Smelling Salts

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. KJV

There are several Hebrew and Greeks words in the King James Version Bible that are translated as faint. We can summarize them as: to become weary, cease, fall back, forsake, be still, idle, or slothful. The word faint appears over fifty times in New and Old Testament scriptures. Here are a few of those references.

1. God warned Israel to not faint in the midst of battle with their enemies because He was with them and He would fight for them against any enemy no matter how strong.

Deut 20:3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. KJV

2. If we faint in adversity & trouble it is indicates we are weak and need more strength.

Prov 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. KJV

3. If we do not have enough of the Word of God in us we will become weak and faint.

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. KJV

4. Jonah as many believers became discouraged and wished to die rather than face his test.

Jonah 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. KJV

5. Believers need the constant Presence and Guidance of God by the Holy Spirit in us.

Matt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. KJV

6. We have a choice to give up (faint) or to seek God in prayer for our needs and problems.

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; KJV

7. As we sow in life and God’s Kingdom we must guard against giving up too soon. We are promised to reap a harvest if we do not become weary and give up.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.KJV

Smelling salts have been in use since Roman times. In the 17th century, an ammonia solution was obtained by distilling shavings of harts' (deer) horns and hooves, which led to the alternative name for smelling salts as spirit or salt of hartshorn. Smelling salts have also been known as 'sal volatile', for their ability to produce a reaction.They were widely used in Victorian Britain to revive fainting women, to the extent that in some areas police constables would carry a specific container of them for the purpose. They are also still used for people feeling faint, or who have fainted, either administered by others, or self administered, with some at risk groups, such as pregnant women, sometimes advised to keep them close to hand. Wikipedia

Application

Smelling salts are a temporary manmade solution to the problem of fainting. It does not address the cause of fainting. Fainting is sometimes an indication of a deep seated physical or psychological condition that needs to be addressed. Today we can see many believers who are either in the process of fainting or have already fainted. Some never regain spiritual consciousness and have died spiritually. Others seem to be locked in a life long cycle of waking up and then falling back into a deep slumber over and over again!

Some have fallen asleep and sustained serious spiritual and emotional injuries as a result of fainting. Their lives and relationships have been permanently damaged by circumstances that occurred when they fainted and fell. Others were in significant positions of leadership when they fainted causing great harm to either few or many thousands who looked to them for spiritual leadership. Too many spiritual leaders must spend long hours waking members or trying to find enough “stimulation” in the local services to keep people from fainting or falling asleep in the pews. While the church is sleeping (fainting) the world around them is dying and in need to hearing the Gospel from unselfish fully alert and awake believers.

Conclusion

The Old Testament reference in Isaiah 40 is filled with hope and resolution for the plague of fainting among God’s people. Let’s take a few moments to look at the verses in detail.

1. There is no condemnation. Sometimes those who are alert and awake spiritually forget they once grew tired and weary. They can become judgmental and harsh. This kind of attitude brings about no help, but actually makes matters worse for all who are involved.

2. God is our source of strength. We cannot always depend on others to provide us with help, strength or encouragement. God needs to be our focus and our daily source of strength.

3. There is an indication that as strength or might has waned or declined that the condition can be reversed and restoration is not only possible, but even inevitable if we seek God.

4. None are exempt or unsusceptible from becoming weary or fainting. Young, old, men or women – all are touched with this condition at some point in their Christian life. The verse indicates that some will “utterly fall”. Even in that state there is hope of restoration through the Love of God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

5. Verse 31 gives a money-back written guarantee to each of us regardless of our situation. “But they that wait upon the LORD (bind together, expect, look to, patiently wait for) shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

6. Full restoration can be expected! Our strength shall be renewed! We shall fly again like an eagle! We shall run again! We shall walk again. We shall NOT be weary and shall NOT FAINT!

7. What are we waiting for? Let’s get up again and go back to God again! Let’s ask, seek and knock until the door is opened to us. If someone around you is fainting or asleep firmly and lovingly stay with them and persist until they are on their feet again, fully conscious and awake. Then, rather than trying to do everything yourself take them to the Father who is their Source and Strength. Too many parents, pastors and leaders try to handle the problems and sins of family, church and friends in their own strength. We must lead them to the Shepherd and Savior.

May God bless you as you wake the faint around you!

Dan Corbett
“Reaching One Among Millions”

Heavy Load!

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As we drive in different parts of the nation it is normal to read signs that give the maximum weight allowance for the vehicles that cross over the bridges and bypasses. We also can see special areas that require large trucks to enter to determine if their load is heavier than allowed by the law.

It is apparent that many of God's children are carrying around burdens that exceed their ability to withstand the strain. As prayer requests come in thru the web site, telephone calls and emails some are so loaded down it seems they can barely make it through another day.

As we pray and intercede for them we also can feel the burden that they carry. In the scripture above it is clear that God knows what His children are facing and has provided a means for them to get needed relief.

First of all, we must go the Jesus in faith believing that He is able and willing to help bear our heavy load. Some act as though they enjoy the daily drudgery of their burdens. When you talk to them by phone or meet them on the street their problems are the center of the conversation. It is almost as if they will have nothing to talk about if they no longer have troubles to complain about to those they meet. Some may not realize that it is NOT God's will for them to be weighed down every day. God wants His children to be happy and to prosper in life as they serve Him and praise Him before an unsaved world.

Next, the scripture suggests something like an exchange. We are to accept His yoke which we are told is "easy" and "light". This verse comes across in stark contrast to what some preach about the burden of living a Christian life. Our daily personal struggle with problems, pains and illness in many cases does little to advance the Kingdom of God on the earth. As we are willing to accept His yoke we will begin to pull our own weight and accomplish progress in the Kingdom of God.

What do you say? Let's do an exchange with Jesus. These heavy burdens some of us have carried for years may not be necessary or be God's Will for our lives. Let's go to Him in prayer and ask God to show us how to begin to accept His Will in our lives and to pick up the plow (yoke) and be harnessed with Jesus to work in His Harvest Field.

May God bless you and deliver you for the heavy loads of your life!

Dan Corbett

"Reaching One Among Millions"

Saved in City Hall!

Rom 15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." NIV

Apostle Paul requested that the churches pray for him so that doors would be opened for the Gospel to be shared with those who had not yet heard. Col 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. NIV Prison bars and stocks did not stop him from sharing God’s Love with those he came in contact with.

In John 10:7-9 Jesus declared that He is the door. Again in Revelation Jesus says He is knocking on the door of hearts. Rev 3:20 "Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. TLB It seems we might also call Jesus both the “door” and also the “door opener”. In response to the intercessory prayers of the children of God, doors of opportunity are opened. People who live where Christ is not known begin to seek to find out about Him. God then directs the steps of His children to share His Love with those sitting in darkness.

In response to prayer circumstances begin to unfold and acquaintances are made. Paths are crossed between people who normally would not meet. This principle is graphically illustrated in the Book of Acts 8:26-40. Phillip conducted a hugely successful evangelistic campaign in Samaria. In the middle of the meetings he was instructed by an angel to travel to the desert area of Gaza. It was a perfect example of God’s perfect kairos timing. Traveling on foot he happened to meet up with the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch who was the treasurer under Queen Candace. The treasurer just happened to be reading the Old Testament prophecy about Christ’s sacrifice. Phillip joined him in the chariot and preached the Gospel. The eunuch believed and was baptized at a pool of water that happened to be nearby at the perfect time.

One more example would be Cornelius the Roman centurion. The scriptures describe him as a devout man who worshipped God. He prayed fervently and gave alms to those who were in need. Finally an angel sent by God appeared and informed him that both his prayers and offerings had gotten the attention of the Father. He was told that a man would be sent to tell him more about what to do in his pursuit of worshipping God. He was given instructions as to where Peter lived and was to send men to fetch him. Simultaneously God was working on Peter in a vision which totally changed his perspective of Gentiles considered unclean by the Jews. Peter obeyed God’s Voice and went to the house of Cornelius where he preached to a large group of people who then believed on Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saved in City Hall

The City Hall of a large Japanese city would seem to be one of the most unlikely places where one might have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and pray the Sinner’s Prayer. Apparently this is the type of place that Paul targeted for his ministry. In fact, he preached in jails and in the palace of Caesar as a prisoner so successfully that ultimately history was changed because of the large number of Christian converts in Rome.

A san is in her mid 30’s and might be called a typical Japanese young lady. She found employment in her town’s city hall. She worried about finding the right husband. To reach 35 and not yet be married causes many Japanese ladies to worry. By that age, a lot of pressure is exerted by family insisting she find a husband. She also carried an especially heavy burden having lost her father to suicide last year. Unfortunately she actually witnessed him jumping from their balcony. She still suffers from nightmares from that horrible tragedy. She and the mother live with the shame and financial burdens left behind by her father.

A san met a fellow worker a little younger than her who seemed to be rather bright and cheerful despite the heavy work load and pressures of their jobs. This other worker’s attitude was so different she inquired what the source of her joy was. Her fellow worker surprisingly responded that the answer was God’s Love! Growing up in Japan with all the rituals and ceremonies of Shinto and Buddhism it became that apparent the other worker was talking about something totally different than what she had ever heard. Over the next couple weeks during lunch breaks they talked about the normal things two 30 year old Japanese girls would talk about. She began to hear frequent references to God’s Love and the joy that comes from pray and believing on Him.

At one point A san asked her new friend to pray for her to find the right husband. The friend was ready to pray for her when the Holy Spirit informed her that A san had major pain in her heart. A san had not told the other worker about her father’s tragic death and the financial burden that placed on her family. First, the friend suggested that she needed to forgive her father for all the pain his suicide had caused the family. She led her in a prayer of forgiveness toward her father. Then she prayed for God to heal the pain in A san’s heart. They prayed together and she responded how light her heart felt after that prayer. Then the friend went further and asked if she would like to pray to receive Jesus Christ into her heart. Her honest and eager response was, “Yes”! She was led in the Sinner’s Prayer and with tears received the same Love of God she had observed in the other worker’s life over a period of weeks.

A Time to Rejoice

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NIV As we were informed of this wonderful news there was a time of prayer for A san and rejoicing that God has extended His Love to another Japanese person. A new Japanese Bible and two Christian music CD’s were prepared to share with her. The CD’s have a narration by a Japanese pastor interspersed between the songs helping a new person understand more clearly about God’s Love and how to worship Him. I used this same music to lead a paralyzed Japanese man to Christ in the hospital.

What is our Part?

What does man have to do with the wonderful process of the salvation of a soul? Actually, more than many of us realize. Rom 10: 13 Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends him? TLB

Someone GOES to where people are who do not KNOW about Jesus Christ. Then as the door (opportunity) is opened (by PRAYER) they then TELL the person about God’s Love and HOW to receive it. Of course they cannot GO unless someone else SENDS (GIVES) them! In the story of A san’s conversion we are back to the very basic points of true missionary work:

Pray

Give

Go

Is It Worth the Effort?

Is it worth all the years of planting, loving, witnessing, giving, praying and seeing no visible results for long periods of time? Struggles with finances, opposition, discouragement, barriers, illness batter away at our will and cause us to question ourselves! Many times we wonder if our lives have been wasted. After all there are greener pastures and other places that are easier with more results and less effort. Then finally in God’s Kairos timing circumstances come together just right! The Gospel seed is planted in a heart and new spiritual life is formed. Someone has prayed, believed and become a child of God! Hallelujah! It is well worth the effort. Each one who has prayed, cared, given financially has a part in this wonderful miracle. Someone you have never met may approach you in Heaven one day and say, “Thank You” for the part you played in them spending eternity in the Presence of God!

Please Don’t Give Up!

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. NIV 2 Cor 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. NIV

You are keeping us here in Japan to share God’s Love with the Japanese people. You help pay the rent and put food on the table. Those who have received Christ as their savior in turn are now sharing His Love with others. You bought the Bibles we are distributing. Your prayers have helped cover us in times of opposition, danger, illness and discouragement. Your prayer has caused doors to be opened and contacts to be made for new people to learn of God’s Love. Thank you! You in turn are covered daily in prayer from here by us. We pray daily for you and your family. As contact is made we record prayer needs and bring them daily before the Throne of Grace. We give thanks for the financial gifts and pray God’s Blessings upon all those who give no matter the amount. As your prayers are being answered here we have to believe that God is answering our prayers and blessing you also.

Please pray for this young lady to grow in her faith and walk in God’s Love. Pray for the doors to be opened for many others to receive Christ. Continue to pray for us as we endeavor to Reach One Among Millions!

God bless you richly!

Dan & Sharon Corbett

“Reaching One Among Millions”

Proper Priorities

Priority – something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives. Merriman-Webster

Praise – celebrate, give glory & honor to God, to boast of, worship, to applaud.

Psalms 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. KJV

Prayer – communication with God, supplication, intercession.

1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing. KJV

Piety – faithfulness in obligations, dutifulness in spiritual matters, following proper biblical teaching or doctrine.

Matt 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? KJV

Prudence – the ability to govern & discipline oneself, skill & good judgment in the use of resources.

Prov 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21 The wise in heart are called discerning (prudent), and pleasant words promote instruction. NIV

Pressing In – given to, ensue, follow, press forward.

Phil 3:13 No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain (press) to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us. TLB

Perseverance – to persist or not give up in spite of opposition or discouragement.

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; KJV

People – God’s crowning creation, man, woman, boys & girls. Individuals, families, nations and ethnic groups in cities, villages, nations – rich & poor, old and young!

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. KJV
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world (people) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV

May God bless you as you Pursue and emPloy Proper Priorities!

Dan Corbett

"Reaching One Among Millions"

Peaceful Place

Psalms 23:2-3
He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors Him the most. NLT

Have you ever taken a walk beside a quiet stream and then sat down and watched the fish and other small creatures that made their home between the rocks and the sandy bottom? Perhaps you can remember just sitting quietly on the grass on a warm sunny day with a slight breeze blowing across the field.

God knows us and has the ability to create one of those "quiet places" right where we are. Not all of us are able to get away into quiet rural settings. You may be in the middle of a large noisy city. But we can enter in to that quiet place in the spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. We are promised that God will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on or focused on God.

It could be your living room or bed room. Turn on some quiet praise music and open up your Bible to Psalms and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your busy and sometimes troubled spirit. There is a need to be quiet and to recharge our spiritual batteries from time to time. We cannot give out to others that which we do not have ourselves. In Acts Peter did not have any gold or silver to give to the beggar, but he had spiritual riches and power which connected with a spark of faith in the crippled man. A great miracle of healing took place.

Take time to get quiet in the Presence of the Lord. Don't go with a long list of needs and complaints. There is a time for that later. Just sit in His Presence. Worship God for who He is not what He can do for you. Listen to His Heart. He will speak to your spirit. Get ready. He is waiting to receive you into that Quiet Place.

God bless you as you wait in His Presence!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"