FAITH

The Evidence of our Belief!!




Delay

Postponement

Hold-up

Time-lag

Detain

          These are words that describe (in the eyes of most Christians) the answers to prayer! We’re very “hurry up” oriented in America. We have been taught from childhood to trust the Lord. But one of the things we have NOT been taught is that God isn’t on our ‘time-schedule’!! As I have said before: Our God is NEVER late! But He ain’t ever EARLY, either!

-------------------------------------------


In Psalms 27:14 (NKJV) David said: WAIT ON THE LORD; BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART; WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD!


David was waiting on God to deliver his enemy into his hands. And even though he had the power to overthrow King Saul, he WOULD NOT DO IT!! He used these words in Psalms 27:14 to strengthen his own ‘will’.


Now, in Psalms 25:16 (NKJV), he said: TURN YOURSELF TO ME, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME, FOR I AM DESOLATE AND AFFLICTED.

Here, he was expressing his forlornness – his desolation to God. Although he was surrounded by hundreds of men, there was only ONE to Whom David could pour out his heart: ALMIGHTY GOD!!!


Have you ever noticed that being in the company of many people does NOT mean you necessarily feel “cozy” or “at peace”? Are there times when you might be in the comfort of your own bed, protected from ‘outsiders’, and you STILL are unable to find the ‘rest’ you need?

Well, David had experienced those things, as well. At one point David lived in “the cave of Adullam”. And it was during those times that he wrote some of his most passionate Psalms. God anointed him and promised him the kingdom. But it’s at this point in David’s life that “The Great Delay” took place.


Why did it happen this way?

It was the YEARS of time-lag from the time of ‘promise’ to the time of genuinely becoming king that God used as a “refining fire” to purify David and prepare him for the throne!

And what did David do when presented with constant delay?

1. He continually prayed and cried out to God

2. He successfully passed THROUGH the wilderness of postponement, keeping his heart right before God and discovering the Heart of God in the process!

3. He wrote prophetically and transparently about his own personal struggles, attitudes, and supplications before God. You can read all about this in the Book of Psalms.


He was never ‘shy’ about his attitude. He didn’t even TRY to hide his actions from God. In fact, it was his bold-faced openness that won the affection of his God. Even today the world benefits from David’s words; and as we read the Bible’s account of David’s life, we gain perspective of how the Lord EXPECTS us to behave!


Be encouraged tonight!

If God has you in a place where you feel like YOU’RE living in a ‘cave’; and you are finding that there are times when you struggle with depression, despondency and loneliness - PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A MIRACLE!!!

These are ‘tools’ in God’s hands to mold and fashion you according to His purpose for you. And the reason I call these circumstances “tools” is because a ‘tool’ is:

THE MEANS WHEREBY SOMETHING IS ACCOMPLISHED!


You see, David was called AND anointed to full-time service. As a youngster, he killed the lion and the bear that attacked his sheep. But not only did he protect those he was in charge of, he also played the harp!! In other words, his personality was not only one of ‘protection’ - it also included expertise in areas of Praise, Music, and unadulterated Love for his God: Jehovah!


Listen:

David was smart, bold, creative, and strong. But all those attributes did NOT exempt him from - or excuse him from “hard-as-a-rock times”! But his FAITHFULNESS was proven through circumstances that - I’m sure - he would have preferred to have been kept from. And because he remained faithful, God appointed him to greatness. And even today, we STILL refer to David with love, gratitude, and appreciation for being the “example of the Believer”!

------------------------------------

Now!

In this House - we call each of you: MINISTERS! So...................

Are you in ministry because it satisfies your need to feel significant?

Do you serve the Living God because it meets an ‘ego’ need in yourself?

          If this is the case - you need an “attitude check”!!


Will you ever have a “spiritual” crisis? Probably! In fact, I’d say that IF YOU’RE BREATHING - you will run in to adverse, hostile situations. Sometimes even with other people who share the same ‘Faith’ as you!

So, it’s NOT that you will never be in conditions that are contrary to your best interests. It’s the way you HANDLE THEM that sets you apart!!

------------------------------------------------


I believe God understands that there’s a place in the heart of man that longs for significance. We all want our lives to be meaningful. But the temptation in the Body of Christ for Believers to receive their significance from their area of ministry is UN-Godly; and NOT acceptable as “appropriate”!!


You see: the Lord desires for us to gain fulfillment from being in His Presence and pleasing Him!


So, tonight, I will suggest this verse as a “GO-TO” Scripture when you feel discouraged:

Psalms 34:19 (NKJV) MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT THE LORD DELIVERS HIM OUT OF THEM ALL.


When David wrote this passage, he was going THROUGH hard times. But he was under a strong prophetic anointing which saw beyond his circumstances.

And, as David did, so WE must declare God’s ways with conviction and passion!


And I leave you with these two Scriptures:

First:

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) So he answered and said to me: "THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD to Zerubbabel: 'NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,' SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS.


And Secondly:

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) "AND IF IT SEEMS EVIL TO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES, IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."