Here Comes Trouble
by Charlene Friesen
** Have you ever considered what it would be like to introduce someone you knew to Jesus Christ? What would you say? How would you begin? Here is a study that will help you. http://thelife.com/study/investigatespirituality.html?section=introothers_christ&ft=BSG-OS
“Here comes trouble,” my friend quipped as I rounded the corner. A God fearing, child loving, floor-scrubbing woman with only a speeding ticket to her name is considered trouble? If I’m trouble, consider the names heaped upon Old Testament prophets.
Called to deliver God’s message, these men and women were on a mission. That mission didn’t include schmoozing for favors or bowing to the whims of the crowd. Towns rolled up the red carpet when a prophet approached. They were often greeted with hostile names such as “troubler,” “madman,” or “my enemy.”
At times, kingly behavior was reduced to toddler like temper tantrums upon hearing God’s mandate. Other recipients jeered. Sometimes it was a coin toss between skepticism and sackcloth repentance.
This drama was all in a day’s work. Most days, prophets were as well liked as telephone solicitors, but still persevered, speaking God’s truth despite fear of reprisal or death.
You and I are prophets too. We are called to be spokespeople for God in this “do what feels good world.” I Peter 3:15 states, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Speak up! Share God’s value on life with the student sporting a pro-choice button, contribute your views on creation with the co-worker who worships nature or challenge the family member who angrily waves a fist at God during times of trouble. Strike up a conversation with a Feng Shui enthusiast, sharing the power of a life filled with the Holy Spirit.
Respectfully, consistently, and prayerfully speak God’s truth into conversations. Perhaps it won’t be well received; maybe you and I will be considered trouble. Take it as a compliment. After all, standing for God’s truth should be no trouble at all.
~Lord, Your truth is not always well received. I ask for unconditional love, patience and the confidence to proclaim your life altering truth.
Questions: Who can you encourage or challenge with God’s unyielding truth?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/charlene-friesen/
12 Responses to “Here Comes Trouble”
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good devotional today
Romel H, Just received you “top ten ways” to be a Trouble Maker” They are a great recap of yesterday’s devotion.
Satan says “HERE COMES TROUBLE” when:
1. we are authentic Christians
2. we are FAT Christians (Faithful, Available, Trustworthy)servants of GOD.
3. godly and believing prayer warriors, praying thru GOD’s Word.
4. gentle and humble Ambassadors of CHRIST.
5. Zealous followers of CHRIST.
6. Spirit-filled teachers of GOD’s Word.
7. faithful executors of GOD’s word.
8. we daily spend time with GOD and HIS word. When we know GOD’s word Satan, devils anmd demons cannot lie to us.
9. When we trust and take GOD’s Word as truth in our hearts.
10. When we ask and let GOD really rule and reign in our hearts that JESUS is truly the LORD and SAVIOR of us.
Thanks you all for the big welcome
Good comments here today..We have to do things at the “leading of the Holy Spirit” and let Him speak lovingly through us! We don’t want to offend those already scarred emotionally from harsh judgments from some in organized religion ..But, at same time, there was great truth in the comments of Chris and Loreli, too. And if we walk by His Beautiful Spirit? He will do just as Loreli did in her situation.. if we let His Holy spirit lead us..He will speak through us..and in her professional capacity of counseling those who’ve been wounded already? She did her “Father’s bidding” and ..gently and in right attitude with HIS help…let the Lord lead that man at her Church. His tears showed the gentle conviction of the Holy Spirit.And, Chris, you’ll be vindicated one day for speaking up for wrongdoing towards another, too. Pray, dear Chris, for the one who did the wrong..that the Lord would convict his heart and show him. HE will!!! Those who hurt others are hurting people.I love what Romel wrote, too. A cherished friend from this blog that emails me sent the best thing last night! We want to be the kind of Daughters in HIM..that when we start our days? The enemy shrieks..Oh No, She’s awake! Knowing that we will pray for guidance, be led by His Spirit, and not be moved by fear of the enemy! Prayer absolutely makes the enemy “tremble”!!!Bless Every Sister that shares here and May the weekend overflow with His Guidance!!! Hallelujah!
ROMEL H,
WHEN I FIRST READ YOUR COMMENT I THOUGHT “I’M NOT A TROUBLER” THEN IN READING THE REST OF YOUR COMMENT I THOUGHT “YES I AM FOR CHRIST.” ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS I COULDN’T LET THIS PERSON GET AWAY WITH WHAT HE IS STILL GETTING AWAY WITH, BUT AT LEAST I KNOW I DID TRY ALONG WITH A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE TO STOP HIM. GOD WILL DEAL WITH HIM NOW.
Jerseygirl:
“Telling people about Jesus has to be done very carefully. Personally, I find it a real turnoff when the person sounds like their right and my beliefs are wrong. It has to be done in a loving, prayful way, and very respectfully.”
Great advice jerseygirl!
Emily:
” I know from personal experience…from being friends with the girl who worships nature and the Feng Shui enthusiast, that “talking” to them (read: at them…they won’t listen if you do it this way) doesn’t normally work unless they feel like you are genuinely interested in what -they- believe. So…go into these conversations with open ears, not with a giant stamp on your forehead that says YOU’RE WRONG AND I’M RIGHT LOL.”
That super advice Emily. I would like to quote Charlene F:
“You and I are prophets too. We are called to be spokespeople for God in this “do what feels good world.” I Peter 3:15 states, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Thanks so much Charlene for your great devotional. I love it because I know I had been a troubler in the kingdom of darkness ever since I have learned what GOD would like us to do and what Satan is doing to stop us. GOD is greater and stronger than the strongman and the angel of light!
Chris T.
“2 YEARS AGO, WHEN I DID SOMETHING KNOWING I WAS TELLING GODS TRUTH I WAS NO LONGER WELCOME AT A PLACE I WAS GOING TO FOR 14 YEARS. I JUST KNOW IN DOING WHAT I DID,WRITING A LETTER ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS MISS TREATING THE POOR,I WAS TOLD I WAS NOT WELCOME AT THIS PLACE.”
You are a troubler!
Lorelli:
“Just yesterday I had to confront a brother in Christ. He has been rude and angry in the services at church, especially to teenagers that are often yelled at in their homes. After much prayer and letting the Holy Spirit lead he cried upon hearing that his anger was misdirected towards unsuspecting people,especially youth.”
Lorelli, you are a trubler!
I just love troubler against the kingdom of Satan. This is the reason why he sometimes take away from us a good night sleep, our self-steem, our peace, all the physical and spiritual blessings that belong to us. When our attention and focus is taken from GOD’s will on our lives, we become ineffectual troubler in the kingdom of darkness. Every morning when we wake up and our hearts are in tune with GOD’s will for us, if we can only see things with our spiritual eyes, Satan, devils and demons scared of us, we will have that confidence to walk in the Spirit of life, for greater is HE that is inside us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Satan and his associates all have standing hairs when we wake up with GOD’s confidence in us and they are screaming “WATCH out, here’s the troublers! do your best to restrain them and keep them from hurting our kingdom.” Slow them down guys. Confuse them, take away faith from them, separate them from each other, set them against each other… etc.. lie, lie, lie!
Yes, I loved it when I’m a troubler in Satan’s kingdom. We might get scratched, cuts and bruises, even die for GOD’s cause, loss our material possessions but we are an anointed TROUBLERS for GOD’s kingdom.
Praise YOU LORD JESUS!
I think we need to take a step back from this blog. I know it means well, and for the most part it’s good advice, but there are also a few other things to consider here. I know from personal experience…from being friends with the girl who worships nature and the Feng Shui enthusiast, that “talking” to them (read: at them…they won’t listen if you do it this way) doesn’t normally work unless they feel like you are genuinely interested in what -they- believe. So…go into these conversations with open ears, not with a giant stamp on your forehead that says YOU’RE WRONG AND I’M RIGHT LOL.
That just sends people to hell.
Telling people about Jesus can be hard to do. I must admit, I prefer showing my faith then telling people. I know that many of my neighbors and friends started bringing their kids to church because of the example of me bringing my own kids faithfully every week to church. I would invite my kids friends and after awhile, the parents would tell me that they started going back to church so the kids would know their religion, not mine.
Telling people about Jesus has to be done very carefully. Personally, I find it a real turnoff when the person sounds like their right and my beliefs are wrong. It has to be done in a loving, prayful way, and very respectfully.
Just yesterday I had to confront a brother in Christ. He has been rude and angry in the services at church, especially to teenagers that are often yelled at in their homes. After much prayer and letting the Holy Spirit lead he cried upon hearing that his anger was misdirected towards unsuspecting people,especially youth. His tender spirit came out and he cried (He is six foot seven) huge man and here I am a woman sent by God to deliver truth (not fun)but in the end God honored my obedience and this man received much needed correction. God was honored because it wasn’t my flesh it was his word that permeated this mans heart with truth.
2 YEARS AGO, WHEN I DID SOMETHING KNOWING I WAS TELLING GODS TRUTH I WAS NO LONGER WELCOME AT A PLACE I WAS GOING TO FOR 14 YEARS. I JUST KNOW IN DOING WHAT I DID,WRITING A LETTER ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS MISS TREATING THE POOR,I WAS TOLD I WAS NOT WELCOME AT THIS PLACE. NOW 2 YEARS LATER I AM MANAGING TO GET BY AND I STILL STICK TO WHAT I SAID BACK THEN AND HAVE NOT STEP FOOT INTO THIS PLACE AGAIN. THE PERSON I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS STILL THERE AND I KNOW GOD IS BEHIND ME IN WHAT I HAD SAID. I AM NOT AFRAID TO FACE MY MAKER WHEN THE TIME COMES ON THIS.