THE NEGLECTED SUNDAY SCHOOL
(An article by Rev. Joe N. Njoroge)
The Lord Jesus walked in human body and ministered on this earth some 2000 years ago. He must have been a loving, cheerful and approachable person, especially to His disciples. But on one occasion, we read of how Jesus became angry with His disciples: “Some people brought their children to Jesus so that he could bless them by placing his hands on them. But his disciples told the people to stop bothering him.
When Jesus saw this, he became angry and said, "Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:13 – 14 Contemporary English Version)
This is the only record we find of Jesus being angry with His disciples. His anger simply shows us the importance and value Jesus attached to children. And believe you me, the Lord is still angry today at every person who denies children access to Him – whether that person is the parent, guardian or a church going Christian. Actually, the Christian of today invokes more wrath upon himself or herself when they deny their children access to the Lord. In the incident above, it was the disciples – the followers of Jesus, who were refusing the children to come to Jesus! And how many followers of Jesus today keep their children away from the Lord through negligence and ignorance? In particular, how many men know that it is actually their primary responsibility to lead their children to Jesus and not to leave the duty to the women only? Without turning this article into a sermon for now, let me only highlight a few truths concerning what a Sunday School ought to be.
IT IS MEN’S RESPONSIBILITY
The Bible teaches us that the head of the family is the man, that is, the husband or father. (God’s grace endows single mothers with ability to fulfill both roles and responsibilities of being the father and mother of their children). In the Old Testament, the head of the family also served as the priest and teacher in that family. It was therefore a God-given duty for the father to teach the children as indicated in Deut. 6: 2 – 7; 31:12 – 13; Psalm 78: 1 – 8; Prov. 22: 6, etc. Look at what it says in Ephesians 6: 4,
“And, ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (KJV emphasis added). Paul specifically tells fathers - not mothers, to bring up children in the Lord. But how many men today do that? How many teach in Sunday Schools? How many are even concerned with what or how our children are fed spiritually at home and in church? Have we not abdicated that divine responsibility and relegated it to the mothers or girls in the church? I dare say, God’s wrath is upon us men!
THE ORIGINS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL
It is believed that the first Sunday School was started over 250 years ago in England by a man called Robert Raikes (1736 1811). He started it as a school for poor boys in the slums who he otherwise saw as potential candidates for crime and other vices. He saw schooling as the best intervention, and the best available time was Sunday as the boys were often working in the factories the other six days. The textbook was the Bible, and the originally intended curriculum started with learning to read, and then progressed to the Bible Study. Only boys attended the schools at first, and then girls also joined later. Within two years, several schools opened in and around Gloucester, and by 1831, Sunday schools in Great Britain were teaching weekly 1,250,000 children - approximately 25 percent of the population!
I once heard a saying that goes, “When you educate a man you educate an individual; when you educate a woman you educate a whole family.” I do not intend to argue about that quote if it applies to secular education. But from the above statistics on the development of Sunday School, I would like to believe that leading boys to Christ at an early age is equal to saving a whole nation. But who will lead boys to Christ? Only men can do that most effectively as demonstrated by Robert Raikes. When they are growing up, children – both boys and girls seek to identify with grown up role models. A boy can never find a role model in a woman, neither would a girl say she would want to become like a certain man when she grows up. Therefore, the reason we need men leading boys to Christ at home and in church is because we men need to set an example and be role models to the growing boys. The girls have plenty of examples and motivators at home and in church, but not so with the boys. When men neglect leading boys in Christianity, they create a subliminal impression in the boys’ minds that the things of God are only meant for women. This is why we lose most of the boys from church and Christianity as they become adolescents because they find no man to identify with in the church or things of God but women only. They are easily allured into crime gangs which are led by men, as that is where they can identify and feel secure.
STATISTICS
In obedience to God’s commands, Jewish men devote 325 hours per child per year. The Catholics give their children about 200 hours per child every year. But Protestants give a mere 17 hours per child per year! I will not mention how many hours are given to the Muslim child in their Madrassas. We seriously need to re-examine our concern for our children. We should not be surprised to see them getting lost to the world because that is the way we have left them to go uncared for. How many hours per week at least do you spend with your child discussing or teaching them godly issues? What takes the most hours of your child’s life? Is it electronic games, videos, movies, TV shows of every kind? Where are you dad when your daughter and your son need you most? Where are you when they go for their Sunday School classes? Where are you? Have you, like the disciples of old, been preventing your children and the children in church from Jesus’ touch and blessing? Please pray about it and ask the Lord to give you more time for your children, especially you my brother.
(Rev. Joe is a visiting minister, bible teacher, counselor and theologian)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, October 12, 2007
“NOTHING JUST HAPPENS” A MESSAGE BY BISHOP T.D. JAKES
"Jambo!"WELCOME TO JOE N.'s WORD!
Let me "break ground" on my new blogsite by sharing the following message preached by Bishop T.D Jakes. It is self-eplanatory but if you never heard it , then you better make an order for it to either listen or even better watch it for yourself. I am sure you will never be the same again.
“NOTHING JUST HAPPENS” (A MESSAGE BY BISHOP T.D. JAKES)
THREE WOMEN: NAOMI, WHO IS THE OLDER WOMAN, AND RUTH, (WOULD HAVE) WHO WAS HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND ORPAH WHO WAS HER OTHER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. THREE WOMEN WHOSE (COMMON) AH COMMONALITY WAS PAIN. PAIN IS A STRANGE COMPANY-KEEPER. IT BRINGS THE ODDEST PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE IS A SECRET FRATERNITY THAT EXISTS AMONGST THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN PAIN THAT IS MIND-BOGGLING. IT TRANSCENDS THE COLOUR OF YOUR SKIN. IT TRANSCENDS YOUR BACKGROUND. WHEN YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS YOU FEEL FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU RELATE TO THEM. I PERSONALLY DON’T LIKE TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH PAIN. IT’S NOTHING AGAINST THEM, AM NOT JEALOUS OF THEM, I JUST CAN’T RELATE TO THEM. I CAN’T RELATE TO THEM AND I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELATE TO ME. THE PARTS OF ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE KNOWN, THAT I NEED TO HAVE TOUCHED, THAT I NEED TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP, ARE TIED UP, NOT IN THE SUCCESSES OF MY LIFE BUT IN THE STRUGGLES OF MY LIFE. FOR GOD HAS DONE MORE THROUGH MY STRUGGLES. HE’S DONE MORE THROUGH MY STRUGGLES THAN HE’S EVER DONE THROUGH MY SUCCESSES AND IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT MY SUCCESSES, MY SUCCESSES ARE MADE OUT OF THE INGREDIENTS OF MY STRUGGLES. AND YOU CAN NEVER KNOW MY SUCCESSES UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND MY STRUGGLES, BECAUSE MY STRUGGLES ARE THE PATHWAY THAT LED ME INTO MY SUCCESS. ARE YOU HEARING WHAT I AM SAYING?
AND SO IF YOU GONNA HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH SOMEBODY, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY’VE HAD SOMETHING TO DIE IN THEIR LIFE. IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE THE KIND OF OPTIMISM THAT IS ANNOYING. IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO GO WRONG IN YOUR LIFE I DON’T LIKE TO HEAR YOU PREACH, IT AGGRAVATES ME, GETS ON MY NERVES, BECAUSE YOUR PREACHING HAS NOT BEEN BALANCED BY FAILURE. IF…IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE, DON’T COUNSEL ME BECAUSE YOU REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND ME…COS YOU…YOU, YOU DON’T KNOW WHY I AM LIKE I AM UNTIL YOU’VE BEEN WHERE I’VE BEEN. IF YOU NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE DON’T SIT THERE AND TELL ME, “BE A MAN, TAKE IT, DON’T CRY,” YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT AM TAKING, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM ENDURING. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. JUST BECAUSE YOU READ SOME BOOKS AND TOOK A PSYCHE CLASS DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU ARE READY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF MY LIFE!
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT GOING THROUGH DEATH AND LOSS AND PAIN, MISFORTUNE AND ADVERSITY; THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT GOING THROUGH THINGS THAT DON’T SEEM FAIR TO YOU, THAT ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THEM YOU NEED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE MADNESS IN YOUR LIFE SINCE YOU CAN’T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU CAN’T ALTER WHAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH, AT LEAST YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO THINK THAT THERE’S SOME GREATER GOOD THAT’S GOING TO COME OUT OF IT. IT’S WHAT THEY CALL “BRINGING CLOSER.” TO BRING CLOSER TO IT… TO JUSTIFY THAT “I DIN’T GO THROUGH THIS KIND OF PAIN FOR NOTHING… I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FEEL LIKE SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS, IF I CAN’T DO THAT, THEN I FEEL LIKE I AM A VICTIM, THEN I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN VICTIMIZED, THEN I FOREVER FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF AND I AM NOT FREE TO GO ON WITH MY LIFE AND I AM NOT SAFE TO RE- MARRY AGAIN, AND I AM NOT SAFE TO GET ANOTHER JOB AGAIN, AND I AM NOT SAFE IN ANOTHER CHURCH AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE UNRESOLVED ISSUES OUT OF MY PAST AND I AM NOT READY TO GO FORWARD WITH MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM STILL TIED UP WITH WHERE I CAME FROM. I NEED TO KNOW IF I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORSHIP GOD. I NEED TO KNOW THAT SOME DEMON DIDN’T GET LOOSE IN MY LIFE AND WRECK MY LIFE.”
IT’S NOT A MISTAKE, IT’S NOT AN ACCIDENT, GOD DIDN’T FALL ASLEEP ON THE JOB AND THE DEVIL CAME IN AND WRECKED THE CAR. NO GOD NEVER SLEEPS AND HE NEVER SLUMBERS. HE’S IN COMPLETE CONTROL AND HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE. AND HE KNOWS HOW OLD YOU ARE. AND HE KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPENT. AND HE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO WALKED OUT AND LEFT YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO BETRAYED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO MOLESTED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO RAPED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO REJECTED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR BILLS. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR DEGREE. AND HE KNOWS YOU DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT WHAT YOU DIDN’T GET. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILD. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UNDERSTAND THAT AND TELL YOURSELF: “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!”
AND SO ORPAH WALKS AWAY, SHE WALKS AWAY. I MAY HAVE TO TURN THIS INTO A SERIES COS I CAN’T, I CAN’T GET OUT OF THIS. ORPAH WALKS AWAY AND SHE CRIES AND SHE GOES BACK BUT… AND SHE… AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU. AND HEAR ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK! WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU LET THEM WALK!!!
I CAN SIT DOWN NOW. I’VE PREACHED! I CAN SIT DOWN. I DON’T NEED TO MAKE ALTAR-CALL OR NOTHING, I CAN SIT… I DON’T HAVE TO HOOT, I DON’T HAVE TO MAKE YOU SHOUT, I HAVE JUST PREACHED RIGHT NOW. WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK! I DON’T WANT YOU TO TRY TO TALK ANOTHER PERSON INTO STAYING WITH YOU, LOVING YOU, CALLING YOU, CARING ABOUT YOU, COMING TO SEE YOU, STAYING ATTACHED TO YOU. I MEAN HUNG UP THE PHONE. WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK!
YOUR DESTINY IS NEVER TIED TO ANYBODY THAT LEFT. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THEY CAME OUT FROM US, THAT IT MIGHT BE MADE MANIFEST THAT THEY WERE NOT OF US. FOR HAD THEY BEEN OF US, NO DOUBT THEY WOULD HAVE CONTINUED WITH US. PEOPLE LEAVE YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JOINED TO YOU. AND IF THEY ARE NOT JOINED TO YOU, YOU GET SUPERGLUE, AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ’EM STAY! LET’EM GO! AND IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT ORPAH WAS A BAD PERSON. IT JUST MEANS THAT ORPAH’S PART IN THE STORY IS OVER. AND YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN PEOPLE’S PART IN YOUR STORY IS OVER! SO THAT YOU DON’T KEEP TRYING TO RAISE THE DEAD. YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN IT’S DEAD DAVID! WHEN YOUR BOY IS DEAD, WASH YOUR FACE AND HAVE ANOTHER BABY! YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN IT’S OVER! LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: I GOT THE GIFT OF GOODBYE! I MEAN I GOT THE GIFT OF GOODBYE! IT’S A TENTH SPIRITUAL GIFT. I BELIEVE IN GOODBYE. IT’S NOT THAT I AM HATEFUL, IT’S THAT I AM FAITHFUL. AND I KNOW WHATEVER GOD MEANS FOR ME TO HAVE, HE’LL GIVE IT TO ME! AND IF IT TAKES TOO MUCH SWEAT, I DON’T NEED IT! STOP BEGGING PEOPLE TO STAY!!! LET’EM GO!!!
AH!!... RUTH ON THE OTHER HAND, COMING TO THE CROSSROADS, SHE LOOKS AT ORPAH WHO LEFT, RUTH TURNS TO NAOMI AND SAYS “AS THE LORD LIVETH, I SHALL NOT LEAVE THEE.” SHE MAKES A STATEMENT TO THIS WOMAN THAT SOUNDS (SOMEWHAT) SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN POETRY, INTIMACY, AND BORDERS ON LESBIANISM. PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT RUTH SAID TO NAOMI. IT MAKES THEM UNCOMFORTABLE, THEY’RE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT. THEY DON’T WANNA TEACH ON IT. SAME THING WITH DAVID AND JONATHAN. WHENEVER SAME SEX RELATIONSHIP GETS TOO CLOSE, PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO CARNAL THEY THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN TIE YOU TO SOMEBODY IS FLESH TO FLESH. UNDERSTAND THAT NAOMI WAS AN OLDER WOMAN. SHE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE RUTH’S MAMA. SHE’S NOT ATTRACTED TO NAOMI’S FLESH. SOMETHING SOME KIND OF WAY NAOMI’S SPIRIT HAS GOTTEN INTO HER SPIRIT. THERE’S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU OCCASIONALLY, WHERE YOU CAN MEET SOMEBODY AND YOU SENSE… YOU SENSE… YOU SENSE THAT YOUR DESTINY…OH GOD! OH GOD!… YOUR DESTINY IS TIED TO THAT PERSON. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING TO US? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER? HAS IT EVER CROSSED YOUR MIND THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER? THAT WE WILL DIE AFTER THIS? AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER AND WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIFE TOGETHER? HAVE YOU EVER REALIZED YOU CAN SPEND YOUR LIFE ANYWHERE WITH ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS INSIDE OF YOU WHERE YOU SENSE THAT YOUR DESTINY IS TIED TO A MINISTRY OR TO A VISION AND YOU DECIDE TO SPEND YOUR LIFE? PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT SPENDING THEIR MONEY, AND AIN’T NOTHIN’! I CAN SPEND MY MONEY AND LIVE IN CHICAGO. BUT WHEN I SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU, THAT’S ALL I HAVE!!!
I DON’T… I DON’T…I DON’T THINK, I DON’T THINK THAT HITS YOU. WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER! YOU’LL NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE YOUR STORY AND LEAVE ME OUT! WE’RE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER! THERE IS NO GREATER BOND POSSIBLE! OCCASIONALLY IN SCRIPTURES – IN THE WHOLE BIBLE YOU SEE IT…YOU SEE IT HAPPENING. WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT EVEN BLOOD-RELATED, SPEND THEIR LIVES TOGETHER IN THE MOST INTIMATE CONNECTION POSSIBLE. AND…AND...AND THEOLOGIANS AND SCHOLARS AND PREACHERS STUMBLE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE POWER BEING JOINED TOGETHER. HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN WHAT MADE ELISHAH LEAVE HIS NATURAL MOTHER AND FATHER AND RUN AFTER ELIJAH TO WAIT ON HIM? TO CLEAN HIS CLOTHES, TO POUR WATER ON HIS HAND, TO SET UP HIS TENT. BUT SOME KIND OF WAY ELISHAH SENSED THAT HIS DESTINY WAS TIED TO ELIJAH. HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN TIMOTHY, WHO WALKS AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT HE OWNS TO HANG OUT AT THE OUTSIDE WINDOW OF A JAIL-CELL, AS AN OLD MAN PREPARES TO BE BEHEADED. HE PEEKS IN THE WINDOW HANDING HIM BOOKS AND PLACARDS, MINISTERING TO HIM. THE YOUNG MAN UNDERSTOOD I’LL NEVER BE WHO I WAS MEANT TO BE WITHOUT YOU IN MY LIFE! DO YOU HEAR WHAT AM SAYING? THERE’S SOMETHING… THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU TALK… IT FEEDS ME, SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU SPEAK THAT CHANGES ME, SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT THAT MOTIVATES ME. AND I’LL NEVER BE COMPLETED WITHOUT YOU. AND I DIDN’T MEET YOU BY ACCIDENT. I DIDN’T STUMBLE UP AND MEET YOU. THERE’S THERE’S…(*tongues*)!!! THIS DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN! THERE’S A REASON THAT I AM IN THIS PLACE.
I’M SO SICK OF TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT EVERYTHING JUST HAPPENS. “I GUESS I’LL GO TO CHURCH… I GUESS I’LL GET SAVED…” I GUESS I’LL MOVE TO CHICAGO… I GUESS I’LL MOVE TO DALLAS. THAT’S NOT HOW IT IS! THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD! YOUR STEPS WERE ORDERED! IF YOU HADN’T GOT THE PHONE-CALL THAT YOU GOT WHEN YOU GOT RIGHT YOU GOT IT, YOU WOULDN’T EVEN BE HERE RIGHT NOW! IF YOU HADN’T MADE THE TURN THAT YOU MADE YESTERDAY, YOU WOULDN’T EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU’RE EXPERIENCING TODAY. GOD HAS BEEN BEHIND THE CURTAIN, LIKE A “PUPPET-MASTER,” PULLING STRINGS IN YOUR LIFE! IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE SMART, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE GREAT, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE HOLY, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE PERFECT, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE GOOD, BUT GOD WINDED YOU UP, POINTED YOU INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION, RELEASED YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY, AND YOU ARE HERE AND YOU CAN’T GET AWAY. FLAP SOMEBODY AND TELL ‘EM “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!”
CAN I TALK TO YOU A FEW MOMENTS? THIS MEANS… THIS MEANS…THIS MEANS THAT I AM UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. I AM UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DEATH, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PAIN, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SEPARATION AND DISAPPOINTMENTS, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL.
CAN I TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL? JONAH WAS SENT TO NINEVEH, WENT TO TARSHISH, HEADED FOR TARSHISH, NOT OBEYING GOD. GOT THROWN OFF THE BOAT INTO THE BELLY OF THE FISH. SWALLOWED FOR THREE DAYS. EVEN THOUGH GOD TOLD HIM TO GO TO NINEVEH AND HE DIDN’T GO, HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL. I’M NOT SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THIS! HE WENT THE WRONG WAY, AND HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL! THEY THREW HIM OFF THE BOAT, HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL, I’LL PROVE TO YOU HE WAS IN THE WILL. IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A BIG FISH! SEE? IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A BIG FISH, SWIMMING BESIDE THE BIG BOAT, SO THAT WHEN BIG MEN DUMPED HIM OVER, THE FISH JUST HAPPENED…! THIS IS TOO STRONG YOU CAN’T TAKE IT!
THE FISH CARRIED HIM DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH SEAWEEDS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. HE’S THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL. AND GOD SUSTAINED HIM… SUSTAINED HIM NOT ONE DAY, NOT TWO DAYS, NOT FOUR DAYS, BUT THREE…THREE DAYS! NOTHING JUST HAPPENS! ON THE 3RD DAY, ON THE 3RD DAY, THE BACKSLIDDEN, REBELLIOUS, REPROBATE, DISCONNECTED, DISJOINTED PREACHER COMES UP OUT OF THE WATER. AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER CHRIST SAYS: “EVEN AS JONAH WAS IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH THREE DAYS, SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE IN THE GRAVE.” HE HAD TO GET UP WHEN HE GOT UP, AND HE HAD TO GO DOWN WHEN HE WENT DOWN, BECAUSE NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!
YOUR MISTAKES WERE IN HIS WILL, YOUR TROUBLE WAS IN HIS WILL, YOUR PAIN WAS IN HIS WILL. I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH! DAVID SAID IF I MADE MY BED IN HELL, THOU ART THERE, IF I TAKE HE WINGS OF THE MORNING AND ASCEND TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH, GOD IS STILL THERE! HE WAS WITH YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TROUBLE! HE WAS WITH YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PAIN! THAT’S WHY PAUL SAID : “I’VE LEARNT WHATEVER STATE I’M IN THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT. I KNOW HOW TO BE RICH, I KNOW HOW TO BE POOR. I KNOW HOW TO BE FREE, I KNOW HOW TO BE BOUND!” YOU OUGHTTA SHOUT, I DON’T CARE WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!
AND NO DEVIL IN HELL HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO ABORT THE PURPOSE OF GOD, NOT ONCE! AND YES GOD GAVE YOU A HUMAN WILL AND YOU ARE A FREE MORAL AGENT. BUT IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR HUMAN WILL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CHANGE HIS DIVINE WILL, YOU ARE TRIPPIN’! YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND! GOD IS GOD! THE REASON WE WORSHIP HIM AS GOD IS BECAUSE HE IS THE C.E.O. HE IS IN CHARGE! HE RUNS THE UNIVERSE! AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO MAKE YOU, AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO BREAK YOU, AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO TAKE YOU, HE’S NEVER BEEN WITHOUT THE POWER TO MAKE YOU YIELD TO HIS WILL! HE’S NEVER NOT ONE MOMENT OR TIME NOT BEEN ABLE TO ORCHESTRATE YOUR AFFAIRS AND NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE…. THINK ABOUT THE MOST DAMNABLE THING THAT EVER HAPPENED AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE MOST IMPOVERISHED, FINANCIALLY DEPLETING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE WORST SCANDAL THAT YOU EVER WENT THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LOVED YOU AND WALKED OUT AND LEFT YOU AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT BETRAYAL OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE STRUGGLE GOING ON ON YOUR JOB RIGHT NOW AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR KINSFOLK AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR BOSS IS TREATING YOU ON YOUR JOB AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT YOUR PAST LIFE OF SIN, YOUR WHOREMONGERY, YOUR INAPPROPRIATENESS, YOUR ATTITUDE, YOUR DISFUNCTION AND SHOUT NOTHING! SHOUT NOTHING! LET THE DEVIL HEAR YOU SAY NOTHING! THE DEVIL WILL THINK HE WON IF YOU DON’T SHOUT NOTHING! THE DEVIL WILL THINK HE’S IN CHARGE IF YOU DON’T SHOUT NOTHING! HE’LL THINK HE’S GONNA WIN BUT YOU GOTTA SHOUT NOTHING!
God bless you as you digest that inspiring message and as you always remember that Nothing Just Happens!
Joe
“NOTHING JUST HAPPENS” (A MESSAGE BY BISHOP T.D. JAKES)
THREE WOMEN: NAOMI, WHO IS THE OLDER WOMAN, AND RUTH, (WOULD HAVE) WHO WAS HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND ORPAH WHO WAS HER OTHER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. THREE WOMEN WHOSE (COMMON) AH COMMONALITY WAS PAIN. PAIN IS A STRANGE COMPANY-KEEPER. IT BRINGS THE ODDEST PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE IS A SECRET FRATERNITY THAT EXISTS AMONGST THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN PAIN THAT IS MIND-BOGGLING. IT TRANSCENDS THE COLOUR OF YOUR SKIN. IT TRANSCENDS YOUR BACKGROUND. WHEN YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS YOU FEEL FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU RELATE TO THEM. I PERSONALLY DON’T LIKE TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH PAIN. IT’S NOTHING AGAINST THEM, AM NOT JEALOUS OF THEM, I JUST CAN’T RELATE TO THEM. I CAN’T RELATE TO THEM AND I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELATE TO ME. THE PARTS OF ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE KNOWN, THAT I NEED TO HAVE TOUCHED, THAT I NEED TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP, ARE TIED UP, NOT IN THE SUCCESSES OF MY LIFE BUT IN THE STRUGGLES OF MY LIFE. FOR GOD HAS DONE MORE THROUGH MY STRUGGLES. HE’S DONE MORE THROUGH MY STRUGGLES THAN HE’S EVER DONE THROUGH MY SUCCESSES AND IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT MY SUCCESSES, MY SUCCESSES ARE MADE OUT OF THE INGREDIENTS OF MY STRUGGLES. AND YOU CAN NEVER KNOW MY SUCCESSES UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND MY STRUGGLES, BECAUSE MY STRUGGLES ARE THE PATHWAY THAT LED ME INTO MY SUCCESS. ARE YOU HEARING WHAT I AM SAYING?
AND SO IF YOU GONNA HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH SOMEBODY, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY’VE HAD SOMETHING TO DIE IN THEIR LIFE. IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE THE KIND OF OPTIMISM THAT IS ANNOYING. IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO GO WRONG IN YOUR LIFE I DON’T LIKE TO HEAR YOU PREACH, IT AGGRAVATES ME, GETS ON MY NERVES, BECAUSE YOUR PREACHING HAS NOT BEEN BALANCED BY FAILURE. IF…IF YOU’VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE, DON’T COUNSEL ME BECAUSE YOU REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND ME…COS YOU…YOU, YOU DON’T KNOW WHY I AM LIKE I AM UNTIL YOU’VE BEEN WHERE I’VE BEEN. IF YOU NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DIE IN YOUR LIFE DON’T SIT THERE AND TELL ME, “BE A MAN, TAKE IT, DON’T CRY,” YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT AM TAKING, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM ENDURING. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. JUST BECAUSE YOU READ SOME BOOKS AND TOOK A PSYCHE CLASS DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU ARE READY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF MY LIFE!
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT GOING THROUGH DEATH AND LOSS AND PAIN, MISFORTUNE AND ADVERSITY; THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT GOING THROUGH THINGS THAT DON’T SEEM FAIR TO YOU, THAT ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THEM YOU NEED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE MADNESS IN YOUR LIFE SINCE YOU CAN’T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU CAN’T ALTER WHAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH, AT LEAST YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO THINK THAT THERE’S SOME GREATER GOOD THAT’S GOING TO COME OUT OF IT. IT’S WHAT THEY CALL “BRINGING CLOSER.” TO BRING CLOSER TO IT… TO JUSTIFY THAT “I DIN’T GO THROUGH THIS KIND OF PAIN FOR NOTHING… I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FEEL LIKE SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS, IF I CAN’T DO THAT, THEN I FEEL LIKE I AM A VICTIM, THEN I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN VICTIMIZED, THEN I FOREVER FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF AND I AM NOT FREE TO GO ON WITH MY LIFE AND I AM NOT SAFE TO RE- MARRY AGAIN, AND I AM NOT SAFE TO GET ANOTHER JOB AGAIN, AND I AM NOT SAFE IN ANOTHER CHURCH AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE UNRESOLVED ISSUES OUT OF MY PAST AND I AM NOT READY TO GO FORWARD WITH MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM STILL TIED UP WITH WHERE I CAME FROM. I NEED TO KNOW IF I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORSHIP GOD. I NEED TO KNOW THAT SOME DEMON DIDN’T GET LOOSE IN MY LIFE AND WRECK MY LIFE.”
IT’S NOT A MISTAKE, IT’S NOT AN ACCIDENT, GOD DIDN’T FALL ASLEEP ON THE JOB AND THE DEVIL CAME IN AND WRECKED THE CAR. NO GOD NEVER SLEEPS AND HE NEVER SLUMBERS. HE’S IN COMPLETE CONTROL AND HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE. AND HE KNOWS HOW OLD YOU ARE. AND HE KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPENT. AND HE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO WALKED OUT AND LEFT YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO BETRAYED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO MOLESTED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO RAPED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHO REJECTED YOU. AND HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR BILLS. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT YOUR DEGREE. AND HE KNOWS YOU DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT WHAT YOU DIDN’T GET. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILD. AND HE KNOWS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UNDERSTAND THAT AND TELL YOURSELF: “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!”
AND SO ORPAH WALKS AWAY, SHE WALKS AWAY. I MAY HAVE TO TURN THIS INTO A SERIES COS I CAN’T, I CAN’T GET OUT OF THIS. ORPAH WALKS AWAY AND SHE CRIES AND SHE GOES BACK BUT… AND SHE… AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU. AND HEAR ME WHEN I TELL YOU THIS: WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK! WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU LET THEM WALK!!!
I CAN SIT DOWN NOW. I’VE PREACHED! I CAN SIT DOWN. I DON’T NEED TO MAKE ALTAR-CALL OR NOTHING, I CAN SIT… I DON’T HAVE TO HOOT, I DON’T HAVE TO MAKE YOU SHOUT, I HAVE JUST PREACHED RIGHT NOW. WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK! I DON’T WANT YOU TO TRY TO TALK ANOTHER PERSON INTO STAYING WITH YOU, LOVING YOU, CALLING YOU, CARING ABOUT YOU, COMING TO SEE YOU, STAYING ATTACHED TO YOU. I MEAN HUNG UP THE PHONE. WHEN PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY FROM YOU, LET THEM WALK!
YOUR DESTINY IS NEVER TIED TO ANYBODY THAT LEFT. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THEY CAME OUT FROM US, THAT IT MIGHT BE MADE MANIFEST THAT THEY WERE NOT OF US. FOR HAD THEY BEEN OF US, NO DOUBT THEY WOULD HAVE CONTINUED WITH US. PEOPLE LEAVE YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JOINED TO YOU. AND IF THEY ARE NOT JOINED TO YOU, YOU GET SUPERGLUE, AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ’EM STAY! LET’EM GO! AND IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT ORPAH WAS A BAD PERSON. IT JUST MEANS THAT ORPAH’S PART IN THE STORY IS OVER. AND YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN PEOPLE’S PART IN YOUR STORY IS OVER! SO THAT YOU DON’T KEEP TRYING TO RAISE THE DEAD. YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN IT’S DEAD DAVID! WHEN YOUR BOY IS DEAD, WASH YOUR FACE AND HAVE ANOTHER BABY! YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN IT’S OVER! LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: I GOT THE GIFT OF GOODBYE! I MEAN I GOT THE GIFT OF GOODBYE! IT’S A TENTH SPIRITUAL GIFT. I BELIEVE IN GOODBYE. IT’S NOT THAT I AM HATEFUL, IT’S THAT I AM FAITHFUL. AND I KNOW WHATEVER GOD MEANS FOR ME TO HAVE, HE’LL GIVE IT TO ME! AND IF IT TAKES TOO MUCH SWEAT, I DON’T NEED IT! STOP BEGGING PEOPLE TO STAY!!! LET’EM GO!!!
AH!!... RUTH ON THE OTHER HAND, COMING TO THE CROSSROADS, SHE LOOKS AT ORPAH WHO LEFT, RUTH TURNS TO NAOMI AND SAYS “AS THE LORD LIVETH, I SHALL NOT LEAVE THEE.” SHE MAKES A STATEMENT TO THIS WOMAN THAT SOUNDS (SOMEWHAT) SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN POETRY, INTIMACY, AND BORDERS ON LESBIANISM. PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT RUTH SAID TO NAOMI. IT MAKES THEM UNCOMFORTABLE, THEY’RE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT. THEY DON’T WANNA TEACH ON IT. SAME THING WITH DAVID AND JONATHAN. WHENEVER SAME SEX RELATIONSHIP GETS TOO CLOSE, PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO CARNAL THEY THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN TIE YOU TO SOMEBODY IS FLESH TO FLESH. UNDERSTAND THAT NAOMI WAS AN OLDER WOMAN. SHE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE RUTH’S MAMA. SHE’S NOT ATTRACTED TO NAOMI’S FLESH. SOMETHING SOME KIND OF WAY NAOMI’S SPIRIT HAS GOTTEN INTO HER SPIRIT. THERE’S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU OCCASIONALLY, WHERE YOU CAN MEET SOMEBODY AND YOU SENSE… YOU SENSE… YOU SENSE THAT YOUR DESTINY…OH GOD! OH GOD!… YOUR DESTINY IS TIED TO THAT PERSON. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING TO US? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER? HAS IT EVER CROSSED YOUR MIND THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER? THAT WE WILL DIE AFTER THIS? AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER AND WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIFE TOGETHER? HAVE YOU EVER REALIZED YOU CAN SPEND YOUR LIFE ANYWHERE WITH ANYBODY DOING ANYTHING BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS INSIDE OF YOU WHERE YOU SENSE THAT YOUR DESTINY IS TIED TO A MINISTRY OR TO A VISION AND YOU DECIDE TO SPEND YOUR LIFE? PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT SPENDING THEIR MONEY, AND AIN’T NOTHIN’! I CAN SPEND MY MONEY AND LIVE IN CHICAGO. BUT WHEN I SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU, THAT’S ALL I HAVE!!!
I DON’T… I DON’T…I DON’T THINK, I DON’T THINK THAT HITS YOU. WE ARE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER! YOU’LL NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE YOUR STORY AND LEAVE ME OUT! WE’RE SPENDING OUR LIVES TOGETHER! THERE IS NO GREATER BOND POSSIBLE! OCCASIONALLY IN SCRIPTURES – IN THE WHOLE BIBLE YOU SEE IT…YOU SEE IT HAPPENING. WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT EVEN BLOOD-RELATED, SPEND THEIR LIVES TOGETHER IN THE MOST INTIMATE CONNECTION POSSIBLE. AND…AND...AND THEOLOGIANS AND SCHOLARS AND PREACHERS STUMBLE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE POWER BEING JOINED TOGETHER. HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN WHAT MADE ELISHAH LEAVE HIS NATURAL MOTHER AND FATHER AND RUN AFTER ELIJAH TO WAIT ON HIM? TO CLEAN HIS CLOTHES, TO POUR WATER ON HIS HAND, TO SET UP HIS TENT. BUT SOME KIND OF WAY ELISHAH SENSED THAT HIS DESTINY WAS TIED TO ELIJAH. HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN TIMOTHY, WHO WALKS AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT HE OWNS TO HANG OUT AT THE OUTSIDE WINDOW OF A JAIL-CELL, AS AN OLD MAN PREPARES TO BE BEHEADED. HE PEEKS IN THE WINDOW HANDING HIM BOOKS AND PLACARDS, MINISTERING TO HIM. THE YOUNG MAN UNDERSTOOD I’LL NEVER BE WHO I WAS MEANT TO BE WITHOUT YOU IN MY LIFE! DO YOU HEAR WHAT AM SAYING? THERE’S SOMETHING… THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU TALK… IT FEEDS ME, SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU SPEAK THAT CHANGES ME, SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT THAT MOTIVATES ME. AND I’LL NEVER BE COMPLETED WITHOUT YOU. AND I DIDN’T MEET YOU BY ACCIDENT. I DIDN’T STUMBLE UP AND MEET YOU. THERE’S THERE’S…(*tongues*)!!! THIS DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN! THERE’S A REASON THAT I AM IN THIS PLACE.
I’M SO SICK OF TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT EVERYTHING JUST HAPPENS. “I GUESS I’LL GO TO CHURCH… I GUESS I’LL GET SAVED…” I GUESS I’LL MOVE TO CHICAGO… I GUESS I’LL MOVE TO DALLAS. THAT’S NOT HOW IT IS! THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD! YOUR STEPS WERE ORDERED! IF YOU HADN’T GOT THE PHONE-CALL THAT YOU GOT WHEN YOU GOT RIGHT YOU GOT IT, YOU WOULDN’T EVEN BE HERE RIGHT NOW! IF YOU HADN’T MADE THE TURN THAT YOU MADE YESTERDAY, YOU WOULDN’T EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU’RE EXPERIENCING TODAY. GOD HAS BEEN BEHIND THE CURTAIN, LIKE A “PUPPET-MASTER,” PULLING STRINGS IN YOUR LIFE! IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE SMART, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE GREAT, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE HOLY, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE PERFECT, IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE GOOD, BUT GOD WINDED YOU UP, POINTED YOU INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION, RELEASED YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY, AND YOU ARE HERE AND YOU CAN’T GET AWAY. FLAP SOMEBODY AND TELL ‘EM “NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!”
CAN I TALK TO YOU A FEW MOMENTS? THIS MEANS… THIS MEANS…THIS MEANS THAT I AM UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. I AM UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DEATH, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PAIN, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SEPARATION AND DISAPPOINTMENTS, I’M UP UNDER THE BANNER OF HIS WILL.
CAN I TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL? JONAH WAS SENT TO NINEVEH, WENT TO TARSHISH, HEADED FOR TARSHISH, NOT OBEYING GOD. GOT THROWN OFF THE BOAT INTO THE BELLY OF THE FISH. SWALLOWED FOR THREE DAYS. EVEN THOUGH GOD TOLD HIM TO GO TO NINEVEH AND HE DIDN’T GO, HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL. I’M NOT SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THIS! HE WENT THE WRONG WAY, AND HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL! THEY THREW HIM OFF THE BOAT, HE WAS STILL IN THE WILL, I’LL PROVE TO YOU HE WAS IN THE WILL. IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A BIG FISH! SEE? IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A BIG FISH, SWIMMING BESIDE THE BIG BOAT, SO THAT WHEN BIG MEN DUMPED HIM OVER, THE FISH JUST HAPPENED…! THIS IS TOO STRONG YOU CAN’T TAKE IT!
THE FISH CARRIED HIM DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH SEAWEEDS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. HE’S THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL. AND GOD SUSTAINED HIM… SUSTAINED HIM NOT ONE DAY, NOT TWO DAYS, NOT FOUR DAYS, BUT THREE…THREE DAYS! NOTHING JUST HAPPENS! ON THE 3RD DAY, ON THE 3RD DAY, THE BACKSLIDDEN, REBELLIOUS, REPROBATE, DISCONNECTED, DISJOINTED PREACHER COMES UP OUT OF THE WATER. AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER CHRIST SAYS: “EVEN AS JONAH WAS IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH THREE DAYS, SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE IN THE GRAVE.” HE HAD TO GET UP WHEN HE GOT UP, AND HE HAD TO GO DOWN WHEN HE WENT DOWN, BECAUSE NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!
YOUR MISTAKES WERE IN HIS WILL, YOUR TROUBLE WAS IN HIS WILL, YOUR PAIN WAS IN HIS WILL. I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH! DAVID SAID IF I MADE MY BED IN HELL, THOU ART THERE, IF I TAKE HE WINGS OF THE MORNING AND ASCEND TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH, GOD IS STILL THERE! HE WAS WITH YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TROUBLE! HE WAS WITH YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PAIN! THAT’S WHY PAUL SAID : “I’VE LEARNT WHATEVER STATE I’M IN THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT. I KNOW HOW TO BE RICH, I KNOW HOW TO BE POOR. I KNOW HOW TO BE FREE, I KNOW HOW TO BE BOUND!” YOU OUGHTTA SHOUT, I DON’T CARE WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE NOTHING JUST HAPPENS!!!
AND NO DEVIL IN HELL HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO ABORT THE PURPOSE OF GOD, NOT ONCE! AND YES GOD GAVE YOU A HUMAN WILL AND YOU ARE A FREE MORAL AGENT. BUT IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR HUMAN WILL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CHANGE HIS DIVINE WILL, YOU ARE TRIPPIN’! YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND! GOD IS GOD! THE REASON WE WORSHIP HIM AS GOD IS BECAUSE HE IS THE C.E.O. HE IS IN CHARGE! HE RUNS THE UNIVERSE! AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO MAKE YOU, AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO BREAK YOU, AND WHEN GOD GETS READY TO TAKE YOU, HE’S NEVER BEEN WITHOUT THE POWER TO MAKE YOU YIELD TO HIS WILL! HE’S NEVER NOT ONE MOMENT OR TIME NOT BEEN ABLE TO ORCHESTRATE YOUR AFFAIRS AND NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE…. THINK ABOUT THE MOST DAMNABLE THING THAT EVER HAPPENED AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE MOST IMPOVERISHED, FINANCIALLY DEPLETING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE WORST SCANDAL THAT YOU EVER WENT THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LOVED YOU AND WALKED OUT AND LEFT YOU AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT BETRAYAL OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF YOUR LIFE AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE STRUGGLE GOING ON ON YOUR JOB RIGHT NOW AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR KINSFOLK AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR BOSS IS TREATING YOU ON YOUR JOB AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND SHOUT NOTHING! THINK ABOUT YOUR PAST LIFE OF SIN, YOUR WHOREMONGERY, YOUR INAPPROPRIATENESS, YOUR ATTITUDE, YOUR DISFUNCTION AND SHOUT NOTHING! SHOUT NOTHING! LET THE DEVIL HEAR YOU SAY NOTHING! THE DEVIL WILL THINK HE WON IF YOU DON’T SHOUT NOTHING! THE DEVIL WILL THINK HE’S IN CHARGE IF YOU DON’T SHOUT NOTHING! HE’LL THINK HE’S GONNA WIN BUT YOU GOTTA SHOUT NOTHING!
God bless you as you digest that inspiring message and as you always remember that Nothing Just Happens!
Joe
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