Plagued By Doubt

John the Baptist in Prison

John the Baptist came on the scene and was a preacher full of the Spirit. Isaiah had prophesied of John that he would be the messenger that preceded the coming Messiah. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Sure enough… that was John. He resided in the regions all around the Jordan River preaching the baptism of repentance.

When the Pharisees sent messengers to ask John who he was, he quoted Scripture from the book of Isaiah. “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isa 40:3)

Those scholars of the Old Testament would have recognized that passage and knew he identified himself as the forerunner of Christ who would bear witness of Him.

When Jesus came on the scene, He came to John for baptism. John knew it was Him and immediately identified Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God told John that the coming Messiah would be revealed by a dove descending out of heaven and landing and remaining on Him. The day John baptized Jesus he witnessed this as Jesus came up out of the water. There was no doubt that Jesus was the Messiah.

Fast forward to John the Baptist being thrown into prison. He knew Herod the tetrarch was about to have him beheaded.

Jesus was out ministering, and John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the Coming One, or should they look for another. Even after John had seen visual confirmation, something caused a momentary doubt.

Jesus responded to John in the same way he had responded to the Pharisees when they questioned his identity. He quoted Scripture from the book of Isaiah. (Isa 29:18-19 & Isa 35:5-6)

“Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Luke 7:22)

John was very familiar with the prophecies of Isaiah for they also prophesied of John himself. And John’s father Zacharias, was a priest in good standing with God. They knew the Word.

Sometimes our faith can be plagued by momentary doubts. This is the time to take these concerns to the Lord just as John did.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

When expectations are disappointed, be honest with God. He can handle our doubts. John was in prison facing a horrible death, after devoting his entire life to God’s work. His confusion is understandable. But Jesus put it to rest.

Jesus said, “Assuredly I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”

Psalm 94:19 (NLT) When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Thank You Lord.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Anger Issues

Eleven days ago, I received a text message that made me very angry, and I threw my cell phone across the room. I did not immediately go to pick it up. I left the room and it laid on the floor for a while before I returned. When I picked up my phone, immediately a feeling washed over me, and I felt like I wanted to fling it across the room again. Instead, I quickly walked over and put it on the charger to get it out of my hands. Thankfully it was not damaged from being hurled in anger to begin with.

I have been contemplating this act of aggression for days now, and what must be going on in my heart that caused me to react in such a manner that surprised even me.

I ordered a CD by a Christian teacher called Understanding Anger. It was somewhat useful but still did not bring me the breakthrough deliverance I was hoping for.

One thing I did get out of his teaching was the passage of Scripture where the apostle Paul says not to let the sun go down on your wrath.

Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV) Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

He said not letting the sun go down just means that you are not ignoring the fact that there is an issue causing you anger but is not being dealt with. It does not mean literally when the sun go down, just that it is being dealt with in the Spirit realm to bring some kind of resolution. Trying to pretend the dilemma does not exist is only doing harm to yourself. This is why I reacted by throwing my phone across the room. The text message that made me angry is the result of unresolved issues I have refused to deal with, because I don’t really know how to deal with it without offending everyone involved.

Unresolved anger issues give the devil a foothold into the door of our hearts. When we let the devil ride, he’ll want to drive. I must put him out by inviting God into my situation. CeCe Winans sings a song that God never lost a battle, and He never will.

The apostle Paul said of his dilemma, “I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

I’m reminded of a song by Donald Lawrence called Deliver Me. Here are some of the lyrics.

Starting here, starting now

The things that hurt you in the past

Won't control your future

Starting now, this is a new day

This is your Exodus; you are officially released.

This is my Exodus, thank You Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to the thing that has been controlling me in a destructive way. I commit the dilemma and my anger that has resulted from it to Your hands. I invite You into my situation and pray for the wisdom I so desperately need to bring resolution. I know You are faithful and You know my heart better than anyone. I acknowledge my transgressions, but I also believe my Savior Christ Jesus has cleansed me thoroughly with His blood, and all my sins in the past, present and future were laid at His feet when He hung on that cross. I submit to Your correction as You sanctify me fully little by little and day by day. This is my Exodus from bondage. Never let me wonder from Your grace that is greater than my sin. You never lost a battle, and You never will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

The Call to Ministry

 

The prophet Jeremiah (son of Hilkiah) was called by God, ordained by God, and sanctified by God as a prophet to the nations. The Lord put His words in the mouth of Jeremiah to rebuke a nation of people that had forsaken Him.

The Lord promised Jeremiah that the people who fought against him would not prevail because the Lord would deliver him (see Jeremiah 1). Jeremiah’s ministry was extremely unpopular. Even those close to him persecuted him and he became offended with God and accused Him of deception.

Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NET) Lord, you coerced me into being a prophet, and I allowed You to do it. You overcame my resistance and prevailed over me. Now I have become a constant laughingstock. Everyone ridicules me. For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, “Violence and destruction are coming!” This message from the Lord has made me an object of continual insults and derision. Sometimes I think, “I will make no mention of His message. I will not speak as His messenger anymore.” But then His message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.

I can relate. His word is in my heart like a raging California wildfire burning uncontrollably that cannot be contained. When Jeremiah tried to hold back his ministry, it burned on the inside until he had to let go and preach. Whatever God has called, ordained, and sanctified us to do will always have a compelling reason to keep us interested.

God called the prophet Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh but Jonah decided to flee in the opposite direction to Tarshish instead. The Lord sent a storm that rocked the boat so badly that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a whale and was in his belly for three days and nights until Jonah’s earnest prayer was to be released from the deep pit of darkness that ravaged his soul. The Lord spoke to the whale and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah completed a three-day journey to Nineveh in one day, and preached the word God spoke to them.

Jesus said, “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

When I asked the Lord to let me be a singer He said, “I’m sorry Daddy can’t make you a singer. Since you were a little girl I have orchestrated your life (people you met, teachers you had, things that interested you) were molding and shaping you for what I called you to do. If I let you sing, you will destroy all of that.”

This is why Jeremiah sensed a wildfire burning in his soul. The Lord said, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.”

Psalm 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given to every believer so we can edify and help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NLT) To one person the Holy Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Recently, I received a reality check in my spirit about why I do what I do (blogging, teaching, etc). Is it for selfish ambition, or for the glory of God? Why do I judge others by the little bit God is doing through me, compared to the greatness He is doing through them? I am reminded of the words of John the Baptist, “He must increase but I must decrease.” And after I have done all those things which I have been called to do I must say, “Count me an unprofitable servant just doing what God called me to do.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His calling on your life. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Kids Playing Church

Gospel artist, Shirley Caesar shared a story about a time when she was 12 years old. She, her sister, and brother were playing church on the back porch of their house. They would impersonate folks they saw worshiping at their church on Sundays. Shirley and her sister were the congregation, and their brother was the pastor.

Her brother (pretending to lead a praise) said, “I want you to jump up and down three times and shout Jesus.” She jumped up and down two times, but on that third time, she could not sit back down. The Holy Spirit overwhelmed her, and she began giving God a serious praise. She said it was like fire shut up in her bones.

Shirley’s sister ran into the house and told their mother that Shirley Ann was outside playing with the Lord. When their mother came to the back door, she saw Shirley Caesar praising God and rejoicing in the Spirit all over the back yard with tears streaming down her face.

She knew… Shirley was not playing church, she was caught up in a true spirit of praise that had just burst forth in their back yard.

There is something powerful about the name of Jesus. When her brother told them to jump up and down three times and shout His name, the consequence of just saying the name Jesus released power and an unexpected praise.

Philippians 2:9-11 God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Shirley said during this age in her life she was rebellious at home, disobedient, refusing to do chores, and talking back to her mother. I have a feeling that Shirley Caesar’s praying mother had already been petitioning God about Shirley’s rebelliousness, and this sudden out burst of praise and worship was a response to those prayers.

It’s hard to come in contact with Jesus and remain the same. (Quote from Shirley Caesar)

Psalm 97:5 (NKJV) The mountains (and hearts) melt like wax at the presence of the LORD.

Yours truly,

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

My Perception of People -- Part 2

TRASH BAGS FOR SMALL CANS

SOUL-SEARCHING...

Yesterday morning I noticed someone had put something very sticky in the container where I keep the grocery bags from trips to the supermarket. The sticky substance got all over a bunch of the other bags. I re-use these grocery bags in the small trash cans through out the house and now that they’re all sticky, they're completely unacceptable.

I became cynical about the person who may have caused this mess. I think I tend to hold people to a higher standard than they hold themselves. I’m quite sure I’m the only one in the house who cares diddly-squat about sticky grocery bags.

Anyway, I threw them all in the garbage and ordered small trash can liners through Amazon to replace them.

Holding people to a higher standard than they truly are can be disappointing because people will never meet my over zealous expectations of them. What's a girl to do?

I need to accept the fact that I am different from others and give others permission to be different from me. I will love them for who they are, while I continue to be the absolutely wonderful and awesome person that I've become.😇

So... I ordered these lovely purple trash bags which I'll enjoy much more than grocery store bags. Garbage day just got a little better. All's well that ends well.

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves that we see in them. (Quote by Thomas Merton)

Link to My Perception of People -- Part 1

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2021/08/my-perception-of-people.html

Go in peace and be yourself.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Hopes and Dreams Unfulfilled

 

Why does God seem to dangle carrots in my face (my hopes and dreams) and keep them just beyond my reach? It hurts to have hope when you’ve been deeply disappointed… trying to get up again and again after you’ve fallen really hard.

Pastor Steven Furtick said to sit with Jesus for a little while and let the Holy Spirit show you how things should be. Don’t depend on what you see with your eyes, he said, but let the Spirit enlighten you.

When Jesus was twelve years old, His family went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. When the days were finished, and as they returned to Nazareth, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. But Joseph and His mother did not know it; and assuming He was in the crowd, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when His parents saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And Jesus said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they didn’t understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went back home with them to Nazareth, and was subject to them. (Luke 2)

Twelve-year-old Jesus said to His mother, “I thought you knew I must be about My Father’s business.” He had a hunger for it, and lost track of time for three days. Joseph and Mary took Jesus out of the temple and back to Nazareth and we hear nothing else about Him for 18 more years. I wonder if twelve-year-old Jesus was seeing a dangling carrot.

Sometimes I feel in bondage to my calling because I hunger for it, but it never seems to get off the ground. I am constantly being taken back to Nazareth (so to speak). I must work and pay my bills and I cannot do both ministry and a full time job. When I’m working my mind is bombarded with many other things and I cannot focus on writing and studying.

My dangling carrot could be my own selfish ambition. Maybe it’s all about me instead of Jesus. The purpose of a dangling carrot is to keep you under the mastery of whatever your idol is… if hopes and dreams are your idol.

During the 18 years of silence, the Bible says Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and the favor of God. He wasn’t ready at age 12, and apparently I’m not ready either.

Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. He or she who comes to Me shall never hunger, and they will never thirst.”

Let me sit with Jesus a little while longer as Pastor Furtick suggested, so the bread of life can feed me till I want no more.

Pray for me. 🙏

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove