Doug Norman

In the days of Micah and Isaiah, the people of God were losing sight of the church - where callousness replaced compassion. People had become so ‘self-focused,’ they were teaching compassion and love but were not living it. The passion for the poor and needy in heart, was lost. Church goers today, as in times of old, are more like consumers, walking into church asking, “What can I get from God?” But we were created by God for His purposes. Everything we do should be for and unto Him. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” When we ask, “How can I do more?” God gives His answer in Micah 6:8, “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” We are a reflection of His character, our voices, lives, are models of His mercy, love, justice, grace, and kindness.

In James 1:2, it says to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” We usually worry, scramble, and try to get out of the situation of difficulty, pressure, or stress. Read 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth.” God uses trials to try and prove our faith, but out of the trial, there is a forming and developing of patience. Our days are not always wonderful. Paul stated in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” He learned to let patience rise and do a work. So why should we joy in trials? Because we’re going to receive a measure of patience which does an inner work for us. Patience develops confidence in God, His Word, His promises, and how we believe. Many times we are instructed to be still and wait upon the Lord (patience develops). We have the need to receive patience before we receive the promises of God.

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Read 1 Corinthians 1:25 to 31. God sees us for what is inside us. He calls ones with seemingly no talent, average, and who are low-esteemed. God uses people who are not perfect but who need mending. He takes our situations, cleans us up, mends us, and completes a work in us until we are perfected even to the stature of Jesus Christ. In order to be used by God, we must allow our wounds to be turned in scars. Our scars are reminders of a wound that has been mended. God uses people who are willing to fit together in the body. Read Ephesians 4:16, God knits together people who have been mended and are working towards one purpose – accomplishing great works for the Kingdom of God. God uses people who are faithful. We must allow God to mend us, to work together, to speak the truth in love, and stand in faithfulness.

God comes to us when we’re dead in sin – when we’re “fenced in.” The life He brings – He will sustain. We cannot sustain ourselves. Read Hosea, chapter 4, verses 1 through 8. God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge and a rejection of knowledge. We serve an intimate God. If not careful, you will think you’re serving an emotionless God. When His people turn away from Him – it breaks His heart. Read Hosea, chapter 3, verses 1 through 5. It tells a story of redemptive love. God will take us back in any state we’re in. Read Hosea, chapter 11, about God’s passionate plea to us and how He requires a response to His great love and mercy.

Read Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 25 through 29. The bible tells us of a day that is going to come – a day of shaking. Everything not founded on the Word of God – inside of you – will be shaken. In Haggai, chapter 2, verses 6 and 7, it talks of a day when all the foundations of the world will be shaken. This “shaking” may already be occurring in this hour. Look to the Passover story in Exodus, chapter 12, verses 1 through 13. The blood applied shall be a token unto you and the death angel would Passover that house. Apply the night of the Passover to the day we’re living in today. God’s people saw His glory, saw that He’s in control, and abided in His plan of provision and protection for His people. We can rest in His plan today with the blood applied to the doorpost of our hearts. HIS BLOOD IS SUFFICIENT. Also read Hebrews, chapter 9:11 to 15, and Hebrews 7:22 to 28.

Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock for the needed strength, power and provision to be the church we're called to be. The Lord promises to be moved by our “shameless” approaching to His throne for help in the time of trouble. We sometimes come to Him in importunity - with a troublesome urgency and continue to ask until we receive or prayer is answered. Read Luke, chapter 18, verses 1 through 8. "Men are always to pray and not to faint (verse 1)." "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? (verse 8)." In spite of the reality of the times - the hour in which we live - will anyone pray? God moves when His people pray. The Lord is seeking for individuals who will "stand in the gap." Also read, Acts 4:31, Malachi 3:7, Ezekiel 22:30. It’s time to Ask!