Christian Family Services Ministry

11-09-2013 – However, he would not seek to change the will of the Father or His purposes. So this is an example of how the Lord wants us to pray. When we say ‘Thy will be done,” he expects us to mean it. In a human sense the situation was hopeless. There was no deliverance from the way of the cross. Yet that path provides hope for all humanity.

11-07-2013 – The hopelessness in the garden is not to be seen as spiritual, mental, or emotional hopelessness. Not even fear. But the basic instinct in all mankind for life. Jesus was not looking forward to being a martyr. That was not His purpose. Rather his desire was to serve his Father.

11-05-2013 – Jesus in the Garden before His death. I suppose hopelessness might be seen in the example of Jesus in the garden begging the Almighty God to spare His life. However this example is different in some respects. Jesus above all wanted to please his Father. But he was no masochist. If his Father had a remedy other than the cross he would take it.

11-04-2013 – Sitting in the ashes of despair, and hopelessness Job never loses sight that the Lord knows what He is doing and is in charge of all things. As is readily seen the most lasting and effective solution is crying out to the Lord for rescue in the face of hopelessness. It is instructive how the Lord handles such situations. He may save, rescue, protect, or enclose one in peace.

10-30-2013 – It is a masterful strategy. Through Job’s friends, Satan challenges Job’s moral integrity and intellectual ability. Job’s friends use impressive arguments that reflect biblical principles. Satan often induces godly men to attack the righteous using scriptural principles. It is instructive that Job lost everything possible to lose. Nothing remained. Friends, family, possessions, it is all gone.

10-29-2013 – This also fails for Satan wants betrayal not self-denial. Satan, immediately, without the Lord’s permission, orchestrates the betrayal of Job’s wife. Again, the strike at Job’s morale falls short. Job reminds his wife of the blessings from the Lord’s hand. Satan’s final attack comes in an assault from Job’s friends. Likely, for a year they rankle and besmirch as Job’s misery deepens.

10-25-2013 – Still Job will not deny God. Therefore, the adversary requests that the Lord allow him a further test. The physical well being is crucial for all of us. It affects morale. Knowing this about humankind Satan applies the principle to Job’s circumstances. “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes..” (Job 2:4-8).

10-24-2013 – Material possession, family ties, everything is torn asunder and Job is left crying in the dust.

10-22-2013 – Satan determines that the outcome of this initial thrust proved to be inadequate. Therefore, the adversary follows up with an attack on Job’s family. “While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.” (Job 1:18-19).

10-21-2013 – While mediating on the blessings no doubt provided by the Lord, messengers rush in with the bad news; a thousand of his animals are lost to marauders killing a number of Jobs servants. While still speaking another messenger arrives with the news that 7,000 sheep and there protectors are destroyed, then notification of the loss of 3000 priceless camels. No doubt Job at this point is overwhelmed by from these horrific financial losses.

10-19-2013 – Satan defines his goal and justifies his plan to the Lord. To prepare Job for his trial Satan destroys Job’s material possession. Satan creates havoc in Job life. You have to put yourself in Job’s position to understand the impact on Job. One understands that Job must have been a kind empathetic person. He cared for his workers and his family.

10-17-2013 – “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” (Job 1: 9-12).

10-10-2013 – Job is the extreme example of dire hopelessness. Satan’s attack on Job is instructive. It’s purpose is to induce hopelessness. Minute details reveal the plan and purpose of Satan’s assault. It is a prime example of how Satan wars against man. Satan reconnoiters looking for a victim. Satan discovers Job who purports to be righteous. Satan tells the Lord that Job is righteous for selfish reasons and he will quickly break when poverty over takes him.

10-08-2013 – A pattern is beginning to reveal itself. Hopelessness befalls all mankind from time to time. The godless often finds death to be the outcome while the godly person discovers mercy at the hands of the Lord who rescues and redeems.

10-07-2013 – David, and his soldiers are devastated. His army is so furious with David that they threaten to stone David to death. In the midst of his own mourning David inquires of the Lord what he is to do. The Lord instructs him to go after the enemy. David pursues and rescues all of the families and takes considerable spoil.

10-04-2013 – Another example of helplessness in the face of the enemy is found in I Samuel 30 where David’s wife is kidnapped. It is shortly before the death of Saul. David has been released from employment by the Philistine King Achish. So David returns to his home at Ziklag to find that the dreaded Amalekites have raided the town burned it and taken captive all of the people, including his wives Ahinoam and Abigal. The whole town, men, women, and children have been taken captive to be sold into slavery.

10-02-2013 – Now the Lord deals with Elijah’s hopelessness by first confronting him and then revealing His tremendous power and finally by giving Elijah something to do. It is a short version of the story of Job in a way. The lesson we come away with is that the Lord is the Master and obedience eventually leads us home and deliverance from the world of sin and woe.

09-30-2013 – Jezebel, hearing of the death of her prophets swears that by the next day Elijah will be dead. Fear overtakes Elijah and he runs for his life some 270 miles to Mount Horeb to escape Jezebel. Hopeless, and helpless he hides in a cave. Other verses in the passage reveals that Elijah is depressed which the Lord deals with by giving Elijah food, water and sleep.

09-26-2013 – The Lord in a mighty show proves to the people that Elijah is his prophet. Whereupon Elijah has the 850 false prophets slain. Then Elijah calls on the Lord to bring much needed rain. In the midst of the rain storm Elijah races king Ahab who is in a chariot while he is on foot some 18 miles to Jezreel and beats him there!

09-24-2013 – Elijah’s flight from Jezebel I Kings 19. Despair because of the wicked. Sometimes scripture surprises us with the emotional despair of the most unlikely person. So is the case of Elijah. In the strength of the Lord Elijah has faced Ahab along with 850 of Ahab’s false prophets.

09-20-2013 – But if the Lord is calling us home, and He will not change His mind then we can either accept the decree, get angry at Him and rebel, sink into helplessness, or simply submit to the Lords will.

09-19-2013 – “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray….Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins he will be forgiven. Therefore confess you sins to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.”

09-17-2013 – The Bible gives us an answer to coping with these situations. The first is crying out to the Lord as indicated by Hezekiah. The second is spelled out in James 5:13ff. Here James reveals one of the tasks of the local church elders.

09-16-2013 – I am not addressing here what I call illness that is caused genetically. Example ADD, and it is true of manic/depressive illness as well. 2 types of ADD. That which is caused by damage to the brain either by disease or birth defect. This is primary ADD not caused by sin. Secondary ADD is caused by disobedience not brain damage.
When a person is born with either of these two problems (and several others) it is different than when one develops them because of sin.

Jesus speaking to the disciples in John 9 of the man born blind says that his disease was not due to sin rather that the glory of the Lord might be brought about in his life. The blind man suffered the spiteful remarks of those around him for 40 years. However he knew that neither he nor his parents were to blame and therefore did not listen to the remarks of others.
In sharp contrast we seen in John 5 a man who for 38 years suffered from a disease. His was caused by sin and Jesus warns the man not to return to his sinful ways.

I am not the first to recognize that sine is behind much mental illness of today. In 1973 Karl Menninger in his book Whatever Became of Sin said over 90% of mental illness can be traced to sin.

09-14-2013 – We, like Hezekiah, have some options. First we can fall on our face before the Lord and ask if sin has been the occasion of health problem. It is important to understand that most illnesses mental, emotional, and physical can be traced back to sin or irresponsibility. Sin lowers the bodies immune system allowing disease to creep in. Most of the autoimmune diseases fall into this category.

09-12-2013 – Here again we find a situation is scripture which leads us to important information. When a person is ill they best inquire of the Lord the reason why. Usually the reason can be summarized into one of three reasons. The first is that it is a sickness unto death. We are going to die. We need to accept it and put our houses in order. Hezekiah’s illness was of this type until the Lord granted him fifteen extra years. The illness may be caused by sin in the persons life. The other possibility is that the illness is an occasion for the Lord to be glorified in our life.

09-07-2013 – I thought if this worked for Hezekiah why could it not work in these circumstances? So I prayed and ask the Lord to add 15 years to her life. He said He would. I immediately thought why not ask for more? The answer came quite quickly, no. I never told anyone, not even mother but just kept it in my heart. Seventeen years later she died. Graciously, the Lord allowed her to see me graduate with the doctorate. The Lord was faithful and more.

09-06-2013 – This incident in scripture has a very personal meaning to me. In the midst of a very difficult year I was facing in college mother fell seriously ill. Subsequently, her health deteriorated and she was hospitalized. I was devastated. Her prayers in my behalf, her faith, her wisdom, I could not stand the thought of losing her. Even now in my minds eye I can see my self walking to work thinking about it and this passage came to mind.

09-05-2013 – Perhaps we can even see a connection in the health of Hezekiah and the helplessness in the face of an enemy invasion. We see the power of prayer when faced with the impossible. Hezekiah crying out to the Lord in distress moves His heart in a very powerful manner.

09-03-2013 – It has always been interesting to me that it was because Hezekiah begged the Lord for his life that 15 years was added to his life. But far more was granted than just what Hezekiah ask for in faith. Added to this precious gift of extra years of life was a promise that the great enemy of the kingdom, the Assyrians, would be humiliated and turned back from the very walls of Jerusalem.

08-29-2013 – Do you hear the desperateness in Hezekiah’s voice? The hopelessness of the situation? Hezekiah is probably 39 years old. Evidently, at this point he does not have a son to replace him on the throne. Manasseh, his son is probably born 3 years later.

08-27-2013 – Hezekiah’s despair of life. I love this story. I have read it many times. Lets look at the passage from Isaiah 38.“In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’” 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3and said, “Remember now, Lord, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.”

08-23-2013 – Hezekiah in sharp contrast is neither rebellious nor mentally ill. Though carrying a huge burden of a nation at war, in fact surrounded by the enemy with no apparent escape.

08-22-2013 – Saul reflects a man who symptoms are reminiscent of paranoia. Earlier in scripture we find David being asked to play music to help calm Saul’s anxious spirit. Saul’s acting out towards David and others with deep suspicions, reading hidden meanings in others actions, bearing grudges, feeling exploited by others are all hallmarks of the paranoia.

08-21-2013 – We see another component with Saul that is frequently found with those who fall into hopelessness that is rooted in rebellion. Unlike those being tested, or who find themselves in dire circumstances the rebellious person may well find themselves enmeshed in the claws of mental illness.

08-20-2013 – News reaches Asa that a huge army, a million strong, plus a detachment of chariots, a type of weapon he did not have, was coming up against him. King Asa goes out to meet them. Seeing the enemy he knows it is hopeless. Asa does the very thing we ought to do in such circumstances. He cries out for help to the Lord reminding the Lord of his faithfulness. The Lord’s response, not to worry, I will take care of this situation remain calm, do not lift a hand against them. The Lord then proceeds to wipe them out to the last man and tops this by giving to Asa all of their goods.

08-19-2013 – In sharp contrast we have the situation that faced King Asa who had lived in obedience to the Lord.

08-16-2013 – This situation reveals the emotional state of hopelessness and perhaps the hopeless state for which there is no remedy. When the Lord issues a decree brought about by disobedience then it will happen. The only recourse is to prepare for it.

08-15-2013 – The NIV gives a more sensitive feel for the moment, “he was afraid; terror filled his heart.” Perhaps a bit more to the point “he became frantic with fear.” (NLT) In this state unable to call upon the Lord Saul turns God’s chief enemy for advice. A medium. Saul ask her to raise up Samuel. She is surprised when Samuel appears. Samuel tells Saul that he, his sons and the army will be destroyed the next day in the battle. Hopelessness fills Saul soul and he falls to the ground in abject fear.

08-14-2013 – Now Saul is preparing to enter battle against his primary enemy who he has defeated several times with the Lord’s help. But the Lord has departed because of Saul great sins. Saul understands that the Lord is no longer there for him. His enemy is prepared for battle and when Saul see them he is terrified. The ESV describes it in these words “When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

08-13-2013 – Saul visits the medium I Samuel 28 hopelessness born of rebellion. Disobedience often leads to the demon world and the final hopelessness of the demon world. The context of this episode with Saul is important. Saul has been king for 40 years. Saul had for years rebelled against the will of the Lord. He offered sacrifices that he had no right to offer. He refused commands of the Lord in combat, a capital offense. Moreover, Saul had chased God’s anointed all over the country trying to kill him. He topped all of this by murdering all but one of the Lord’s priest.

08-12-2013 – But there is another lesson here. The Bible records some 40 incidents of betrayal. In practically every circumstance the situation ends in significant injury or usually death for either the betrayer or the betrayed, or both. In this case Ahithophel sees his plans disintegrate leaving nothing but death by his own hand. So our first lesson here is that hopelessness is a chief consequence for the merciless.

08-10-2013 – Jesus addresses this situation in one of His parables found in Matthew 18. Here we have the situation where the king forgives a huge debt. But once forgiven the person goes out and finds someone owing him a small amount and throws him in prison. Jesus says of this situation of unforgiveness that the person will be delivered to ‘tormentors’ until they learn about mercy. The tormentors are financial loss, anxiety, and depression. Thus the state of hopelessness is the outcome of those who do not have mercy towards others.

08-09-2013 – I suspect that most of us would do the same thing. You see Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel. David had murdered his son in law and taken Bathsheba to be his wife. Ahithophel could not, would not, forgive David.

08-08-2013 – Ahithophel, knows that Absalom rebellion will fail since he did not destroy David before he could raise an army. Ahithophel knows it is hopeless he goes home and hangs himself. In this story we discover one of the basic roots of certain types of hopelessness. Bitterness, betrayal, and an unforgiving spirit can lead to hopelessness and death. So, how do we account for what happens?

08-07-2013 – Encouragement to have sex with David’s women is taken with great glee on Absalom part and he does so in front of all the people. However, to chase after his father and kill David, Absalom is not ready mentally to face his warrior father. So Ahithophel advice is rejected. Absalom does not pursue his father when David is the weakest.

08-06-2013 – Yet this man sides with Absalom when he rebels against his father David. Not just as an on looker rather with the direst intent does Ahithophel seek to destroy David with his counsel. First he counsels Absalom to have sex with David’s wives in front of all the people. Then he tells Absalom to pursue David and kill him immediately! A son to kill his father!

08-05-2013 – Ahithophel is an enigma. How could this man who is spoken so highly of in scripture betray a man like David? II Samuel 16 speaking of his reputation states; “Now in those days the counsel which Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.”

07-31-2013 – The story of Ahithophel from 2 Samuel 15 is “A Story of Betrayal”.

07-30-2013 – There are several biblical stories which teach us about the causes and consequences of hopelessness. Outstanding examples of faith in the face of incalculable odds. Others, revealing ultimate end results of unresolved hopelessness usually caused by rebellion, addiction, or immoral behavior. Each has a lesson for us in dealing with feelings of hopelessness in our own life. Lets look shall we?

07/29/2013 – Hopelessness is an emotionally devastating experience. Often it results in deep depression and even eventual suicide. The roots of hopelessness can be traced back to great distress either physically, emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually. Biblical examples will help us understand a little more about it.

07-27-2013 – Six weeks later, after the death of my father, near the end of October walking home from school a life changing event occurred. The Lord as clear as day, put the thought in my mind as a question. Did I want Him to be my Father? Steams of hope raced through my soul, and I answered with an unequivocal yes. Hell, for me remained, but it was no longer hopeless.

07-25-2013 – A heavy summer rain had filled the canal a few blocks from our house and I had decided to swim in the canal. The rushing waters was totally unexpected, and I was pulled under a large pipe jammed with debris being swept downstream. I was caught underneath and almost drown. Now, I was drowning for sure and certain.

07-24-2013 – Several days later overwhelmed with my situation, at the cemetery I emotionally, or actually, jumped up and down on his grave with fierce anger. But it did not help nor forestall the desperateness of my existence. A desperateness from which there was no escape. I remember that I had almost escaped a few weeks before by accident.

07-23-2013 – Mother said little, but listened intently, I began to cry, I knew, without a word, I knew. Mother said yes, and hung up the phone. Turning she said, “your father has died, he has been dead several days, we must go to Oklahoma City tomorrow.” I was overwhelmed with hopelessness. Not out of love for my father, who had never been there for me, rather within me died the hope of escape from my personal hell.

07-22-2013 – Through pictures, and stories those places came alive. Early, mother had warned of the reality of one day being in such a camp because of my name and heritage. What she did not understand was for me, life was very much like one already. It was 10 pm. September 30, 1956. I was sitting in the living room. It was time to go to bed. The phone shattered the evening air and mother ran to answered it. The phone had never rang that late before. I and my brother and sister slowly went into the dining room. A sense of deep foreboding as thick as fog arose. Even to this day I hate the sound of a phone late at night.

07-20-2013 – I was 12. Living in, what was for me, a physical, emotional and intellectual, world akin to a concentration camp. I struggled daily with my persecutors’ expectations, demands and beatings. I had discovered books sometime before. That is how and when I had read about the holocaust camps of World War II. Strange as it was, reading about them and war in general, was an escape from my misery.

07-18-2013 – Years ago in a land not so far away I discovered hopelessness. It is one of those emotions once known, never to be forgotten.

07-17-2013 – My daughter asked me to write an essay on hopelessness. I doubt she knew.