A Dark Season

Matthew 27:45

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness comes over all the land.

Text: Jesus darkest hour

Let think back this morning to the darkest season of your life.

Idk: if it was when your mother died.

Idk: if it was when you realized the marriage was over.

Idk: if it was the husband walking out leaving you to raise children you did not make by yourself.

Idk: if it was when you were at your lowest place of depression.

Idk: if was the furthest you had ever been from God.

Idk: if it was when your body was wrecking with pain in a hospital bed.

Idk: if it was rejection.

Uncertainty about the future

Spiritual decline

financial hardship

Amen, your darkest moment.

You don’t have to search for it. 

You know it right off the top of your head. 

You know it right off the tip of your tongue.

Dark seasons do not always indicate God’s absence. Often they because the place where God reveals His presence most clearly.

And I can attest this Morning that no one has ever take a moment to think about Jesus darkest hour.

Jesus being the son of God and have a dark season.

My God From Zion

Jesus has already turn Himself to be vulnerable in the Garden when said let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done.   

I want to remind each of us that we have the gift of forgiveness but the gift of forgiveness does not exonerate us from the consequence of sin. 

And so

You can smoke for years; God will forgive you but that doesn’t mean you gonna be cancer free.

You can have a reckless sexual appetite, and it doesn’t mean you will be safe guarded from a STD or unwanted pregnancy.

You can gamble and after you have thrown the dice for the last time and realize that it was your whole check, which doesn’t mean the recouped will be in your account, 

You can drink all your life buy that doesn't mean the achiol wont eat up your liver.

FB, what I’ve come to realize is that we want forgiveness without consequences.

Forgiveness does not eliminate consequences

Forgiveness if free, but consequences still remain.

Grace forgive the sin, but wisdom reminds us that consequences can still follow

So, when we find Jesus hanging on the cross,

He is crying out to His Father who has sent Him there

and then the one who sent Him there has the nerves to be silent. 

He is silent. When I wasn’t even asking for me, I said, forgive them!! And He still aint talking.

FB, What happens when I am the son of God, and He has so anointed me

to lay hands on the sick,

give sight to the blind,

feed 5000 with 2 fish and 5 barley loaves,

make lane people walk,

deaf people hear,

and with my anointed hands, He allows a nail to go through it.

What happened when

I operate in the supernaturaland

HE has given my feet the strength to walk on water

and still allows then the drive a stake through my ankles.

I trying to figure how God would put me in the perilous predicament, as the son of God.

I’m reminded of the woman with the issue of blood for years and she thought to herself if I could just touch the Helm of His garment and yet He would allow some centurion soldier to Polk a spear in my side when I had oil even in my robe.

He said to Him those who have not yet been disciples you are transformed by the renewing of your mind.

And yet He watched them put a crown of thorn of my head and them twist it.

I had already declared so said Jesus, If I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me.

And so, it would have been enough for them to drive it in my hands and through my feet and leave the cross on the ground, but for me to be lifted up,

I do not mean in pain.

I dint mean to be elevated with agony. 

I did not mean to be exalted with embarrassment. 

And yet I’m lifted up, and when my cross is lifted up.

Nobody is worshipping, praising, crying, lifting up holy hands.

And then when the cross is hoisted. What I would have never imagined takes place.

Then the entire world goes dark in the daytime.  To your bible scholars, it was no just over Golgotha all of Israel went dark. 

God had unplugged the sun. and He unplugged the sun when it supposed to be at its highest.  This is not a lunar eclipse because those only last for 30 minutes.  But the is 3 hours.  3 hours when God does not allow nature to live and walk in the ways of Genesis 1.

That everything in creation is supposed to be under my power.  And now the sun refuses to shine. and when the sun refuses to shine, the moon won’t show up, stars won’t even twinkle.

And so, I need you to understand darkness has a walkout. And silence has gone mute and so the only thing I can hear is not birds chirping.

I can hear my only hearing.

fainting hear beat,

the gas from my own breath,

me talking to God and hear Him not talking to me. 

Its dark.  This is the darkest season of my life.

And I’m trying to figure out why am I going through it when the earth hasn’t been this dark since Exodus, when God gave a plague to pharaoh for no letting the children of Israel go. Here I am trying to free the people and here I am suffering the same way as somebody who don’t follow Christ suffers.

Why do I turn the lights out on me when I work for you?

Why shut me down when I’m trying to open heaven up?

Why leave me in isolation when I’m the one who is supposed to be anointed?

He said I needed to make it dark because you were not far back enough. You stopped as your only example to be Exodus. When I need you to go to Genesis, when the earth was dark, when it was filled with void, it is only when it’s the darkest when I start speaking the clearest.

God I can’t hear nobody.

There is somebody sitting in the solitude of this sanctuary that needs to know when life gets dark that’s when God’s voice gets clear. If you aint hearing nothing, then your life is not dak enough yet. But when life get real dark God declares Let there be, and I don’t know who you sitting beside but brace you self on this 4th Sunday in July because I am on assignment to announce to you that in the next 3 hours God is getting ready to speak to your situation, but He needed it so you can only see Him.

See when situations get dark and you can’t see anything go back to Genesis 1

       1     In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

       2     The earth was aformless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

I hope you are all ready for this.

Amen it is then that the Holy Spirit starts moving.

I need you to know that God has now unleased the Holy Spirit  to move on the behalf on somebody in the church who is going through pain, suffering, that aint even called for, you are going through a attack that who it is not worthy of who it is that you are, you are dealing with opposition with folk you have tried to help

God i can’t hear nobody.…

And here it is, now watch God move in the next 3 hours, I got to do something, but I need you in a dark place first. 

You will see your miracle when you can’t see yourself.  You will see you Maricle when you can’t see around you.

You will see your miracle in season when you can’t even hear from God. 

It is getting dark.  FB this is when miracles start happening.

1st of all When things go dark in your life the

1st thing God does is turn the lights out in your life.

2ndly When things go dark in your life the

God tear things up.

Everything is dark.  Darkness has covered Israel. And the text says that the veil in the temple is torn. 

51   And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Now I need you to know that this is not cotton, shier, Lennin, but its velvet.  And the velvet is 4 inches thick. And 60 ft high.  Nobody with natural hands could tear it.  FB the scissors you got in your kitchen are not sharp enough.  And even if they are sharp enough you could not go all the way up to 60 ft without the knife becoming dull.

What are you saying pastor Carter, he says I’m tearing up stuff while you can’t even see it.  Because the veil in the temple separated you and the glory. Only the high Priest could get behind there. 

But He saying I’m tearing stuff up whatever was blocking you from getting into the manifestation of who I am, I’m tearing it up in the dark.

And I came to make an apostolic announcement sound Baptist, whenever was between you and His glory, He just tore it up.

Whatever it is that got in the way of you worshipping Him, hearing His voice, HE just ripped it up.

I better say it another way.

Whoever thought they were big enough to block you, His will. He just tore it up.

He says, I

I’m tearing up relationships,

soul ties,

generational curses,

opposition,

disobedient children,

and you will not be held accountable because its so dark you didn’t even see it happen, you don’t even know how they lost their way,

They were so arrogant, and they mistreated you and thought they were not gonna be held accountable. God says I’m gonna do it in the dark, even while you sleep, I’ll do it.

Can you imagine?

in the next 3 hours

God is tearing you away from people you should be close too.

God is disconnecting you from cycles of behavior.

God is purging you from habits that are pulling you away from your calling and your assignment.

Whatever it is the enemy thought he could use against you it just got destroyed in the dark.  I don’t know where all of them are in the dark, but I declared somebody in this church between now and the benediction.

God I can’t hear nobody.

When you get home find something to tear up

When you get in your car find something to tear it up

Watch God divide it in a place that it cannot be repaired.

He says I’m doing it in the dark.

He’s in the dark.

The veil is torn apart but then in verse 51 in the b clause it says then there is an earthquake.

51   And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

And so, Jesus is on the cross. And the earth begins to shift.  The earth begins to shift in an unusual place because Israel and Palestineis not a place of volcanoes.  This is not here earthquakes happen. But see here God made the earth operator in interjection.  That couldn’t even stomach what was taking place to somebody that is anointed.

Not in Mathew 27, the next time we find an earth quake it is Paul and Silas in a Philippine jail and at midnight they begin to worship God and the Bible records in the acts of the apostle there’s an earthquake and doors starts opening up and shackles fall off, and here is what is amazing there is nobody at the cross worshipping!!!!

So, the question is what caused the earthquake. Hallelujah.  Angelic beings said we remember what God says and nobody else paid attention to it. 

Here it is, God said if you don’t praise me.

I wish I had a Bible reader.

God said if you don’t praise me, I will make the rocks cry out. So, because nobody else would shout out in the dark the rocks said put me in the choir, watch me worship Him even while I’m in a dark place. 

All I’m telling you is that something is getting ready to shift for those who are harden, dead set against you, committed to your failure.

God says I’m getting to shift some things. It cannot be natural it got to be supernatural.  I’m getting ready to mess some stuff up just for you to be able to get into your rightful place.  I feel sorry for the folk on you row who don’t understand why you praise God like you do.  What they don’t know is that it’s the earthquake.  They don’t understand it aint me but it’s the God that live inside of me. 

It’s a dark season. Let me help you. See when Paul and Silas praise God at midnight chains falloff, all the doors open up.

Jesus on the cross it is a dark season because this is nothing like Acts. Because there is an earthquake and Christ is still on the cross.  It’s not fair because when Paul and Silas praise Him, they get out of it.  The earthquake comes for Jesus and He’s still nailed to the cross and the situation.  See some of you try to pin praise.  see you think when you praise God you immediately step out of the situation, hallelujah, sometimes what you are in is not for you.

Amen, it’s to teach you what you are in a lesson.

God, I can’t hear nobody.

Shatrack-meshack-abendigo were not in the fiery furnace for themselves, they had to show fire you aint in charge of me I’ve got authority over the environment.

Daniel was not in the Lion den for Him; he had to teach lions a lesson. I don’t know what you are in today but if you are in a dark season God help me to preach, it aint for you, I’m getting ready to show what had you bound that you in it but you aint gonna give up, give in give out. 

The woman with the issue of blood, she wasnt in it for her. She was in it for the blood.

I’m getting ready to show what had you bound that you aint gonna commit suicide, gonna be depressed, but you aint gonna have a nervous breakdown.  Because it aint for you up got to stand up tot the attack a lesson.

It’s an earthquake but Jesus is still on the cross.

How heavy is the earthquake that the cross doesn’t move.

How significant is the earthquake that none of the nails in His hands fall out.

I see a move of God but it’s not impacting me. And it aint fair. 

You aint never been in church and you seen folk get delivered, get a breakthrough and you still in the same situation. Can you only praise God when it’s your turn? Can you praise God when somebody else is getting a door open, even while the door is shut for you.

I better test my thesis of this sermon here. 

Don’t shout for you shout for whoever on your pew that in a dark season.

It is the darkest season in my life.

The lights are out.

The stuff is being torn up.

Stuff is being shaken up.

And now people are starting to pop out.

I’m on Matthew 27: 52

52   The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

People are starting to pop up. What do oy mean Pastor.  Watch this.

when the lights go dark when

the veil in the temple is torn,

the earth begins to quake,

then the bible says the righteous begin to come out of the grave. 

This did not apply to the whole cemetery, this was not for everybody in the graveyard.  But those who had been buried and had an assignment God says watch me bring them up. 

God, I can’t hear nobody. FB brace yourself. Because you are getting ready to pop out.

Folk that though it was over for you.

Folk that thought this was the end of the road.

Folk that thought it was the end of your story.

This is your pop out season.

You gonna pop out as a lawyer.

You gonna pop out and a graduate.

You gonna pop out debt free.

Don’t you bury me ahead of my time and or assignment?

I’m about to pop out of this.

Yall already here

I just need 5 of yall to pop out of your seat.

You are popping out this season.

You are popping out of this circumstance.

Depression

Sickness

Dead end job

Go ahead and pop out then.

Only selected people came out of the grave.

Only selected people came out of the casket.

The problem that I have I between 12 and 3. People started to pop out. And my conflict with the text is that that popped up out of the grave and Jesus stayed screwed to the cross.

I’m in the dark season because he didn’t have to let me die. Since resurrection was in the air why not save me from this death

While on other thou are calling

Please don’t not pass me by

I wish I had an old school church.

I believe for someone it’s about to be your season.

You done watch other folk get blessed.

You done watch other people get promoted.

You done watch other people get their bills paid.

You watched other people’s children get blessed.

When is it gonna be my turn?

God said I needed to see how you would respond in the darkest season of you r life.

In the darkest season of your life

God turns the light out.

He tears stuff up.

He shakes stuff up.

He lets people pop up.

And finally, in that dark season HE allows people to turn around.

it is in the dark that the centurion soldier says I think we killed the wrong man. It is between 12 and 3 and the soldiers say I think we killed the wrong man.  But what you all have not paid attention too; is how did he recognize Jesus in the dark. 

In the dark how does he not know he’s not standing at the foot of the robber?

How does he not know he is not standing at the base of the thief. 

He says I know who he is based of how He acts in the dark. 

My God from ZION!!!!!

The real testament of your relationship to God is not how you act when the lights are on but how can you trust Him when you in a dark season. 

If you aint doing bad don’t shout at us

But if you are in a dark night in a soul

But

1     I will bless the Lord at all times.

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

       2     My soul will make its boast in the LORD.

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

       3     O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

The anker of our faith is the Resection power of Jesus.

Who we are swings on knowing that he got up from the grave.

Just in case you missed it 5 miracles happened while He was on the cross, in His dark season.

Lift those hands.

I pray that God will perform a miracle in a season that you can’t hear Him.

I pray that God will perform a miracle in the area in your life where Can’t see your future.

I pray that God will perform a miracle in your dark season that folk are forced by the power of the Holy Spirit to change their mind about you.

I pray in your dark season that God will stop somebody in your family from dying.

After that 3rd hour the light came back on

And when the light came back on it went from bad to worse

At the end of that 3rd hour He;s no longer struggling in pain He’s dead.

Can you imagine that the lights don’t come on until the enemy thinks he has the victory. 

The lights don’t come on until virtue is completely depleted from His system.

I wonder how many of us has the maturity to trust God when we feel like we are dying.

People who don’t have your level of assignment, glory connectivity may very well get out of it before you and it may even end up being more damaging for you than it is for them.

But God says to show you my power I’ll bless you in the dark.

After being in the dark for 3 hours then then seal me in a dark cave and my 3 hours become 3 days I though it was over but it has not come to a conclusion until everything in me has resigned that I cant do it only God can do it for me

It is not by might, it’s not by power, it’s only by His spirit.

The only way to defeat the enemy is to confuse the confusion.

Help me, Worship God in the next 30 seconds like the lights is about to come on in your situation.

Come on confuse them.

You are gonna survive this.

You are coming out of this.

It aint over

It wont always be like this.

Sooner or later

The fact that you are in your darkest season of life is not by accident or incident by divine appointment because you have a date with destiny on it.

Wherever you are in your dark season and you are looking from the bright side somewhere

My encouragers Stand with me

The door of the church is open.

Bring your dark season to this alter.

Meet Usu at this altar.

Every cloud runs out of rain and every dark season runs out of darkness.

Jesus says I am that light. I and the light of the world.

God is a God of order, and He does things in order.

And sometimes God make stuff go dark so he can get people out.

God allows it to go dark to share with the opposition that they don’t have the find the final word, but He’s still in charge.

And because you come to this alter, I decree and declare in the next 3 hours God will give you a glimmer of light.  Its gonna be a phone call, text message, email, or even in the mailbox, I don’t care if it’s at formation from a stranger.

I have no idea but I have ever since of confidence that in the next 3 hours God is going to give you a glimmer of light, to let you know even while you are in pain you not by yourself, that even while you are going through, I am not thorough.  And your only job is to stay alive for the next 3 hours. So, you can walk out of you tomb with more power than you ever had I your life.

And to those who have confidence that the storm is over. You have confidence that the morning light about to appear can we Give God a praise.

Firmly embrace 2 people and remind them you come out of this.