12 Sep Code Red (Learning to look at what you’re going TO instead of what you’re going through)

Many years ago, Anne and I were in Jamaica on a mission trip. Our son, John, was only about
four or five years old at the time. John was having a difficult time breathing. He was having a
very adverse reaction to something in our hotel room. As the day wore on his breathing
challenges only intensified. We were in a very difficult spot. The medical facilities and
expertise are not the same as they are here in the States. In fact, many wealthy Jamaicans will
come here to have various procedures.

I stayed up with John all night (I let Anne sleep a little bit) and simply prayed over him and
spoke the Word over him all night long. By daybreak, John was completely healed! If you are a
parent you know how arduous this was for us. It was one of the most “challenging” nights I
have ever had! It was most definitely a “Code Red” situation! We thank God we were able to
overcome in the midst of crisis!

Please allow me to share with you our key verse for this powerful series. It is Psalms 112:7-8:
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is
established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire on his enemies.”

Now let’s talk about “7 Outstanding Outlines to Overcoming Crisis”:
1. How you respond in a crisis is key (Mark 5:36)

Please allow me to share with you “3 Key Crisis Concepts”:
1) Crisis doesn’t create your character….it reveals it
When the pressure is on it either reveals you are a lump of coal or a beautiful
diamond!

2) Whatever is in you in abundance will come out in crisis (Matt. 12:33-35)
This is why I frequently tell people…put the Word of God in you when you don’t
need it, so it comes out when you do! If you wait until the crisis hits it may be too
late. This is my 40 th year of ministry and I’ve seen hundreds of people go through
crisis. Unfortunately, most of those people freak out…a few of those people faith
out! In crisis, what is in your heart…human panic or divine plans?!

3) Your initial response will do your miracle or your mess (Mk 5:36)
Do you remember the Biblical story of Jairus’ daughter? She was sick and near
death. Someone from Jairus’ house came and gave the worst news a parent can
hear, “Your daughter is dead.” As soon as the horrible news was given, Jesus turned
around and said, “Fear NOT and believe only.” It would have been so easy for Jairus

to panic and speak words that could have aborted the plan of healing for his little
daughter.

Let me give you a prime example. Decades ago we had a young man in our youth
group by the name of David. He had a part-time job using a lathe. One day at work
while David was cutting something on the lathe, he accidentally cut about half his
hand off! As soon as David did that, the first words out of his mouth were, “By His
stripes I was healed!” (I Pet. 2:24) Wow! Clearly in the time of crisis David had the
Word of God firmly embedded on the inside of him. The first words out of David’s
mouth set in motion David’s miracle, not a mess.

They life-flighted David to a hospital and put his cut off hand on ice. It took 14 hours
of intricate surgery but today David still has all the functional workings of a healthy
hand and fingers!