Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
I was listening to an interview with Carlos Cash Luna, pastor of Iglesia Casa de Dios in Guatemala. He and his wife, Sonia Luna, founded Casa de Dios, a Christian church in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on September 11, 1994. It is the largest and fastest growing church in Guatemala, with over 25,000 attendees.
The interview was going well until the north American minister leading the interview wanted to know the reason for the tremendous success of church growth and numerous amount of miracles reported coming out of this incredible work of God. Of course, there had to be a formula that anyone could follow and get the same results. This was the way the questioning was headed. What are the five steps to building a colossal monument of Christian representation that we and God could be proud of?
I could see the discomfort pastor Luna was having with the way the interview was headed. He responded as the Proverb says, with a soft answer, and with grace. “When I am asked these questions, no one ever likes the answer because the answer is too simple.” Pastor Luna stated. He began to minister from Ex.14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
The pastor said, and I am paraphrasing because my spirit caught what he was saying, “When we are in the same situation as the children of Israel, a place of no return. The sea blocking our way forward and the enemy’s army chasing us into the sea to destroy us, there is nothing that can be done but do what Moses did and that was to raise his hands to God and wait for the miracle to take place.
The interview was going well until the north American minister leading the interview wanted to know the reason for the tremendous success of church growth and numerous amount of miracles reported coming out of this incredible work of God. Of course, there had to be a formula that anyone could follow and get the same results. This was the way the questioning was headed. What are the five steps to building a colossal monument of Christian representation that we and God could be proud of?
I could see the discomfort pastor Luna was having with the way the interview was headed. He responded as the Proverb says, with a soft answer, and with grace. “When I am asked these questions, no one ever likes the answer because the answer is too simple.” Pastor Luna stated. He began to minister from Ex.14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
The pastor said, and I am paraphrasing because my spirit caught what he was saying, “When we are in the same situation as the children of Israel, a place of no return. The sea blocking our way forward and the enemy’s army chasing us into the sea to destroy us, there is nothing that can be done but do what Moses did and that was to raise his hands to God and wait for the miracle to take place.
In our church, when we find ourselves in that place of an impossible situation, that is what we do. We stand there and raise our hands and wait for the miracle needed to take place – and it does. That is the secret to our church growth and all the miracles taking place.” Psalm 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God.
The interviewer seemed suspicious with the answer and said to the effect, “Come on, that’s it, there must be more?” Pastor Luna simply said, “As I said, most people do not like my answer for the reason for our growth because the answer is too simple.” Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Too simple, raise your hands. Pastor Cash Luna says that miracles could happen more often but people complicate blessings. I had caught what the pastor was saying and realised that we have been complicating a lot of what we do for God in the name of Christianity.
Too simple, raise your hands. Pastor Cash Luna says that miracles could happen more often but people complicate blessings. I had caught what the pastor was saying and realised that we have been complicating a lot of what we do for God in the name of Christianity.
Paul was sitting blind and shaken up after his encounter on the road to Damascus, waiting for his prayers to be answered and maybe wondering if his prayers would be answered. He had no choice but to sit there and raise his hands to God and hopefully get delivered. Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou came, hath sent me, that thou might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Paul was at the end of himself for those three days. He had followed the law of God religiously. Now, during his quiet and desperate time of blindness, he found out that he had been blind to the word that spoke of Christ. He realised he had been persecuting the Church that was preaching Christ crucified and salvation through the cross.
What an awakening to find out that he was wrong in his belief, but it came to him when he needed a miracle. He had the sea before him and the army coming after him, and all he could do was raise his hands in an act of faith that said, “I cannot do anything of myself, help Lord.” John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Paul was at the end of himself for those three days. He had followed the law of God religiously. Now, during his quiet and desperate time of blindness, he found out that he had been blind to the word that spoke of Christ. He realised he had been persecuting the Church that was preaching Christ crucified and salvation through the cross.
What an awakening to find out that he was wrong in his belief, but it came to him when he needed a miracle. He had the sea before him and the army coming after him, and all he could do was raise his hands in an act of faith that said, “I cannot do anything of myself, help Lord.” John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
How many of us are at the edge of the sea and the army’s of the enemy is crashing down on us, brandishing weapons, ready to destroy our trust, faith, and love of God? Do you need a miracle in your life right now? Perhaps the simple act of faith that pastor Cash Luna has expressed would be a balm to our lives and souls right now.
Right now, let us just take a moment and raise our hand to the only true and holy God who loves us and gave Himself for us. Where we are sitting or standing right now can be our sanctuary. We can lift up our hands to God and be at peace as we wait for our deliverance and miracle. Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
Right now, let us just take a moment and raise our hand to the only true and holy God who loves us and gave Himself for us. Where we are sitting or standing right now can be our sanctuary. We can lift up our hands to God and be at peace as we wait for our deliverance and miracle. Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
thank you