Tag: #faith

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Faith Pt.7, Finishing

And Getting Better Along the Way

Just Finish

We cannot receive the rewards of faith unless we finish the race. You can stumble out of the gate, muddle through the middle, and still receive the prize-if you finish the race.

The late Al Davis, Football Hall of Fame owner of the Oakland Raiders, said, just win baby! In the race of faith: just finish baby! 

God maps out with careful thought and great precision a route of faith for you and me. God makes us better as we follow our personal itinerary. The Bible uses the metaphor of a race to describe this faith journey.

God’s ways are not our ways. He is the Master Teacher who designs and allows prescribed tests and trials along our faith route; He counterbalances hardness with rewards and affirmation. 

Many get sidetracked on their faith journeys when they encounter potholes or stumble into pits along the way. They don’t realize that God uses ditches and craters as platforms to propel us forward under His tutelage. 

Trouble is normative for Christians. (Psalms 34:19) Been knocked down? Get up.

If you are stuck in a pit, crater or pothole, keep your feet moving. Don’t stop now! You’ve got to finish to receive the reward. 

Our Rowing Team at Darden -UVA finished in last place, but it didn’t matter. We still finished the race.

Why does God use potholes and pits to propel His people forward? So that you and I will know that we didn’t arrive at our destinations in our own strength. So that others will know that all promotion comes from God. (Psalm 75:6-7)

Frustrated by delays, wounded in church, wearied by those closest to you, what do you do? What do you do when you suffer for doing what’s right? 

How do you respond when life makes no sense at all? Answer: Keep moving along your path. There is an old Negro Spiritual entitled, I’m So Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always. There is profound truth in that title born out of the furnace of affliction. 

We’ve spent several weeks discussing the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, but Jesus takes center stage in Hebrews 12:

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:2, NLT)

Read that admonition again please because the writer of Hebrews should have dropped the microphone after making this statement.

Our inspiration in suffering is Jesus. Our model for patient endurance is the Savior. Our assurance of ultimate triumph is the Prince of Peace, and Jesus is the beginning and end of our faith!

Note this mindboggling truth about God’s educational and developmental processes: 

Like a loving parent God corrects His children.

My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. (Hebrews 12:3, NLT)

God’s love far exceeds that of the most loving parent, relative or friend. He corrects us for our profit and good. He is firm in directing us to take action for our own benefit, and He expects us to finish.

God takes on the role of Coach in making this statement through the writer of Hebrews:  

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (Hebrews 12:12-13, NLT) 

My son is a video gamer. I’ve noticed over the years that his games go through a progression of levels. You must master certain skills and solve the present challenge in order to advance to the next level.

He will repeat the steps as often as he has to. He will invest hours to gain mastery of the situation. He remains undeterred by setbacks. He pays the price to get to the next level.

Do you see where I am going with this? Mastery of gaming levels is an excellent metaphor for progressions along the itinerary of faith.

Jesus counterbalances difficulties and problems with rewards and affirmation.  

There are material rewards for serving God. He promised to meet all of our needs, but there is something more significant. The Apostle Paul said it best:

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (Philippians 3:10, NKJV)

We become more like Jesus as He shapes and molds us along our heavenly itineraries, but the greatest reward is to know Him! 

As you mature in Christ and progress deep along the route of your itinerary, knowing God will become your only consolation, and that alone is enough.

We cannot receive the rewards of faith unless we finish the race. You can stumble out of the gate, muddle through the middle, and still receive the prize-if you finish the race. Finish my friend. FINISH WELL. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

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Faith Pt. 6 – Beyond The Status Quo

A Faith That Makes A Difference

It was like a dream come true back in 1998. I was asked to lead the National Counseling Center (NCC) of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). The NCC was home to the telephone counselors who prayed for viewers who watched the daily 700 Club broadcast.

Studio Headquarters Building, CBN

I recall the day I spoke with a supervisor in one of CBN’s fundraising departments. I shared my vision of being a catalyst for change and a prayer mobilizer at CBN. His response startled me.

He said that’s not me. My role is to work within the established guidelines. He was a man of faith like me; we just saw things differently.

This was a case of a faith that seeks to attain vs. a faith that endeavors to maintain. Let’s go deeper, but first, let me give you the bottom-line up front.

My faith to attain perspective resulted in me being let go by CBN a couple of years after our conversation.  Conversely, my colleague’s faith to maintain outlook resulted in him being employed by CBN a decade after my departure. Which perspective is best? You decide.

On the Set of the 700 Club

I immediately created controversy by lobbying to get medical benefits for full-time telephone counselors. I then secured a pay raise for volunteer counselors. I took several telephone counselors off the phones daily to walk the grounds of CBN to pray for the ministry.

I established a library of prayer references for the counselors and Gospel Light Publications donated several hundred new books to get us started. I brought in 700 Club guests and Regent University professors to speak to and invest in the counselors.

Then a revival broke out in the NCC. I received a word of prophecy during this time: I see you standing before the leaders of CBN talking to them about the future of the ministry.

I was a mid-level manager. Management theorists say you can change a large organization from the middle. I agree if you can outlast your opposition and find a person of influence to support you. I didn’t identify my opposition early enough, and my Vice President (VP) did not have enough clout.

One day I had a random encounter with a senior VP at a building access point. He said, Kevin, whenever I run into you, I get a different impression than what I hear about you. What??!!

It turns out that a couple of NCC members went to the human resources department and complained about my changes. This senior VP told me he heard I was prophetic, which it seems was not good.

He went on to tell me that he thought he heard me say, come on, all you white folks during a chapel service. That remark -which I never made- got me removed from the roster to lead chapel services at CBN. I could play the piano and lead worship, but that was it.

Some weeks later, CBN leadership placed a new VP over my department. Within a week, he occupied my office, moving me into a closet-sized space. He took over leadership responsibilities and gave me administrative tasks.

In his first six months, the new VP terminated the employment of the two longest-tenured staff members, followed by a third shortly after that. The reason provided for their removal was reorganization.

I kept pursuing my vision for a year and a half, and then something unusual happened. I kept having these seemingly chance, one-on-one, meetings with the most senior leaders at CBN. I found myself talking to them about reenergizing prayer, the need for diversity in leadership, and the future of CBN.

Inevitably, the day came when my employment was terminated-a long story. I made a final request. I asked the CBN President if I could speak to Pat Robertson and thank him for his years of ministry. 

The words just came out of my mouth. I wondered why I made this request, but I figured it wouldn’t happen. A couple of days later, I received a call from Pat’s secretary to set up a meeting. What was I going to say to the founder of CBN?

I had a great conversation with Pat Robertson. I talked to him about reenergizing prayer, the need for diversity in leadership, and the future of CBN. He was very gracious. I left his office believing my mission at CBN was complete.

How did I do pursuing my vision to be a catalyst for change and a prayer mobilizer at CBN?

During the heat of the controversy surrounding me, CBN leadership elevated a Director to become the only black VP in the ministry. After I left, a black co-host became more visible on the 700 Club. Perhaps this was just a coincidence; perhaps not.

Our counselors did not receive medical benefits, but the volunteer counselors kept their pay increase. I just heard from an individual last week who told me how the revival in the NCC was the foundation of her life and ministry today.

In the end, perhaps the words I spoke to senior leaders at CBN had the most enduring impact, but I have no way of knowing that.

Success does not always leave you feeling victorious. I felt like I had been beaten with many stripes towards the end of my time at CBN. After meeting with Pat, I drove home to my wife and four children with no job and no immediate prospects.

I’ve encouraged my students over the years to pursue a radical faith that attains over a safe faith that maintains.

However, two months after my release from CBN, I landed a new job and a $14K pay increase that became a $25K-plus increase within a year of my departure.

God is looking for those willing to practice a faith of radical risk and vulnerability. Change is unlikely to take place otherwise. Do it! God will make up to you whatever price you have to pay. Incidentally, it was a great privilege to work at CBN. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

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Faith Pt. 5 – Faith Reality TV

Confessions of A Victim of Faith Reality TV

Reality TV is a genre of entertainment that became popular in the early 2000s. It has become a mainstay in our times. The Collins online dictionary defines it as:

A type of television programming that aims to show how ordinary people behave in everyday life, or in situations often created by the makers, which are intended to represent everyday life.

Critics argue that the shows don’t reflect reality. The participants are coached, exploited, and the situations are artificial. 

I’ve noticed that perceptions about what is real, genuine, great, and mediocre change over time. Villain’s become martyrs. Sinners become saints, and rebels emerge as heroes. The unimaginative become genius, and throwaways become masterpieces. 

Roscoe Lassiter, Prayer Warrior (seated)

It’s all a matter of time, interpretation, and perspective. I had an older friend named Roscoe who passed about four years ago. Roscoe was very active until age 90. He always said living for many years enabled him to sort out what was true and real. 

After 40 years of interest in the subject of faith, I wonder what prompts me now to study the end of the book of faith- the final verses of Hebrews Chapter 11?

I don’t want to make excuses, but the televangelists and radio preachers I came to admire as a new believer did not talk about the end of the Chapter.

There is an anonymous saying, When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Perhaps my desire to have a broader understanding of faith prompts the Teacher -the Holy Spirit- to bring these passages to my attention.

What things? It’s not what but who. It’s the host of people enshrined in the Faith Hall of Fame right along with Abraham, Moses, David, and the others. Who are these people? Well, that’s a big part of it; their names are not provided. 

What exploits got them enshrined in the Hall ? Glad you asked. Let’s take a look. They were those who: 

  1. Did not accept deliverance when tortured in order to obtain a better resurrection.
  2. Appeared before judges and were mocked, scorned, beaten, and imprisoned.
  3. Were stoned, sawed in half, and killed with the sword.
  4. Wandered homeless in deserts, mountains, and caves, destitute, afflicted and tormented. (Hebrews 11:35-38)
These suffering heroes will inform my teaching going forward

Our perspective on faith is incomplete if we fail to take these individuals into account. Faith is not just about those who kill the giant, build empires, raise the dead, and triumph in battle.

To ignore these suffering Hall inductees renders our understanding of faith incomplete. To teach on faith uninformed by their heroism is misleading. 

Sad to say, but I have been watching a lot of Faith Reality TV over the years.

The stories of these unnamed heroes expand our understanding of who is faithful. I believe I know people who await enshrinement in the Faith Hall of Fame.

Not just those who ascend to the mountaintop are enshrined. You can labor in the valley and enter. 

You don’t have to be the chief architect building Solomon’s Temple. You can be a bricklayer or a seamstress, a day laborer, or a surveyor in the process.

I’ve encountered many unsung heroes who labor in obscurity. They manage the pain of deferred dreams. They suppress heartache and show up with a smile. They have suffered loss but continue serving. They step up when needed!

Many unsung heroes occupy the Faith Hall of Fame paving the way for others. God has special things in store for them. 

Think about your circle of influence. I am sure you know those who will enter. Seek these heroes out and encourage them.

Please understand that I am not talking about entering heaven. All of the redeemed will enter, but the Hall is reserved for those deemed worthy by their exploits of faith.

Our suffering faith elders do not detract from the positivity of our faith because we serve the God of all hope. We should be the light in dark places. 

God is not restricting access into the Hall of Faith. There is an enshrinement ceremony awaiting you and me. Let’s embrace a broader understanding of what it means to have faith in God. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

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Faith Pt. 4 – Oh Say Can You See

How A Hole in the Ground Became a Premier University

My wife Vanessa and I joined with the others on the grounds of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in March 1983. Pat Robertson told us his vision to establish a graduate-level institution to train men and women to represent God in their professions. 

Pat saw a University when it was just a hole in the ground

Pat then pointed to some cranes and a shell of a structure that he said was going to be the library and the first building of CBN University. He was absolutely persuaded of what he had seen with the eyes of faith.

CBNU Library

Hebrews Chapter 11 is referred to as the Hall of Faith or the Faith Hall of Fame. There you will find the exploits of Abraham, Moses, Rahab the harlot, and many others.

I want to be one of these heroes, and more than ever, I realize it will only happen by faith. The inductees in the Hall of Faith are from different eras but they possess similar attributes.

They saw something God revealed to them and became persuaded that He could bring it to pass. They had their flaws but became heroic by overcoming major obstacles to complete the journey. 

Pat Robertson’s conviction was contagious. I wished I could be a part of CBN University, but I was on active duty in the Army and we were en route to Fort Bragg, NC. 

It took a while, but I got my wish and graduated from what became Regent University in May 1997. Vanessa and I were present on that day of small beginnings nearly 40 years ago.

By faith, Pat Robertson built Regent University into a premier academic institution. I’ve been asking the Lord to increase my faith, and He brought me back to the start of CBN University. 

I can draw parallels between Pat’s faith story and that of Abraham’s recorded in Genesis. God established a way of faith in His dealings with Abraham that remains unchanged.  

God first selects an individual and reveals Himself to them. God then gives them direction and a promise followed by a commitment to be with them. Pretty simple, but there is just one problem-the process.

The gap between God’s promise revealed and the promise fulfilled is the process. God uses the process –a series of obstacles, delays, denials, and deferments – to build character in those He selects. God is at work within you while He works through you.

Abraham’s process lasted 25 years. Moses waited 40 years, but both finished well. Thankfully the process is not always that long, but no matter; God is faithful. 

People of faith see beyond the natural dimension and it can be difficult for them to express what they see at times. Faith is a substance. You can’t see it, but it is an active force that is REAL. 

The writer of Hebrews says, By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Heb 11:3, NKJV)

Try and wrap your arms around that. In other words, God created everything you can see with substance you can’t see. 

People who receive the rewards of faith behold what cannot be observed with the naked eye and maintain confidence that it will come to pass. 

Oh say – What Do You See?

Well, Kevin, I am not sure God has shown me anything. If that is your feeling, I have a recommendation for you. Read the Bible regularly. Read the Psalms or the Book of James as a way to start a new reading routine.

God will speak to you as you study and meditate on His Word. The Holy Spirit will lift the promises of God from the pages of the Bible and imprint them on your heart. God will supernaturally awaken the dreamer in you!  

Oh say – What Can You See?

God’s dreamers bless other people’s lives. Pat Robertson blessed the nations by following God and pursuing what he could not see. If God has given you a dream, its accomplishment will bless others so go for it!! 

Faith is not for a select few. Faith is for ushers, cab drivers, blue and white collar workers, and retired folks like me. Faith is for all who dream of accomplishing what they couldn’t on their own to include the salvation of their souls.**

I believe there is a spot reserved in the Hall of Faith for you and me. See you there someday. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

**Faith is especially for those who want a personal relationship with God: https://dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/ .

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Faith Pt.3 – The Triumph of Faith

Faith Makes It Well!!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul. -Horatio Spafford

Spafford wrote It is Well With My Soul in 1873 after all four of his daughters were killed in a tragedy at sea.

You will find the most detailed account of the end of the age in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John provides the context for this fantastic revelation: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. (Rev 1:10a)

Jesus said you must be born again to see and enter the Spirit realm. (John 3:3-5) You can see and enter this dimension. I enter frequently in the course of my daily routines. Take my visits to the YMCA for example. 

I do all of the preliminaries then stand at the edge of the pool, dreading that cold water; nevertheless, I take the step. After that COLD-rush, I am present of mind yet in another dimension.

Automatically, praying and worshipping God happens for me effortlessly. It is a natural reflex; something beyond me is empowering me. I pray for family, friends, nations, etc.

I enter the realm of the Spirit not because of the water per se. For me, the process of entering the water removes distractions and sharpens my focus on the Lord. Focus and devotion are the keys that open the door.

Ask the Lord to give you a process or routine that inspires you to worship. Here is a group illustration.

I participate in an online prayer group twice a week. Twelve of us prayed this past Friday. These friends of mine are quite accomplished, but our collective focus and devotion allowed God to take center stage.

All creation takes a knee when God takes center stage. What do I mean?

Our church pastor and his wife viewed themselves as members of the group-nothing more. The retired Air Force pilot was not “in the clouds,” but on the ground with the rest of us. The administrative wizard on the team did not try to increase our efficiency.

The combat veterans did not seek to impress with their war stories. The tech-guy whose voice has been heard around the world only talked about Jesus. The missionaries didn’t recite their global exploits.

The unassuming woman who translated a copy of the Bible in her native language was of a few words. The diligent volunteer felt no need to boast about her volunteerism.

When God is center stage, the greatest feel no greater than the least and the least feel no less than the greatest.

The Spirit realm is a dimension like no other. Having visited this dimension often, the Apostle Paul said he desired to depart this life to be with the Lord. He felt inclined to remain only for the sake of serving others. (Phil 1:22-23) 

Don’t You Want To Go?

I don’t like leaving this heavenly dimension either but it is essential in order to do the work. The work is what matters most. Let’s talk about it.

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City and the official residence of the pope.

People have labored for centuries erecting structures for God. Whether it is the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, the beautiful edifices across Europe, or renovated store fronts in depressed areas, they all speak to the work. 

The principal aim of our faith is the work. What is the work? 

The work, indeed, the principal aim of our faith is to lead others to the faith. This is our raison d’être-our reason for being.

Leading others into a saving knowledge of Christ is the work. Winning souls is the defining purpose of the church. Making disciples for Christ is our Great Commission. (Mt 28:19-20) 

Paul made access to the born again experience plain and simple: if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Mr. Horatio Spafford fittingly added this verse to It is Well With My Soul:

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!— My sin, not in part but the whole,  Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

To Know Christ is to possess a joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8b)

The Apostle John said this about the Triumph of our Faith: 

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful. (Rev 21:4-5)

Faith can move mountains, raise the dead, and subdue kingdoms, but the ultimate aim of faith is to be present with the Lord when He makes all things new.

To know Christ is to be able to sing with assurance, It is Well With My Soul. Don’t you want to go? Even now, many await us. (Hebrews 12:1) God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

**Click the link to see how you can say with confidence: It is Well With My Soul: https://dreamprayernetwork.com/gods-plan-of-salvation/

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Faith Pt. 2 – A Faith Movement

What Happens to Shooting Stars

As a comet orbits near the Sun, it starts to melt down and ejects lots of dust and chunks of rock on its path. We call these particles meteors. They begin to heat up through the earth’s atmosphere, start to glow, and then burn down.

Who is in your top two-or-three people you’d like to meet? In my top three these days is Jazz musician Wynton Marcellus. I enjoy listening to him tell the American story through the lens of the arts.

In 1983, my wife and I ran into the person at the top of my list. We traveled from the West Coast to my next military duty station and made a stop in Fort Worth, TX, to visit a ministry headquarters.

Vanessa & Gloria

A guide told us that the leader’s wife was speaking at a local hotel that evening, so we decided to go. We had no idea he would be there, but standing in the lobby was Kenneth Copeland.

We spoke with him for several minutes. He was a kind and gracious man. He was there because Gloria was speaking at his mother’s Bible Study that evening.

Kenneth Copeland was the most visible spokesperson for the Word of Faith Movement. Critics referred to it as the prosperity gospel.

Vanessa and I were married less than 90 days when we met Kenneth Copeland in Ft. Worth, TX

The father of the movement was Kenneth E. Hagin. In 1974, Hagin started Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and inspired the ministries of famous preachers like Copeland, Charles Capps, Jesse Duplantis, Creflo Dollar, and others.

Hagin taught that poverty did not glorify God, and believers who give should expect financial rewards in this life. Unfortunately, many cases of abuse took place within the framework of his teaching.

In 1999, Hagin brought together leaders of the movement to correct them for what he regarded as manipulating the Bible to support greed and indulgence.

Hagin wrote a book in 2000 entitled the Midas Touch in an attempt to correct abuses. Among other things, He said:

  1. Financial prosperity is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing.
  2. Believers should not give to get.
  3. It is not biblical to “name and claim” a benefit from an offering because it corrupts the attitude of our giving.

Hagin died in 2003. His son Kenneth W. Hagin leads the college he founded. The degree to which Hagin corrected the abuses he addressed is a matter of opinion.

Today, Kenneth Copeland is admittedly a very wealthy man. His comments in 2019 on remedies for COVID-19 and the outcome of our most recent presidential election landed him in a great deal of controversy.

The Word of Faith Movement was like a shooting star, which is unfortunate in some respects because it had an upside.

Kenneth E. Hagin was bedridden at the age of 15 and not expected to live. God healed him miraculously, and divine healing became one of the foundations of his ministry. 

There was a poverty mindset in the church that Hagin should receive some credit for breaking.

Hagin believed that the ministry of Jesus included modern-day apostles and prophets, which was rare at the time, and he operated in and taught on the gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

We don’t need a revitalized Word of Faith Movement. We need Faith in God.

This week my dentist and friend showed me a list of six of his medical buddies who recently came down with cancer and other serious ailments. He told me they had from 1-5 years to live. He is a Jewish man who is one of the most positive people you will ever meet, but he had no hope for them at all.

Too often, that is how we feel in the church. I got so angry that I asked him to let me take a photo of his list. I told him to tell his friends that I was praying for them.

I’ve shown two other groups of believers this list, and their immediate response was to pray. Please pray for these men as well.

My dentist friend does not believe in Jesus. My prayer is that God will touch his friends and draw him and his family to the Lord.

I am learning that we must demonstrate the gospel and not just preach the gospel.

We live in an evil world, but where evil abounds, grace does much more abound. (Romans 5:20) If grace is to abound, then you and I must put our faith to work NOW. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

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Faith

How to Persevere & Receive the Promise

My wife and I are blessed with good neighbors, but Pat is in a class by himself. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. (1 Cor 10:29)

Aside from me driving some nails, Pat built the raised garden bed for me to grow vegetables this summer. Pat held his ladder for me while I gingerly climbed to the top to get leaves out of my gutters. Pat’s electric tiller that I used several weeks ago is still in my garage. 

Pat picked up an aerator for three of us homeowners to service our lawns last Sunday. His newest project is rebuilding his backyard fence. In the process, one of the old fence posts cracked and left a stump cemented into the ground.

We begin our conversation on faith here. If you observe closely, you will see yourself in this illustration.

Pat and I spent some time with the pickaxes, but the post didn’t budge. Next, he used a metal pry bar with a sharp edge to break up more dirt and clay. We then went back-and-forth with the pry bar and pickaxes to no avail. 

Pat places new post in hole.

Undaunted, Pat drilled a hole through the post, ran a chain through the hole, and used a wooden plank as a lever to pry up the stump. We cracked two pieces of wood in the process. Finally, we used the pry bar as the lever, and the stump came out of the ground at last.

Intrigued, I later asked Pat if he ever doubted he would get that stump out of the ground. He said he got tired and frustrated, but he knew it was coming out one way or another. I was out of my comfort zone the whole time, but not Pat. He has a knack for finding solutions to hands-on projects.

There is a little bit of Pat in all of us, and a little bit of us in Pat. We all have God-given talents and strengths. We each have our comfort zones. When we run into a problem in an area of strength, we find a way to get things done. 

In the arena of faith, it is not that easy. God intentionally calls us to trust Him outside of our comfort zones. He deliberately places us on unfamiliar paths with people that are -shall we say- not our type. 

At points along our walk of faith, we experience vulnerability and must accept some level of risk. Be encouraged because God will have us kill the lion and the bear before we face Goliath. (1 Sam 17:36) In other words, God will equip us in advance for every test.

The Bible defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1) The writer of Hebrews takes the rest of chapter 11 to unpack that one verse.

I arrived at my own definition of faith about 15-20 years ago through the school of hard knocks: Faith is perseverance in the face of apparent failure. Apparent failure? Yes. Appearances suggest that you are failing or that you will fail. You must stay committed and trust God.

God calls us to walk in faith in our areas of weakness so that out of our weakness, He can make us strong. The Apostle Paul said that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

Real growth and development takes places outside of your comfort zone. Faith sustains you on unfamiliar paths.

Our challenge is to sustain our faith –through discomfort and uncertainty- long enough to receive the aim of our faith. One of the ways God encourages us is through Biblical role models. Hebrews 11 is full of these role models.

These individuals encourage us because they believed God and saw promises fulfilled despite their flaws and weaknesses. We learn from them that the committed, not the gifted and talented, receive the rewards of faith.

The walk of faith includes stretches where we get knocked flat. The faithful get back up and keep their feet moving through pain, frustration, and delays. 

For every promise of God, there is a process we must go through before we receive the promise. 

Faith is perseverance in the face of apparent failure. Keep your feet moving towards the prize at all costs, and you will not fall short. You are a faith-champion in the making. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

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Divine Healing Pt.3

What Did You See?

So, I imagine my heart with you. See what imagination will do? It’s not hard to conceive. Love’s ecstasy imagining you, imagining me. The beauty we both can see.

Do you recall who sang the lyrics above? How about these: 

These dreams go on when I close my eyes. Every second of the night I live another life. These dreams that sleep when it’s cold outside. Every moment I’m awake the further I’m away.

Imagination performed by Earth, Wind & Fire. These Dreams performed by Heart.

I send a weekly word of encouragement via email to about 70 of our Ascent College students. I entitled this week’s message: What Did You See? 

I gave the students a practical exercise (PE) designed to engage their imagination and capacity to dream. Play along for a moment:

Imagine that you are serving in ministry after you’ve graduated. Visualize yourself in the role. What did you see? 

Let’s repeat this exercise but this time, see yourself engaged in a ministry based on Mark 16:17-18:

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

What did you see? I believe the students saw something familiar from their past in part one of the PE.

I believe they struggled to see themselves in a signs and wonders ministry. Such ministries are rare these days. Incidentally, Mark 16:17-18 pertains to all believers. Take a moment to see yourself operating in this framework. What did YOU see?

He provided for our salvation and healing.

You can tie three verses of scriptures together and make a solid case that Jesus provided healing for us through His atoning sacrifice. Isaiah 53:5 + Matthew 8:17 + 1 Peter 2:24 = Jesus provided healing for every sickness and disease.

Jesus heals all of our diseases, but what does this truth mean when we suffer physically or see others suffering? 

Should we fight and resist sickness and disease or accept the circumstances? Jesus commended those who aggressively pursued relief from physical infirmities. 

People could not keep blind Bartimaeus from crying out for mercy. The Syrophoenician woman challenged Jesus when He said healing was only for the Jews. Jesus commended her. The woman with the issue of blood reached out to touch the hem of His garment. The four friends of the paralytic man cut a hole in the roof to get their friend to Jesus. (See verses at end of article.)* The sick and suffering received healing in each instance.

Aggressively oppose all challenges to your health and wellbeing. Do your research on what ails you. Adjust your diet if you have to. Walk around the block. Forgive others; pray around the clock. Above all the other things you can do, get in the Word of Truth, and be confident. Jesus will see you through.

Study scriptures that relate to divine healing. Meditate on these verses. Your God-given ability to dream and imagine enables you to see yourself healed and delivered NOW by faith! It may seem awkward at the beginning but all you need is a mustard seed.

Mountain-moving faith begins as a mustard seed. The more we nurture the seed through study and meditation, the more it will grow. (Mark 11:23)

Stay at it and mountain moving faith is produced. A life without limits becomes believable and achievable. We can receive our healing and then get to the main point of it all. We can begin to function within the framework of Mark 16:17-18 as God intended.

You are now going against the tide of church culture. Sadly, we don’t study the Bible and meditate on God’s Word as we should.

Moreover, your aggressive stance on healing is going to run you right into opposition. The devil will use any means necessary to move you from faith to unbelief, but you know what to do: STAND! (Eph 6:10) At the end of this article is a link to 149 healing scriptures.**

Let’s practice. Imagine total healing. Dream of a life without pain and disability. See yourself sound and whole. Your mustard seed just grew. Keep practicing. You are going to depart the battleground of healing victoriously!

Thank you for having this conversation with me. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin

* Aggressive stances on healing:
Mark 10:46-52 – Blind Bartimaeus
Mark 7:24-30 – Syrophoenician woman
Mt 9:20-22 – Woman issue of blood
Mark 2:1-5 – Paralytic man

**List of 149 healing verses in the Bible. https://stillfaith.com/topics/healing/

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Trouble: Your Catalyst for Greatness

Your active response to trouble will propel you forward.

I listened to the young man speak as he stood over his mother’s casket. He said that years ago, when he graduated from college, his proud father wrote many words expressing his belief that his son would accomplish great things in life.

The young man’s proud mother finished the note with a few words: “Son…life is hard, but enjoy the journey.” Her words were a comfort to him at this difficult time in his life.

I have four children, and I have the privilege to speak into the lives of many young people. At some point, those who look to you for guidance and inspiration need to hear some version of this mother’s words because life is hard. They also need to know that through it all, they can enjoy the journey.

Retirement has allowed me the opportunity to survey the landscape of sixty-plus years of living. Upon reflection, the hardness of life disciplined me, toughened me, focused me, took a lot of the quit out of me, and woke up the fighter in me.

God will fight for you if you are willing to get into the ring. Ask Moses.

My father used to tell me that nothing of value in life comes easy. Crisis, trouble, hardness -whatever you want to call it- is essential to our growth and development and maturing us in our walk with God.

We all have blind spots; hopefully, someone will care enough to point these areas out to us. But scholarly studies show that most of our deliberate efforts to change fail. There is a remedy called trouble.

Trouble like Moses backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in pursuit. The crisis of Hezekiah, who was already sick and at the point of death, when the prophet Isaiah informed him that he would die. The dilemma of barren Hannah, heartbroken and ridiculed by her rival Peninnah. The plight of Peter chained between two guards and facing execution at daybreak after Herod put the apostle James to death. *

Trouble produced a passion, a resolve, commitment, and fire that moved them from stagnation to activation. You’ve got to do something! The troubled always play a key role in their deliverance. 

God told Moses to stop talking to Him and do something! Moses stretched out his hands over the Red Sea, and the rest is history. Hezekiah stopped making burial arrangements and boldly told God why he deserved to live longer. God added 15 years to his life.

Hannah went to the house of God and prayed out of the bitterness of her soul; a year later, Samuel was born. James’ execution inspired Peter’s friends to pray so intensely that a supernatural jailbreak ensued, rescuing Peter from destruction.

Why do I bring all this up? Because I’ve got trouble, and you’ve got trouble. Want to get out of that trouble? Do something!  The troubled always play a key role in their deliverance.  

Trouble was the platform that propelled these Biblical characters forward in God’s purposes. I can relate.

I’ll never forget back in late 2014 when I thought I had the “trouble to end all troubles.” I heard the late Myles Munroe say that whenever God is about to bring change in your life, He always sends a crisis. I thought the situation would end my career, but it eventually propelled me into my dream job.

Got a problem? Take action, get moving, and turn up the intensity. As Andy Dufresne said in The Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” Your active response to trouble will propel you forward.

How can you enjoy this journey full of trouble? God promised to be with you, to deliver you and to give you a long life: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalms 91:16-17)

Reframe your trouble. See it for what it is: your “Catalyst for Greatness.” God is with you, and He promises to deliver you. Enjoy the journey, and we will see each other in the WINNER’s circle. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin Willis

*Moses’ triumph at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:5-31); Hezekiah’s extension (2 Kings 20:1-6); Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:7-20); Peter’s jailbreak (Acts 12:1-17)

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