Miracles in the Middle of the Mess

“God can take our mess, regardless of the cause… and do a MIRACLE in the middle of it all!”  - Tony Evans

Ever find your self in a BIG MESS? How exactly did that “happen”

We usually find ourself in a mess because of a bad series of choices or because of neglect or because of unexpected circumstances.

2 Samuel 11:1-27 David makes a series of bad choices and creates a huge mess!

1.     We need to be confronted with the reality that there is a mess

2.     Confess the mess to God.  God knows our sin and He is waiting for us to agree with Him that it is sin.  The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

3.     Let God show you the root of your sin.  Often when we set about to clean up our messes, we want to deal only with the external problem.  God knows that all our sin comes from the heart (see Matthew 15:19).  God wants to get to the root of the sin problem by changing our hearts.

4.     follow God’s direction in cleaning up the mess.  God’s forgiveness is immediate.  He purchased our pardon on the Cross of Christ long before we ever committed the sin.  But the Lord’s forgiveness is transforming.  He will show us what steps we need to take to make things right.  If we’ve offended someone with our words, God shows us how to go and make it right with them.  If we have taken matters into our own hands and stepped out of His will, His Word shows the path back to His way.

The promise of Proverbs 3:5-6 is sure:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Happy Father's Day!!

1. Focus on the Positive
 When I golf… I could choose to dwell on the shots that I miss!  Maybe it’s raining or it’s the slow play of the foursome in front of us, maybe it’s reality and I just stink at golf! However, I can also choose to dwell on the accurate shots, the beautiful scenery and the fun that we had both on and off the golf course. Both would have been true reflections of the time spent. Which would you rather focus on?                                                                                                                  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8

2. Focus on the Present
 I will never make any good shots if I stress over past errors or what happens beyond my current swing. Have you ever missed out on the present by dwelling on the past or future?                                                    “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:34

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” – Isaiah 43:18

3. Focus on Your Purpose
 While I am on the course my purpose is to hit the ball toward the next hole. I only hit the ball well when I focus on the task at hand. My focus doesn’t guarantee success, but it makes it much more possible. Are you giving all you have to the task at hand right here, right now?               Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. - Colossians 3:23 

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.                           1 Corinthians 9:26

Soaked in the Spirit

“Then Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”

Matt 4:1

“There comes a time in everyone’s life when they experience a drought of some kind”

“Bishop TD Jakes”

If this is true and we go through times of feeling DRY and in a wilderness desert as it relates to our walk with God... first we have to realize that we are in a place of...

VULNERABILITY! – in other words, we are “sitting ducks” for temptation and going down roads that lead us AWAY from Him instead of CLOSER to Him!

Matt 4:1-11 – Jesus is lead by the Spirit out in the desert. There are times when God has you in a desert for a very distinct purpose... to see what you’re made of! To see who and what you will look to for survival... Him and the Word, or the flesh and everything that tries to satisfy it?

To eleviate dryness... we have to “SATURATE or SOAK” in the things of God! Using a BBQ analogy... you have to “marinate” in the things of God!

1.     The BEST way to combat the attacks of satan is to saturate ourselves with

THE WORD OF GOD! – Psalm 119:11 Look again at Matt. 4:1-11 – Jesus Quotes the WORD to combat the enemy who wants to rob, kill and destroy!

2.     We have to soak ourselves in PRAYER. Jesus’ example to us was to pray constantly! First thing He did every chance He got! Mark 1:35-39

3.     Soak ourselves in SERVICE to God. We have received our “Gift from God” for 2 distinct purposes... to bring PRAISE to God and to GLORIFY God.

              1 Peter 4:10-11

James 1:2-4 Consider it PURE JOY when you face trials of many kinds!  Church, rather than whine and run in the other direction towards something “false” that really WONT satisfy... RUN TO JESUS!

As we look at the life of Jesus... we see droughts of many kinds that plagued His life, but yet He was always able to defeat each scorcher! Through SOAKING in God’s Word, Soaking in Prayer, and Soaking in Service to God!

Wake Up!

“The hour has come for you to WAKE UP from your slumber..."

Rom. 13:11

“Have you ever fell asleep at the wheel? It can happen,

but the end result is NOT going to be pleasant!”

Mark 14: 32-42 – 3 different times... the followers of Jesus FELL ASLEEP!

If you look at the passage you see that Jesus DID NOT WANT THEM SLEEPING simply because it was going to prevent them from seeing that the enemy was at work

QUESTION: Isn’t that exactly what the enemy of God would want to happen? Ask yourself the questions... “in what ways am I falling asleep when it comes to the spiritual things in my life?”  “What’s causing me to become sleepy?”

Revelation 3:1-6 – Here is another clear example of a church that is ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL!

In the Gospels, Matthew 25:1-13 The “virgins” represent those who have been “washed in the blood” and who are made to be the “pure and spotless bride” for the SOON COMING Bridegroom. Notice though... that they ALL fell asleep! They didn’t all miss out... only those who in their “pre-slumber” did not PREPARE for His coming!

Ephesians 5:16 REDEEM THE TIME! For the days are evil! That word - evil - is the Greek word - poneros - which is translated for the most part - hurtful in its effect upon you.

Isaiah 55:6 Admonishes us to “Seek the Lord while He may be found!” None of us are able to execute what needs to be done in our own personal lives apart from God Himself! Apathy and lethargy are things that crop up in our lives that cause real “roadblocks” to our spiritual growth and well being!

Finally, another question to ask yourself...

“What does an awake believer of the Lord look like?”

“If I myself would STAY AWAKE.... in what ways would the Kingdom be different?”

“How would the Kingdom GROW as a result of ME being ALERT?”

Blessings my Friends!