Michael Duncan's Blog

New home for my blog...

Good morning everyone! I have migrated my blog to a new home. I would love for you to come over and add your email to it so that you can continue to receive updates and encouragement from me. You can find the new home for my blog at: http://www.authormichaelduncan.com/blog. I will be shutting this one down in about a week, so head on over!

God bless.


Michael Duncan

Learning Forgiveness

So many today have the notion that forgiveness means the denial of all that happened, but it is far richer than such a shallow expression as that.  Others believe that forgiveness is little more than a myth and that sufficient suffering must happen to the party who originally inflicted pain. The experience of Joseph, and all the tribulation he endured, gives us the picture of what true forgiveness is meant to look like.

God's view of forgiveness is quite remarkable. In Matthew 18:32-35 we find the quintessential expression of what God requires:

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Forgiveness is also one of the singular most telling aspects of a person’s relationship with God:

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

So… what does it take to learn real forgiveness? We’re going to find out three things from Joseph’s experience that will help us as seen in Genesis 50:19-21:

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

You Learn Real Forgiveness By:

Experiencing Real Pain

“As for you, you meant evil against me…”

Unless you have found yourself in the grip of real pain, you won’t know what it means to forgive as Jesus did. As we know, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by his captors and forgotten about by his fellow prisoner. His life for years was subjected to the agonizing reality of the evil foisted on him by his brothers.

But I have found that those who have never experienced real pain (and such pain that comes at the hands of others) rarely abandon their self-imposed notion that they are justified in holding their grudges and have a hard time expressing forgiveness for the minor slights that they experience

Embracing God’s Purpose

“…but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

From the perspective of this world, we can only see the shadows and glimpses of God’s grand design. Until the entire picture is revealed, we must embrace the simple truth that God is working out His plan—even in the times that we cannot understand.

This is where it takes faith. Because you won’t always see what God is doing, but His purpose is always for deliverance and restoration—always leading to the redemption of those around us. To learn forgiveness, you must understand that this is the great purpose of God.

Expressing True Pardon

“So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

True forgiveness is seen, experienced. Forgiveness must be real, personal and tangible. Look at the forgiveness expressed by Joseph toward his brothers and you will see quite clearly the nature of what true pardon looks like. It is real, not theoretical. It is personal, not distant. It is tangible, not vague.

Far too often, the forgiveness that is offered today is a limited forgiveness that is built upon all manner of requirements. When we put parameters on our willingness to forgive, we abandon the expression of Christ in us – which is forgiveness.

We close with this thought from Colossians 3:12-14

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

The Gift of Suffering

Has God gifted you with suffering? Yes… gifted with suffering, you read that right. So many believe that suffering is an abomination that must be avoided, denied or all-together rejected. But it is the reality of a life that is set in a world of sin. For all the effort that so many make to try and keep it at bay, it sits in the living-rooms of our lives as a constant reality. Yet, it is in the midst of such times that the majority of our life is transformed. It is where we learn our deepest lessons, find our greatest strength and discover our truest character. So, has God gifted you with suffering? And the second question is: what have you done with the gift of suffering that God has given you?

We read in James 1:2, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”

There are all manner of trials that fill up a person’s life. Emotional, relational and physical situations rise up and cause pain. You may have been on the brink of death or watched the disintegration of a career or suffered persecution at the hands of this world. The question remains: do you see it as a gift?

Could it be that, because of the sufferings you’ve endured, you’ve allowed the seeds of despair to take root in bitterness and grow you into a person filled with the fruit of anger and frustration? Though not exclusively true, I have increasingly found that many of those who suffer alcohol or drug addictions, who act out through domestic violence, infidelity and other abusive expressions stem from a time of suffering that they allowed to harden rather than strengthen their hearts.

But there is a gift in suffering if we’re willing to embrace it. The Bible tells us of many things that God will provide that comes through the trials and testing of our lives.

First: Perseverance in faith. In James 1:3 we read, “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” That is, in essence, the ability to press on through all manner of situations – a persevering attitude that results in steadfast faith in action.

Second: Discipline in life. Hebrews 12:7 states, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” We all see the results of a wayward child left to their own devices. God is granting us the pain of suffering to train us toward a disciplined life.

Third: Deliverance from sin. Found in 1 Peter 4:1, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” This does not teach that you’re sinless, but that through the suffering of our lives we find freedom from the sins that beset us.

Fourth: Oneness with Christ. Look with me to Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” The more you walk with Jesus in this world, the more you come to know the steps our Savior took was along a path of suffering.

There are many other Scriptures that show how God has gifted us with suffering. And, yes, it is a gift. You may be going through a time of testing right now. It may hurt, and often will hurt in ways you never believed you could feel pain. But, as with the saints of old, God is building in you a life that is rich with Christlikeness.  It is through suffering that we learn the greatest lessons, find God’s riches blessings and discover a life that is marked by the Savior. Are you really willing to give all that up, just to avoid the trials of life?


In HIs Grace,
Michael

Are You Building an Ark?

Perhaps a better question may be: "What kind of ark are you building?"

This year, preaching through 52 of the great stories of the Bible, I came across that epic tale of Noah and the Ark. As with every Biblical story, there is so much information available that needs to be shared, that it cannot be done in just one sermon. So, I decided to take to my blog this week and share a thought that I had as I read about Noah's adventure. And the question came to me: am I building an ark?

I read this in Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

It was this one line that had my mind abuzz: "...for the saving of his household."

It brought up a question in my heart that I want to share with you.

What are you doing, men, for the saving of your household? What kind of ark are you building that will deliver your family from the judgment and wrath of God? Are you constructing a life that is filled with all the pleasures of this world, filled with all the delights that can be found in the temporary circumstances of time? Are you hammering out a career, with goals and achievements that might last a lifetime and leave a legacy of hard work and determination, but not securing your household for the day of God's wrath? Are you giving your wife a life filled with great delights and lasting memories and teaching your children the value of hearth and home, but not setting before them a place to shelter in the storm of God's anger?

You, man of God, have been warned concerning events as yet unseen! Shall you play at life, marking the days without any sense of the eternal obligation you have to your wife and family? There is an ark that is set already, and you must construct your life with the lumber that God has purposed. That ark is Christ and the lumber is faithfulness in service to Him. God will deliver you and your household, but only inside the ark. Only in Christ is there safety from the fury of God's wrath and shelter from the coming judgment that will set the world ablaze.

Let me give you some of the lumber. Lead your home in the study of God's word. Lead your home in prayer. Lead your family to gather with the church. Don't wait for someone else in your home to take the lead - you be the man of God who shepherds your home in Christ. Be gentle with your wife, respectful of those around you, and train your children in the ways of Christ without exasperating them. Show reverent fear of God in all aspects of life. Much of these qualities described can be found in Ephesians chapters five and six.

I am reminded of the Philippian Jailer's experience. Distressed and convicted after the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from prison, the jailer fell at the Apostle's feet and cried out for salvation. Paul gave a remarkable statement: "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:30). Then in verse 33, "And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family."

My brothers in Christ, I implore you to construct your life for the purpose of leading your household to that one place where safety is assured: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your family see you building your life upon the hull of faithfulness to Christ, with the decks of forgiveness and mercy, and a ramp of hope that invites all to enter the shelter of God's grace.

Yours in Christ,
Michael

The Traffic Reporter

What a glorious day, yesterday. Snow had fallen the day before and, in sparkled refractions of the morning light, enhanced the glory of the dawn. I was traveling yesterday, heading out to have lunch and spend time with a very dear and long-standing friend. He lives about a hundred miles away, and there is one highway to travel that takes me to his home.

As I merged into traffic, flowing freely and fast, I turned on the radio. Do I turn on the sermon channel? Do I listen to the dulcet tones of wonderful Christian music? No... I tune in to that particular station where I know I will hear the traffic report. Now, remember, there is only one - count them ONE - highway between he and me, and I must need drive that singular way if I'm going to get to his location. Why listen to the traffic report? I won't turn back... there's no alternate route... and I can't affect what's before me to change the situation in any regard. But, like you (I suppose), I want to know what to expect - even if I can do nothing about it. I want a "heads-up" to what trouble might await me.

And that, my friends, is so often what we expect from God.

We call upon God to give us warnings of what's to come, to be for us a spiritual traffic reporter and provide us ample notice for all that's ahead. But He won't. He calls us to have faith in Him and go forward, knowing that there will be hardships and trials, that there will be roadblocks and reckless drivers in our path.

Consider Paul's words to the Ephesian elders, "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." ~ Acts 20:22-24

We don't know what will happen to us along this highway of life. And God is not the Divine traffic reporter who must give us a "heads-up" before we head out. He calls us to go forth, to trust Him and to take the road - the only road - that will lead us to Him... the road that follows Jesus by faith.

Don't be dissuaded by the road ahead. Don't turn back for fear of a dangerous drive. There is no alternate route to take.

Drive on.

Becoming Stephen

I just want to change the world. That’s it. Nothing more. So… who’s with me?

Have you ever considered the life of one of the boldest preachers in history? He was of such significance that God gave him a place in Scripture, a testimony for all time, because of his great faith in Christ.

I want to challenge you—and you men in particular. I want to challenge my own heart to become more like this solitary proclaimer of God’s word, this witness and illumination of a courageous man of God, this single-soldier battalion of the truth. I want to become like Stephen.

Here’s what it says of him:

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. (Acts 6:8-10)

How? What was his secret? Where did Stephen garner such a particular place in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ? Well, there are two things he was – and two things he did – that will help us understand what it will take for you and me step up to that singular role God has given to us.

What was he?

First, Stephen was a man “full of God’s grace.”

A man full of God’s grace is a man who understands and knows the great chasm between humanity and God, and who knows that the only means of crossing over is by the Divine hand of mercy. To put it bluntly, Stephen knew himself as a sinner and knew that it was only in the grace of Christ he had redemption. But, it’s to the word “full” that I draw your attention. Filled up, completely covered, and abounding with God’s grace. Is that your description? This grace that Stephen knew became the fullness of his life, the very essence of who he was and the expression of all he desired. When you are “full” of something, you are dominated by that thing, overwhelmed with its presence and only complete when it is real.

Second, he was a man “full of God’s power.”

A man full of God’s power is a man who is dominated and driven to do all that God desires and finds God’s strength to be the only source and supply needed to accomplish His grand purpose. Stephen could do “great wonders and miraculous signs” among the people because he relied on the only power in life that could make any difference at all—the power of God. Do you do this? Have you recognized the purpose of God in your life, and do you rely on His power to accomplish the mission? I fear that there are too many who have such a small view of their own lives that they never need rely on God’s power for anything. It’s easy to live in the human capacity for existence; it takes God’s power to live boldly beyond the limits of this temporary experience. And, let me say this: you will never experience God’s power working in your life until you step into a life of faith that actually needs it.

What did he do?

First, Stephen spoke with wisdom.

Ah, wisdom! What a concept – to speak with wisdom the words of God. No diatribes, no renditions of vulgar human parlance, nothing but the clear rendering of God’s word. If anyone will ever change the world, it will not come with the voice of the fool. Angry rhetoric and worthless rants have become the conversations many have fallen into. But God will use that man or woman who will determine to actually know what they’re talking about – that man or woman who will speak with true wisdom and not bombastic irrationality. If you want to know what wise speaking is like, just read Acts, chapter seven. It is the message Stephen proclaimed to the Sanhedrin.

Second, Stephen spoke by the Spirit.

There are times when it seems that the words simply flow out. And then there are times when I fight for every syllable. Which is from the Spirit of God? Both and neither. Ease of speech is no indicator of God’s Spirit guiding your words. And carefully plotting every word is no hindrance to the Spirit’s leading. The one true indicator that you’re speaking by the Spirit of God is whether or not you’re speaking the truth of God’s word. Only the Word of God is the definitive authority concerning the working of the Spirit. Too many proclaimers of messages hang upon the world’s concepts and mentalities and never venture into the great power of God’s word. But the Holy Spirit will only speak through you when you open your mouth to proclaim God’s truth.

Now’s the time, my friends. Will you take the challenge that I spoke of earlier? Will I? I want to. And if God is looking for a volunteer… then I raise my hand!

For His Glory,

Michael

Are You Barabbas?

Are you Barabbas?

What a horrifying question.  A criminal, a murderer, an insurrectionist, and a blight on society are all the things of Barabbas—and more.  He was the one man that everyone believed deserved to receive the sternest punishment available: crucifixion.  There is no way you’re anything like Barabbas – or is there?

Sitting in the dungeon that day, Barabbas waited for the inevitable.  Soon a guard would come and take him to his last place of life and a painful, brutal death.  Outside, the torrent of people crowded to hear the proclamation of Pilate.  The noise was raucous, the crowd was nearly uncontrollable, and the voices of the people cried out.  Two words rose above the tumult of the crowd.  He didn’t hear the question that brought the unified response, but he didn’t need to.  Two words rang out with clarity: Barabbas! Crucify! 

His fate was sealed.

Led away by a Roman guard, Barabbas exited the dismal chamber and entered the light of day.  The crowd, still seething with caustic anger, spread apart to let him through.  He expected to be beaten, spit upon, harassed, or at least yelled at.  But the crowd simply parted and he walked past the throng into freedom.  Confused and frightened, he looked to the guard who unbound his wrists.

“Another has taken your place,” the guard said.  “You’re free to go.”

What? Another? Who could it be?

“The cross meant for you was taken by Jesus of Nazareth,” the guard said, then departed.

So I ask again, are you Barabbas?  Of course you are.  We all are.  There is, in Barabbas, a view to every single person who stands condemned by Almighty God.  We are all insurrectionists for we all have rebelled against the Sovereign in heaven.  All that waits for each of us is the execution of God’s judgment.  This world is the holding cell for the condemned. 

Your sin against God was no accident and your condemnation by God is no joke.  You have no defense for you have already been found guilty.  There is no further appeal when the high court of God has ruled.

But another has taken your place.  Jesus of Nazareth has stepped into the world and upon His shoulders your cross was laid.  And through His condemnation, God offers you a pardon for your sins and freedom from the shackles of this world.  If you trust the Lord Jesus and believe that His sacrifice paid for your sins, then you no longer have to fear the judgment of God.  It has been placed on Jesus, and there is no condemnation left for you. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:23-24


(This article originally appeared on a different blog I hosted in 2012)

What has God Called You to Be?

What God has called you to be, the devil will tempt you with something similar – yet lacking any actual vitality or life. This has happened all through history as men and women have endured their lives, sinking deeper into the depths of quiet desperation without ever coming to that place of casting off the shackles of this world and walking free in Christ.

Do you want examples of this? Consider Adam and Eve. They fell to the temptation offered by the devil to become like God. Do you think God didn’t want them to be like Him? Do you think that the Divine Creator was without the purpose to bring them into the fantastic wonder of unity with Himself? We’re told to be “imitators of God!” Of course God wanted them to become like Him. So what does the enemy of our souls devise? A temptation that is so similar in purpose that they just don’t refuse. Only one catch: they have to reject God.

What about our Lord Jesus, Himself? He was and is and will forever be the King of kings and Lord of lords. That is what the Father purposed for Him. But stand upon the mountain bluff with Him and listen to the temptation of the enemy: “I will give you all of this.”All Jesus had to do was give in to the temptation and the devil promised Him the “kingdoms of the world.” No cross… no beatings… no rejection by the human race. It was a similar prospect, but without any of the Divine component.

And so goes the human race today. How many are called to become faithful followers of Jesus? How many are urged by God to surrender to the Savior and yet the devil comes along and says, “Just have religion, just go to church, say you believe in God and that’ll be enough.” So the church is filled with quietly desperate people who wonder why their lives are void of power and empty of purpose. All the while, the enemy sits back and laughs at the powerless expressions of the most powerful entity on earth – the church.

I’ve known men who were called and gifted to become preachers of righteousness and yet have given themselves over to be little more than motivational speakers. How many men and women are called by God to become missionaries and all they are, as they travel this globe, are tourists! It’s like eating your fill of candy that stuffs you up but never gives life to your body. The devil will offer you the candy of self-fulfillment to keep you from ever experiencing the full meal of total surrender to Jesus.

People—even Christians—are living today without ever being fully alive. They walk and move and live and eat and sleep and yet there is that nagging suspicion that there is more, that something was lost, misplaced along the way. Stop! Come to grips with it right now. Do as the Apostle Paul urged the church to do, “Wake up, O sleeper, and rise up from the dead.” Do as the prodigal son did and realize that it is better by far to be a servant in the Father’s house than a servant to the world. Both are servants, but only one fulfills—and only one has the clear distinction of being rightly related to God.

Peter reminds us: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

What has God called you to be, and have you embraced the devil’s offer instead? Let me urge you to cast off the devil’s lie that what he offers is good enough. Yield in total surrender to Jesus. It is time to participate in the “divine nature” and leave behind the corruption of this world, which is nothing more than a mirage.

Humbly Yours,

Michael

God in the pauses...

At prayer meeting on Wednesday night, we are going through the book of Psalms. We were on Psalm 3, and in that Psalm is a word that repeats, the word: "Selah." Simply put, that word is there as a pause, a momentary break in the verse in order to inspire thoughtfulness or consideration of things.

Well... I began to think about those pauses in Psalm 3. I think God speaks in the pauses - those moments when we stop long enough for our Savior to get a word in edgewise. If you have a Bible with you while reading this post (and you should), turn to Psalm 3 and let's experience the pauses together.

The first "Selah" or pause comes right after verse 2. David has fled from his own son, Absalom, and he considers the reality of his plight. He is distressed, anxious, and realizing that he is in a dire situation.

Then he pauses.

What comes next is remarkable! "But you are a shield around me, O LORD..." David, as he is thinking on all that has fallen upon him, and his terrible plight, pauses and begins to remember God.

I think we all need that from time to time. In our distress, during those times of great conflict and fear, worries and anxieties, we need to pause - to stop long enough for God to speak into our hearts and remind us of who He actually is. Life is frenetic... frantic at times... and for your own soul's sake, please stop long enough... pause and think. Take a "Selah" moment and let God whisper to you that He is still with you, that your distress is not beyond His power and your sin is not beyond His grace.

The next "Selah" pause comes after verse 4. As David contemplates and listens to God speak into his heart, when he remembers who God is and thus cries aloud to the God who answers from His holy hill, he pauses.

He pauses!

What comes after this pause is just as amazing as the first. David, begins to think of who God is and all God's promises and finds his heart at rest. "I lie down to sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me."

Fear, anxiety, doubts and all manner of unrest is vanquished in the presence of God. You can lie down and sleep with confidence to rise again the next day for the Lord God is with you! Oh, troubled soul, will you take comfort in knowing that the Savior who died on the cross and rose from the grave is also the Savior who promised to "never leave you or forsake you?" Pause and remember your God! Hear the voice of Jesus speaking over you these words: "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Right now, take a deep breath and relax... God is here.

The final pause, the final "Selah" comes at the end of the Psalm. It is, perhaps, the grandest pause of them all for afterwards is nothing but the still silence of a trusting heart. David needed nothing more to be said - he was at peace for he knew that his help was from the LORD.

Are you there? Is there that place in your heart where you know... absolutely know... that there need nothing more be said? Are you at rest, confident that your Savior has all things in His hands?

Let me encourage you: listen for the voice of God in the pauses. Leave your frantic desperation behind and pause long enough for God to rain down His grace and breathe His words into your heart. You will find rest for your soul.

Faithfully Yours,

Michael

When the Sky is made of Iron

Step into your prayer closet for just a moment. Do you hear it? It’s that dull, hollow sound which reverberates across the heavens as your prayers are banging against an iron sky.

Do you ever feel that way? I know I do. I offer prayers and petitions to heaven, spend hours upon my knees in humble submission and lift my requests up to God. Then, in one great resonance of silence, I hear nothing. In fact, there are times when it seems the greatest pain of my life is that I am listening for a returning voice that cannot, or will not, be heard. All I hear is the echoed words of my own heart as my prayers beat against the iron sky. Impenetrable, unbreakable, there are times when it seems that no matter how I pray, I cannot breech the wall. So if silence is deafening, the silence of God is thunderous.

David understood this. In Psalm 22:2 (NIV) he cries out, “O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.” Again, in Psalm 28:1 (NIV), “To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.”

Day or night David listened, cried out, did not remain silent – only to languish in the silence of God. His distress was such that he likened it to being as one who had “gone down to the pit.” But you and I know that there is great heartache when God remains silent. Imagine wanting to talk with the one you love only to receive the quiet turn of the head with no return conversation. It’s called the “silent treatment” for a reason! That’s because it hurts.

So… where did the iron-clad sky come from? There are some possibilities.

First, it is important to consider that the iron sky might have been self-forged. Consider what God said through Isaiah the prophet, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 NIV). The remedy is simple, though it will require humility: repent. If the iron sky was forged in sin, it is dismantled in repentance. Humble, honest repentance God will not despise, but will receive from the contrite and lowly of heart.

Second, the possibility is that the sky was forged through selfishness. Yes, I know, selfishness is a sin as well. But there is a marked difference that is exposed in the Scriptures, a difference that is seen in your motivation for prayer.  James tells us, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3 NIV). It’s not just that you’ve sinned, but the very prayer you’re praying is only for selfish purposes.  The remedy for this is just as simple: turn your mind away from worldly pleasures and seek that which is pleasing to God. Your prayers should be a reflection of your desire for God’s glory.

Finally, and perhaps the one that all of us understand in great detail, is the iron sky of time. There is the simple fact that God does not, and will not, subscribe to our insistence. He works according to His timing and will not change. Joseph suffered for years in prison; Abraham waited for years to have a son; the Israelites endured slavery for 400 years, crying out all the while. God hears our prayers, knows our need and has already set in motion the answer – though its arrival does not come in the immediacy of our need. This calls for patience – and that is the only remedy. Patient faith requires us knowing and trusting that God will do exactly what is best and right. Again in James it says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7 NIV).

Though this is not a complete manifest of the iron sky that all of us experience from time to time, I hope you understand that God does hear your cry. If you’ve constructed the barrier, simply remove it. If time is the barrier, trust God. He does know your need and will bring about your best in His time.

So I leave you with the simple statement of Romans 12:12 (NIV), “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Until then…

Your Servant,

Pastor Michael