HAS EVERYONE GIVEN UP ON YOU? GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP!

Faith comes by hearing!  How did Noah know what his life work was going to be?  He knew so because he had heard God.   Have  you ever been out of luck, out of options, and out of time?  What do you do when   you are trapped in a set of circumstances that leave you very few options on any side?  There are some people that if they cannot do things in the natural to fix their problem, they are at a complete loss as what direction to take, or where to make their first move.  That may work if you have plenty of money, plenty of time, and lots of options and favors.  Moses didn't have ANY of those things.  When the natural is certain to fail, the only option is the supernatural.  Should we even turn to the natural at all.  If we have a way out of our difficult circumstances, or a way to move forward in the natural and we don't take it, we need a crash course in wisdom for sure. 

God's church is not something that is of the world, or that is natural.  God's church is supernatural.  Why is it supernatural?  It is supernatural because every time someone is born again, God just did a miracle.  A regeneration, a new birth.  We are living in a time when the people of God have tried to take a supernatural thing, which is God's church, and tried to make it grow using natural means.    You can add a new member to the church roll without anything supernatural ever taken place, but you cannot add another name to the roll in heaven without a supernatural move of God's Holy Spirit.    People are trying to direct their lives and direct their ministries today without ever having heard from God.  We have unlimited access to all the supernatural and divine power in the universe, and we would chose to work merely by natural means. 


Zechariah 4: 6-10 

6Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

7Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth its headstone with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

8Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.

10For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plumbline in the hand of Zerubbabel; these seven are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

 

These verses of Scripture are your hope and your deliverance, because the same God that helped Zerubbabel will help you.  Zerubbabel was building the temple of the LORD.  You are also building the temple of the LORD, that temple is you!  As the scriptures declare:  Know you not you are the temple.   There are five things here that God promises you, be sure you HEAR what God is saying. 

 

(1)  Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of host. God will give you supernatural help.   You are not going to rely on purely natural means to build your temple.  Don't think you are alone, and on your own.  God is going to build you up by His Spirit.  It doesn't matter how broken down you are, no matter what the condition, when God gets ready to build the house, God is more than able to do  by the supernatural, what man says is 'impossible' in the natural.  Has everyone given up on you?  Maybe in the natural  you have always been lacking and falling short, or just a handful of trouble.  It's time to turn it over to God and allow him to do the supernatural in your life.

 

(2)  Every mountain and obstacle in front of you is going to disappear when God begins moving on your behalf.  Has the devil always found a way to throw a wrench in  your successes.  Have you been a victim of circumstances, and obstacles way out of your control?  God is going to level every obstacle out and clear out a path for you to rise up.

 

(3)  And he shall bring forth its headstone with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.God is going to give you the grace to endure every test.  When trials and opposition and temptations come your way.  God is going to give you the grace you need to make it through it.

 

(4)  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it;  You have allowed God to start and good work in you, and God is going to finish it.  Whatever  you have committed to God won't be left half undone.  God that started a good work in you is going to see it through to completion.  Not by your might, or your power in the natural, but by HIS Spirit.

 

(5) For who has despised the day of small things?  When God does things by the supernatural, he usually starts out small, and tiny...and then springs that seed up into something big and mighty.  If you feel you are insignificant, you are just the seed God needs to do a mighty deed.  If you are just a little country church, you are just the seed God needs to plant into his work.  Hey, take whatever small thing you have, and yield it to God.  Don't get upset that it is such an insignificant thing...all throughout the bible God took that which was small and insignificant and did something mighty with it. 

 

Faith comes by hearing.  Did you hear all of the possibilities that God has laid out for you?  Maybe God sent you into a dead situation, to a place no one else wanted to go.  Praise God.  If your circumstances are dead in the natural, look up, it is time for God to do what he does best, a supernatural move of God. 

 

You were created for a purpose.

John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.   

 What did Jesus say that we would do?  He said that we would do WORKS.  And not just any works.  If we believe on Jesus we will do the works that he did, and even greater works!   Some people stop believing right there.  They don't want to accept that the Bible says that our belief is connected to works.   The idea that our belief is connected to faith is comforting to most people.  The idea that works are connected to our belief,  causes many people to disagree with what the Bible is saying in this passage.   Do you believe on Jesus?  Than you will do  the works he did, and perhaps even greater works.    Do you realize that this is a direct quote from Jesus?    Can we take a direct quote from Jesus and decide that we don't believe that way.  Well, some people do, but that's not a good idea.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has already ordained us that we should walk in good works.  God had a work in mind for you to do before you were even born.  God saved our soul.  How?  He saved us by our faith in Christ.  And he gives us purpose and meaning to our lives because he ordained a work for us to do since before we were even born.  Until you find your God given work and purpose in life, you will feel like there is something more that you are missing in this life.  Why?  Because you were created for a purpose.  Your soul was given an assignment from heaven.  You have something to accomplish.  Your life has a purpose, it has a meaning, there is a reason! 

Acts 13:36  For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption:

When you find the will of God for your life, you find God's purpose for your life.  God is the creator of this world.  He created every person for a distinct calling and place on this earth.  Just imagine if David had chosen not the serve the LORD, or fight Goliath, or fulfill the calling upon his life.  If he hadn't followed God's plan he would have never became the KING, nor would he be part of the lineage of Jesus.

Each of us must ask ourselves, "What am I missing out on in life because I have not found God's will and express purpose for my life." 

When you fulfill a different place in life other than what God has called you to, you will find a lack of fulfillment.  Do you notice how the word fulfill is the root word for the word fulfillment?  If  you want true fulfillment in life you must find God's purpose and calling and fulfill it.

LIVE WORSHIP AT PRAISE ASSEMBLY COLUMBIA

When encouragement is just not enough

Encouragement is a good thing.  So many are discouraged and lacking the joy and the peace that they need to make it through.   An encouraging word, and encouraging smile, a friendly gesture can make a big difference in your day.   But, sometimes speaking a word of encouragement is like putting a band aid on an open gapping wound.   We need more than that which will make us 'feel' better.  There are times when we can be so depressed that a word of encouragement is like putting a drop of water on a hot sand pile.  It just evaporates as it hits our soul.  There are times when we can be so full of panic, that we are paralyzed by our fears.  When these things attack us it can bring us into a place of despair that is so devastating.   It is going to make more than a good word of encouragement to make a lasting difference.  

The Bible tells the story of a guy that loved the night life, he liked to party.  He came from a good family, they were farmers.  He didn't want to be a country boy, he didn't want to farm.  He wanted to go to the big city where there was some action going on.    His older brother was satisfied to stay on the farm, and work with his dad, but he couldn't WAIT to get out of there. 

We see this same thing often today in our society.    Many times young people will hate living in the home where they were raised.  I have heard many young people say, "I can't wait until I'm 18, and I can get out of this place!"  It is understandable that when  a person is miserable that they would want to change their circumstances.  The only problem with this kind of attitude is that it springs up out of a heart of hatred and rebellion.  When you have this heart of rebellion it will destroy everything that you do.  You may leave your home, but you haven't left your problem.  Your problem will follow  you.  We think that our problem is the people around us, but the problem is our heart that was hateful and rebellious.  Do you know why your problem follows you?  Because you leave the home in a hateful attitude of unthankfulness and rebellion and then you get yourself a job.  The first thing you know your boss is up in your face telling you what you will do, or what you won't do.  Then what happens?  That hateful spirit of rebellion will rise up inside of you, and you will talk back to your boss, and you will get fired, or quit, because you won't let ANYONE tell you what to do.  And then you will get married and your rebellious attitude will come between  you and your family, and the problem goes on and on.  That rebellious attitude will be like a noose around your neck, until God breaks that chain!

In the story, the son left his father's house to go to the big city, where he wanted to have fun, but he didn't leave his problems behind him, he took his problems with him!   He went to his father and said, "Give me what is mine."  He was rebellious, he was selfish, he wanted his inheritance before his father passed away.  He wanted his cut in the family farm, so he could go to the big city and 'enjoy' his life.  His father understood that his  son's heart had went astray, and he let him follow his heart.  There was nothing he could do to hold his son there.

Today, many people will tell you that you can't go wrong following your heart.  This is simply not the truth.  Our hearts can lead us astray.  When our hearts go after the wrong things in life and we follow our hearts we get our self in a huge mess.  I know many people who set out early in life to follow their heart, and many of them ended up in a big mess.  Sometimes we have to live our life by living for responsibilities.  For the son in this story, that is not the kind of life he wanted.  Sometimes our wants and desires are the very thing that can mess us up.  When we come to God he wants more than just an effort from us to do what is right.  God wants us to surrender our life to him so that he can put his Spirit in us, and change our wants and desires to be what he desires. 

The young man in the story did receive his inheritance early from his father.  He did go to the big city.  And the Bible says that when he got there:   Luke 15:13  And not many days later the younger son gathered everything together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

He went to the big city, and he went wild.   The Bible says that sin is fun for a season.  Luke 15:14 And when he had spent everything, there arose a great famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

The party life promises you so much, but it delivers unexpected results, it always leaves you wanting MORE.  Never satisfied, never happy after the drugs wear off, always unfulfilled, and alone.

There is always an end to every party.  Sometimes the end is when you run out of money, like it was for this young man.  Sometimes the end is a jail cell.  Sometimes the end is losing all of your family.  Sometimes the end is a hospital bed.  Sometimes the end is an overdose.  There is always an end to the party.  Sometimes you can party for a few decades before you reach the end, but the end of the party hits you sooner or later.

The young man found himself penniless, hungry, and with no friends.  He got a job, and guess where...on a FARM...but not his father's farm. You can run away in rebellion, but you will come right back around to where you left!  I thought he didn't like the farm life, but now, this was the only job he could get.  Out of options and out of luck!   He was working for someone else, on a farm, feeding pigs, and he was so hungry he would eat the slop. 

In that moment there is no self help talk, no prosperity message, no word of encouragement, no motivational speech that could help this young man.  He had sunk as low as he could get!  There is no cliché, no positive thinking, no  wishful thinking that would pull him up out of this mess.  We have a whole nation full of prodigal sons that are living in the devastation of the pig pen, and we have preachers that are standing up giving a good motivational speeches full of wishful thinking and positive antidotes.  The prodigals are going out of the church just as messed up as they was when they came in, because there is no power in our words when we fail to preach Christ and him crucified!

He did what all of us eventually need to do.  He humbled himself, and he went to his father, and he said, "I AM SORRY."  He said he had done wrong, and he was coming home to live, and accept his place in life and his responsibilities.  It is called being humble, and repentant, and growing up.

Sometimes we don't need another word of encouragement, cause we have sunk so low, that a positive thought is going to do very little good.  Sometimes we need to go back to that place where we taught right from wrong, and decide to choose life instead of death.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

He was as low as he could get.  Money was not his answer.  Another job was not his answer.  Stealing from others was not his answer.  A woman that would take him in was not his answer.  The Father in the story is God.  Return to his house, with a repentant heart, and let God restore to you that which you have lost.

Live Worship at Praise Assembly Columbia

Glorious the Lamb Bob McCann

What are you waiting on? LIFT up and STRETCH out!

Did God ask us to be an optimist?  God asked us to be so MUCH MORE than an optimist.  God asked us to believe in the impossible, because all things are possible with God.  Look at the children of Israel when they were parked up against the red sea.  In your minds eye, see them at the edge of the red sea, which was blocking off any forward movement.  And coming up from behind them was Pharaoh's army.  And the army behind them was hell bent on killing them all!  They couldn't go forward, they couldn't go backward.  Now, in their situation, you tell me if the glass is half full, or if the glass is half empty.  Did God ask them to look at the possibilities, and to pretend the sea was gone, and the army was gone?  Did he tell them to block out of their minds the idea that there was destruction on them from all sides?    Did he tell them to quote the Word of God until a possibility opened up in front of them?  Did he tell them to pray until they got an answer?   Did they go to the bank and get a loan for a few boats that would carry them all across the sea?  Hey, doesn't borrowing a cool million dollars or more fix all problems?  Isn't that God answer for everything?  Absolutely not!   These are some of the things we try when we are faced with impossible circumstances, but guess what, God never asked Moses to do any of those things! 

Exodus 14: 8-16  And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with defiance.  But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamped by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.  And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were greatly afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? why have you dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?  Is not this the word that we did tell you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.  And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Crossing the Sea  And the LORD said unto Moses, Why do you cry unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:  But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

 

The Lord said to Moses, why do you cry out to me.  Speak to the children of Israel to move forward...

 

Move forward!  Oh!  Of all the brilliant ideas!  Hello, there is a sea in the way!  Do you realize that no matter what obstacle you are facing, God is expecting you to move forward.    How many times have I heard people say something like, "I can't do this because of this, that or the other thing that is in the way."  Or they will say, "After I get this resolved, or this other thing taken care of, or go to the bank, or get transportation..."  What God wants to know is why are you waiting?  The ONLY thing we are to wait upon is GOD, once he gives you direction, the wait is over.  People often say, "I am waiting on God to give me this or that, or provide the way, or to open the doors."   Listen, Israel had NO OPEN doors here, yet God says, "Why do you cry out to me, tell the people to move forward."  What did he tell Moses?  Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand.  Oh,  we don't like to lift up and stretch out do we?  We want God to hand us an open door without us lifting up or stretching out don't we?   We sit and pray.  We pray and wait.  We look for an opportunity to borrow money, I mean surely you can't get across this big sea without spending money can you?    I know people that go down and borrow money from a bank, get what they want, do what they want with it, and then say God did it.  God did nothing.  Money opened that door for you, not God.    Someone may say, "Well, God helped me get the loan."  In the days we are living in, I know bankrupt people that are getting loans.  It doesn't take the hand of God to get a loan in the days we are living in.  When someone tells me what God is doing in their church, I want to know how much money the had to borrow to get it done.   Any church where big money is going out, and people are going in debt to obtain that money,  God is doing very little, I can promise you that!   If you borrowed a  lot of money and got door opened, then call it that, but don't call it a move of God!    How does God open a door for us we got to lift up, and stretch out!

 

Look at Joshua and the walls of Jericho.  Are  you telling me that they knocked those walls down without having to go to the bank and borrow a lot of money?  Wow.   They lifted up their voices and stretched out their legs to march, and the walls came down.  Are you lifting up and stretching out what you got, or are you sitting down making excuses 'waiting' upon God, when he already told us to move forward?    Look at Noah.  Are you telling me he built that boat without taking on a huge debt?  Is it a sin to build up debt?  No.  But the Bible says that the borrower is servant to the lender.  In this generation we don't move forward inch by inch in the patience and power of God.  We just borrow money and do it all at once and get our self in a financial mess.    There is no record that Noah borrowed money, or hired a construction crew.  What did he do?  He lifted up and stretched out, and built a boat.  He wasn't sitting around waiting upon laborers, and money, and better circumstances!    Why are you sitting around waiting upon more laborers to help you accomplish God's plan?  Get yourself up off your hind end, lift up and stretch out whatever God's already put in your hand, and move forward on dry ground.  When you lift up and stretch out, your will find that God miraculously opens up a door right in front of you!   It was there all the time!  Just keep moving forward!