Gardnerville, Nevada – Tuesday, Aug 17th at 4:30pm
“The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions”
A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)
Hi Men:
We all need to be reminded that the ONLY safe place is to be hidden “in” Christ…… “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3). In light of what’s going on in the world today, I thought it might be good to review a truth we have stated often: God is Sovereign. No discussion…. He’s in control of EVERYHING…. Period!
So think for a moment what you have been talking about just THIS PAST WEEK. Out of the dozens, let me pick three……. Did you talk (or think) about vaccines or Covid-19? How about the fires in California? What about the people left behind in Afghanistan? I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk about these things. Like the photo above my son John took on Tuesday as they drove through Gardnerville with his Search & Rescue Team. These folks were suffering with the air quality at a high emergency state. Prolonged exposure – major health hazard.
The elephant in the room is this: Can we talk about these events yet, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14). So whether it’s Covid, fires or persecution, we have to face this statement: All Things Come from His Hand.
Some years back I presented these (9) statements to a large group of pastors in India. Today I present them to you.
Do you believe the following about God?
- The nations are under His control
- Nature and animals are under His control
- God is Sovereign over Satan and evil spirits
- God uses wicked people for His plans
- God hardens hearts
- God sends trouble and calamity
- God puts people to death
- God does what He pleases and His purposes cannot be thwarted
- God guides all our steps and works all things after the counsel of His will
So if those statements are true, why do you get yourself so wrapped around the axle? Remember, it’s not Covid-19 nor the vaccines that will kill you…… it is in fact GOD that will take your last breath! God has numbered your days, and just like Jesus said in Matthew 6:27, “…. which of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life.” What would happen if you spent the same amount of time you grumble and complain and spent that time in God’s Word and praying for these disturbing events?
By the way, I have Bible verses for all the bullet points above. It might be a good exercise for you to put as many verses as you can find for each statement. Then next week if I feel generous😊, I’ll throw in a few Bible verses.
Trusting only Jesus,
Dan
“Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more”
Louisa Stead (1882)
YouTube: Click Here
Men: Are you ready to meet Jesus in Judgement?
The Timing of God’s Judgment – Day 233 Red Book
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
I sent the PDF Booklet of “Whose Job is the Ministry?” to a young Christian businessman in India that my son introduced me to.
After Samuel read it, this is what he said:
Praise the Lord, the content of this booklet cannot be argued against but is against the traditional belief, as almost all the believers think that their job is to attend church on Sundays and on special occasions, give tithes and support a ministry or a couple of missionaries and that we are all called to enjoy the riches of this world and that is it. The excellent point in contention/favor of this booklet is the verse
1 Peter 2:9 (Profound Statement)
CONFERENCE BEGINS TOMORROW MORNING
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE PRAYERS
e2vegas.org/whose-job-is-the-ministry/
Facts of the Matter
DEALING WITH SUFFERING (4 of 5)
In the last three Facts we have addressed the question as to why we suffer. We now turn to the question,
How are we to respond to suffering?
Don’t blame God:
Upon learning of his cataclysmic loss, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. When Jobs wife told him to curse God and die, He replied, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said As his illness progressed Job stated, Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him (Job 1:20-22; 2:10; 13:15) (See Job 23:8-10a; Isa. 40:27; Rom. 9:19, 20; Jms. 1:13)
Rejoice in our suffering:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (Jms. 1:2-4, 12; I Pet. 4:16). (See Lk. 6:22, 23; Act. 5:40, 41; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:35-37; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Eph. 3:13; Phil. 2:17, 18; I Pet. 3:14)
Grasp the fact that Gods presence is with you amidst your suffering:
[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] The first time I [Paul] defended myself, no one helped me. Everyone left me. I pray that God will forgive them. But the Lord stayed with me. He gave me strength so that I could fully tell the Good News to the non-Jews. The Lord wanted all the non-Jews to hear it. So I was saved from the lion’s mouth (Heb. 13:5 Amp.; 2 Tim. 4:16, 17). (See Psa. 109:31; Isa. 41:10; Jer. 15:20; 20:11; Act. 18:9-11; 23:11; 27:23)
This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.
~Dwight Hill~
Men: Are you surprised?
Caldor Fire 8/17/21