At the very beginning of this message I should point out very quickly and immediately that the message today is not necessarily for the faint of heart—that I need to warn/inform/caution some of you before I go any further that if you only came today for the purpose and expressed intent of hearing a message that will simply and merely make you feel good/feel better/give you spiritual jitters & jeepers/make you feel happy and light-hearted and fuzzy and built up on the inside of your soul—you might want to ease up and out of your comfortable spot right now. That this message today is not meant for those who only showed up to run, shout, dance, holler, climb the wall and look precious and cute and brand new—to get a spiritual hit and a spiritual high and a spiritual pump. And then go back home in the same fashion of which you came in. Because this message (purposefully and deliberately) does not provide quick/swift/speedy solutions and easy answers. For I really want explore and examine a subject that is not very popular today, not often discussed and talked about in our day and culture—and that subject is LONGSUFFERING.
Incidentally, the Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Galatia, in Galatians chapter 5, gives us there a list/litany/directory on the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit as a result and a consequence of one’s growth walk with God. Among them: Love, Joy, Peace—and one the characteristics of which he lifts up and places on the register with the other Fruit is LONGSUFFERING. (Some translations render the word patience/tolerance/selflessness) Now most of us have no direct issue or problem at all with the fruit of love and joy and peace. But the idea of longsuffering gives us a lot of pause and reservation.
Throwing longsuffering into the mix—now that is what can blow a lot of testimonies.
The reality is that I may have no direct issue with love—but I may have a problem with loving you LONG.
I may have no issue with joy—but my issue may be keeping my joy LONG.
I surely desire to have peace in my life—but in the midst of the chaos/disorder/turmoil/anarchy—I may have an issue with having peace LONG.
And yes the text testifies, in Galatians 5, that the fruit of the Spirit, the manifestation and expression of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is there will be instances and moments and periods when you will suffer LONG.
If you are in Christ and Christ is in you and you are laughing and smiling all the time, cruising through life on a bed of ease and always appeased and you never find yourself
- dealing with discouragement
- dabbling in disappointment
- downright dejected and depressed
- struggling with uncertain nights and anxious days
You should be little bit worried, bothered and concerned. Because it is the enemy’s full-time occupation and objective to oppose and obstruct the lives of the people of God—because we are the only ones on the planet who have the opportunity to do something effective, efficient and effectual in the name of God and in the kingdom of almighty God.
It is the anointing that operates in us/through us/among us—that has the capacity to dismantle and disjoint the enemy’s hold on this world and therefore he must contest and combat us because if he leaves you untouched and unscathed—you are going to tear his kingdom down.
Consequently, the Apostle Peter wrote to the early church while they stood in the midst of trial, tribulation and trouble. As they were going through some things and said to them that “when you were in the midst of trials, tribulations, and trouble and tragedy—you ought to recognize that God is at work in IT and in YOU.” He went on to say: ‘after you have suffered for a little while the God of all grace will perfect you, establish you, strengthen and settle you.
What that is telling us is that you can not be perfected, strengthened or established until and unless you first learn how to suffer.
• Because everybody can shout on the success and the promotion; but can you shout in the midst of the suffering and the pain?
• Anybody can shout on the breakthrough and the business but can you shout and celebrate while you are still carrying the burden in your heart.
• Everybody can shout when their coming out; but can you shout when you are still in it and can’t see your way out OF it?
For I hate to be the bearer of important news, but I think I should inform you and remind you—you will have to go through some things.
You just might saved/sanctified/spirit-filled/speak in tongues/fire-baptized/anointed and appointed—but you are still going to go through.
• Because no person will go through this life untried/untested and unmolested.
• To be sure—we are not inoculated from irritation and we are not protected from pain, pandemonium and perplexities.
In John 16:33 Jesus declared “In the world you will have tribulation (setbacks/failures/disappointments); but be of good cheer—I have already overcome the world.”
• Now I know that we are living in a push button, instamatic, nana-second, microwave, overnight society—but I want to remind you—everything in life is not quick!!! And if it is chances are—it ain’t real, it won’t work and it ain’t gone last!!!
• We want God to function like federal express and “get it to me by tomorrow night’. But God doesn’t always CHOOSE to respond that way and in that manner. Don’t you know that He’s God and everything around you belongs to Him? Everyday is not going to be a sunny day; you will not always be smiling/warm/happy/fuzzy.
- The sun may not shine
- Your money may get funny
- Your change may get a little strange
- The rain may fall
- The storm may strike
- Your money may be shorter than your month
- You may lose the job/house/car in order to reach your destiny….
Because some things in life take time.
Everybody shout: TIME
• Some prayers take time
• Restoring some relationships take time
• Growing spiritually takes time
• Building a house/home takes time
• Constructing a marriage takes time
• Raising and Rearing a child takes time
• Shattering a stronghold and breaking free from an addiction that has you bound takes time
• Building a strong church with a vibrant witness takes time
• Starting a business takes time
• Finishing school takes time
• Reaching a new level of excellence as you elevate from one level to another takes time
• Enduring hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus takes time.
Healing is not always instantaneous—sometimes it takes time!!!
Let me bring it a little closer—
• Losing weight takes time
• Getting rid of that mean, spiteful attitude takes time
• Growing accustomed to change takes time
• Not having your way takes time
Here is the good news—that if you are a child of God, God will give you the anointing and the ability to go through the tough and rough spots without you falling apart.
God will give you the ability to go through difficult moments without flipping out—to deal with haters and hell-raisers without going postal….
- To confront your critics
- To live through the ridicule
- To survive the negativity
- To battle with backstabbers
- And even side step the silly folk….
What am I trying to say?
• God will give you the ability to get to the boiling point and not boil over
• To get to the edge of the cliff without jumping off
• To get close to the fire and not be burned up
• To get lowered into the lion’s den but not be eaten alive
• To step down into your Red Sea and not DROWN….
God gives us the ability to go THROUGH some things without losing our mind in what we’re going THROUGH..
And in order for you to HOLD up before God SHOWS up so that you don’t MESS up what God is SETTING up—you’re going to have to learn how to encourage yourself!!!
I’m trying to talk to somebody here today who came to worship today feeling that if God doesn’t step in and work and move in the next 30 days and do something—that you are going to lose it because you feel like you can’t go on any further—you’ve had it up to here, you’re at the end of your rope/at your Red Sea/beyond the point of no return/don’t know what to do or which way to go/in a cul-de-sac—and you feel like you can no longer cope.
Can I stop right here long enough to send a text message to the instant messenger of your soul? God is already active in your situation—because whatever you’re going through, no matter how bad it is—it didn’t take you out!!!
TELL YOUR NEIGHBHOR: I’M STILL HERE!!!
- The fire didn’t burn me
- The lions didn’t eat me
- I stepped my way through the Red see and didn’t go under
- I had to deal with demons and handle haters—but didn’t fall apart/give up/didn’t let go/didn’t lose it—but I kept my joy/my peace/my sanity/my security—because God kept me and sustained me in the midst of it all.
Is there anybody in here who can declare ‘Preacher—I went through a lot—but I made it! I’m a survivor. I’m in training. I’m enrolled in maturity 101. And even though I am tested—when I go through the fire—I shall come out as pure gold!!!”
Do you know from a spiritual perspective what it means to be mature? It means that you are fully developed, you are perfected/completed/fulfilled/balanced/well-rounded—you have gotten to the point in your growth walk with God where you don’t always need external validation; you don’t always need other people to tell you it’s alright before you can move. You don’t need to pray about something for 150 days in order to figure if it’s God’s will for your life. You know and you’ve learned how to encourage yourself.
• See, maturity, empowers you to embrace what God has prepared for you—and nothing more.
• Because what Good is it to get to the next level and not be able to handle it when you get there? What good is it for God to enlarge your territory and expand your borders and enlarge your coasts and you’re not strong enough/wise enough/committed enough to manage it there? If you want to handle what God has for you, you’ve got to grow up!!!! Maturity is your mandate!!! Not your happiness/comfort/pleasure—all of that is fine—but you’ve got to be mature!!!
You know what that means? That means you can not stay where you are; you can’t just continue to think what you think; and feel the way that you feel; and continue to do what you do.
And just in case you think I’m preaching to your neighbor—I’m NOT. I’m not preaching to your neighbor. I’m not preaching to your friend. I’m not preaching to your partner or your kids. I’m preaching to you—you’ve got to grow up.
Neighbor: THIS AIN’T EVEN ABOUT ME
You cannot be perfected/established/elevated/enlarged—unless you are spiritually mature. The question is not can God do it; but can you handle it? Because spiritual maturity comes from suffering. And sometimes you have to suffer LONG.
You have to learn how to wait when you don’t want to; how to keep smiling even when you’re crying on the inside; how to keep hoping even when you’re hurting; how to keep going when you feel like quitting.
Now this is not popular and fashionable in our day—so I’ll understand if nobody shouts/runs forward/runs around the building/climbs the wall. Because we have learned how to pray/prosper/believe for a house/a car/a job/a business.
We’ve learned how to name it and claim it/tag it and bag it/blab it and grab it.
We’ve learned how to dance/talk in tongues/praise God/to operate in the five-fold anointing.
We’ve learned how to worship/shout/sow the seed.
We’ve learned how to get a date and even find a mate.
Be we have NOT been taught how to GO THROUGH!!!
And that is why in this generation and culture we have more suicides than we ever had before in our community. Because we expect everything to happen by tomorrow night.
• See, some stuff we have not been taught how to go through!!!
- How to keep JOY when you’re surrounded by JUNK
- How to sing when you’re sad
- How to endure when nothing changes
- How to hang in and how to hold on
You better learn how to encourage yourself!!!
Now let me park here parenthetically and say—It would be wonderful and glorious if we always had support from others who were always there to lift us up and pat us on our back and to tell us how good we look/how good we are/how much we mean.
But the truth about life and about experience—is that sometimes when you need it most, people will not be there to embrace you/to egg you on and to encourage you. And so if you’re going to make it—you’ve got to perfect the art of looking in the rearview mirror—with tears streaming down your face—and saying to yourself “I’m not giving up here….I’m more than a conqueror”
You’ve got to know how to encourage yourself.
If I can just tell the truth and shame the Devil—
• Some of us are content far to soon….
We don’t mind having nothing, hanging around nobody, doing nothing and going no where in God.
(In fact, that is why progressive ministries catch the most hell)
In fact, I’m going to mess with somebody because with somebody here today, MEDIOCRITY is your ministry and COMPLACENCY is your middle name. But I believe I’ve got a few saints in the building who have declared down in your heart of hearts that that is not enough for me:
• I don’t want to just be AROUND the church; I want to be IN the church….
• I don’t want to just be NEAR God’s will; I want to be IN God’s will…
• I don’t want to just IMAGINE my purpose; I want to DISCOVER my purpose and FULFILL my purpose
• I don’t want to just AIM; I want to ACHIEVE
Because mediocrity is not good enough for me, and so I am going to encourage myself even if nobody else encourages me.
REACH. REMEMBER. RECOVER.
I. REACH FOR IT
In other words—I want to go somewhere; I want to do something; I want to be somebody; I want to have something; I want to drive somewhere; I want to achieve something great in the name of God and for the kingdom of God.
I don’t want to waste the gifts that God has given me on stuff that really can not impact and change somebody’s eternity. I don’t want to squander the opportunity that God has put before me. Because—you don’t just STEP into your next level. You will not GLIDE into your glory.
• Because before you can ever get to your PROMISE you must first learn how to manage your PAIN.
• Because if you can’t take it, you can’t make it. And if you can’t handle it you will do more harm than you can ever do any good before you get TO it.
There are certain opportunities/miracles/blessings/wonders you can’t see until you mature. There are certain blessings you can’t have until you grow up. There are certain privileges you can’t enjoy until you mature.
Until you have a real/living/thriving/growing/stable relationship with God.
Not a break up to make up relationship (where you’re on this week and off next week; you’re faithful this Sunday and fickle next Sunday; you’re committed today and capricious tomorrow—you’ve got to mature.
And God knows that in order to grow us—God has to permit us to be BROKEN.
Are there any people here today who know what it is to be broken?
God permits you and I to be broken so that we surrender to God; so that you would seek God; to discover sufficiency in God and push you off of the pedestal on which you have placed yourself and push you to a place of service and surrender.
I’ve discovered that to surrender means to give in/give up/admit I am defeated/lay down my guard/to submit/to yield/to regress/to digress/to relinquish and to hand over.
Is there anybody here who can testify—God put me in some situations
• that broke down my false pride
• that dismantled my inflated ego
• that eliminated my illusions
• that drove me to my knees
• and even had me go back and apologize
God will permit struggle to show up in your life to remind you—surrender is what He desires/needs/requires.
Struggles do not come with advance notice. There is no advance warning system that can predict and prognosticate when struggles are coming. Struggle just blows in like a hurricane and tear up stuff and everything that you thought would last.
But can I tell you something? Despite the storms and the winds that have a tendency and proclivity just to blow in—you have to train yourself to go on anyhow.
- Just because things didn’t work out the way you though—doesn’t give you the right to quit. You’ve got to go on anyhow.
- Just because you confessed it and claimed it and it hasn’t happened yet—doesn’t mean that you should throw in the towel and shout ‘I quit’. You’ve got to go on anyhow.
- Just because you don’t understand why other people seem to be doing BETTER than you although they have lived WORST than you. That doesn’t imply that you get an exemption from obedience or commitment. You’ve got to go on anyhow.
You’ve got to encourage yourself to reach even when it doesn’t make sense.
Notice in the text that the enemy did not attack DAVID—he attacked his family.
• Because the enemy will always attack that which is most precious to you.
That’s why you’ve got to stay prayed up and always laying before God.
- You can’t come to the summer and say ‘well—I’ll go back to church after the Summer is over. Because while you are taking a break—the Devil’s going to be kicking your behind.”
Why? You don’t wait until you get in the fight to start training for the fight. People who get to the championship have to go through a lot of no names in order to get to the big names.
God’s got to take me through these little fights/tests/troubles/setbacks—because when my real fight comes—I want to be ready!
David really didn’t understand why he was going through what he was going through. The enemy had stolen his stuff. But here is his secret weapon: He REMEMBERED!!!
And somebody needs to hear me well because you are under attack right now and you know it. I don’t know who I’m talking to but the enemy has been trying to take you out/wipe you out/tear you down. Because he knows that if you ever realize what God has already put within you/what God has already mapped out in front of you—that you are going to do damage to the kingdom of darkness.
And it ought to tell you something—with the enemy on your trail the way he’s been on your trail—and he hasn’t been able to take you out—that you’re even stronger than you even know.
• Because he tried to take you out by being financially strapped—but that didn’t take you out.
• He tried to take you out with heartbreak—but that couldn’t take you out.
• He tried to destroy you by letting your kids act a fool—but that didn’t take you out.
So he’s got to use one thing after another—because you are stronger than even you know. One thing can’t take you out.
You’ve got to tell the Devil like we use to say on the streets: You can’t get none if you don’t bring none!!!
If you came over here, you better be prepared because you ain’t gone walk away from this unscathed. I might not win—but I’m not gone lay down.
The Devil has to come after you with one affliction after the other.
Psalm 34:19 says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous—but the LORD delivers them from them all”. David remembered!!! And that is why he could sing in Psalm 23 “Yea, though I walk through the valley…………” David remembered!!!
• That is how the saints of old were able to make it through—they remembered how God made a way out of no way………
And look what God did for him. God provided for him in a miraculous/supernatural/undeniable way so that David ultimately was able to encourage himself, finally, to RECOVER.
David and his men were wandering through the wilderness weary—and they came upon an Egyptian boy who had been left to die by his masters. And they fed him and brought him back to health and he began to sing like a canary—he told them “I know who took you all’s stuff/wives. And I’ll take you to where they are!”
He took David and his men down to the Amelekite’s camp and when they pulled up into the driveway—the enemy was having a party.
Because whenever the enemy has stolen your stuff (your dreams/family/hopes/promise)—he is prone to party.
Whenever he feels like he’s won out over you/got something that’s important to you/taken something that’s valuable from you—he is prone to party/celebrate.
There was a party going on. They were dancing and drinking and carousing and moving around and they were so intoxicated that the text says “They were in no condition to fight.”
Don’t you know that the Devil always overplays his hand?
So David and his men went in unafraid and wiped them out. And verse 18 says that “David recovered all!!!” Ya’ll missed that!!!
I just want to stop long enough to declare that everything that the enemy stole—you can get it back.
Encourage Yourself!!! You’ve got to go through it.
• You might now want the bankruptcy but if it came—go through it!!!
• You might not want the divorce but if it’s there—go through it!!!
• You might not want to the sickness but it it’s there—go through it!!!
It’s all apart of your process.
You can’t give up here—you’ve got to go through it so that you can recover. So that you can get your stuff back/get your family back/joy/relationship/peace back.
And don’t worry and fret about the enemy. I might be hurting/crying/limping—but I’m going through!!!
And somebody in the room ought to encourage yourself.
I don’t know about you—but I frequently have to encourage myself. How do you do it? I get by myself and I talk to myself and I say to myself I fear no evil/envy/disease/discomfort/hater/hardship/pain.
Not because I’m bad—but because the LORD is with me.
Encouraged yourself. The Lord is my light and my salvation; even when my enemies……
I’m might be in a valley—but I’ll encourage myself in the valley—I’ll shout in the valley. I’ll dance in the valley.
Shout/pray/praise/leap through it
You won’t bow/break/bend—No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Encourage Yourself!!!
