The Way Things Are

Valley Grove Assembly of God

Dr. Marilyn S. Murphree

September 14, 2014

The Way Things Are

Mark 11:22-24

INTRODUCTION: We think things have to be the way they are.

What things?

We think that when we get older we have to be in poor health

Have to have arthritis, diabetes, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, and sciatica

Have to have a low-paying job

Have to be depressed, sad, and lonely

Have to be in financial need all the time

Have to drive an old car that is falling apart—with 186,000 miles on it.

We could go on and on. We have a tendency to make do with things as they are. We think certain things about ourselves. We figure out ways to cope but keep the problems and situations as they are.

Scripture tells us, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). We say, “That’s just the way I am.” There’s a song that I like that says, “There’s no need for tears in your eyes.”

Why?

You might say, “Life is hard these days. I’ve had it rough.”

There’s no need for tears in your eyes because Jesus said, “I am come that ye might have life more abundantly—or another version says, Life to the full” (John 10:10).

How do you see yourself? As sick and tired all the time, coping with all kinds of situations, not enough money to pay your bills at the first of the month let alone at the end of the month?

There are a lot of scriptures that remind us of what Jesus came to bring us. Psalm 91:16 says, “I will satisfy him with long life and show him my salvation.”

Another scripture says, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” We say, “but I’m not healed.”

How do you know you’re not? Why do you think that?

Because the symptoms are still there? I still hurt. My toes still hurt and my hand is still numb. What is a symptom anyway? The healing comes in the spirit and works its way to the physical. How do you know He is not healing you? Symptoms might not change right away. That’s something to think about that may not have occurred to us.

We’ve got to shatter the image of sickness and disease and lack and poverty and replace it with a concept of God’s provision for us. Another scripture tells us to renew our minds. Get your thinking straightened out or you will continue to live with the mindset of “this is the way things have to be.” Romans 12:2 says, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Begin to believe the promises of God as actually being fulfilled in your life.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Reprogram the vision. Begin to see yourself in a different way. See yourself as a generous giver instead of always the person people have to give to.

There was a free cheese program in our town one time. There was a man who decided to go get some free cheese, and he got there and had to stand in a long line for it. Well, that’s OK for the government to help people, but with God’s provision, you can be the cheese giver to someone in need.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it eat the fruit thereof.” So if you say I’m sick and tired, you will be sure to get it. You could say I AM:

The righteousness of God

An heir of God

A person of faith

Free from Satan’s authority

A believer and not a doubter

More than a conqueror

I CAN DO

All things through Christ which strengtheneth me

Overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.

Abraham was a person that God gave many promises to but they were still promises, not reality in the here and now yet. Romans 4:16-25 says that Abraham “called those things that be not as though they were.” That was calling them by his faith.

The other night Walter had pulled the car up for me to get in, and I was walking out toward the car with my cane. I must have looked like I was having a hard time walking because a man yelled out, “Ma’am, Ma’am, are you all right?” I said, “Yes,” and kept on walking and got in the car.

Sometimes we are going through a time when things are not like we want them to be and I say, “Things don’t have to be like they are—but they still are this way.” Sometimes I have a struggle walking. How do I reconcile what I say I am believing and the way things are? Abraham called those things that be not {yet} as though they were. He released his faith through words. Words bring things from the realm of unreality into the realm of reality. How do we know this?