Have you ever felt like drowning in your sorrows? Or have you ever felt in jeopardy? Do you feel you are about to perish with the water raging over head?

We must remember that Satan feeds on our weaknesses and delights in exploiting our vulnerable points. He feeds on our vulnerabilities.

Let’s look at some areas that have a potential to bring weariness in our lives. These are common causes of discouragement that make us weary in doing well:

1. Broken relationships
2. Busy lifestyles
3. Divine delays in God’s promises
4. Emotional problems
5. Family problems
6. Substance abuse
7. Financial problems
8. God’s chastening
9. Hard times
10. Marital problems
11. Sickness

This list is by no means exhaustive. But they can take a toll on you and literally wear you out. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 it states “…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

I heard a story once of a Nurse in Australia. She was attending a Bible Study regularly. She was not a believer, but she was curious and was attending to understand the faith.

The teacher of the Bible Study started speaking about the peace and joy that believers experience that others cannot. The Nurse disagreed! From her vantage point she said something to the effect:

“No – I can’t believe that! You speak of peace and joy. Yet in my daily rounds I go to your Church members homes and give them shots and dispense medicines for anxiety and fears. When I stop going to your members homes, then I can believe.”

I know many want to walk in the peace and joy as stated in the Bible, but it seems so fleeting. Can we really enter into God’s rest?

You can be walking along feeling all is right with the world when, “wham” out the blue you feel as if you are toppled in an emotional world of hurt. Or you could be going through a situation that has extended for days, months, or even years and are crying out because it’s been going on for so long.

How do you react in these situations? How do you protect yourself during these times? What is it you can do? What are your coping mechanisms?

Perhaps you speak to your Doctor and you receive medicines for anxiety and depression (this may be beneficial during a real trying situation to help you in a time of need)? Or, do you self medicate your self with over the counter drugs, illicit drugs, alcohol, become gluttonous (over consuming junk foods and comfort foods for example)?

Or perhaps you get involved in exercise and other activities to divert your attention the best you can, like running, arts and crafts, T.V., fishing. These activities in themselves are good, but, is it enough?

I would encourage you to identify the area where you are vulnerable and use the shield of faith and the belt of truth against it. Satan is firing his darts you better get your shield up to protect yourself.

In the next post I will speak on “How to apply the shield of faith” to protect yourself from these fiery darts that come your way. But for now I will leave you with Ephesians 6:13-16:

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

This message was heavily influenced by Ken Birks  kenbirks.com/outlines/overcome-difficulties.doc

There is an enemy of our soul out there. We are told in the scriptures that he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He wants to exploit the areas of our lives that are causing us heartache, disappointment’s, and difficulty.

His objective is to make us weary and loose heart. He is literally trying to wear us out! We see a glimpse of this in Daniel 7:25.

²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

This scripture is speaking of the antichrist, which will be released in the earth on the last days prior to Christ’s coming. But it’s important to know that the spirit of antichrist is already lose and working towards these objectives.

Last year my wife and I took a trip to visit our son in Arizona. While there we took a trip to the Grand Canyon. It was beautiful! We flew in a little prop plane from Sedona to the Grand Canyon.

As we flew over the Canyon and saw the majestic view my heart was overtaken with awe. It was  beautiful and breathtaking.

The thing for this message I’d like to get over is, the canyon was carved by water pouring over those rocks. In time the water was able to carve a large swath in it’s path. In much the same way the events of life can wear us down.

The antichrist spirit that is loose in the world today is trying to wear God’s precious saints down and out with discouragement in the midst of various trials and hardships of life. His objective is to begin to plant seeds of apostasy so that when the time comes we will not have any faith to draw upon.

His objective is to get as many saints as possible to loose heart and faith which will lead to apostasy. He wants to take as many down with him as he possibly can. The Bible tells us we are not to be ignorant of his devices. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 it states:

 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

One of the first steps we need to take is to realize this. For knowing there is an enemy of your soul out there that is working against you is better than being hit and not knowing why.

It’s comforting to know, we can withstand Satan and his objectives. Stay tuned, to learn how. More to come in the following posts.

This message was heavily influenced by Ken Birks  kenbirks.com/outlines/overcome-difficulties.doc

The Holy Spirit so mighty and powerful, yet so gentle and kind. In Him it’s wonderful to know that we can be filled with divine possibilities.

In contrast with this truth, my thoughts at times have caused my emotions to flare, which will in turn cause my actions to be suspect.

The Holy Spirit so desires to come and be with us like “like rain upon the mown grass” (Ps. 72:6). What a wonderful divine position God intends us all to have, to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

To think we have an opening to the treasury of the Most High is amazing. I like what Smith Wiggles worth says:

He turns barrenness into greenness and freshness and life. He will turn our dryness into springs, until our barrenness becomes floods, until our life becomes vitalized by heaven, until heaven sweeps through you and dwells within you, until you are so absolutely  filled with divine possibilities that you begin to live as a new creation. The Spirit of the living God sweeps through all limitations.

Let’s look at what Ephesians 3:14-21 says:

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{[c] 15} from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

As I stand here listening to the falling rain, I think on the wonders of God. I think on how he desires us to bless us, and to have us walk in the fullness of the blessing.

I know that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what I ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Therefore I have hope.

My hope abounds in the thought that no matter how irrational my thoughts, emotions, and actions might become. He is there for me.

This is the basic process:

1. Meditate on His Word
2. The emotions will follow (which in turn will) –
3. Direct my actions

By following this process in earnest I know that divine possibilities are mine and yours.

Have you ever had trouble with your negative emotions? My goodness! I know yesterday was not a good day for mine. I about blew a gasket yesterday at work.

There was a situation where something wasn’t getting done. Product had been sitting around for three work days. When I was informed, I knew it was an issue I had to address, and like now!

This was an area where strong emotions were felt by the different parties involved. The operation step on the traveler showed it was one operation step’s responsibility.  Yet, the work generally falls to the operation step after.

Having product sitting around for three work days is unacceptable. So, I spoke with the parties involved, including the Engineer responsible and made the changes necessary. The Engineer had a difficult time with my decision.

A little later he slammed on the door window with his hand, waving me over to him. He had his boss the Engineering Manager with him. At that point my anger was primed and at the ready. Unfortunately, I unloaded in an explosive rant.

Smith Wigglesworth in his book Greater Works, Experiencing God’s Power, states we need “a double cure.”

“You first need saving and cleansing and then the baptism of the Holy Spirit until the old man never rises and then the baptism of the Holy Spirit, until you are absolutely dead to sin and alive to God by His Spirit (Rom. 6:11) and know that old things have passed away (2 Cor. 5:17).

When the Holy Spirit gets possession of a person, he is a new man entirely — his whole being becomes saturated with divine power. We become a habitation of Him who is all light, all revelation, all power. Yes God the Holy Spirit is manifested within us in such a way that is glorious.”

I wish to focus on and become so full of the Holy Spirit that my old carnal nature would  never rise anymore and that I am absolutely dead to sin, and alive to God by His Spirit.

To be saturated with divine power, becoming a habitation of Him who is all light, all revelation, all power is my sincere wish. I desire to have the Holy Spirit manifested within me in such away that is glorious.

These are the steps I will take today:

1. I will ask forgiveness for this angry outburst with the Lord. 1 John 1:9 states that if I ask for forgiveness He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
2. I will apologize for my outburst with the Engineer, his Manager, and those within hearing distance of my angry outburst.
3. I will rejoice in the Lord for His love and forgiveness.
4. When I focus on my affirmations later today, I will pay heed to walking as Jesus would have me to.
5. I will focus on becoming full of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in my heavenly language (tongues) throughout the day.

The Bible says to be angry and sin not. Anger in and of itself is not a sin. There are times when it is OK. But, there are times when it can become too “over the top.” Which happened yesterday with me.

Have you ever had anger issues? How have you handled them?

Have you had times when it seemed like God was so real in your life? Times when the presence of God was so sweet and prevalent? But now you feel dry and it’s like He’s nowhere to be found?

That’s how Samson must have felt! God had anointed him and God was able to move mightily in his life. The anointing was so strong. Then, “kaput!” it left.

I remember the early days of my faith when, just freshly baptized in the Holy Spirit, everything was afresh and new. The anointing and presence were so strong and special. But then, I was not emotionally mature.

I allowed bitterness in my heart. I did not walk in love with my brothers and sisters. Nor did I walk in love with my wife and my children. Then “kaput” the anointing felt like it up and left me.

I knew scripturally that Jesus was with me. That I had been filled with the Holy Spirit. But the times of refreshing seemed far and too few in between unlike my younger days.

That’s why the life of Samson is encouraging for me. In it I see God as a merciful God.

We see that Samson is listed in the hall of fame (Hebrews 11). In the book of Judges, Samson was filled with the Spirit on occasion. But we as believers in this era can receive the fullness of the Spirit.

We see that God was able to do mighty works with Samson. Then he sinned. He had his eyes plucked out (ouch). His hair had been cut off and he lost his strength. He became a prisoner of the Philistines doing menial labor.

In time his hair began to grow. When the Philistines were throwing a party, they wanted Samson, their old nemesis to come and entertain them.

The Philistines must have been feeling pretty smug. There was Samson now, hopeless and powerless, or so they thought.

Then he prayed a prayer “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once O God,” Judges 16:8.

O that we might pray a prayer such as this. We know that God is a God of mercy and grace. If we turn to God in true repentance we know that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

No matter what kind of backslider you or I have been, the blood of Jesus is more powerful to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7). We can grab a hold of those pillars and the Holy Spirit will work with us too in a mighty way.

As Samson got right with God we see that he took hold of the pillars upon which the Philistine house stood. Pushed hard on them, and the house came crashing down.

I believe so too with me and you . We get our hearts right with God, turn to Him, and we too can have hope to see God’s presence and power move in a mighty powerful way in our lives.

Wigglesworth, Smith: Greater Works Experiencing God’s Power (Whitaker House; New Kensington, PA, 1999) p 161 – 162

One of my main objectives is to stir myself up in faith. I want to so stoke my faith, that I become strong in the Lord. As I stated in my last post, my faith has become somewhat stymied.

One of the greatest people I have read about in modern times is Smith Wigglesworth. In Hebrews 6:11-12, I am encouraged to follow those who inherited the promises.

¹¹ But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end,

¹² In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.

If anyone has inherited the promises as I understand them, it was Smith. My heart swoons at what it is that the Lord had done in his life!

My hearts cry use to be – wanting to see God move and seeing His presence manifest. Those were exciting times.

STRIFE AND DISAGREEMENTS:

But then you know, life got in the way. My wife and I got into disagreements. We got into major strife. By doing this I had allowed the enemy to gain a foothold.

My wife and I are now in a much better place. We love each other dearly, and care for another. The Lord has done much in our relationship.

Unfortunately, my relationships with my children are not where it could be. Nor with my extended family (brothers, and their families). Sadly, not even with my church family.

DILIGENCE:

However, I am encouraged and hopeful for what it is that God can do! I want to be a person of diligence and sincerity.

I want to realize and enjoy the full assurance and development of hope. I want to be a person of excellence in every area of my life!

There for a time I was disinterested in the things of God. I became a spiritual sluggard.

But I no longer wish to be this way. I so want to diligently follow after Jesus, and flow with the blessed Holy Spirit in same way that Smith and others like him had.

HOLY SPIRIT THE DIFFERNCE MAKER:

Smith exalts the Lord and states how glad he is that God had baptized him in the Holy Spirit. He explains what a wonderful difference it made in his life.

He further states that:

• God has not promised that as Christians we will always feel very wonderful.
  
• He has promised that if we stand on His Word, He will make His Word real in our lives.
  
• First we exercise faith, then it becomes fact.
  
• However, there are plenty of feelings in fact.
  
• God fills us with His own precious joy!

It is my desire to be intentional in making changes in my life to reflect Christ’s glory. I want my heart to be ablaze with the love of the Lord.

Furthermore, I want to have rich loving relationships with my wife, children, extended family, and my church family. With the blessed Holy Spirit as my teacher, I know I can make a difference.

The application I see to Smith’s thinking is:

1. I need to locate in the Bible the promises. I need to find the Word of the Lord regarding a topic.
   
2. I need to stand on His Word and exercise faith, by meditating on it, and confessing it.
   
3. I need to believe that God will make His Word real in my life. Knowing that it will become a fact.
   

Amen!

Wigglesworth, Smith: Greater Works (Whitaker House: New Kensington, PA, 1999), p 161

Peace. It can seem to be fleeting. Why is that? In the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the comforter. Something Cho has said about the Holy Spirit is revealing:

“He is the comforter in that He will bring into our hearts a peace the world cannot give. The world only knows peace through the cessation of hostilities. The Holy Spirit brings peace irrespective of any circumstances.

Therefore, as we learn to walk in the Holy Spirit, we learn to walk in truth and peace. If we don’t have truth at work in our lives, if we don’t walk in the peace of God, we are most likely not walking in the Holy Spirit.”

Pray in tongues often. Endeavor to walk in the Holy Spirit. Stir yourself up, strengthen and encourage yourself in the Lord.

At times in our lives we may walk through issues we’d rather not be in. But, we can walk in peace with the Holy Spirit irrespective of our circumstances.

Hallelujah!

Yong-gi, Cho; Prayer: Key To Revival (Word Books, Waco, Texas, 1984), Page 43 – 44