Steppin into your miracle by Terry Sisney
Joshua 3:11-3:17
The children of Israel are standing in a familiar place (40 years prior, their parents had stood in this same place) On the brink of a breakthrough they had a breakdown.
They had a Faith Failure.
They forfeited their promise, they were still Gods people, He cared for them and sustained them for 40 more years in the wilderness till all the doubters died off.
(But they died destiny poor).
One of the greatest tragedies in life is to live and never discover your destiny, but worse than that is to discover your destiny and forfeit it.
I want to talk for a minute to some people unlike this first generation, I want to talk to some people who know they have a destiny over their lives, who know there is a reason and a purpose for their existence.
I want to talk to the ones who want everything God has ordained for your life and you refuse to let go, give in or give up.
I want to talk to some people that have a fight in your spirit, the Kind of fight like Caleb had who at 85 years old said (give me my mountain) the kind of fight that won’t be denied.
Is there anybody who wants what God has promised you?
Is there anybody who refuses to settle for less than what God said you can have?
Is there anybody who has their mind made up that whatever it costs you’re going to get what God has promised you?
Will you say with me…
(Give me my Mountain).
Now it you’re satisfied where you’re at, with what you’ve got, seeing what you’re seeing, and doing what you’re doing and experiencing what you’re experiencing, (then this message is probably not for you.
But if you happen to be one of those rare breeds called dreamers, and if something inside of you is kicking, and if your spirit is divinely dissatisfied, and if you know God has destined you for more (then you’re the one I’m talking to).
First of all I would be doing you a disservice of I didn’t tell you that every promise comes with a price.
There is no victory without a fight, and there is no testimony without a test.
There’s no crown without a cross and there’s no resurrection without a crucifixion.
There is something you will have to go through to get your promise, before Joseph went to the Palace he went to the pit and the prison.
Before the three Hebrew boys were promoted they went through the fiery furnace.
And between the children of Israel and their Inheritance (their promise land) there was a river called Jordan (Jordan means, descender or the one that takes you down) that’s what Jordan intends to do is take you down, kill your dreams, drown your faith.
Even in most of our songs Jordan river is used to describe death.
There is a Jordan for every one of us.
Your Jordan may be different from mine, but what is the same is the fact that it stands between my promise and me and between you and your promise.
And the only way you or I can get through it is by faith.
You can’t float over on feelings, feelings won’t get you across, and you can’t run over on past experiences, and you can’t get through on second hand knowledge.
Religion won’t get you through it.
The only thing that can conquer Jordan is a living faith in a living God.
As the children of Israel stood at the edge of a raging Jordan river at flood stage, The captain Joshua give the Priest that carried the ark of the covenant, a strange order.
He says (start walking) (Step into the water) Start moving in the direction of your promise.
You can’t go by what you’re seeing or what you’re hearing or what you’re feeling or what other people are saying.
You can’t go by what your mind is saying or the economy is saying
(You have to move because God says Move)
You can’t wait until you can see a break in the waves, you can’t wait until it makes sense or it feels good to your emotions.
You can’t wait until you see the waters open up in front of you.
Maybe the first time God did it that way for you, when you were just starting out, but you’ve got some history with God now and he is requiring more faith from you now.
God says it time to take the training wheels off.
It’s time to get rid of the pacifier.
It’s time to get rid of the crutches
It’s time to move from sight to faith
It’s time to move from I hope so to I know so.
It’s time to move from the milk to the meat.
In other words: This time you have to get your feet wet.
You have got to have enough vision and enough faith in God to get you off your blessed assurance and Step in.
Tell your neighbor: I’m stepping in I know it sounds crazy, I know it don’t make sense I know this Jordan is at flood stage and I know that people are saying it won’t work.
And I know that the circumstances are against me and the odds are against me (But it really doesn’t matter as long as God is for me)
Cause if God be for me, who can be against me?
You see (I’ve Got a Word)
That’s all you need is a Word
When you’ve got a Word from God you can sleep like a baby in a den of lions, you can walk through a fiery furnace.
You can do the impossible.
You can bring down goliath with a piece of leather and a rock, you can have your meal barrel full and your cruse of oil full in the middle of famine.
All it takes is a Word
Peter Had a Word: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught.
(Lord we’ve toiled, worked hard all night long and haven’t caught anything) Nevertheless at Thy Word we will let down the net.
And when Peter obeyed the word of the Lord he went into overflow.
One word from God changed Peters circumstances.
He went from nothing to too much in one step.
From emptiness to overflow in one step
From broke busted and disgusted, to blessed happy and wealthy in one step.
He had such an abundance of fish it almost sank his boat; he had to call others to come and help bring in the blessings.
And it was such abundance that it almost sank their boat too.
Though weeping may endure for the night, Joy cometh in the morning
Peter went from a night season of wearied and toilsome, fruitless endeavor, to a morning season of overflow and joy and blessings in one step.
Let me tell there is somebody who has the faith to reach out and grab it: Somebody is one step away from your miracle, one step away from your breakthrough.
One step away from a too much blessing.
You’ve put in your time of toiling, and trying and praying and confessing, and waiting and watching.
And I just came to tell you (Your one step away from what you’ve been believing for).
Nu 23:19 God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent, if he said it he will do it, if he hath spoken it he will make it good.
When they stepped in the waters, as soon as the priests feet touched the waters (they rolled back).
I want to tell someone right now: There are some things that have been chasing you, in fact threatening to drown you and take you under.
It may be debt, it may be sickness, it may be fear, and it may be a bad relationship.
I don’t know what it is that’s chasing you, but there’s a turnaround in the atmosphere and God is getting ready to flip the script and that which has been running after you, nipping at your heels is going to be running from you.
But you have to stop where you’re at, turn around and face it and step toward it in faith.
And when you do you are going to initiate a Miracle.
I don’t know what Jordan you may be facing today. Your Jordan may be completely different from mine.
And I don’t know what that One step is that you need to take, but if you will obey God and take that step (Jordan is gonna run from you).
Poverty and lack are going to run from you.
Sickness and disease are going to run from you.
Hopelessness and discouragement are going to run from you.
Worry and anxiety are going to run from you.
Fear and confusion are going to run from you.
Deut 28:7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee, to be smitten before thy face: They shall come out against thee one way but they shall flee before thee seven ways.
One step of Obedience: The willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
The miracle is not in the knowing or even the believing, the miracle is in the doing.
When Ezekial obeyed the Lord and started prophesying over those bones, things started changing, it was a process that continued until there was a full manifestation.
Tell your neighbor: I’m in process
Now tell your other neighbor: I’m making progress.
The bible says that the priests that were baring the ark kept moving until they were standing in the middle of the Jordan river.
Tell your neighbor: Keep moving, keep praying, keep sowing, keep coming to church and prayer meeting.
Keep on confessing, keep tithing, keep believing.
Keep praising when you don’t feel like it, and you don’t see anything to praise him for, praise him just because.
Just because he’s God and Just because he’s worthy.
The main thing is: Keep moving, don’t sit down,
Then the bible says: The priest that were baring the ark stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan.
There they were (where it was impossible to go, doing what it was impossible to do).
Tell your neighbor: Take a good look at me, cause I’m getting ready to do the impossible, I’m getting ready to go where they said It was impossible to go, and I’m getting ready to do what they said it was impossible to do.
You see I’m just crazy enough to believe God when he said: With God all things are possible, and all things are possible to him that believeth.
Tell your neighbor: My faith is making a way for me.
Now while the priests stood in the midst of the Jordan with the Ark of God raised in the air, somewhere between a half a million to three million people crossed over.
In other words while the priests were lifting God up in the middle of their trial, their Jordan, between a half a million to three million people came through on their praise.
I just want to tell you: Somebody’s coming through on your praise, somebody that wasn’t going to make it, is going to make it because you praised God in the middle of your Jordan.
That’s why it’s so important that you lift him up, and praise him and magnify him even in the prison. Even in the lion’s den, even in the fiery furnace, lift him up somebody’s life depends on it.
Anybody can praise God post Jordan, post the lion’s den, post the fiery furnace, post the prison, (after the fact).
But there’s something about a midway praise, a midnight praise, an in the middle praise, that gets Gods attention and breaks things open.
Joshua erected a pillar of Stones in the midst of the Jordan where the priest’s feet stood firm on dry ground.
What is this pillar Joshua? What does it mean? Joshua would say: This is my going through it praise.
I’m going through the worst trial of my life, but I’m going to praise him anyway.
I’m going through hell in my finances, but I’m going to praise him anyway.
I’m going through the valley of the shadow of death, but I’m going to praise him anyway. I’m going through it with my family, or on my job, or they’re trying to destroy my ministry but I’m going to praise him anyway.
And at Midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto the Lord and the prisoners heard them.
It didn’t say they joined with them, or even that they enjoyed their singing, just that they heard it.
And suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison and every door flew open and every prisoner’s bands were loosed.
Tell your neighbor: This praise is for you,
I love this part: And all the Israelites passed over on Dry Ground.
This is perhaps the greatest part of the miracle, not just that they made it through, but that there was no evidence, no residue that they had been through what they had been through.
Just like the three Hebrew children, when they came out of the furnace their clothes were not burned, their hair was not singed, and there was not even the smell of smoke on them.
And it all started when the priests obeyed the Lord and stepped into the water.
There’s somebody waiting for you to step in, you could be the key to someone else’s miracle.
If you really believed that one step on your neighbors part would release your miracle, how would you talk to them?
Give them a little nudge and tell them, let’s get this miracle started.Grab somebody by the hand and tell them: I’m stepping into my miracle.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Trust, not Fear
Say What, Dad?
It is said that kids say the darnest things here is a few things I believe you would never hear a dad say
"Can you turn up that music?"
"Go ahead and take the car. Here's 50 bucks for gas."
"I LOVE your tattoo. We should both get new ones."
"Here, you take the remote."
Trust, Not Fear
Luke 23:46a” Then Jesus shouted,” Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
The word entrust means: to commit to another with confidence.
In today’s world that isn’t as easy to do as it once was at one time. There once was a time when we could entrust our children to others when they go to school to be safe, another example is we use to be able to entrust the bank with our money.
Many times we read devotions or books on the issue of trusting God. In the Bible, we learn that time after time God has proved Himself to man, not having to, but out of love, He has proved Himself trustworthy.
In many occasions in our walk with the Lord, circumstances arise and our faith and trust in God are tested, but minute after minute, day after day, year after year, God confirms that we can trust Him.
Still, sadly there are those Christians that simply will not and do not trust the Lord. God seeks for relationship with His children, and the most important factor in an intimate relationship is trust.
Now even though there are those that don’t, it doesn’t change the simple truth that we can always trust God.
Before we can entrust something to God we have to die to it.
Jesus himself had to die before he could entrust his spirit to his father, we continue to read in Luke 23:46b and with those words he breathed his last.
In order to totally entrust something to the Lord we have to get our hands off of it (hence die to it) and surrender it to the Lord.
Sometimes we lack the trust because of fear.
Remember the parable in Matt 25:1414"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
When we are afraid and doubt God we miss out on His blessings for us. You see the first two servants had no fear and multiplied their blessing from there master but the third let fear creep in and hid the blessing and missed out.
We need to get to the point in our walk were we can entrust ever area of our lives to God.
I want to ask you this morning what you are holding back from the Lord this morning that you haven’t totally surrendered over to Him d/t doubt or fear. Is it your finances, your health, your relationship with a loved one?
No matter what you’re facing today place it in God’s hands.
Want to worry less then pray more.
Worry is believing in what the devil could do.
Faith is believing what God will do.
1 Peter 5:7 says” Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life.
It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, to admit your need, and let others in God’s family help you.
Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God’s concerns.
But when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight even of those struggles.
Don’t submit to circumstances but to the Lord, who controls circumstances.
Cast all you care; personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God.
These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God.
The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal.
There are times when we pray and we long to pour out our heart to God, but for whatever reason we feel we cannot. I would encourage you to talk to God just like you would talk to that good, close friend.
We read in Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
That verse is telling us that Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is a feeling person, and He can feel our pain and our infirmities. He was tempted like we are, and He knows what it is like.
The next verse goes on, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
As you pray, I encourage you to go boldly before the throne of God.
Tell Him the things that are on your heart.
Tell Him your hurts and your pains, your disappointments, the things you struggle with, the things that you are tempted by.
Do not hesitate. Do not think, "Well I can't tell God this. He doesn't want to hear it." He already knows anyway.
God gives us permission to come boldly, to cast our cares on Him.
My friend, I encourage you to do that. Come boldly before His throne. Tell Him everything just as you would a good, close friend, and enjoy the release of knowing that He cares and that He can do something about it. Cast your cares on Him.
Once you do this you must have the faith to believe. When you do…
You will have dreams that can move the mountains hope that doesn’t ever end.
Even when the sky is falling you will see miracles just happen.
Silent prayers get answered broken hearts become brand new.
That’s what faith can do.
Melissa sings
Once we finally conquer this we need to be the examples to our children of what faith can do. Dads we are called to be the spiritual head of our homes and we need to lead by example because our children will follow in our footsteps.
Walk a little slower, Daddy,
Said a little child so small.
I'm following in your footsteps
And I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they are hard to see;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.
It doesn’t matter what you up against God is more than able , put your trust in Him , let go and let God .
It is said that kids say the darnest things here is a few things I believe you would never hear a dad say
"Can you turn up that music?"
"Go ahead and take the car. Here's 50 bucks for gas."
"I LOVE your tattoo. We should both get new ones."
"Here, you take the remote."
Trust, Not Fear
Luke 23:46a” Then Jesus shouted,” Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
The word entrust means: to commit to another with confidence.
In today’s world that isn’t as easy to do as it once was at one time. There once was a time when we could entrust our children to others when they go to school to be safe, another example is we use to be able to entrust the bank with our money.
Many times we read devotions or books on the issue of trusting God. In the Bible, we learn that time after time God has proved Himself to man, not having to, but out of love, He has proved Himself trustworthy.
In many occasions in our walk with the Lord, circumstances arise and our faith and trust in God are tested, but minute after minute, day after day, year after year, God confirms that we can trust Him.
Still, sadly there are those Christians that simply will not and do not trust the Lord. God seeks for relationship with His children, and the most important factor in an intimate relationship is trust.
Now even though there are those that don’t, it doesn’t change the simple truth that we can always trust God.
Before we can entrust something to God we have to die to it.
Jesus himself had to die before he could entrust his spirit to his father, we continue to read in Luke 23:46b and with those words he breathed his last.
In order to totally entrust something to the Lord we have to get our hands off of it (hence die to it) and surrender it to the Lord.
Sometimes we lack the trust because of fear.
Remember the parable in Matt 25:1414"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
When we are afraid and doubt God we miss out on His blessings for us. You see the first two servants had no fear and multiplied their blessing from there master but the third let fear creep in and hid the blessing and missed out.
We need to get to the point in our walk were we can entrust ever area of our lives to God.
I want to ask you this morning what you are holding back from the Lord this morning that you haven’t totally surrendered over to Him d/t doubt or fear. Is it your finances, your health, your relationship with a loved one?
No matter what you’re facing today place it in God’s hands.
Want to worry less then pray more.
Worry is believing in what the devil could do.
Faith is believing what God will do.
1 Peter 5:7 says” Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life.
It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, to admit your need, and let others in God’s family help you.
Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God’s concerns.
But when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight even of those struggles.
Don’t submit to circumstances but to the Lord, who controls circumstances.
Cast all you care; personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God.
These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God.
The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal.
There are times when we pray and we long to pour out our heart to God, but for whatever reason we feel we cannot. I would encourage you to talk to God just like you would talk to that good, close friend.
We read in Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
That verse is telling us that Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is a feeling person, and He can feel our pain and our infirmities. He was tempted like we are, and He knows what it is like.
The next verse goes on, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
As you pray, I encourage you to go boldly before the throne of God.
Tell Him the things that are on your heart.
Tell Him your hurts and your pains, your disappointments, the things you struggle with, the things that you are tempted by.
Do not hesitate. Do not think, "Well I can't tell God this. He doesn't want to hear it." He already knows anyway.
God gives us permission to come boldly, to cast our cares on Him.
My friend, I encourage you to do that. Come boldly before His throne. Tell Him everything just as you would a good, close friend, and enjoy the release of knowing that He cares and that He can do something about it. Cast your cares on Him.
Once you do this you must have the faith to believe. When you do…
You will have dreams that can move the mountains hope that doesn’t ever end.
Even when the sky is falling you will see miracles just happen.
Silent prayers get answered broken hearts become brand new.
That’s what faith can do.
Melissa sings
Once we finally conquer this we need to be the examples to our children of what faith can do. Dads we are called to be the spiritual head of our homes and we need to lead by example because our children will follow in our footsteps.
Walk a little slower, Daddy,
Said a little child so small.
I'm following in your footsteps
And I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they are hard to see;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.
It doesn’t matter what you up against God is more than able , put your trust in Him , let go and let God .
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Push against the rock
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and then God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.
This the man did, day after day. For many years he worked from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind. “You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.
And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his thoughts to the Lord. “Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”
“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is simple obedience and Faith in Him…
By all means exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves them.
Zechariah 4:6:
6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!
Sometimes God’s ownership of a project is recognized only after our best efforts have failed.
It is dangerous to think that God is responsible for only insignificant details of a project while we take charge of the larger aspects.
Instead, it is God who is in control and we only play a part in his overall plan. When God gives us important jobs to do, it isn’t because he needs our help.
Zerubbabel was commanded to rebuild God’s temple but was met with opposition.
The Temple foundation was then quickly completed, but soon two problems arose.
A few old men didn’t think the new temple was as glorious as the ones before and that was discouraging also, some enemies tried to infiltrate the workforce and stop the building with political pressure. Fear caused the work to gring to a halt.
Zerubbabel, like many of us, knew how to start well but found it hard to keep going. He let discouragement get the better of him. But when he let God take control, the work was finished. God is always in control. We must not let circumstances or lack of encouragement slow us from doing the tasks God has given us.
Believers can expect opposition when we do God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:12:
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Paul told Timothy here that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted.
Don’t be surprise when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don’t give up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please.
Unbelievers and evil spiritual forces are always working against God and his people.
The opposition may offer compromising alliances, attempt to discourage and intimidate us, or accuse us unjustly. If you expect these tactics, you won’t be hindered by them. Move ahead with the work God has planned for you, and trust him to show you how to overcome the obstacles.
Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says,” Not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit”.
The key words are “by my spirit.”
It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished.
As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of his Spirit.
What you do for God may seem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the small opportunities. Begin where you are and do what you can, and leave the results to God.
God isn’t concerned about our abilities as much as he is about our availability.
God delights in our obedience to him.
In the book A Blessed Life the author tells of a time when one couple who seemed seemingly broken before the Lord came up to him. They were weeping almost uncontrollably. They said that the Lord had spoken to them about giving away every penny they had. He learned that they had written a check for all the money they had in the world. Now they were bringing him the check, saying” were supposed to give this to you. Do whatever you feel you’re supposed to do with it”.
The man asked them again” are you saying this is mine now, and I can do anything that I want with it?” Through there tears they nodded yes. And then the man tore up the check in front of them.
You see God nor this church really needs your money but what God does require is your obedience.
If God would tell you today to push on a rock for one whole year would you do it?
God is asking of us all to be obedient to him today, He has a mighty plan for each one of us and even though what we are going through right now may not seem to make a whole lot of since don’t get discourage but press on.
Don’t let your current circumstance hinder the great work God would have you to be part of. Surrender your all and answer the call.
This the man did, day after day. For many years he worked from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind. “You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.
And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his thoughts to the Lord. “Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”
“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is simple obedience and Faith in Him…
By all means exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves them.
Zechariah 4:6:
6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!
Sometimes God’s ownership of a project is recognized only after our best efforts have failed.
It is dangerous to think that God is responsible for only insignificant details of a project while we take charge of the larger aspects.
Instead, it is God who is in control and we only play a part in his overall plan. When God gives us important jobs to do, it isn’t because he needs our help.
Zerubbabel was commanded to rebuild God’s temple but was met with opposition.
The Temple foundation was then quickly completed, but soon two problems arose.
A few old men didn’t think the new temple was as glorious as the ones before and that was discouraging also, some enemies tried to infiltrate the workforce and stop the building with political pressure. Fear caused the work to gring to a halt.
Zerubbabel, like many of us, knew how to start well but found it hard to keep going. He let discouragement get the better of him. But when he let God take control, the work was finished. God is always in control. We must not let circumstances or lack of encouragement slow us from doing the tasks God has given us.
Believers can expect opposition when we do God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:12:
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Paul told Timothy here that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted.
Don’t be surprise when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don’t give up. Continue to live as you know you should. God is the only one you need to please.
Unbelievers and evil spiritual forces are always working against God and his people.
The opposition may offer compromising alliances, attempt to discourage and intimidate us, or accuse us unjustly. If you expect these tactics, you won’t be hindered by them. Move ahead with the work God has planned for you, and trust him to show you how to overcome the obstacles.
Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says,” Not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit”.
The key words are “by my spirit.”
It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished.
As you live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of his Spirit.
What you do for God may seem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the small opportunities. Begin where you are and do what you can, and leave the results to God.
God isn’t concerned about our abilities as much as he is about our availability.
God delights in our obedience to him.
In the book A Blessed Life the author tells of a time when one couple who seemed seemingly broken before the Lord came up to him. They were weeping almost uncontrollably. They said that the Lord had spoken to them about giving away every penny they had. He learned that they had written a check for all the money they had in the world. Now they were bringing him the check, saying” were supposed to give this to you. Do whatever you feel you’re supposed to do with it”.
The man asked them again” are you saying this is mine now, and I can do anything that I want with it?” Through there tears they nodded yes. And then the man tore up the check in front of them.
You see God nor this church really needs your money but what God does require is your obedience.
If God would tell you today to push on a rock for one whole year would you do it?
God is asking of us all to be obedient to him today, He has a mighty plan for each one of us and even though what we are going through right now may not seem to make a whole lot of since don’t get discourage but press on.
Don’t let your current circumstance hinder the great work God would have you to be part of. Surrender your all and answer the call.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Couch potatoes to 5k runner
Couch potatoes to 5k runner
Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their body’s rebel and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.
You should ease into your running program gradually. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in no time at all.
It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready.
God is looking to His church today and saying get off the couch and start training to run a marathon called life.
Many times during the course it will get tough but don’t give up.
You might be asking yourself why not? Well perseverance, persistence, the prize!
The Christian life was never promised as an easy way to live: instead, Paul constantly reminds us that we must have a purpose and a plan because times will be difficult and Satan will attack. But we never persevere without the promise of a prize- a promise God will keep.
Let’s look at the purpose….the plan…the prize
1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.
As Christians, we are running towards our heavenly reward.
The essential disciplines of prayer, bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina.
Whatever happened to self discipline? Self discipline requires an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses. It means building the will to say no when a powerful appetite inside you screams yes.
For example, when you have self discipline you can say no to friends or situations that will lead you away from Christ. You can say no to casual sex, saving intimacy for marriage and you can say no to laziness in favor of “can do” and “will do”.
Self discipline is a long, steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally, and channeling natural appetites towards Gods purposes.
Don’t merely observe from the grandstand: don’t just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently- your spiritual progress depends upon it.
It is easy to tell others how to live and then not to take our own advice. We must be careful to practice what we preach.
The purpose is to Run to get the prize, Run with purpose in every step.
The plan we see here is to discipline your body, training it.
The prize is an eternal prize.
As we strive to run this race we need to have the right motives for running. As we run we our sowing seeds. It will be worth it all if we will persevere.
Galatians 6:7-10:
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It’s a natural law to harvest what we plant.
It’s true in other areas too. If you gossip about your friends you will lose their friendship. Every action has results.
If you plant to please your own desires, you’ll harvest a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you’ll harvest joy and everlasting life. What kind of seeds are you planting?
The purposes we see here is don’t get tired of doing good, don’t give up and do good to everyone.
The plan is to live to please the Spirit.
The prize is everlasting life.
Philippians 3:12-14:
Pressing toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him.
This goal took all of Paul’s energies.
This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off of our goal- knowing Christ.
With the single- mindedness of an athlete in training we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?
Paul had reason to forget the past- he persecuted Christians in his past.
We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be.
Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become.
Don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now.
Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience.
Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ.
The purpose here is to possess that perfection for which Christ possessed you.
The plan to forget the past: press on to reach the end of the race.
The prize is the heavenly prize for which God calls you.
God has so much in store for us all, it’s up to us if we choose to achieve it or not. No-one said it will be easy and we all will go at our own pace but the important thing is we continue to always move forward.
It doesn’t matter which place to finish the race but that you do finish and when you are done can say you gave it your all. You do your best and god will do the rest.
Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their body’s rebel and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.
You should ease into your running program gradually. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in no time at all.
It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready.
God is looking to His church today and saying get off the couch and start training to run a marathon called life.
Many times during the course it will get tough but don’t give up.
You might be asking yourself why not? Well perseverance, persistence, the prize!
The Christian life was never promised as an easy way to live: instead, Paul constantly reminds us that we must have a purpose and a plan because times will be difficult and Satan will attack. But we never persevere without the promise of a prize- a promise God will keep.
Let’s look at the purpose….the plan…the prize
1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.
As Christians, we are running towards our heavenly reward.
The essential disciplines of prayer, bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina.
Whatever happened to self discipline? Self discipline requires an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses. It means building the will to say no when a powerful appetite inside you screams yes.
For example, when you have self discipline you can say no to friends or situations that will lead you away from Christ. You can say no to casual sex, saving intimacy for marriage and you can say no to laziness in favor of “can do” and “will do”.
Self discipline is a long, steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally, and channeling natural appetites towards Gods purposes.
Don’t merely observe from the grandstand: don’t just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently- your spiritual progress depends upon it.
It is easy to tell others how to live and then not to take our own advice. We must be careful to practice what we preach.
The purpose is to Run to get the prize, Run with purpose in every step.
The plan we see here is to discipline your body, training it.
The prize is an eternal prize.
As we strive to run this race we need to have the right motives for running. As we run we our sowing seeds. It will be worth it all if we will persevere.
Galatians 6:7-10:
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It’s a natural law to harvest what we plant.
It’s true in other areas too. If you gossip about your friends you will lose their friendship. Every action has results.
If you plant to please your own desires, you’ll harvest a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you’ll harvest joy and everlasting life. What kind of seeds are you planting?
The purposes we see here is don’t get tired of doing good, don’t give up and do good to everyone.
The plan is to live to please the Spirit.
The prize is everlasting life.
Philippians 3:12-14:
Pressing toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him.
This goal took all of Paul’s energies.
This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off of our goal- knowing Christ.
With the single- mindedness of an athlete in training we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?
Paul had reason to forget the past- he persecuted Christians in his past.
We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be.
Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become.
Don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now.
Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience.
Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ.
The purpose here is to possess that perfection for which Christ possessed you.
The plan to forget the past: press on to reach the end of the race.
The prize is the heavenly prize for which God calls you.
God has so much in store for us all, it’s up to us if we choose to achieve it or not. No-one said it will be easy and we all will go at our own pace but the important thing is we continue to always move forward.
It doesn’t matter which place to finish the race but that you do finish and when you are done can say you gave it your all. You do your best and god will do the rest.
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