Hidden not Forgotten

RW 10-10-10

Our key scripture for tonight stems from the book of Ephesians

Ephesians 3:16(NIV)

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being

If you’re taking notes the title of the message is

The hidden miracle

In our time together we’ll talk through how to get strengthened in a hidden season. This year we are beliving for our Resilient women to be walking in miracles. I felt strongly to encourage us with this thought that the miracle is hidden not forgotten.

The hidden miracle is the preparation that happens on the inside. I want to share of 2 women who were being prepared for something significant while hidden.

Ruth was hidden in the field. Ruth finds herself in a low place, leaving her country after losing her husband, her kids and she chooses to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi into Bethelem. Ruth was going through alot and in trying to fit in she finds herself doing what widows to do in this new town, which was to glean the fields. Glean means to pick up someones leftovers. I believe there is someone here who’s tired and similar to Ruth you’re here to pick up leftovers, you have nothing else to give. Ruth does this for months as a way to support her family. The field that Ruth chose to glean from just so happens to be Boaz’s field. Coincendence? I think not. But in those days, as an owner of a field you have first dibs on everything but any leftovers was fair game for the orphans & widows. Could it be that while Ruth was hidden in the field, God was preparing her by learning the role of a helpmate. To learn how to serve in the field because eventually she would need to help Boaz with it? I don’t what the field looks like for you, but I believe there are some women in a low place that God is preparing you for something significant. It’s not forgotten just hidden.

Esther was hidden in the palace. Esther was a Jewish girl in Persia that gets ripped away from the only family she knew to be entered into a season of the bachelor, I mean, beauty pageant to be the next Queen of Persia. For reasons unknown, her uncle advises her to not disclose that she is a Jew. Esther gains favor from the King and becomes the new Queen. Esther was in a high place. She has the position, power, resources and yet she can’t share who truly is. She goes on to spend 5 years as Queen before the plot twist when a plan is set in motion to kill the Jews. Coincendence? I think not. Could it be that while Esther was learning how to be Queen in Persia she was preparing to understand how to ask for the freedom of a nation? I don’t what the palace looks like for you, but I believe there are some women in a high place, a place of influence, authoriy, that God is preparing for something signifcant.

Paul is praying in Ephesians 3:16 that we’d be strengthen by His spirt in our inner being. Both of these women, God was at work, strengthening them on the inside for the moment where they couldn’t be hidden anymore.

So how do we do that? How can we get strengthened on the inside? I believe there are a few practical things we learn from Ruth & Esther about how they did it.

Ruth was strengthened by her commitment. She kept showing up. I believe there are some women here that God is preparing. You’re in the right place (right church, right job, right house, right position), but now you have to stay committed. The strengthening will come as you deepen your commitment. When I first moved to New Jersey, my agenda was simple get my masters in 1.5 years and return to Miami. God had different plans. 13 years later...still here… everything I thought I would have in Miami has started to come togeher in New Jersey. When you commit, God will strengthen.

Commitment is backed up by consistency.

So ladies, it’s time to: Show up. Commit to the process. If the miracle is the outcome, would it have mattered how long you waited if you still get to walk in it?

Keep coming to the house of God. It’s the house of God where you receive encouragement. Keep coming to the environment where you can get strengthen. Sunday service, Transform groups, RW one nights, the weekend are healthy environments where I have found God encountered me through his people. In seasons where I felt hidden, I received the most encouragement. If I felt hidden with regards to work, I found great encouragement at church, if I felt hidden in my family I found great encouragement through my friends, and vice versa. It’s tough to get encouragement when you’re not present to receive it.

When we choose to show up consistently, God does too.

Ruth couldn’t hide in the field any longer. As Ruth fully commits to this new way of life, she gets noticed by the owner of the field, Boaz.

Ruth 2:8 (NLT)

8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field.

Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT)

11 .....“But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

You never know who is watching. Ruth was working the field, learning from those who were serving, little did she know it was all for so much more. She marries Boaz and gives birth to Obed who becomes the grandfather to King David and ultimately we find her in the genology for Jesus. Ruth’s preparation was ultimately to pave the way for a new generation to rise. Could it be that your preprartion isn’t for you but for who you’ll be asked to raise? There is a generation that is coming after us that will need to know that they too can walk in miracles.

Esther was strengthened by her surrender. She kept maturing. I believe there are some women who’s preparation has an audience. You’ve stepped into the new title (mom, wife, boss, coach, grandma, empty nester, retiree, widow etc.) and we’re wrestling a bit of that imposter symdrome— could this be really happening to me? Am I able to do this? The strengthening comes as you surrender. That if you are mom (insert title) God has been preparing you for it and will help you through it.

The greater the level of surrender the greater level of maturity is required.

Which means ladies it’s time to: Grow up: Move Forward. If the miracle is the outcome, would the level of sacrifice required matter if you still get to walk in it?

Here’s the thing, being hidden has nothing to do with you. But everything to do with your purpose. So don’t let this season sabotage the purpose, let it mature you. Maturity looks like moving forward.

Don’t allow offense to grip your heart in this season. You are in a position to make a difference so do it. In hidden seasons, where I have had an auidence, I’ve been so grateful to know that I’m not the only one. Ladies, often the biggest lie we can believe is that we are the only ones going through something. It’s a lie. I’m the only mom who stuggles to parent, I’m only one who isn’t married, who can’t get my finances in order, who’s body is changing and don’t feel like myself. You are not alone.

Esther couldn’t hide in the palace any longer. Her uncle Mordecai’s confronts her regarding her true purpose.

Esther 4:13-14(NLT)

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

When we choose to surrender to Gods plan, we have more power than imagineable. Moredacai didn’t forget that out of all the Jews Esther had the influence to save the nation. Esther in the position of a high place surrenders her purpose for Gods purpose and saves an entire nation. Could it be that God is preparing you to perserve something? To speak up and defend something for the sake of the next generation? There is a generation that is coming after us that will need to know that they too can walk in freedom. That Joseph, Daniel, and Esther were all people serving in a high place to signal that that when the time came, they didn’t waver, that their sacrifice was worth the freedom of countless lives.

So wherever you find yourself in a field or in a palace God’s purpose doesn’t change. As we prepare to walk in miracles this year decide to commit and continue to mature in Christ so that when the time comes the level of sacrifice or the time it took won’t be a distraction but a confirmation that you are closer to the miracle!