harder for God to be faithful just because the trial is harder or longer or seemingly hopeless, incurable, or impossible.

God’s faithfulness lies in Himself. His nature causes Him to be faithful. And there’s nothing–except a change in His nature–that can cause God to be unfaithful. Since God’s nature hasn’t changed, since His nature can’t be changed–then there’s nothing on this earth, including your trial and the devil, that can change God or prevent Him from being faithful TO YOU!

What cannot be changed cannot be changed. The symptoms, the pains, the time element, the reports of men, or the lies and works of the devil, CANNOT CHANGE God’s nature of  ALWAYS being faithful. Therefore, brethren, no matter what kind of trial it is;  no matter how bad it’s looking, how painful it’s feeling, how long it’s taking, or how close the deadline is coming–whatever you’re believing God for, hold fast and continue to believe because God is still faithful! He has not changed!

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