Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
March 30, 2003 - W0313

What does God expect of us in these uncertain times?  Some people spend their lives struggling to control things in their lives.  Why, because they want everything their way in neat packages with no surprises.  And in order to secure control, they may resort to anger, force, threats or even sexual favors.  ìThey sacrificed to demons, which are not Godógods they had not knownÖ (Deut.32:17).  Others may turn to new gods, new religions, a good luck charm, astrology or psychics all in an attempt to control whatís going to be happening. However, God just expects us to make choices in our attitudes, our perspective and the assignments He gives us.

Consequently, in attempting to control things that are out of our control, we often end up losing our marriages, families, or relationships.  These are areas that we can choose to work at to change, improve, and strengthen.  Remember that there will always be something out of our control, and we need to understand this.   However, we can be good servants in our families and relationships. And then during these times of uncertainty, we can trust in Godís strength knowing that He is ultimately in control of all things. 

"Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?Ö  ìYet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" .... ìBut seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these other things will be given to you as well"Ö  ìTherefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" .  (Matt. 6:26-34) 

Currently the war in Iraq has everyoneís concern and attention.  We worry about the outcome and the devastating effects in the aftermath.  In this season where uncertainty looms, let us trust Him who is able to give us peace, not just from the storms, but also peace within the storms. Also, let us be persevering in prayer for peace and a speedy resolution, because things could escalate with other neighboring nations who can jump in and take cause for offense making it a big gang war.

Much of why weíre at war in Iraq is to liberate the people from the repression. There is such an atrocity against humanity that we must act.  Iím even more troubled by a statistic that Tony Blair (Prime minister of Britain) recently mentioned.  He said that in the last five years 400,000 children under the age of 5 have died of preventable malnutrition, and nobody knew about it.  Weíve all heard reports about the war, the inequity, oppression and fear that have troubled our hearts.  We hear of how civilians are being killed, how our nation is split, and the strange duality of the people of Iraq.  They are so afraid of being recognized on television by the Republican Guard that they claim loyalty to Sadam while still taking aid from the relief support workers.

And so it is that many times when weíre trying to do our best in what God asks us to do, situations arise that leaves us bewildered and wondering, why?  Itís within those times we become vulnerable and tend to dip into our own defenses and mechanisms to control and overcome a situation or circumstance.  But God is reminding us to wait on Him.  Lest we pray with grumbling and do our own thing, pray for wisdom for God to make a way.  And instead of asking God to bless what we are doing, ask Him to help you do what He is blessing.  So in order to remember what God has done in are lives, He will show usÖ

When We Are To Build Altars Of Worship

"So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the waterís edge, the water from the upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel Passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground"(Jos. 3:14-17)

So how do we go about living as we live in a world of uncertainty? The Bible answers much of our questions about war, its risks, its casualties, and yesóthe uncertainties. 

God told Joshua and his people to move towards Jericho. However, in order to get to Jericho, it meant crossing the Jordan River, which at the time was overflowing its banks.  So in their fear and worry, the people cried out to the Lord. 

 ìNow it came about when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua saying...íTake for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan...í" (Jos. 4:1,3).

After they were safely across the river, the Lord had Joshua go back to the river to get twelve stones.  He wanted Joshua to build an altar of worship as a remembrance of what the Lord had done.   So with that in mind, we find three key principles on which we should build altars of worship.  The first isÖ

1.     At The Point We Are Most Vulnerable.

Just like Joshua, the Lord will send us back to places we ran from, those places of uncertainty in order that we may declare our trust in Him.  It is when we are weakest that our trust in God is the most precious.  It is then that we can choose to rely on anger, coercion, and promises.  On the other hand, we can lay all those aside and instead choose to take the substance of it and build an altar of worship thanking the Lord for His keeping power.

God wants to work on our behalf, so rather than bail out and do things your way, declare your trust in God with the things out of your control.  This is where a conversion takes place. It is when we release this to God who is able, the battle will no longer be ours.  Instead, it becomes the Lordís battle. "Because you have trusted in me in things that you canít control, the battle is no longer yours, the battle has become the Lordís".  (Chr.20:15)

That is what God said to King Jehoshaphat.  As the king reached the point of uncertainty seeing three nations coming against him he said, ìI donít know what to do, but my eyes are upon youî.  He declared his trust in the Lord when he was most vulnerable and the ballet became the Lordís. 

Not only must we declare our trust in God, but moreover be a person of worship.  Job was a wealthy man, who worshiped the Lord and not just when things were going well.  Even when Jobís possessions, family, and health were taken away, Job remained faithful and obedient to the Lord.   This was a major point of vulnerability when he could have turned against God and blamed Him.  Instead, He worshiped the Lord.  "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell down to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20).

So choose as Joshua and Job to build an altar of worship at your weakest and most vulnerable time and trust in the Lord.  Thank Him for the situation and revealing a weakness in you because Heís revealing an area in your life that you may need to work on.  It may be your tendency to strike back, or it may be a misunderstanding in what youíve communicated to others. 

So be willing to sacrifice your heart at the altar of the Lord with worship.  Declare your trust Him to do whatever He needs to do in you.  Then allow God to be God.  Not only must we build altars of worship at the point when we are most vulnerable, but also....

2.     When We Are In Uncertain Times.

"...I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Cor. 12:10)

There will be times when weíll be insulted and ready to retaliate.  And if we donít make a conversion and trust God, weíll throw rocks of anger at each other.  This will only lead to depression, discouragement and disheartenment.  Instead, take that situation or circumstance which injured you and build an altar of worship.  Thank the Lord for it. For it is when we understand that things are out of our control and we declare my trust in the Lord that conversion takes place.  Thus we begin to understand the strength of God.

And so it was for the people of Israel in uncertain times. "...the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap a great distance away at Adam, the city beside Zarethan...So the people crossed opposite Jericho" (Jos. 3:16).

The people prayed for the waters to stop.  However, (catch this) they doubted because they couldnít see God stopping the water many miles up the river.  Nonetheless, God stopped the waters that had built up at Adam.

Have there been times youíve prayed for God to do something and nothing changes? I bet God has answered a lot of prayers, but we just canít see it yet.  So what are you going to do during those hours of uncertainty?  Yes it is easy to grumble.  Nevertheless, during those times, declare your trust in the Lord even if you donít know what Heís doing. When youíre able to do this you begin to develop strength in your life thatís beyond anything that you can ever describe.

ìThe youth will grow weary and though young men stumble badly, those who wait upon the Lord shall gain new strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint"(Isa. 40:31).

One of the most powerful secrets of walking with God is learning to wait on Him. No matter how long the season might be, God is saying, ìWill you wait on Me and trust Me?î  Declaring your trust in the Lord in the things you canít see is what worship is all about. Of course, this is easier said than done.  Still, this is one of things each of us will be faced with.

So we are to build altars of worship when we are most vulnerable.  This is especially essential during uncertain times when we canít see what Heís doing.  Finally, God wants us to build altars of worship becauseÖ

3.     Worship Redefines Our Trust In God And Is Designed To Dispel Fear.

    ìThen Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan..."

     (Josh. 4:9).

Joshua must have wondered at that point when he heard the roar and thunder of the waters just how much time he would have to do what God was asking.  But he went in and in spite of his fear trusted the Lord.  God is saying that you cannot have a fearful heart if you want to be a man or woman of God.  Fear is one of the things that if youíre not careful will run your life.  As a leader, you need to defy fear and replace it with trust.  The word doubt is a Greek word - diastasis that means standing in two places.  If you trust God, yet do things your own way, youíll never be able to conquer because of a double-mindedness or a duality of living.

There will times as a leader when God will ask you to go back to where your Jordan is.  Yes, you will need courage to go back in not knowing the outcome.  It may be to work out a relationship or a situation.  Like Joshua, go back and declare your trust in the Lord.  Then pick up those stones to build an altar. That way you will remember what the God has done for you.

"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, ëYou of little faith, why did you doubt?í When they got into the boat, the wind stopped". (Mat. 14:31-32)   Fear breeds fear and fear diminishes faith. Let us trust God with things that are out of our control.  And things that are in our control, letís steward that and in this partnership watch what God can do.

ìIf any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and not abrade you or chastise you for asking again and again. But let Him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let man not expect that heíll receive anything from the Lord being a double-minded man unstable in all his waysî.  (James 1:5-8)

This is what Golgotha was all about.  Where the cross seemed to be an end, He made it a beginning because He made it an altar to God.  Instead of a place where anger, defensiveness and revenge would rule, Jesus said, "Not my will but thy will be done. Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  This day youíll be with me in paradise". And this brought redemption to all humanity!

So in the midst of uncertainty, we must be willing to build altars of worship.  It is especially critical when we are vulnerable or during uncertain times.  For it is when we do that our worship will redefine our trust in God and dispel fear. 

God died for our sins giving us grace.  So we must take that grace and ask, ìLord, help us to remember that there are things we can control and steward them well. And the things out of our control, let us worship and trust You!î

Small Group Questions

Q1) Has your attitude/behavior changed since the war with Iraq started? In what practical ways will we be able to fix our eyes on Him?

Q2) In your walk with the Lord, are there any vulnerabilities in you that takes offense that the Lord is bringing to your attention? List practical ways that will help you to be able to control yourself?

Q3) If youíve been sent back to ìyour Jordan", share a scripture that will help you build your faith and defy fear & doubt?

Group activity: Please pray for our leaders, soldiers & their families, and our enemy.

Final Q) What impacted you about todayís lesson and how will you apply it to your life?

Mahalo to our fearless and faithful volunteer writer...Doreen Rabaino