Trusting In a Time Of Drought
Psalm 25:10-16
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. {and...: or, and his covenant to make them know it}
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
I am entitling this today; trusting in a time of Drought
Church there is a massive drought going on in the United States and it is affecting one third of our crops.
They are saying that this is the worst drought of the century.
Food prices, gas prices will be affected by this drought.
What we need is a study rain to quench the ground.
There is a storm that is going to hit this world and we need to be ready.
Jeremiah 5:24-26
24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
Sin causes God to withhold good things from us.
Satan is setting a trap and it seems that those who are weak in the faith are starting to stumble.
What we need to remember is tat God is the one who is in charge of the rain.
He appoints certain places and certain people that He will use for his Glory.
Church there is a storm that is going to hit, and we need protection that comes from God.
God wanted us to change the name of this church for a reason.
We are the Shelter House Assembly of God, where there is refuge from the storm and a place where dreams really do come true.
Psalm 25 is a Psalm of distress by David.
David was lifting up his soul, and did not want to be ashamed of God.
He cried out in verse two let not my enemies triumph over me.
Sometimes it might seem that the Lord tarries long, but wait on him.
He will answer.
David at this time felt like he was being transgressed without a cause.
Ps 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Few Christians seek His ways they seek his acts.
Ps 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Terry sent me an email the other day.
How many know that the Bald eagle has such a significance to our country?
The eagle has the longest life span among birds.
It can live up to 70 years, but to reach this age the eagle must make a hard decision.
In its 40s its long and flexible falcons can no longer grab prey which serves as food.
Its long and sharp beak becomes bent.
Its old aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly.
Then the eagle is only left with only two options;
Die or go through a painful process of change which last 150 days.
The process requires that the eagle fly back to its nest.
There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.
After plucking it out the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons.
With its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old aged feathers, and after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.
Why is change needed?
In order to survive we need to start a change process.
We need sometimes to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions.
Only after freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of our present circumstances.
When it rains most birds head to shelter, but the eagle is the only bird that in order to avoid the rain starts flying above the clouds.
An amazing tidbit an eagle’s eyesight, the eagle can probably identify a rabbit almost a mile away.
This means that at an altitude of 1000 feet over open country it could spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position.
No wonder why God wants us to spread our wings and sour with eagles.
Ps 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Past mercies form a ground for the expectation of future blessings.
God’s character cannot change; his action will always be consistent with His action at another.
Ps 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
An earthy father does not remember youthful sins against his son, how much less will our Heavenly Father.
So many times we look at where we were and think we are not worthy to be used of Him.
God has forgiven you of your past its time that we understand who we were we are no longer all by what Jesus did at Calvary, all by the means of the Cross
Sometimes I think that we are in bondage.
We are being held captive by the person we used to be.
7-9-12
I dreamed that I was fighting a mummy. It kept hitting me over and over in the stomach. Blood was flying everywhere. A man took hold of me and tossed me to the side by a tree of food, and He took over the battle. I was eating and instantly recovering.
Interpretation
A mummy means someone who is tied up in bondage; restriction. It seems like you are engage in warfare and you are taking a hit in either in your thought process (mentally exhaustion) or leadership – the head area; and your ability to digest/ understand and apply things in your life – gut issues the true seat of the spirit man place of God’s throne = stomach. It looks like the Lord stepped while you gain your strength back an sustenance.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Tree with food, (fruit) on it represents the tree of life.
Re 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Are we keeping His commandments?
If we are then we have a right to the tree of life.
I was by the tree recovering, healing for the nations.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God wants us to do what Jesus says to do, he wants us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face.
He wants us to turn from our wicked ways, and then he will hear and forgive and heal the land.
Jer 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Do we fear God and doing what Jesus says to do?
Church our steps are being established towards the Throne room.
We have to be willing to live a Kingdom life that we will receive a Kingdom blessing.
Ps 25:8 good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
What we need to remember is that we our not perfect and God will show us the error of our ways, but we have to be willing to let him teach us.
God hates sin but loves the sinner.
Let’s go to our opening text.
Ps 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
When we keep His Covenant, which means we do what the word says to do.
Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
David acknowledged that his sin was great, but he is asking God to pardon it.
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Here we go again He that believeth.
When we believe unto righteousness we are obedient to the righteous King. (Jesus)
If you want the right to the tree of life, you have to do what Jesus says to do.
Psalm 25:12-14
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
When we truly fear God, God will teach us in the paths of righteousness.
De 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Some will say it is the law, but Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Grace does not mean that I do not have to obey.
If we don’t do what Jesus says then do we really love Him?
No
If you want a right to the tree of life then do what Jesus says, if you don’t then what will happen is you will split hell wide open.
Psalm 25:14
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Do we fear God because if we do the there are promises that you will receive.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Do you believe that He is this morning?
When we believe we will receive.
Ps 25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
The net is referring to sin, getting caught in it.
The lord is able to pull us out of the net, the trap of sin.
David at this time was a hated man but knew that God was in control of his destiny.
David trusted even during a time of drought.
Do you trust even when you are going through a drought?
Food and gas prices will continue to climb, but do you trust in your true supplier.
We might stay in this drought for a while but remember we serve the One who controls the rain clouds.
I believe as a nation that our sin is withholding good things from us.
I also believe that as Christians because we are not listening to what His Word says he is withholding something’s from us.
Church it is time that we listen and apply what the Word of God says and we will see the blessings fall in our lives.
The Lord will let America go under as we know it if we as a people chose to let sin in our doors.
The church needs to get back to what is right is right that we might be able to teach those who are coming up in the next generation.
Satan is fighting hard against the values of America.
We need Preachers of righteousness to stand up and declare what the Word of God says.
When we do this we are going to be in a battle of spiritual warfare. The enemy will fight us tooth and nail.
God has got your back if you are a believer!
6-22-10
I dreamed that Susan and I were in the dog pen. I saw lightning and heard thunder. I heard a deep voice speak to me, He said “I Am the Lord thy God Go into the storm I will protect you”.
Interpretation
Thunder and lightning represent the power of God
I don’t know what the storm would be then.
Church I believe that we are now in that storm.
God has got my back!
I don’t have to worry about how I am going to be taken care of because I know that I have received a promise.
I will go into the storm and will preach what His Word says to do.
Obedience to Jesus in all areas of my life,
Take my house, could happen
Take my car, could happen
Do I believe that it will no because God has commanded me to go into the storm and fight the enemy.
Luke 8:24-25
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Church we are in a battle with Satan and His imps, Satan hates you and wants you to go to Hell with him.
Anything he can do to try to stop you from receiving your God given Destiny he will do.
God showed me that I will survive the storm that I will have to go through.
God wants you to know you can survive the storms that you face also.
Jesus arose and He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
He then said unto the Disciples, “Where is your faith?”
He is asking you this morning where’s your faith.
Trusting in a time of Drought
Doubt sees the obstacles but faith sees the way!
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Understand that judgment must begin at the house of God.
Because we ought to know and chose not to do what his Word says.
If it falls on us how much more on the unredeemed,
6-20-12
I dreamed that Susan and I were along a road, we were outside our vehicle. We heard a noise and we looked up and saw beautiful lights. A man walked outside his house he had heard the noise. He looked at us and smiled in unbelief. He looked at the lights which formed a stairway and asked what is it? I said it is leading to the Throne of God.
Interpretation
Road represents a path that God is leading us, we have to stay on the right road.
Outside our vehicle, maybe outside our comfort zone,
We heard a noise and looked up and saw beautiful lights.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
The world is seeing but smiling in unbelief.
The man looked at the lights which formed a stairway and asked what is it?
It was a stairway and it was leading to the Throne of God.
Some in the church has seen what God is doing and they still don’t believe.
They don’t believe because that means they would have to do what Jesus says to do.
God wants us to have access to Him and it is all through what Jesus did at the cross.
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Are we keeping His commandments?
If we are then we have a right to the tree of life.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God wants us to do what Jesus says to do, he wants us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face.
He wants us to turn from our wicked ways, and then he will hear and forgive and heal the land.
Do we fear God and doing what Jesus says to do?
Church our steps are being established towards the Throne room.
We have to be willing to live a Kingdom life that we will receive a Kingdom blessing.
From the end of last year even until now God has been leading me to lead you to where the water is flowing freely.
We have to make up our minds to get in, no one is going to make you go deeper in the things of Him.
Closing
Are you distressed over things this morning?
Trust in the Lord and believe
Maybe you’re struggling financially, give unto God what is His and trust that he will open up the windows of heaven for you.
If your going through it this morning come up and let Jesus direct your steps to Gods Throne room.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
If you are interested in God given Dreams check me out on Face book.
Joe Rowland
From Zanesville Ohio
