Reliance

 

Reliance

2 Corinthians 1: ⁸ We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive. ⁹ We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again, ¹¹ as you help us by means of your prayers for us. So it will be that the many prayers for us will be answered, and God will bless us; and many will raise their voices to him in thanksgiving for us.

 

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Huge tractor trailer trucks and speeding cars were the norm on this stretch of road. Our car was relatively new and we wanted to take it on a road trip. It was raining so I slowed down to just a little over the speed limit. I hit a large puddle and lost control of the car for a moment. We spun around in an almost complete circle, leaving us in perpendicular, blocking all lanes. No one hit us and we did not hit anything.

 

• This was nothing short of a miracle that we are still alive.
• When the danger hit, it seemed like there was nothing I could do but pray “Help LORD!”
• This deliverance has helped me remember where to put my reliance years after the incident.

 

Paul gives some startling news about the near death situations that happened on their trip. They had given up hope, BUT GOD saved them and showed HIS ability to protect when there seemed to be no way out.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to rely on HIS power, not mine.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS plan not mine.
• GOD wants me to wait on HIS time, HIS way and HIS will.

 

Relying on my skills or someone else’s is futile. I mean, whatever a human can do or say is useless compared to what GOD can and will do. All situations, no matter how bleak, must go before HIM. HE knows when death asks to have me and so far the answer has been “No!”

 

HE gives me another chance to speak about JESUS to at least one more person. HE also provides me with many people, who have face danger, to pray for me and I for them. I am glad HE listens to prayers of thanksgiving.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the writers excitement for being alive?
• Who does the writer give credit to?
• Will you reduce your reliance on yourself and others today; and increase your reliance on GOD, who raises the dead?

The Answer

The Answer

John 7: ²⁵ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? ²⁶ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? ²⁷ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

³⁰ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. ³¹ And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

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For once in my life, the answers were easy. I had prepared ahead of time and could recall the information clearly during final exams. When I got my grades for that semester, I was pleased. So, why was I still broke with no way to pay my bills? And why did a relative of mine get sick?

• There are times when I have more questions than answers.
• There are times when I am in situations that seem overwhelming.
• There are times when I want to know exactly what to do but do not have a clear answer.

Some from the crowd commented that the leaders were definitely trying to kill JESUS. The church leaders must have spoken against JESUS behind HIS back. The crowd noticed how boldly JESUS spoke without retaliation. JESUS tells them why. Many believed.

• JESUS wants me to know HE is the answer to life.
• JESUS wants me to understand that HE is the only reason for my existence.
• JESUS wants me to believe that I am HIS person and HE is my GOD.

“Who will do more signs than this Man has done?” was the crowds reply. They were seeking the answer to life and realized they found it. But what about the broken cars, relationships, bones and ability to feed myself? JESUS is the answer to all of that as well.

GOD cares about me eternally and HE cares about my present state. HE does care about the things I get concerned about and wants me to have faith that HE is the answer to all of my questions. HE miraculously heals, amazingly provides and unbelievably fixes things I could never imagine. I am glad JESUS is my purpose for HE is “the answer.”

• Are you too scared of your situation to have faith in GOD?
• Is your mind racing trying to figure things out on your own?
• Will you allow GOD to calm you down and use HIS power to guide you through this situation, HIS way today?

Tools for Faith

Psalm 86: ¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

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“Pray” someone said. “Go to church” another person said. “Repent” was another piece of advice. “Give” was yet another answer to the troubles I was going through. All of the prescriptions came from avid church goers who seem to mean well. I have even used these terms thinking I could somehow change GOD’s mind or that HIS mind needed to be changed.

• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking it’s the right thing to say
• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking the person isn’t executing their faith well enough.
• There are times when I prescribe answers thinking “this” is what “I” want for the person.

Looking back I don’t think I have ever said, “Hold on, let me check with GOD and I’ll get back to you” when someone brings me a problem. I may jump right in and prescribe “take two prayers and a song and call me in the morning.” BUT GOD wants me to do something different.

• GOD wants me to ask HIM to teach me HIS ways so I can rely on HIS faithfulness.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIS faith rather than thinking I or the person I am helping has any sort of faith.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM to give me an undivided heart to fear HIM constantly so I can follow HIM without inhibitions.

There are simply some situations where I cannot use a prescription. The tools for faith come from the builder alone. GOD understands what it takes to build my faith and I have to ask HIM to take me through things in order to understand how to rely on HIS faithfulness. HE wants me to have an undivided heart and only HE can heal my heart to do so. I will rely on HIS faithfulness, fear HIS name, praise HIM with all my heart and glorify HIS name forever.

GOD’s love is great towards me and HE has already delivered me from the depths and realm of the dead.

• Are you trying to gain faith on your own?
• Do you think you have any tools to grow your faith?
• Can you stop trying to change GOD and allow HIM to change your heart?
• Will you seek GOD, asking HIM to teach you HIS way so your eyes can be opened to HIS faithfulness?

Being the Opposition

Ezra 4: ³ But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”

⁴ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. ⁵ They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

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After our meeting, we parted with our plan to build it ourselves. Our boss’s, boss’s boss was taking too long to give us the funding we needed so we found a way to get the work done without internal funding. We worked hard and, at the convention, our project was the big hit!

We won the battle but later found out we lost the war.  Internal opposition grew. It was harder to get things done and department after department met us with frowns. We were the opposition instead of the solution.

• Sometimes I think I am providing solutions when I am really opposing.
• Sometimes I think I am helping when I am really hurting.
• Sometimes I think I am part of the team when really I am part of a mob.

Challenging the norm is quite alright if done the right way. If the norm isn’t challenged, then innovation can’t happen. BUT I must consider when and where this is appropriate. The officials thought they were doing the right thing by opposing the rebuild of Jerusalem in the passage but in reality they were opposing what GOD had ordained.

• GOD wants me to consult HIM before I go into battle.
• GOD wants me to be humble before HIM to chart my course.
• GOD wants me to look for unity instead of opposition.

In the fight for power it is taught to collect as many people on my side as possible then I can be successful. BUT GOD says all I need is HIM on my side to be successful. This means I need to rely on tools that don’t seem like they would work. HE wants me to rely on humility, peace, love, kindness and compassion.

The world would look at that type of person as a sap, BUT GOD loves those who pursue HIS ways and look to HIM for protection.

• Are you the opposition?
• Do you talk about “that” person?
• Can you spit out your poison and speak about them with grace?
• Will you work on unity instead of ‘winning?”

Rely on GOD

2 Chronicles 13: ¹⁸ The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

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Judah was part of Israel, yet they had separated from the group and it brought upon fights. Israel was not following GOD at the time but was much larger in number. They had Judah surrounded on all sides.

The people of Judah cried to the LORD and GOD intervened. HE fought on Judah’s behalf and they were victorious.

GOD fights my battles.

GOD listens to me when I cry out to HIM.

GOD can defeat any problem I face so I must cry out to HIM daily.

Relying on my own power is always a mistake. Relying on GOD means I am still in the battle, but I know the battle is won by HIM.