Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Rock of Deliverance inTroubling Times

Written by
Johnny Israel
johnny@cityroompress.com

There is an old gospel song that refers to faith as "planted as a tree before the waters". In these troubling times, Christians are encountering difficult if not seemingly impossible obstacles, especially in economics and health issues. Never before has America faced uncertainties as she has in the last seven years. The whole world is under attack by religious extremists who are bent on destroying all things that are decent and moral, especially the God-given right of freedom that America and the free nations enjoy.

Yet as the world grows more restless, Christians are assured in God's Word that deliverance is just a prayer away. Our Heavenly Father has promised each and everyone of us that He will deliver us is the day of trouble. The Word teaches us to "look to the Author and Developer of our faith" as the source of our deliverance.

On a certain day the disciples were instructed by the Lord to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the sea. As Jesus slept in the lower part of the boat a storm arose, filling the boat with water. The disciples fearing they were about to drown woke Jesus up and said, "Master don't you care that we are about to drown? Jesus went to the bow of the boat and commanded for the winds and sea to calm. Immediately the storm ceased its violent rage. Jesus said to His disciples, " Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Jesus gave them the instructions to cross over to the other side, yet as the storm arose, they focused on the storm and not the dictates of Jesus. I often meet Christians, just like the disciples, whose eyes are on the world problems and not the Word of God. When troubles come, they are suddenly afraid for the worst to happen. God never promised us that we would not have troubles, nor would He shield us from life difficulties. He did promise us a way of escape through His Word.

As a believer, we must not kowtow to troubles, but face them with the Word of God. In the mouth of believers, the Word becomes a two-edged sword dividing and cutting away at our problems. The Holy Spirit is only moved by God's Word. The same Holy Spirit that resides in each believer, great and small. As the believer rises up in faith through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit moves in for our deliverance.

The difficulties we face are real. The world is in a chaos, yet as we remain in the Word, God builds a hedge around us. He is faithful and just to deliver us in these troubling times. Keep your focus on the Word of God, and God will deliver you from your troubles. That is His promise to you as a child of your Heavenly Father.