Steve Farrar - Articles

History You May Not Know

Judah’s foundation was poured with biblical truth.

But what about ours?

This is something you won’t read in a modern history book. But it is true nevertheless.

The Pilgrims were a people committed to Jesus Christ and His Word. They took their faith very seriously. And as a result, before coming to America they felt the heavy hand of persecution. So much so that they were exiled to Holland for twelve years.

When the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower onto the soil of this new land, they literally had nothing but the clothes on their back. They had little seed, few tools, no IRA’s or 401Ks. They had one another, and they had their Bibles. That was it. But that’s all they needed.

They began to lay down a foundation for a new nation. As they established laws for their colony, they drew directly from the Bible. The most influential book of their lives, bar none, was the Bible. They took the principles of God’s Word and began to pour the slab of our beginnings.

I cannot emphasize enough the profound significance of this. No other nation since Israel has had such biblical beginnings. And no other nation since Israel has been more blessed by God than America. In fact, the blessing on this nation has been unparalleled in history. America has been far from perfect. Yet it has become the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth. The question is “Why?” Is it because we are so ingenious, so innately gifted, so inherently able? That’s what many today would like to think

But I would submit to you that it is because our foundation is different from that of any other nation on the face of the earth. The principles of the Bible are the reinforcing bars that buttress the concrete of our oral and spiritual foundation. This is what has made us great.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong, with his new book Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times soon to be released. Learn more at SteveFarrar.com.

Joseph’s Devastating Loss

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, it was like the blow of a two by four right in the chops. No, much worse than that. A man might well recover from a blow to the face. But this? His life was over.

How do you think Joseph felt when he was on that camel? He wasn’t stupid. He knew very well what happened to slaves. He knew he was finished. There was no way out of this deal. Who would rescue him? He would never see home or his family again. He had been viciously betrayed, and his life was ruined beyond repair.

Isn’t that how you would have felt?

You’ve probably been through your own storms. Or perhaps your pain is not in the past tense, it’s in the present. You’re living right now in the shock of devastating loss. If that’s true, then you have a pretty good handle on what Joseph was feeling on that camel ride to a life of slavery.

Maybe it never crossed this young man’s mind at the moment, but in spite of the shock and pain Joseph was feeling, it was amazing that he was still alive. The brothers had fully intended to kill Joseph, and would have done so except for the fact that the providence of God stepped in—just in the nick of time.

What Joseph needed at that moment was for God to save him from being murdered. If the providence of God hadn’t shown up at the exact right moment, he would have died. If God had been just fifteen seconds too late, it would have been too late to save him!

But that will never happen.

God is never early, and He is never late. He is always right on time. Sometimes we want Him to be early. And as you wait for Him, you see the clock ticking and begin to panic. But He will show up precisely at the right moment.

—Steve Farrar

The Foundations Are Being Destroyed

In Habakkuk’s day, politics were corrupt, the religious leaders had abandoned God’s Word, and professing believers had begun to look just like the world around them. Evil was applauded while godliness was mocked. It was a time of staggering corruption. You were not safe even in broad daylight. When crimes were committed, the guilty got off scot-free. We know from the other prophets of the day that divorce was rampant, sexual perversion was embraced, and the people were illiterate when it came to God’s Word. No one remembered his biblical roots and foundation

Just a few years before, Judah had enjoyed the blessing of God under King Josiah. Josiah was a king who sought the Lord with his whole heart. He led the nation in a moral and spiritual revival. But under the successive leadership of his sons the nation’s spiritual foundation quickly broke down.
The most important part of any structure is the foundation. Before you ever make an offer to buy a house, you pay an inspector to crawl under the house. If that foundation is deficient, you are in trouble. Big trouble.

There has been no more graphic illustration of the importance of quality concrete foundations than the earthquake that hit Turkey in the summer of 1999. One day Turkey was a thriving nation. The next, it was demolished. At first it was very surprising to the authorities that on the same street certain houses collapsed while others just a few feet away stood strong. But then they recognized a pattern. The houses built according to code withstood the earthquake. The ones that had bypassed the building code collapsed immediately, and usually the problem was the foundation.

Who could have imagined that something so simple as faulty concrete slabs could lead to so many broken lives, broken families, and a broken nation?

The foundation is critical to a building. The foundation is also critical to a nation.

—Steve Farrar

From Setback to Victory

Everyone is different, and everyone has a different story. But God loves to take a huge setback and turn it into an astonishing victory or achievement.

God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He has done a good work in your life by bringing you to Christ. And He has also planned a work for you to do (Eph. 2:8–10). He had a work for Joseph to do that Joseph knew nothing about—and could not have imagined. And He has a work for you to do too.

When God starts a work, He finishes it. But don’t take my word for it; it’s an ironclad promise of Scripture: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6 ESV).

God is in control of your devastating loss. He understands our hurts and broken hearts when we’re blindsided. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18).

We shouldn’t be surprised at the suffering and loss that come to us as we follow Christ. The Lord Jesus told us up front that “in the world you will have tribulation.” Acts 14:22 tells us that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Philippians 1:29 clearly states the same truth: “It has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

Joseph experienced loss that staggered him. But his loss is an example for you and me. His loss was under the control of almighty God. So is your loss. And even when loss made no sense at all to him, there was a smiling Providence that was hidden behind the clouds of grief. His life wasn’t out of control. It was under control

God had something great in mind for him.

God doesn’t waste this kind of suffering and loss. His plan for Joseph’s life was intentional and purposeful. It involved great suffering and loss. But it wasn’t random suffering. It was purposeful. God wouldn’t leave him in his suffering. He was refining and testing Him and one day he would come forth as gold.

That was true for Joseph.

And it’s true for you.

—Steve Farrar

Are You Living in Christ?

Does He have all of your heart, or just a section of it? Do you walk with Him, like Noah? Or would those closest to you say you only act as if you are walking with Him? Do you flee sexual temptation, as Noah did? Or do you go along quietly with a dishonest deal at work?

If you’re halfway in the ark, that’s not going to cut it. Noah didn’t go into the ark halfway. He went in completely.

It’s time to get in the ark or get out.

In the time of judgment, the only place to be is in the ark.

When the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, every single home within a distance of one mile from ground zero was destroyed and nearly vaporized. Except one. Just eight blocks from ground zero, one house stood virtually untouched. Scientists came and looked in amazement for an explanation. But they couldn’t find one. The reason they couldn’t find an explanation is that they were looking for a physical reason as to why the house wasn’t destroyed. They should have looked for a spiritual reason.

It was the only house for miles occupied by Christians.

That small little house became an ark in the midst of an atomic judgment.

The blood of Jesus was over the door of that house as much as the blood of the lamb was over the doorposts in Egypt (Ex. 12).

Whenever the blood of Christ is over a house, that house becomes an ark. A mud hut in the Philippines, a cardboard house in the slums of Central America, government housing in inner-city Chicago, or a two-story house in the suburbs—they all can be turned into arks.

The ark is Jesus.

If judgment is coming, get in the ark.

If judgment is coming, get under the blood.

There is no safety or hope outside the ark.

But for those inside the ark, hope knows no boundaries or limits.

—Steve Farrar

Can God Stop Evil

Could the Lord have stopped Joseph’s brothers from doing evil and selling him to the slavers? Of course He could. In a heartbeat. But He didn’t. He intended to use that evil to bring incomprehensible good to Joseph and his brothers.

But at that moment of great evil, Joseph had to be on the verge of absolute despair. His situation appeared to be utterly hopeless.

Here’s an old poem about hopelessness from a man who knew about the sea. You and I may never experience this, but if you ever find yourself in a small ship in the midst of a great, angry ocean, you will understand why it can drive a sane man nearly out of his mind. In the darkness, deafening noise, and violence of that scene, a man will experience utter hopelessness and despair.

Unless he knows the Lord.

Away, Despair! My gracious Lord doth hear:
Though winds and waves assault my keel,
He doth preserve it: he doth steer,
Ev’n when the boat seems most to reel:
Storms are the triumph of his art:
Well may he close his eyes, but not his heart.
—Pastor George Herbert

—Steve Farrar

Into the Storm

It made absolutely no sense to this young man. How could the good God of Israel allow this to happen to him? His hopes, his dreams, and his ambitions were now gone—swept away in an instant. They were more than gone, they were dead and buried. His race was essentially over—and he had barely cleared the starting blocks.

Joseph couldn't have known it at the time, but this chapter of his life would last for thirteen years. During those years, at various intervals, he would be exhausted, humiliated, perplexed, and scared spitless.

At times, he had to wonder if he would survive. All his plans for life had fallen apart, utterly uprooted and demolished by the hateful actions of the very men who should have loved him and stood by him. His own brothers had plotted together to ruin his life.

But overshadowing the plan of his brothers was the plan of God.

Real and threatening, devastating and chaotic, the storms of life sometimes leave us wondering if we will even survive the day. Yet we do survive, to face the storm again the next day. Some storms are brief, flitting off our radar screens in a matter of hours or even minutes. A cloud passes in front of the sun, plunging the world into shadow, and then the sun shines through again, and life returns to normal.

Joseph’s storm was thirteen years in duration.

And none of it made sense until he got through it.

Once he got through to the other side, he could look back over the events of those horrific years and see so clearly the well-ordered plan of almighty God. But when he was in that storm, it seemed like his life had spun completely out of control.

Perhaps that’s the way you feel about your life right now. The needle is in the red zone, and events seem completely out of control. And if the truth were to be known, you agree with Churchill’s evaluation of his life. That’s right where you are.

My life is over—but it is not yet ended.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong, with his new book Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times soon to be released. Learn more at SteveFarrar.com

The Days of Noah

Over three millennia ago, Noah and his family found themselves living in days of exceptional evil. The Bible says that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). It was so evil that “the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Gen. 6:6)

For a righteous man it was a tough time to be alive. But Genesis 6 tells us that Noah was “a righteous man, blameless in his time,” a man who “walked with God.” And because he did, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8–9).

No doubt there were others who feigned belief in God. But Noah was different. Noah acted on his beliefs. And because he did, he stood completely alone. You and I may sometimes feel that we are all alone in our faith. But Noah was really alone. God said to Noah, “You alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time” (Gen. 7:1, emphasis mine).

In such times, the temptation for Noah to compromise was relentless. It was tough to do the right thing. To remain true to his wife. To refuse the sexual temptation that came to him day in and day out. To be honest in his business dealings, even when it was to his own detriment. To say no to his children, when everyone else was saying yes. To speak up against the sinful activity that surrounded him. To be ostracized from everyone. To have no other person to support him when the attacks became unbearable. To believe that God would do what He said He would do, even though the human race had never before seen rain.

Noah and his family were it—the entire remaining remnant.

But “Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him” (Gen. 7:5). For 120 years Noah built the ark and preached an unpopular message. That’s a long time to stand alone.

Then the unthinkable happened. The rains came, and the whole world was judged. Noah and his family alone survived. They survived in an ark, built out of sheer faith and obedience.

—Steve Farrar

The Reality of Evil

Evil and sin are real, and at times in our lives it feels like they overwhelm everything else.

But they don’t.

God is bigger than evil and sin. Evil will never get in the way of God’s plan for your life. God is so big and so great that He makes evil cooperate and fold into His plan. He is sovereign, but we are responsible for our choices and decisions.

Here’s what we can say about almighty God. He is in control, and His will is bigger than anyone’s.

He is in control not only of everything but of everyone. That includes anti-aircraft projectiles and the men who pull the triggers. It includes jealous brothers and the scheduling of slave caravans.

That’s not easy to swallow. We don’t see how that can be right.

Some things are beyond our comprehension. There are some reasons of God He has chosen not to reveal (Deut. 29:29). And in the meantime we can only stand with Job when he declares, “Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

It’s easy to trust in a time of great favor and prosperity.

It’s hard to trust in a time of shock and grief.

But we are called to do both.

—Steve Farrar

America Is in Serious Trouble

There is a growing consensus throughout the body of Christ. America is in serious trouble. We have reached the point of no return. And, short of a divine miracle, judgment is inevitable—such a judgment as you and I have not witnessed in our lifetimes.

But don’t take my word or anyone else’s word for it. Look into the Scriptures and decide for yourself. Is judgment coming? That’s a question we must answer in the light of God’s Word.

But there is also a second part to this message.

Yes, God judges evil nations. But in the midst of judgment, God always has His remnant.

Who are the people who make up the remnant? They are the remaining faithful.

They are the apple of His eye.

They are the ones He protects and provides for and cares for.

And, ultimately, they are the ones He preserves.

That is not to say that their lives are free from difficulty. When the entire garment is shredded, the remnant suffers. But the remnant has the promises and character of God to sustain it in difficult times.

If you are part of the remnant, then you should know this: There’s a good chance that things will get worse before they get better. And if that is the case, then everyone will suffer. Those who rebel suffer the consequences of their sin. They are walking the broad path that always leads to destruction. But I won’t try to kid you. Those who are seeking to follow Christ also suffer. We suffer because we grieve over what we see. We suffer because we are swimming upstream against the current of evil. We suffer from exhaustion, loneliness, and discouragement. We suffer because sin takes its toll on our own lives; it is tough to have a good marriage and raise up godly children in these days in which we live. We suffer because every day is a battle to stay close to Christ and follow Him with our whole hearts.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including th best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong. Learn more at SteveFarrar.com.

God's Absolute Control

But the world keeps on existing and so do you.

So let's go with this definition for providence: "That which God creates He continually sustains and provides for, and nothing—great or small—is outside of His absolute control." He is the King and He has a plan. His sovereign plan for you and me and for the entire world will be worked out exactly according to His specifications.

When Joseph calmed his brothers' fears by asking them, "Am I in God's place?" he was looking backward over the events of his life. And when he looked backward over his life, he saw the sovereign providence of God that was directing his every step—even when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

When Joseph looked backward, he saw the perfect providential plan that had raised him to be co-king over Egypt. When he looked backward, he could see the remarkable organization of God's detailed plan for his life. God was in control of his life—even down to the tiniest of details.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com

God's Perfect Execution

The plans He has made are always executed perfectly. His plan is sure. It is not uncertain. In order for His plan to be executed and accomplished, He micromanages your life and the entire universe. He carries it all, sustains it all, and keeps it all going. And that can only be done if One is in absolute control. But He is in control, and that's why Job 23:14 states, "He performs what is appointed for me."

God's plan for your life is going to happen—on time and on schedule. John J. Murray sums it up well:

The plan of God is perfect.
The plan is exhaustive.
The plan is secret. God hides it from me until it happens.
I discover it day by day as it unfolds.

In essence, the doctrine of providence teaches that which God creates, He continually provides for and sustains—and that means you. He created you, and He will continually provide for you and sustain you—that's how He pulls off His plan in your life. Hebrews 1:3 declares that Christ "upholds all things by the word of His power." The English Standard Version, another excellent translation, states that Christ "upholds the universe by the word of his power."

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com

God's Providence

So what about providence?

Providence is God's execution of His plan in your life and in the entire universe. Have you ever heard the saying "the devil is in the details"? That is absolutely incorrect.

God is in the details:

  Oh Lord, you are my God;
  I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
  For you have done wonderful things,
  Plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
  (Isa. 25:1 ESV)

Are these plans that God hurriedly drew up last night to fix something in your life that has gone wrong? Is God looking for some "Plan B" because "Plan A" didn't pan out for us? No. These are plans He purposed before he created the world. God hasn't been up all night—papers and maps spread out across the floor of heaven, amending His purposes to it our present set of circumstances. No, the plans He has for you are His original plans. Perfect plans that never need to be amended. Now that’s a Big God.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com

God's Plan

That plan in the midst of the storm could not be seen. In fact, at times, it seemed like God had abandoned you. Job knew what that was like. In his great loss and despair, he couldn’t find God anywhere:

  Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
  That I might come to His seat!
  I would present my case before Him
  And fill my mouth with arguments . . .
  Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
  And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
  When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
  He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
  (Job 23:3–4, 8–9)

That must have been what Joseph experienced as he took that long camel ride—his chains clanging every step of the way—down to Egypt and a life of never-ending slavery.

The sovereignty of God means that He is King and He is in absolute control; and it also means that we are not.

Joseph addressed his brothers not as a victim but as a victor. How could he not be caught up in bitterness and revenge? When he looked back over his life, he saw the absolute control of God working His eternal plan in every event of his life—the good and the bad. It was all under the sovereign control of the great God of Israel.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com

He Is in Control

The sovereignty of God means that He is in control—of everything.

That’s why He is a BIG GOD. And that’s why He is a GREAT GOD.

This means that when we look around and get the very strong sense that the world and our lives are out of control, we are wrong. It may appear to us that events have jumped the tracks and headed over the cliff, but in truth they are moving absolutely on schedule according to His divine plan and purpose.

It was John Flavel who said to his congregation in England, some three hundred years ago, "Some providences of God, like Hebrew letters, are best understood backwards."

So, too, does the providence of God.

Some chapters of our lives make absolutely no sense. We get blindsided by some tragedy, and we wonder where God is. It just doesn’t add up! Where is this God who loves me, and why has He allowed this to happen? You and I can ask those kinds of questions over and over again, but the fact of the matter is that these confusing chapters won’t make sense while we're in the middle of them.

In these bewildering chapters of life you will have to give five, ten, or even twenty years before things begin to make sense. Only then, like Joseph looking backward, do some providences of God become crystal clear. When we look backward, we see that God was in control even when it looked like our lives were out of control. Oftentimes, we can't see that providence until we get through the storm and look behind us. You look back and can't believe you survived the ferocity of that storm. But you did. And it was all due to the goodness and plan of God.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com