Trusting God

Darkness for Us is the Beginning of Light for the Lord

November 7, 2010 by standing

To understand God and His ways is to see great hope even in the time of darkness when you see no hope. The pattern first and foremost of God is to always bring His Light out of our darkness if we only trust in what Christ did for us on the cross.

This pattern starts with Christ himself. In Mark 15 we see at the moment of his death upon the cross three hours of literal complete darkness that came upon the whole planet. Yet from this darkness or his death and suffering came His victory over sin and death. Isaiah looked forward to this:

Isa 60:2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

You may be thinking “How does this apply to my current crises?” It has great implications! When you and I see only darkness and no ray of hope in our prodigal spouses, take heart, for the Lord’s victory is underway! The Jewish day begins at sundown rather than sunrise, because this is the pattern Lord is trying to show us. When it is most dark, His work of redemption is going on.

God Can Fix Anything by David Wilkerson

November 3, 2010 by standing

In one of the most pivotal sermons on divorce, including the epidemic divorce rate in the church, David Wilkerson stresses the truth that God can do the impossible, especially healing and restoring to life marriages that are utterly dead. He notes that too often neither parties in a broken marriage really want it fixed, but if one partner will stand on God’s promises and not give up, God in time can accomplish all reconciliation. Wilkerson is not unrealistic noting crimes of violence, family abuse may demand separation and divorce, but David reminds God can change the most hardened heart and dead marriage!


God Can Fix Anything by David WilkersonScripture(s): Genesis 18; Luke 18:27

Filed Under: Audio, David Wilkerson, Sermons, Trusting God, Waiting

A Time to Weep and a Time to Fight by David Wilkerson

October 29, 2010 by standing


A Time to Weep and a Time to Fight by David Wilkerson
From SermonIndex.net:Description: God will never leave His people without answers. In these times of sudden calamity the initial response may be fear, but we must trust that God has everything under control. He has a million ways to solve our problems. Usually in these times God is the only one that can give us answers. We must turn off every voice of humanity. God’s people get their answers from one place and that is the Bible. God is calling His people in the secret closet of prayer so we can get a Word from Him. Don’t let the Sunday morning blessings fade into the troubles of this day. Encourage yourself in the Lord!

Verse reference:

1 Samuel 30

Notes:

David encouraged himself in the Lord.

Hebrews 12:

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed

God delivered via a half-dead Egyptian slave left behind. God will deliver via His ways, not man’s ways.

Filed Under: Audio, David Wilkerson, Fear, Sermons, Trusting God

Day by Day Faith through the Ups and Down

February 24, 2009 by standing

Most people who have chosen to stand in faith that Christ can heal their marriage will tell you that there will be times when you see small or even big miracles only to be followed by what seem like crushing defeats.

The Bible makes it clear that journeys of faith, trusting in God, start with just that: a trust in God, but not in signs or things that happen such as behaviors in prodigal spouses. You will find that your spouse will be friendly on one day as God works in their heart, and then cold and heartless the next. Do not put any faith in human actions, but simply know that the Lord loves marriage and will come to the aid of those who stand for “We live by faith, not by sight. 2Cr 5:7”

David in the Psalms describes the faithfulness of the Lord, who knows our journey takes us through times of despair and failure. God is faithful to help us and provide “an oasis in the desert” when we are in the down phase – when attitudes or situation make it seem impossible for reconciliation.

Psa 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Sadness, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

The Holy Spirit through David is saying to us: “Don’t be surprised when you have ups and downs. For every down I God provide you help and comfort. Remember the ultimate victory will happen in the end.”

This is why Christ says in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We of course would like the Lord to just give us complete instant victory, and that does happen sometimes. But more often the journey is one of back and forth. It is a spiritual battle in your heart and the heart of your prodigal spouse and the demonic forces which encourage divorce. Like a war in the physical world, there are days of winning battles and days when we seem to loose them. However, don’t be defeated! If you read the story of Moses in the book of Exodus it was not one final victory against Pharaoh, but a back and forth until the final victory. When all seemed lost God came through.

God will come through in the end, if you don’t look on the situation for hope, but rather trust in God’s promise in Psalm 34:

Psa 34:19 A righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all;

Filed Under: Trusting God, Waiting

Never Give Up and Never Stop Praying

February 15, 2009 by standing

It is easy to give up on your prodigal when they give you no reason to hope for reconciliation. But remember your faith is not in them, but the God who made them and knows all about them, you, and all the details of your situation. God in his infinite mercy allows us to participate in His work via prayer. Christ told the situation of a widow who petitioned a mean judge continually. She eventually got her justice. How much more will your Father God, who loves you and your marriage infinitely, response to your prayers in His time. He wants you to talk to Him!

Luke 18

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ “

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Filed Under: Prayer, Trusting God, Waiting

Don’t be afraid of your spouse, but trust the Lord

February 7, 2009 by standing

Last night I asked the Lord just before I went to bed “is there anything in here you have for me?”

He took me right to this passage:

Isaiah 51

12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

13 And forgettest THE LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?

14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

15 But I am tHE LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: THE LORD of hosts is his name.

16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

The Lord was basically saying – “Have you forgotten who I am? I am the one that comforts you, but I am also the one who made you and everything in all the dimensions. I am sovereign and mighty. Don’t be afraid of people, your spouse included. It is the Lord who will work. It is I who do this, not you. My hand is upon you, and this battle you are going through is part of the kingdom.”

This was a major wake up call for me. He is so far above this.

Filed Under: Fear, Trusting God