The Best Is Yet To Come
TEXT:
Ex 15:6-11 (KJV)
6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
1 Tim 2:8 (KJV)8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Introduction:
Many times I have heard someone speak of the “Good Old Days”
The days when life was simple;
People trusted in God and spoke of Him openly and unashamedly.
People worked long hours yet they never forgot about God, they never
Failed to show up for worship services.
But often what people refer to as the “Good Old Days” were times of war and times of economic hardships.
These things seemed to create a sense of awareness of the need for
A strong relationship with the Creator!
Sept. 11, 2001 ushered in a different way of life.
For years we had been living and enjoying “Peace Time.”
But now we are reminded of our mortality and our need for a Strong
Relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ.
These are days of great trials, of famine and darkness and sword;
(1) Earth quakes,
(2) Fires out west.
(3) Flooding in our nations mid section
(4) The terriost attacks upon New York City and Washington D.C.
Winston Churchill said so long ago;
“ I am an old man, I have lived a long life, yet I have never seen time like these, I see no hope for the future.”
But because God often uses hardships to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him, I believe that the Best Days the Church has ever known could be right in front of us;
We are the church, we are the voice in the desert crying out “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
Of lift up your voice and praise Him, It’s the day of Salvation, your sins be forgiven, Out of Zion’s hill Salvation comes!
I. These Are The Days Of Elijah
Declaring the Word of The Lord!
[A] During the days of Elijah, Ahab becomes king.
(1) Ahab had taken a wife from a foreign land,
*His wife was raised to worship idols including Baal
*Baal was the God of nature.
[B] Ahab incorporated the worship of Baal in an effort to please his
wife.
Ahab did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.
Israel became increasingly wicked.
[C] Elijah comes on the scene and declares to Ahab that it is no longer
Going to rain unless He gives the word.
(1) For over 3 years the skies were shut up.
(2) There is a severe famine in the land.
(3) The prophets of Baal can not get the their god of nature to move.
[D] Elijah’s God was in control.
[E] During this time Elijah comes into the home of a widow woman and
her son who are starring death in the face.
(1) Because of the famine, they are on the verge of starvation.
(2) This woman has nothing except a little meal and some oil.
(3) This woman lives in the city of Zarephath which is located
In Sidon.
(4) Jezebel’s Father rules this area. This was where this Baal thing
Had come from.
(5) In fact it was from this very area that missionaries of Baal were
Recruited to come to Israel and lead the people in Baal worship.
[F] The Miracle of Food in the widow’s home.
(1)Her great faith.
[G] While Elijah is staying in their home, the widow’s son dies.
1 Kings 17:18 (NKJV)18 So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?"
(1) The Widow Woman blamed herself and God for the death of her
son.
(2) Elijah said give me the boy, he took the boy from his mothers
arms;
(3) Elijah carried to young boy up stairs into his room and laid him
upon his own bed, 3 times he stretched his self over the boy and
Prayed “Oh God restore this boys soul to his body”
God heard and answered His prayer.
Then Elijah challenges Baal.
[A] He refused to buy into Baal worship.
(1) Elijah had a relationship with the TRUE God!
[B] The day spent waiting on Baal to move,
[C] Elijah -- the preparing of the sacrifice and the altar.
(1) Ahab had called Elijah the “troubler of Israel”
(2) But is wasn’t Elijah that brought the trouble.
(3) It was Ahab and Jezebel and their idol worship.
[D] Fire called down from heaven.
(1) The people began to shout; “The Lord Is God!”
(2) The slaying of the prophets of Baal. (Elijah commanded
The people to seize the prophets of Baal.)
[E] Elijah restores the rain.
(1) The restoration of Holiness and Righteousness will always
Be accomppied by the RAIN!
(2) Then Elijah parts the Jordan.
*When we put God back in His rightful place we can then go to
Places we never thought we could go before!
**We are people on a mission!
II. These Are The Days Of Moses
Righteousness being restored
[A] God has brought us out of sin’s bondage.
(1) We are headed to a better country and nothing can hold us back.
(2) We are leaving Egypt and its gods behind!
(3) We are leaving the ways of Egypt behind.
[B] God will supply our every need while we are on the journey!
(1) Food, clothes, shoes, water, shade, etc…;
(2) Everything we need to minister for Him and to serve Him
Is at our disposal.
[C] Everything we need to keep moving forward -----
(1) Just keep walking, with every step forward we move farther and
farther away from the Old Life of Egypt.
(2) With every step forward, we come closer and closer to being all
That He has created us to be.
[D] Moses tapped a rock in the midst of a barren land and from that
rock came forth life giving water.
Water- symbolic of the Holy Ghost.
(1) Jesus is the Rock of salvation.
(2) The rock has been stricken and from the Rock flows the
Power of the Holy Ghost.
(3) Now the life can be sustained in the middle of the desert.
(4) Once Barren Lands can bloom eternal life!
III. These Are The Days Of Ezekiel
Dry Bones becoming as flesh
[A] If God can bring a nation back to life He can bring your loved one
Back to life.
[B] If God can restore a nation to a right relationship, He can restore
Your relationship or the relationship of your loved one!
[C] God’s desire to bring those who are back slid back into a right
Relationship with his self.
[D] Ezekiel stood over looking the valley of dry bones and prophesied
And as he prophesied the bones came to life.
(1) God needs somebody to declare His Word.
Psalms 119:41 (KJV)41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psalms 119:105 (KJV)105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:107 (KJV)107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me,
(Bring me to life) O LORD, according unto thy word.
(2) Oh that we may arise and declare the Word of the Lord
that sinners may be pricked in their hearts.
(3) That people will turn away from fables and serve the Mighty God.
IV. These Are The Days Of Solomon
Rebuilding the Temple of The Lord.
[A] You know Solomon’s father, King David so much wanted to build
A temple for God.
(1) He said it’s not right that I the earthly king should live in such a
fine palace, while God has no decent house.
(2) But God would not allow David to build a temple because the
blood he had shed.
[B] But David made God a dwelling place in his heart.
2 Sam 6:14 (KJV)14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might;
(1) David had worship on his mind and in his heart.
Psalms 22:3 (KJV)3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(2) You don’t have to enter some vast Cathedral to find Him and
To worship Him.
[C] You are the Temple of the Holy Ghost;
(1) Be a temple of praise!
[D] I can’t seem to understand why so many people have such a
problem praising Him in His house!
1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
Psalms 134:1-2 (KJV)
V. These Are The Days Of Harvest
The fields are white in the world.
[A] We are His laborers.
(1) First we come and we stand in His presence.
We get our soul filled with His presence.
His Glory over shadows every struggle, every hardship,
Every frustration, etc…..
(2) In His presence we know that we can overcome every
circumstance and we can conquer every enemy!
(3) We go out working in His vineyard, declaring the Word Of The
Lord.
[B] He who was, who is, and who is to come!
(1) He is what He use to be!
(2) What he has done, He can still do!
(3) What He is will never change!
Heb 13:8 (KJV)8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
In light of all of this, I believe that the best days the church has ever seen could be right in front of us.
1 Tim 2:8 (KJV)8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
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