Distinguishing signs (part 2)

It needs to be understood that no one ever earns an answer to prayer. This is important to realize. And yet, Jesus has told us that, " everyone that asks, receives." (Matt. 7:8, Luke 11:10). What I share with you now, I share as encouragement, and in honesty.

I could not emphasize enough the importance of the principles in, The Conditions of Prevailing Prayer. Please read through this article with prayer. In brief, the 5 conditions are; 1) Dependance on the merits of Jesus Christ as the basis. 2) Separation from all known sin. 3) Faith in God's Word to be His oath. 4) Asking in God's will; i.e., right motives. 5) Persistence in asking.

My story begins with  Godly chastening. I had taken much debt in what I believed to be the pursuit of service for Christ, when the Lord led me into the study of the 19th century saint, George Mueller. It was through this repeated study that I was eventually shown a truth that Mr. Mueller knew well; that the taking of debt is sin. I did not practically learn this lesson very well, or very quickly...

In the years which followed discovery of this truth, I was at times confused. It did in fact seem that at times it was truly needful to take debt, and I wasn't sure where to "draw the line." Yet the Lord brought answers to my questions through a necessity for us- home heating oil.

It had been seeming to me like the ordering of oil to heat our home, without actually having the $, was something that was okay- as long as it was actually a need. I had misread 2 previous times when I had done this, and the bill had been readily paid. I assumed what God's will was. In truth, for each of those 2 times, it could be seen that the finance would be soon met by anticipated income, though the actual money was not yet in hand.

So when this 3rd time came, I could tell that our furnace needed servicing, and our oil was pretty low. I know that I prayed about this, but it is clear that I did it with a predetermined answer already in mind! A simple call provided the service and the oil, and I was sure that God would soon provide for this bill...

Three months later, no relief had come. We managed to forward a $100 payment to the oil company, and this was a mercy from God. Had we not paid that month, our debt would have gone to a collection agency. There was a note on our next bill that we could continue to make payments, and we would be in acceptable standing. Our load was eased, yet the Lord did not see fit to supply full payment for this bill until recently; a full 11 months after the service was done. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself!

Since we were not meeting this bill as expected, I again took it to the Lord in prayer. He showed me the truth of the matter; when He had shown us that debt is a sin (James 4:17), we were not to take it- ever! He showed me the errors in my presumptions which had led us to this point. It did greive me to see that once again, I had not learned a lesson that should have been more obvious. Yet we hold the treasure of God's own Holy Spirit within these earthen vessels, that ultimately He will be glorified (II Co. 4:7)!  I readily repented for what I had done, sharing these things with my wife. A part of true repentance is that we turn away from the evil behavior, and do it no more. By grace, I promised God that this would be so. What follows next is mostly from a letter previously written to share this blessing...

About 2 months later it hit; between 8-9 a.m. I noticed a large, growing puddle near the water heater cabinet. This was on a day that I had slated in advance to be one of prayer & fasting in regard to our debt! This issue was a direct challenge to the day and its focus, as well as to our commitment on debt.

Because of prior lessons, I was determined to keep the fast- although now, most prayer emphasized the water heater (w.h.). We soaked up the water with towels, and turned off the circuit breaker, and the water. The water needed to be shut off from the softener system about 7’ away. Then, of course, we had no water! Both the hot & cold water are fully integrated into the unit, so there was no way to even just turn off the “hot” without calling a plumber. Did I mention that we couldn’t afford one?

Two significant Bible principles were coming into play here. First, the only way we had to fix this was to take more debt, of which there were 3-4 options. Internet research told me that this was a serious problem, with the consensus being that the unit should be replaced. At the very least it needed proper attention quickly, or a greater break would likely come; bringing with it extensive water damage to our home. The leak seemed only to be at the top, where the hot water pipe enters the unit. This condition was just as serious.

 

Secondly, secret prayer was the rightful remedy (Matt. 6:6). We couldn’t go broadcasting this need, but trust that our Father would hear and answer us in His own way. These things were very, very hard to do- this circumstance just seemed so urgent. We were determined to follow the Lord, but needed His help ASAP. This was a Wednesday (8/31), and Jamie had work that day. I was left alone to pray and consider, listening to the fan that we left running to dry things out.

The water we could turn on/off, but when on, it would leak at that top pipe on the w.h. We wrapped a towel around it, and replaced it occasionally. We left the heat turned off, not sure what effect that would have on the leak. Also, we sometimes drained the w.h.; hoping to lessen the pressure at the leaking point. Things were awkward through Thursday, and by Friday a.m. cold showers were the rule! Yet I had some bright ideas on Friday for how we could better cope, and was eager to share them with Jamie when she came home. But for some reason, when I went to turn the water back on that day, only a scant trickle would run out! This was still a little useful, but it dashed my plans altogether. And now, for any large need, we had to drain the w.h. into pans (like for doing dishes, flushing & refilling toilets). Things had gone from bad to worse.

Saturday was Labor Day weekend, and Jamie’s parents were away, camping. We were then able to access a shower at their place, while still not broadcasting our need. This may sound sneaky, but we knew that we would be welcomed by her parents to do so. Had we told them of our situation, they would have lent us the $ in a flat minute! We quickly saw that this could only be a one-time thing, due to the driving and the secrecy. We decided to make the best of it with our trickle of water at home, and wait for the Lord. I had committed Sunday & Monday  in advance to prayer and fasting over this matter.

NOTE: we later came to see that even going to Jamie’s parents’ home for a shower was wrong. Not because her parents would mind, but because it was depending upon our own arm of flesh to cope (Jer. 17:5-8); taking the help of men in our own rationale, instead of waiting for the Lord. We still prayed, waiting for the right circumstance to reveal all of this to her parents; the Lord led us to do this 2 months afterward.

We went through our routine on Saturday night, determined to make the best of things; even if that meant draining water for baths (slowly!), or sponge baths. God had indeed made a way for us to endure in this trial (I Cor. 10:13), and we were committed to “revenge” our disobedience by not taking more debt this time, no matter how bad things might become. Having drained significant water for various uses before bed time, and with the water still flowing at a scant trickle, we decided to leave it turned on during the night. There was little fear of overflow, but the towel was still there, anyway! 

It is usual for me to be up first during the a.m. At one point on this Sunday morning, I went to the kitchen sink for a “trickle rinse” of my coffee mug; the water came out full blast! Being yet weary, I was thankful, but a bit stunned. After 5 minutes it sunk in, and I thought to turn on the w.h. for Jamie- she would have a warm shower after all!  At this point, I was only considering the w.h. to be more useable, and still in need of attention. I had been praying for the unit’s replacement, and also that God would “heal the infirmity” in our home (and continued praying throughout the week); but much of the time my prayers were in the Spirit (Rom. 8:26,27). This of course means that although I was praying, it was God’s Spirit offering the prayers; I had no way to know what those words were (I Cor. 14:2,4).

Over the next couple days, it was clear that the towel was no longer becoming wet. An inner wall of the w.h. cabinet had been initially wet up to a 4” height on the wall, and using the fan to dry it was a nearly all-day, every-day event; but now that was remaining dry, as well! By Wednesday or Thursday, Jamie told me that she believed God had healed the water heater; she later told me that she had believed it was healed for at least 2 days before she vocalized it to me. The evidence was on her side, but I was more cautious, however; still believing God, but uncertain of exactly what He would do (I thought He might move someone on our behalf, either with money or service). By Saturday, we left both the water and the breaker turned on all day. Sunday we resumed doing our wash at home.

The water heater is about 17 years old, a typical time that you might need to replace it; so I was believing in prayer that it should be replaced; God chose not to do that at this time. He later showed me that He has in fact healed our water heater! Better still, He showed me that He will keep it, until we are otherwise provided for another one. This is just like the provision made for the widow in I Kings 17; whose cruse of oil did not fail, nor the barrel of meal wasted, until God had sent relief by rain upon the earth.

           

 There is no credit that I can take for myself in this. God has put up with me, and so many failed promises of mine that it is beyond comprehension. He led us this way, and His strength upheld us to see it through. All apparent means may fail, but when we trust in provision from God alone, we are beyond disappointment; His treasury is fantastically unlimited!

God enabled us to “revenge” our disobedience (II Cor. 10:6), but it came at a cost. The Lord’s way will naturally lead into trial, but the proving of faith will bring us strength, and hope- and glory to the Almighty God, who alone is worthy of all praise and honor! Please read I Peter 1:3-9.

Remember that God has promised to supply all of our need (Philip. 4:19); yet He will do that in His time, and in His way. He will indeed work all things for our good (Rom. 8:28), so we must learn to "glory" in our tribulations (Rom. 5:3; James 1:2-4).  No one knows better exactly what we need, or when it is actually needed.

Trust in the Lord; lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your path! See Proverbs 3:5,6. Be grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ according to His Word (Matt. 7:24-27), and then through His Spirit (I John 2:27) you will readily be enabled to distinguish the signs which are before you.

P.S.- At the time the Lord healed our water heater, He also healed our water softener system. It had not been functioning for a good many months, when it previously had run through its cycle about once per week. How our hearts were filled with joy to hear it start up again!

"Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." -Eph. 3:20.