How to deal with real crisis

If you mishear GOD (yet didn't)

Hi overcomer,

We need REAL answers to our perilous times don't we?

For instance like when a man stabs you.

Which honestly, can be grim.

Case in point...

One day one of our neighbours rushed over. He begged us for an answer on behalf of his sister...

She'd phoned him in a dreadful state. Apparently the police had locked up her son because he'd stabbed a man to death.

And,

Because my neighbour was now a Christian (recently saved)...

She wanted to know if God could 'do anything' to get him released.

So in turn...

Our neighbour asked me if GOD would set him free.

I replied,

“It depends. Invite your sister over to talk.”

So later at her brothers, we sat down together with her.

And she explained best she could what had happened...

That a man with a knife had jumped her son,

Then as he defended himself... In the ensuing struggle the attacker fell onto his own sharp knife. And died, dead on the spot.

Very sad.

However the woman's BIG question to me was...

"Will God allow my son to be sent to prison for murder/manslaughter if he was innocent and it was pure self defence?

If so that's not fair is it?

My son promised me he's innocent and I believe him. This is all so out of character. He's so quiet and wouldn't hurt a fly."

So I answered...

"We will go and pray. If your son is innocent and it was purely self defence then yes, I believe God will step in for you both. That is His nature.

I think he would defend and acquit him because He is just.

However, at this stage I don't know what He will do for your son.

So please, first let me us go and pray.

I will get back to you soon"

So later that day,

I climbed to the very top of a favourite hill I like to go if I need to be alone and seek the LORD. A place where you get answers.

I began to pray like this...

"Please LORD, please don't let this man be sent to prison if he is innocent. You are the JUST JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH.

Will not the judge of all the earth do right?

(Genesis 18:25 NKJV)

If he is innocent... please be merciful.

Step in Father.

Overrule all earthly judges in his case and set him free in Jesus Name!"

Amen."

And of course I really grilled the LORD to let me know if the son was innocent or not. This was important. I didn't want to botch things up!

So,

The LORD told me straight.

"Yes, he is innocent. It's just as his mum says."

Me...

"Okay then LORD as you know all things...

Will he be acquitted? Will he be imprisoned for this death?"

The LORD answered again...

"Yes, he will be acquitted. He will not serve a prison sentence."

"Wow! Thank you Jesus."

So I came back down from the hilltop.

And told my neighbour and his sister not to worry because...

"The LORD has told me. 'The son will be set free. He will not serve a prison sentence. All will be well."

Comforting for sure.

Yet only words.

Anyway,

10 days later, we get the news...

The son was convicted as guilty.

My neighbour was very angry.

Apparently...

As a new Christian he had told all the extended family that his sisters son 'was innocent'. And told them that because 'GOD is just' the LORD would set him free... and they all believed him.

Even though they were not believers, they were willing to believe him just this once. After all maybe this God is real after all?

Now though he'd been convicted.

His self defence plea rejected.

Gut-wrenching.

I was shocked too.

So immediately,

I went back up the hill. I wanted to know why I had got it so wrong.

However,

Up there in the cold evening…

The LORD spoke as clear as a bell and corrected me.

He said...

"YOUR NEIGHBOURS WIFE has been to the Tarot Card readers.

That's why a sentence has gone forth against the sisters son... even though he is innocent. I will not help them because they have gone there"

"Can it be corrected LORD?" I asked.

"Yes, but hurry."

So off I went back to my neighbour...

I didn't tell him what the LORD had shown me though.

Only that he needed to call EVERYONE together.

I explained the whole extended family MUST COME to his house. If they did, then the LORD would speak to them all.

I told my neighbour that the LORD had shown me what was wrong. How to fix it too, but they all needed to be there.

So that Sunday afternoon...

The whole family arrived in our neighbours house.

Not happy.

Anti-GOD actually because the son had been convicted.

Not impressed by Jesus one bit.

Anyhow,

I told them all that the LORD had shown me.

That...

Yes,

The son was innocent.

God is just.

And also that He wanted to intervene and set him free...

BUT then.

Since we'd all been praying and believing God for his release I said...

“Up on the hill, when I asked the Lord what was wrong, he told me SOMEONE HERE in this room...

HAS DONE SOMETHING VERY BAD.

This person has gone to the Tarot Card reader to ask for help from them instead of believing what God already promised us all… that the son would be set free.

Honestly folks...

That's like asking the devil for help, instead of GOD!

So because you have done this...

The LORD refuses to help.”

They went very quiet.

And next my neighbour got very upset...

Even though he was only a new Christian. He knew this was bad news. Bad news for his sister. Bad news for her son.

He would go to prison for years.

"Who is it Dave. Who has done this? Did the LORD tell you who it is?"

I nodded yes, but kept my mouth shut.

I waited. But no one owned up.

Silence.

So I told them.

I pointed to someone saying...

"It's you [neighbours wife] isn't it?

You have been calling the Tarot readers to find out what would happen in the future of this young man. To see if he would be set free. Even though the LORD already told you He would set this man free.

You refused to believe Him by doing this."

When I said this...

There was total uproar in that living room!

My neighbour was white hot LIVID!

He started screaming at his wife. She burst into tears, pleading him to forgive her. Everyone started shouting at her.

His sister was sobbing too.

Family social carnage.

Anyway,

When everything calmed down my neighbour's sister asked...

"Is there anything we can do to put this right with the LORD Dave?"

I said yes...

"REPENT.

[Neighbours wife] you must repent first.

Confess out loud what you did to the LORD. He will forgive you. Promise Him you will never ever go back to the Tarot Card readers again.

And to be on the safe side…

Everyone here needs to repent too.

Pray and confess your sins,

Specifically, if any of you are involved in any occult activities you must repent now. No more tarot cards, Ouija boards, witchcraft, magic etc.

Because I promise...

If you don't repent, the LORD won't rescue this young man from a lengthy prison term. He'll be locked away for many years.

And even though he's innocent.

So.

The LORD says, it is up to you.

It's your choice.

Choose Him or choose the devil to help you.

But you can't have both."

And so...

Everyone in the room agreed to repent.

And we began to pray...

Everyone, out loud asked the LORD to forgive them.

Humble repentance is so valuable.

And the upshot of it all?

Two weeks later at an appeal hearing, the son was fully ACQUITTED!

Sent back home to his mum.

She of course was delirious with joy.

Hallelujah :)

What a lovely Jesus eh!

Best of all though…

God was vindicated in His righteous judgement.

Plus...

My neighbour saw up close and personal how Jesus deals with real life, daily struggles. Everyone in those families know Jesus loves them now.

They know He is...

The only GOD willing to come to their rescue... right into their life and death pain and circumstances... with limitless power.

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?"

Jeremiah 32:27 ESV

No LORD.

Nothing is too hard for you at all.

(Sorry for not trusting you more).

Now finally,

As for you precious one.

Your Defender can do anything. This is the same GOD,

The Great Judge who will overrule on your behalf...

"My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart."

Psalm 7:10 NKJV

He will defend you.

So ask.

Bless you.

Dave.

PS After all this drama, our neighbours wife blossomed into such a strong woman of GOD.

Jesus always has the victory :)