The enemy is working, but he's not in control

We've been in ministry long enough to have watched countless people step out in faith only to have the enemy step up in opposition. And so we weren't surprised to find opposition mounting as we have headed out on this mission trip. 

It started while we were in church on August 2nd. Just before the service started my phone buzzed and one of my long term tenants called me with a minor repair need in their kitchen - one of her cabinet doors had broken and fallen off - I asked her to wait until I returned and she agreed - crisis averted. 

Then, as we drove down to Vancouver we had the excitement with the oil - see previous post.

Then on August 3rd my brother, who is my rental manager while I am, away sent me an email to let me know that another tenant had their bathroom shower tap break off and he had to call a plumber. 

On August 4th, Nikki and my 25th wedding anniversary, Nikki started noticing that her sciatic nerve pain was getting quite significant again. 

Then on August 5th another property had an electrical issue that required my brother's attendance. And then it happened again on the 7th. 

Also on the 7th Fortis replaced a gas meter at a property but wasn't able to turn the gas back on because the basement tenants were out of town. So the upstairs tenants had no hot water.

Also on the 7th Dan woke up with something strange going on in his left eye that looked like he had lost a fight.

On August 10th another tenant called my brother to let him know that her ceiling was raining and it was discovered that a copper pipe had sprung a pin hole leak and had saturated the roof in her kitchen. They also weren't able to located the water shut-off for over an hour. 

On August 11th two of our kids came down with traveller's "issues" and my brother told me he didn't want to manage my properties anymore. 

And then today I pulled a hamstring while playing soccer with some of the highschool students here in Tactic and may need to go to a medical clinic tomorrow to get checked out.

Now one or two of these things by themselves would be "normal", but when they all happen at the same time while we are on a mission trip I see someone else at work.

But that's great! See Jesus' disciple John tells us that "He who is in us is greater than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). And that means that as much trouble as the enemy can cause it only reminds us how much bigger Jesus is. And right now the enemy seems very real, and... So does Jesus. This is what I've been praying for.

On top of this, Paul assures us that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). This doesn't mean all things are good - they aren't - but rather, no matter what happens, Jesus is never caught off guard or thrown off His game. And as a result, all the enemy can do is put us in a place where we get to experience the presence of God.

So what do we do? Well, Paul tells us how to do battle in a time like this. Now, sure we can pray for a stop to the enemy's work, and healing for a hamstring and a sciatic nerve (the eye is way better today! Thanks for praying!). And Jesus loves to answer these prayers - so please join us in praying. But really the way we do battle in a time like this is by giving thanks.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Paul says God's will isn't that we make the right decision about partnering with Impact Ministries or not. God's will isn't that we do anything for Him at all - He can do everything Himself. God's will is that in every circumstance we find ourselves - both the good and the bad - we rejoice, pray, and give thanks.

And why does He want this? Because in doing this we declare that in spite of what things may look like on the surface, the enemy has already lost, and Jesus has won. And this is something we know to be true from Scripture, and it's something we've seen in our lives and the lives of those around us before. 

So praise the Lord! It is amazing to get to partner with things Jesus is doing in ways that rattle the enemy. It's awesome that he's mad. And ultimately there is nothing he can do because even to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

So please join us in rejoicing that the Lord has won, and pray for us while we are on the front lines in Guatemala, and give thanks that He is extending the opportunity to us to partner with what He is doing.

Jesus is on the move!