It’s in his plan

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes.

Lamentations 2:17 NIV

The book of Lamentations, is a book of hurt and pain and destruction. This book shows us the wrath of God against his own people. This book and it’s chapters are orchestrated to display just how powerful our God is. In chapter 4 it talks about how the children of Jerusalem would not even be recognized on the street. It talks about how angry and tired God was of the people. Even though it talks and shows and displays just how angry God was. How he features the city. How he made this worse than the desolation of Sodom. It does not go without saying just how much God loved the people. His destruction reigned down on them, but with love.

HERE IT IS…

We may feel we are in a destructive state. We may feel we have been torn apart. We may feel God has destroyed our lives. We may even feel that God has left us. I just take joy in knowing that even in my breaking, even in my pain. Even in my dark places. When people don’t recognize me. When I’m in a place of destruction I’m still in his hands. Even when my life seems to be falling apart I’m still being molded by him. It hurts, it’s painful, it’s tough, I’m alone, no one around, I’m sick, and body is weary. But I take joy in this. The Lord has done what he planned. I don’t know much, but I know that when God comes in to my life and tears apart what I built. It’s because he is building something greater in me. It’s because what I did wasn’t what he planned. Now that he has stepped in there will be some breaking and destruction because he has to rebuild me from the ground up. Just hold on and put your hard hat on. It’s time to build on his foundation. 

Too proud

We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

Romans 8:24‭-‬25 NLT
You ever get something or do something that you have been trying to complete? Made you feel accomplished? You ever did something that when you finished you felt that you had a handle on things? I think we have all been in that position where we feel we don’t need to help or assistance because we have we needed.
HERE IT IS…
You and I were given hope the day we have our life to Christ. That hope consist of always needing God. We should not get so proud and think we have arrived just because we have accomplished something. We have something to look forward too, and that’s God’s approval in what we do. The verse says that what God does is teaches us to be patient and in waiting we wait with confidence knowing God will do it. Don’t get to a place that you feel you have made it. That is the best place to fall .

He will do it…

On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Genesis 22:4‭-‬5 NLT

I love how God does things and how he strategically places things in our path. When you get a chance read the rest of the chapter and 23. Look at what God does for Abraham. God set it up in such a way that Abraham didn’t have to sacrafice his son, and God sent an angel to Abraham to tell him to use the ram that was caught in the bush. You missed it, God placed the ram out of Abraham’s vision and he had to be directed to the ram to use it as the sacrafice by the angel. Often times we can be so focused on the thing God told us to do that we miss what he brought us there for. The ram was caught in the bush. Which says to me that the very thing that God was blessing you with God will put a hold on it so that it won’t move on until you get there.

HERE IT IS…

Just as he held the ram there for Abraham not to use Isaac he also gave us a depiction of Jesus all the way in genesis. How Rev. B? It says that on the 3rd (third) day Abraham looked up and saw the place where he was to go. On the third day Jesus got up. Abraham told the servants that was with him to stay here while he and the son went to worship. Jesus told us to stay here on earth and to spread the word of God while he went to prepare a place for us. Abraham said that afyer he worshipped they would come right back. Jesus said when the time comes he will come back and receive us unto himself. All I’m trying to tell you this morning and this week is that of you just listen and act on his word, even though it may seem a little crazy, and do what he asked that he will provide for you a blessing that he has held for you. As he promised he said that because you were faithful on that day he will see us again and we will hear, well done…

Go further

On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Genesis 22:4‭-‬5 NLT

I moved to Virginia in 2003 and when I did we had to live with my sister’s for a few weeks until our apartment was ready. It was tough so when I went to look for our apartment and as I was looking for it, i knew where it was but I hadn’t really traveled the road I was on that much. I was lost, at least I thought I was. I knew where it was but the looks of the surroundings was not looking familiar to me. I kept turning around and going up and down the same road multiple times only to realize I didn’t go far enough down the road to go to my destination.

HERE IT IS…

Abraham got to the place where God told him to go. He saw the place where go’s told him to go, but if he had stopped there he would have missed out on the ram in the bush and sacrafice his son. Sometimes we miss our blessing because get to where God told us to go bit we don’t go into where God told us to go. We can’t just go to the place, but sometimes God needs you to go into it to get what he has for you. Don’t stop just because you arrived at the place, go in. 

Move

The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 22:3 NLT

As a parent when I ask my kids to do something I am expecting to hear or see them get to do what I asked. Not a few minutes after, or for them to tell me that they are about to. When I ask them to do something I am expecting them to move. Do what I asked them to do with no issue, back talk or discussion. This is what we are missing with God. We often times take God’s instruction as a option and not a command.

HERE IT IS…

Abraham heard God’s voice speak to him with an instruction and the bible says that he got up the next morning to follow through. Even though it was his son he waited on for years and the only one from his wife. He didn’t groan about it. He didn’t try to reason with God. He didn’t tell God he would do it in a little bit. He didn’t say to God, why or wonder and think on it. Abraham got up the next morning and started out on the instruction God gave him. We should be able to be in a place where when God speaks, we know his voice and fear him so much that we do it when he ask. No mumbling or issues with it. We do just what he asked, and watch God move on our behalf.

What’s holding you back?

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Genesis 22:2 NLT

Korban olah, Hebrew for burnt offering. This means to ascend, or to literally go up in smoke.

But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord .
Leviticus 1:9 NLT

This pleased God as a sign that you were making a dedication to get closer to God. Not only did God have Abraham get on top of a mountain, (ascend to the top of the mountain), but he also had him use a reverence to him that meant ascend, or to go up in smoke. In other words God was telling Abraham to not only physically get closer to him by going on the mountain, but to also spiritually show him through the sacrifice that he is willing to do what is necessary to get closer to him.

HERE IT IS…

What’s holding you back from getting closer to God? Is it the trip up the mountain? Or is it the fact that he is having you use what you feel is the closes thing, or the place you feel most comfortable he is calling you out of as a sacrifice. If you just answer the call, and make the move to act on what he has called you to do to get closer you will see that the very thing you had to use as a sacrifice was only a his way of getting you to move in his direction. Stop focusing on the sacrafice he is having you use and watch him give it back to you. 

Hello?!?!

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

Genesis 22:1 NLT

Remember when in the old days before cell phones. Before pagers, before caller ID when the phone rang you answered the phone. You weren’t worried about picking up the phone because you didn’t know who it was. You picked up the phone because there was no answering machine. You didn’t have the luxury of saying I’ll call them back without picking up the phone. You had to answer the call no matter what because it wasn’t really about who was calling but more of what they were calling about that you may miss.

HERE IT IS…

Look at what God did first, and in order to do that, let’s look at what he didn’t do. God did not; call and start talking, he didn’t send him a email, or text message. He didn’t send a signal,  he didn’t send anyone to Abraham. God called Abraham, and he called him by his name. Why? He called him to test the faith of Abraham. He called him and look at what Abraham did. He answered God with the reply yes, here I am. He knew who was calling with no hesitation he answered him. Understand when God calls we will;
1. You will know it’s him calling
2. Have to answer the call
3. Know how to answer the call
Everyone has a call it’s your job to answer. Just know with the call comes a stretching of your faith.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

It’s not them, but what’s in them

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Matthew 16:23 NLT

It’s hard to have someone be in your corner, and be fore you and then turn their back on you. It’s hard to feel like you ha e someone to hold you up and support you and then they tear down what you you said and feel God is leading you to do. The closest people to you can sometimes be your worst enemy. They can sometimes be used by the enemy and try to turn you away from the way God has blessed you to go. It may not be what they thought but it’s where God is leading you.

HERE IT IS….

Jesus was not talking to Peter and calling him Satan, but in fact he was talking to the spirit in that person. Sometimes we have to understand that it’s not the physical person, but it’s the spirit that has spoken through them. We have to learn to distinguish between the person and the spirit. It’s sometimes hard too at times because at times that spirit just comes to try and get you out of your connection with God. That spirit can come and talk to you to get you mad and try to stop your commune with God. Jesus turned to Peter, but was speaking into Peter. Turn to those people, but speak into those people. 

Can’t stop now

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 NLT

During this time that Jesus is talking to them and having a Q and A session Jesus goes on to tell them what’s about to happen. He is telling them what he is about to endure for their sake. He is letting them know that what you believe about me is is about to be shown through my death and resurrection. If you look at it they just told him who they believe he is to them, and in the same breath tried to prevent Jesus from the showing of God’s power. Jesus said okay, bow that you believe in who I am, I have to go and display that very same thing you said I am. Peter tries to pull him to the side and the NLT version said he reprimanded Jesus for what he said.

HERE IT IS…

People will say they have faith in you. People will say they believe in your ability. People will say they will support you in everything that you do. As soon as you prepare to do it. As soon as you let them know what your about to do. As soon as you prepare to act on the very thing that God revealed to you, they try and stop you. Everyone may not understand just what it is God has planned for you, but you don’t let them stop you. They won’t be able to comprehend what it is your headed for, but don’t let them stop you. They won’t understand as to why you feel you need to do it, but as long as you follow God it will all work for the good of those that love the Lord. 

Affirmation

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Matthew 16:16‭-‬17 NLT

You are… the answer that Simon Peter gave to Jesus. The beginning of his answer started with a affirmation of who he is. Where as the answer to the prior question was some say. Peter answers with a affirmation of who HE was to him. While other person answered Peter took the opportunity to express just who Jesus was to him. You are… A direct answer back to who Jesus is to him. Peter didn’t look around the room to see if anyone else was going to say anything, Peter stepped up and took his opportunity to release his passion for Jesus.

HERE IT IS…

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18 NLT

In the moment Peter took his opportunity just to express just who Jesus was to him, he was blessed. The moment you tell Jesus and affirm who he is, he changes who you are to him. The moment that you release all the doubts and fears and show faith, Jesus releases the kingdom of heaven to you. Don’t let other people stifle your blessing because of their thoughts. Proclaim and affirm who Jesus is and watch him affirm and open up the windows of heaven towards you…