Let God Arise Series

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INTRODUCTION

We have come to the final minutes of 2010. God has been good to us this year. As I was praying for the theme for 2011 God spoke to me that He is going to arise for his church, and God is going to arise for his people in 2011. Today, I want to share with you the challenging theme of 2011 “Letting God Arise.”

I have titled this message based on Psalms 68:1

Psalms 68:1-3

“May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

God arises for his people. Our enemies are scattered when God arises on our behalf. God is promising us that the enemy that oppressed us, the enemy that took our joy away is going to be scattered in His name.

Deuteronomy 28:7

The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

When I think about God arising and the strength of God it makes me think of Samson first. Samson the judge is a type of Christ for us in the Old Testament. Not because of his character but because of the events of his life that point toward Christ.

BACKGROUND

In Judges 16, Delilah is trying to find out the secret of Samson’s strength. She puts him to sleep and binds him three different times. Each time she binds him she calls the Philistines to overpower him. Then she would cry out to Samson, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you”. Samson would wake their son and soon his bindings fly off him by the strength of God like a piece of string that snaps when it comes to fire.

When God arises on behalf of his people, it doesn’t matter what threatens to bind us, or what enemies oppose us, they will be scattered just like the chords that snapped and scattered as Samson awoke. When God arises God is going to strengthen you to overcome your problems.

Now, when I am talking about God arising, it does not mean that God is asleep and needs to be awoken. God sometimes chooses to be quiet and not respond as quickly as we want him to respond. Why? For some of us He gives us a chance to wait patiently and trust in Him, yet for some God gives us a chance to repent and turn to him. But there comes the time when God decides enough is enough, he rouses himself, and we have a “suddenly” moment when things change. His people are preserved and his enemies are scattered.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD ARISES FOR HIS PEOPLE?

Psalms 68:1

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered.

ENEMIES SCATTER

When God arises the enemy scatters. The enemy that was oppressing you in 2010 is going to be scattered says the Lord.

Psalms 68:3

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God, may they be happy and joyful.

JOY AND REJOICING

When God arises the righteous will be glad and rejoice. We will be happy. In 2010 if you were sad and in tears, 2011 is a year of joy. God will wipe away every tear and restore joy in us.

Job 31:13-14

13 “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, 14 What then shall I do when God rises? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

EXECUTE IMPARTIAL JUDGMENT

Job admits that if he had done injustice to a servant, he would have reason to dread God’s punishment when he arises and he could have no excuse. In the same way, if you have knowingly done wrong as believers we would have to fear the punishment of God when he arises. But for the ones who have been faithful, for the ones who have been walking with integrity, you need to fear anything because God is going to bless you.

WHEN DOES GOD ARISE?

What changes do we need to bring in us for God to arise for us?

1. DO THINGS GOD’S WAY

ILLUSTRATION

When I was young, we had night prayer at our church. We would sit for prayer at evening 6 and the prayer would go on until midnight, sometimes it went on until 3 am the next morning. Then the people would get a little sleep, go to work, and meet again at evening 6. We did things God’s way, trusting in Him, and spending time with God. God brought a great revival.

What had happened? When we as God’s people finally started doing things God’s way we let God arise! Things suddenly came alive and the church began to move forward for God. Many times God does not arise because we do things our way.