When God Fails

The young couple sat by the bedside of their toddler child and watched as cancer took her into eternity.  They can't even count the number of prayer meetings they had attended or how many times their pastor came and prayed with them for their daughter to be healed.

God had failed.

A woman, lying in her bed.  Alone again.  Crying herself to sleep because her husband had finally left for good.  How many times had her prayer group prayed with her for her husband and her marriage?  How long had she held on to faith that her marriage would be restored only to watch it end in tragedy?

God had failed.

Two parents watched as their adult, prodigal son continued to spiral out of control.  Sinking deeper into a life of crime and substance abuse.  Despite all the counseling sessions and meeting with their pastor.  Despite all the times the prayer group had surrounded them and encouraged them with prayer and intercession....

Still God had failed.

As you read these fictional, yet all too real scenarios, you have more than likely reacted in one of two ways.  The first group was ready to stone or crucify me for blasphemy and heresy.  The second group of people have immediately been taken back to a time in their lives when they've asked the questions, "God, where are you?  Why have you failed me?"

If you have ever suffered.  If you have ever experienced a setback.  If you have ever prayed a prayer that wasn't answered, then chances are you've asked similar questions.  The good news is that you are not alone. 

Jesus was a man with a mission.  He spent the last three years of his life moving towards one goal--the cross.  However, in Mark 14:36 Jesus prayed a prayer, "Father....please take this cup of suffering away from me."  But guess what?  Jesus still was crucified on the cross.  Even while He was on the cross Matthew 27:46 tells us that Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

It is baffling to me that Jesus himself could pray a prayer that wasn't answered or that the very son of God could feel abandoned by His Father.  But in all of this we have to ask one very important question. 

Did God truly fail Him?  Did God abandon His own Son?

The quotes above from Jesus encourage me, because it shows me that it's not a sin to feel abandoned by God.  It's not a sin to ask why God has failed me.  The problem comes when I fail to move beyond my immediate situation (as terrible as it may be) and fail to humble myself and learn the true character of God.

One of the most encouraging scriptures for me is 1 Corinthians 13:8.  Love never fails.  The Bible tells us that God is love, and love comes only from God.  So we could easily substitute "God" in place of "love" and say that GOD never fails.  The other encouragement I get from this sentence is from the second word "never".  It is an extreme word.  It is an absolute word.  If we are to believe that the whole Bible is true then we must believe that God NEVER fails.  

If that's not enough for you, let's look a little deeper.  Look at what David said:

  The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.  Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. ...  

The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

[Psa 37:23-25, 39-40 NLT]

If you are a fully-devoted follower of Christ then you are "the godly".  And if you are "the godly", then you can be encouraged that God will NEVER abandon you, but he will delight in every detail of your life.  He will rescue you in times of trouble, he will direct your steps, and you can ALWAYS find shelter in Him.

That still doesn't answer why we have to suffer.  Or why my prayer wasn't answered.

I get it.  I wish that every prayer that I prayed was answered the way that I desired.  Remember Jesus' prayer in Mark 14:36?  There was a part that I purposely left out until now.  Yes, Jesus did pray, "...please take this cup of suffering away from me."  But that's not all of the prayer.  Then he prayed, "Yet I want YOUR will to be done, not MINE."

Jesus understood that there was someone greater then Himself.  He understood that there was a greater purpose that must be accomplished.  Most of our errors in prayer happen when we only pray for God to do what we want and what we think is right,  but fail to ultimately surrender to His will and His purpose.

To truly know and understand God's character, you must understand these verses from Isaiah 55.

 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

[Isa 55:8-9 NLT] 

God has plans and purposes that we will never understand.  Does that mean He has failed us?  NEVER.  If anything, it means that we have failed to fully surrender our ways to Him so that He can fully reveal His character in our lives.

If you are a follower of Christ you WILL suffer.  You can't escape that.  And guess what?  That is part of God's will for your life.

2 Timothy tells us that any who wants to live a Godly life will suffer.  Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus himself had to suffer in order to learn obedience.

John 15 is a powerful chapter.  It paints the picture of God as a gardener.  It then goes on to describe how God will prune (cut back, even cut off) areas in our lives, so that we can produce the fruit that we were desired to produce.  The most fruit is produced only on the branches that are pruned.  Pruning is painful, it is undesirable.  If we could ask the tree what it felt during the pruning process it would say, "It hurt". "I hated it".   But is it necessary?  Absolutely.  Ask the tree how if felt a year later when it is overflowing with fruit and beauty, and I guarantee you will get a completely different answer.  

The only difference between us and the tree is that we have a will and the tree doesn't.  The tree can't talk back or fight.  It can only surrender to what the gardener needs to do.  We have surrender problems.  We try to argue and fight against God's will.

I don't know why children die of disease.  I don't know why all marriages aren't restored.  I don't know why children who are raised rightly still choose to live a different lifestyle.  But I do know that we have a choice in how we respond to those times of suffering.

We can either throw up our hands and say, "God I'm through with you.  You've failed me and I can never trust you again."  Or we can take the road of "the godly" and humble ourselves, submit to His ways and say, "God, I don't understand your ways, but I have to believe that you love me and you will NEVER fail me.  I have to believe that these things that I am suffering right now are pruning moments that you are using to prepare me for greatness."

God will ALWAYS love.  He will NEVER fail you.  This moment of suffering will not last, and if you surrender to His ways, He will produce in you fruit and character that WILL last.

Passing The Test

Passing the Test

By Pastor Russell Henderson

He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.

[Deuteronomy 8:16 NLT]

But as for me, LORD, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. [Jeremiah 12:3a NLT]

There are basically two types of students in this world:  those who test well and those who don’t.  A test is not something that should be feared, but many times we worry and stress over tests to the point of extreme sickness and ongoing health issues.  The dictionary defines test as: a set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group. A test is simply a unit of measurement to determine if an object or individual is fit to be placed in a greater position of responsibility or service.

I have a good friend back home in Arkansas who is a potter.  I’ve heard him explain before that he is still not finished after he has formed the clay into the object that he wants.  If he merely set the creation to the side and waited for it to harden in the sun it would still be unfit for use.  Before the vessel can be put into service it must go through a testing – in this case the testing is an incredibly hot furnace.

He explains that while the vessel is in that furnace, it reaches a point so hot that it almost breaks down, but just at that moment it undergoes a chemical reaction and the molecules fuse together in a new way.  Now, the vessel is fit for use.  You see, the test of the furnace was to determine if the vessel was going to be strong enough to make it through to the final phase.

Let’s apply this to our lives.  The bible says that God tests us for our own good.  (Deut. 8:16)  The test is designed to bring us to a place where we can be used by God in the position to which He has called us.  In the story of the potter, I’ve seen him create beautiful vases to hold flowers; I’ve seen him create pitchers with which to water the flowers, and I’ve seen him create cups and mugs with which to drink from.  But none of those creations are fit for use until they are put through the testing.

God has created you with a specific purpose.  He did not create me with same purpose as He created you.  We are all uniquely gifted and called by God, but many will never enter into that calling because they refuse to submit to the testing period.

What is that testing period?  Just as your calling is unique, so is your testing.  I can’t define what your test will look like, but I can tell you that if you want to be all that God wants you to be, you need to surrender to it.  I can pretty much guarantee that the testing will not be all roses.  As a matter of fact, it might be painful at times.  But remember this testing is coming straight from God.  He wants to form you.  He wants to cut off the rough edges.  And He wants to prune away the parts of you that are not fruitful.

But, friends, don’t be disheartened.  We have a promise from God that is specifically for your testing time. 

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."  [Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT]

Remember this promise as you pass through your testing.  There will be times when you feel alone, but God has not abandoned you.  There will be times when you are tempted to fear and panic, but God is still with you and going ahead of you.

If you are going through testing today, hold on to this promise and let God complete his work in you.  If you are running from the test, let me encourage you to surrender to it.  Stay strong in the Lord, put on your armor, and rejoice that God has counted you worthy to be used for His service.

Make Your Faith Public

Make Your Faith Public

By Pastor Russell Henderson

 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

[Hebrews 4:14 NIV]

Today, I want to look at the last part of this verse, “…let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”  This word profess is a very important word when referring to our faith.  The word in the Greek is homologeo.  It is usually translated as either profess or confess.  Either way it is the combination of two root words:  homo which means “the same” and logo which means “word”.  When you put these two words together you get the idea of someone that is speaking the same thing as someone else, or coming into agreement with what someone else has said or is saying.

A profession (or confession) of faith is highly important because it is an open declaration that you are choosing to believe in Jesus Christ.  But not just the person of Jesus Christ, it is also a declaration that you are coming into agreement with every word and promise that He has ever spoken from the beginning of time.

Some don’t like the fact that different bible versions use the word “profess” while others use “confess”.  “Profess” is typically more of a positive declaration, and “confess” is typically a negative declaration or an admission of guilt.  I prefer to look at it this way:  a profession of faith says, “Hey everyone, I am proclaiming loudly and boldly that this is what I believe.”  A confession of faith says, “You got me.  I am guilty as charged of following Christ.”  No matter how you choose to look at it, it is still a public declaration that you are standing on the promises and word of God.

However, this declaration also carries some weight behind.  When you make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, you are now responsible for how you show and portray Jesus Christ to the world.  A profession of faith is not a one-time thing.  It is an ongoing demonstration of the love and mercy of Jesus to a hurting and dying world.  When you make your profession of faith, you are responsible for being a living representation of that love and mercy.

In order for a true profession to be made, it must be public; and it must be carried out in a continual, public manner.  I’m understanding, more and more, that a true follower of Jesus Christ must be making a continual declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ.  People need to know who you are and what you stand for.  If the people you encounter on a regular basis don’t know that you are a follower of Christ, you might need to do a personal inventory.  A true believer is always professing, always declaring, in one fashion or another.

If you are reading this and you are not certain of what you believe, I encourage you to dive into the scriptures and find out what God has spoken and is still speaking to us today.  If you are already a believer, a follower of Christ, let this be a reminder to hold firmly to your faith and profess it everywhere you go and to everyone you meet.

Are You Walking or Gliding?

Are You Walking or Gliding

Pastor Russell Henderson

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

 (Hebrews 2:1 NIV)

There’s an old saying when it comes to studying the Bible that anytime you see the word “therefore”, it is an indication that you need to stop and notice what it is there for.  I know it is bad grammar, but it helps us to know that something important is being stated.  Hebrews 2:1 is no different.  In Hebrews chapter 1 the author built a case for Jesus and why he is greater than the angels.

God never called any angel a Son, but He did Jesus.  God never commanded for any angel to be worshiped, but He did Jesus.  God never gave any angels a place of honor in heaven, but He did Jesus.  Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and His words are the only words of life.  Therefore we are instructed to “pay the most careful attention…to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

What is it, then, that we have heard?  The author is referring to the Word of God—Truth.  He is referring to the commands and teaching of Christ.  He starts by saying that we should pay the most careful attention to them.  The Greek word for pay attention  means to hold tightly to, cleave to, and even be addicted to.  The Greek word for most careful means extraordinary or more than normal.  So, the author is saying that the truth of the Gospel is so important that we need to hold so tightly to it that we even become addicted to it. 

When someone is addicted to something it becomes a part of them.  It  consumes their thoughts and they will act upon that addiction any chance they get.  That’s the way that we are to be with the Truth of the Gospel.  It should consume all of our thoughts.  It should be the first and last thing we think about in the day.  It should become such a part of us that we can’t help but act upon it at all times.  Isn’t that what James instructs us to do in James 1.  We should not be merely hearers of the Word, but doers.  When we live a life of paying the most careful attention to the Word of God we will naturally become a doer of the Word. 

The last part of this verse can be a little controversial, but it explains why we should pay attention to the word:  so that we do not drift away.  No one who is truly saved and has tasted of the goodness of the Lord would intentionally do an about face on God.  It is impossible to know and experience His goodness and purposefully reject Him. However, it is very possible to drift away.  The Greek here means to escape, or slip away.  It also means to find oneself gliding or floating along.  In other words the more we merely hear the word and don’t pay attention to it, and the more we don’t put our faith into action we are slowly releasing our grip on our salvation.  The more we entertain the things of this world, and the more we allow sin into our lives, it slowly drives a wedge into our lives until we finally let salvation slip right out of our hands.   It doesn’t mean that we were never saved, but it does mean that sin and complacency has set in to the point to where we are no longer “walking” with the Lord, but we have “glided” away from Him. 

Jesus even said that those who are not acting and doing the words of Christ will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  How terrible it will be for many who have been gliding along thinking that they are walking with the Lord, only to hear God say, “Depart from me”.   

Let this message be a wake up call if you have found yourself gliding along instead of actively walking with Christ.  Pay the most careful attention to the Word of God, so that you will always be steady and sure with Him.

Slavery Of Sin

Slavery of Sin

Pastor Russell Henderson

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

[Titus 3:3 NIV]

Have you ever heard someone say something like, “I just want to be free to do what I want and live my own life”?  I think it is quite ironic that they usually use the term “freedom”.  When in reality it is just the opposite of freedom—it is slavery.

The scripture above says, “At one time we were….enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.”  The definition of  passions is “to lust or covet, specifically for things forbidden”.  How many times have we witnessed someone pursue forbidden lusts all in the name of freedom.  The definition of pleasures is “anything that brings pleasure or makes one feel good”.  We get our English word “hedonism” from this word. 

This scripture makes it very plain that the one who lusts after the things of the world and passionately pursues things that appeal to his flesh has become a slave to those things.  The Greek word for enslaved comes from the root word “deo”.  Deo means “to bind or fasten together”.  You see when you are enslaved by something or someone, you are bound, or fastened to it.   You are stuck to it, and it is stuck to you.  It is a part of you.  You can no longer think or act on your own, you can only move or think in accordance with that thing to which you are bound.

When one is enslaved by an alcohol addiction, for example, everything that they do or think is controlled by that alcohol addiction.  The same goes for any other type of addiction.   If the addiction is not appeased then the person is uncomfortable and miserable.

Notice what Jesus said in John 8:34 “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’”  Paul said in Romans 6:22 “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”  You cannot be set free from something unless you were first bound by it.

Friends, the world is full of sin, and the pleasures of this world will only drag you down into slavery.  There is no freedom that comes from pursuing the world and its pleasures.  I know it is cliché, but it is still true.  The only true freedom comes from serving Jesus Christ.  He alone has the words of life and salvation.  So, if you find yourself chasing after the things of this world repent and turn to God and find true freedom TODAY.