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Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000072S
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00:06 Sermon #S038 - Conncect The Dots - (Part 1)
00:20 Pastor Snell: And so friends as we get ready to go into the word, I want to invite all those who are online if you would do your work. 00:25 All of our digital disciples,all of our electronic evangilist, even if your under the android annoiting If you're on Facebook, 00:32 hit that share button a few times. If you're on YouTube, copy that link, 00:36 and send it over to somebody else so that they might be blessed as well. We're excited today, friends, 00:41 that we begin a new series entitled The Pivot. And over the course of the next several weeks, 00:47 we're going to be talking about how to adjust to divine detour. 00:50 We're going to be talking about how God brings good out of very bad situations, 00:56 and this is designed to help us really grow in our faith experience and lay hold on divine omnipotence. And so, as we go to the word, 01:06 I invite you to stand to your feet as we go to the scriptures today. 01:10 And I'm going to invite you to go with me in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 16. 01:16 And I'm going to read more than perhaps I should, but I want to provide context for those who are not as familiar with the story today. 01:24 Acts chapter 16, and we're going to begin together at verse number 6. And if you don't mind, just encourage your neighbor. 01:33 Turn to your neighbor real quick, give them a fist bump, let them know I'm glad to see you in the house today. 01:38 [Congregation: Hallelujah]. 01:40 Amen. Turn to the other side, give the neighbor a little bump as well. Let them know I'm glad to see you also. 01:45 [Congregation: Hallelujah]. 01:47 Amen and amen. And if you're home, do it to the person sitting next to you on the couch. 01:51 Let them know you're glad to see them as well. Acts chapter 16 and verse number 6, when you get there, 01:58 let me hear you say Amen. And again, I'm going to read a good bit today, but we'll settle on a small portion. 02:04 Acts 16 and verse 6, the Bible says, now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, 02:13 they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. And after they were come to Mysia, 02:22 they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came to Troas, 02:33 and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with them, saying, 02:39 come over to Macedonia and help us. Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, 02:47 concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore sailing from Troas, 02:53 we ran a straight course to Samothracia and the next day to Neapolis and, from there, to Philippi, 03:02 which is the foremost city in that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we stayed in the city for some days, 03:10 and on the Sabbath day, we went out of the city to the riverside when prayer was customarily made, 03:16 and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now, a certain woman named Lydia heard us, 03:23 and she was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. 03:28 And the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 03:31 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, 03:39 come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us. And now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl, 03:46 with a spirit of divination, met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 03:53 Then the Bible says, this girl followed Paul and us and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, 04:01 who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned 04:09 and said to the Spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. 04:20 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace 04:29 and to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 04:38 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us as Romans to receive and to observe." 04:45 Then the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 04:53 Verse 25, but at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 05:08 and suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, 05:14 and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosed. 05:21 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, 05:30 drew his sword and was about to kill himself, but Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." 05:38 Then he called for a light and ran in and fell down before Paul and Silas, and he brought them out and said, "Sirs, 05:47 what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your what?" Household. 06:00 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house, and he took them the same hour of the night 06:09 and washed their stripes. And immediately, he and all his family were what? Baptized. But again, 06:18 I want just to read for emphasis verse number 6 because this is where we will rest. 06:23 The Bible says that when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost. 06:32 Are you all catching this, church? No, Are you all catching this? They were forbidden to preach the word in Asia, 06:41 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 06:51 Today's saints, for a little while, I want to talk to you under the subject, Connect The Dots. Let's pray together. 07:00 Father, we pray for a distinct and special visitation of your Spirit. Father, 07:16 I pray that you would give us as much of your Spirit as our hearts can contain. 07:24 And so, Father, you are working in somebody's life in a way that they cannot comprehend. 07:31 So, Lord, I'm praying that matters would be settled, that clarity would be granted, 07:36 and that the voice of the Spirit would be more pronounced in our hearing today. 07:41 Lord, would you hide me in the shadows of the cross that Jesus alone might be seen, that Christ alone would be heard? 07:48 And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone be praised. We ask this in the name of Him, who is altogether lovely. 07:55 It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. Let those that believe say together amen and amen. You may be seated in the house of the Lord. 08:21 We'll just allow a few more seconds for those to come in and be seated; again, talking to you today under the subject, 08:37 Connecting or Connect The Dots. Friends, most people are in a fight that they cannot win because we are mostly led by our desires. 08:55 We cause our preference to wind up in a constant fight with divine Providence. And as a result, we suffer many defeats and griefs 09:06 and sorrows because we write our plans in pen and we write God's plan in pencil. 09:16 And sometimes, the assumption is that spiritual strength is seen in how rigid we are when the truth is that 09:24 sometimes spiritual strength is seen in how flexible we are. 09:30 And the point of this entire series is that all of us, at some point, 09:35 are going to have to pivot or adjust from the plan we initially made. 09:40 There are times when we will have to pivot because of a divine detour, and there are some that will have to pivot, as the kids say, 09:49 because life is lifing. There are some that have to pivot because of a divorce. There are some that had to pivot because of a death. 09:58 There are some that have to pivot because of a pregnancy, and some have to pivot because of a divine opportunity. 10:06 And the thing I need somebody to get that is that it is ultimately biblical to have to pivot. 10:12 Remember, in Proverbs chapter 16, the Bible says that in a man's heart, he plans his course, 10:19 but it is the Lord that determines his steps. In Proverbs chapter 19, the Bible says many are the plans in a man's heart, 10:28 but it is the purposes of the Lord that prevail. And the truth is that your boy Moses was cool keeping sheep in Midian, 10:37 but he had to pivot when God confronted him at the burning bush. Remember that Saul was comfortable persecuting the church, 10:46 but he had to pivot when God knocked him off of his high horse. Remember that Gideon was comfortable on the threshing floor, 10:54 but he had to pivot when God called him into leadership. The apostles were comfortable in the fishing business, 11:01 but they had to pivot when God called them to be fishers of men. 11:05 Remember, Rahab only knew life in Jericho, but she had to pivot when God gave her a divine opportunity. 11:13 And what we'll learn from our texts today is that sometimes even the intentions of the most spiritual people are 11:20 not in harmony with the divine plan, and somebody is not necessarily called to make a pivot today. 11:29 But what God is calling us to is an elasticity in our thinking, 11:34 a dexterity in our faith to not be so committed to any circumstance so that when God calls, we have room in our minds to adjust 11:46 and pivot to the place where God is calling us. 11:49 And see, the thing I need somebody to know about faith is that faith doesn't always operate like concrete. 11:56 Sometimes it functions like clay so that you can be molded and shaped after a divine purpose. Are you with me today? 12:03 And is there anybody that can testify that some of the greatest blessings in your life are the result of a detour or a pivot? 12:13 In fact, this is my testimony. It's crazy growing up in Tallahassee, Mayan Boyd; 12:18 I will always plan to go to Florida State or Florida A&M University. I remember it was my senior year; 12:25 I had gotten accepted into both schools; I was going to study English and maybe teach or go to law school. 12:31 And I remember I was near the point of graduation when some folks started talking to our family about attending Oakwood. 12:39 I wasn't trying to hear it because I didn't know anybody there who was my age, 12:43 but I remember we got invited to come to alumni weekend about 4 weeks before I was supposed to graduate. 12:50 And I came here at a sign of a pivot, and when I came over University Drive and saw the hills in the background, 12:58 I just began to sense a divine move in my life. And it's crazy because we began praying about it, 13:05 but we were not sure if we had the money. In fact, I didn't apply until the month of July. 13:11 But I need you to know that we stepped out in faith, and by the time I got here in August, we had the money, 13:17 I had the financial aid, I had a dorm room, and God blessed me to get in school. 13:23 And I guess what I'm saying is, is that it wasn't until the end of my freshman year that I fully embraced my call to the ministry, 13:31 and it was because I pivoted that I found my calling. It was because I pivoted that I met my wife. 13:39 It was because I pivoted that I found South Central. It was because I pivoted 20 years ago that I'm your pastor in this church today. 13:48 And what I'm saying to somebody is that sometimes the blessing is not always the way you see it. 13:55 Sometimes you get the greatest blessing when you adjust to the detour that God put in your life. Are you hearing me today, friends? 14:04 And so, let's go back to this word and unpack it a little bit further as we look to the scriptures. 14:10 Acts chapter 16 and verse 6, the Bible says when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, 14:17 they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. And after they were come to Mysia, 14:24 they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Bible says that the Spirit would not permit them. 14:31 Now, friends, I need you to get that there four simple lessons that I want to espouse as we begin this teaching series. 14:39 And the first thing this teaches us is that in order to pivot, you've got to have a strong spiritual antenna. 14:48 [Congregation: Clapping]. 14:50 And in other words, friends, you've got to have a connection that operates in real-time that lets you know when God is telling you to 14:59 move, when God is telling you to be still, and when God is telling you to pivot or adjust your path. 15:06 And see, this story personifies it as much as any story in the scripture because here, we find Paul on a mission for Jesus Christ. 15:16 And you've got to understand that Paul eats the mission, he breathes the mission, he sleeps the mission, 15:24 and they have intended that they're going to go over into Asia, but the Bible says that the Spirit forbid them to go. 15:33 And so they pivot Dave, and they look to go into Bithynia, and the Bible says that the Spirit would not permit them to go and preach. 15:42 Now, I need you to get this saint because this is relevant for the church that when they plan to go to Asia, 15:49 their intentions are noble, and their aspirations are good. In other words, they're not going over to Asia to turn up; 15:58 they're not going down to Galatia to try to club; they're not showing up in Asia to try to hurt nobody. 16:05 They're actually going with good intentions and aims. But what this is showing, church, 16:11 is that the blessings of God don't fall on good intentions. The blessings of God fall on His instruction. 16:20 Let me say to you all on this side; God doesn't bless good intentions; God blesses those that follow his instruction. 16:29 And see, there's a larger idea for our consideration because the Holy Spirit does not just keep you from doing wrong; 16:38 the Holy Spirit keeps you from doing right at the wrong time. 16:42 [Congregation: Clapping. Amen]. 16:44 Oh God, see, we think the Holy Spirit just keeps you from doing the wrong thing, 16:48 but God will keep you from doing the right thing in the wrong place. And see, there are some that are somewhat frustrated because, 16:57 man, your intentions for your moves are good. You are not trying to be messy, you are not trying to be sloppy, 17:04 and you're wondering why good intentions are not coming to pass. 17:09 And then the question you've got to ask are my good intentions ordained intentions? 17:15 Are my good motives sanctioned by God? Because you can be doing the right thing in the wrong place or at the wrong time. 17:24 In other words, young people, it is right for you to want to be married, but guess what? It's got to be at the right time, 17:32 and it's got to be to the right person. You all might be quiet today. 17:36 [Congregation: Amen]. 17:38 It is good for you to want to invest in a home, but it's got to be the right home and in the right market. 17:44 It is good for you to want to start the business, but it's got to be in the ordained season and with the ordained partners. 17:52 It is good for you to want to be a witness for Jesus, 17:55 but God has got to aim you with the right people who have an appetite to receive what God has put in your heart. 18:03 Are you all with me today? And see, I need you to note, friends of mine, 18:07 that the apostles will wind up going to all of these regions eventually, 18:14 but what God would do is he would withhold them until the hearts of the people were right. 18:20 He would not let them go until the hearts of the folk were ready to receive it. 18:26 And what I need you to know, friends, is that sometimes when it feels like God is withstanding you, 18:34 it is simply because God is fascinating your circumstances. He is preparing your predicaments. 18:41 He might be making it ready, or God might be making you ready for what he has in store for you. You are all not with me today. 18:49 In other words, I need you to know that God has a particular job for you, 18:55 but sometimes God will put you on hold so He can remove the boss that's going to persecute you 19:02 and he can remove the co-workers that are going to sabotage you. 19:06 [Congregation: Amen]. 19:08 There are times when you wanted to close on a house this year, but God put you on ice until the interest rates fall a year from now, 19:15 and you can get more houses for your money. You all don't believe in here today. 19:19 There are some of us that are mad because we couldn't get into a certain class this semester when God held you back 19:27 because your husband or wife is going to be in that class next semester. 19:31 And what I'm saying to somebody today is you've got to believe the promise of Psalm 84 in verse 11. 19:39 The Bible says that God is our son and our shield, and he will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly. 19:49 Do I have at least seven folks that believe that if God withholds it, then it is not for you? 19:55 If God withholds it, then it is not a good thing. 20:00 [Congregation: Amen]. 20:02 In other words, the only thing that God withholds are things that will damage you are things that are not ready for you. 20:09 [Congregation: Amen]. 20:11 See, sometimes God is withholding not because he's saying no, he's saying it's just not ready yet. 20:16 Are you all with your boy today? Let me say it this way, in my house, man, my daughter, man; she is into this baking thing. 20:22 She is infatuated with it. My girl is making cupcakes and cakes of all types and sorts. And it's crazy because, man, we are this space. 20:31 Well, we know a little better now, but when she first started baking, as soon as the cake came out of the oven, 20:36 me and her brothers were like, yo, let's go ahead and cut that thing right now. But what she would do, she would say, 20:42 Daddy and brother, you got to wait; we got to let it cool before we ice it; we've got to let it cool before we cut it. 20:49 And it's crazy because if you cut it as soon as it comes out of the oven, it's kind of fragile; it'll begin to crumble. 20:57 So sometimes you got to let it sit for a little bit because when you let it sit, it comes together. 21:03 [Congregation: Amen]. 21:06 When you let it sit, it gets dense. When you let it heat, it can sit. It can withstand the cutting process. 21:11 And to us, we think she's withholding when the truth is she's just preparing. 21:16 [Congregation: Amen]. 21:19 And can I suggest to somebody you think God is withholding when God is just preparing what he's ultimately ordained for you 21:29 Are you hearing me today? 21:31 [Congregation: Amen]. 21:33 And see, my larger point, body of Christ, is that you've got to have an active spiritual antenna. And see, notice, man; 21:39 the Bible says that listen, they are ready to go and preach. And the Bible says he forbids in one instance, 21:47 then they turn to go to Bithynia, and the Bible says that he would not permit them to go in another instance. 21:55 Now see, the problem is when we read this, we always assume that there is some type of theophany, 22:01 that there is a burning bush that God speaks in an audible voice to let them know they are going in the wrong direction. 22:09 But most scholars believe that what happens is an example of what they call thought inspiration, 22:16 where God does not show up with a trumpet or a burning bush, but God speaks to them through the still, 22:22 small voice of the Holy Ghosts. Are you all with me today? 22:28 [Congregation: Amen]. 22:30 So I need you to get this thing because everybody in the convoy, they are ready to go, man, 22:33 they done got themselves all worked up about preaching a gospel over in Asia. 22:38 They are beginning to pack their supplies and put all of their tools on the donkey. 22:43 And as they begin to set out on their mission, I don't know what they see, I don't know if Paul and Luke notice it at the same time, 22:52 but as they move forward, they can sense something holding them. And it's crazy because the conviction starts out small, 23:02 but it waxes greater, so much so that they say the Spirit forbid them from going. 23:09 And so it's crazy because now they stop in their tracks, and they pivot, and they get ready to aim over in the land of Bithynia. 23:17 But the Bible literally says that the Spirit would not permit them to go. And see friends of mine, 23:23 I need you to know that sometimes God is not going shout; sometimes God is not going to show up with a wet ground 23:30 and a dry fleece or a dry fleece and a wet ground. 23:33 Sometimes you've got to have living spiritual faculties so that when God whispers your name, 23:39 and God gives you a prompting, and God shows up, you can recognize that it's Jehovah talking. Are you all with me today? 23:47 And see friends of mine, high belief; this is why you've got to have an active spiritual antenna in a world with conflicting 23:59 frequencies and conflicting opinions and conflicting voices and conflicting emotions. 24:07 You've got an antenna that can find the reception of God and say, I know that's him talking to me. 24:16 And let me just say this, especially to the young amongst us; I believe that your primary antenna is the scriptures. 24:24 All right, let me say it to the old folks because you all seem like you all don't believe either. 24:28 I believe that the primary spiritual antenna is the word of the living God. Are you all with me today? 24:34 [Congregation: Amen]. 24:36 You see, the scriptures, my friend, are a revelation of His Will. They are the primary expression of the mind of God. 24:44 It gives us immovable principles to the Will of God. 24:48 And see, one of the things I like about the word is that the word settles certain mass matters. 24:55 The word keeps me from having to think. The word keeps me from being in conflict. 25:00 And the thing about the word is that it's not going to change based on who's reading it. 25:05 And in other words, the reason I'm saying this is because we operate too confused 25:11 and too conflicted about things that the Lord has already spoken about. In other words, there'll be folk who come, 25:18 and they'll be like, pastor, I'm praying about whether or not I need to forgive that person. And I'm thinking, 25:24 you ain't got to pray about that; the word has already been spoken on this matter. The word says forgive as I have forgiven you. 25:31 In fact, the word says, don't even let the sun go down while you are angry. There's somebody saying, pastor, 25:38 I'm praying about whether or not I should get with this person who does not go to church. 25:42 But the word has already spoken on that matter because if they're not in church or even if they're in church, 25:49 but not in the Spirit, [crosstalk], the word says be not unequally yolked with unbelievers 25:56 because there is no fellowship between light and darkness. 25:59 [Congregation: Amen]. 26:02 Why are you praying about whether or not to take a job on the Sabbath? The word has already spoken. The Bible says in it; 26:07 thou shall not do any work. Some of us are praying about whether or not we should divorce; the word has been spoken. 26:15 Except it is for marital infidelity; oh, you all might be quiet in here. I'm going to stand on the word whether you get mad or not, 26:23 unless it is for marital infidelity, you got to stay with the one that you covenant to be with. And what I'm saying is, beloved, 26:31 we operate confused and unsettled and conflicted as if the word has not spoken. And we run around here saying, pastor, 26:41 I want the Spirit to speak. And the reason we want the Spirit to speak is because we don't like what the word has said. 26:49 And see, one of the things I know is that because the Spirit inspired the scriptures, 26:56 any spirit that conflicts with the scriptures ain't holy, it ain't righteous. 27:02 It's not in harmony with the Will of God. Are you all with me today, friends? 27:07 And see, and that's why we've got to start being Bible students and not opinionest. 27:13 See, we got too many opinionest who may get their theology from Facebook, from the trends on Twitter, 27:20 from false information on YouTube, but man shall not live by bread alone or by the opinions of man. 27:27 You got to live according to every word that precedes from the mouth of God. 27:33 Are you all hearing me today, friends? 27:34 [Congregation: Amen]. 27:36 Thank you so much for joining us for the Breath of Life Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell! 27:43 We hope and pray that you have been blessed by this first message in the sermon series entitled “The Pivot.” 27:51 Join us next week for Part Two of the message entitled “Connect The Dots.” You don't want to miss it! 28:15 (Breath of Life Theme Music) 28:38 [END] |
Revised 2023-06-13