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None of These Things Move Me

NO PERSECUTION SHALL MOVE ME

Many American Christians still subscribe to the erroneous assumption that persecution means the absence of God’s blessing and favor in their lives.
Try telling that to the Apostle Paul! Keep in mind how severely he had been persecuted, suffering so much for his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His life had been threatened in Damascus (Acts 9:23) and again in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29). He had been persecuted and run out of Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:50) and had faced possible stoning in Iconium (Acts 14:5). He had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra (Acts 14:19). He had been opposed and made the center of controversy by the church itself (Acts 15). He had experienced the loss of his closest friend and companion Barnabas (Acts 15:39). He had been beaten with rods and imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16). His life had been threatened in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-7,1 0). He had been forced out of Berea (Acts 17:13-14) and mocked in Athens (Acts 17:18). He had been stripped, beaten with rods, imprisoned, and put in chains. His back was a lacerated, bloody, swollen mass of human flesh. We can just imagine his excruciating pain must have been (Acts 16:23-24). He knew what it was to sit long in a dark, smelly, rat and roach infested dungeon. What was his crime? Why had he suffered so? Because he was determined to be obedient to Jesus Christ, His Savior.

Paul wrote to Timothy, Yea. and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution(2 Timothy 3: 12). Likewise, the Apostle Peter wrote, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange things happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy (I Peter 4:12-1 3). It was with this spirit and this understanding that Paul wrote to the Corinthians, We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8).

On his way to Jerusalem, Paul stopped at Miletus and called the leaders from the church in Ephesus to come to his ship. While teaching and exhorting them to watch over the Christians in their charge, he reviewed his testimony of the trials he’d been through and related that everywhere he went he received prophecy that “bonds and afflictions” awaited him. Then he uttered those all-powerful words, which reflect his true character and commitment: None of these things move me! In fact, he says, Neither do I count my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

NO PRESSURE OF LEADERSHIP SHALL MOVE ME

Throughout the church world today, the gates of hell are openly attacking God’s chosen people, but praise God we know that they shall not prevail; in other words when all is said and done the Church shall come out victorious. Some of the attacks are brought on by ungodly attitudes and behavior and lack of faith and determination on the part of the believer. Others are brought on by the demon-master who is always prowling around ready to devour the seed of THE MASTER.

Many of God’s people are suffering from the same depression Elijah suffered after the great victory at Mt. Carmel. He had called fire down from heaven. He had killed 450 gods of Baal. Now the woman Jezebel was out to kill him because he killed her precious gods. Elijah ran and hid and began to cry out to God-just like we would do. We think our situation is unique and we are the only ones who have to bear these particular circumstances. But take heart for no test or trial comes to us that has not been suffered by others before (I Corinthians 10:13). In Elijah’s case, God told him there were 7000 others like him. These things will happen even to devout, dedicated, committed, consecrated children of God; but in your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).

Many people abort their call early because they are unwilling to bear the pressure that comes with victory. Dr. James Dobson periodically devoted his radio broadcast to preservation of the pastor. Why? For some reason, clergy and laity have become a religious caste system. When laity separate themselves from clergy, they can have higher expectations for the clergy than for themselves. They want the clergy on a pedestal so as to bow down and worship them, but in so doing they make them into a statue–an object that is cold, unmoved, non-reacting, and expects nothing from them. Upon discovery that clergy are real people with emotions, faults, shortcomings, difficulties, afflictions, trials and tribulations, they often reject them. Rather than show love, commitment, and compassion, the laity often insulate themselves with rationalizations for their actions and proceed to cut emotional and real ties with the clergy.

Recently we heard of the Pastor whose teen-age son ran away from home. The pastor’s wife became mentally ill and began heckling during the service. The congregation felt these things would not happen if the pastor were truly serving the Lord and they rallied to “put the pastor out.” (Have they read about John Wesley?) A middle-aged Pastor we know had a heart attack and was physically unable to preach for several months. The church dismissed him and hired a new man, cutting off all salary and benefits including insurance and pension. Another well-known Pastor’s three children all rebelled, got involved in sin, and none serve the Lord today. Yes, it happens everyday to laymen but how could it happen to pastors? (Read about Aaron’s sons and Samuel’s sons.) This is not a new phenomenon. These same kinds of things happened to Paul. Remember what he shared in his letter to Timothy: Demas hath forsaken me … Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil, the Lord reward him according to his works. You should be on your guard against him because he strongly opposed our message … at first … everyone deserted me … but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me … (2 Timothy 4:10-17).

Leaders and people need to cry out to God for each other. All are part of the body of Christ and must stand together! If the church leadership is not of God, let God expose it or remove it–not you. Don’t be the devil prowling around, nor a railer–undermining by talking about someone (Gal. 5.17), nor a grievous wolf in sheep’s clothing drawing away disciples after yourself (Acts 20:32).

Actually, in judging another you are judging yourself. Even our modern psychologists teach what the Bible says: Whatever you criticize in another person is your own shortcoming; so look first to yourself, then be silent about the other. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:1-5, NIV).

NO PAINFUL DISCIPLINE SHALL MOVE ME

The prodigal son was tired of work. He was tired of being told what to do and how to do it. He was tired of being expected to do certain things. So he decided to quit! He asked for his inheritance, that which was legally his, and set out to have a good time. And so he did! He went places he had never been, did things he had never done, and was surrounded with friends. The only problem was, he didn’t think about the future-only about now. He was having fun and doing as he pleased with no one to boss him around, until reality hit, his money was gone, his friends had split. He had to humble himself and return to the only ones who might love him and accept him again-his family.

He had wasted his best years. his father’s gifts, and his ability to become somebody special. He had to start over at the beginning. Had the prodigal son stayed home, working for his father and obedient to him during this time. he would now be richer and possibly promoted to headship. The Apostle Paul understood this. He said when we enter a race, we enter to run in such a way as to win. You cannot win if you consider how difficult the track is, how much your body is hurting while you run, or all the fun you’re missing out on while you are busy training. But if we endure this hardness like a good soldier in training, we shall truly win some day. We cannot not help but experience a sense of pride and accomplishment for the Olympic contenders and winners. Millions of viewers wished they were in the races. What went uncaptured in our hearts and minds was the intense discipline that these contenders imposed upon themselves for years prior to winning the opportunity to compete at the Olympic level. They had trainers and coaches who made demands that often seemed unrealistic, even inhuman. You see, if one is able to beat his or another’s record, he has to submit himself to greater discipline and expectations than others do.

How often do we hear adults speak about their youth with regret saying “I wish my parents had made me do such and such …. ” As a result we have a generation of prodigal children (prodigal simply means reckless and extravagant). They give up any difficult project at the drop of a hat. If the job is too laborious, they quit. If the marriage is not meeting their needs, they seek divorce. If the church doesn’t tickle their fancy, they leave. If the children don’t do as they ask, they let them do what they wish. Oh, how we have need of patience, that, after we have done the will of God, we might receive the promise (Hebrews 10:32). How different is this quitting spirit from the persevering spirit of Paul who, even though people begged him not to go a certain route because of the afflictions, persecutions, and chains that awaited him, he went anyway. He did not seek a way out, but sought to fulfill his call. He even sent the slave-boy, Onesimus, back to his master when he got saved. Can you imagine the outcry that would  come today if a pastor were to do that? Yes, of course, our culture has changed, but biblical principles have not!

NEITHER POVERTY NOR PROSPERITY SHALL MOVE ME

Many in the church world today equate success with growth and prosperity. If measured in these terms, Jesus and Paul were failures. In fact, the masses followed Jesus as long as he was doing signs and miracles in their midst, but when the cross went up, they were gone. Likewise, many people came to Paul’s meetings to be healed and set free, yet when he was arrested they were nowhere to be found. Christians, be on guard. When you should be standing by for comfort, strength and help, don’t leave and take as many others with you as possible to justify your actions. Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” If we practice this, we’ll stand by each other through good report and evil report, through prosperity and through poverty.

Over the years, several great faith healers have been plagued by cancer or experienced heart attacks or have had to have surgeries. Some prominent faith teachers have had to file bankruptcy and/or sell off some or all of their properties. Nearly every viable public ministry has been tainted by negative publicity of one kind or another. Cold-Christians and unbelievers point toward these matters and say, “See, I told you so!” But the proof of the gospel has never been in great numbers or in miracles, or in visible success or failure. Jesus said there would be famous, public figures who would come at the end and ask Him to let them into heaven because they have done righteous-sounding deeds in His Name: “Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? Have we not cast out devils in thy name? Have we not done many wonderful works in thy name?” His answer, Depart from me: I never knew you (Matt. 7:22). Neither perceived spiritual success nor seeing failure are proof of our acceptance by Jesus, rather it is something that has taken place in the heart. It is knowing Jesus on a personal level.

Once when the disciples came back from an evangelistic crusade, they were excited to report to Jesus about all the miracles they had done. He cautioned them not to rejoice over miracles, but to rejoice over the fact that their name was written down in the heaven (Luke 10:20).

NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME

Let us say with Paul, I am persuaded I that neither death, nor life, nor angels,  nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-38).

 

© C. Yvonne Karl, The Alabaster Box, Vol. 7, Number 9. For permission to reprint, contact Yvonne –  yvonnekarl@gmail.com

  

 

 

JOY in my heart! 

Life with my Daddy.

Zachariah 4:10 – Do not despise small beginnings…

Daddy was born at home in a “holler” in Roane County WV on St. Patrick’s Day 1915,  the 6th of 8 children, into a “Hard Shell Baptist” church family. His mother died from pneumonia at age 33 and his dad married a 17yr old girl named Fanny to help care for his younger children. The family moved in and out of town and school attendance was only occasional, nevertheless Daddy managed to finish 5th grade and learned to read the bible and memorize scripture.  

When Daddy was a teenager, he attended tent meetings held by a Christian Baptist Evangelist, A.W. Baldridge, who believed God had called Daddy to preach, ordained him, and had him preaching at the tent meetings. Before long,  Daddy got a job in a small town as janitor at Nitro High School and there he met my Methodist mother. She accompanied him to the meetings which she enjoyed and sometimes played her Hawaiian guitar.  In the middle of her senior year, Daddy convinced her to marry him. It was 1937. She was 17, and he was 21. Soon, he got a full-time job at American Viscose, and I was born three years later, June 9, 1940. When I was two years old, in September 1942, my mother gave birth to a baby boy that they named Charles Ray. He only lived 19 hours as a result of Rh Factor problem.

Also in the early 1940’s, Evangelist Earl Hissom came to Nitro and held meetings. When not out preaching in the country, Daddy and Mother attended his services and got acquainted with the Hissoms—even had them over for Sunday dinner on several occasions. Eventually, however, it was Daddy’s sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Joe Leshon, who encouraged them to attend the Church of God (Anderson) in Nitro that had been started earlier by the Pauley Sisters – Sidney and Delsie. From then on, when Daddy was not out preaching, the family attended the Nitro Church.

During my first five years, my parents were youth directors at the Nitro Church of God. Mother loved to direct the seasonal plays and after practice the characters were treated to a popsicle from Valley Bell. When Pastor Harvey Burchett resigned in 1947 to take a pastoral position in Toledo, Ohio, his daughter Joyce stayed with us in Nitro to finish her senior year of high school. That was fun for me. I had a baby sister, Virginia, born  in April 1945, but I now also had a big sister Joyce. When Joyce graduated and went to Toledo, I was very sad. She married soon after high school and later named one of her daughter’s “Yvonne” after me. I felt so loved. Many years later, I took my husband to Toledo to spend some time reminiscing with Joyce.

Off and on, daddy still went to preach out in the country, and our family always went along. Church service was different in the country and my first 10 years were the most impactful years of my life. I was surrounded by godly country people, joyful church services, and lots of testimonies about the goodness of God. I especially enjoyed hearing the shouting as my daddy preached. The words of many of the hymns were sealed in my memory during those years. 

As a child, at home the popular Egermeiers Bible Story book was read aloud every night. At age eight, with my child-like faith and daddy by my side, I made the decision to follow Jesus. Three years later at age 11, I confirmed that decision when we gathered with others for baptism at Coal River just outside St. Albans. My little sister, who was six years old at the time, still remembered that the top layer of ice had to be cracked on the Coal River that November day. Among others, my two friends, Gloria and Shirley Dobbs and I were baptized by our Dads, with our arms wrapped around each other. 

Times were different in those days and it didn’t bother me that my daddy’s grammar was really, really bad, and obviously it didn’t bother those congregations either. I just knew that people loved to hear him preach out in the country churches where he was often invited to hold “revival meetings” that lasted two or three weeks. The churches were packed and in warm weather, church windows would be open so people could stand outside and look in at the services. There were no microphones, nor were there fans—except those occasionally given by a funeral home. Sometimes we would have to stay till midnight for someone to “pray through.” I remember some of the saints praying long for a man at Alum Creek. At midnight, he finally put his pack of cigarettes on the altar and those who remained joined in the shouting. He was saved! I loved the country churches! 

When Daddy wasn’t serving as interim pastor or otherwise preaching on a Sunday, we attended church in town and participated regularly. Daddy had no education beyond fifth grade and no theological training. One time he was interrogated by some Church of God ministers who had been asked to consider ordaining him in the CHOG, but it didn’t happen as there were several negatives. Daddy couldn’t answer questions about the millennial reign or other doctrinal issues. He was a simple man who stuck with the simple things of the bible: “You must be born again! You must follow Jesus to end up in heaven.” The second issue was that my parents did not handle their finances well, which was no doubt their main weakness over the years. Surprisingly, ordination was not important to the country churches, and they continued to invite Daddy to preach.

My sister Virginia Ruth was born April 8, 1945, and my little brother Rich came along on February 5, 1950. Today, my family would be considered “poor,” yet my Daddy still had a job but he had been moved to working shifts. During the evening shifts, Mother would prepare the supper and drive us to the factory where Daddy would come out to the car and eat with us. The precious folks at the Institute CHOG prayed that he would get back to working days, and God answered their prayer.

During my last few years of high school, although Daddy was still called to serve in an interim situation from time to time, he no longer spent as much time in the country churches. He was still daddy at home – cheerful, telling jokes, making us laugh—and my life was full with school classes and clubs.

In May 1958, at the end of my senior year, I went to the altar and Pastor Haynie, whom I dearly loved and who knew I loved Jesus, asked why I was there. I said I really don’t know… I don’t “feel” saved so I guess I want to get saved again. That very wise pastor prayed for the Lord to RESTORE unto me THE JOY of my salvation! Ah! That’s it! No matter the climate or the problem or the family life, Daddy always had “joy!” 

That was it! Over time, I had lost my joy– not my salvation! That did it! Never again have I felt “lost” — Nehemiah 8:10 has been my reminder … ”The Joy of the Lord is my strength!” It’s not my joy that’s my strength …. it’s HIS JOY.  It was not joy of being in the city or in the country … it was not my daddy – though I loved  him dearly and he exuded joy. 

After finishing college in three years, then teaching at my high school for three years, I left my home, my daddy, my mother and siblings, my home church as well as my home town to go to graduate school at Michigan State University. Life was often complicated, and there were times I had to search for JOY, but ultimately I could always find JOY. “The old account was settled long ago.” 

Upon completing an MA Degree, at age 26, I was invited to teach at our church college in Indiana. In spite of everything being new and me feeling so inferior … the Joy of the Lord rose up in me as a major encourager. It was there that God gave me the perfect husband whom my daddy fully approved, and we went to Indiana University for more degrees. 

Right after my daddy retired from his Viscose job, Alzheimer’s began to invade his mind. However, throughout the years that followed, we all knew that he never let go of  the “Joy of the Lord.” On a visit, I would start a hymn and he would sing along—knowing every word. He would quote scriptures, one after another (“Holiness without which no one will see God”). His roommate, a retired Army guy, would cuss up a storm, and my dad would call out from his bed: “Praise the Lord!” No bad word came from his mouth. He did not know who I was—he would just say “I think I know you….” He didn’t know my mother, his wife of 58 years. But he knew Jesus … and he was full of JOY! I will always remember a song of my childhood: :  “It is joy, unspeakable, and full of glory and the half has never yet been told ….” My daddy had that joy! I shall forever be grateful of those early years when I was introduced to the Joy of the Lord at home and church by my Daddy, then by my pastor.! 

“Do not despise small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” Zachariah 4:10. “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” Nehemiah 8:10.

Below: Nitro Church of God, 1946. I’m the first little girl from the left with my white purse.