God is up to something good!
Sometimes things look one way, but upon further review, there is something more to see. It may look one way now, but in truth, it is something completely different. When you take time to look at what God is up to from different vantage points in your life, you will discover that the spiritual perspective dramatically differs from what you may be seeing in the flesh.
Last week we talked about Israel’s distance from God spiritually. As a result, they were in a severe drought and famine, things were pretty horrific, and God had sent a prophet named Elijah to bring fire down from Heaven and prove to the people that God was unrivaled as the only deity. God also promised that He would send rain to renew and restore what the drought and famine had taken. When the people returned to God spiritually, everything around them physically began to improve!
If you missed last week's message you can watch it here.
Have you ever experienced seasickness?
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that occurs when the brain can’t make sense of the information being sent from the eyes, ears, and/or body. So, for example, for some people, motion in a car, boat, plane, or even on an amusement park ride can make them feel queasy, clammy, or sick to their stomach. And, all of these physical challenges are a direct result of the brain not being able to make sense of the mixed signals it is receiving. The body appears to be on something solid, but at the same time, everything is going up and down.
Have you ever considered that God might struggle with motion sickness?
Forgive me for that play on words, but ponder this passage, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16 NKJV)
In Revelation 3, Jesus was speaking to a church in Laodicea. He addressed people who are expected to be one way, but their faith is being manifested in an entirely different way. Jesus says I’d rather you be really hot or really cold, but this back and forth -- up and down faith -- is making me sick. Scripture tells us that He will vomit this kind of faith out of His mouth. It is a harsh but real visualization of how He feels about lukewarm faith.
How do we define hot faith? Or cold faith? How do you know if you’re only lukewarm? Most commentators tell us that it has to do with the intensity at which you pursue God.
James, Jesus’s brother, further teaches us that Jesus doesn’t have a high tolerance for anyone who is double-minded. What we know about Jesus is that without faith it is absolutely impossible to please Him, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him... and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
Stay hot and intense in your faith, because God rewards the diligent heart that seeks Him fully! When we keep going after God, keep enduring, keep pursuing, and keep seeking Him we are rewarded and blessed. In the book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, Jesus is talking to churches and believers...people who already follow Him, and He is saying to them that we must overcome whatever is in the world. This is incredibly important because He knows there will be a fight, a distraction, a hindrance, and a battle. We must press through what the world brings against us, keeping our faith hot! If we can do this there will be a special reward for us in Heaven.
How are you going to overcome the World?
How are you going to defeat the enemy?
Through faith:
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)
And, God’s preference, the thing He finds most pleasing is when our faith doesn’t waver as a result of life’s circumstances:
But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8 NKJV)
Straight up, bottom line, God will not bless anything or anyone that is unstable or double-minded.
Thankfully, we learn there is hope for all who do waver or struggle with stability in their faith. And, we get the life-altering lesson because of what the Bible teaches us about Elijah. He certainly had his ups and downs in life and even struggled with his faith on a very personal level, just like we do, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours...” (James 5:17 NKJV)
But when it mattered, Elijah showed up and his faith was on fire. He stood against over 850 false prophets by himself. Deeply believing in faith that revival would happen in his nation. He diligently sought God, and he believed that God would send fire to the Earth and prove His presence. He also believed that God would respond to the people's spiritual alignment and send a physical reward of restoration and renewal to the land. Through Elijah's strong faith, faith on fire, God ended the drought and famine. He brought rain and healing to their nation!
I believe God wants to do much the same for the nations of the world in our time. He just needs some Elijah’s who are ready and willing to stand firm in their faith and set the example of overcoming the world!
I invite you to view this message, “Here Again” in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/vjLKClOF-Is
Here are a few things to evaluate in your life:
Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving the anointing in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.
Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.
Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin
Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.