"John Wimber, the US pastor and pioneer of the Vineyard movement, had a huge influence on the church around the world.
He died at the age of sixty-three. Life had often been extremely difficult for him. He had many health problems and was broken-hearted that his eldest son, Chris, was dying at the same time as him.
He had been subject to an outrageous amount of criticism. I remember him once saying to me, ‘Notoriety is fun for a short time, but after that it is just hassle’. But perhaps what broke his heart more than anything was the fact that three of the men who were closest to him, whom he loved and treated as his sons, all fell into temptation and moral failure.
God used John Wimber in extraordinary ways, but he and his team faced many trials and temptations.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the passages today return to the subject of trials and temptations. This is how life is, and the Bible is not at all naïve about it. Usually, as we emerge from one battle, there is another one around the corner. This is the challenge of life.
Psalm 71:1-8
Take confidence in the Lord
This psalm is full of indications of difficulty and opposition. Yet through it all, the writer says, ‘From my birth I have relied on you’ (v.6). In the psalm we see three key aspects of what that reliance on God involves:
Prayer
Here is a prayer that you can pray: ‘I run for dear life to God … get me out of this mess’ (vv.1–2, MSG).
Trust
Once you have cried out for help and cast your burdens on the Lord, the next step is to hope in him with confidence (v.5). ‘You keep me going when times are tough ... I’ve hung on you’ (vv.5–6, MSG).
Praise
You can praise God before, during and after battles you face. ‘I’ll never run out of praise’ (v.8, MSG).
Lord, I praise you for your love, goodness and splendour. Thank you for the way you have rescued me and delivered me. Thank you that I can rely on you as I look to the future and the battles ahead."
1. Even with battles, You are there. Thank You for You are always available and ready to listen. May I always find hope in You to keep me going when times are tough.
2. It is another Bui Vien time for us. Leider the Pinoy friends are going home this coming weekend and it is yet again a season of goodbyes. But thank You, Lord, for the friendships made.
3. Thank You now for stronger legs due to a lot of walking. Thank You for keeping me safe this rainy season.
