#2 I’M NOT GOING HOME THE SAME WAY I CAME ...
NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THIS IS A TWO PART LESSON!
I. FUTURE SHOCK: PERILOUS TIMES ARE PART OF OUR DAILY WALK.
WE MUST TRUST, THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD!
2 Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
A. PERILOUS:
Serious, immediate danger, risky, threatening.
Full of great risk, dangerous, hazardous.
Exposed to imminent risk of destruction.
B. In the 1960’s there was a book written called FUTURE SHOCK.
It dealt with the increase of sin, deterioration of the family, and the failure of most churches, the book said CHANGE WOULD COME SO QUICKLY THAT MANY WEAKER
PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE CHANGE AND MENTAL HOSPITALS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE CROWDS THAT WERE COMING.
2 Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
C. WE WALK IN DANGEROUS TIMES, BUT WE ALSO SEE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY OF THE CHURCH TO ARISE AND REACH OUT TO THE LOST, THE OPPRESSED, AND THE HOPELESS.
Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein
thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
D. WHILE THERE SHALL BE A GREAT SHAKING, THERE IS A GLORIOUS CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE, THERE IS A ROCK --- THE ANCHOR HOLDS!
Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
E. MY FRIEND, THERE IS NOTHING TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT.
HAVEN’T WE READ THE END OF THE BOOK? God can!
The world may call us ESCAPIST, but God has a great plan for HIS CHURCH.
II. THEY SHALL ASK THE WAY TO ZION!
LET US GO UP TO ZION. YOU CAN NEVER DO GOD’S WORK WITHOUT GOD AND WITHOUT HIS WORD. THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD.
A. To understand Jeremiah’s words we must understand ZION IS A TYPE.
ZION is another name for JERUSALEM.
Zion was compassed on all sides by deep valleys.
B. When the city was called ZION THE NATION WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD.
When Zion is called Zion it was a time of revival and God’s sweet presence.
C. When they called Zion Jerusalem, it was cold and backslidden and stubbornly engaging in sin.
D. Jeremiah declares God’s word and takes action!
There is NOTHING TOO HARD FOR OUR GOD!
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
E. There is a cry heard from the people, SHOW US THE WAY BACK TO GOD.
Jeremiah 50:5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
F. Seems Jerusalem was embedded in backslidden religious and political practices
that HAD A FORM OF GODLINESS WITHOUT GOD?
G. Zion had been neglected, Jerusalem was emphasizing THE PHYSICAL, THE PREACHERS WERE GOOD IN THE OUTER COURT.
There was a cry, SHOW US THE WAY BACK TO ZION ---
WE NEED THE HOLY PRESENCE OF A HOLY GOD.
H. THERE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEGATIVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS --- LET US REMEMBER THE HOLY COVENANT --- GOD WANTS TO BE NEAR HIS PEOPLE.
I. WE DON’T HAVE TO STAY THE SAME. GOD CAN! DO WE TRUST AND WAIT?
III. DO WE KNOW THE VALLEY OF INDECISION? HOW LONG WILL WE STAY HERE?
YOUR DAILY WORDS AND CHOICES WILL ALLOW GOD TO ARISE TO THIS SITUATION, OR YOUR WORDS AND CHOICES WILL RELEASE THE FLESH.
MANY TRY TO DO GOD’S WORK WITHOUT GOD’S WORD!
A. THREE KINDS OF PRAYER:
1. PRAY FOR GOD’S KINGDOM’S SAKE
2. CRISIS OR PROBLEM PRAYING.
3. PRAYING FOR OTHERS
B. Will we see this problem as an opportunity?
Will we declare: NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR OUR GOD?
Is God’s arms waxed short in this day?
Are we in Jerusalem or ZION?
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
C. ARISE, O GOD, LET YOUR ENEMIES BE SCATTERED.
We shall not sow to the flesh, we are LOOKING FOR THE ROCK THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN.
D. WHY DO GOD’S PEOPLE STAY IN THE VALLEY OF INDECISION?
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
E. IT IS HIGH TIME FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TO HAVE FAITH AND LAUNCH THE WORD OF FAITH INTO THE SPIRIT REALM.
IV. BEER-LAHAI-ROI --- COMING TO THE VISION OF LIFE...
HAGAR WAS A TYPE OF THE FLESH AND BEING SATISTFIED IN CRISIS MANGEMENT.
CASUAL VISIT AT THE WELL?
THE FLESH WILL COME TO GOD IN A TIME OF NEED and
CRY OUT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
MAN SEEMS TO FORSAKE GOD IN TIMES OF BLESSINGS AND PROSPERITY.
A. HOW WILL WE SEE LIFE?
VICTIM --- VICTOR?
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
B. WHEN WE COME TO THE WELL OF THE VISION OF LIFE... we trust God for His answers.
BEER-LAHAI-ROI MEANS WELL OF A VISIBLE GOD.
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD IS ALIVE AND SEES.
Genesis 16:11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
C. ASK ABRAHAM --- IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?
ABE WOULD ANSWER: THE INVISIBLE CAN BECOME VISIBLE BY PRAYER AND FAITH.
D. THE SPIRITUAL MAN DWELLS OR LIVES AT THE WELL.
We can never be satisfied just drinking from the well, we must see and make the invisible God a visible God.
E. YOU MUST GET RID OF THE FLESH AND THE FLESH PRODUCTS.
Genesis 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her
voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
F. Isaac dwelt by the well.
Genesis 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.
G. Faith is an act based on the word of God supported by the confidence in a continual action that what ever God said God will do it.
V. GOD’S PLAN OF DELIVERANCE HINGES ON NO MAN.
IF YOU WILL NOT RELEASE FAITH AND LAUNCH GOD, GOD WILL RAISE ANOTHER!
A. GOD’S PLAN IS VERY CLEAR:
GOD IS GOING TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE.
God’s plan will set free His people.
God is going to give birth and assist his people because HE WANTS TO ...
B. You can bank that God is going to rescue and liberate His people.
Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
C. IF YOU HOLD YOUR PEACE YOU MIGHT STOP DELIVERANCE FOR YOU --- BUT ALL THE DEVILS IN HELL AND ALL THE HAMANS ON EARTH CAN NOT STOP GOD ---
GOD’S ARMS HAVE NOT WAXED SHORT!
NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD...
D. AS ESTHER WAS A CHOSEN VEHICLE OF TRUTH FOR HER DAY,
SO ARE YOU.
Esther knew going before the King could cost her everything.
Esther was willing... LOVE NOT YOUR LIFE UNTO DEATH!
E. SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE, GOD’S PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO GO HOME THE SAME AS THEY CAME.
VI. WILL WE SEE THE INVISIBLE?
FAITH KNOWS THE INVSIBLE CAN BECOME VISIBLE.
A. Esau sold what he could not see for what he could see?
Lot’s wife had a longing in her eye for something she could see BACK THERE?
B. We are subjects of an invisible King!
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
C. As a Christian we can have the tendencies of desiring to SEE THE VISIBLE solution to our problems.
D. MOSES HAD A VISIBLE PROBLEM? WHERE SHALL WE GET FOOD?
The answer came from the REALM OF THE INVISIBLE.
From where did all that manna come?
E. 12 young men were riding in a little boat, the winds were blowing contrary, the little boat rocked, the answer came from the INVISIBLE.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
F. HOW CAN YOU TRUST GOD FOR THE SPIRITUAL IF YOU CANNOT TRUST HIM FOR THE TEMPORAL?
Will we seek to rely on the seen, or rest assured in the invisible?
G. WHERE WILL WE FIND RELIEF? --- IN THE UNSEEN!
H. CONCLUSION: WE DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE HERE THE SAME WAY WE CAME.
Think about METAMORPHOSIS?
A little mom butterfly lays her eggs under a leaf.
Months later, the egg hatches out as a CATERPILLAR.
The caterpillar crawls through the mud and the dirt.
One day the caterpillar crawls and makes a COCOON!
The cocoon appears to be dead.
BUT ONE DAY OUT CRAWLS A BUTTERFLY.
THE WIND BLOWS AND THE BUTTERFLY CAN’T SEEM TO REMEMBER THE DAYS ON THE COLD GROUND.
AS THE WIND BLOWS BENEATH THE WINGS AND THE BUTTERFLY FLIES HIGH, GOD’S PLAN WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
Are you laying in the cold, wet dirt?
Hang on, GOD’S PLAN WILL BRING CHANGE, YOU CAN FLY AWAY FOREVER CHANGED.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY IN THE DIRT.
GOD CAN, LET HIM. God has a place for you somewhere over the RAINBOW!
This storm shall pass!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
