LIVING IN THE HEALING OF FORGIVENESS is a monthly series written by Tracey Diaz, a sister from our local church,

Mount Paran North Church of God in Marietta, Georgia USA.

We intend to distribute Tracey's newsletters monthly

Back Issues

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April 2008 Issue

The Promise, the Prayer, & the Call

During the course of our everyday lives, obstacles will emerge. Some obstacles are the result of the choices that we have made and some are beyond our control. During any obstacle, we have the choice to combat every detail with faith. Faith should govern our lives; not faith in faith, but faith that the Lord knows the unknown intricate details of every situation. Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that in all things, God works for the good or those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."This scripture does not mean that the Lord will work everything out to our liking, but will work everything out for what he says is "good". The question we must ask is, are we willing to wait and give everything completely to the Lord, good, bad or indifferent for his use. In the presence of faith, we must trust that our Lord will vindicate every obstacle, situation, and need according to his will and purpose.

THE PROMISE OF FAITH

Abram was seventy-five years old when he and his wife, Sarai, left their native country. The Lord promised Abram that he was going to produce a great nation through him and that all peoples on the earth would be blessed. The Lord appeared to Abram in a vision and said that a son coming from his own body and would be his heir. Abram believed the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

However, Sarai was barren and well past the age of having children. Barren women were sometimes ridiculed, shamed, and even divorced. It appeared that the Lord's promise was not happening as quickly as Sarai expected. Lacking patience and filled with doubt, she made the decision to give Abram her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, as a wife to conceive a child. During this time period, this was a customary practice. When a child was born from a maidservant, the wife would take and raise the child as her own. Abram consensually agreed and slept with Hagar. However, when Hagar conceived, circumstances did not occur quite as Sarai had expected. Hagar flaunted her conception over Sarai's inability to conceive. Perhaps having feelings of superiority, she no longer felt the need to submit to or respect Sarai. A debacle of jealously, bitterness and arrogance engrossed their mutual arrangement. Sarai, in retaliation mistreated Hagar and blamed Abram. (Genesis 16) Unable to bear the mistreatment any longer and coupled with Abram's negligence to get involved, Hagar fled. The angel of the Lord met Hagar, in the desert and instructed her to go back and submit to Sarai. (Genesis 16:9) He promised to numerously increase her descendants. Hagar returned and submitted to Sarai and gave birth to Ishmael. However, this was not the promised heir. Ultimately in Genesis 18, the Lord visited Sarai, now renamed Sarah, and said she would have a son. Sarah laughed due to years of barrenness. The Lord's response was, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Eventually, one year later, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac, the promised heir from God. (Genesis 21)

From Sarah's lack of patience and doubt, her initial arrangement in producing an heir created adversity that continues today. Our one rash decision can potentially effect a lifetime of circumstances and repercussions. All of the Arab countries, descendants from Ishmael are in opposition against Israel, descendants from Isaac. We sometimes attach promises from the Lord with the misconception that the he needs our help. In taking matters into our own hands, we lose sight of the fact that the Lord's promises are manifested in his timing. 1 Peter 5:16 tells us, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Initially, we want the Lord's promises birthed rather than self-created artificial conceptions. Sarai inadvertently created unnecessary chaos.

THE PRAYER OF FAITH

Sometimes in the midst of chaos, waiting for the Lord to answer a prayer request can seem like a lifetime. However, our approach can make a world of difference in our response to an obstacle. In 1 Samuel 1, Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had several children and Hannah was barren. Hannah was ridiculed, provoked, and irritated by Peninnah for years. This treatment was so unbearable that Hannah wept and refused to partake in their normal feast. With the onset of depression, more than likely she considered herself a failure and a social embarrassment.

Once during a yearly sacrifice in the temple, in the presence of the priest Eli, Hannah stood, wept and prayed before the Lord. She promised that if the Lord gave her a son, she would give him back for the Lord's use. (I Samuel 1:10, 11) Although Hannah felt as if her heart was broken and distraught, she continued to pray to the Lord in the midst of her pain and suffering. She prayed fervently, her lips were moving, but no sound was uttered. She was praying deep within the very depths of her soul, down to the inner core of her being. Her prayers were not mere mantras, but sincere groans and tears of the heart.

Unlike Sarai, Hannah refused to take matters into her hand, but held onto faith. In the midst of her obstacle, she believed that only God could move the answer into reality. After explaining her prayers to Eli, he said, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:17) No longer having a depressed demeanor, she departed and ate. She left her prayers in the presence of God and did not retrieve them. In the course of time, the Lord answered her prayers; Hannah conceived and gave birth to Samuel. In return, she fulfilled her promise to the Lord by giving her son back to the Lord for his service. In the midst of her obstacle, she continued to pray no matter how the obstacle appeared. Her prayers of faith believed God although her eyes could not see the Lord working in her behalf. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) True faith believes the Lord in all circumstances.

THE CALL OF FAITH

In some instances, there is the opposite end of the spectrum of faith and it's the Lord that makes the request upon us. We have the choice to accept in faith, the Lord's proposal or reject it. His requests are attached with consequences, but by faith we should submit and accept his perfect will. In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, a virgin of Galilee. She was pledged to marry Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel explained to Mary that she was highly favored and the Lord was with her. She was alarmed and wondered what all of this could mean for her. He explained, "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." (Luke 1:31) Mary professed that she was a virgin and inquired as to how this could be possible. In Luke 1:35, Gabriel explains, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.≤  He most assuredly confirmed to Mary, ≥For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Accepting this call of faith could have resulted in fatal consequences. Some women were stoned to death, if they were unwed and pregnant. They were disowned by their families and would become beggars or result to a life of prostitution. Most people would not believe this Immaculate Conception. Regardless, her obedience was rewarded; she agreed to give birth to the Messiah. Her response was, "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) Without knowing the full intent of the Lord's plans through her; she immediately followed through completely having faith in his request.

Mary conceived a child from the Holy Spirit. She gave birth to our Savior, Jesus. Mary had no idea that by accepting the call of faith that her son would be crucified and sacrificed. After her consent of accepting and raising her son, time elapsed thirty-three years later. Mary stood at the foot of the cross looking up upon her son's battered, afflicted, and disfigured body. His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness. (Isaiah 52:14) It was to her, as the Lord said. The call of faith was manifested for the Lord's purpose. Mary's obedience of faith resulted in God's Son, Jesus dieing and resurrecting that we may have eternal life. The Lord's purpose was accomplished through Mary's obedience and call of faith.

Waiting for the fulfillment of any promise may attribute different reactions. Some people may experience actual barrenness in not having a child; for some it is a long awaited ministry; for some it may mean the salvation of a loved one; and for some it is a long awaited break through. In any account, our faithful Lord will deliver as he promises, because nothing is impossible for the Lord. Sometimes our circumstances may appear bleak as if the Lord has forgotten us, however, he knows the perfect timing to manifest his perfect will. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." We too, like Hannah must pour out the inner depths of our souls and put our faith in action, waiting for the Lord to move in our favor. In return, we should  praise him in faith before he answers.

These three women were in impossible obstacles. Only through the intervention of the Holy Spirit could a promise be birthed for the Lord's purpose. The latter of the three had the greatest call of faith; Mary's son was the only hope for the world's outstanding sins. She waited patiently for the Lord's plan to manifest, even until his death. "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." (Luke 1:45) Jesus taking his last breath said, ≥It is finished.≤ (John 19:30) From the beginning of God's purpose with the promised birth of Isaac unto Mary's acceptance in the call of faith, we find that nothing is impossible for the Lord. He can create promises in places that are barren or desolate, even after years of no fruition. He can also birth promises in virgin hearts to bring about his will and glory. We pray that the Holy Spirit will come and overshadow us in all circumstances. Our response to the Lord in faith should be "May it be to me as you have said" and remember that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

By:  Tracey Diaz