AreYouReady?

(Ourheartfeltprayersgoupforallthesurvivors,workersandpetsthathavebeenso
terriblyaffectedbyhurricaneKatrina.)

...forHemakesHissunriseontheevilandonthegood,andsendsrainonthejustandonthe
unjust.Matthew5:45

HurricaneKatrinacertainlypouredplentyofrainonboththejustandtheunjust!Letus
make one thing clear. God is sovereign! Mother Nature did not bring hurricane
Katrinawithallitsdestruction,Goddid!Jesustoldus: Arenottwosparrowssoldfora
copper coin? And not one of themfalls tothe ground apart from your Fathers will.
(Matt.10:29)GodhasaspecificreasonforallthatHeallows.Jesuspromisedusgreatly
increasedtrialsandtribulationsasweenterintothelastdayspriortoHisreturntoearth.
BUT,Heneverpromisedthatwe,Hispeople,wouldescapethosetrialsandtribulations.
Wearegoingtoberightinthemiddleofthem,evenastheChristianswerewholivedin
theareasstruckbyKatrina. Areyouready?Areyoureadytobesmackinthemiddleof
thenextdisasterthenext9/11,thenexthurricane,tornado,tsunami,schoolshooting,
autoaccident,etc?Areyoureadytoendureafflictionsandtrialsandtribulations?Ready
ornot,webelievewearegoingtoseemoreandmoresuchdisastersstrikevariousplaces
around the world. Yet Jesus said, All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt.
24:8)Justthebeginning,nottheend!Wearejustbarelygettingstartedinthedisasters
wearegoingtosee.
So, we have two choices. We can get mad at God and rail at Him and say that He is
unfairtoallowsomethinglikethistohitChristians,orwecanbehaveinsuchawayasto
bringglorytoHisname.
Daniel and I did not suffer through hurricane Katrina as so many did, but I, Rebecca,
havehadmyownsetofafflictionstodealwithrecently.Forthepastfourweeks,asthe
resultofbeingplacedonchemotherapy,IhavebeensoweakthatIhavelainonthecouch
almost continuously except for numerous trips to the bathroom to vomit. I have felt
totallyworthless.IdidnotgetanAugustnewsletterout,andIhadtocancelmyspeaking
engagementinNewYork,whichcausedagreatdealofinconveniencetootherpeople.I
deeplyapologizeforthis!(Ifinallysimplystoppedtakingthemedication,andamnow
beginningtorecovermystrength.Ithankallofyouwhohavebeenprayingforme.)
Iknowthatthereare manyof youreadingthiswhoaregoingthrough yourown setof
trials and tribulations. I would like to share with you some of the things the Lord has
beenteachingmeasaresultofthesedifficultiesinhopesofencouragingyou.
DoyouknowwhattwothingsGodvaluesmostinourlife?Theyarefaithandpatience.
Doyouknowhowwedevelopfaithandpatience?Throughtrialsandtribulations!Now

whyarethesetwothingssoimportanttoGod?ThathasbeenmyquestiontoHimthese
pastfourweeks.Iwouldliketosharetheanswerwithyou,butfirst,letslookatsome
scripturestobackupmyassertions.
Nowfaithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnotseen.Forbyittheelders
obtainedagoodtestimony.Hebrews11:12
ButwithoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseHim,forhewhocomestoGodmustbelievethatHeis,
andthatHeisarewarderofthosewhodiligentlyseekHim.Hebrews11:6

To begin with, it is not possible to come to God or enter into a relationship with Him
withoutfaith.WecannotevenpleaseGodinanywaywithoutfaith!
A number of years ago I read through the four gospels and wrote down every direct
commandment Jesus gave to usto follow. Do you knowthat by far the most frequent
commandwastobelievethatJesusIS!Example:
YouarefrombeneathIamfromabove.YouareofthisworldIamnotofthisworld.ThereforeI
saidtoyouthatyouwilldieinyoursinsforifyoudonotbelievethatIamHe,youwilldieinyour
sins.John8:2324

OverandoveragainJesuscommandsustobelievethatHeisGod.Thatrequiresfaith!
Whatisfaith,anyway?Well,therearetwokindsoffaith.Thereisthespiritualgiftof
faith(Danielwillbewritingaboutthisinthenextnewsletter),andthenthereisourown
faith.Faithisadecision.Itisachoicemadebyourownfreewill.Wechoosetoaccept
somethingastruthornot.Letmegiveyouaneverydayexample.Ifyouheldabookin
your hand and then let go of it what would happen to it? It would fall to the ground
wouldntit?Youacceptthatthatistrue.Why?Whywouldthebookfalltotheground?
Why wouldnt it fly up into the air? Because of gravity. You accept the reality of
gravity.But,canyouseegravity?No.Canyoufeelgravity?No.Yet,youliveyour
whole life basedon your faith ingravity.Thatswhy youdontstepoffofatenstory
building.Youknowyouwouldfallandgosplat!Youhavechosen,withyourfreewill,
toacceptastrue,thatgravityexists.Smallchildrenhavenotyetmadethatchoice,thatis
why we must protect them. So, our own faith is an exercise of our free will. It is
somethingthatwemustexertandusedaily.WemusthavefaithinGodsveryexistence.
Hedoesntcomedownandsupernaturallymanifesttousdaily.WedontseeHim,most
ofthetimewedontfeelHim,wemustchoosetoacceptasfact,thatHeIS.Nowwhyis
our faith so important to God? Why isnt He willing to give us some supernatural
manifestationallthetime,somethingthatwecanseeand feel,sothatwedonthaveto
usefaith?IaskedtheLordthisquestion.Hisanswerwasasfollows. Faithrequires
theuseofyourfreewill.YouhavetochoosetobelievethatIAM.Freewillwasthemost
expensivegiftIcouldevergivethehumanrace.ItcostMeMySon. Withtheirfreewill
manhaschosentosinandturnagainstme.IhadtogiveMySon,JesusChrist,topay
thepriceforthatuseoftheirfreewill.Jesuspaidthepriceforsin.OnlythroughMySon
JesusChristcanIhavearelationshipwithhumanbeings.
Godisdeterminedthatweexerciseourfreewilleveryday!Wemustuseittobelievein
Him!WemustuseittoobeyHim.WemustuseittohearfromHim.Wemustuseour

freewilltochoosefaith! Faithischoosingtoaccept,asfact,thatGodIS,andthatHis
Wordistruth.
So,whentrialsandtribulationscome,areyougoingtouseyourfreewilltocontinueto
have faith inGod?Orare yougoingtobecome angryandsay, Godshouldntbe like
this!Godshouldntallowthistohappentome!Areyougoingtoallowyourfaithto
grow?Orareyougoingtoallowtrialstodestroyyourfaith?Areyougoingtochooseto
belikeJob?
NakedIcamefrommymotherswomb,
AndnakedshallIreturnthere.
TheLordgave,andtheLordhastaken away
BlessedbethenameoftheLord.Job1:21

Oneday,asIwaslyingonthecouchbetweenspellsofvomiting,feelingsomiserableI
couldntdoanything,theLordspoketomeandsaid,Gogetyourbibleandreadthe11th
chapterofHebrews.Iwanttoshowyousomething.
Istruggledupandgot my bibleand startedtoread.Do youknow howsometimesthe
HolySpirithasspecificscriptureversesliterallyjumpoutatyou?Thatswhathappened
tome.Lookatthis:
Thereisthelonglistoftheheroesoffaith,then:
Thesealldiedinfaith,nothavingreceivedthepromises,buthavingseenthemafaroffwereassured
ofthem,embracedthemandconfessedthattheywerestrangersandpilgrimsontheearth.Forthose
whosaysuchthingsdeclareplainlythattheyseekahomeland...butnowtheydesireabetter,that
is,aheavenlycountry.ThereforeGodisnotashamedtobecalledtheirGod,forHehasprepareda
cityforthem.Hebrews11:1316
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise . . .
Hebrews11:38

Do you see that? These great men and women of faith did not receive the promise!
TheydidnotreceiveGodsmiraculouspromises!BUTthisdidnotstumbletheirfaith.
Why?Becausetheirultimatefaithwasnotinanythinghereonearth.Theydidnothave
toreceiveamiraclefromGodtobelieveinHim.Theydidnothavetobehealed,setfree
fromprison,havetheirhomesrestored,oranythingelsehereonearthinordertobelieve
inGodandHisWord.Theydidnotvalueanythinghereonearth.Theirdesiresandeyes
weresetonheaven!Theydesiredtobewith Godthroughoutalleternity.Thatswhat
was important to them, not health or wealth or any earthly thing. They desired a
heavenlycountry. Doyouknowthatyourfaithreflectsyourheartsdesires?Isyour
heartcenteredonGodorthethingsofthisearth?Isyourheartcenteredonlivingalifeof
comfort,oralifepleasingtoGod?
WillGodhealmefromthisrheumatoidarthritis?Idontknowatthispoint.ButthisI
can tell you, whether He does or not doesnt matter. I KNOW that God has a reason
goodenoughforallowingthisinmylife.Thatisenoughforme.AllthatmattersisthatI
liveinsuchawayastobepleasingtoHimandintheend,spendeternitywithHim.Will

IreceiveGodspromiseofhealinghereonearth?ThatIdonotknow.ButIdoKNOW
that I shall receive it in full, when I receive my glorified body in heaven. Hallelujah!
THEmostimportantthingtomeismyrelationshipwithGod,andmyeternitywithHim.
Ihopeitisthesameforyou.
(Interestingly,asIsoughttheLordforhealing,Hisresponsewas:Diditeveroccurto
you that I am more interested in your doctors salvation than I am in your personal
comfortatthistime?)
Patience

Nowwhataboutpatience,patienceandfaitharelinkedtogether.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by
varioustrials,thatthegenuinenessofyourfaith,beingmuchmorepreciousthangoldthatperishes,
thoughitistestedbyfire,maybefoundtopraise,honor,andgloryattherevelationofJesusChrist.
1Peter1:67
Thereforewealso,sincewearesurroundedbysogreatacloud ofwitnesses,letuslayasideevery
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance therace that is set
beforeus,lookinguntoJesus,theauthorandfinisherofourfaith,whoforthejoythatwassetbefore
Him endured thecross,despisingtheshame,andhassatdownattherighthandofthethroneofGod.
ForconsiderHimwhoenduredsuchhostilityfromsinnersagainstHimself,lestyoubecomeweary
anddiscouragedinyoursouls.Hebrews12:13
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the
preciousfruitoftheearth,waitingpatientlyforituntilitreceivestheearlyandlatterrain.Youalso
bepatient.Establishyourhearts,forthecomingoftheLordisathand.James5:78

True faith grows through patient endurance. We are an instant society. We want
everythingatonce.WedontwanttowaitforanythingincludingGod!Wemightput
upwithpainorhardshipfor24to48hours,butformostpeoplethatisaboutthelimitof
theirtoleranceandpatience.Ifwedontreceiveeverythingweneedtolivecomfortably
within24to48hours(Includinghealingifweneedit),webecomeangry.ANDwehave
to be entertained continually. One of the things I noticed in working with several
hundred Katrina survivors brought to our area they nearly rioted after 24 hours
withoutTV,cigarettesoralcohol.Theyendedupviolent,demandingthesethings,and
nearlydestroyedthecampsetuptohelpthem!Food,clothing,water,showersandabed
tosleeponwerenotenough.Wearemostsympathetictotheterriblelosesthesepeople
havesuffered,butthatis noexcuse fortheirviolentbehaviorwhentheydontgetwhat
theywantwhentheywantit.ThesadfactisthatfartoomanyAmericansarelittlemore
thanpetulantspoiledchildren,notadultsabletoendurehardshipofanykind.Godisnot
pleasedwiththis.Hehighlyvaluespatienceandendurance.
Hewholeadsintocaptivityshallgointocaptivityhewhokillswiththeswordmustbekilledwith
thesword.Hereisthe patienceandthefaith ofthesaints.Rev.13:10
HereisthepatienceofthesaintsherearethosewhokeepthecommandmentsofGodandthefaith
ofJesus.Rev.14:12

HowGodvaluesthepatienceofHissaints!Thepurposeofthesedifficultendtimesisto
mature us and grow our faith and patience. Why? Because patience and endurance
requires the continual discipline of ourflesh. What is this thing the scripture calls our
fleshorcarnalnature?Itisthatpartofusthatresultedfromourchoicetosin.Eachone
ofus hasapartofusthatwantstodoonlyevil allthetime.Icallthisoursinnature.
Somecallitourdarkside.Whateveryouwanttocallit,wemustcrucify(puttodeath,
strictlydiscipline)itdaily. Patiencecannotbeachievedwithoutkeepingourfleshunder
control. Once again, Jesus had to die because of our sin natures. Thats why God
demandsthatwedealwiththemeverydayofourlives.Wewontberelievedfromthis
taskuntilwegettoheaven.Howwonderfulitwillbewhenweareatlasttotallysetfree
fromthedesiretosin!
Areyouinthemiddleofatrialandtribulationtowhichthereseemstobenoend?Beof
good cheer, dear brother and sister. God knows what He is doing in your life. He is
growing yourfaithand yourpatienceas youendureallthesethings. Yourrewardisin
heaven,nothereonearth.
LetusheedtheadvicegiventousbytheApostlePaul:
Thereforestrengthenthehandswhichhangdown,andthefeebleknees,andmakestraightpathsfor
yourfeet,sothatwhatislamemaynotbedislocated,butratherbehealed.Hebrews12:1213

God is God! So put your heart and your eyes on that heavenly country even if you
dontreceivethepromiseshereonearth.
Copies
Youarealwayswelcometocopyanyofournewsletterstogivetootherpeople.Ifyou
knowofsomeonewhowouldliketoreceiveournewsletter,iftheyliveinsidetheU.S.,
pleasesendtheirnameandaddresstous.Wewillbehappytoaddthemtoourmailing
list.
LoveOfferings
Withallourhearts,wewanttothankthoseof youwhohavegiven someextratous in
thesepastcoupleofdifficultmonths.WhenRebeccaisnotabletotravel,ourincomeis
drastically reduced as the medical bills mount. We pray fervently and continually for
thoseofyouwhogivetoourministry.ItisourheartsdesirethatGodwillrichlybless
youandyourfamilies.Weareafaithsupportedministry.Thatmeans,wearedirectly
dependantonyourobediencetoGodtomeetourneedsandkeepthemanyfacetsofthis
ministrygoing.
Pleasesendyourofferingintheenclosedenvelope.Weaskyoutoprayaboutincreasing
yourofferingthismonthtohelpusduringthistimeofdifficulty.
CHarvestWarriors,Inc.,2005

OrderForm