The Purah Factor

"If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp" (Judges 7:11). For seven years the Children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord. For seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Bondage to the Midianites was so terrible they held up in shelters made in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. In absolute desperation they began to cry out to God. He heard their prayers and sent a man to deliver them from their oppression. The man he choose was an unknown farmer named Gideon. An angel sent from the Lord showed up and called Gideon "Mighty Warrior" which was by any means a real stretch of characterization from Gideon's perspective. Gideon is not the Lone Ranger in this experience. We all can relate to his insecurity concerning an assignment from God. To add to his bewilderment the Lord reduced his troop size from 22,000 to 300 men. The Lord left no doubt where the victory would come from. Because Gideon was not convinced of victory in this battle God did a couple of things to help ease his anxiety. He told Gideon to go to the enemy camp and listen to what their soldiers were saying. What Gideon will hear will be an encouragement to him. Naturally Gideon is terrified by this idea. Thus the Lord takes another step and sends a trusted friend and soldier named Purah with him. Purah was a trusted person that Gideon could confide in. Purah would prove to be the needed witness of what Gideon would hear the Midianites say. He would be the second witness to what they hear and report to the troops. Several things stand out about Purah. He was older than Gideon. He was more experienced. He was loyal. And He was comfortable with Gideon taking all the credit. Purah was willing to turn success into a legacy to Gideon instead of a monument to himself. We all need "Purahs" in our lives. We need people who will take risks and who can be used by God to bring our faith up to a level of being able to do mighty things in God's Kingdom. Has God called you to such an assignment? Perhaps He has also placed a "Purah" in your life to encourage you. Maybe He is calling you to be a "Purah" in someones life. Don't miss His opportunity to be a "Purah" to another. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Our Glorious Future

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). The bumper sticker read "Remember who you wanted to be." A lot of people never come to a realization of who they wanted to be. Should you go back and examine your childhood dreams, are you where you dreamed of being? Many people head off to college without any idea what they want to be. They may change majors several times in their college career and still not know what they want to do or be when they graduate. If that describes you don't despair, there is something better than your dreams, there is God's dream for you. God alone knows the plans He has for us. No false prophet can know the mind of God concerning anything. Jeremiah ministered in a day when false prophets were rampant. These false dreamers were prophesying a false peace and bogus deliverance. They were predicting the impossible and proclaiming a groundless hope. Those of their audience were confident they were hearing the truth. God told the Israelites judgment was coming and could not be avoided. The Israelites laughed at God threats, confident they were hearing truth from those who spoke only lies. False prophets flatter people in their sins, because they love to be flattered. A charlatan may have a golden tongue, but the fruit of his words will be bitter indeed. False prophets and their deceived listeners do a demonic dance, each flatters the other for their own purposes. The end result, rather than deliverance, is slavery for the false prophet and their deceived followers. As humans we often lack knowledge. How common it is to not even know our own minds. The Lord is never uncertain of anything. How often in our lack of knowledge do we believe the Lord is against us? The fact is "If God be for us, who can be against us"? God always approaches His children in mercy and grace. Even His correction is done out of love, "For who the Lord loves he chastens." No where in the Bible does God say "Seek Me in vain." Those who die and go the an eternal hell do so "Because they have not listened to my words; I called but they refused." On the other hand, God has a divine plan, and He knows exactly what He wants us to be and do. Every gift and talent we possess was given by Him, and its a shame when we don't live the life He has for us. If you don't know what you are destined for, ask the Lord, He knows and He will be more than happy to reveal His plan to you. We have a glorious future, He said so, for He's in charge of it. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Father Still Knows Best

The will of God is always an interesting subject. Any seminar on the will of God will draw a crowd. I had a friend in college who was praying about who he would marry, he told the Lord he wanted to know as soon as possible. He said if God would show him who his life's partner would be, he thought he could figure the rest out on his own. I believe he and his wife have learned a great deal since those days. The following verse tells us a great deal about the will of God. "This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”- Isaiah 48:17. According to this verse the Lord unfolds His will to us as we walk with Him. I believe the Word of God is the will of God. The Lord has revealed much of what He wants us to know through the Word. I don't have a specific verse telling me which car to purchase. However, I have principles in the Scriptures that give me direction. A principles would be "Would this decision cause my brother to stumble?" Can I afford it? Do I really need this much vehicle? What do godly counselors say about this decision? Does my family approve? etc. Much of God's will is set out for us each day. We get up in the morning, go through our routine of getting ready for work, eating, reading the Word, driving (hopefully) like a Christian on the way to work. While at work we are to do our assigned tasks as unto the Lord. We are to submit to authority with a right attitude. We are to make time for the Lord, family, sleep, others, ministry, etc. We know all these things are to be done in a balanced way. As we are walking with the Lord He will direct our steps, open doors of opportunity and give us peace concerning decisions we make. In time you will begin to sense when the Lord is active in a situation. I always ask the Lord for wisdom at the beginning of the day and through out the day as I worship, walk with and work for Him. As we desire God's best, He will give us His best. Many times He will have us wait for His best. I have noticed the Devil often offers his best first. Look at all he offered our Lord in the wilderness temptations. However Jesus knew the cross would precede His crown, and He choose His Fathers best. God makes no mistakes, He is the Master Teacher and He has promised to teach us what is best for us as we commune with Him. Like the name of an old T.V. show, Father still knows best. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.