We Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now
Subtitle
The Cross Before Me
Psalm 56:6-11
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
I am entitling this today:
We Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now
Subtitle
The Cross before me
This Psalm was written by David when Saul was trying to kill him.
David at this time was on the run of his life and had joined forces with the Phillistines in gath.
David was going through a daily battle with the thoughts running through his head that Saul was trying to kill him.
Ps 56:2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
David’s experiences while far from his Fathers house and in exile among those that hated him occasioned this Psalm.
David while on the run for his life kept up the faith in God.
Ps 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
We as believers realize that fear is not of God, but yet from time to time we have all done it.
David did not deny the presence of fear, but here we see where David knows what and where the antidote for fear is. “I will trust in thee”
Has things ever went wrong for you?
Did you ever fill the decisions that you have made others are not happy with?
Church let be, let God.
Ps 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
What we need to understand is that confidence in man and what he says never gives occasion for praise.
Confidence in God and His word give constant occasion for praise.
Verse five says They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
There were constant pursuits and plots against David by Saul and his men.
Have you ever felt this way?
Some of us have felt this way a lot.
How many knows that we have an adversary that hates you, he will take your words and will twist what you say.
Your adversary Satan wants to take you out, he wants to kill you, he wants you to end up where he is going to be for all eternity. “Hell”
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Psalm 56:6
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Satan is hiding amongst the stuff of this world; he is marking your steps, wanting to win the battle for your soul.
God wants us to be united and strong and ready for the storm that is upon us.
God has put us here at the Shelter House Assembly of God together to make a difference in our surrounding community.
About 2 or 3 months ago I was going through a battle.
I am not going to go into what it was over.
I heard a whooshing noise and the Lord audibly spoke and told me “you’re going to be packed.”
Over the past few months the Lord has been giving dreams about the Cross.
Last Monday I dreamed that a huge Cross was in front of me and it lit up with all kinds of 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.
We as a church need to walk in unity and have our minds on what Christ done at the Cross and what was done for us.
Philippians 3:15-16
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Church if we want an upper room experience then we need to be focused on what the word of God says.
When Saul was announced King hid amongst the stuff.
Satan wants us to hide from our call amongst the stuff of this world.
If he can get us into the stuff of this world he will and can wear us down.
Satan wants you to get caught up in the affairs of this world that you forget about going to the house of God.
Satan knows your weaknesses because he follows your patterns.
What the enemy does not understand is that when you are weak then Jesus will make you strong.
Through Christ you can change your patterns.
Ps 56:7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
This prayer sets itself against those who would set themselves against God.
If we as a Nation do not put God first and apply His word, then judgment will fall.
If as a nation we decide to go against God then get ready we have not seen anything yet.
Judgement will fall.
If our officials continue down the path they are going we are heading for big trouble.
Gambling cosines, is not good I know people personally who have kids and spent their whole checks gambling it away.
Gay marriages are still an abomination to God.
He loves the sinner but hates the sin.
We are being judged as a nation.
Ps 57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
The Pit is Hell, the enemy has dug a trap for you to fall into, what you need to remember that inside the pit is a beautiful fallen angel, but it is still Lucifer.
Sin looks good but in the end sin will send you straight to Hell.
Ps 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
The Holy Spirit through David is saying that despite David’s wonderings and his attempts to escape from Saul that God knew at all times exactly where he was.
The tears in the bottle proclaim an ancient custom that spoke of tremendous pain.
Whenever a believer sets out to do the will of God for his life Satan will do all that he can do to oppose these efforts.
The Lord allows Satan to have certain latitude in order that we will learn to have faith and place our trust in the Word of God.
Ps 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Look at your neighbor and say:
Church we have come too far to turn back now and we need to put the Cross before us.
1 John 4:4-6
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Some of the Christians of Johns days were tempted to believe the Doctrine that Denigrated the Cross.
They had overcome that temptation because greater was He who was in them, than He that was in the world.
Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
In verse 5, when it says “They are of the world” it is referring to the false teachers of verse 3.
Therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
This is referring to the fact that the source of their false Doctrine was of the world.
The false teachers were saying what the world wanted to hear.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
These people wanted a fill good Gospel, they wanted their Doctrine candy coated.
We as Christians need to Preach the Word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
It was being warned that the day would come that they would not endure sound Doctrine.
They wanted preachers who would teach what they wanted to hear instead of what the Word of God says.
As a Christian there will be times that I will really go through it.
There will be times that I will not understand why I am going through all these things that I am going through.
When this happens and trust me it will stand upon what the Word of God says.
Don’t go to people who might try to tell you things that you might want to hear, but take your case to what the Word teaches you.
There will even be times that you will be tempted, when you are go to:
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There is no temptation to you that someone else has not ever been tempted with.
The Word says that God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted above what you are able to handle.
If I am tempted then God will make a way of escape.
1 John 4:4-4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
You can deal with anything that this life throws at you just stay faithful and believe what the Word of God teaches.
Have you ever felt like giving up? I would be lying if I said that I have never felt this way.
When David was running from Saul do you think he ever felt like giving up?
All you have to learn to do is hold on and don’t let go of the hand of Jesus.
Church you have come to far to turn back now.
Satan knows that his time is about up, so anything he can do to try to stop you from receiving Gods provision he will try to do.
Satan wants us as believers to fight amongst ourselves over things that do not matter.
Revelation 12:12
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto
you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Satan knows what the Word says and believe me when I say that He knows that He’s already defeated and He will try to take you with Him.
Ps 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
David knew that if he cried unto God, then his enemies would turn back because God was with him.
I have entitled this today:
We Have Come To Far To Turn Back Now:
Here’s the reason that I preached this today:
Dream 4-10-08
I dreamed that Susan had a dream and she shared the dream with me. She said that God had showed her a room and in this room she could see everything in life that she had gone through. God showed her that she was able to overcome everything in this room because of what Jesus had done on the Cross. Susan’s Dad now comes in and she tells him the dream. It was very emotional. I started to cry. She knew that she had come too far to turn back now.
Interpretation
Dream with in a dream means that God is establishing something.
Genesis 41:32
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. {established...: or, prepared of God}
The room would represent things in general that we have gone through.
She was able to overcome because of what Jesus had done at the Cross for her.
Revelation 12:11
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
She now tells the dream to her Dad.
2 Corinthians 13:1
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
God wants her to know that He knows what she has gone through and that He is her rock.
God knows what you have gone through and He wants you to know that you have come too far to give up now.
God wants you to keep focused upon what Jesus did at Calvary for you!
He sees your hurt, He sees your doubt, He sees everything there is to see about you this morning and He is telling you don’t quit yet.
You are on the brink of a Miracle!
He is saying you have come too far to listen to the lies of the enemy this morning.
Satan will come to you and try to stir up the pot.
He will try to get you to slander one another.
He will try to get you to talk about me.
What we need to remember is God put us here together for right now!
Church we are not in a battle against each other but we are in a battle against Satan and the powers of darkness.
1 John 4:4-4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the World!
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So do you have Faith?
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God:
Don’t you think that it is time for you to come out of the graveyard and hear the Word of the Lord?
Look at your neighbor and say:
We have come too far to turn back now.
This morning God sees your confusion, He sees that you really don’t understand why you are going through this situation.
You might even have thought about giving up on God, you don’t think that he sees what you are thinking?
You might even be thinking that this is not fair what’s going on, maybe it’s not but there is one thing I know and that is God will make a way of deliverance for you.
Dream 1-1-10
I dreamed that I pulled out of our driveway headed towards Minnies. I must have fallen asleep. I then awoke and noticed that I was on the passenger’s side of the van. Someone was driving the van but no one was there. The van stopped. I got out and got into the drivers seat headed towards Minnies. As I pulled around the corner down past Duncan falls I noticed about 25-30 deer all through the road. I knew that if I would have been driving then I could have been killed.
Scene change
I was now at Minnies. Mary was telling that she had had a dream that Jesus took the wheel of my van and saved my life.
Interpretation
My vehicle my life
Falling asleep, not paying attention
I then awoke and noticed that I was on the passenger’s side of the van. Someone was driving the van but no one was there.
We need to let Jesus take our wheels
As I pulled around the corner down past Duncan falls I noticed about 25-30 deer all through the road. I knew that if I would have been driving then I could have been killed.
Psalm 41:1-2
1 As the hart (Deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Deer-Spirituel longing, symbol of hunger for the things of God.
God could be letting me know that my longing for Him is dying.
Mary had a dream; dream in a dream is a message dream
Mary was telling that she had had a dream that Jesus took the wheel of my van and saved my life.
Are we losing our passion and longing for God?
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Are we falling asleep in our Christian walks today?
Apply Gods Word in your lives and watch it grow into a deeper Faith in Him.
Do you think that Job in the Word didn’t really go through it, lost everything that He had including his sons and daughters?
Did he give up on God? No!
God saw inside of his room and made a way of dealing with what he was going through.
He had come too far to give up on God.
Daniel when He was thrown in the lions den for praying did he give up on God? No he was on the brink of a miracle.
God delivered Him from the lions den.
Ephesians 2:2
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
How many knows that Satan heads up the system of this world?
Satan comes in and makes sin look good.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Church stay alert because the enemy of your soul is out to devour you!
He wants the church to say that it is ok for gays to be married, according to Gods Word it is not ok and judgment will fall.
Satan wants to deceive the church world into thinking that it is ok to live anyway that you want to God will accept you the way that you are.
God will not and cannot bless sin!
At one time we all lived in sin, but the good news was that we learned that there was a righteous judge who would pardon our sin.
Ephesians 2:3
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
At one time we all we were all headed down this path that was leading to destruction.
At one time we all had conversations that we should not have had.
Do you ever get mad because you don’t fill like I support what you do?
Walk in my shoes and see how you fill.
At one time you fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
According to the word of God by nature the children of wrath even as others,
Some might say that you never sin, you’re now telling stories that are not true.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The good news is Jesus forgave us and now we are striving to do things His way and not our own.
Listen to me closely this morning God is opposed to sin, but there is a remedy and that is the way of the cross.
Ps 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. {judgeth...: or, is a righteous judge }
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Church we serve a righteous Judge, and he has a crown of righteousness for you!
God wants us to live right and fear Him and keep His commandments!
David was on the run but He knew God was in control!
It seems all year we have been talking about letting the water flow.
I was looking back through my dream books and saw this.
10-6-08
I dreamed I was in a room that was filling up with water. I saw Jesus standing in this room with me.
God wants to fill our rooms up with the water that comes from His River.
Where His water flows there is life.
The good news is when Jesus is with us we don’t have to worry about drowning.
Are you longing for a drink of water this morning?
Jesus will give you a drink if you ask Him.
Where Jesus is…there is life.
We have come too far too turn back now
David ended up receiving his promise of being King.
He had to go through his storm.
My promise is coming even though I fill like I am going through a storm.
We are going to be packed.
Church we have a promise that of Living Water flowing in our building!
If you fill like you are running your race of faith and losing, you have come too far to turn back now.
Don’t give up Jesus is in the water with you, He is in your situation.
Trust and Believe!
You have come too far to turn back now!
Closing
Ps 62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Faith in the Father, and Faith in the Son, Faith in the Holy Ghost, victories are won.
Demons will tremble, and sinners awake.
Faith in Christ Jesus can anything shake.
Church, we have come too far to turn back now!
I have decided to follow Jesus!
If you are interested in God given Dreams check me out on Face book.
Joe Rowland
From Zanesville Ohio
