www.crosstalk.org

Jesus died to set us free from the penalty of sin, not the results of stupidity
and disobedience. That's just not biblical. Certainly spiritual warfare is a
Scriptural mandate. Nonetheless, some sickness could be avoided by
eating right and exercizing. Some marital problems evolve from things
much more tangible than Satan. The devil rarely forces anybody to hop
in the sack with a swett young thing. The fact is the Church has probably
done too much to help the devil enslave the saints. You see, when we
decided that the 10 commandments was part of the outdated Jewish Law
we got so free in grace that we're like ignorance gone to seed. Spiritual
warfare won't slow the process of sowing and reaping. Don't bother
rebuking some unseen spirit when your biggest enemy is right in your
mirror. Now, you probably just missed a great opportunity to shout
“Amen.” I'll probably give you another chance later on. But remember,
there is nothing hiding in the bushes more damning than your own
incessant desire to get your own way. Certainly, there is a devil, and
he does hate the Church. The thing he hates most is that he knows
full well that false accusations is all he can work with, unless we give
him live ammunition. He is real, but if you walk in love and forgiveness,
the devil is shooting blanks. God is still on the throne and you can rest
assured that Wormwood and Sons Incorporated will never usurp God's
authority. There will never be any kind of leveraged buyout like that.
Its true that James tells us we can resist the devil and he will flee, but
if you read the text carefully, James also informs us that God gives
grace to the humble, not the loud nor the proud, and no devil is gonna
flee until after you submit yourself to God. Most of our problems exist
because we're just not close enough to God. If we draw nigh to God,
He'll draw nigh to us, and guess what happens? The devil won't want
to hang around to close to you and God. Sort of like an elephant
dragging some logs up the road carrying a ground squirrel on his back.
When they reach the top of the hill the squirrel wouldn't impress anyone
with a hernia, and so long as you feed the elephant, the logs will make
it up the road. Well, in comparison, God is bigger than an elephant
and you are smaller than a groun squirrel.

SUFFERING is real. Even strong, faithful believers, who conduct
themselves responsibly experience suffering. Paul tells us to expect it.
In fact, he informs us that it is inevitably, a part of God's plan for our
lives and therefore, “no man should be moved by these afflictions: for
yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto” (1st Thessalonians 3:3).
Judgment, affliction, trials, tests -- these things hurt. They're like major
surgery on your character. The best prayer you can offer when you're
on God's operating table is “Dear God, get it all out, I don't want to
do this again. Purge me, purify me, change me so I'll never be the
same again. Then Father, and only then, bring me through this so
that I can trust you more and serve you as never before!” Do you
get it? Can you understand this message? I just want to help you
make some sense out of your suffering so that like the Psalmist,
you'll be able to say, “. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but
now have I kept thy word.” (then he went on to say) “I know, O
Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast
afflicted me.” (Psalms 119:71, 75).

In 1918, Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder and 1st president of Dallas
Theological Seminary wrote a book entitled “He That is Spiritual.”
He spoke of another “S” word which we've comfortably discarded.
That word is SCOURGING. The idea of God's scourging is not spoken
of in many circles. But he pressed on, “The Father cannot suffer
rebellion in His household, nor can He realize His blessed designs for
His child until His judgment is freely acknowledged to be best.”
Please identify that God's purposes are best. Committed believers are
securely held in the loving arms of God. Barring sin, nothing happens
unless it is for your good and God's glory. The author further clarifed,
“There is a distinction to be noted between chastisement for correction,
which may often be repeated, and the once for all “scourging” which
every son must receive (Hebrews 12:6) One is unto correction as
often as it is needed; but the other is the once for all conquering of the
human will.” Wow! I hate that stuff, but it rings true -- because it is true.
Our will must die, otherwise, God's will does not become our greatest
desire. We need to sort out what it is correction from God, and what is
more accurately, God's scourging, as shown in Hebrews 12:6.
Dr. Chafer provides a marvellous insight. He says, “Not all affliction is
to be counted as scourging. When it is scourging, we shall be conscious
of our own stubbornness in not yielding. There need be no uncertainty
concerning this matter.”

When Romans 8:28 says, “we know that all things work together for
good.” All things, really means, all things. Do you get it. “we know that
all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.” Saints, hear me, we can count it all
joy because we do love God. We are called, and God does have a purpose
for everything in our life -- He is a perfect Redeemer who even redeems
the seemingly awful things we experience if we trust Him, and let Him be
our Redeemer. God is trustworthy, we can always trust Him. -- When we
suffer, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us”
(for us) “how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
(Romans 8:31-32).

When it hurts, don't be discouraged. Rather, reflect on who you serve, and
remember who is in charge! Don't bother criticizing my unwillingness to
rebuke the banker, or curse the spirit of poverty, or come against the
wicked sheriff of Nottingham who took my castle in Shorewood Forest.
I won't apologize for not binding things that heaven chose not to bind, or
loosing things that heaven had no intention of loosing. Rather, I will confess
with every ounce of faith in my heart that my God reigns, and I will embrace
His will. I am protected, directed, and periodically, corrected by His loving hand.

Today, bless God, my wife and I have another home and it is larger and more
lovely than the one we lost. God is very gracious and we enjoy, and appreciate
our home in a very special way. We see it as a blessing -- an Oasis, provided
by God himself for our comfort and rest. Precious one, you must believe that
God is more interested in changing your character, than He is in changing your
circumstances. Situations are easy for God to control. Homes are no challenge
for God, He builds lives., they take more effort, and hold more worth.
Miracles are simple for the God of creation. But to create a clean heart and
humble character requires more work. Our human will is like a Sears battery,
it dies hard, but God knows exactly how to conquer our heart. Personally,
I want to give all of my heart to God, but like the friends of Jesus in the Garden,
“the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

• 2 New CD's Available for Free!