The Cause Beneath the Symptom

When I go to the doctor with an ailment, she will always ask first about my symptoms because it is from these symptoms and the subsequent examination that a diagnosis will come. She asks about my symptoms, sympathizes with my symptoms, and may even offer remedy for my symptoms, but she always looks for the deeper cause of my symptoms because the symptoms only manifest openly an unknown problem.

In 2007 into 2008 I had just come through a hard divorce, relocation, and other major disappointments seemed to pile up on me. That’s never easy spiritually or emotionally. I was hurt; feelings rejected, and remember crying myself to sleep for months on end. I was manifesting some alarming symptoms in my body, as well.  It was extremely hard for me to stay awake. I would often shut down mid sentence and act as if nothing had happened, almost like narcolepsy.  I found it very hard to drive without falling asleep. Sometimes I would nod off at stop lights. One day I rolled my car into the car in front of me when I fell asleep and took my foot off the brake pedal. Another time I fell asleep while driving and wrecked my car and damaged several others along the side of the road. Luckily no one was hurt. If I went on the freeway, I would have to stop at every rest area and nap, sometimes several hours at a time to just make it to the next rest area. It became hard to walk. At times I had no energy to do normal tasks and people were confused by my lack of focus and seeming lack of participation. When I missed my grandson’s third birthday party because of exhaustion, I decided to check myself in to the hospital to see what the matter was.

When I entered the hospital it was immediately evident that something was terribly wrong. My complete blood count (CBC) was so low they wondered how I was even alive. Over the next week I underwent blood transfusions and many tests and procedures to try and determine the unknown cause of my symptoms. I knew that on the last day of my stay when they took a bone marrow sample that I wasn’t suffering from a garden variety illness. As they took the sample from my hip, I knew I was wrestling an angel, and not a God sent one at that. An improved diet and Geritol were not going to fix this severe anemia.

After two weeks of waiting I was called to the local cancer center. The doctor told me the good news was that I didn’t have cancer. The bad news was that I had a bone marrow disease that was a lot like cancer. Myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow, in which the marrow is replaced by scar (fibrous) tissue.  This makes the marrow unable to produce blood normally. So after a trip to the regional medical center 90 miles away where I was educated as to the treatment of my disease, I began mentally preparing for a year of my life in chaos:. a move to live near the regional medical center, Chemotherapy, blood marrow transplant, extended hospital stay, and convalescing within a minimum distance from the medical center in case of complications afterwards.

I returned home from that meeting with a heavy heart. With other health concerns, I wasn’t sure I would make it through the process. So for the next four months I received weekly blood transfusions at the local cancer center waiting for a call from the regional center that they were ready to begin the treatment process.  In the middle of this scenario, I married again. Jan was such a help to me during this time and since, and spoke to me prophetically that God was going to heal me and assured me I was not going to die. There were many days, though, that I wasn’t quite as sure.

The blood transfusions were scheduled a week apart. I remember waking up on the mornings of my appointments and crying because I felt so weak. I was literally bleeding to death without a sign of it on the outside. No bullet holes, no exit wounds, no gashes, no gore.  Just not enough blood being produced by my fibrous marrow. Those were dark mornings. I could feel death encroaching on my space.

Just days before the regional center called to set an appointment to begin the marrow typing and matching segment of treatment, the pharmacologist at the local cancer center convinced me, after several previous attempts, to discontinue a medication I had been taking for several years.  It was an astronomically high chance that the medication had brought on the Myelofibrosis, so I had been reluctant to drop a medication that had worked so well for what it was prescribed for.  Within a month of discontinuing the medication, my blood count was consistently at normal levels and continues to this day. God used John, the pharmacologist, to go beneath the diagnosis to find the true cause.

Even though the cause was discovered and the disease was dismissed, the effects of the disease lingered. Although most of the symptoms went away there were still weaknesses that I had to overcome. Over time the bulk of those weaknesses are a distant memory. Now I’d like to look at my story from a spiritual standpoint.

Our society is full of symptoms: broken marriages, moral decay, abortion, and oppression of women to name just a few. What we see is manifested at the top level; they are what our society is known for.  And we spend a lot of time, money, energy, and facebook posts sympathizing with or opposing, and offering condemnation or remedy for what we call the ills of society. Much like my physical symptoms of exhaustion and disorientation exhibited in and through my body, plus the ever escalating crises associated with it, our society is a mess and doesn’t realize why.

At a level deeper we have disease or dis-ease.  Paul’s carefully  catalogs these dis-eases in his epistles to the Galatians,  using names like adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, and revellings (Gal 5:19-21). He adds a few more in other epistles. Even though some of these diseases may have the same names as some of the associated symptoms, they are indeed harbored at a deeper level.  Myelofibrosis was the disease in my life that was responsible for the symptoms. It was at a deeper level, a level that only manifested in my body. It’s very important that we do not confuse the symptoms and the underlying diseases contributing to them or we spend too much energy on the symptoms and not the diseases behind them.

God identified and dealt with the underlying cause of our disease: Sin. This is different from the sins, or diseases. Sin is the cause and can only be dealt with the Remedy, Jesus Christ.  We need the power of His blood as much as I needed the power in the transfusions I received. The cause of my disease of Myelofibrosis was a pharmacological one. Once that cause was dealt with things began to change.  The root cause was removed and within a very short time my blood count returned to normal.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, the Sin in our lives is dealt with. It is given the fatal blow which opens the door for regeneration at our deepest level, the spirit. We are given a new “cause.” Our new cause, administered by the Holy Spirit, is life giving and life affirming. The former cause was death.

Our problems, as Christians, seem to lie in the middle level of our makeup, the soul realm. Even though Sin has been dealt with, we still have to deal with the sins that continue to linger on for a season. God doesn’t expect us to do this by ourselves, because we can’t. He does, however, expect us to cooperate with Him and count those sins as dead and come under the tutelage of the new cause. The Holy Spirit that regenerates us is the same Spirit that sanctifies us. Just as we asked God to initially forgive us and we repented of our Sin, so we must continue to ask forgiveness and continue to repent for our sins. The Holy Spirit will help us to recognize them for what they are (conviction) and help us to turn from them (repentance). This brings forgiveness, and a new resolve to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” (sanctifying grace) (Heb 12:1). Thus we do gain liberty, that is, are set free from the power of sin, from glory to glory, as Paul states in  2 Corinthians 3:17-18: “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” We must never think that His prevenient grace (that draws men to God even before their need is realized) is a onetime drawing to Himself.  We are transformed from glory to glory because He draws us from glory to glory, continually, perpetually.

So in examining the symptoms in your own life or of those around us, we must first determine the cause that’s fueling their symptoms. If they are not saved, their cause will keep leading them to dis-ease until they yield to God’s prevenient grace and come to Him. If they are saved, they have a new cause, but may still be struggling with dis-ease as they grow in maturity.  In either case, your friendship, conversation, kindness, love, and patience is an agent of that grace that will help to draw them to a first surrender or subsequent surrender. Don’t just look at the symptoms. God digs deeper with us and we must dig deeper with others with a kind and loving concern.

Prophetic Word for 2014

I was given a prophetic word for a friend on New Year’s day and later realized it was specifically for her, but also equally applicable to the body of Christ.  So what I offer here is an expanded form of that specific word for those in the greater body who would receive it. Eat what applies and be blessed.

Read for your selves 1 Samuel chapter 17, the story of David and Goliath and then consider with me the following facets of the story and the applications we can make.

Verses 1-11 There was a battle going on between the Philistines and the armies of Israel and the strongman of the enemy was calling the shots. He was big, he was bad, and he was armored, adorned, and arrogant. He brought dismay and fear to Saul and his armies.

                What battles is your church fighting? What’s happening in your city and your country? For different groups of believers in different parts of the world the battles are different. For many the battle is physical persecution. We know of countries in the world where Christians are being killed for their faith on an almost daily basis. In other countries, although physical death is not the norm, political oppression reigns. Regulations are enforced to keep believers from meeting together or from evangelizing. Although there are many examples of outside persecution and oppression, there are just as many examples of persecution and oppression happening from within the church against its own. Persecution by misguided leadership citing the traditions of man against the anointing and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the body brings such devastation that death is a proper description of the carnage.  That control sometimes opens the door to false teachers and teachings by those who leave the church stifled, knowing there is more, but being refused in their own churches.  Leadership rebukes them but doesn’t see their own actions as a factor in pushing the “rebels” into the arms of every wind of doctrine that would reach out to embrace them. Also, oppression against women in some churches many times seems to rival the oppression of women in certain cultures around the world. Disallowing women to be all they were meant to be in Christ and the resulting molding of men into what they were never meant to be in Christ has crippled much of the church. This has caused many men and women to give up on the notion that there is a better, biblical way to function than the male dominant model of marriage and Christian ministry.

                Much of the body is discouraged by the external persecution and oppression and scared to rock the boat when it comes to the internal politics of the church.  Whether external or internal, each of these situations has a strongman. And as Goliath, they present themselves big, bad, ready for battle, and arrogant. We must remember Ephesians 6:10-18:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We must learn again to recognize the battles and exercise our assaults in a scriptural way. (A recommendation to view Dean Sherman’s Spiritual Warfare Seminar)

Verses 12-15 We read that David was the youngest of the sons of Jesse and that David’s three eldest brothers (the Big 3 mentioned when Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king in the previous chapter) went to war with Saul against the Philistines while David returned to Bethlehem to feed his father’s sheep.

                We are reminded several times that David was the youngest. Sometimes the youngest has to do the chores that seem the lowest. He returned to be faithful in what his station was. We see no sign that he did it grudgingly, but with humility. A true leader will take the low spot and willingly serve his father and brothers. As we serve our heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ, we position ourselves for greatness when the appointed time comes. There is oftentimes a time gap between the vision and the appointment. Going about your business with a good attitude attracts the favor of God in your life. Don’t march with the arrogant for they will defile you.

Verses 16-23 While Goliath continued to taunt Israel, Jesse told David to visit his brothers with supplies for them and cheese for the captains of thousands and take note of their report. David was obedient to do just as his father requested and witnessed Goliath taunting Israel.

                David was doing exactly what his father told him to do. His obedience and humility in everyday life prepared him in so many ways to eventually wear the crown he had been promised. We see his humility time and time again in his dealings with Saul. Are you doing what the Father asks or are you doing as you want and asking the Father to bless it? Do you know the Father’s heart? Are you praying to God, or praying with God? Are your actions for God, or are your actions with God? His yoke is light and burden easy.

Verses 24-30 Upon seeing and hearing Goliath, the men of Israel flee and rehearse before David what great honor would be bestowed upon the man that kills him. David doesn’t cower, but vocally challenges the arrogance of this “uncircumcised Philistine” to defy the armies of the living God. His elder brother rebukes him, reminding him of his rightful place with the sheep and accusing him of pride in wanting to watch the battle. But David turned to others and continued to voice his assessment of Goliath.

                David saw the natural circumstances and the foe before them, but He saw the greater reality by faith. The facts didn’t matter to David, the truth did. David rose up in faith and Eliab rebuked him for it. Oftentimes the closest people to us are the ones who try to shut us down when we rise up in faith. David saw that Goliath’s vibrato was directed primarily at God and knew the God who would bring the giant down. This wasn’t some untried truth David read in a book or got at the latest ministry conference. No, David knew God in relationship. Don’t boast in a truth you haven’t the faith to test and make your own.

Verses 31-37 Word gets to Saul of David’s defiance of Goliath and Saul sends for David. David states the facts as he sees them to Saul, but Saul reminds David of his youth and Goliath’s superior fighting abilities. David then recounts the victories he had over the lion and the bear that came against the flock and tells Saul that Goliath will meet the same fate. When David asserts it was the Lord that delivered him in battle, Saul then gives permission for David to battle.

                Your personal encounters with lions and bears are to prepare you for greater attacks against the body of Christ. Don’t forget in the midst of your hand-to-hand combat concerning your life, your marriage, your economic condition, etc., that there is a bigger war waging that needs the skills you are learning. As we fight trials, temptation, and tribulation in this world, we must know Jesus overcame.  Don’t be so focused on your own wars, as emotionally and physically tiring as they can be, to forget the corporate warfare we must enter into. That day is not coming, it is here. We are not getting out of this fight. There are no rapture furloughs in God’s army. Sorry, it’s just not going to happen. So buck up and get yourself prepared.
   

Verses 38-40 Saul determined that David would need his armor to fight the giant, but David would not use it, it being not his way of battle, and took his sling and gathered five smooth stones with which to face Goliath.

                I write this section primarily to my brothers and sisters in The Dalles, OR. Over the last few years many have come from afar telling us they have the superior way to worship, the superior way to pray, and the superior way to prophesy. And when their armor didn’t fit, they got offended and belittled us. It’s not that they had bad armor. It was shiny, adorned with lots of glitz and glitter, worked in their world, but it was not ours to wear. They forgot that we have slain a few lions and bears ourselves along the way. We have deep wells here that were dug long before megachurches and international teaching ministries overtook us like a one world government.  David knew who he was, where he had come from, and what he had been through. Even more so, David knew where he was going and how he was going to get there. Be thankful for the offer, but if the armor doesn’t fit, pick up your Gorge slingshot and gather five smooth stones from the mighty Columbia and let’s go to war.
      

Verses 41-48 David and Goliath draw near to one another. Goliath is insulted than a youth yielding a shepherd’s staff and slingshot would come to battle him, and preceded to tell David what his fate would be at his hand. David did not retreat, but told Goliath what the Lord would do in delivering the Giant into his hand as a testimony that there is a God in Israel.

                Goliath, in his arrogance and defiance was put down by David’s humility and reliance. David did not back down because he knew his God and knew who he was in God. He approached Goliath much the same way as Jesus did Satan in the wilderness, with his total reliance on the God who had commissioned him. Don’t let your commissioning come by the whims of man. Men may do well to confirm your call, but their hands laid on you can never replace your own character building wilderness experience.

Verses 49-51 David prevailed over Goliath just as he had said and used Goliath’s own sword to severe his head. We notice that Goliath unnaturally fell forward, a prostrating of his might before the humility of the shepherd. When the Philistines saw their strongman defeated, they fled.

                Don’t settle for wounding the strongman in your battle. Cut off his head! The battle your church faces right now has a strongman behind it. Be sure the job gets done in not only the spiritual realm, but in cutting off the stinking thinking that allowed the bull to bellow in the first place. Romans 12:1-2 gives us keys to this transformation that may be bloody and hard to cut through.  But God’s word is sharp enough to do the cutting.

Verses 52-58 The victory over Goliath and retreat of the remaining enemy gave great courage to Israel. They pursued and slaughtered them in every place they went and then returned to the Philistine camp and spoiled their tents. David returned Goliath’s head to Jerusalem but put Goliath’s armor in his own tent.
    

When you’ve routed the enemy, go back to his camp and get back some stuff.  Get back your strength, your resolve, your humble swagger back. Spoil his camp. Hang Goliath’s armor in your own tent to remind you what you can do in God.