Things are Subject to Change part 6
We’re going to continue on the subject that I’ve entitled “Things are Subject to Change and God Will Turn Your Situation Around.”
I) Turn with me to HEB 12:2
A) This is the 1 main step that we need to take in order to see our negative situation turned into a positive one.
1) We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
B) But I want you to notice the rest of that V.
1) He says, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” KJV (Hebrews 12:2 2b)
(a) Let me ask you this, How could the Lord endure the cross and all it’s suffering with JOY?
(i) He knew that He was going to be made SIN. He knew that He was going to be a CURSE. He knew that He was going to be OPPRESSED, SMITTEN, ABUSED, and TORTURED.
(ii) He knew that He was going to be SPAT upon, LAUGHED at, MOCKED, SCORNED, and RIDICULED. He knew that He was going to have a CROWN OF THORNS placed on His head, NAILS driven into His hands, and a SPEAR thrust into His side.
(iii) He knew that He was going to be FORSAKEN and DIE alone.
(b) HOW COULD HE ENDURE ALL THAT with JOY?
(c) Because He knew the FINAL OUTCOME.
(i) He knew that He would be raised the 3rd day, redeeming us from our sins, and that He would be seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
2) You and I as followers and imitators of Christ can endure anything as long as we know the final outcome.
(a) You might be thinking, “I don’t know what the outcome will be.”
3) Turn to PSA 34:19
(a) Because you are the righteous, you’ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and because of that the Lord will deliver you, He will turn the situation around.
(i) Though you may be going through trials and tribulations, you can face them with JOY.
(ii) WHY? Because you’re looking to Jesus the author and finisher of you faith and He will deliver you out of all your afflictions.
II) Turn with me to 2COR 2:14
A) Paul incorporated this attitude of THANKSGIVING, and JOY into his life.
1) Paul said in (1 Corinthians 11:1) “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” KJV
(a) We too are to have this same attitude of Joy and Thanksgiving.
2) Look at PHIL 4:4
(a) Now notice what he says in V 6. (PHIL 4:6)
(b) To paraphrase this a little, Paul is saying, “Do not worry or have anxiety about anything, but instead let your request be made known to God by prayer WITH THANKSGIVING.
(i) Notice your thanksgiving is offered to the Lord when you pray, not after you receive it.
3) Rejoicing and thanksgiving are an integral part of faith.
(a) When we pray we are to Rejoice (V 4) and Give Thanks. (V 6)
(i) When things are going well we are to rejoice and give thanks. When we see the answer we are to rejoice and give thanks. AND WHEN WE ARE IN ADVERSITY we are to REJOICE and GIVE THANKS.
(b) In (PHIL 4:4) where Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” KJV
(i) The word “Always” in this V according to the Greek means “At all times, without exception.”
(ii) Regardless of our situation, we are to give thanks to God and rejoice in the Lord without exception.
(c) How can we rejoice and give thanks to God when things seem there worst?
(i) Because we know that He always causes us to triumph.
B) But we don’t always see the manifestation immediately.
1) Turn over to PSA 37:3
(a) In this V he tells us to “TRUST IN THE LORD.”
(i) When David says to trust in the Lord, he’s telling us to have faith in the Lord.
(ii) To dwell in the land means that He will prosper you.
2) Let’s go on to PSA 37:4
(a) When he says to “DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD” the word “DELIGHT” means “TO MAKE MERRY OVER.”
(i) Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice.”
(ii) Why are we to REJOICE?
(b) The answer is right here in PSA 37:4 (read)
3) Let’s go on reading PSA 37:5
(a) Notice the last ½ of that V “If you place your trust and faith in the Lord, He will bring it to pass.”
(i) Bring what to pass? The desire of your heart.
(b) But again notice the phrase, “He shall bring it to pass.”
(c) Those that are REJOICING IN THE LORD, those that have the ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, and those that have placed their TRUST IN THE LORD are going to see (future tense) the desire of there heart.
(d) It doesn’t always manifest immediately.
(i) That’s where many Christians miss it.
(ii) They pray for something or they get prayer, but if they don’t see it immediately, they say, “Well I just didn’t get it.”
4) You don’t have to run up for prayer for the same thing all the time, have me pray the prayer of faith.
(a) If you do, your actions are saying that you didn’t believe God the 1st time we prayed.
(b) You were already healed 2000 years ago, by me praying for you many times is not the thing that is going to make the difference. Faith is the thing that is going to change the situation.
(c) Now there is a difference when 1 of the gifts of the spirit are in operation or if I tell you that there is anointing for healing or some other promise of God, God wants to do something now. Don’t sit in your seat with spiritual pride and say I’m believing God to heal me.
(i) Now, If I’ve prayed for you and you’ve been standing for your miracle, but now you’re beginning to waver, by all means, come up for prayer so that you can get back in faith.
(d) The faith that is going to get the job done is the faith that says, I am healed and delivered, it doesn’t matter what my body or situation say, it doesn’t matter even if things get worse. I am healed and set free because the Word of God says so.
(i) Faith makes that stand and it doesn’t waver, but that’s what is going to get you miracle.
C) If we would trust our situation to God, He will bring us through to victory. He will cause it to happen.
1) In (HEB 6:12) we’re instructed to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherited the promises of God.
2) The thing that is going to get your miracle and change your situation is FAITH…
(a) Joy and an attitude of thanksgiving come with faith. Why? Because you know the answer is yours.
3) So the thing that is going to get your miracle and change your situation is FAITH, PATIENCE, and PERSEVERANCE.
(a) When I say PERSEVERANCE I mean PERSEVERE IN FAITH.
(i) Let me give you the definition of the word “PERSEVERE.” It means “To persist in a state (what state are we talking about? Faith), To persist in FAITH, in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.”
(ii) In other words, it means that you will not be shaken by what other people say, or how the situation looks, but you will keep on standing on what God says.
(b) Paul said something interesting in (Colossians 1:21-23) form the NJB. It reads, “You were once estranged and of hostile intent through your evil behavior. 22 Now he has reconciled you, by his death and in that mortal body, to bring you before himself holy, faultless and irreproachable—23 as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of faith, never letting yourselves drift away from the hope promised by the gospel, which you have heard.” NJB
(i) God has promised to turn your situation around and to give you what He has promised, if you PERSEVERE and STAND FIRM on the solid base of FAITH.
III) (Hebrews 6:12 and 15) NJB Says, “Taking as your model those who by their faith and perseverance are heirs of the promises. 15 Abraham persevered and received fulfillment of the promise.”
A) Turn with me to DEUT 23:5
1) Here you have a promise from God that He would turn that thing that looks like a curse into a blessing.
B) All throughout the Word of God we have examples of God turning the situation around.
1) Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. After he was exalted to the 2nd highest in all Egypt he said to his brothers in (Genesis 50:20) “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” KJV
(a) The NIV say. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” (DEUT 23:5)
2) (Jeremiah 31:13) Says, “I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” KJV
(a) Here again God promised to turn their situation around.
3) In (Psalm 30 11) David wrote, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.” KJV
C) As we stand in faith, walk in patience, and persevere, refusing to give up, God will turn your situation around.
WOLCC Sunday AM 5/4/97