Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 2

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." 

Isaiah 7:9b

God has given to us many biblical examples of those who positioned themselves for a miracle.  A doctor's report that you are going to die is terrifying, but a report from God Himself that you are going to die is likely even more terrifying. It is more likely indescribable.  With a doctor's report, there is place for expectation of a miracle.  But with Almighty God, the giver of life, can we really expect a result different from His report?

Consider what happened with one of Judah's kings, Hezekiah (see Isaiah 38).  God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him to get his house in order because he was going to die. God had spoken, that settled it. OR did it?  Following such a report, could you believe God for a miracle? A different report?  A change of mind? Should you?  Interesting questions, yes?  Pay attention to Hezekiah's response.  Even so, he positioned himself for a miracle.  After hearing the report of the Lord, Hezekiah still prayed and cried out to the Lord to spare his life.  He reminded God of his faithful walk before Him and his wholehearted devotion.

Now you might find this hard to believe, but God changed His mind. God not only heard Hezekiah's prayer and saw his tears, but He changed His mind.  All of this happened before Isaiah could leave the king's palace. God sent him back to tell Hezekiah that He would add 15 years to his life.  WOW!!!  For you, for us today, can we, will we position ourselves for a miracle when the situation and circumstances seem impossible? When God has spoken?  Will you stand firmly, boldly, and confidently in your faith? Try it, I dare you. 

 

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle

 

Does God perform miracles today? Will He? Will he perform a miracle for you? Do you need God to perform a miracle for you? Can you expect Him to perform a miracle for you? OR should the first question be what is a miracle? I'm glad you asked. Should God do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," in a given situation for you, would you consider that a miracle (see Ephesians 3:20)? If God does the "impossible" for you, would you consider that a miracle (see Luke 1:37)? OR if miracles are supernatural, do we experience the supernatural today? OR are there levels or degrees of miracles? SO is there a greatest miracle?  Interesting questions -- what do you think?

 

God sent the prophet Isaiah to deliver a message to King Ahaz, the king of Judah (the southern kingdom consisting of two tribes).   At that time, the larger nation of Israel (the northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes) had joined with the large nation of Syria to war against the small nation of Judah. As you would expect, the king and the people of Judah were very fearful. Greatly outnumbered, they were probably absolutely terrified. Does this sound like where you may be even now? Know that God sent the prophet to explain to the king how to position himself and his people for a miracle. 

 

Not being a respecter of persons, God has sent the same message to you today on how to position yourself for a miracle. The message is found in Isaiah 7:4 -- Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart ... ."

 

To Fear or Not To Fear

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

To fear or not to fear, that is the question.  Sound familiar?  In thinking about the answer, other questions may be raised in our minds.  What is fear?  Fear used as an acronym has been described as False Evidence Appearing Real. Looking at the reference scripture in other translations, we find the words timidity, cowardice, afraid, cowardly spirit, and fearfulness.  Fear is also described as craven, cringing, fawning. 

Recently in a group discussion, the question -- what is fear -- was asked? One ready response referred to fear as an emotion.  Responses to the question -- is fear a spirit -- were half YES and half NO.  Not unusual responses, typical responses.  What is your response? Through the discussion, I was reminded of how easy it is to not see the very word before our eyes ... how easy it is to be blinded by the evil one ... how easy it is to overlook the truth ... how challenging it is to move out of our comfort zones.  You now maybe thinking, what is she saying?  Thank you for asking.  Read the reference Scripture again, and again, and again. What is it that God has not given us? It is the spirit of fear.

Whether we like it or not, fear is a spirit.  Fear is an evil spirit.  Fear is from the enemy, the devil, satan. Fear is demonic.  To fear or not to fear, that is the question.  Whose report will you believe?

 

If You Do, part 5

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

As part of an early morning bible study, we've been using individually favorite scriptures for more in depth study.  One favorite was from Habakkuk 2:2-3: ^"And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, That he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it;  Because it will surely come, it will not tarry." KJV

The response follows a very familiar line of questioning God and complaining by Habakkuk.  Why God why? When God when? How come God? When are you going to get them God? What are you going to do about this terrible situation? God, please help me understand. What's going on God?  What's up with this? Okay God, it's your time, the balls in your court. Where are you God? All familiar questions, yes?

God's answer to us in many of our situations and circumstances remains the same -- write the vision. My child, my son, my daughter, write down the vision I have given you.  What have I placed on your heart and in your mind to do?  Remember, nothing is impossible with me (see Luke 1:37).  With me, the sky is the limit.  What dream have I given you?  There are no limitations on your dreams, so don't set any.  Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (see Philippians 4:13).

The vision is in the future, it is forward moving, it is ahead of you.  You can't see it in the natural because it  is for an appointed time in the future.  As God instructs, it may tarry but you wait for it.  What happens while you wait?  You do everything possible in the natural in preparation.  Develop the plan to achieve the vision. Write it down, make it plain.  Never made a written plan before, never developed a written budget, never thought 2-3-5-10 years ahead before.  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

If You Do, part 4

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

What do you expect from God?  The last time you asked God for healing, how was your prayer answered?  Did you ask someone to pray for you and then your healing manifested?  Now you're sick again, do you go back to the same person for prayer and then get no result?  So what do you do?  Unemployed, been unemployed before, prayed for a week or so, then a new job came. Unemployed again, prayed for a week or so, still unemployed.  Months later, still unemployed.  What do you do now?  Something different? What?  Remember -- if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

Now you are facing the most difficult challenge you've ever experienced.  You may be thinking that even to God, this presents a real challenge.  Doctor's report bleak ... unemployment checks stopped ... your dream house in foreclosure ... got to sit through another trial of the one that killed your son ... 16 year old daughter pregnant a second time ... relative been missing for 30 days.  Is any of this too hard for God?  I know God has done the impossible in the Bible stories.  I’ve even heard of miracles He has performed for others. Can I expect God to do the same for me?

Consider 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 where Paul reminds us that for 40 years in the wilderness, God provided manna (spiritual food) and water (spiritual drink) for the Israelites. The Word says they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed  them: and that Rock was Christ.  Tell yourself that God provided water in the wilderness desert from a Rock that followed them for 40 years.  Do you know and serve the same God that did the impossible for them?  Will He do the impossible for you? Will He make a way out of no way for you? Will He provide rivers of water in your wilderness experience?  Will He make streams in the desert for you? Yes!!! 

Can you keep doing what you've always done and expect a different result? No!!!  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

 

If You Do ... part 3

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. One of the Proverbs tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (see Proverbs 23:7).  Ummh, so what are you thinking?  What are your thoughts?  Did you know that only good thoughts can produce good fruit, and only bad thoughts can produce bad fruit?  Old maxim -- a tree is known by the fruit it bears.  Your every thought is reflected through the words that you speak and the actions you take.  Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. Scripture commands that we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).  Does God really mean every one of our thoughts? 

Yes he does! He also tells us what kind of thoughts to think.  See Philippians 4:8.  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." 

Concerning your thoughts, ask yourself -- is this thought true? Is it noble and honest and honorable? Is it right and just? Is it pure?  Is it lovely? Is it admirable or of a good report?  Is it excellent or praiseworthy? What would the disciple Ananias have been thinking as the Lord told him in a vision to go lay his hands on Saul who at the time had been a great persecutor of the Christians? What would Saul have been thinking as the Lord let him know how much he would suffer for His name?  What would the young virgin Mary have been thinking when the angel Gabriel told her that she would give birth to a child? If you were in either of those shoes, what would your thoughts have been?  Would your thoughts line up with the Word of God?

Remember: If you do [think] what you've always done [thought], you'll get what you've always gotten.

If You Do ... part 2

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. What are you believing God for, right now? The desire of your heart? Your greatest need? Your inmost longing? I believe that God's response back to us may be -- so, what are you willing to do differently?  What are you willing to do that you've never done before?

In need of healing?  Are you believing the promise of Proverbs 4:22 --  "for they [the Word] are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body."  This is an amazing promise that we all should believe and expect and accept as our own.  Why is it that many of us may repeat this promise ... we may read it ... we may meditate on it ... we may claim it as our own?  Yet, the health issue, the disease, the sickness, the infirmity doesn't change for the better.  The change we experience is for the worst. What are we missing?  We keep reminding God of His great and precious promise.  Yet, nothing changes.  Why?

In the Word, the Holy Scriptures, God has made many promises to you.  You've claimed this one, but its not manifesting. Remember, if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.  Ummmh, maybe you should look at the verse within the context of the immediately surrounding verses.  Where does the thought begin and where does it end?  Consider the passage of Proverbs 4:20-23.  It looks like there are not one, not two, not three, but four conditions that you must meet if you are to receive this great and precious promise.  You've got to do something more than lay claim to the promise.  You must meet the conditions.  What are they? Read verses 20 and 21 where the conditions are to 1) pay attention to the Word, 2) listen closely to the Word, 3) don't let the Word out of your sight, and 4) keep the Word within your heart. Read verse 23 where the fourth condition regarding your heart is emphasized.

If you want a different result, you must take different actions ... think different thoughts ... speak different words.  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.