Isn't it like the test to come after the proclamation? My birds (yesterday's message) must take cover, as we are looking at winter storm warnings for freezing rain and sleet (what's the difference? Its a lot like partly cloudy or partly sunny-is one more optimistic than the other?)

I had another one be tested as well in the middle of the night. I do not like to get sick. I have made it through this winter without a touch. Yesterday, I was discussing with another pastor how sickness had invaded his church body, and how we weren't going to get it. We have one friend who has been battling for about 3 weeks. Wouldn't you know, about 1:11 the enemy shows up and I end up battling an attempt at sickness for about an hour. And I have learned a lesson in the last 2 years that sometimes a battle against sickness takes more than a few cursory prayers. What used to be answered in minutes seems to take more of a battle.

That's one of the things that I have been seeing lately, that the enemy (I am not talking about sickness brought on by ill maintenance of one's temple (your body!) or self inflicted illness or curse.) has been trying harder!?!?! But if we believe the scriptures that talk about being "wise as a serpent" and wait upon the Lord many of these attacks can be handled by you and I by recognizing our authority and waiting for God's instruction, we will have victory.

I guess one of the things that bothers me is the devil getting so much credit for things he didn't do. I am amazed by "the attacks of the enemy" that pursue members of the body of Christ. Is the devil really responsible for the many things he is given credit for?

What about the person who continues to smoke or overeat after the doctor says "no", God's Word says "no", and they even tell you that God told them "no", what do we do??? Each one of us has probably heard the word of the Lord in an area, and perhaps put it off and then wondered why things began to happen. I just have a difficult time giving the devil credit for things he didn't do. Isn't it time that the body of Christ began to accept its responsibility for its own actions.

The other day I was doing some business with an unsaved friend of mine. (He finds it hard to believe that I am a pastor-well, so do I sometimes!!!) And the conversation came up about debt. He does not believe in being in debt. (He also believes in giving money away to churches and charities!) He's the kind of man that many Christians would say is a "good man", though certainly when we look at the scriptures that talk about the enmity between God and those who follow the devil, we could not say that. I have been slowly but surely befriending him, with no pressure. (Just setting the hook!) And then we entered into a conversation about a church that had not paid him. Over 500 churches in the area of Vermont and New Hampshire and the Spirit of the Lord jumped in my mouth and I blurted out the church and proceeded to tell him that God had revealed it to me. He looked shocked and said so. But he has run gun shy as the result of this infraction. So I feel the need to pay the debt and told him so. I also feel the need to do some other things for this man. I really like him.

Our integrity is being tested. I have made some pretty dumb mistakes with regard to integrity in my Christian career. I also have realized that the devil did not do it. I was not being persecuted for the sake of the Gospel, but for my own sins. We, the church, have an obligation to walk uprightly before the Lord and shine our light. The devil does not make us smoke or overeat, or lie or cheat. He does not have the power to do that.

May I share some scriptures from 1 Corinthians 10?

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them: as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit lewdness, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Do we see what verse 13 says? He gives us a way out. Always!!!

But we say we are persecuted as a church. We have made some pretty dumb moves that have caused a lot of difficulty in reaching the lost. We need to repent for our actions. Some of the people on this list are living with a person they are not married to. God looks at that. Where is our fear of the Lord? I have seen Christians who drink and drug, overeat and indulge in the flesh, beat their spouses and cheat on them. I recognize some may doubt their salvation and that is a valid supposition (unfortunately one space does not permit), but they call themselves Christians, Christlike followers.

I want to tell you that if the scriptures or this word has brought you to a place where God is asking you to give up your sin (not deal with it-sounds like a card game and you can stay in it!) and you need prayer, write us. We are here. We are in a 40 day fast for our nation and the body needs to do some housecleaning. We are here. Many have written us telling us of the wonders of the Lord and the results of prayer. There is no sin too ugly that is greater than the blood. We love you.

So how did we get walking down this road? I don't know. But like the weather, we are subject to change in the Holy Ghost. I have learned (for me!) that a prepared message usually does not get preached. And this is one of those days. I thought I would speak about trials and testings. Thank you for your patience.

It is a a fruit oif the Spirit.