COVID19 is a difficult, but masterful teacher. On March 29th, my wife and I tested positive for the virus. When our doctors called us with our test results, we experienced a wide range of intense emotions: sadness, discouragement, and fear. As I brooded over my Coronavirus experience, God has taught several unexpected lessons.

When our middle son, Micah, came home from Wayne State, sick, we didn’t really think anything of it. We assumed he had a bad cold or was battling allergies. But, several days after his arrival and when Tonia fell ill, with what we thought was the flu – chills, high fever, body aches, and coughing – we sat up and paid closer attention. During this time, I was constantly checking myself for fever and for shortness of breath. No problems – 98.6 and still working out. It was all good. Then, four or five days after Tonia became sick and started to recover, I starting experiencing a low-grade fever (99.1), but no other symptoms – yet.

The COVID19 Test and Results

Curious about whether we had the Coronavirus, on March 26th, we decided to get tested. The test was no joke. I will spare you the details. Let me say, it was eight really really uncomfortable seconds. Seriously. Three days later, the doctors called us with the disruptive news: “You’ve tested positive for COVID19. Quarantine yourself for 14 days and if you begin to experience shortness of breath, go to the hospital immediately. Also, you will receive a call from the CDC the next day or so. In the meantime, stay hydrated and get rest.” No hand-holding. Just the facts. Suddenly, there were waves of emotions:

Sadness 
Discouragement 
Fear 
Guilt
Grief

… and a barrage of unanticipated questions:

When will we experience shortness of breath and have to be rushed to the hospital?
Am I going to die? Is somebody in my family going to die?
Will we die alone? 
God, why me? Why am I suffering? 
Why are the wicked prospering, but we’re sick?

You have to understand that all the reports we saw in the media were mostly negative. I figured someone or multiple people in our family were going to be part of the global map. I know that’s morbid and not super-spiritual, but it was our reality for this moment in time. Our night ended with our children coming to our room and praying with and for us. We went to sleep, trying to rest in God’s sovereign plan for our lives.

COVID19 disrupted our lives and forced us to invite God to go beneath the iceberg and begin a deep work there. When I gave him permission, he taught me some unexpected lessons.

I Can Be Sad and Afraid

When the doctor called with the results of my COVID19 test, I told myself that I couldn’t be sad or afraid. I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to always wear the armor of joy, encouragement, and courage. Never let them see you sweat, have all the answers, and be strong for everybody else, even if that’s not your reality. Image management. Us pastors are really good at this. I WAS afraid, discouraged, and sad. And, I felt guilty for having those emotions. But, I finally gave myself permission to be human. I didn’t have to manage an image. I could lament and introduce my fears to my Father.

I’m Not Special

COVID19 is indiscriminate. It attacks the old, young, all ethnicities, and yes, pastors. However, two of my fellow pastors in the Lansing area have died due to the Coronavirus. My heart breaks for their families and their congregations. Now, I don’t know why I survived and my fellow pastors died. But, I know that I’m not all that special. Yes, I know I am precious to my Heavenly Father. But, I don’t have some special anointing or righteousness that allowed me and my family to survive. It is all God’s grace. I receive it with humility and gratitude.

I Can Only Control the Controllable

Following Jesus is about surrendering control of our lives to him. I could not control our family contracting COVID19, but I could control my response to having the virus. It was difficult for me to control my symptoms – chills, fever, coughing, really bad diarrhea, nightmares, foggy brain, and the loss of taste and smell – but I could control my rhythms to rest, stay hydrated, and follow the recommendations from healthcare workers and governmental officials. I can’t control the length of the Governor’s stay at home orders, but I can control my attitude and the use of my time while quarantined. I surrendered my control to God. For, I can only control the controllable.

God Speaks Through Orange Juice

During my skirmish with COVID19, I lost my taste and smell for six days. This was the most frightening and discouraging part about having the virus. Like anybody else, I love to smell the aroma and taste the many flavors of my food. But, because I couldn’t taste or smell, I didn’t have an appetite. So, I didn’t eat much. But, around day six, at 3 a.m., God gave me a “little” gift. He gave me a craving for orange juice. This was weird because I hadn’t craved anything and I don’t drink much orange juice. I was too tired to go upstairs to the kitchen and get some. By faith, I received God’s gift of orange juice to me.  Later that morning, I went upstairs and drank some orange juice, and it never tasted so good. God gives gifts to his children, and his gifts don’t disappoint.

Needing Others Breaks Pride

I’m a pastor. I pray for people. I don’t need people to pray for me, right? How insidious to our souls and odious to God! So, when we tested positive for COVID19, I invited the Body of Jesus to pray for us. But, I felt guilty for doing so. If I haven’t told you, I’m the pastor. Similar to giving myself permission to feel, I needed to give myself permission to need others. A funny thing happened. God began to expose and break down the pride that I didn’t know was there. I don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s perfectly fine and quite biblical to need others and let them carry your burdens. Followers of Jesus all over the world carried our load and we felt the effects of their prayers.

I have recovered well and I feel strong. I am grateful for the COVID19 experience because God taught me some lessons about him and myself that deepened my transformation. The lessons I learned only came through the difficult and masterful teacher – COVID19.

What unexpected lessons is God teaching you and your family during this season?  

If you liked this post, you might also be interested in some of these previous posts on my site:

14 Proper Responses to Suffering

The post 5 Unexpected Lessons COVID19 Taught Me appeared first on Marvin Williams.

On Friday night, racism reared its ugly head once again. Eerily reminiscent of the dark days of the KKK, white nationalists and white supremacists wielded tiki torches – attempting to instill fear – as they marched through Charlottesville, Virginia. This was the face of pure evil. But, how should Christ-followers respond?

The Friday evening march and the Alt-Right rally taking place on Saturday came in response to Charlottesville’s decision to move a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Emancipation Park to another park. As they marched, white nationalists and white supremacists shouted, “unite the right” and “we will not be replaced,” and called for the South to split from the United States.

Unambiguous Racism

Though the scene was appalling, visible racism is not new to our country. Millions of men and women lost their lives during the Middle Passage, slavery, Jim Crow, and fighting for Civil Rights in America. So, violence arising from racial tension is nothing new in our country. But, back then, people hid their racism under hoods and under cover of night. Now, it is bold and no longer hidden from public view. It is no longer hidden, partly because of the rhetoric emanating from the 2016 Presidential campaign.

David Duke, the former KKK grand wizard, was unambiguous about what Saturday’s alt-right and neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, meant to him:

It’s the fulfillment of President Trump’s vision for America. We are determined to take our country back. This is a “turning point.” We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”

Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center and publishes church leadership resources, was right when he said:

We must be willing to acknowledge that they (Alt-Right) have been emboldened by the rise of Donald Trump and the values and rhetoric surrounding his 2016 Presidential campaign. Although the President seems to teeter-totter between silence and condemnation, the table has been set. The truth is, it is clear that many in the alt-right movement feel as though a door has been opened for their supremacist worldview, and that “Make America Great Again” was about their warped definition of a great nation. 

Yes.  Emboldened racial tension and hatred may stem from the rhetoric of the 2016 Presidential campaign, but the Bible says that it comes from a deeper place.

Hatred Comes from a Corrupt Nature

When we see the face of evil as we did on Friday and Saturday, we need to look no further than in our hearts. Our evil nature manifests evil actions (Romans 1:28-31; Galatians 5:19-20). We are not good people who occasionally do bad things; we are fundamentally flawed people who occasionally do good things. If left unregenerated and unchecked, hatred and cruelty will become intense hatred and cruelty. Therefore, people who have this kind of hatred and cruelty lie in wait, stir up conflict, assault, and kill – sometimes for no sensible or logical reason (Psalm 38:19).

Racism is Sin and Irrational

“ Racism is irrational and illogical.

How Christians Should Respond

How should Christ-followers respond to what happened in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday? Here are a few ways we can respond.

• Cry out to God

Our first response to racial evil and violence is turning to and crying out to God. As I attempted to recover from the disturbing scenes from Friday night, I recognized that this burden is heavier than any of us can carry. The racial evil in our world sickens me, troubles me, saddens me, and makes me feel helpless. It causes me to cry out to God like Habakkuk:

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4

Our first response should be to fall on our face before a holy, righteous, and all-powerful God – individually and collectively. Only God can bring healing to our broken world.

• Love people who are filled with hatred

We overcome hatred with love – God’s love. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus tells his followers to respond toward people filled with hate in four ways. He told his followers to love them – fight for the highest good of the individuals who do evil. Next, he tells his followers to do good to them – care and provide for them like we would our family. Third, he tells his followers to bless them – to speak well of them (find some positive to say about them). Finally, Jesus tells his followers to pray for them – ask God to intervene in their lives. The ultimate test of how close we are following Jesus is treating hatemongers like Jesus would treat them.

“ We silence the voice of racial hatred with the louder voice of redemptive love.

We silence the voice of racial hatred with the louder voice of redemptive love. Our love must be more robust than their hate.

• Hate the evil of racism

The Bible says that God hates (strongly dislikes) evil and wickedness (Psalm 5:4; Proverbs 6:16-19), of which white supremacy is one manifestation of this wickedness. For anyone who consistently practices evil actions that cause friction in the community of humanity, including racism, God renders an explicit moral judgment against them. Because God has an intense dislike for these evils, we should imitate God and hate sin and wickedness (Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13; Romans 12:9). Rather than winking at evil or ignoring it around us, we should ask God for the capacity to hate the things he hates. The more we hate sin, the more we want His kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Renounce and denounce racism.

We should publicly denounce all racism and white supremacy in our country. All people, especially Christ-followers, should speak out openly against and repudiate white nationalism and supremacy. Any claim that one group is superior to another is racism, pure and simple. It diametrically opposes the gospel of Jesus. Moreover, it denies human dignity and freedom in this country for which many died.

“ White supremacy is wrong. It is a sin. And, we must stand against it and not be silent about it.

Pastors – white and black – this is not a time for silence. The gospel demands that we vehemently reject white nationalism and white supremacy. For, “God sent his son – a brown Middle Eastern man – to save the whole world, including sinners of every race and ethnicity (John 3:16).” Biblical Christianity overcomes social, ethnic, and gender barriers. ” Any supremacy – racial, gender, ethnic – is spiritual bondage, and we need Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, to set us free (Galatians 3:26, 28).

Hating and renouncing violence in our world begins with hating and rejecting violence in our hearts.

“ Hating and renouncing violence in our world starts with hating and rejecting violence in our hearts.

It repudiates racism no matter where we find it. There is no place for white nationalism, white supremacy, and Neo-Nazis in America.

• Do more than cry and talk.

We cannot sit back and do nothing. We are responsible for confronting white supremacy when and where we see it. Our job is to:

Uproot the stubborn weeds of anger and fear.
Break the yoke of superiority and inferiority.
Smash the yoke of false assumptions.
Pulverize the yoke of incorrectly assumed hostility.
Demolish the yoke of misunderstood motives.
Dismantle the yoke of prejudicial judgment.

• Love One Another

We must love one another. Our God, who is love (1 John 4:8), calls us to love each other, grieve, and stand with each other. Let’s not wait for more suffering to occur. Let’s come together now. The world will know that we belong to Jesus because we fight for the highest good for one another. Thus, our love for one another will heal the festering wounds in our world.

We are facing a turning point in the history of our country. Will we rise and speak and live the gospel’s truth, or will we remain silent and be as guilty as the white supremacists who are spewing their hateful rhetoric and inciting racial violence? So, I believe how we respond in the coming days will define us as the Church of Jesus and the human community. I pray we will choose the former instead of the latter. 

What are some other ways Christians should respond to the racism in Charlottesville? 

See other relevant posts:

Four Biblical Reasons Why Racism is Irrational

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Our world has changed. This truth was never more evident when Searyl Atli Doty was born. Searyl, who was born in Canada last November, is considered the world’s first genderless baby. How should we respond?

Now, Searyl was born with genitalia that would identify her as a female. However, her mother, Kori Doty, resisted assigning her baby a gender. In April, the Canadian government issued an ID, which reads “Sex: U,” which advocates “unspecified.” So, technically, though Searyl was born female, she is the first child to receive a genderless government ID card.

Why the Mother Chose Genderless Status

Kori Doty, a non-binary transgender (any gender identity that does not fit the male and female binary) person, explained:

I do not gender my child. It is up to Searyl to decide how they identify, when they are old enough to develop their own gender identity. I am not going to foreclose their choices based on an arbitrary assignment of gender at birth on an inspection of their genitalia.

Kori Doty attempted to get a genderless birth certificate but was unsuccessful. She argued that assigning her baby a gender at birth violated the child’s rights to liberty and security of the person, to freedom of expression and equality under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Doty is one of eight cases in front of the British Columbia Human rights Tribunal. Therefore, the parents are arguing for the removal of gender markers on all new birth certificates. How should Christians think about this situation? Does the Bible help

How Should We Think About Genderless Babies?

We are living in a fascinating era. I don’t pretend to understand all the complexities of this new world of sexual brokenness. Though we are dealing with issues today that we would have never imagined thirty years ago, I think the Bible is still relevant and can help guide our thinking on this matter.

1. We live in a broken and fallen world. The fall in the Garden of Eden extends to every part of our lives, including our thoughts about human sexuality (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). One of the manifestations of our fallenness is attempting to redefine God’s truth regarding human sexuality. Therefore, when we fail to recognize that we filter human sexuality through our brokenness, we will consistently and harshly judge other people. We must compassionately come alongside those who are struggling with sexual brokenness, offering them the love of Jesus, without compromising the truth of Scripture.
2. God created human sexuality (Genesis 1:27). He created human beings in his image, as male and female (Genesis 1:27). Gender is not just a biological accident or social construction. Male and female distinctions are part of the goodness and intention of our sovereign God.  There are sexual/gender differences. There are differences in strength (1 Peter 3:7), in roles (1 Corinthians 11:3-5; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1), in dress (Deuteronomy 22:5), and in sexual activity (Genesis 1:28). If a child is born with an explicit sexual identification, but the parents resist and attempt to redefine that distinction, they deny God as Creator and the truth of Scripture.
3. God intended men and women to complement one another (Genesis 2:18-22; 1 Corinthians 11:11). Therefore, God designed male and female to take pleasure in one another through sexual activity ultimately. He has provided for the full and glad expression of this gift in marriage.

Grace and Truth

Sexuality brokenness is a complex issue, and it’s not going away. We must understand the problem, offer grace and speak the truth of Scriptures. But, may we do so, recognizing our own need to receive grace and hear the truth! Just because we are followers of Jesus does not mean we are immune to brokenness. I know a lot of Christ-followers who are busted and broken, of which I am one. But, we recognize our need to submit their brokenness to the only One who can mend the rips and tears in our hearts. Thus, the only hope for our broken world is the good news of Jesus. May we embody this good news each day.

If you want to understand the issue better and know how to come alongside those who are struggling with sexual brokenness, please consider attending, Caring Well, an upcoming conference hosted by my good friends, Matt and Laurie Krieg.

The Way We Think About Sex is Broken

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Last night, at an Ariana Grande concert, 22 people were killed and many others injured after a suspected terror attack at the Manchester Arena. These stories of terror attacks fatigue my soul. I become numb, not knowing what to do. So, how should we respond to this tragedy?

What do we do when suspected terrorists attack like this? I feel helpless and inadequate to do anything. If you are anything like me, you probably feel the same way. The thing that troubles me the most is that this our new normal. Deadly events like this are becoming normalized in our world. We are shocked, but not really. We grieve for a moment and then go on with life. How should followers of Jesus respond to this tragedy?

Acknowledge our hurt, perplexity, and confusion to God.

I wish I better understood why a good and all-powerful God allow things like this to happen. I am troubled, and I cannot find words to describe my heartache. Like David, in Psalm 77:7-9, we can ask character questions of God:

Has the Lord rejected us forever?  
Will he never again be kind to us?  
Is his unfailing love gone forever? 
Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten how to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?  

These types of questions are not questions of unbelief, but a desire for explanation in the midst of perplexity. God will not get angry with us for asking questions. His invites us to lament and bring our doubts and confusion to him. He already knows that this type of tragedy crushes our hope and leaves our faith staggering like a boxer who has been pummeled by his opponent. So, we might as well cry out to God and tell him about the pain and perplexity we’re feeling. It’s a cathartic and healthy process.

Weep with families who have lost loved ones.

Just as the Father is grieving and mourning the loss from this terror attack, we too should grieve and cry over this tragedy. Let’s ask the Father to break our hearts for what breaks his. If our hearts have become numb to these types of tragedies, let’s invite the Spirit to cause them to weep again. This is not the time to make this all about us or to politicize this tragedy. But, it is a time to mourn and grieve with people who lost loved ones.

Actually Pray for Manchester

No doubt, there will be many people hash tagging #prayforManchester. This is a good gesture, but let’s take time to actually pray for the city of Manchester and the families have bee impacted by the suspected terror attack. In fact, stop reading this post and pray right now. Pray for parents and families. Ask God to comfort them. Pray for police and city officials. And, pray that followers of Jesus would be light in darkness. Let’s not just hashtag #prayforManchester; let’s actually pray.

Check our hearts evil and hatred.

When we see hatred and evil like this, we should take time to check our own hearts. The heart is evil and desperately wicked. No one can fully know it (Jeremiah 17:9).  Sometimes, I forget how evil sin is – in our world and my life (Mark 7:21-22). Our response to the Holy Spirit revealing evil and hatred in our hearts is to repent and submit our lives afresh to the supremacy of Jesus.

Be the voice of calm in a world of terror, evil, and hatred.

As these kinds of attacks increase in our world – I believe they will – may we practice the advice James gives in James 1:19-20: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry. In times like these the calmest voices will win the day. The platforms that invite dialogue will prevail. The world is filled with hatred and evil; it doesn’t need more. So, let’s used our influence to give the world a preview of the peace, righteousness, and justice that we will experience in full in the kingdom of God when Jesus returns.

Believe that our Father can bring good out of this tragedy.

If he can take the ugliness of Jesus’ passion and death on the cross and bring glory to himself and salvation for humanity, then he can take this tragedy and bring about redemption. I don’t know how and when, but I have decided to fill the gap – between tragedy and redemption – with trust.

Reject fear and walk in faith.

Therefore, when fear comes, let’s continue to rehearse these words for Psalm 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

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Last night, President Trump authorized air strikes on a Syrian air base. The attack sends a strong message to President Bashar Assad for the chemical attack earlier this week. But, how should Christians respond? Is there a biblical response to the events over the last few days?

President Trump believed something needed to be done, in response to believing the Syrian government used chemical agents to kill innocent civilians. And, he did it. He authorized a military strike. Here is an excerpt from his remarks last night:

Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.

Last night’s attack is the first direct U.S. military action against an evil Assad regime. His government is responsible for the death and displacement of millions. The use of chemical agents on his people earlier this week broke an agreement Assad made in 2013. So, President Trump authorized last night’s strike. The Syrian government called the attack an “act of aggression,” and Vladimir Putin said the attacks have dealt a blow to U.S-Russian relations.

How should followers of Jesus respond to all of this? I believe we should respond in several important ways:

• Pray. First, let’s pray for the Syrians. These people, God’s image-bearers, are experiencing countless atrocities under this government. Let’s ask God to give them strength, comfort, perseverance, and continued resolve. Pray for Syrian Christians as they attempt to minister to all who are hurting. Second, let’s ask God to give President Trump and our government wisdom as they respond (1 Timothy 2:2). Because there are so many opinions about what we should do, our President and his advisors need divine wisdom to understand the next steps and the unintended consequences of this conflict. Third, ask God to help us not to be indifferent to what’s happening in Syria. If it is not happening in America, we have a tendency to not see it as our problem. Whenever human beings are suffering, we should all feel the pain and pray for them (Genesis 1:26; 1 Timothy 2:1). So, our first response is to pray.

• Defend the weak and oppressed. As followers of Jesus, we have a duty to protect the weak and oppressed – in Syria and here in our country and our communities. When I saw images of innocent people, including children, gasping for breath, helpless and seizing, something broke in me. Something broke in me because image-bearers were suffering and dying. This is not the way it’s supposed to be. Yes, we live in a broken and fallen world. God has left his people here to bring shalom. Our heavenly Father takes up the cause of the weak (Psalm 9:9; 82:3-4). So should we.

• Seek justice. God created the world in justice and expects that his creatures will deal fairly and justly with one another as a result. Sin brings injustice into the world, by disrupting the justice established by God at creation. Assad is evil and has obstructed and disrupted justice. We denounce his evil and unjust actions. His total disregard for human life cannot go unpunished. God commands justice (Psalm 56:1), commends the maintenance of justice (Psalm 106:3) and condemns the neglect of justice (Deuteronomy 27:19).

• Support. It seems like we are helpless to do anything because we are worlds away from the conflict. This is not true. We can support organizations that serve Syrians. Last Christmas Eve our offering went to two mission organizations that served displaced Syrian women and children. As I was scrolling through tweets last night and this morning, someone suggested Preemptive Love Coalition as a good organization to support. This organization is doing phenomenal things in Syria. “They help refugees rebuild their lives and provide lifesaving medical care for children in conflict zones.” If we can’t give financially, maybe we can practically support Syrian families in our communities who have been affected by what’s happening in Syria.

• Refuse to overreact. As I was reading through FB posts and Tweets last night, many people were predicting that this is the beginning of WWIII and the apocalypse. We don’t know this. This is an overreaction. Jesus said “don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s on worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34). So, please don’t listen to the fear-mongers. Fear doesn’t look right on the follower of Jesus. Instead of overreacting and living in fear, let’s keep trusting God.

Jesus has called us to bring his love and shalom to our circles of influence, this includes Syria. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, let’s not simply talk about Jesus being alive; let’s demonstrate that he’s alive in and through us.

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Why do we pray? Out of habit and duty? Do we pray so we can get stuff from God? Now, I believe there is nothing wrong with asking God to bless us. However, this is just one small but important reason why we should pray. There are a few more significant reasons. You might be surprised.

Some days I struggle to pray.  I lose focus, get distracted, doubt if God hears me, and honestly, sometimes I get bored. So, I find myself slogging through and sweating it out. I know prayer should be more joyful, and many days it is. But, there are days when it’s mundane and monotonous. However, when I review the reasons why I should pray, I am motivated to talk with my Heavenly Father and experience greater joy in my time alone with him.

God Invites Us to Pray

Prayer is not a duty, but an invitation from our Father. Prayer is an invitation into fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, expressed in adoration, thanksgiving and intercession, through which we draw near to God and learn more of his will for our lives.

He invites us into purpose and power through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we understand the reasons why we should pray, we will realize all over again what God is inviting us into something precious and powerful – an ever-deepening relationship with him.

Prayer is Relationship

Prayer is based on God’s love for us. Through his grace, he gives us things which they do not deserve, while through his mercy he shields us from those things which we do deserve. Therefore, prayer is primarily a relationship with our heavenly Father (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Prayer is deliberate and intentional communication that nurtures this relationship with the Father. It is our way of connecting daily with the living God and hearing him tell us who he is and who we are. To neglect this privilege is to ignore God himself and miss out on a promised joy to every follower of Jesus. To lean into this relationship is just one way we let God how much we love him. When we love someone, we will make time for them. So, what are some reasons why we should pray?

So, an invitation from and relationship with our Heavenly Father are foundational to understanding why we should pray. But, there are a few more reasons why followers of Jesus should pray.

We pray because…

• God invites us to pray (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8).
• Jesus spent time in prayer (Hebrews 5:7).
• Early followers of Jesus prayed (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4)
• The Apostle Paul prayed (Acts 9:10-11; 16:25; 20:36; 21:5)

God gave us the medium of prayer to…

• Defeat Satan (Luke 22:31-32)
• Save the sinner (Luke 18:13)
• Restore the backslider (James 5:16)
• Strengthen the believer (jude20)
• Raise up laborers (Matthew 9:38; Acts 3:2-3)
• Heal the sick (James 5:14-15)
• Glorify God’s name (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4)
• Accomplish the impossible (Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:29; James 5:17-18)
• Bless us (Matthew 7:7-11)
• Impart wisdom (James 1:5)
• Secure peace (Philippians 4:5-7)
• Keep us from sin (Matthew 26:41)
• Reveal the will of God (Luke 11:9-10)

The “why” of prayer should precede the “what” of prayer.

“ Prayer is not a duty; it’s a relationship and an invitation.

God invites into a relationship with Him, not to just get stuff from him. He invites us into His purposes and power – power to defeat the enemy, save, restore, strengthen, raise up, heal, glorify God, accomplish the impossible, bless, impart wisdom, secure peace, keep us from sinning, and reveal God’s will. When we see prayer this way, it becomes less of punching the clock and donkeywork and more joyful anticipation of how our Father will move the world for his glory and our good.

Why do you pray?  

The post 17 Reasons Why We Should Pray appeared first on Marvin Williams.

On September 11, 2001, I walked through a haze of grief, shock, and solemnity as I entered Calvary Church. Some ministry partners wept. However, others huddled around a television, with horror painted on their faces. I thought someone on our ministry team had died. It was something far more sinister and dark.

A Brief Summary of What Happened on September 11th?

On that fateful morning, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. They flew two of the planes into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. And, the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Fifteen minutes after the aircraft hit the nerve center of the United States Military, the unthinkable happened. The World Trade Center south tower, like a Jenga game or a flimsy house of cards, collapsed into a cloud of smoke and debris. Then, around 10:30 a.m. the north tower crumbled, caved and dropped. The burning buildings – all 110 floors – collapsed right before our very eyes.

 
The black and gray clouds of smoke eclipsed the brilliance of that late summer morning and obscured freedom as we knew it. Our world changed in a matter of a couple of hours. Buildings that were designed to withstand 200 mph winds could not withstand the burning fuel of hatred.

These attacks resulted in extensive death and destruction. The events of 9/11 triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism. Over 3,000 people died during the attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, including more than 400 police officers and firefighters.

Fifteen Years Later

 
Fifteen years later, I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I still remember the horror and shock on people’s faces. I still remember feeling numb as I drove home and talked with Tonia and my mother. Fifteen years later a lot in our world has changed. Here are 10 things that have changed since 9/11. 

In March of this year, I finally had the opportunity to visit the site. Like when I visited the Cape Coast and saw where they held the slaves before the Middle Passage voyage, the World Trade Center Memorial overwhelmed me. It was almost sacred. I saw the faces of the 3,000 people who lost their lives. Real people with real families died.  I prayed for their families as I walked through the room which honored them.

Though it has been fifteen years, time will never erase their memories from our minds. Though we don’t know them, may we remember them! Remember their families in our prayers. Remember their sacrifice.

Personal Implications of September 11th

As I drank in the memories of the site, here are a few thoughts that kept swimming around in my heart:

• When tragedy strikes, our families are more important than money, status, and our careers. So, make intentional efforts, each day, to show love to our families.
• We take freedoms in this country for granted. Therefore, enjoy and thank God for the freedoms he has afforded us in this country.
• When we are faith-full, we will be fearless. Therefore, be still and know that God is bigger than our greatest fears.
• Death is the ultimate reality of this life. So, help people to think about their eternal destiny and point them to Jesus, the only one who can give them life.
• Love is still stronger than hatred. Therefore, repent of any hatred or bitterness in your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to help you fight for the highest good of another person.

As we remember what happened 15 years ago, may we always find hope and security under the shadow of the protection of our great God.

The post May We Always Remember September 11th appeared first on Marvin Williams.

Over the last couple posts, I have attempted to answer a few burning questions: What will happen at the moment of our death? What does the Bible say is the destination for each person when they die? Do all dead people go to a better place? Will we go to heaven or will we go to hell? What does the Bible say?

Before we answer the question, I think we should say something about what the Bible says about death itself. I know that last statement sounds morbid and uninviting. Nobody likes talking or thinking about death. We would rather talk about going to the next party or having a good time. Solomon says some very startling.

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2

The reason it is better to go to a funeral than to a party is that funerals snatch us out of our dream world of facades and fakery. A funeral is as real as real can be. Death is the ultimate reality of life. Funerals force us to think about our death and what we are doing with our lives. More importantly, funerals make us reflect on where we will go when we die. So, I believe that it is important to briefly say what the Bible says about death.

What Does the Bible Say About Death?

• Death is universal 

No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. Psalm 89:48

The Bible only affirms what we already know, right? No one can escape death. We can do all we can to stave off death. We can exercise – run, lift, plank, spin, and do yoga. If we eat healthily – carb-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, egg-free, GMO-free, nut-free, dairy-free, nitrates-free, trans fat-free, and sugar-free, it is not enough to stop death. The truth is, we don’t have enough money, networks, and intelligence to prevent death – the ultimate reality of this life. Consequently, in the end, we will all die. Death does not discriminate:

• Death is irreversible 

For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return. Job 16:22

 What Happens at The Death of a Believer?

When a follower of Jesus dies, the Bible seems to say some very specific things about what happens:

• Our souls go into the conscious presence of the Lord. 

And Jesus replied (to the thief on the cross), “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 

• Our bodies are buried until Jesus comes back (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). 
• God will raise our bodies from the grave when Jesus returns.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died^[b]will rise from their graves. 1 Thessalonans 4:16

• God will reunite our body and soul, and we will be with the Lord forever.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Heaven will far transcend any joy that we have ever known. The primary dimension of heaven is the presence of the believer with the Lord forever. We believe heaven will be better by far. Grandparent holding their grandchild – better by far! Graduation from college – better by far! Wedding – better by far! Sexual pleasure – better by far. Cubs winning the World Series – better by far.

What Happens at The Death of an Unbeliever?

When an unbeliever dies, the Bible seems to say some definite things about that as well.  

• At the moment of death, the soul of the unbeliever is sent to hell. This is a place where there will be conscious torment (Luke 16:19-31). This topic has created lots of controversy in our day. The teaching of everlasting punishment appears to some to be outmoded or even sub-Christian. This thinking comes from trying to reconcile God’s love and God’s judgment. However, eternal punishment is explicitly taught in Scripture.
• God created hell for Satan and his angels  (Matthew 25:41).
• There is a real place called hell  (Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible seems to say there will be outer darkness, anguish – whether physical or mental or both, weeping, eternal punishment. There is one characteristic of hell, in contrast to heaven, the absence of God or the banishment from his presence.
• God will raise unbelievers’ bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
• The punishment is eternal.
• The unbeliever will be eternally separated from the presence of God.

British author and theologian, C.S. Lewis, summed it up well when he said:

 Sin is the human being saying to God throughout his/her life, ‘Go away and leave me alone.’ Hell is God finally saying to the person, ‘You may have your wish.’

It is God leaving the person to himself or herself, as that individual has chosen. This is the final destination of those who have not committed to following Jesus as Savior and Lord. To make it more personal, this is the final destination of our friends, relatives, co-workers, parents, brothers, sisters, children, and spouses.

What Will Happen When YOU die?

This question is a very, very, personal one. Only you know if you have made a commitment to follow Jesus and let him lead your life. Only you know that if you breathed your last, whether or not you would spend eternity with Jesus or be eternally separated from him. If you are following Jesus, then you will spend eternity with Jesus. However, we should not be satisfied with going to heaven; our concern should extend to others. We must pray for and weep over those who have not committed their lives to Jesus.

We must live graciously among people who are far from God. Now, this doesn’t mean we do what they do, but it does mean we place ourselves in a position to live and speak the good news.

If you have never made a commitment to follow Jesus, I want you to hear this – God is so in love with you, and he wants you to know that he created you so that you could live in relationship with him. God didn’t create you to live and then shuffle off the stage of life. He created you to know him and enjoy him and ultimately spend eternity with him. Think about these verses:

John 1:11-13

John 14:6

Romans 6:23

Therefore, good deeds won’t get you there. Going to church won’t get you there. Giving to charity won’t get you there. Being sincere won’t get you there. Good deeds outweighing the evil deeds won’t get you there. Recognizing that a holy God has holy standards, and we don’t measure up to those standards Jesus and his death on the cross are the only ticket that can get you to heaven. Surrendering to Jesus is not just saying some words and just believing facts. Surrendering to Jesus is placing the weight of your life and your future and your sins on the broad shoulders of Jesus Christ.

What happens after we die is dependent on Who we trust before we die.

Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? 

With whom will you share this? 

See also:

What Happens the Moment We Die: Why We Believe All Dead People Go to A Better Place – Part 1

What Happens the Moment We Die: Why We Believe All Dead People Go to A Better Place – Part 2

The post What Happens At The Moment of Our Death? appeared first on Marvin Williams.

cialis uk click to find out moreFor most Christians, we got married so we could have good sex – God-honoring sex.  Sex is not the marriage, but it certainly is one of the perks and benefits of the marital relationship. But, how do we discover, rediscover, and maintain healthy sexual intimacy in marriage? Are there keys or guidelines to unlocking the door of “good sex” in marriage?

For some married couples, sexual intimacy has been everything they hoped and dreamed. Unfortunately, for other couples, sexual intimacy is elusive. To say it has been one big disappointment is an understatement.  You wonder if you will ever experience the joy of sexual intimacy. You have questions: Are there guidelines for sexual intimacy in marriage? How often should we have sex? What if I don’t feel like it, doI still have to? What if my spouse doesn’t deserve sex, do I still have to give it to him/her?  

The Corinthians sent Paul a letter, asking him similar questions. He wrote 1 Corinthians 7 to clarify many of their questions, including, what are guidelines for sex in marriage and are there keys to unlocking sexual intimacy in marriage?

Paul says, the first key or guideline to experiencing good sex in marriage is found in the safety of exclusivity.

•  EXPERIENCE SEX ONLY WITH YOUR SPOUSE

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2

Good sex – God-honoring sex begins with a very basic guideline: Have sex only with your spouse. Paul starts his answer to them in verse 2. There was such rampant sexual immorality in Corinth that Paul had to give them this very basic guideline. Sex is a wonderful gift from God, and it is designed to be a pleasurable experience between a husband and wife.

Paul says to the Corinthians that each should have their own spouse. “Should have” is a euphemism for having your own wife and your own husband, sexually. It was very common in this culture for men to have a wife plus other women, particularly prostitutes and mistresses on the side. Paul deals with these ungodly cultural norms head on. If couples were to have good sex – God-honoring sex, then the husband was to exclusively experience sex with his wife and the wife was to exclusively experience sex with her husband.

Now, what I am about to say does not excuse unfaithfulness/infidelity. The chances are greater for your husband to commit adultery if you deprive him of sexual intimacy in your marriage. The chances are greater for your wife be unfaithful to you if you deprive her of regular and healthy sexual intimacy. Now, a couple should not have sex out of fear, but out of love for God and one another.  I believe the chances for unfaithfulness go down considerably when couples settle the exclusivity question very early in the dating and pre-marital counseling phase of their relationship.

Good sex begins when we experience sex only with our spouse. Paul, however, gave the second key or guideline to unlocking sexual intimacy in marriage.

• FULFILL THE SEXUAL NEEDS OF YOUR SPOUSE

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise,  the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, … 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

The Greeks and Romans believed that the husband had certain responsibilities to the wife, primary among them the right of financial support. Beyond this, it was assumed that the husband would take lovers so long as he was discreet and did not embarrass his family. This was a “jacked up” principle, but it was a reality in Corinth. Paul squashed that with the quickness and would have nothing to do with this corrupt thinking and double standard. A Christian husband and wife could neutralize Satan’s attempt to hijack their marriage, not only by refraining from infidelity but by fulfilling one another’s sexual needs.

Part of the responsibility of marriage is to humbly and gladly meet the various needs of the partner (Gen. 2:18), including sexual needs.

Moreover, in marriage, each partner relinquishes certain personal rights, including the exclusive right to his or her own body. Neither person has complete authority over his or her own body in marriage. Note that Paul was careful to give both husband and wife equal rights in these verses. He did not regard the man as having sexual rights or needs that the woman does not have or vice versa.

The phrase “should give” is an interesting phrase. We can find this same word in Matthew 22:21. Just as citizens owed taxes to Caesar, the husband owes his wife sexual intimacy and the wife owes her husband sexual intimacy.  She deserves sexual intimacy. He deserves sexual intimacy. This is an obligation to one another because of the marital covenant.

Hold up, Marvin! Wait one minute!

What if she doesn’t deserve it or hasn’t earned it?
What if he doesn’t deserve or hasn’t earned it?
What if she’s a whiny drama queen?
What if he’s a lazy bum?

Hear me very carefully. Sex was never designed to be a weapon to discipline the husband and to discipline the wife. Nor is it a reward for good behavior. It is part of the marital agreement.

“ Sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is non-negotiable.

Sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is non-negotiable.

If you are the wife, it is unbiblical for you to think or say: 

“If you’re a good little boy, then we can have sex. If you are a bad little boy then I will withhold it from you.”

If you are the husband, it is unbiblical for you to think or say: 

“If you have been a good little girl, then I will reward you with sex.” If you have been a bad little girl, then I will deprive you of sexual intimacy.”

This is not how God designed sex in marriage. He designed it to be part of the marital benefits. Husbands and wives aren’t supposed to deprive, rob, cheat, withhold sexual pleasure from one another. If couples deprive one another of sexual intimacy, they are sinning against God and one another.

Now, I must admit, there are some factors that may contribute to one spouse depriving another of sexual relations in marriage. Sometimes, this is intentional and other times it is unintentional.

What are some reasons why a couple might deprive one another of sexual intimacy?

• Sometimes, couples don’t have the desire to be intimate – changes in life, having children, feeling body shame, menstrual cycle, and unfaithfulness of any kind.
• Sometimes, couples don’t have the energy to have sex – busy schedules, stress, illness, carrying the burden of house and kids alone, lack of exercise, poor diet, and being preoccupied with watching sports (Tonia told me to include this).
• Sometimes couples don’t enjoy sexual intimacy because of the issues of the past – sexual abuse, infidelity, and other sexual brokenness.

When it comes to having good sex – God-honoring sex, the key to fulfilling the sexual needs of your spouse is making humble adjustments. Men and women are different. However, women are vastly superior to men at being women and men are vastly superior to women at being men. Good sex happens in a marriage when both spouses release their rights and genuinely serve one another.

What if my spouse wants sex all the time? Do we have to have sex all the time? Can I get a break? Are there legitimate times, however, when a married couple can or should abstain from sexual intimacy? Paul says, “Yes, you can have a break from sex, and there is a time when you can abstain from sexual intimacy.” We’ll cover the third and fourth keys and answer some questions you might have, in the next post.

Check out The Way We Think About Sex Is Broken, and discover why God gave us the beautiful gift of sex.

What was particularly helpful for you in this post? 

What would you add to help couples increase sexual intimacy in their marriages? 

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