Deliverance: Where is the God of Miracles?

 

A number of years ago, my father died.  I was living in Southern California and he lived about six hours away in Northern California.  I received a phone call that he was in the hospital and that he had probably reached the end of his life.  So, I left to go see him, one last time.

On the way a tow truck in front of me dropped a chain that hit the freeway and bounced up into the engine compartment of my car, damaging a number of the hoses and belts. 

I had to wait for a tow truck, and then rent a car to continue to get to the hospital, where my father was.  It took about twelve hours.  My father was slipping into death and was lying on the bed.  He had tubes down his throat, his eyes were closed and he was nonresponsive.

I laid hands on him and prayed for him, asking God for more time.  Then my mom and I went to get something to eat. I hadn’t eaten all day.  When we got back, all of my father’s vital signs had revived and he was sitting up and removing the tubes. I got to spend a day with him before he died.  A Miracle.

All of us have times when we’re struggling.  All of us have times of great need; times when we think our circumstances are impossible. All of us have times when we need a miracle!  I believe there are times when all of us read our Bibles, and see the miracles that God has done, and think to ourselves, “Where is the God of miracles, now, when I need Him.”

Judges 6:11-13 (NKJV)
^6:11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. ¹² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" ¹³ Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."

Where is the God of Miracles?

At this time in Israel’s history, they were being harassed by the Midianites. Words often have double meanings.  In the Bible Midian is a place, a nation; but the word Midian in Hebrew means strife.  Another word for strife is struggle.

We’ve all heard about Shammah and the beanfield.  He fought and defeated the Philistines, protecting the harvest.  The Philistines represented the cares of the world.  He kept the cares of the world from stealing the harvest.  The Midianites in our text represent great struggle or hardship.  So, this is a time of great hardship for Israel.  Midian sweeps in and destroys their crops., keeping them poor and in need.  Every time they think they’re getting ahead; Midian comes in and beats them down again – over and over.  At this point Israel is desperate for a leader that can destroy Midian and deliver them from this oppression.  They’re crying out for deliverance.

How many times have you felt like Israel? 

“Every time I think I’m turning a corner in my finances – In my marriage – In my job – In whatever it is, something comes along and kicks my feet out from under me, and I’m right back where I started!”

That’s what Israel had been going through for the past seven years.  They’re tired, they’re beaten down and they need deliverance.

It’s in the middle of all this, that our text takes place. We come across Gideon and he is out at the wine press, threshing wheat.  The wine press is not the place to do that.  He’s doing it in hopes of keeping it from the Midianites. He’s hiding; he’s avoiding them.

That’s when the Angel of the Lord comes along and sits down under the Terebinth tree, and he says to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

He hears those words, and he can’t believe it.  God is with us?  Really, God is with us?  The God my fathers talked about?  The One who did miracles?  The One who opened the sea?  The One who delivered the people from Egypt?  We need that God, now and I don’t see Him!

“Where is the God of miracles, now?

I’m willing to bet that Gideon isn’t the only person who’s ever felt that way.  Maybe even you’ve felt that way.  Maybe you read your Bible and you see powerful things:

Blind men who can see!  Lame men who can walk!  Demons cast out – defeated!  Dead men raised!  You say to yourself, “Where is the God who does that? How come I never seem to get miracles when I need them?  Why doesn’t God move like that for me”

God showed up for Gideon.  God came to him.  It was after seven years of troubles. (Seven is the number of completion.)  You can say God came to him when it was time.  Israel’s trial was over – It was time for deliverance.  God had seen that they had suffered enough!

Are you suffering, right now?  Are you struggling, right now?  Are you looking for a God of miracles?  Do you need deliverance?  He’ll come.  He sees, He knows,  He’s a deliverer.  He will deliver you.  Maybe you’ve prayed and nothing happened.  Maybe you’ve given up.  God knows, there have been a lot of people who’ve walked away.  People who’ve left God, saying to themselves, “There is no God of miracles!  I needed Him and He wasn’t there for me!”

Isn’t that what Gideon is saying?  “The God of miracles?  There is no God of miracles, anymore!  If there is, where is He?  Where’s the God miracles?  These Midianites are killing us!”  But the angel of the Lord has shown up, to call on Gideon to deliver his people.

Mighty Man of Valor

Judges 6:14-16 (NKJV)
^6:14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" ¹⁵ So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." ¹⁶ And the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

He’s sitting under the Terebinth tree – It’s like an Oak Tree.  It symbolizes strength.  It symbolizes power.  He sits under that tree and calls Gideon:

“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

At this point he’s hiding from the Midianites.  I’m thinking Gideon isn’t feeling like a mighty man of valor at that moment.  He’s hiding – he’s fearful – He’s not valorous, he’s not courageous.  Gideon has been complaining that God has forsaken them and the Lord says –

“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.”

Me? Are you talking to me?  Who am I?  I can’t face all of Midian.  I’m not a powerful or brave man, I’m just a guy.  I’m just a man, I don’t have ANY power!  I’m just me.  Gideon knows who he is – He’s defeated before he even starts to fight!  It’s impossible – I’m weak! I’m useless! I’m the weakest in my father’s house.

You know, I get that – I understand that.  Sometimes I feel like I can’t do anything.  Look at me – I even need help to dress.  Have I accomplished anything?  Have I done anything to move the Gospel of Jesus Christ forward – to bring the kingdom of God to earth?

You know one time in Riverside…  Riverside has a lot of churches.  Big churches.  One has 15,000 people; another one has 11,000.  Big churches, lots of people.  So, we were outreaching at a night market.  And I met another pastor.  I had been there two years and so had he.  So we were talking and I asked him, just out of curiosity “How many people in your church?” Eighteen hundred!  Eighteen hundred after just 2 years. And then he says to me, “How about you?”  Thirteen… “Thirteen hundred?”  I didn’t want to answer.  Let him think that.  I couldn’t do it… “No, just thirteen!”

I was embarrassed.  I felt like an idiot.  I was like Gideon, “I’m worthless!  I’m weak!”  I am the least in my Father’s house.  Thirteen people; who was I to think I could deliver anything?

That’s where Gideon was at – That’s where some of you are.  “I’ve failed so many times – Who am I to think I could overcome, now?”  What did the Lord say, though?  What did he say to me?

“Have I not called you?  This isn’t your fight – I called you and I will be with you.  It’s time for deliverance, so pull up your big boy pants and fight!”

God is there in the middle of your suffering – And God will be there in the middle of the battle – And God will be there fighting alongside you.  I called you, and I don’t make mistakes. You can win this battle because God is with you. 

You can win this battle that you’re facing because God is with you.  God said, “Gideon you WILL destroy Midian, because I will be there!”  We need God to be there.

When God was about to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses said, “If we go You have to come with us, because if You’re not going, I don’t want to go, either!”  God answered and said, “I will be with you.”  God will be with you, too.

A Miracle Happened

Judges 7:7-8 (NKJV)
^7:7 Then the Lord said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place." ⁸ So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

Judges 7:12 (NKJV)
^7:12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

Gideon looks down into that valley and there’s the Midianites.  They can’t even be counted – there’s too many of them.  That’s a whole lot of problems.  That a lot of struggle – it’s never-ending.

That’s life.  That’s how life is, one struggle – one problem after another.  It never ends.  You get through one thing and a hundred more things are right there behind it!

Gideon looks back and he has three hundred men behind him.  How can he do this?  How can he win against these odds?  Because God was with him; and he did win – He defeated Midian!

Judges 7:16-18 (NKJV)
^7:16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. ¹⁷ And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: ¹⁸ When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!' "

That was God’s plan – three hundred men with no weapons – only trumpets, empty pitchers and torches:

Judges 7:22-23 (NKJV)
^7:22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. ²³ And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.

The Lord set every man against his companion.  The Midianites turned on each other and destroyed themselves.  God delivered them.

Why would He do it like that?  Why did he cut the number of soldiers down from thirty thousand to three hundred men?  Here’s why:

Judges 7:2 (NKJV)
^7:2 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'

He wanted them to know it was Him that delivered them; that it’s God who brings the victory. It's funny how when things go good, we congratulate ourselves, and when they go bad, we blame God.  God wanted them to know who brought the deliverance.

Do you know why the Bible has stories like this?  Do you know why God set this in here? So that we can see that God delivers – That God is with us.  He said, “I will not forsake you.”  He’s there, right in the midst of your struggles.  He will deliver you from the Midianites – the struggles and problems – in your life, so that you will give him the Glory.

Two final things:

1)   That other pastor, he may have had a lot more people, He may have had a lot more money, he may have had a much nicer facility.  I had only thirteen, but that was thirteen souls snatched from the gates of Hell, not from some other church.  On August 5, 2021 that little church celebrated twenty years in that city.

2)      I needed that time with my dad!  I was afraid that he would pass without me being there!  Without me being able to let him know I loved him.  God did a personal miracle for me! 

 He IS the God of Miracles!

Faith: Get Out of the Boat!

Today, I want to post on life.  I want to look at an event in the lives of the disciples, and I want to apply it to our own lives.  Most of us are Christians, but I wonder if you really understand about faith.  All Christians believe in Jesus, but we all have a past and the baggage that goes with that.  Maybe some of you were involved with the traditional Taiwanese religion, and you’re hanging on to some of the old beliefs, and old practices.  Perhaps others are looking at Jesus in the wrong way.  I want to post on some of those things, today.  So, Let’s start with our text:

Mark 6:45-51 (NKJV)
^6:45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. ⁴⁶ And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. ⁴⁹ And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; ⁵⁰ for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." ⁵¹ Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

They Thought He Was a Ghost

We have this tendency to blame all the bad things that happen to us on You-know-who – That Stinking Devil!  But do you know, a lot of times the troubles we face are just life.  Life isn’t always Peaches and ice cream.  Life has problems and troubles of its own!

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
^6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In our text, we see the apostles – They’re in a boat.  They’re out on the sea and a big storm blows up.  It’s life or death for them, the Bible says they’re straining at rowing.  They’re struggling against the waves and wind and they are frightened!

Imagine what it’s like out there – Waves coming over the sides of the boat – The wind makes it hard to steer the boat – and they’re rowing, they’ve been rowing for hours.  Jesus sent them in the early evening and now it’s the fourth watch – about three in the morning.  They’re exhausted and I’m sure they’re feeling like they’re going to die.

Then Jesus walks out to the boat.  Look at what it says:

Mark 6:49 (NKJV)
^6:49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;

Jesus comes to them and they don’t recognize Him.  This is a time of great trouble, that can’t be Jesus.  Do you ever think that?  We always think that Jesus would only do good for us, that if He’s involved there won’t be trouble.  The problem is that Jesus doesn’t always ask for the easy things. 

In the Old Testament, Jesus was the “Angel of the Lord”.  He was the one that was going to destroy Sodom.  He was the one who commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  He was the one who wrestled with Jacob.

In times of trouble we don’t always recognize Jesus.  We’re focused on the trouble and our faith disappears.  Look at this:

Matthew 14:28-30 (NKJV)
^14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." ²⁹ So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

This is the same event as in our text, but Matthew gives us this other detail.  Peter sees that it’s Jesus and decides to walk out to Him.  While he’s focused on Jesus, he walks on the water, but the Bible says that the wind was boisterous.  When he began to listen to the wind, he began to focus on that.  He’s distracted by the problems – the wind and waves – and he begins to sink.  Jesus is right there, right in front of him and yet he focuses on the wind!  He focuses on the storm and the danger!

Do you think it’s interesting that He left them to struggle for so long?  They had traveled about four miles, that’s about halfway across.  He left them in the middle of it all until then.  Then He goes to them and says, “It is I!  Be of good cheer!” “Here I am!  Don’t worry!” “It’s okay, I’m here, I’ll save you!” and then Peter gets out of the boat. “Now that You’re here, I don’t have to be afraid.”  Then the wind frightens him again, and he begins to sink.  What does Jesus do?  He immediately saves him:

Matthew 14:31a (NKJV)
^14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him…

How many of us are like that?  In the middle of the storms of life, Jesus shows up.  At first, we’re relieved, “I can do it!  Jesus is here!” but the problems are still just as intense and we’re distracted by that, and what happens?  We lose faith again.

Here’s a hard truth for you.  Sometimes, the troubles in your life are orchestrated by God!  Remember, Jesus sent them out in the boat, to get to the other side.  We think Jesus is there to answer prayer and give us what we want.  You have to remember that it’s Jesus Christ, not Jesus Claus.  Sometimes, you have to go through some difficult things, in order to be prepared to live God’s Will for your life.  This is true in my own life.  I went through some things before I got saved.  I lived through a few storms – the storm of depression and self-loathing – The storm of alcoholism, loneliness, and pain – The storm of Muscular Dystrophy!

I didn’t see Jesus in any of those things!  I was floundering like a ship in a storm.  I was tired and exhausted.  I was straining at rowing, and I didn’t recognize that Jesus was involved, but He saved me!  He pulled me out of those storms.  If I hadn’t gone through them, I would have never seen my need.  I would have thought I didn’t need Him – that I could handle it on my own!  It was the struggle that kindled my faith!

A Call to Faith and a Call to Action

I asked this earlier, but I want to focus on it a little more.  Why did Jesus wait?  Why didn’t He come sooner?  I already said that sometimes we have to face some things in order to be ready to be used for His purposes, but I think Jesus was giving them and us another lesson, as well.

Look at the situation – This is a violent and dangerous storm.  They see Jesus walking on the water and think He’s a ghost.  I think they saw an omen in that, “There’s a ghost – That means we’re going to die!”  Then Jesus says, “It is I, be of good cheer!”  This is a call to faith, “It’s me, don’t worry!” but it’s also a call to action – “Don’t let your fear deceive you!”  What is it that stops you from stepping out in faith?  What keeps you from jumping wholeheartedly into the Will of God?

These men in this boat are terrified!  They’re seeing ghosts, but Peter rises up in faith, “Call me and I’ll come to you!”  This guy is getting out of the boat to walk on water!  He’s got faith!  He’s taking the action of that faith!

This is where we stop!  We believe – “I believe in Jesus!”  If you do, then get out of the boat.  Get out of that safe, comfortable place.  Get out of the boat!  “Well, I don’t know about that!”

I used to go rock climbing – way up high – Big, big rocks!  I didn’t hesitate, I fastened on my gear and I just jumped off, bounding down the rock!  I completely trusted my gear, I had faith, I put it into action.  How many are willing to walk onto an airplane and fly places?  You have faith in the pilot, faith in aerodynamics.  You’re not afraid to fly.  You say you believe in Jesus.  You say you have faith.  So, why hesitate to give yourself completely to Him?

Peter got out of the boat and walked through the storm, but faith is interesting.  Sometimes, we have great faith, but it can waver.  We can temporarily lose faith.  Peter’s doing something that no one but Jesus has ever done – He’s walking on water – but right in the middle of it, he loses faith.

Has that ever happened to you?  You’ve answered God’s call.  You’re doing what he’s asked you to do, but suddenly you find yourself thinking I can’t do this.  I want to confess to you, that there were times in my ministry when I thought, “I’m not having any impact!”  There were times when I thought the church would have been better off if I’d left. 

“There’s no response!”

“People don’t want to come!”

“I’m not inspiring anyone!”

That was me listening to the wind.  That was me struggling with my faith.  That was fear and doubt – the very opposite of faith.  I started to sink into depression and discouragement, my faith at that point was very small.  When I came to Taiwan, I was brimming with faith.  I was out of the boat; I was walking on the water!  I was focused on Jesus, but then the wind became boisterous. And I drifted.  I cried out and Jesus lifted me up.

Matthew 14:31 (NKJV)
^14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

“Why did you doubt?”  In the presence of Jesus, why is there doubt?  Here’s the second hard truth:  I’m not the only one who struggles with faith.  Some people haven’t really grown in faith.  They’re stuck at “I believe in Jesus,” faith.  They have never stepped into the “get out of the boat” type of faith.

You Have to Try it to Have Faith

As Peter is in the middle of the storm – as they are fighting the wind and the waves, he’s probably not thinking, “I can walk on the water.”  When he sees Jesus, he trusts Him.  He believes that Jesus can command him to walk to Jesus.  He’s not walking on the water; he’s walking on the command to come.  He knows that the power to do the impossible resides in Christ’s words.

I knew I could stay and fight another day, because I knew Jesus had the power to do the impossible through me.  The power that I have is only the power to obey. 

So, think about your own life.  What storms are you fighting through?  What is that thing in your life that seems as impossible as walking on water?  What is that thing that you NEED God to do?  Jesus is there in that storm you’re facing!  He’s comforting you, but He’s also calling you to action.

Do you know how best to develop faith?  Do something.  Peter says – Call to me and I’ll come to you.  In order to walk on water, he had to get out of the boat.  If you want to have faith, try doing what God is calling you to do.  I know – you’re afraid.  It’s easier and safer to stay in the boat, but you can't overcome in fear.  Fear rules your life.  Fear stops your momentum.  

Some people think Jesus can’t do anything in their life.  They’re right!  The impossible will always be out of their reach until that moment when they get out of the boat!  You need a miracle?  Then get out of the boat!  You need to take action, to see God work a miracle.  Peter walked on water – a powerful miracle.  The others didn’t have a miracle, because they didn’t trust enough to get out of the boat. 

Where are you, today?  In the boat or walking on the water?

Pentecost: The Holy Spirit, Today!

Sunday, May 31, 2020 was the day of Pentecost.  This week, I want to post on the day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit.  I know some people reading this don’t have a Pentecostal background, but I have spent the last twenty years as pastor of two Pentecostal churches.  So today, I want to post on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)
^2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Laying a Foundation

I want to begin by laying a foundation on the significance of the day of Pentecost.  What does it all mean?  Our text takes place on the day that the Holy Spirit fell on the people of God.  He didn’t just fall on the apostles, but on all 120 people who were gathered together in that room on that day.  There are some churches that will teach that this was only for the apostles, that after the apostles died that all of the evidence of the Spirit passed away, but on this day, according to our text, it fell on all of them that had gathered. 

Let’s examine the teaching that this has passed away as the apostles died.  First, let’s look at what Peter said in his first Holy Spirit filled sermon:

Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV)
^2:17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. ¹⁸ And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Peter is quoting a prophecy from Joel 2:28 – 32.  Peter says “in the last days,”  Joel says “afterward”.

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;” 

 The context of this is that God is speaking through Joel, and He’s saying:

Joel 2:27a (NKJV)
^2:27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other…

Remember, one of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel – That’s translated as God with us!  It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit!  The question is – did it pass away with the disciples, or is it available today?

Joel 2:31b (NKJV)
^2:31 …Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

The great and awesome Day of the Lord refers to the day of judgment – The resurrection and judgment of mankind!

Let’s look back at Peter – Peter says “in the last days” – The “last days” refers to that time between Jesus’ resurrection and His return to judge mankind.  Another way to say this is “from now on.”  Look at what Peter says in verse 39:

Acts 2:39 (NKJV)
^2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Let’s break that down:

For the promise is to you – Those that were there that day.

And to your children – the next generation.

And to all who are afar off – He’s speaking of generations – people that will come in later generations.  

As many as the Lord will Call – Are you called?  We are all called!

John 15:16 (NKJV)
^15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

We are appointed, that means called, to bear fruit.  Fruit in this sense refers to reaching others with the Gospel.  He had called us to that!  This Took Place on Pentecost

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
^2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

All of this took place on the day of Pentecost.  Let’s look at what Pentecost is:

Pentecost was a day of prayer and celebration.  People had the day off work; they met to pray and thank God.  Acts 2:1 tells us that they were all together in one accord.  They were there to pray and celebrate this feast.  Remember, they continued to be involved in the temple.

The day of Pentecost was a feast day that celebrated the beginning of the harvest season.  Pentecost is the Greek name for a feast called by Jews the Festival of Weeks.  It was a celebration and day of thanksgiving for the harvest, which was about to begin. The feast of First Fruits was the beginning of the barley harvest.  The Festival of Weeks was the beginning of the Wheat harvest.  It takes place seven weeks after the feast of First Fruits. (For background see Pentecost, The Beginning of the Harvest May 16, 2016)

What happened on the day of Pentecost in our text?

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

So, from a historical perspective, Pentecost was the beginning of the harvest in the early church.  Lets break this down and digest it.

-          Jesus called us to go and bear fruit – This is before He died! (John 15:16)

-          He told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Spirit

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
^1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

-          On the day that signified to the Jews that the wheat harvest was about to begin, the Holy Spirit fell on those in the upper room, and the harvest of the early church began.

While they’re in the upper room, they hear a sound like a mighty rushing wind.  In Hebrew the word for spirit is the same word that’s used for wind.  In the book of Genesis, God created Adam.  Look at what happens:

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)
^2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

From H5395; a puff, that is, wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) an animal: - blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit. 

Strong’s Lexicon of Greek and Hebrew 

So God put His breath, or Spirit, into Adam.  This is why we say that man has a soul.  So, this sound like a “mighty rushing wind” signifies the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit enters into the place where they are and fills the house.  

 - The fire appears and sits on each of them.  In the temple there was a fire that was always burning.       That fire signified the presence of God.

Leviticus 6:13 (NKJV)
^6:13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.

On this day the fire – The presence of God – sat on each one of them.  It symbolized that they each now contained the presence of God, in other words God dwelt in them.  The fire in the temple signified that God dwelt there.

So, look at this:  The Holy Spirit came upon them and God dwelt in them.  They were immersed (baptized) in the Spirit of God and became a temple of the Holy Spirit.  When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, God dwells in you – in the form of the Holy spirit – and His power is there for you to use.

Think about Peter for a moment – When Jesus was crucified, he was broken.  He was going fishing; going back to the life he led before Jesus.  After the Holy spirit falls – he’s energized. he’s empowered, he’s equipped.  Immediately, he’s able to embark on God’s calling.  He was equipped for his calling through the Holy Spirit.  For Peter it happened on Pentecost – But it didn’t end there.  

This was just the beginning, because the same thing happened to Paul.  He encounters Jesus on the Damascus road in Acts 9:3-6; he’s led to Damascus where Ananias is led by the Holy Spirit to speak to him.  Look at what happened:

Acts 9:17-20 (NKJV)
^9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. ¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Immediately, he preached Christ in the synagogues – From the greatest persecutor of Christians in that time, to a preacher of Christ in the synagogues!

What Does That Mean for Us?

So, the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to equip us and prepare us for the harvest.   It’s a special tool that’s given to us so, “that we may go and bear fruit…that will remain,” in other words to build the church of Jesus Christ!  That’s the purpose in our text.

So, how do we know we’re filled with the Holy Spirit?

First, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit stood up and preached.  He never did that before.  In John 20, they were in the upper room with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.  There’s a new boldness in Peter’s life!

Second, the people began to speak in other tongues.  This is the evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This happened in every other instance where this is mentioned.

Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV)
^10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God...

Acts 19:6 (NKJV)
^19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Third, there is power!  Look back at what Jesus said to the disciples:

John 14:12 (NKJV)
^14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

What does He say will happen when He goes to His Father?

John 16:7 (NKJV)
^16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

The “Helper” is the Holy Spirit!  Think of this:  When He goes to His Father, He will send the Holy Spirit – AND we will do greater works than these!  The apostles did many great works!

Acts 3:  Peter and John brought healing to a man lame from birth!  Look at what happened:

Acts 3:11 (NKJV)
^3:11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.

Acts 5:  Peter’s Shadow!

Acts 5:12-16 (NKJV)
^5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. ¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

It wasn’t just the apostles, though!  When a dispute arose between the Greek believers and the Jews, in Acts 6, the appointed seven men “full of the Holy Spirit,” to resolve it!  One of those men was Stephen:

Acts 6:8 (NKJV)
^6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

There was Philip in Acts 8:

Acts 8:5-8 (NKJV)
^8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

We CAN receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We are that generation that is afar off.  It’s a promise – It’s given to equip us for God’s calling!  We need that!  We need signs and wonders!  We need to call on Holy Spirit power!  We need the boldness to stand and preach the Gospel; to witness to friends, family, coworkers, and classmates!  We need this to build the church of Jesus Christ!

Dominion: Praise Breaks Chains - Part 3

Last week, I posted on the power of our words; that speaking out in faith can influence your life and circumstances.  Words can even cause a change in those circumstances.  Speaking brings dominion.  Today, I want to continue in this same series, Deliverance to Dominion, with part 3.  Another aspect to dominion is praise!  Praise breaks, chains!

Acts 16:23-26 (NKJV)
^16:23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴ Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

Creating an Atmosphere Where God can Move

Praise is a powerful weapon in our stockpile of weapons, that are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds.  A stronghold is an attitude, habit, or belief that holds you in bondage to sin.  It’s a chain that binds you and keeps you from fully entering into your calling and your destiny.  It can be sin, disease, finances unbelief – whatever it is, it can stop God from moving in your life.   Praise allows you to develop an atmosphere where God can move.  Our text is an example of Paul and Silas using praise to activate a move of God in their circumstances.

What has happened is that Paul has had a vision.  He saw a man from Macedonia calling out to him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”  So, Paul is engaged in the calling of God.  He concludes that the Lord had called them, “to preach the Gospel to them.” (Acts 16:9-10) The devil attempted to disrupt this by sending a young woman with a spirit of divination.  (She was a fortune teller.) Paul rebuked the spirit and ordered it to come out, which it did, and which caused a problem with her masters.  Paul and Silas were arrested and put into prison.

As they sat in prison, they begin to sing and praise God.  The chains with which they were bound were broken.  The stocks that held them were sprung open, and they are released from their bonds.  The doors to the stronghold were opened!

They have created an atmosphere where God can move.  If we want to see God move in our circumstances.  If we want to see a miracle occur in our lives then we must create an atmosphere in our homes where God can move!  Whatever atmosphere you create will determine what will happen in your life.  You can create an atmosphere where God can move, or you can create an atmosphere where the enemy reigns.  If you allow your home to be filled with negativity, discord and oppression, it will be difficult to stand in the faith.

We have to learn to counteract those things when start to be seen in our homes.  It’s so easy to complain and gripe!  But those are not “God things.”  Those things don’t create an atmosphere of faith.  There’s no optimism and expectation of God’s moving there.  There’s only unbelief.  If you create an atmosphere for God to move, He will come!

Psalms 91:1 (NKJV)
^91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

This is the beginning of Palm 91 – It’s the beginning of a promise, but have you noticed that every one of God’s promises starts with a condition?  Psalm 91 starts with a condition but ends in a promise:

Psalms 91:14-16 (NKJV)
^91:14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

If we dwell in the secret place of the Almighty; we can expect deliverance.  We can expect answers to our prayers.  We can expect a long life, and we can expect salvation.  So, what is that secret place where God dwells?  It’s that place in your heart that you have turned over to God! 

Have you opened your heart to God?  Let me ask that this way:

What are your priorities in life?  What do you fill your free time with?  Do you have a disciplined prayer life?  Do you read your Bible regularly?  Are you focused on “God things,” or are you still giving most of your time and energy to the world?

Last week, I mentioned a cancer patient, I want to show you how he created an atmosphere for God to move in his hospital room:

“Instead of watching television, we spent time reading Scripture.  We listened to the Bible on audiotape around the clock, and we asked the nurses to come in at night and turn the tapes over.  In other words, we turned the hospital room into a sanctuary for God to dwell in.  We kept the atmosphere charged with praise.” 

Source:  10 Hours to Live, Brian Wills, Whitaker House, Page 137

God Inhabits the Praise of His People

Psalms 22:3 (NKJV)
^22:3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Another way to say that is that He lives in or inhabits our praise!  Praise brings God’s presence on the scene.  This is why we praise God in the beginning of our church services.  It’s why song service is the first thing we do; to bring God’s presence to our services.

When Paul and Silas were in prison, they decided to sing praises – They changed the atmosphere and God was able to move in those circumstances.  Praise causes chains to break and walls to fall – It paralyzes the enemy!

Psalms 8:2 (NKJV)
^8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

What this scripture is saying is that praising God releases His power to stop the enemies of His people.  Our enemy is the enemy who steals, kills and destroys.  Praising God activates Him in our favor!

In 2 Chronicles 20: - Judah is under attack.  The enemy that had come against them was so powerful that the Bible says that, “Jehoshaphat (the king) feared!”  He called the people together to fast and praise!  Look at this:

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NKJV)
^20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever."

We are appointed to praise God.  Those appointed to praise went out before the army.  They praised God and His holiness, that was their only part in all of this.  Look what happened as they praised:

2 Chronicles 20:22 (NKJV)
^20:22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Judah’s army never lifted a weapon against the enemies.  They did nothing but stand and praise God, and God moved to destroy their enemy.  Look at the Scripture: “Now the people began to sing and praise.  The Lord set ambushes against the [enemies].”It was the praise that set the move of God in motion.

Are there attacks on you and your family?  Is Satan trying to wear you down and cause you to doubt God?  Is he trying to make you fear like Jehoshaphat?  What’s your reaction to problems and attacks in your life?  Is it to pull away from God, or to praise God?  Which one brings you closer to God?  Which one does God inhabit?

Praise is a powerful weapon!  It can be used to destroy the chains that Satan uses to keep you in a stronghold of sin and doubt.  Praise is like a nuclear bomb – It causes the enemy to flee!  There’s no nuclear fallout so you can use it every morning!

The Joy of the Lord

Praise is a manifestation of the Joy of our salvation.  If the devil can steal that from you , he can destroy your walk with God!

You’re probably going to think what I’m about to say is weird, because when things are getting bad you may not feel joy, but you can begin to have joy, even in the bad times, by remembering that God moves through your praise. 

God will deliver us!  He delivered Jonah from the fish.  He delivered Meshach, Shadrack and Abednego from the fiery furnace.  He delivered the entire nations of Israel out of slavery…and He will deliver us, too.

Psalms 91:14 (NKJV) ^91:14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Maybe He’s helped you in the past.  Know that He will help you, again!

God will answer us!  God clearly promises that when we call on Him, He will answer us!

Psalms 91:15 (NKJV)
^91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

God will be with us!  One of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel, “which is translated God with us.”  He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  He is always there – always near us.  He dwells inside you.  Psalm 91:15 – I will be with him in trouble.

These are promises – God is faithful to keep promises.  Remember from last week, “I will watch over my words to perform them.” (Jeremiah 1:12) That’s a vow to keep promises.  So, even when things go wrong, we can change the atmosphere in our homes and activate a move of God by simply, the act of Praising God!

Dominion: Words Can Move Mountains - Part 2

Dominion is the ability to overcome and defeat the devil, and his plans for you!  This week’s post is basically part 2 of last week’s post. So, today, I want to post about one place that dominion can be found in our lives:  The words that we speak!  What we say and how we say it can affect what happens in our lives.  Let’s start with our text:

Mark 11:22-23 (NKJV)
^11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Agree with God

Even a cursory look at Genesis, chapter 1 will show you the power that words contain.  The entire universe was spoken into existence!  Eight times in Genesis, the Bible says, “And God said…”  You might say, “Well, that’s God, of course His words have power!”  Today, I want to show you that your words, spoken in faith, have power, as well.

There are two ways to look at everything you face – every circumstance – every problem – every sickness!  Many times, we tend to take ownership of the problem.  “I have Muscular Dystrophy,” as if I own it – I possess it – “It’s my MD.”  There’s a different way to think of it and speak it! If you speak the issues, the symptoms, the disease as belonging to you, you become, what I call “problem conscious.”  You’re thinking about those things; you’re reinforcing them.  Your thought processes are focused on the suffering.  Speak always what you want the end result to be.  In that way you become “God conscious.”

There is the story of the leper that came to Jesus for healing, in Matthew chapter 8: “If you having a desire you can cleanse me.”  Jesus replied, “I am desiring it from all my heart.” (Matt 8:2-3 Weust) God’s desire to bring healing, comes from all His heart.  So, we need to speak as if He’s going to do just that!  We need to come into agreement with God.

God told Abraham that he would be the father of nations; that his descendants would number as the sands on the seashore.  Abraham at that time was almost one hundred years old, and his wife Sarah was barren.

Romans 4:19-21 (NKJV)
^4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

He believed God; He came into agreement with God.  All that God needs to move in your life is your agreement.  God will not override your will.  So often we say things like, “I believe God for His promises,” but what do the other words we speak say?  “I’m so deep in debt!”  “I can’t solve this problem!”  “Maybe this is God’s will!”  It’s not His will!  Jesus came to give abundant life.  It’s the devil that comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Think about this – Every miracle in the Bible involved words.  Jesus healed with words – He rebuked storms with words.  If we want to come into agreement with God, we need to speak faith-filled words – OUT LOUD - and we need to believe the words we speak!

Abraham was fully convinced that God would perform (notice that I said would, not could), would perform what He said.  Speak of it as if you know that it’ll happen!

Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP)
^1:12 Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.

God will perform His word – He’s watching over it so that He can perform it.  God is fully capable and willing to move in our lives.  Usually, we are the roadblock to miracles in our lives.  It’s us that speak words of doubt and unbelief.  It’s us that think our circumstances are unsolvable.  When we can’t see a way for them to be solved, then we’re not in agreement with God.

We forget that God isn’t bound by the limitations that we’re bound by.  The Bible says, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!”  Do you really believe that?  We have an intellectual belief in that, but are you like Abraham?  Are you fully convinced that God can perform His word?  Do you live and speak as if you’re fully convinced?  Because that’s where the miracles are.  That’s how the mountains move – Living and speaking as if it will be so!  

The Power of Your Words

“Years ago, a famous basketball player had a heart attack and died at thirty-nine years old.  His collapse on a basketball court during a pickup game was a shock to most people!  What most of them didn’t know was that, for years, he’d repeatedly said, “I’ll never live to be forty years old.”  That young man was the prophet of his own life.”

Source:  10 Hours to Live, Brian Wills, Whitaker House, page 99

You are the prophet of your life!  Here’s a young man, he made a claim that he would never live to be forty years old.  He said that over and over, and as if it was a prophecy, it came true in his life.  I want to contrast that story with this one:

“As I lay there on what my doctors called my death bed, I began to say with my mouth, ‘I call my body healed.  I call my body whole.  I declare that my body functions according to the way God created it to function, and I forbid any malfunction in Jesus’ name!’  I spoke that way to the tumor that measured nine inches across my abdomen.  I woke up one morning and the tumor was gone!”

Source: 10 Hours to Live, Brian Wills, Whitaker House, page 101

Here’s a young man who spoke the exact opposite of the words of the other man.  He spoke words of healing.  He spoke words of promise.  He spoke faith-filled words – He was in agreement with God!

What both of these stories have in common is that these men’s lives were affected by words that they spoke.  You can’t convince me that words don’t have power.  When the words that we speak line up with God’s words, then God “watches over His words to perform them.”

I’m not talking about the words of your thoughts, I’m talking about the words you speak – out loud!  I pray out loud, so I can hear my words spoken.  Why you ask?  Because faith comes by hearing.  If you want to have faith that God will move in your circumstances, the hear the words of faith spoken out loud. 

When I pray for people, I don’t just put my hand on their heads and pray silently.  Do you know why?  I want them to hear the words that I’m praying, so that they can believe them.  Then they can apply them to their lives..

Receiving a miracle is an active thing.  It’s more than just thinking that God will heal us.  I had a friend that always told me, “I know God is going to deliver me from smoking,” but he just kept on smoking.  He never stopped.  He’d been saved for twenty-five years, and thinking that for twenty-five years.  It never happened.  He didn’t speak like it was something that God was doing.  He didn’t live and act like it was something God was doing.  It was always something God was going to do; never what God was doing!  So, he sat there and smoked and waited – He died of Lung Cancer.

Why didn’t God deliver him?  I think its because he never really thought it was possible.  I wonder what would have happened if he put down the cigarettes and said, “God deliver-ED me from smoking!”  Faith filled words of agreement with God.  My thought is that he would have been delivered.

What problems are you facing in life?  What words are you speaking?  Are you agreeing with God or wallowing in unbelief?  Are you like the basketball player, prophesying your death or like the cancer patient, fully convinced that God will heal?  Are you waiting around for a miracle?  Waiting for God to move in your circumstances, or living like God already did it, and declaring what God has done?

These are important questions that speak to actions of faith.  We can all say, “Yeah, yeah, I know God can do miracles,”  but do you live and speak like God can do a miracle in YOUR life?

The world tries to convince us that these things are fake, or weird.  The world has its own system, but the world’s system is “death oriented”.  It doesn’t take into account a personal, concerned and loving God that can and will change circumstances.  The world’s system is focused on “science” and medicine, or mankind’s intellect.  There’s no room for a supernatural move of God, but that’s where miracles are found…in the supernatural.

Words Move Mountains

I want to close with this:

Matthew 18:18 (NKJV)
^18:18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

What that means is:

Matthew 18:18 (NLT)
^18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

This goes back to speaking.  Think about what the cancer patient spoke.

“I call my body healed.  I call my body whole.  I declare that my body functions according to the way God created it to function, and I forbid any malfunction in Jesus’ name!”  

I forbid any malfunction in Jesus’ name.  What you permit on earth will be permitted in Heaven. What you forbid on earth will be forbidden in Heaven.  If you don’t speak and forbid those things then you’re permitting them.  The young basketball player permitted an early death.  My friend permitted an early death.

Think about that cancer patient. even though the doctors were all convinced that he was going to die – even though the psychologists were warning him to make funeral arrangements while he still, “had time.”  They told him he couldn’t be healed.  They told him it was hopeless.  They told him death was inevitable, but he didn’t believe their report.  He believed the word of God and told them:

Psalms 118:17 (NLT)
^118:17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.

Whose report will you believe?

Editor’s note:  If you are sick, please go to the doctor and take advantage of their education and training.  I’m not anti-doctor, but also know that you can influence a supernatural move of God in your life by speaking words of faith, and living like God has already moved.  In my life, I listen to my doctors and also proclaim God’s word over myself.