“If I could just get this job things would be good.” “If I could be smarter I could get ahead.” If I could make just _____ more a month we would have no worries. If, If, If. Have you ever fallen for this temptation? Yesterday we talked about the temptation of Jesus by Satan. A lot of times in our lives temptation comes after having a great experience with God. The biggest “If” in this is this:
Matthew 4:1-4 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
If Jesus had given in to Satan and eaten the bread from stones then He would no longer have been the perfect sacrifice that God needed to save us. Jesus knew when He came to this earth what His mission was and he would not be deterred from that mission. The reason that Jesus was without sin was that He was God in the flesh. But that still did not stop Satan from tempting Jesus. Satan knew what was at stake. Just like when Satan tempted Adam and Eve, mankind fell. If he could get Jesus to fall, then game over!!!!
I have not handled the trials and temptation of our finances very well. Since entering ministry full time I have tried to be like the apostle Paul who made tents on the side to support his ministry. The problem with this is that I do not believe Paul continued to make tents after his conversion. I believe that he had a great business while he was a Pharisee but then he stopped to fulfill his calling. He was not distracted. I have been distracted because I have tried to do some odd jobs to try to make up the difference between what comes in and what we need. That is not trusting God for my provisions. Plus it takes focus off of what God has called me to do. If I have 10 hours in a day to work and I take 2 of those hours to “Tent Make” that is two hours of souls that could have been reached for the Lord. I am missing opportunities for what I am called to do.
This past Sunday morning I had an encounter with God. I had a bad headache (from God to keep me home) so I did not go with Julie and the boys to church. I got my bible out and then started praying. I felt the Lord flood my soul and then I felt like laying prostrate on the floor and giving everything I had in my soul over to God. Then I heard it. In my spirit I head God say “Brad I love you.” That was it but that was enough. Have you ever seen where Snoopy cries and his tears shoot straight up and out? That was me. It was as if I needed to hear from my creator that I was all right. That I was on the right track. That things would turn out good. But more importantly that I did not need to do anything more to earn God’s favor. I never needed to. It was probably the best hour of prayer and the most Kleenex I ever used in an hour!!!! I was refreshed by the power of God.
Most of you know I am finishing up my third book “Failing Doesn’t Mean You Are A Failure.” Last night I was praying about this book. A friend has offered to help me get it published but I have not felt in my spirit that it is ready. But last night was different. In my spirit I felt the Lord calling me to finish it up and get it out. I turned on my computer to check my e mail and this is what came in.
“I have had a revelation about you, Brad. But I'm going to call you and talk to you about it. I don't think I'm the first one to approach you with this idea but I know God will not let me forget it. He keeps putting in my heart and mind. Will call you later. Thanks for everything, Sondra”
Now if I could not get Sondra on the phone then I was going to get on a plane and find her. I know this woman from many e mails and she is a woman that loves the Lord. So if she had a revelation from God about me I wanted to hear it. As soon as I got Sondra on the phone she started laughing and said “I knew you could not wait till tomorrow to call me.” She told me that the Lord had told her to tell me to write a book!!!!!
She did not know it was 95% complete or that I was even writing one. Another devotional partner has sent the book to Sully Sullenburger, Captain of the flight “Miracle on the Hudson” to do the foreword but I am not sure if it has gotten through to him. No one knows who I am so that is why we need a household name for the foreword. The book is for non believers and believers alike. It is the story of my life as God has ordained it. It is a true story of the Prodigal Son. It is a story of many failures but one great God. It is a story of redemption and hope but also honesty about how failure in life doesn’t mean that you are a failure. Most importantly the gospel of Jesus is weaved through the book so that everyone will know the story and plan of salvation.
Our book agent wrote this about the book: by Gary Foster
“Worldair 1992 descend and maintain 2,500 feet, slow to 150 knots you are 2 miles from the outer marker contact Indianapolis tower 119.9. Roger approach Worldair descending to 2,500 contacting Tower 119.9. Indianapolis tower Worldair 1992 down to 2,500 feet slowing to 150 knots. Roger Worldair 1992 cleared to land runway 5 Right. Roger Indianapolis Tower cleared to land runway 5 Right. OK Brad landing checklist, Flaps 15 degrees reduce to 130 knots. FULL POWER Leo I need FULL POWER. Brad WHAT THE H… ARE YOU DOING. More Power, More Power Leo, I can’t control this thing……….”
Believe it or not, this is the opening paragraph of a powerful new non-fiction Christian Living resource titled Heavens Destiny! The author, Brad Henry is such an engaging storyteller that readers will not want to put his book down
Anyone who has ever wondered what happens when you pray, why bad things happen to good people, why their life at times seems out of control and why God doesn’t answer—then this book is for them. Brad Henry has lived the life of asking all these questions. This book reveals the answers he found…and readers will discover they are the answers to the same perplexing life questions they are asking themselves. Heavens Destiny will enable them to find joy where now their joy may be covered in pain. They can finally have peace in this world when they see how the Lord truly works. Nothing is by chance!
The purpose of “Failing Doesn’t Mean You Are A Failure” is to try to answer the “Whys” of life. It is the author’s hope that through it people will come away with a saving knowledge of Jesus and a clearer understanding of the battle in the spiritual realm for their souls.
A former commercial pilot, the author has also launched and run four different companies, the last one being a licensing company in the NASCAR world.
Henry is plain-spoken, humorous and transparent, but more importantly because he has felt your pain. This is a man who has survived more tribulations than the average person. It’s all here: losing a parent, a disastrous decision to experiment with drugs, a devastating divorce, a promising career deep-sixed, debilitating depression, an autistic child and financial ruin.”
Author of two previous books, Whoever Gets to Heaven First Wins and Destination The Winners Circle, Brad’s daily e-devotional goes out to over 10,000 people each day. He is also a guest writer for the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Some have described this book as a cross between the movie Top Gun, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the CS Lewis classic, The Screwtape Letters.
As Paul Harvey would say “Now you know the rest of the story”. I believe that this book will change many lives and lead many to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Pray for that person who would do the foreword that this persons name would get this book into the hands of many non believers and believers alike. Also pray that we would not fall. As you know the devil has been relentless. I would like to say I have fought hard and strong but some nights and days have been beyond hope. I told Julie “I think I need to go to the ABC store and get some Vodka?” Seriously! Now where is that coming from? It has been 19 years since I had a drink. I am not getting down on those who drink but I can’t. That is because I can not stop at one. I know where this temptation is coming from but the temptation is still there. All I know is that when the temptation is great, GREAT THINGS ARE COMING, AMEN.
So let us not give up the good fight. Let us not grow weary but we must encourage one another to keep up the good fight. We can not do this thing called life alone. If you would like to brief a copy of the book “Failing Doesn’t Mean You Are A Failure” please let me know.
Have a great day and no I have not been to the ABC store, Yet. Pray that the attacks would slow down and that I would be able to fight with the word of God and not in the flesh.
Have a great day. I know I can count on you as not only are you my friends but you are also “Prayer Warriors”, True Warriors.
Brad
