So far, 2020 has provided us with some of the most incredible situations any of us has experienced before. These situations have created unprecedented opportunities for change on MANY levels.

Have you permanently changed for the better?

Or was our change brief and temporary?

Like bending a piece of plastic, it often returns back exactly to its original shape especially after being held in that bend for a short time

Did we seek God harder when we thought that COVID-19 was going to wipe out Human Kind?

Did we seek God differently & treat people differently when we weren’t sure we would have a job/income tomorrow?

Have we allowed all things to work together for our good or have we been fighting to return to “the way it was?”

God can make ALL THINGS work together for our good, but we often run from the pressure instead of leaning in to it.

that includes THIS THING

-If we aren’t active & aware, we tend to try to run back to what has been comfortable.

The Bible illustrates it as a dog returning to its vomit!

Illustration of a 4-door horse

Don’t be like a horse, thinking that pressure is going to kill you!

The God Prison:

A pearl oyster is a great example of a God Prison - The pearl starts as an irritant and is formed while trapped within the oyster, but it emerges as a thing of beauty that is valuable and prized

So while it's a little gross, the truth is that most naturally-occurring pearls are formed around a parasite… some sort of sea-worm or bug that invades the oyster and grabs on and can't be expelled. In fact, when natural pearls are drilled to be used in jewelry, there's often some really gross 'ooze' that comes out.

The God Prison is the environment where we can grab ahold of permanent Godly change - If we don’t run or get bitter.

I would venture to guess that EVERY SINGLE ONE of us is currently in some kind of God-prison RIGHT NOW

-A place where we desperately want to get out of, but we just can’t seem to break free & simultaneously still serve God. - Maybe we shouldn’t keep trying to break out.

We’ve probably got a character parasite of some kind - but can we allow God to transform us so that we pop out a pearl?

Joseph as an example: (Genesis 30-41)

Who Was Joseph?

One of the originators of the Israelite nation

Sold into slavery by his brothers to try to destroy his dreams & destiny

Man of righteous ways & integrity who worked for a rich man in Egypt

Went to jail accused of doing something he never did

Scholars disagree on the exact length of time that Joseph spent in prison, but they almost all agree it was somewhere between 2-10 years!

Why didn’t God bust Joseph out of prison immediately?

(he was an innocent man after all) - do you think Joseph had this question too???

If we believe the character of God, the only answer is that it was better for Joseph to stay in prison than to be out & restored back to what he was before prison🤯

- BY THE WAY, Joseph received a massive promotion after prison.

The current YOU cannot handle the things God has planned for you still being formed. (emotionally, relationally, character-wise)

1 Corinthians 3:2 NKJV I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

We think we are ready for the plan of God to fully unfold in our life, but...

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

I’ve never seen it - I can’t see it BUT God’s taking me there!

Getting THERE takes obedience & submission to God’s plan in your life.

Hebrews 5:8 NKJV though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Hebrews 12:11 AMP For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

Proverbs 19:18 HCSB Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t be intent on killing him.

Don’t Think of ourself more highly than we ought

We ONLY don’t feel like we should/need change when we think we’ve reached good enough already - Jesus is the standard

Our mind, outside of Christ doesn’t want to submit to God & His ways.

Romans 7:8 AMP [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.

What should I do if I think I might be in God-prison?

If we are in a place & situation that kinda feels like prison, we have to ask God this question:

Lord, is this where you want me to be?

If yes- submit to that situation and God-prison & be filled with peace and joy & righteousness for as long as God wants you there. Growth & promotion are coming!

If no - run screaming from the building - Get out of that place/situation as fast as you possibly can!

One of our Points of Culture at The Ark is that:

We exalt purpose over preference

This simply means that our purpose is more important than our preferences and feelings.

We must learn to do this personally when it comes to the life-situations we face.

If we follow our preferences, we will walk right out of the will of God for our life.

Know that God has an amazing purpose & destiny for your life, but know that you may not enjoy the journey that He will take you on to get there.

Just One Thing:

Submit to the God Prison you’re in with righteousness, peace and joy and let Him change you into a gem.

Discussion Questions:

What really needs to be modernized?

What most impacted you from this sermon? Why?

Read Hebrews 12:11 & 1 Corinthians 2:9 and share what these scriptures mean to you & how you can apply them in your life & the God prison you may be in or about to enter.

In what area of life do you recognize the God Prison you are in? Explain if you are comfortable enough to give some information & share how well (or not) you have been submitting to it.