Faith, trust and obedience

In this blog entry I encourage you to link to a recent interview between two godly men who because of technology have reached untold millions around the world with the gospel message. The two are pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie and Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson (pictured here; now head of FamilyTalk radio ministry).

In this interview, which was recorded at one of Laurie's Harvest Crusades in Anaheim, California, the two tackle a few of the "hard questions" faced at some time by all Christ followers. I won't give away details of the video, but I will reference a portion of the interview when Dr. Dobson quotes lyrics from the beloved hymn "It is Well with My Soul." The song notes Christ's warning that his followers will in this life experience not only peace, but sorrow as well. Regardless, however, we are called to lean on His promises to declare: "It is well, it is well with my soul."

John 16:33

Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

http://myfamilytalk.com/faith-in-tough-times/harvest-crusade-videos.aspx

Greg Laurie holds Seattle "Harvest"

Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie visited Seattle from November 5-7, holding a series of three "Harvest" outreach events at Key Arena. Attendance totaled 39,200, with more than 162,700 watching the event online. Laurie reported Monday morning that 4,225 people made a commitment or recommitment to Christ during the three-day period! Visit seattle.harvest.org to view slideshows, read testimonies and watch archived webcasts in full.

Unshakeable faith

The following is from a daily message provided online by gifted pastor/evangelist Greg Laurie. Click on heading above (Unshakeable faith) to visit his website. I commend his devotional to you.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:2

God is in control of all circumstances that surround the believer. The devil can do nothing in the life of the believer without the express permission of God. But why would God give that permission? Because Satan's attacks will show what you are made of.

A faith that cannot be shaken is a faith that has been shaken. And if your faith is real, it will even endure through the worst of circumstances, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. For example, when tragedy struck Job, we find him worshiping God, but we find his wife saying, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die." Job 2:9 Trials, temptations, and crises separate the wheat from the chaff, the true from the false, and the real from the unreal.

Suffering helps us grow spiritually and makes us stronger in our faith. James reminds us, "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:3–4

Suffering takes our faith from the realm of theory to reality, and suffering brings glory to God. Anyone can be happy when the sky is blue and the sun is shining. But when a storm is hitting, it is a different matter. Satan claimed that Job only worshiped God because God was blessing him. But Job proved that he really did love God, because he worshipped Him before, during, and after the crisis.

God allowed the tragedy in Job's life to strengthen his faith and to prove Satan wrong—and Job passed the test with flying colors. What a rebuke to the enemy. And what a powerful example for us today.