Isaiah 30:20-21:  "...but your eyes will see your Teacher and your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (ESV)

One of the hardest things to go through as a child of God is a time of trial, a season of personal adversity allowed by the Lord. The Bible teaches us that things don't just happen randomly to God's children. Make sure you get this nailed down: God purposes and allows seasons of difficutly into the the believer's life for a specific good purpose. How you respond to those seasons will make all the difference in the world as to whether your grow better or grow bitter.

In Isaiah 30 we learn that the nation of Israel had been going through a time of adversity and affliction by the hand of the Lord. The main lesson that God is trying to teach his people is that when they are faithless, He remains faithful. God would allow Israel to go through a captivity because of their proneness to turn to other things for help instead of waiting upon the Lord. Because they consistently turned to idols and Egypt for help Isaiah calls his people to stop trusting in man and wait upon the promised coming of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

In verses 20-21 Isaiah proclaims that Israel's adversity had a purpose.The purpose stated in this passage is two-fold:  1) To see their Teacher (Jesus) and 2) To hear their Teacher (The Holy Spirit). As a result, they will stop trusting in things that promise a false delieverance and start trusting the only One who can give true deliverance.

In other words, I will see Jesus in my trials if I am looking and I will hear the Holy Spirit if I am listening. What I look to and what I listen to when I am eating the bread of adversity and drinking the water of affliction will make all the difference when it comes to experiencing more of the grace of God in my life. 

It's your choice: You can either believe that your trials have no purpose at all or you can start to see every trial God allows as the opportunity to see and hear from Him. You can either listen to yourself or start listening to God. How do I get through this trial? Look to Jesus--he is more than enough! And listen to the Holy Spirit guiding you through the Word. Stop looking to other things and stop listening to your own bad advice! Start looking to Jesus and listening to God, and when you are tempted to turn to the left or the right, you will hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it." 

Blessings Upon Blessings,

Pastor Ryan

Luke 21: 14-15:  "Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditiate beforehand how to answer for I will give you a mouth of wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict."  (ESV) 

One of the hardest things to go through as a follower of Jesus Christ and a minister of the Gospel is dealing with what I call "friendly-fire." 

Did you know he U.S Army reports that during WW II the percentage of friendly-fire casualties was something like 12-14 percent? That is astounding when you think about it. But did you also know that according to recent Army reports the percentage of friendly fire incidents for the War in Iraq is around 0.78 percent? That means friendly-fire incidents have decreased for the U.S. Army by a drastic number and that is something to thank God for, amen? 

However, the Bible says that in the last days friendly-fire incidents against Christians will not decrease but increase. Let me set up the context of this passage just for a moment, ok? 

In Luke 21 Jesus is predicting that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed, false prophets and Messiah's will arrive predicting the end is actually here, that there will be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and pestilences, and that some of the disciples will face persecution and stand before synagogues, kings, and governors for the name of Jesus Christ (v.1-12).

He goes on to say in v.13 that when persecuted it will be an opportunity to "bear witness" for him. Now I believe Jesus is not only predicting persecution for the disciples, but that persecution for all true Christians will increase in the last days and that is why he says, "you will be hated by all for my name sake" (v.17). So, if you are holding high the flag for Jesus, realize someone may try to take you out with their words or worse!

Then, in v.18 and v.19 he gives us assurance that if we stand firm for Jesus until the end and do not forsake him when the temperature rises, then we will have heaven to look forward to! Jesus is saying persection is going to come and it is going to increase. People are even going to hate you for standing firm for Christ. It will happen.

But then he says something else that is astounding. He also says in v.16, "You will be delivered up even by parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends and some of you they will put to death." 

Wow! Jesus just predicted that friendly-fire incidents were going to increase for Christians in the last days, not decrease and they will be people we know! Matthew 24:12 confirms this, "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." That means unfortunately Christians will come under attack from people they live with and even from people they go to church with.

And if you don't think that can happen at church then you haven't been paying attention to the battle. All too often I have seen Christian friendly-fire incidents. Christians attacking other Christians over things that are so trivial, so small, and have nothing to do with matters of eternity. Even as a pastor, one of the hardest times in ministry is when someone engages in a friendly-fire incident. How do do you deal with it? What do you say? What do you do? 

Well, I must admit that all too often I have let friendly-fire incidents rock me to the core. They have caused me many sleepless nights, much anxiety, and even in some cases, depression. I have dealt with this so much that I even have contemplated leaving ministry and the church all together. I even find myself anticipating the next friendly-fire incident before it even comes! As a result I mull over and over in my mind "what to say" and "how" to say it. While it can be a good thing to think before you speak, it is not good to allow anxious thoughts to stay active in your mind. I have learned that type of thinking doesn't do anything good for me, at all.

So how do you get prepared for the next time? Jesus gives us perfect instruction and a promise:

First he says, "Settle it in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer." In other words, do not mull over and over in your mind the anticipation of persecution from someone who is not right with God and how to answer them. Trust me not you. Stop thinking about them and the how because it will only make you more anxious, fearful, and tempted to say something you shouldn't or cause you to not say something you should." 

Next he gives a huge promise, "For I will give you a mouth of wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict." My paraphrase would be: "I will give you the words to say and it will be my wisdom that deals with these people, not yours." That is awesome! 

Now, does that mean you won't get persecuted again by the same person or that the friendly-fire incidents will decrease or that you won't have to to make the choice: Stand firm or fall away? No. But it does mean that Jesus himself will give you a mouth of wisdom to deal with the people who lash out at you, even when it is other Christians.

So remember to combat the anxiety of friendly-fire with the Word of God and trust Jesus' way to deal with the problem and the person. He will give you what you need in the moment as you look to him! (Luke 12:10-11) . And make sure you memorize v.14-15 so that you will remind yourself to properly deal with the next friendly-fire incident on the field of battle! 

Taking the Fire With You,

Pastor Ryan