Category Archives: Encouragement

Disarmed Means Defeat

29 Saturday Apr 2017

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18009464_10209232534790287_1735445591_nAre you or someone you know facing some kind of opposition in your life right now? If so, I want to encourage you today. Jesus said in second part of John 16:33, “…In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

Christ’s victory is a Christian triumph. Christ overcame the prince of this world, disarmed him, and cast him out; and He still treads Satan under our feet. He overcame the wicked of the world, he put his enemies to silence, and to shame; He is telling us here, “And you be of good cheer, for the Spirit will enable you to do so too.” 1

In mid-March, I woke up one morning hearing the Lord say the following message to me:

“The Lord is saying to you today, DO NOT be dismayed by the opposition that is surrounding you. I see the plots and plans with intent to overwhelm and DISARM you. Do not comply, for your weapons are mighty and powerful and they destroy every sophisticated argument that is set up against my plans and purposes being accomplished in and through you. Remember and stay alert that you have an enemy roaming to and fro seeking every opportunity to devour the good plans I have designed for you. Do not look to the left or to the right, keep your eye on the prize the I have set before you. Do not allow these attempts to alter your course. Be strong, be resilient, for if I am with you who can be against you says your Lord!”

When I began to consider this message, the Lord immediately started to show me the battle between David and Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:4-11 NKJV

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Do you see that word in the last sentence? They were DISMAYED!  The opposition they were facing dismayed Israel’s army.  This giant was over 9 feet tall and wore a bronze coat that was 125 pounds!  His taunting was a specific strategy with intent to overwhelm and “DISARM” them and cause them to give up and run away.

This is exactly what our enemy does. In the Bible, we see a reference that compares the devil to a roaring lion. (1 Peter 5:8)  Did you know you could hear a lion’s roar for 5 miles?2

The enemy roars loud and taunts us just as Goliath was doing. However, the Word the Lord gave me reminds us that since our weapons are mighty, we should never allow these strategies to disarm us.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

This brings me back to the story; while Israel’s army was disarmed with fear, David responds differently. If you know the story, David was too young to be fighting, he was back taking care of the sheep, but his father sent him to the battlefield to take some food to his brothers, and get a report on how the battle was going.  When David saw what was happening, he said he would go fight Goliath.  Saul told him he couldn’t do that because he was just a youth, but look how David responded:

1 Samuel 17:34-37 NKJV

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

David recognizes that he didn’t fight the lion and the bear with his own strength, but through the Lord. His weapons were not carnal they were mighty through God!  If you know the story, David tried to put on armor, but it didn’t fit him, so he went out to face this 9 foot giant with a sling and 5 smooth stones, let’s pick up reading at that point in the story…

1 Samuel 17:43-46 NKJV

43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.

In the natural, a sling and a stone is not a mighty weapon, but when it was used in the name of the Lord it became a supernatural weapon that was unstoppable, which took down the greatest giant!

1 Samuel 17:48-51 NKJV

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

This brings me to my second point about weapons. Not only was David armed with a weapon with supernatural strength, but also now, we see that he takes the enemy’s weapon and turns it against him!

David demonstrates with God on your side, you can take the enemy’s weapon that is intended to destroy you and your destiny, and use it to cut off the head of your greatest opposition!

The enemy meant to cause you to be dismayed by the opposition he is bringing against you, he used strategies intending to overwhelm and disarm you, but your weapons are mighty through God and He can take what was intended to take you out and make it a strong weapon in your hands!

If you know the story about Joseph, the enemy wanted to use his brothers to destroy him, but God had a plan for Joseph’s life and when it was all over he told his brothers not to be upset with what they did, God used it to preserve His people. (see Genesis 45:4-5)

Now if you are facing great opposition, the last thing you often want to hear is how God will use it for good, but if we know that in this world, we will face tribulation and opposition, why not at least make the pain mean something?

You have heard it said, “New level, new devil” but what you must remember is that with every defeat of the new devil, you can disarm the enemy of the very weapon he attempted to use against you!

To demonstrate this point, consider David again. Goliath was just one of his first battles.  If you read about the life of David, he was a great warrior.  Saul was jealous of David and his success.  He knew the anointing that was on David’s life, and he knew he was anointed to become the next king.

Saul turned on David, and sought to take his life. David and a few of his men ran for their lives and they find themselves at the site of the tabernacle.  Look at what David asks the priest:

1 Samuel 21:8-9 NKJV

8 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” 9 So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

First, we saw that God provided David with a supernatural weapon to use against his enemy. Secondly, David used the enemy’s own weapon to cut the head off the opposition. Now, we see that in a future time of need, David is able to go back and use that same weapon for a new opposition!

Can you see the pattern here? When David was faced with the biggest battle of his life, Goliath, he pulled from his previous victories.  He reminded himself that just as God had delivered him from the lion and the bear, he would help him defeat this giant.  He won the battle, he used the enemy’s weapon to complete the victory, and now that same weapon is available to help him win in another opposition.

We shouldn’t face our opposition from a victim’s mentality, happy to just survive the battle, we should disarm the enemy and then turn his very weapon against him and in all future battles!

How can you do that in your natural life? By understanding the strategies the enemy tries to use against you.

1 Peter 5:8-10 NLT

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

The best way to form a winning game plan is to study your opponent, and to understand your own areas of weakness and vulnerability. If you have an area of weakness that the enemy always exploits, you need to allow the Lord to help you deal with that weakness for the last time.  Recognize that the enemy uses his plots and plans with intent to overwhelm and DISARM you. Remember and stay alert that you have an enemy roaming to and fro seeking every opportunity to devour the good plans God has designed for you.

Your enemy would not be trying so hard to overwhelm and disarm you if he wasn’t afraid of the good plans God has designed for you! In closing remember the last part of the Word of encouragement from the Lord:

“Do not look to the left or to the right, keep your eye on the prize the I have set before you. Do not allow these attempts to alter your course. Be strong, be resilient, for if I am with you who can be against you says your Lord!”

Stay firm in your faith today! Keep your eye on the finish line and you will see the great plans God has designed for your life!

 

  1. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. John 16:33
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion 4/21/17

 

Feeling Fragile

31 Friday Mar 2017

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Have you ever had moments in your life where you felt as if you could shatter into a million pieces? IMG_0320The older I get the more I realize that life can bring deep disappointments and unfair circumstances.  Recently I began to ponder how these kinds of life’s experiences could leave a person feeling fragile.  Perhaps your confidence has been shaken, your faith is wavering, or you feel like one more obstacle or challenge will break you completely.

When I think of an item that is fragile, the first thing that comes to my mind is dishes that we put on display but seldom use. Maybe it is an heirloom you want to protect for sentimental reasons.  This thought process made me consider if it is possible for us to allow ourselves to become like that heirloom, just for display and no longer for use.

I strongly believe that Christians should never retire from their work for the Kingdom on this side of heaven. We should allow God to use us through the gifts and talents He has bestowed upon us to be His hands and feet extended, or His voice to those who need ministry, love, and encouragement.

If the path we have been walking on has left us in a state too fragile to be fully used by God, what is the solution? We certainly do not want to retire or leave parts of our assignments unfulfilled!

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NLT

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

At the time Apostle Paul wrote this, he could have been killed for preaching the gospel, yet he encourages Christians then and now to realize that it isn’t about the fragility of our own state, but the great treasure we contain. The power to be strong does not come from us, but from the God who lives within us.  If God’s power and love is limitless, we simply must access it to overcome my fragile state.

God told Joshua, “…Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated) for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 AMP)

David told Solomon as he trusted him to complete his work of building the temple, “Be strong and courageous do not be afraid and lose heart.” (1 Chronicles 22:13b NLT)

We read in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” (AMP)

Hezekiah encouraged the people after rebuilding the broken section of the walls, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the King of Assyria or his mighty army, but they are merely men.  We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NLT)

Paul finishes his letter in the book of Romans by saying, “Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong…” (Romans 16:25a) He again tells us before describing our Christian armor, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

I believe the instructions we find in all of these passages is to overcome our fragile state through being strong in the Lord. Like most spiritual concepts, easier said than done, right?  I believe the key is proximity!

If I want to grow stronger, I have to get closer to the strength giver! His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9)

We have to become like a tree firmly planted and rooted and fed by streams of living water. (see Psalm 1:1-3)

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT

A fragile person is easily broken or damaged. They are delicate, vulnerable, and easily destroyed, just like a tree with no root system.  The solution to overcoming fragility is planting ourselves in close proximity to the stream of living water.  There is nothing I can do in my own strength to change this state, except to be determined to plant myself so near to my creator that my root system has constant access to His supply.  This connection will provide nourishment for me to grow strong.  Before long, I will become strong in the power of God’s might and with God on my side, who can be against me!

 

Tempted to Look Back

12 Sunday Feb 2017

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IMG_0268.PNGWhen the road of life leads us into difficult seasons, it is easy to be tempted to go back to the place that was more comfortable. When we decide to swing for the fence, take the big risk, only to strike out, it is tempting to stick with the status quo.  Let’s face it, risk can hurt and leave you horribly disappointed.  Change can be unsettling, and stretch us beyond our comfort zone.  At the same time, we have heard it said that if you always do what you have always done, you will always have what you have always had.

This makes me think about the Children of Israel. They were held captive to serve as slaves to the Egyptians, yet they were God’s chosen people living so far below their destiny.  God raised up Moses, who would lead them out of their captivity and toward their promise.  With the Red Sea behind them and their enemy destroyed, they found themselves in the wilderness, in a difficult season wishing to go back to slavery.

For many, the familiar, even if it is slavery, is better than the unknown is. This mentality limits progress and traps us in a place of mediocrity and in some cases misery.  Some of the Israelites died in the wilderness and never saw the land they were destined to inherit.  They were out of Egypt, but Egypt was not out of them.  They could not seem to stop looking back.

We read a different story of a man who was not afraid to head into the unknown. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of all time, was directed by God to anoint Elisha to succeed him.

Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him. 20 Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye — then I’ll follow you.” “Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.” 21 So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat — a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man. (1 Kings 19:19-21 The Message Bible)

Elisha had a very different response than many of the Children of Israel did. He was so determined to avoid being tempted to look back, that he burned his equipment and sacrificed his oxen!  He had nothing to go back for.

What encouragement for us today. We can grow and learn from our past, but if we want to move forward, we cannot be tempted to look back.  Albert Einstein defined insanity, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Make a decision today to swing for the fence, take the risk, head toward the unknown, and become everything God has called you to be. Don’t give in to the temptation to look back to your old ways, your old life, or your past disappointments and mistakes.  The Bible tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

What is Your Word for 2017?

21 Saturday Jan 2017

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It is hard to believe that three weeks have already come and gone in 2017. For many people, this is all the time it has taken for their New Year’s resolutions to be scrapped.  We always have such good intentions, but then life happens and few carry through.

I want to challenge you early in this year to consider a different question. Instead of what is your resolution, what is your word for 2017?  On the first day of this New Year, our Pastor challenged us with this question during his sermon.  He told us that God gave Abram a small word “go”, and this word had great significance for his life and future.

I pondered and prayed about this question for almost a week. I asked God, “What word will define my life in You in 2017?”  Finally, I felt clearly that word drop into my spirit…..FAVOR.  When I heard that word, I picked up my phone and asked Siri what the definition of favor was.  She replied, “Support or advancement given as a sign of approval or overgenerous preferential treatment.”  If I consider this definition of favor in the context of my question, it gives me great anticipation about what 2017 could hold for me!

I began to ponder and pray specifically about that word and I quickly saw an acrostic for that word “favor”.

F = Father

The significance for this in my personal life is that our church had been in transition between Pastors for about six months. We had amazing support from our semi-retired staff pastor in the interim, but January 1, 2017 marked the day that our new father was home.  Many fail to see the significance of a spiritual father, but I place high emphasis on this role in my life.  Just as a natural father provides protection, guidance, and authority for a household, a spiritual father can equally bring stability to a corporate body who submits to their headship.  It is a powerful force in the life of a believer.

A = Advancement

I believe 2017 is a year of forward momentum! Waiting is painful, but sometimes essential.  During those delays, we are often being prepared for what is ahead.  At the appointed time, the door opens and it is time to advance.  I am believing for some open doors this year!

V = Victory

2017 can be a year of great victory in your life. Sometimes it feels as if we are circling the same mountains over and over in our lives, but I believe this year it will be more like circling the walls of Jericho, where we see the obedient persistence causes the wall to fall flat and create a bridge into our future! (See Joshua 6)

O = Order

Some Christian references state that the number 17 represents “perfection of spiritual order”.1  I believe this signifies things coming into alignment.  Alignment sets the stage for advancement and ultimate victory!

R = Results

Many people have been faithful for extended periods. They have contended and persevered through multiple challenges and navigated many obstacles, but I believe this is the year for results!

I am claiming Psalm 5:12 for my life this year. “For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield” (NASU).  I believe this is a year of favor for my life.  What is your word for 2017?  I encourage you to seek the Lord, hear His voice, then write it down and watch it happen this year!img_02264

References:
  1. Adam F. Thompson & Adrian Beale, The Divinity Code (Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2011

 

What Will You Do With 2017?

31 Saturday Dec 2016

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img_0201I love the New Year! I love new beginnings, clean slates, and new plans.  Every year at this time, I enjoy reflecting over the past year, taking note of the lessons learned and rejoicing in the blessings, I have received.  I am not much on New Year resolutions, but I do love to seek the Lord’s direction in my life for any needed changes, goals, or activities I should make a priority in the New Year.

Recently I wanted to look up some spiritual meanings of the number seventeen as we enter into the year 2017. What a great number it is!

Seventeen = 1) The perfection of spiritual order 2) Walk with God

Seventeen is the seventh prime number it therefore intensifies the meaning of the number seven. Seventeen is the sum of ten (complete order) and seven (spiritual perfection).

In Genesis 8:4 the ark rested on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, likewise Christ’s resurrection was on the seventeenth day of Abib.

Two men walked with God. Enoch who was the seventh from Adam (see Genesis 5:22-24), and Noah who was tenth from Adam (see Genesis 6:8). 1

I love the thought that goes with this! I would love for 2017 to be marked as a year of perfection in spiritual order in my life and a year that I walk with God unlike I ever have before.

Another reference says that seventeen symbolized overcoming the enemy and complete victory. God overcame the sins of rebellious humans when He began to flood the earth through rain on the seventeenth of the second Hebrew month.

Noah’s ark and its eight passengers rested on the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth of the seventh month (right in the middle of God’s annual Holy period known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

Christ gained a complete victory over death and the grave when resurrected Him near sunset on Nisan 17. 2

I want 2017 to be a great year of victory in my life as well. Are there areas in your life where you need victory?  Romans 8:35-39 lists seventeen things being impossible to separate us from the love of God.  He will enable you to overcome the enemy and walk in victory this year!

35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39 AMP)

I want to encourage you to make midnight tonight a moment of new beginnings, a time to be determined to walk with God unlike any other year, and a year to walk in greater victory than you have ever known.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

References:

  1. Adam F. Thompson & Adrian Beale, The Divinity Code (Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2011
  2. http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/17.html 12/13/16

 

 

 

 

What Will You Do With Black Friday?

21 Monday Nov 2016

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Today marks the beginning of a holiday week where we take time to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Often part of that celebration is sitting around a table together enjoying food and fellowship with those we love.

As with many of our holidays, the once simplified celebrations have become much commercialized.  For many, Thanksgiving has become about “Black Friday” which now really begins on Thursday.

I am not here to criticize anyone who takes advantage of the sales of black Friday, even if it is on Thursday, but what I do want to do is look at a parallel story in Scripture.

I always struggle with that term “Black Friday”.  Originally, this was used because it is the day many retailers finally move from the red to the black, or become profitable, because of the large amount of shopping for the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

However, when I hear the term “Black Friday”, it just sounds like a dark thing.  Don’t you think it is interesting that another Friday that was a dark day for many is called “Good Friday”?

Indulge my play on words here for a moment, because I want to show you what a man named Peter did with his “Black Friday” that most call “Good Friday”.  This is the place in the story, where if you were watching it on TV or at a movie, you would see the words flash across the screen “ABOUT ONE MONTH EARLIER”.

Who is this man named Peter?  We first learn about Peter in Matthew 4:18-20:

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

We learn here that Peter was the first man Jesus called to follow Him.  The Bible says that he and his brother IMMEDIATELY left their nets and followed Him, even though they didn’t know anything about Him.

This is the first clue we get about what kind of man Peter was.

     1.  He Was A Man Of Faith

We must use faith when we do not know the outcome.  Peter shows here that he is willing to use his faith to follow Jesus.  We read a few chapters later where Jesus named him the first of his twelve disciples and empowered him for ministry. (Matthew 10:1-2)

The next thing we learn about Peter is that he is:

     2.  A Risk Taker

A familiar story is found in Matthew 14:25-32 (NKJV)

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

 It is easy to criticize Peter for having this moment of weak faith and doubt, but I have always said it this way, “I WOULD RATHER BE A WET WATER WALKER THAN A DRY BOAT TALKER!!!”

Peter was testing his sea legs, he took the risk, and I am sure that his faith and his character were strengthened by it.

The next key scripture we read about Peter is found in Matthew 16:13-19 NKJV

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus tells us the next characteristic of Peter he is:

     3.  A Rock

Again, we see here Peter is at the head of the class.  Jesus asked the question and Peter is the one who spoke up!  If you remember from the first passage we read, his name was Simon and Jesus called him Peter.

The word “Peter”, in Greek, means “a rock”. Christ gave it to Simon when he called him to be a disciple.

There are many different opinions of the interpretation of this passage, but let me tell you my personal thoughts.  When asked who Jesus is, Peter says that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God…..Jesus is pleased with Peter’s response and tells him that he is blessed because this information has been REVEALED to him by His Father in heaven!

Basically, Jesus is saying that because Peter expressed His true character by calling Him the Son of God, He also, has given Peter a name expressive of his character. He called him Peter, a rock, denoting firmness, solidity, and stability.

Further, I believe Jesus is telling Peter that this REVEALED KNOWLEDGE OF WHO HE IS COMES WITH MUCH AUTHORITY!

Peter’s learning curve continues just a few verses later in Matthew 16:21-23.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Here we see the next characteristic of Peter.

     4.  He Was A Passionate Man

The definition of passionate is, “capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feelings.”  Peter clearly shows in this passage that he is capable of intense emotion, he shows he was dramatically affected by what Jesus described that was going to happen to Him, and he was intense in expressing those feelings!

Peter was a passionate man.  He had left everything to follow Jesus.  He recognized Him as the Son of God, I am sure he did not expect that the Son of God would suffer and die!  I am sure Peter could not bear to think of Jesus’ death, He most likely expected a triumphant Messiah and couldn’t imagine how death fit in that plan.

Has your passion ever gotten you into trouble?  Mine has.  There have been times I have felt so passionate about something at work that I just didn’t know when to be quiet.  It could be perceived here that Peter was in trouble with Jesus for expressing his passion.

For many, this would have been a good quitting place.  A place to get disillusioned and to stop being part of the Jesus team!  Not Peter.  He didn’t quit; he received the rebuke from his Master.  He had to learn that his passion was in opposition to the master plan of salvation for all of us.  He learned submission and continued with fervency.

In fact, we read that six days later he took that same kind of passion up on the mount of transfiguration.  You can read about it in Matthew 17:1-8.  Peter wanted to stay in that place of God’s presence and passionately expressed this desire.

You just have to love Peter.  He tries so hard!  We have already seen he isn’t afraid to move in faith, to be a risk taker, and to express his passion.  He is trying to get it right this time.  He says to the Lord, “It is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter recognized that this was a place in God’s presence he had never experienced before….it was a good place!  What he still had to learn is there is always purpose for the presence.  They would need this experience in the coming days.  Furthermore, if they had stayed there, not only would their purpose not have been fulfilled, but also the boy at the foot of that mountain would never have been healed.

This is the place in the story where we began before going back and looking at the previous month’s activities.  Now we find Peter is sitting with Jesus and all the disciples as they celebrate a Passover meal, much like we sat around tables in the last few days with our loved ones celebrating Thanksgiving.

Scripture tells us that they ate, they sang a hymn, and then left for the Mount of Olives.  Just as Black Friday began on Thursday this year, this was the beginning of Peter’s Black Friday.

Let’s pick up reading the story from here.

Matthew 26:31-35 NKJV

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:  ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

If you keep reading, you see where Jesus led them to Gethsemane.  Again, just like at the mount of transfiguration, he only took His three closest with him, this time asking them to join Him in prayer.  Peter was the first he asked.  If you know the story, it is in this garden that Jesus is arrested and taken away to face his accusers

Now let’s read about Peter’s “Black Friday”

Matthew 26:69-75 NKJV

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

We have learned that Peter is:

  1. A Man of Faith
  2. A Risk Taker
  3. A Rock
  4. A Passionate Man

But now we see that He is:

     5. A FAILURE!

This is the place in the story where we ask the question we began with….

“WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH BLACK FRIDAY?”

“What will you do with that moment of failure?”

The one thing I am confident of is that each of us have all had times in our life where we felt like a failure.  Maybe you started as a man or woman of faith, but a situation came in your life that caused you to lose hope/lose your footing/ and your faith failed.

Maybe you were the risk taker….you were the one willing to step out of the boat against all odds only to lose sight of the goal and sink ending in failure.

Perhaps you are the one who is always a rock, your stable, your fixed, your tenacious, yet that one situation caused your rock to crumble ending in failure.

Possibly, you are the passionate one.  The one who is capable of expressing intense feelings and because of your intense passion, a season of failure hits you the hardest.

You can put your own name on “Black Friday” it comes in many forms.  It could be a personal failure, but it could also be a major trial.  Maybe a family issue, maybe a health concern, the list goes on.

THE QUESTION IS, “WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR BLACK FRIDAY?”

Let’s go back and look at what Peter did with his.  Maybe you have heard the phrase, “It may feel like Friday night, but Sunday is on the way!”  Jesus died on Friday but He arose on Sunday, which afforded us the opportunity to make every failure a victory.

Not long after Jesus’ resurrection, we read where he was meeting with His disciples for breakfast…

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.  (John 21:15-18 NKJV)

I may not have any Bible scholars see this passage the way I do, but let me tell you what I see….

First, I think it is interesting that Jesus called him Simon.  He had named him Peter that means “Rock” yet here for the first time that I know of, He goes back to his given name Simon.  I personally believe that Jesus knew how Peter was feeling.  He knew that he felt like such a failure and didn’t deserve the name given to him by Jesus at that moment.  He knew Peter didn’t feel like a rock and He was reaching out to him in his current state of despair.

The second thing that stands out to me is the fact that Jesus asked Peter the same question three times. “Do you love me?”  I believe He purposefully did that because he was giving Peter the opportunity to “feel” forgiven for ALL three times he denied Him!

Now we see that Peter has a new characteristic.

     6.  Peter is Forgiven!

The third thing I see from this passage is Jesus’ response to Peter each time.  He tells him to feed and tend to My sheep.  To me, this speaks of Peter’s purpose.  He was the first man Jesus called to follow Him.  He had a plan for Peter’s life.  He wanted to take this man’s faith, his ability to be a risk taker, his stability, and his passion and turn him into a mighty minister to spread the gospel.

BUT FIRST, HE HAD TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH HIS BLACK FRIDAY!

Would he let this failure, this disappointment, this difficult day be the end of his purpose or would he allow this black day to propel him into his intended future?

If you know Scripture, you know the answer to this question.  After Jesus ascended  to heaven it was Peter who preached an amazing sermon.  Take the time to read it in Acts 2:14-41.  There were over 3000 people saved that day!

Now we see the last characteristic of Peter, he is:

     7.  An Overcomer!

You can continue to read in the book of Acts where he was used by God to perform many miracles, he ministered to the Gentiles, he was imprisoned and delivered, and he wrote two of the books of the Bible!

So what did Peter do with his “Black Friday”?  He allowed a day of great disappointment, great disillusionment, and great failure to propel him into his divine destiny.

It isn’t all about falling; it is about getting back up.  So the question I have for each of you today is, “What will you do with your “Black Friday”?

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A Thankful Heart

14 Monday Nov 2016

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Like most people, I have found myself in disbelief that the holiday season is upon us.  I often ask myself, “Where has the time gone?”  For me that last five months have flown by as I have been navigating a new job and writing a new book.  As I looked back at what I had written below at this time last year, I realized that I have more to be thankful for this  year than last, as I am sure many of us can agree.  I hope you enjoy reading this message of Thankfulness again and I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving season.

A Heart of Thankfulness

While I try to live my life with an attitude of thanksgiving, it is during this season that we often truly reflect on the many blessings bestowed upon us.  I have been listening to the old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” repeatedly during the last week as I have been thanking God for His faithfulness.

Colossians 3:14-17 (NASU) says:

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”img_1086 (4).jpg

This may seem like an over simplified picture of my thankful heart, but if you will indulge me I would like to explain.  Pictured here is the view I have looking out my kitchen window.  As a teacher, the Lord frequently speaks to me with simple analogies like this little tree.  I often get such a clear picture of God’s provision as I care for my plants throughout the year.  I am not an expert, and I cannot even tell you what kind of tree or plant this is.  Honestly, I was looking for something to put in my window that could handle direct sunlight, and this one could.

img_1088 (2).jpgThe thing that drew my eye to this one was the little ornament that was in the soil that says, “Inspire”.  This was my whole goal of shopping for the right plant anyway. This little tree has inspired me over the last two years.   This has to be one of the thirstiest little creatures I have ever cared for! When I first purchased it, it was green and vibrant and had little white flowers….so beautiful. However, after a few months, I watched as its beauty daily began to fade.

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This little tree has endured some diverse seasons. There was a time that my husband was convinced that it was dead and that I needed to put it out of its misery. Yet something in me just could not give up on it, because I had seen what it COULD be! I fed it; I replaced the rocks with better soil, and covered the soil with moss so it would stay moist all day. I refused to give up on it!

Little by little, the tree began to get stronger. It began to thrive again! It had a season of little white flowers again! Then the most amazing thing began to happen…..

One day I notices a stem that just start growing so fast that it reached across the window to the wall. It was quite a sight, and not particularly an attractive one. My daughter would ask me why I would not prune it. I kept telling her I was learning something from my little tree, and she would just laugh at me. Finally, the day came when I felt good about pruning that stem, and shortly after a MORE AMAZING thing happened…..

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SIX MORE GREW! I was reminded of the passage in John 15:1-3 (NASU)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

So during this season of Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my relationship with my God. I am also very thankful for my family and friends who I love dearly. I am thankful for my church family, I am thankful for a good job, I am thankful to be an American, I am thankful for all the provisions God has allowed me to have….the list goes on and on.

I can never list all my blessings, both big and small, but today I want to say I am also thankful for my little tree. This little tree inspires me in so many ways.

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  • Stay thirsty! Never become complacent, there is always more in God!
  • Even in difficult seasons when things seem to be dying, stay faithful, this too will pass!
  • If God prunes you, it is for your good and the good of the kingdom so more will grow!

I wish you an amazing Thanksgiving season!

If the Shoe Fits

10 Monday Oct 2016

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img_0086It is that time of the year where in many parts of the country we begin to change the style of shoes we are wearing. For me, I have accumulated too many shoes, so in order to make room, I pack away my sandals, and I get out my boots.  It is important to have a variety of types of shoes in order to be prepared for every season, but today’s inspiration is less about the style and more about the fit.

I have a great video of my daughter when she was about 18 months old trying to wear my heels. I heard the clicking sound on the floor and I peeked around the corner to see her trying to walk in shoes that did not fit.  It was video worthy and something I enjoy watching, but trying to walk in shoes that don’t fit for any length of time is simply exhausting.

She no longer needed those cute little white walking shoes I had purchased for her, but she was not ready for mommy’s heels yet either. In fact, as I watched my daughter grow into the wonderful young woman she is today, she never fit in mommy’s heels.  First, she inherited her shoe size from her dad instead of me, but more importantly, heels were just never her thing.  I remember in her teen years how she tried to fit into the mold of wearing what her friends wore, but she quickly went back to the style that was more comfortable for her.

Have you noticed that in every shoe store or shoe department there is a section that houses all the accessories for those shoes we buy that really do not fit? There are pads you can put on the back of a shoe to keep it from slipping off.  There are pads you can put in the bottom of the shoe to keep your foot from slipping forward.  There are barriers we can put on the sides to keep our shoes from rubbing blisters.

The interesting thing is none of these items is needed if the shoe fits!

If we go to a store to buy a suit, it is common that it will not fit every person just right. There are individuals trained to alter a suit jacket so it will fit in all the right places and be comfortable as the person moves around in it.  This may work for suits, but not shoes!

If they are too small, they hurt you because they stifle you and hold you back. They are not satisfying at all to wear.  If they are too large, they slip off when you try to walk. You cannot effectively walk, climb, or progress in shoes that are too large for you.

While our foot size grows during stages of maturity, for most people there is a point where your foot size is maximized and it often will not change for the rest of their life. That is why I have too many shoes!  I have been wearing the same size for a very long time.  Over the years, I have collected a variety of styles and colors for many different seasons and activities.

I love that I am not limited to one style.  Seasons and conditions require us to have choices.  These are options but the size is not. The creator determines the size!  Look at this passage of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 12:4; 11-12; 14-26 NASB

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit…..11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ….14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 

THE CREATOR DETERMINES THE SIZE!

I have a passion today to remind each person reading this of how much your Creator loves you and how He wants to see you walk in the shoes He has selected for you. He chose them long ago before you were even here.

Psalm 139:13-17 NASU

13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

 

YOU WERE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! Each one of us unique and distinct.  No two of us with the same thumbprint, but each with precious thoughts and plans from our Father!

The thing that we must contend for is our own unique size or our individual identity in Christ. Each unique one is critical to the kingdom and if you are trying to wear someone else’s shoes, then yours are left abandoned on a shelf creating missed opportunities ordained by the Father.

Let me share an example. My sister-in-law and I are very much alike in many ways.  Years ago at her first Christmas with our family, we showed up wearing the exact same sweater and what was so funny was we didn’t even know each other then.  A couple years later, we actually came to vacation and had bought the very same swimsuit, the very same cover-up, and the very same shoes!

We are the same age, we have the same last name, and we even have the same shoe size. However, those who know us well will attest that if I tried to wear many of her shoes, it would not end well!  Here style is often very different from mine, and she wears heel sizes that I cannot tolerate.

This paints such a vivid picture of the fact that even though we have many similarities, I can’t be her and she can’t be me. We can only complement one another, encourage each other, and fulfill our own unique callings.

While it is such a simple principle, I feel this very thing is what has caused too many of God’s children to abandon the plans that He has for them….trying to wear shoes that do not fit!

We often feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole, trying to fit the mold, or meet everyone’s expectations. Let’s change that today and become free to be who He has called us to be!

No apologies! Just be who He is asking you to be!  No comparison, no intimidation, no jealousy, or envy, just wearing the shoes that fit you in the right season, and on the right occasion!  Make a commitment today if you have not already done so, to walk in the steps He has ordered for you.

DON’T ALLOW YOUR ONE OF KIND DESIGNER SHOES TO BE LEFT ON THE SHELF!

Lay Down Your Paddle – It’s Transition Time

23 Thursday Jun 2016

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IMG_0308About nine months ago, I posted the original version of this teaching. Recently I have been surrounded by transition as I have had an unexpected job change and my church is searching for a new pastor. Transition can be difficult, but it can also be essential to align our path with God’s plan.

Around the time of my original post, I heard the Lord say, “Stop paddling! Let Me take you in a flow you do not know!” This could mean many different things from a spiritual perspective, but let me try to articulate what it meant to me.

God has a plan and a destiny for each of our lives and for each corporate body. It is intertwined into a larger master plan He has established for His Kingdom purposes.  Sometimes we cannot see or understand this plan, so we doubt it exists.  Some are tempted to feel insignificant, insecure, and unneeded in this master plan.  Others sense the purpose and the destiny, but have difficulty navigating the course.  Often this is directly related to striving or in this analogy paddling.

Many times God will show you the beginning of your journey and a glimpse of the destination, but He usually leaves out the path in between the two. When progress does not seem to be happening as quickly as we feel it should, between the beginning of the journey and the destination, we often want to help God with His plan.

Look at the example below. The Lord showed Abraham the beginning of his journey and the promise of the future.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4 NASU

If you know the whole story, Abraham did not wait patiently for God to make him a great nation, he agreed to his wife’s plan to help God and the result was a child named Ishmael. His promise was eventually fulfilled with Isaac, but the side plan has resulted in conflict that continues even today.  This shows that good intentions are not always God intentions!

Another great example of someone with good intentions was Martha. Martha had a servant’s heart.  She was trying to prepare a meal and make everything perfect for Jesus’ visit.  She was a worker trying to do the “right” thing.  Martha had good intentions, but what did Jesus think about them?

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NASU

This is the best analogy I can find to explain the thought behind “Lay down your paddle!” I believe many individuals, many ministries, many churches, have good ideas but they are not always God ideas.  In this scenario, we labor and we toil, striving to put together all these elaborate plans and projects to bring people to Jesus, to help Christians to grow and mature, but often all this striving just keeps us in the kitchen with Martha!  Good intentions are not always God intentions.

I understand the need to plan; in fact, I am someone who tends to over-plan….I plan ahead – way ahead! When I have an opportunity to teach God’s Word, I always try to do my best to study and show myself approved (2 Timothy 2:15).  I generally plan more information than I can possibly share, but if at the last minute, the Holy Spirit directs me to go in a different flow, I have to be brave enough to lay down the paddle and let Him guide the course.  He knows the master plan better than I do!

When you have your day planned to the last minute, when we have our corporate services on an agenda, and the Holy Spirit interrupts the schedule because there is someone who has a need, will we lay down our paddle? Are our plan and our agenda more important than His are?

Giving up control is one of the most difficult things to do.

The small town where I reside has a sign, “Gateway to the Riverway, and is associated with canoeing on the Current River. I have personally floated parts of this river several times, but never without a paddle.  The thought of doing that stretches me to think about giving up my control to the plans God has for me – to realize that all of my good intentions are not necessarily His.

There are times on a river journey where the pace is fast, rough, and scary. Other times it seems like the water becomes stagnant the movement is so slow.  Try to remember that those moments are when the water runs deepest and the still waters create an atmosphere to hear better, and do not be tempted to pick up the paddle to move faster during this time.

I want to encourage you today to lay down your paddle, lay down your agenda, lay down your good plans and walk in God’s plan…..it is always the best course.  During transition you may be tempted to react or to run, but this is the time you must press into God and trust that His plan is a good one and He’s got you!

From the Pit to the Palace

24 Tuesday May 2016

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IMG_0291Have you ever felt like your dream would never come to fruition? I have been thinking about this very topic recently as I have been studying the story of Joseph from Genesis 37-47.  Joseph had two different literal dreams as a young man that his brothers would bow down to him.  These were not just “pizza dreams”; they were prophetic dreams that foretold his destiny that he was to fulfill.  However, his brothers despised him when he shared the dreams, which ultimately landed him in a pit.

Maybe you haven’t had a literal dream as Joseph did of the destiny you are to walk in, but you do have hopes and aspirations to fulfill the purposes God has for your life. If you have accepted the truth that He does have a plan for your life, then I hope that you are actively moving through each stage of this process.

Joseph definitely endured a difficult process.   After telling his brothers about the dream, they schemed to destroy him.  His first stop in the process was a pit where his brothers cast him to die.  Later they decided it would be better if they could make a profit on his demise, so they pulled him out of the pit and sold him as a slave.

Regardless of the bad things that happen to people, when God has a plan for your life, He will make you successful even when others cannot accept His favor on your life. Even though Joseph was sold as a slave, you can read below the passage about his success.

Genesis 39:2-6 NKJV

2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

As I stated earlier, the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream was a process. It did not end with this success.  He found himself in a situation where even though he did what was right, he was wrongfully accused and landed in prison for a crime he did not commit.  First, a pit, and now prison, this is where most people give up on the dream, but not Joseph!

Genesis 39:21-23 NKJV

21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

What is the dream God has but in your heart? In your natural mind that dream may seem as ridiculous as Joseph’s dream seemed to his brothers.  Perhaps you have experienced your own version of the pit and the prison on your way to the fulfillment of your dream.

The Bible doesn’t tell us about the feelings I am sure Joseph had to deal with during this difficult process. I am sure there were times that he felt so isolated and alone as no one seemed to understand the purpose God had put in his heart.  He had this unusual destiny locked inside of him that could not seem to find a way out.  I suspect that there were times when he questioned the validity of the dream, and wondered if he had misunderstood the message.  Since he seemed to find success wherever he was, even in prison, was he tempted to settle for a modified version of the dream? I wonder if he also struggled to maintain hope for fear of yet another disappointment.

Let me share the part of Joseph’s story that encourages me the most. His situation changed suddenly!  One day Pharaoh was desperate to have a troublesome dream interpreted.  Because Joseph had been faithful to his calling, even when he was in prison, he was recommended for the job.  This single event unlocked his destiny, the path to the Palace, and ultimately the fulfillment of his original dream.  This promotion allowed Joseph to fulfill a mightily calling on his life.  Look below at Joseph’s response when his brothers apologized for their actions.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.                                                                 Gen 50:20 NASU

There may be many obstacles in your path between the dream and the fulfillment of the promise, but I want to encourage you today to let Joseph be an example that gives you hope. The pit and the prison did not prevent the promise; they prepared him to fulfill the calling he was created to do.  If God has given you a dream, stay faithful during the process and you will realize the promise. Today could be the day that suddenly happens for you too!