CEASE STRIVING AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD
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Pastor Francis Frangipane's Weekly Message
October 25, 2002
www.inchristsimage.org - Arrow Publications
[email protected]


Jesus warned of these days. Speaking of the unfolding difficulties in
the
world, He specifically warned, "Do not be terrified" (Lk 21:9).

Today, heart failure is the number one killer of men in the western
world.
In America, nearly one million people will die this year from some form
of
heart disease.  Approximately every 30 seconds another heart fails and a
person dies.  There may be many contributors to heart failure, but a
main
source is the inability to handle stress.

There are times when stress is unavoidable--the death of a loved one,
the
loss of a job, moving to a new home or going through a divorce. But most
of the time stress is a sin we simply accommodate and live with.  The
problem is that, just as death entered the world through Adam's sin (Rom
5), so death enters our personal world through our sins.   Indeed, when
we carry stress, we carry a container of death that, without fail, takes
an ever increasing toll upon our lives.

Jesus said we would hear of wars and rumors of wars, but again He said,
"see that you are not frightened" (Matt 24:6).  Today, we are living
with
a war on terror and we are preparing for a war against Iraq.  The world
fears what Saddam Hussein might do. No one believes he has reformed;
everyone knows as soon as we let down our guard, he will attack  some
other nation, probably Israel.  While other nations suffer from
"Iraq-niphobia," I appreciate greatly the resolve of President Bush and
Prime Minister Blair.  We cannot live with fear; we must confront it.
Yet,
who among us is not concerned for the lives that will be lost on both
sides.  Thus, the burden of war and its consequences remains a heavy
burden upon our souls.

War is not our only problem.  We have many unanswered questions that are
a
source of stress: When will our struggling economy recover?  Will
another
terrorist attack strike?   We worry about our children and fret about
the
problems that accompany aging and our health.  We have stress at our
jobs,
stress rides with us on our highways and it meets us at the door when we
come home.

Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil 4:6), yet we seem to be
anxious
for everything.  Stress related anxiety is so much a part of our lives
that, somehow, it has escaped being identified as being sinful.  It is
sin, however.  At its core, it is a stubborn refusal to trust the
goodness
of God or rest in His power.  It is a by-product of unbelief. It is a
"terror attack" from hell that is silently killing thousands every day.

Certainly, there are spiritual realities we should strive to attain. I
am
not suggesting we abandon seeking hard after God or become passive.
However, I am saying we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful
anxieties that come from not resting in God.

One title for the Messiah is "Immanuel," which means, "God with us."
Jesus promised to be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20).
At some point we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise.
He
is with us always!  To mistrust this promise is to reject the very
character of the divine nature. It is serious sin.

In the Psalms, the Lord gives us a promise for the day in which we find
ourselves. He says,

"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  (Psalms 46:10).

No matter what things look like now, God has decreed that He will be
exalted in the earth.  Not Satan, but God; not evil, but good.  Hell may
have its hour, but God will win the day.

All our lives we are taught to judge by what our eyes see and our ears
hear.  To do so is perfectly rational.  The only problem is that when
our
decisions are based only upon our senses, we lose the perspective and
wisdom of God.  The Living God not only sees the end from the beginning,
in a heartbeat He can change the world we see into something that is
full
of redemption and grace.

Fear is a magnifying lens that exaggerates whatever it looks at.  The
devil is a master illusionist who uses fear to take our eyes off the
Lord.
The result is that our stress level increases and anxiety brings death
into our world.  Indeed, the more we talk about what's wrong, the
greater
the wrong possesses us.

God's word tells us, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in
quietness and trust is your strength"(Isa 30:15).  Be quiet. Compose
your
soul.  Don't let your unbelieving words deplete your spirit, for the
more
you talk, the more peace you lose. Keep your soul focused upon the Lord.
Turn your heart toward the strength of God.  Those who believe, enter
His
rest and from the place of rest, hear His voice.

If you know who God truly is, anxiety will fade into trust.  Therefore,
cease worrying!  God cares for you.  Those who trust Him have peace that
surpasses all understanding.   Talk to the Lord and then quietly listen.
As you do, your spirit will soar, your heart expand and ascend into His
Presence.

It has been truly said, "Fear is the darkroom where Satan develops our
negatives."  Therefore, renounce fear.  Divorce anxiety.  Beloved, the
Lord is good. Trust Him with your battle.  Yes, it's time to cease
striving and know that He is God.

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