ENLARGE THE PLACE OF YOUR TENT
ISAIAH 54
JANUARY 20th, 2008
HERE IS A STATEMENT TO THINK ABOUT.
PROPER PREPARATION OCCURS WHEN THERE IS PROPER EVALUATION OF AN EVENT OR SITUATION
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE I’M SURE APPLIES TO SOMEONE.
IN LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL YOUR AIR CONDITIONING DIDN’T WORK PROPERLY, BUT IT WAS THE END OF THE SEASON, THINGS STARTED TO COOL DOWN, SO YOU DIDN’T BOTHER GETTING IT REPAIRED.
WELL, YOU CAN WISHFULLY THINK YOUR AIR CONDITIONER INTO REPAIR ALL YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU DON’T PROPERLY PREPARE BY EVALUATING THE CHANGE OF SEASONS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COOL NIGHT’S SLEEP WHEN ITS 90 DEGREES WITH 90 PERCENT HUMIDITY IN A FEW MONTHS.
YOU DON’T NEED IT TODAY, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU WON’T WISH YOU HAD PROPERLY PREPARED FOR WHAT WILL COME LATER.
THIS IS AN INSIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE, BUT IT MAKES THE POINT.
SUMMER IS COMING. I HAVE EVALUATED, LOOKED AT CERTAIN TELL TALE SIGNS AND I BELIEVE WITH CONFIDENCE SUMMER IS COMING.
THERE ARE 3 VERY, GOOD EXAMPLES OF THIS IN SCRIPTURE.
THE FIRST IS NOAH. (GENESIS 6:8)
STORY- EVIL, GOD’S WRATH, NEVER HAD RAIN, BUILD A BOAT.
NOAH EVALUATED THE WORD OF GOD, CONCLUDED THAT GOD HAD IN FACT SPOKEN; THEREFORE, HE PROPERLY PREPARED AND THE RESULT WAS THE SAVING OF HIS AND HIS FAMILY’S LIFE.
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF HE HAD IGNORED GOD? BYE, BYE NOAH.
THE SECOND EXAMPLE IS JOSEPH (GENESIS 41)
STORY – PHARAOH’S DREAM’S, JOSEPH’S INTERPRETATION. PHARAOH BELIEVED JOSEPH AND ORDERED PREPARATIONS. THE RESULT WAS THE SALVATION OF A NATION FROM THE HORROS OF FAMINE.
PROPER EVALUATION, PRODUCED PROPER PREPARATION, WHICH LEAD TO A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION.
THE THIRD EXAMPLE IS FOUND IN ISAIH 54. PLEASE TURN THERE.
YOU WILL REMEMBER WE HAVE STARTED A SERIES IN THIS CHAPTER AND LAST WEEK WE ROCKED THE HOUSE.
V1. TELLS US TO SING EVEN THOUGH WE ARE BARREN BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED THAT THE CHILDREN ARE COMING.
IF YOU WEREN’T HERE GET THE CD OR DVD.
WE SAID WE WILL SING AND PRAISE IN SPITE OF ANY BARRENESS BECAUSE PRAISE DOES 2 THINGS.
1. IT TAKES THE ATTENETION OFF OURSELVES AND PUTS IN ON GOD.
2. IT CONFUSES THE ENEMY
TODAY WE CONTINUE WITH V.3-4.
IN ALL 3 EXAMPLES GOD SPOKE TO PEOPLE ABOUT THINGS THAT HAD NOT YET HAPPENED. IN NOAH’S AND JOSEPH’S CASE THEY EVALUATED, BELIEVED THE WORD OF THE LORD AND ACTED.
THEY FUNCTIONED ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT PRINCIPAL WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK.
FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN – HEBREW 11:1
IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORD HOPE DOES NOT CARRY WITH IT THE DEFINITION WE IN OUR MODERN VOACABULARY ATTRIBUTE TO IT.
WE THINK HOPE – MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.
HOWEVER THE DEFINITION OF HOPE IS, “TO ANTICIPATE, USUALLY WITH PLEASURE”.
IT’S MORE THAN A WISH, IT’S AN EXPECTATION.
FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS I EXPECT TO HAPPEN AND THE CONVICTION THAT THEY WILL HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH I CAN’T SEE THEM AT THE MOMENT.
FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF ANTICIPITATION WITH PLEASURE OF WHAT I CAN’T YET SEE, BUT KNOW IS COMING.
THE UNBELIEVER THINKS WE’RE NUTS BELIEVING IN SOMETHING BECAUSE “GOD SAID…”
EVEN SOME CHRISTIANS WOULD SAY, WELL, LET’S US NOT GO OVERBOARD. WE DON’T WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED. WE WAITED AND WAITED AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN WHAT WE’VE WAITED FOR, SO LET’S JUST RELAX AND IF IT HAPPENS OK, BUT YOU KNOW LET’S NOT OVER DO IT.”
WELL PEOPLE OF GOD, I DON’T TAKE THAT APPROACH.
GOD SPOKE TO NOAH AND HE PREPARED. GOD SPOKE TO JOSEPH AND HE PREPARED.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I BELIEVE.
I BELIEVE THE BEST DAYS FOR CHURCH OF THE REVELATION ARE AHEAD OF US.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST DAYS GOD HAS FOR US.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INFLUENCE OF THIS CHURCH ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD HAS REACHED ITS PEAK.
I BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DEFEAT, OR EVEN REDUCED POWER.
I BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO TRANSFORMS HIS PEOPLE FROM GLORY TO GLORY (2ND CORINTHIANS 3:18)
I BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO SAYS TO PRESSON FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD.
NO DOWNWARD OR STAGNANT CALL OF GOD, BUT AN UPWARD, PROGRESSIVE, INCREASING CALL OF GOD.
OK HOLD ON A MINUTE… I CAN HEAR AMENS AND SHOUTS OF AFFIRMATIONS, BUT BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU’RE AMENING.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU AGREED TO.
REMEMBER, PROPER PREPARATION OCCURS WHEN THERE IS PROPER EVALUATION.
YOU SEE FOLKS, IF YOU BELIEVE WITH ME THAT GOD IS MOVING US FORWARD, IF YOU HAVE EVALUTED AND DETERMINED GOD HAS BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS FOR US…
THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ENLARGE & STRETCH & LENGTHEN & STRENGTHEN & SPREAD OUT.
THE TRUTH IS, THE MESSAGE SO FAR HAS BEEN A SET UP.
I’M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD THE SAYING, THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS TO DO THE SAME THINGS OVER & OVER & EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A CLINICAL DEFINITION, BUT I THINK THERE IS AN ELEMNT OF TRUTH TO IT.
IF WE HAVE EVALUTED AND WE BELIEVE GOD HAS MORE, HEAR ME PLEASE, IS OUR VESSEL BIG ENOUGH FOR WHAT GOD WANTS TO GIVE US?
BEFORE YOU CAN SAY A SINCERE AMEN TO THE MOVE OF GOD WE NEED TO SELF-EVALUTE & DETERMINE IF WE’RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS US TO DO IN ORDER TO ENLARGE, STRETCH, LENGTHEN, & STRENGTHEN.
YOU SEE, WE CAN’T DO THE SAME THINGS AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS.
HAVE YOU REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT?
HAS IT OCCURRED TO YOU THAT THE NEXT MOVE OF GOD MAY PUSH YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
HAS IT OCCURRED TO YOU THAT ENLARGEMENT CAN HURT, THAT STRECHING MOST CERTAINLY IS PAINFUL, THAT IN ORDER TO BE STRENGTHENED IT REQUIRES EXCERCISE & EFFORT?
I HAVE PERSONALLY REMODELED 2 HOUSES. I HAVE INCREASED THE SIZE OF ROOMS BY TEARING OUT WALLS.
I HAVE CONSTRUCTED NEW WALLS TO ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSE.
I HAVE HELPED BUILD 3 BRAND NEW HOUSES. I HAVE CLIMBED HIGH IN THE AIR, HUNG OVER THE EDGE & BEEN TIED WITH ROPES TO REACH WAY OUT.
I HAVE HAMMERED MY THUMB, DROPPED THINGS ON MY TOE, HIT MY HEAD ON NAILS STICKING OUT OF BOARDS AND SLICED MY HANDS WITH UTILITY KNIVES.
WHEN THOSE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED EVERYONE LOVED THE WORK.
EVERYONE SAID, OH IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL, IT LOOKS GREAT, LOOK AT ALL THE ROOM THERE IS NOW.
WE ALL LOVE THE FINISHED PRODUCT, BUT LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE… BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS ARE REQUIRED.
NOAH HAD TO CUT THE BOARDS, & ACTUALLY BUILD THE ARK,
JOSEPH TAXED THE PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR THE FAMINE.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR OUR CHURCH?
LETS ASK THE QUESTION ON 2 LEVELS.
1. WHAT AM I WILLING TO DO TO EXPERIENCE ALL GOD HAS FOR OUR CHURCH?
2. WHAT ARE WE, AS A BODY, WILLING TO DO EXPERINCE ALL GOD HAS FOR OUR CHURCH?
AS WE PREPARED TO LEAVE SYRACUSE BRO. DURST CAME TO RESURRECTION TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROCESS TO FIND A NEW PASTOR.
HE SAID SOMETHING ON THAT SUNDAY MORNING THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FORGET.
HE SAID, WE MUST BE SO COMMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD WE ARE WILLING TO LAY ASIDE ALL OUR LIKES, DISLIKES & WISHES SO THAT HIS WILL CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
LAST WEEK WE SHOUTED BECAUSE THE BABY IS COMING. THIS WEEK WE’VE STARTED TO DECLARE THERE IS WORK TO DO TO PREPARE FOR THE BABY.
IT DOESN’T TAKE A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES THEN THERE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE GAME.
HOW MANY AMEN’S CAME FROM THOSE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE MINISTRY OF THIS CHURCH, BUT ENJOY THE FRUIT OF EVERYONE ELSE’S LABORS?
IT’S TIME TO ENLARGE, STRETCH, LENGTHEN & STRENGTHEN.
IF WE’RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR US THEN ITS GOING TO TAKE A LOT MOE PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE BENCH & GETTING IN THE GAME.
IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT SHOUTING, IT’S MORE ABOUT WORKING SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT.
HAVE YOU EVALUATED? DO YOU SENSE THE PRESENCE & MOVE OF GOD? THEN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO USHER IN ALL HE WANTS TO DO.
GET OFF THE BENCH & ENLARGE, STRETCH, LENGTHEN, & STRENGTHEN.
OH PASTOR, I DON’T HAVE TIME. THEN, MAKE TIME. TURN THE TV OFF, STOP PLAYING WITH THE LATEST TOY & STRETCH. WE NEED YOU!
WHAT ABOUT ON A CORPORATE LEVEL.
DEPARTMENTS, WHAT IF YOU HAVE TO REMODELWHAT YOU’RE DOING IN ORDER TO ACCOMDATE THE MOVE OF GOD?
ARE YOU WILLING TO ENLARGE, STRETCH, LENGTHEN & STRENGTHEN?
WHAT IF YOUR SACRED SLOT, IS INFRINGED UPON TO MAKE ROOM FOR ALL GOD WANTS, WHAT WILL YOU DO?
WHAT IF GOD SAYS, TEAR IT COMPLETELY DOWN BECAUSE I’VE GOT PLANS FOR SOMETHING MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL.
HOW MUCH OF THE, “THIS IS THE WAY WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT” ATTITUDE PREVAILS?
ARE YOU READY TO PREPARE FOR GROWTH? ARE YOU READY TO ENLARGE AND STRETCH.
OK, I’M SCARING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TODAY. SOME ARE ABSOLUTELY FREAKING OUT BECAUSE YOU’RE WONDERING WHAT’S COMING.
SO LETS ME SAY 2 THINGS
1. WHY AM I TALKING THIS WAY?
LISTEN TO V.3
I’M TALKING THIS WAY BECAUSE GOD IS TELLING US WE WILL DISPOSSESS THE ENEMY & TAKE OVER HIS TERRITORY.
I’M SAYING THIS BECAUSE LIVES ARE IN THE BALANCE. SOULS NEED TO BE SAVED & SAINTS NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED.
SINNERS NEED FORGIVENESS & SAINTS NEED TO EXPEREINCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE.
DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT – PEOPLE & THE WORK OF GOD IN PEOPLE’S LIVES – OUR LIVES
2. THE REAL PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO MOTIVATE PERSONAL EVALUATION.
SOMETIMES WE NEED OUR TREE SHAKEN TO GET US THINKING.
ASK YOURSELF THIS, CAN YOU SINCERELY & HONESTLY PRAY THIS PRAYER… “FATHER, NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE?!
FATHER, GO AHEAD, ENLARGE ME & MY CHURCH, STRECTH ME & MY CHURCH, LENGHTEN ME & MY CHURCH.
IF WE CAN’T PRAY THE PRAYER WE’RE NOT READY FOR THE CHILDREN OR TO DISPOSSESS THE ENEMY.
THERE IS A SONG I SANG ON THE CANDIDATE WEEKEND. IT’S A SONG I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS MORNING.
IT’S A SONG OF ENLARGEMENT & STRETCHING. DON’T SING UNLESS YOU MEAN IT.
NOTHING IS TOO MUCH TO ASK.
