Brother Preacher

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I’ve spent the past three months preparing for the Georgia Bar exam. When I made the decision to take the Bar, I was fully aware how difficult the studying process would be. Although already licensed in another state, I needed to set aside enough time to ensure I was adequately prepared for Georgia-specific rules of law and principles.

To compound matters, my wife was pregnant and our due date happened to fall two weeks before the exam was to take place. As I fly back to L.A. and reflect on the past month I can only think of one biblical narrative to describe my experience. One day God decided to make the devil aware of the faithfulness of one of his servants. He asked, “Have you considered my servant Job? He’s faithful, loving, kind, and I can depend on him.” The devil responded, “Yeah, but you’ve placed a hedge of protection around him. Let me at him, he’ll surely break.” Knowing Job’s character, God allowed it. The devil hit Job with everything he had, yet Job never once turned his back on his God.

On July 1st, I imagine that God had the same conversation regarding me. ” Have you considered my servant John?” “Yeah, but you had a hedge around him. Take it away and let me at ‘em.” Needless to say, all hell proceeded to break loose. Loss of loved ones, stress of pregnancy and baby preparation, watching my wife go through hours and hours of contractions and feeling helpless. There didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needed to be done. I felt like I was living…in the Twilight Zone. But God…

As I reflect, this is what God is saying to me: “I allowed it because I know that I can trust you with this test.” Quite a humbling declaration. God trusts me? What have I done to deserve your trust Lord? The simple answer: you have overcome.

“And they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the power of their testimony.”-Revelation 12:11

Public announcement: devil, there’s nothing you can do to separate me from my Source, my Provider, my All in All, my Comforter, my King, and my Lord. You should have gotten me when you had a chance (pre-Christ). All of your efforts are futile now and only serve to strengthen my faith in God.

Please understand. I’m at a whole ‘nother level of faith right now. I’m moving from mountain moving faith to continent, platelet shifting faith. Faith that shifts atmospheric pressures. You should have left well enough alone. Now, it’s on. On the other side of this test (both in the natural and the spirit), I am refreshed, renewed, and ready to continue to kick in the doors of hell through ministry.  Let’s go!!!

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Shift happens.  It’s just a fact of life.  As constantly moving beings in a constantly moving universe, change is one of the few constants we have in our lives.  Shift happens.  The Apostle Paul knew this concept all too well.  In his second letter to the Corinthian Church he writes,

“I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.” (2 Cor. 11:26)

Paul was a man on the move.  Because he was a man on the move, he was more susceptible to dangerous conditions on this journey called life.  Everywhere he looked there was danger.  Not only was there danger from his enemies, there was danger from those he trusted and loved the most.  Not only was there danger on his terrestrial journey, he experienced danger has he traversed the choppy waters of life.  For Paul, major shift was happening.

Here’s the important thing about shifting though.  By its very definition, when being shifted someone/something is being moved or remove from one place to another.  Whatever shift may be going on in your life right now, I want to encourage you.  God is moving you from one place to another.  Dangers are certain.  Fears are certain.  Weakness is sure to set in.  Let us rejoice with Paul as he concludes this passage:

“…I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10)

Any hardships lately?  Any persecutions?  Any difficulties?  Any insults hurled your way?  Experiencing any kind of weakness?  Can you do me a favor?  Look that trial straight in the eye, straighten your back, and declare the following phrase with complete complete confidence: Shift Happens!

Blessings,

Brother John

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