KNITTING HEARTS CAVE / DEC 12, 2015
Message by Devon Coker
Written by Sue Sanders
Rev. Devon Coker’s message of hope ministered to the hearts of our group today. Yes, we definitely agree with Rev. Coker that God had prepared that moment in time and His message for each one of us individually. Focusing on Scripture from Psalm 143, Rev. Coker reminded us that because of David’s trials, he felt that there was no help, no heart to get out, and no hope. All of us will experience the dark times, the difficult times, but it is in those places that we learn what faith is. And, there is a reward for each of us in this place. Satan tries to get us to focus on our suffering. Those wounds inside of us keep us from our ministries. We tend to remember the wound and then bleed all over again. These old wounds that resurface render us useless.
However, we are not disqualified from ministry because we were once injured. We need to recognize our pain, our struggles, and our doubts. Rev. Coker emphasized his point by declaring, “Believe in the Word of God more than your fear. Change your view of yourself. Negativity and Christ can’t own us at the same time. Negativity can’t rule our hearts. “Rev. Coker’s message reiterated that pain and power can coexist in us. Peace and bodily pain can also coexist in us. The Lord will use our wounds for His glory. Speaking from his own experience, he related a time when he was extremely troubled and filled with despair. God spoke to him declaring, “Devon, you must be covered with something!”
Rev. Coker sought to understand this admonition from the Lord. Studying the Word, he discovered that one of the most frequent messages in Scripture is centered on anxiety. Scripture reminds us that we are not to be anxious, worried, or fearful. This message is stressed over 365 times in Scripture. God told Rev. Coker, “You are covered with anxiety. Faith can’t stick. Your covering must be the assurance of the Word of God. My assurance brings faith. Serve Me even when trouble is pressing on you.”
Studying Luke 13, Rev. Coker grasped the concept that the spirit of infirmity gets down into our wounds. He challenged us with the question, “Have you been tricked by Satan to believe that you are disqualified for serving him because you have issues?”
Sabrina Barrineau’s song, “It Is Well with My Soul,” reinforced Rev. Coker’s message. “Far be it from me to not believe even when my eyes can’t see and this mountain that’s in front of me will be thrown into the midst of the sea. Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you. Through it all, through it all, it is well. Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You. It is well with me. . . Let go, my soul, and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know His name. . . It is well with my soul.”
“Don’t give up, don’t lose hope! Stand still and see God’s salvation!
Hearts United Women's Ministry 