Danger in Mexico; God at Work

We all know that Mexico is a dangerous place right now. In 2007, the new president declared war on the drug traffickers. Since that time, close to 30,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico. The United States State Department has warned against travel to Mexico because of the dangerous conditions.

A few weeks ago, my dear friend Carolyn told us that she was planning a trip to Durango, Mexico. Carolyn and her husband spent 47 years serving in Mexico and she planned a trip to visit friends there. She was warned of the dangers, but was not concerned, flew to Durango, and came home safely this Sunday.

Today, I was thrilled to get the report on conditions in Durango. Carolyn said that it was, indeed, dangerous. Army and police personnel were everywhere, and the people are very cautious. In the midst of the danger and turmoil, God is bringing revival. Carolyn said that in the 47 years she was there, she never saw people coming to Christ in numbers like they are right now.

Carolyn visited a friend in prison, who introduced her to many “brothers” who have come to faith. She met an inmate who is acting as the pastor, who shepherds the believers and leads times of worship and prayer meetings several times every week. They even have a building that has been designated for their use. While visiting, Carolyn participated in sharing the gospel with an inmate. She told him that he could be free, even while living behind bars, and he chose to give his life to Christ.

A few weeks ago,Ministers from the U.S.  held a series of meetings in a stadium with over 10,000 people attending each of 4 nights, with the full support of the local government. Many Christians in Mexico are beginning to come out into the open with their faith. Lawyers, doctors, government officials, and prominent businessmen participated in the crusade.  Their boldness brought encouragement to the Christian community and interest from non believers. Everywhere Carolyn went, she was able to speak to people about her faith. People were open and willing to listen.

Carolyn was beside herself with excitement as she told us that God is at work in Mexico. The darkness and fear have caused people to turn to God like never before.

Choosing Joy in Trials

James 1:2-7

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

I heard some great teaching last weekend from James McDonald at the True Woman Conference in Ft Worth. I don’t want to repeat the things that James taught, but I have been thinking about what I heard and want to just share my thoughts. The verses listed are from the New Living Translation, which I chose specifically because of the wording, “consider it an opportunity for great joy”. The word “consider” is from the Greek word that actually means “command, to lead, count, esteem, judge, or rule”. 

What this tells me is that troubles will come. We all have problems, no way around that. When I have troubles or trials, I am to make the definite decision, make the command, the rule that I will think of it as an opportunity for joy. A choice I am to  make, but with a good reason, because of what the trials are going to do. 

The original word translated troubles actually means “putting to proof by experiment”.  James (the writer of the letter) goes on to say, “when your faith is tested”. So, the trials that we have put our faith to the test. Most of us don’t like tests, but we know they serve a purpose. A test in school shows the student what they learned and where they need to improve. So, we can have an appreciation for our problems because they show us how our faith is.

James continues by saying, “ when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”  Endurance is from the Greek word “hupomone” which means “abiding under.” 

Verse 4 says, “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. “ Endurance is the first step in becoming perfect and complete. All the christian virtues begin with endurance. We have to learn to stay put so that God can do the work He needs to do.

When I have problems, I can choose to kick and scream, gripe and complain, try to run away or squirm to get out of it. But, I can make another choice. I can choose to take the grace that God offers and go through the trial with peace and joy. 

This week, as I have dealt with the little trials that come in normal daily life, I have thought about this. I have said, “Lord, I know that this little problem is helping me get to the goal of being like you. I choose to think of it as an opportunity. I am learning to stay under the circumstances that you have allowed in my life so that I can learn what I need to learn. This trial is speeding up the process and I am going to become more like you today!”

Yes We Can, because He is Able

God has planned for us a life of freedom, a life that is rich, full, and abundant; a life that is special. He has promised us a deep peace and joy that is indescribable; also much more. God has planned this for us, and He has promised that He will do it. The question that we have is, “How do we get there?” We will get there because God is Able to do it. 

Heb 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

I can do ALL things. I can live in freedom. I can be free from addictions, from anger, from moodiness, from neediness, from depression, from low self esteem, from fear and worry…I can do it, through the God who gives me strength.

Rom 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

God loves us, He is for us, He is able, He gives us strength so that we can do all things, and we can conquer overwhelmingly. We can live in victory. Still wondering how?

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

The key to victory is faith. We overcome by faith.

Eph 1:19 speaks of “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

The word for power here is dunameoos. What does that word sound like to you? Yes, it is the word that we used to form the word dynamite. That is a good way to remember the power of God that is within us, it is a power like dynamite; explosive power that breaks up hard rocks and makes a path where there was only a barrier. We have that kind of power. That power is to us who believe.

Do you believe?

Do you believe that you have the great power of God?

Do you believe that God has promised that you can be free, that you can have a life that is rich and full, that you can have a deep peace in your soul, that you can have a joy that is beyond description that does not depend on your circumstances? Do you believe that God does what He says He will do?

Recently, our television died. We knew it was coming, it was having problems. We can live without TV, but because we show a DVD at Bible study on Monday nights at our house, we need to have a TV that works. So, on Tuesday, I bought a TV and brought it home. Les looked at the instruction booklet and was frustrated. I called the satellite co. I was frustrated. We decided that the new TV would not work with the old satellite box. I decided to upgrade our satellite service so it would work with the new TV, but that would not happen for a week. We gave up and watched “Dancing with the Stars” on the tiny old TV in the guest room.

Wednesday, I decided that I would at least hook the TV up to the DVD player. When the TV turned on, I saw a button on the screen that said “TV”, which I had not seen before. I hooked the cables up and punched that button, and IT WORKED. Really, Tuesday night we had everything we needed to make the TV work. We just decided that we did not have everything we needed and we gave up. We had this big nice TV sitting in the living room not hooked up because we did not believe we had what we needed to make it work. So often, that is what we do in many areas. We decide that we don’t have what we need to make changes. We think, I don’t have the patience, the strength, the power, the endurance, the diligence…I don’t have what it takes. Then, we just give up. Nothing is going to happen until we realize that WE DO have everything we need.

Yes you can!!!

God has great plans for us, plans for abundant life, indescribable joy, peace beyond understanding, and complete freedom. Can we live that kind of life?

YES, WE CAN. We can do it, because God is able. Paul said that our God is able to do superabundantly all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us. God is able. What does it mean to be able? He has the capability to do a work in us. He has the tools, the power, the wisdom, the knowledge…He has everything that it takes. Our part is to believe. I am not asking you to believe in yourself, or in some vague “power of the universe” I am asking you to believe in the God who is able. You have to put your faith in the right person.

My friend Jose is able to fix cars and trucks. He has the tools, the wisdom, and the strength to do it. If I have a car that needs to be fixed, I am not going to ask Les to fix it, because he doesn’t have the tools, the wisdom, or the strength to do it. I have to ask the right person.

God is able to do what we need. God is able to do a work that is exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. He is able to do even more than we have the nerve to ask. He is able to do even more than we can imagine. We can because God can, and He is at work within us.

Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

God is able. God is at work. God will complete the work. He does not plan to do a partial work in us. If you have come to believe in Jesus, and have put your faith in Him and given your life to Him, then He has begun a work in you. He doesn’t stop. You may stop your progress for a time, but He does not stop. He does not give up. God never says, “You know what, this is harder than I thought it would be. I did not know she was going to be this stubborn. This is just too hard, I give up.” NO. We do that. God does not. He will never give up. He has the power, the ability, and the determination to do His great work in us.

What is the work that He is doing?

2 Cor 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

We are being transformed into the image of Christ. Think for a minute; what will it look like to be transformed into the image of Christ? I think John nailed it when he said we don’t know exactly what that will look like. He said “we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.”

We are being transformed, changed, to look like Jesus. That is a big change, and we cannot fully grasp what it will look like.

I used to want to become my friend Jean. Jean is the sweetest person in the world. I know I don’t know everyone in the world, but I am sure there is no one sweeter than she is. So, that is the image I had in my mind that I wanted to be. I wanted to be transformed to be like Jean. That is not what God has in mind for me. He is transforming me into a person who reflects Christ. I will still be me, but more free, more whole. Paul speaks in Galatians about the work that the Spirit of God does, and what it looks like; (Gal 5:22)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; So, when I am transformed, I will still be me; I will be enthusiastic, zealous, passionate, laughing, fun-loving; but with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control;

Imagine the you you are, the you you were born to be, but whole, free; without fear, anger, hurt, worry, depression, bitterness, moodiness, addictions, lust, temper…That is what God has planned for you, and He is more than able to do it!