Through The Ringer
By
Phil Scovell
Copyright (C) 1997/2003
By Phil Scovell
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction of the following is granted by the copyright holder,
Phil Scovell, if such reproduction is done in the spirit in which
it was given. It may not be reproduced and sold for financial
gain without written permission of the copyright holder: Phil
Scovell. Electronic formats may be distributed freely but this
copyright notice must remain with each copy and the text cannot
be altered in any way. For convenience, this copyright
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Phil Scovell
840 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, Colorado 80226-8017
Toll Free: 888-936-0001
Voice: 303-936-2188
Fax: 303-936-1841
Email: Phil@RedWhiteAndBlue.ORG
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THROUGH THE RINGER
By
Phil Scovell
Although I was born in 1952, I can still remember watching
Mom squeezing newly washed clothes through the hand cranked
ringer. They pealed from the rollers flattened, squashed,
almost unrecognizable, and then hung out to dry. Not much ever
survived the ringer except the clothes. Hence the cliche:
"Through the ringer."
Nearly everyone has faced impossible situations and
confessed: "I've really been through the ringer." We mean, of
course, we have been pressed, squeezed, pounded, flattened,
hammered, mashed, pressed, steam rolled, dumped on, squashed,
buried, or pulverized by something which has demanded a high
price to endure. Sometimes, if negotiated successfully, we may
brag of our accomplishments, but generally we weep. Often we
fumble for an explanation to save face, dodge questions, or to
soothe emotions. When all else fails, we plug in the old
standby:
And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
This is perhaps the most misunderstood, certainly the most
misinterpreted, verse in all the Bible. Anything and everything
can be easily, and conveniently dumped into the black hole of
Romans 8:28 and never seen or heard from again. Since God has
failed to answer prayer, change circumstances, or honor His Word,
the quoting of it saves face. Such failure can be devastating,
even destructive, especially to the Christian who claims to be
walking in the Spirit. We, of all people, must have answers
because we are led of the Holy Spirit. What if there simply
isn't any answer?
I know a pastor who had recently taken over a self
supporting church that had a number of past problems. For months
the pastor, along with the remaining leadership, had to deal with
a multiplicity of difficulties. People began to leave because of
both the new and old pastors. Relocation became necessary
because the membership was dwindling and the landlord wanted to
raise the rent. Personal problems began to make themselves known
in people's own lives. A strong stand was taken on the authority
of God's eternal Word which, of course, divided some and drew
others. Demonic forces were released against the church through
a member involved in the occult and rebellion began to be
manifested in segments of the Body. Finally, the pastor decided
to terminate his ministry and release the church.
For their final Sunday together, the pastor spoke from
Romans 8:28 and explained how "all things work together for
good." This promise, he said, is not for just any Christian but
rather for those walking in the Spirit through prayer, according
to the two prier verses, (Romans 8:26-27). Additionally, "and we
know that all things work together" targets those Christians
faithful in harmonizing their prayers with that of the
Holy Spirit as he "makes intercession for the saints according to
the will of God." If we are careful to examine Romans 8 in
context, we discover that "There is now therefore no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but
after the Spirit. Thus, those walking in the Spirit and taking
up partnership with the intercessory prayers of the Holy Spirit,
will not experience condemnation but will "know," see with
spiritual vision, that "all things" can, and will be, worked
together by God for their benefit. This includes, of course,
things good or bad, right or wrong, holy or unholy. This pastor
was not suggesting, however, that God authors the bad - see James
1:12-17 - but will instead incorporate "all things" for the
benefit of His own people. In another words, what the Devil
means for evil, God will mean for good. Do not be concerned with
how flat, how pulverized, how squeezed you may be. Wait upon the
Lord through the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit in
prayer, and as you are hung out to dry, remember the promise of
Romans 8:28.
This particular pastor is totally blind with three children,
all who see normally, and has been married for seventeen years.
His wife is also totally blind. He now has no personal income,
feels a sense of defeat and rejection, deep concern for his
family, an awareness of loss and personal failure, and even
wonders if he will ever be used by the Lord again. Yet he knows
that Romans 8:28 is applicable to those who walk by faith and are
submitted to the Heavenly Father who promises to work all things
together for their benefit. How do I know he, this pastor,
believes this? I am that pastor.
Although my wife and I have wept buckets of tears and
struggled with turbulent emotions, we "know," see with
supernatural vision, that God has a plan. The pain is real, the
guilt is real, and the fear is real and so is God. If you are
suffering as we are at this very moment, be refreshed by taking
up partnership with the Holy Spirit in prayer. Cry the tears of
failure, experience the crushing devastation of the unknown,
endure the bone splintering pain of rejection, but believe God.
He will never leave or forsake you. If you will thus submit to
the promise, and resultant power, of Romans 8:28, the Devil will
confess, as you are put through the ringer, "He looks more like
Jesus now than before!"
End Of Document
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