GOD! YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE SO HIGH!

I read this morning about King Asa of Judah (II Chronicles 15-17)

His story begins with the words:  Asa was careful to obey the Lord his God.  As a result, he enjoyed ten years of peace!

Then a massive army came against him from Ethiopia;  his troops were outnumbered two-to-one.  But Asa turned to God:  ...we trust in You alone to rescue us.  And God DID rescue him with an amazing victory! 

After this victory, God assured Asa that if he would be faithful, he would enjoy peace.  Asa began a reform that included removing his own mother as queen-mother because she made an idol to a false god!  God honored Asa with twenty-five more years of peace!

In his thirty-sixth year, the king of Israel declared war on Asa.  As a result, Asa made a deal with the king of Syria - who agreed to threaten Israel!  Israel backed down!  Asa foiled his enemy and re-established peace!

Then a prophet of God visited him.

The prophet reminded Asa how God had delivered him from overwhelming forces earlier in his career.  Then the prophet asked why Asa had turned to a foreign king instread of turning to God for protection?  Then he pronounced:  What a fool you have been!  From now on you shall have wars.

I wish I could tell you that Asa repented.  He didn't.  He got mad at God!  He threw the prophet in jail! 

Listen to this irony:  Three years later, Asa got a disease in his feet.  ...he didn't go to the Lord with the problem, but to the doctors.  so he died...
                                                                                                                                  
Sometimes God is so demanding!  His expectations for me are so high!  He expects me to constantly trust Him and never worry!  Doesn't He understand how hard this is for me to do?

Like Asa, sometimes I am capable of solving my own problems. 

But God wants me to turn to Him with EVERYTHING!!!  And He will honor me when I do so! 

But, if I start taking matters into my own hands - guess what?  He'll let me!  I may even resolve my problem;  but I forfeit the joy of partnering with God and allowing Him to work His wonders in and through me!

Lord,
Help me to live up to Your expectations!  Help me to turn to You first - ALWAYS!  Your Holy Spirit lives in me.  Through Him, constantly remind me to trust You!  And You will give me peace!
Oh Yeah!

THE TRUTH YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR

Margaret Feinberg writes:  “God isn’t a fan of shortcuts when it comes to spiritual growth.  God places us in positions that are sometimes tougher than we would naturally choose, but they’re designed to make us stronger and healthier than we would otherwise be.”    [the organic God, , p.116]

But the typical response of Christians in the American culture is “Waaaaa, Waaaaaa!”  We wail, cry, feel sorry for ourselves, and doubt God for treating us so badly. 

And by doing so, we forfeit the opportunity to grow closer to Him and to draw on His vast resources of strength and wisdom.  We are the epitome of the spoiled child.

We only want to serve God if He will protect us from harm and propel us toward happiness and prosperity.  No servanthood.  No sacrifice.  No discomfort.

How do you turn this around?

Three ways:

1.  Study the Bible!

Learn from stories like:

Job – who was a righteous man when all the bad stuff happened to him!

Paul – (II Corinthians 11) who endured unbelievable pain and suffering in His service to God.

Jesus – who suffered and died and challenged us to take up our cross!

2.  Read Christian biographies.

Learn from lives like:

Dietrich Bonheoffer – who was imprisoned by Hitler’s regime and who was killed there just before the end of the war.

Martin Luther – who was defrocked, excommunicated, and persecuted for his resistance to evil in the church in the early 1500’s.

Jim Elliott and his companions – who gave their lives trying to reach the savage Auca Indians of Ecuador in the mid 1950’s.

3.  Become a world Christian.

Learn about the realities of serving Christ in China, the Sudan, North Korea, Pakistan, and the Middle East!  Expand your knowledge of the real-life conditions of the vast number of worldwide Christians – your brothers and sisters in Christ!  Compare your conditions to the conditions of Christians in these settings.  Discover the fervency of faith and the rapid Kingdom expansion that accompanies their dire circumstances.  Compare it to the fervency of your faith and the dismal growth (or lack of growth) in your spiritual community.

John Steinbeck wrote:  “Adversity and defeat are more conducive to spiritual growth than prosperity and victory.”  Maybe we ought to start praying for troubles and oppostion?  Perhaps the result would be a greater dependence on God...

THE GOD-FACTOR

I've called out to God for help quite often in the last several weeks because of over-scheduled and long days.  I've needed wisdom and strength and patience.  There's been lots of preparation.  I've made more visits than usual and had more interventions as well.  These are the times when I have to lean more heavily on God!

And every morning I find myself thanking God for giving me what I needed to get through the previous day! 

There is no doubt in my mind - the God-factor makes the difference! 

If I wasn't leaning on God and drawing on His resources, I think I'd be a mess right now.  But, in His amazing way, He gives me strength and endurance for the race of life!  His help makes the difference for me over and over again! 

Are you allowing the God-factor to make the difference in your life?  Are you going through stressful times?  Are you being maxed out by long days and a heavy burden?  Do you need extra wisdom during this season at home or work? 

Why not call on God for help?  His number is 1-ASK-THE-LORD.  That's 1-ASK-THE-LORD!  Call Him today! 

Jump Start

I made several home visits yesterday and also had an appointment.  Finally at 3:00 PM I sat down to write a message for a funeral today.  Nothing...

No ideas, no starting point.  I didn't know the man.  I don't know his family very well.  No clue what to say.

After fifteen minutes of watching the curser blink, I went up to the sanctuary to walk and pray a bit.  Eventually, I laid down on the front pew and fell asleep for about fifteen minutes.

I awoke refreshed;  returned to my computer and typed a message non-stop for the next two hours.  I'm excited to share it.  I believe God will use it to stir hearts and to bring hope to the family.

Would this have happened without prayer?

I don't believe so.  I think I would have forced a message out of my own diligence;  maybe even reworked one I've done before. 

Instead, I had the sense to wait before the Lord - and He helped me!

Is there a lesson here for you?