Introduction of Knocked Down But Not OutTue, Nov 18, 2008Contents
Introduction On Sunday, November 20, 2005, during the altar call at the 11:00 a.m. service,
as I was praying with individuals, prior to praying corporately for those at the altar as well as those in the congregation, a man
at the altar punched me in my left eye, nearly knocking me over. I returned to the platform, and while this man was being escorted out of the service, he hit another one of our ministers. It's called 'a parting shot!' Then, he hit a security officer, which is what got him booked in jail and ultimately returned to a mental institution in Vinita, Oklahoma, for medical treatment, where he had been previously. My message that morning was on giving thanks and praise to God continually, no matter what happens. With that clearly in my mind after the punch, I led the congregation in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His grace and mercy not for the incident that happened, but in the midst of it! At that time, I also remembered what Chancellor Oral Roberts had taught us when my wife Sharon and I were students at Oral Roberts University: "Don't strike back!" That is what God had told him years ago and I'd heard it many times since then. About thirty years ago, Roy Hicks also shared with me, "If you don't get bitter, you'll make it." So praising God in the midst of this incident was a truth that was very important to me. Now, Sharon and I have been in a lot of situations through the years where things have happened in the congregation or crowd, whether it was while preaching in another country like Sierra Leone, Haiti, Peru, Pakistan, India, Norway, and most recently in Russia in the Ural Mountain region. Regardless of the situations in which we have been, including this fresh assault, we forgive people and then we go right on with what God has assigned us to do. As a congregation and for me personally, we prayed for the man who had slugged me and we asked the Holy Spirit to do a work in his life. My eye was swollen, but thank God, there was no damage to my vision. I am very grateful to Dr. Scott Cordray who took me across the street to CityPlex after the service. I ended up with two stitches in the area where I had been hit. Dr. Douglas Holte, a physician in attendance, also examined me. Thank God for doctors! During the week that followed, while Sharon and I were at the airport, a woman we didn't know came up to us and made a comment about what had happened during Sunday's service. She had seen the 'punch' replayed on TV. In our conversation this lady said something to me that touched my heart. She explained how she was going through a divorce and struggling to get through it. Suddenly, it hit me: Sometimes we're bleeding on the outside, and sometimes there is bleeding on the inside. Mine was on the outside. People could see it, but for many people who have been hit with something bad, there is brokenness in the heart and pain in their thought life and in their emotions and nobody can see that pain. God gave me a message about what to do when life gives you a hit and you are hurt and wounded. Perhaps there has been abuse, a violation, a broken home, abandonment, rejection, loss of a job, loss of income, a demotion, a legal entanglement, a negative medical diagnosis, or pain in the physical body from an illness in your life. When there is pain and hurt, what do you do? We believe in a God of miracles, a God who delivers, a God who saves, and a God who heals and restores. That's my prayer for you, that you will be saved, healed, delivered, and restored. The video of this incident was aired on multiple local, national, and international television stations and networks, and on the Internet all over the world. Because of the massive response, throughout this book, we will look at some Word-based principles that you can apply when you're in a tight spot or when you've been hit unexpectedly. These truths will help you come on through to total victory! You can overcome the storms of life, turn your scars into stars, and literally start over after hurt, failure, or defeat, as you make room for forgiveness and repentance and surrender yourself totally to the lordship of Jesus Christ. It's time to celebrate Jesus as you get back up and praise on through once you've been knocked down. In the Amplified Bible, First Corinthians 15:57 contains a beautiful promise for you: "Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ." You can be assured that God will help you get back up so you can continue your destiny, moving forward in Him! |
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