Participants:
Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000120S
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00:05 #S063 - Unintended Consequences (Part 1)
00:19 So I want to invite you to stand with me to your feet 00:22 as we go to the Exodus Chapter one, Exodus chapter one. 00:26 And we're going to begin together 00:27 at verse number seven, Exodus chapter one. 00:31 And we are going to look together at verse number seven 00:36 as we look to see what it is that God has to say to us 00:41 in these trying times, at times. 00:44 Exodus one in verse seven 00:47 Do me a favor, take your right hand, 00:48 put it on the shoulder of your neighbor, 00:49 shake him a little bit and tell him to wake up. 00:53 Tell him it ain't time yet. 00:55 A man 00:59 let's do this chapter one 01:01 and verse several and you get there. 01:02 Just say Pass from here, the Bible says, 01:07 but the 01:08 children of Israel were fruitful 01:11 and increase abundantly. 01:14 They multiplied and they grew exceedingly mighty 01:16 and the land was filled with them. 01:18 Talking about Egypt now there rose a new king over each 01:22 who did not know Joseph. 01:25 And he said to his people, Look, the people of the 01:28 children of Israel are more and mightier than we come 01:32 and let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply. 01:36 And it happened in the event of war 01:39 that they also join our enemies and fight against us, 01:42 and so go up out of the land. 01:45 Therefore they sit passed masses 01:47 over them to afflict them with their burdens. 01:51 And they built for Pharaoh's Supply Cities 01:53 Pit them and Rameses, but notice what the word says. 01:57 But the more they afflicted them, 02:01 the more they multiplied and grew. 02:05 And they were in dread 02:08 of the children of Israel today. 02:11 Saints for just a little while. 02:12 I want to talk to you under the subject. 02:14 Unintended consequences. 02:18 Unintended consequences. 02:19 Let's pray together. 02:21 Father, 02:23 would you speak to us individually? 02:28 Would you speak to us corporately? 02:32 You may have been connect at this place 02:37 and made the glory of the risen Savior Fill our souls. 02:39 Please hide me in the shadows of the cross 02:43 that Jesus alone might be seen, heard and praised. 02:47 Bless us through this. 02:48 And we ask in the wonderful name of Jesus, 02:50 let those who believe say together. Amen. 02:54 And a man you may be seated in the house of the Lord 02:59 again talking on the subject. 03:01 Unintended consequences. 03:05 You know, friends in social sciences, 03:08 there is a term 03:10 called the law of Unintended Consequences. 03:14 This term describes an action that creates an outcome 03:19 that was not foreseen or even intended. 03:24 An example of this is would be 03:26 known as what they call the COBRA effect. 03:29 During British rule in India, the government was concerned 03:33 about the number of venomous cobras in the city of Delhi, 03:38 so they offered a bounty for every dead 03:41 cobra that was brought into the city. 03:44 This plan had initial success as a number of venomous 03:49 snakes were killed in order to receive the award. 03:53 But over time, as always, the hustle caught up 03:56 with the policy as people begin to breed cobras 04:01 just to kill them and collect on the bounty. 04:05 Once the government got word of what was happening, 04:07 they quickly began to cancel the program. 04:11 But these cobra breeders with large numbers of cobras 04:15 in order 04:16 to spite the government, release them into the wilderness 04:21 where the Cobras began to multiply in tremendous fashion. 04:25 It is said that the COBRA number began to increase 04:28 more than before the policy was even implemented. 04:33 In other words, the policy had an unintended consequence. 04:38 The policy that was meant for their annihilation 04:42 actually contributed to their multiplication. 04:45 As he friends, this is why God does not get in 04:48 the way of every adversity that touches your life. 04:53 Because we serve the God that knows that Satanic attack 04:57 has unintended consequences and we serve the God 05:01 that can take what the enemy meant for bad, 05:05 reshape it, reform it, and rename it 05:08 so that it ultimately works together for your good. 05:12 You see, the God who sees all nos, all and ways, 05:16 all allows some adversity to pass your way. 05:20 And though it may be difficult initially, 05:24 sometimes satanic attack has some unintended consequences. 05:29 In other words, what Satan sent to ground you 05:33 is going to be the very thing that grows you some time. 05:38 The loss that you suffered is what causes you to cling 05:41 to Jesus. 05:42 He didn't realize that the attack he sent on 05:45 your family was going to increase your prayer life. 05:49 He didn't realize that when your income 05:51 went down that your faith would go up. 05:54 He didn't 05:55 realize that the boss that fired you was freeing you to pursue 05:59 what God had for you and see, I know for 06:02 some of us it's hard to praise God in this way. 06:05 In fact, for some that adversity may be too fresh. 06:10 But I need you to know that we serve the God 06:13 that can take every circumstance of your life and repackage it 06:16 so that it works out for your prosperity. 06:20 Do I have a witness that all things work together 06:23 for good to them 06:24 who love God and are called according to your purpose? 06:28 I need you to know 06:29 they're going to be some unintended consequences. 06:33 In fact, let me say it this way. 06:34 I remember a while back 06:35 when my kids were a little bit smaller. 06:38 One day my wife was out of town, and so I was in charge 06:40 of making breakfast. 06:42 And so as they sat down at the table, I put a big bow, 06:45 a medium bowl and a small bow in front of the three 06:49 kids based upon their size and their age. 06:53 And so they asked for cereal and I said, I'm not giving cereal. 06:56 I'm going to cook something for y'all today. 06:59 And so in frustration and fear, they began to get the big bow 07:03 to the baby boy and the older took 07:05 the smaller bowls for themselves. 07:08 And so, man, as I'm trying to cook, 07:10 I don't have all the supplies I need. 07:13 And so I said, after all, 07:14 how are we going to have to eat cereal after it anyway? 07:18 And so now they try to scramble to get the big bowl 07:20 back from the baby. 07:21 But I said, no, bring the bowl that's right in front of you. 07:26 In other words, they meant bad for the baby, but 07:29 their father turned it around 07:31 and took what was meant for evil and used it for their good. 07:35 Y'all missed your shout today. 07:36 In other words, 07:38 the devil wanted a big bowl of stress in front of you. 07:42 He wanted a big bowl of discouragement in front of you. 07:45 He wanted you to have a big bowl of depression. 07:47 But God says, I'm going to field that bow. 07:49 We're peas and joy and contentment. 07:53 I'm going to take 07:54 what was meant for evil and make it work for your good. 07:58 You hear me today, friends? 08:00 And so as we look at this word quickly today, 08:04 I need you to know that trouble reveals some critical truths 08:06 for us. 08:07 And I want to say quickly 08:08 that not all trouble is created equally. 08:14 Not now. 08:15 I need to be clear that all trouble is unpleasant, 08:19 but not all trouble is unprofitable. 08:23 In fact, sometimes trouble teaches us some things. 08:27 In fact, sometimes, number one, the first thing trouble does is 08:30 it teaches us 08:31 to never settle in a space you should just be visiting now. 08:37 Not now. Let me say it again. That. 08:38 That sometimes you should never settle in a space 08:41 that you should just be visiting. 08:43 Are you all still with the pastor today? 08:45 In fact, friends of mine, I think many of us are able 08:49 to recall that while Joseph was still alive, 08:54 the King of Egypt had a dream about seven fat cows 09:00 that represented seven years of plenty and abundance in Egypt. 09:05 But then that dream was followed by seven lean cows, 09:09 which represented the seven years of famine 09:12 that would touch Egypt and the land of Canaan, 09:16 where Jacob's children were residing. 09:18 And remember friends that God use Joseph 09:23 to prepare them for the famine that Egypt would suffer, 09:27 so that not only would Egypt prosper, 09:30 they could preserve the surrounding nations. 09:34 And if you recall, it is where Joseph's family is reunited. 09:38 It is the famine that drives them to borrow. 09:42 It is there that Joseph's power is revealed. 09:46 It is there that Joseph's forgiveness is granted. 09:49 In fact, Joseph, for fun, personifies 09:51 the law of unintended consequences, 09:55 because what the brothers meant for evil was God 09:58 sending him ahead to preserve them alive. 10:02 Are you hearing me today? 10:03 But I need you to remember that as the family of Joseph 10:09 Jacob's descendants encountered great favor in Egypt. 10:13 They are preferred in Egypt, they are prioritized in Egypt. 10:17 And remember, it was so good 10:20 that Pharaoh wanted to defeat them. 10:23 Some of the best land in Goshen. 10:25 But jokes to take up refused to sign it 10:29 because he believed that after the seven years of famine, 10:32 they were supposed to go back 10:33 to the land of Canaan, where they came from. 10:37 In other words, they were never supposed to settle in Egypt. 10:41 They were simply supposed to be passing through. 10:45 In other words, friends, Egypt was just a stopgap. 10:47 It was never supposed to be a permanent station. 10:51 It was just a place to hold them over. 10:55 But they had stayed so long that it now held them over. 10:59 In other words, I need somebody to get 11:01 that it was God's design for them to go back 11:04 to their own land after the famine 11:09 came to its conclusion, they were to go back to the land 11:12 that was prepared for Abraham and his descendants. 11:16 They were only supposed to be there seven years, 11:19 but now Joseph and all of his brothers have died 11:23 and it's 70 years later and they are still there. 11:26 In fact, 11:27 the Bible says they have begin to multiply in the land, 11:31 so much so that they begin to socially and spiritually 11:36 and from a heritage standpoint, a assimilate into the larger 11:39 culture of Egypt. 11:40 In other words, 11:41 they've completely forgotten where they come from 11:45 that they were only supposed to be there seven years, 11:48 but now they're ten. 11:49 They're ten times longer for 70 years 11:53 beyond the point of Joseph's death. 11:55 Now, again, I'll never make the leap 11:57 to say God caused the slavery, 12:01 but God did allow it to take place 12:05 because this trouble revealed to them that they 12:08 settled in the wrong place. 12:11 It was 12:12 adversity that reminded them that another place was home. 12:16 Y'all not repeat. 12:17 It was this discomfort that made them 12:20 agitated with the comforts of Egypt 12:24 and made them long for the promise of pain. 12:27 And in other words, 12:29 they didn't want to go home until the affliction started. 12:34 In other words, friends, they have settled in Egypt 12:35 too long. 12:36 And see, the truth is that Egypt represents 12:39 the temporary scenarios of life 12:42 that bring immediate fulfillment. 12:46 But they detour you from your destiny. 12:49 You see, Egypt represents that situation 12:53 that started out as a hold over, but now it's holding you over. 12:58 In other words, it is not until Pharaoh tightens the reins 13:03 that we seek the necessary form of deliverance. 13:06 And let me be clear. 13:07 I know that this does not apply to everybody, 13:11 but I know it applies to somebody because there is 13:14 somebody that just started messing with them as a holdover. 13:20 But now you've been there so long 13:21 that they're holding you over, you almighty, quiet today. 13:24 In other words, you started 13:25 working that job just to hold you over. 13:28 But now you've been there so long that it's holding you over. 13:33 In other words, there are some of us 13:35 that started that habit as a hold over. 13:39 But you've been there so long that it's holding you over. 13:42 And just like those in Egypt, you've been in that space 13:47 ten times longer than you were supposed to be. 13:50 In fact, there are some of us that have been in relationships 13:53 ten times longer than you should have been there. 13:56 Some of us have been working just for a paycheck 14:00 ten times longer than we should have been. 14:03 Some have been out of school ten times longer 14:05 than we should have been separated from a class 14:08 some of us have been in. 14:10 Situation shifts ten times longer than we should have been. 14:15 And I'm not suggesting that God ordered Pharaoh, but sometimes 14:18 God done blocked the Pharaoh because sometimes some. 14:23 We need some irritation and some discomfort to drive us 14:27 where we're supposed to be calm. 14:32 But see, Prince, let me say this, because not only is Egypt 14:36 a symbol of temporary fix this their disposition 14:39 in Egypt mirrors our disposition in this world. 14:47 Okay. 14:49 In other words, they didn't have no desire to go back to Cain 14:55 until life got too hard in Egypt. 14:58 Y'all, y'all not here. 14:59 In other words, they had no goal to get back to their homeland 15:04 because they felt like they upgraded. 15:06 And we're living their best lives in Egypt. 15:09 And it wasn't beloved until life became unbearable 15:13 on that side, that they develop a craving for the other side. 15:19 Y'all still not with me? 15:20 It wasn't until life got so hard in Egypt 15:25 that they said It's time for us to go back to the land of pain 15:28 and see friends of mine. 15:29 Let me suggest that sometimes we can get so comfortable 15:33 in this earthly Egypt 15:37 that we forget 15:38 that we are pilgrims passing through, 15:42 that we are nomads in search of a better land, 15:47 that we need to be reminded that this world is not our home. 15:53 In fact, 15:54 friends of mine, I don't believe that God orders every trouble 15:57 or adversity, but I believe that God allowed some of the pre 16:01 winds of strife to blow upon us individually and collectively, 16:07 to remind us that we need to be looking for a city 16:10 whose builder and maker is God. 16:13 See, sometimes we get so comfortable paying mortgage 16:17 and building an empire and living this life 16:19 and trying to get ahead 16:21 that we forget that we have a home beyond the sky, 16:25 that there is a cane in for us to inhabit 16:28 and sometimes God has to allow Pharaoh to touch you, 16:33 to remind you that you got a home beyond this. 16:36 When you are here in the world today. 16:38 In other words, friends, I need you to know 16:39 every earthly irritation is just a reminder 16:42 to keep your head up and looking toward your eternal hope. 16:47 I need you to know 16:48 that the arthritis in your knee is just a reminder 16:51 the blurry vision when you wake up. 16:54 Sometimes the pain after you exercise, 16:57 sometimes the losses that we suffer. 16:59 They are simply an invitation to separate our lives 17:04 from being tied and bound to this earth and to realize 17:07 that we've got a home and glory that outshines the sun. 17:11 Is there anybody excited that one day he 17:14 that shall come, will come and he will not? 17:18 Terry, I look forward to the day when Christ 17:21 so come with in corruption in one hand 17:24 and immortality in the next and God is gone. 17:27 Cancel cancer, God is going defeat diabetes 17:32 that God is going eliminate blindness, 17:35 that God is going to give funerals a funeral. 17:37 Y'all not hear me the day that we serve the God 17:41 that's going to make sure 17:42 that one day you have your last bad day. 17:47 One day you go cry your last year, 17:51 one day you will have your last injustice. 17:54 And that's why, friends, we cannot place all of our hope 17:57 on this world. 17:59 We've got to have a hope that is beyond the sky 18:03 and it is rooted in the coming of Jesus Christ. 18:07 Are you hear me today, friends? 18:09 Second thing that our story teaches us quickly 18:12 is that sometimes trouble 18:16 is proof of progress. 18:20 Yeah, it's going to get a little uncomfortable here 18:23 because do you all realize 18:25 that Hebrews slavery 18:28 was actually a backlash 18:31 to minority success in the land of Egypt? 18:36 In other words, the Bible makes it clear 18:38 that there is this new pharaoh that comes into power 18:42 that doesn't know Joseph or is better translate. 18:46 It has no regard for his heritage in other words, 18:49 you get this new pharaoh that literally comes into power 18:55 and he pits the majority against the minority. 18:59 He begins to stoke the fears of those who are in power. 19:03 In fact, you realize that his narrative is 19:06 actually filled with exact exaggeration, 19:09 because when they came 19:10 into Egypt, they were nothing but a cluster of 70. 19:15 But he's creating a false narrative 19:18 that says, Man, we've got to get things back under control. 19:22 We are letting them take over our country. 19:25 He's created a narrative 19:26 that said we've already let a minority in the White House. 19:30 I'm at the palace. 19:34 So this new pharaoh walks 19:37 around with a copy of Joseph's birth certificate 19:42 to let 19:43 them know that he's not one of ours. 19:48 And so this new pharaoh stokes the fears of the majority 19:51 saying 19:53 that they're going to overtake us, they're about to overrun 19:55 our country. 19:56 We better seal up our borders. 19:59 We better put legislation in place. 20:02 We've got to get control of the direction. 20:06 In fact, this new pharaohs campaign 20:08 slogan is Make Egypt Great Again. 20:11 Oh, y'all not 20:16 make Egypt 20:16 great again. 20:22 And see, I need you to understand, 20:24 beloved, that this slavery that they create 20:29 is literally evidence of progress 20:34 because it is a backlash to minority participation in Egypt. 20:39 Now, let me just pause to say, though, to those in these UN 20:42 United States, I need to realize that Egypt's 20:45 power as a 20:48 Egypt's time, as a dominating power did not end. 20:54 When Moses showed up, 20:56 it ended when 20:58 Pharaoh divided the people based on race. 21:02 Because I need you to get that racism is not just 21:05 a social attack against blacks. 21:08 Racism is a spiritual attack against all of God's people, 21:13 so that whenever somebody creates an us 21:16 versus them, that we've got to keep it under control. 21:20 They dilute their own power. 21:23 And basically they see authority to other nations like y'all. 21:26 You hear me today, friends 21:29 that need somebody to understand this critical truth, 21:32 especially as we move down the path 21:34 to social justice and inequity. 21:37 Because I need somebody to understand this immovable truth 21:40 that for every step forward, 21:44 there's going to be a harsh push backwards. 21:48 And if you do not embrace this principle, 21:52 you will begin to become jaded, you will become apathetic. 21:57 You will say stupid stuff like, That's why 21:59 I don't vote, 22:08 because you don't understand 22:10 that the wheels of justice are slow, but they are certain 22:15 and righteousness is not always are. 22:17 Justice is not always quick, but it is inevitable. 22:22 Y'all hear me today, France, I need you to understand that 22:26 just in our time 22:27 that as soon as we celebrate the right prosecution 22:31 of a Derek Chauvin over the murder of George Floyd, 22:35 guess what? 22:36 We all three thrown right back into grief 22:39 as someone like Derek Anderson is shot in the back of the head 22:41 while retreating, 22:42 or a family like the Perkins family deals with the loss 22:47 that they've suffered here in Decatur. 22:49 It is that type of backlash 22:50 that makes some say evil always wins. 22:54 You see, just after a just and fair election in 2020, 22:58 there was a backlash 23:00 so that restrictive voter policies 23:03 were implemented throughout the state of Georgia, a state 23:05 that was red, that turned blue. 23:07 Those same laws 23:08 were implemented here in Alabama and in the state of Arizona. 23:13 And it is the backlash 23:14 that makes us say evil is going to always win. 23:17 But I need somebody to know that it is an old playbook 23:21 where there's going to always be a pushback 23:23 over perceived 23:24 progress of a people. But I need you to know 23:26 the backlash is not a time to give up. 23:29 It is a time for minority communities and white 23:32 allies to band together because it is the proof 23:36 that things are about to move forward. 23:38 Are y'all hearing the pastor today? 23:40 Do you realize, friends, 23:41 after the end of the Civil War, there was still a backlash 23:45 to reconstruction 23:47 so that even after the 13th Amendment 23:50 outlawed the practice of slavery, 23:52 there was an exempt sin that applied only to some. 23:56 So there was a policy that allowed what they call 23:58 prisoner leasing so that they were able to lease 24:02 free labor from black slaves that were wrongly put in jail 24:07 so that the slavery practice could continue. 24:11 And it gave rise to black codes that only applied to people 24:14 that look like us. 24:15 Thank you so much for joining us for The Breath of Life 24:18 Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell . 24:22 now we hope and pray 24:24 that you have been blessed by his powerful message. 24:28 Join us next week for part two of the message. 24:31 Unintended consequences. 24:33 You don't want to miss. 24:57 What's good family? 24:59 The Excuseless revolution is underway. 25:02 We've been having a good time. 25:03 Testify, praying and receiving the Word of the Lord. 25:08 But I want you to know that the revolution is not over yet. 25:12 The Bible says, I wish, above all things that thou me is 25:15 prosper and be in help even as not so prosperous. 25:20 The next leg of the journey revolves around our fitness 25:23 and our health. 25:25 I invite you to join me. 25:26 Starting on made the fit for an online 30 day 25:30 fitness campaign under the theme excuse Voiceless. 25:35 I want you to join me each week, Sunday through Friday, 25:38 Sunday at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday at 6 a.m.. 25:41 When you join us online, 25:43 you're going to receive a spiritual word. 25:47 Our coaches are going to lead us in a 25 minute online workout. 25:53 And then we'll conclude the day where my health. 25:55 AVENGER'S Some amazing chefs are going to give us some tools 26:00 on how to make tasty and affordable and healthy meals 26:04 that help push us forward over the course of this 30 days. 26:08 You can be a part of a weight loss challenge, 26:10 and each and every week 26:11 there's going to be a different challenge 26:13 that allows us to build community around our fitness 26:17 and our health. 26:18 For too long, we've been making some excuses 26:21 about why we're not eating well, about 26:22 why we're not in shape, about why we're not in perfect health. 26:27 I need you to know it's time to cancel those excuses. 26:30 But when you join this leg of the journey, 26:31 those aches and pains are going to go away. 26:35 You're going to feel better as we continue the journey 26:38 toward becoming ExcusesLess. 26:42 What's good? Family. 26:44 Breath of life is going to be coming to the West Coast. 26:48 We're excited that from July the 14th to July the 27th, 26:53 we're going to be hosting our third annual Hope 26:55 Rally under the theme Almost Home. 26:58 We're going to be meeting for those two weeks 27:00 in long Beach, California. 27:02 We're going to be meeting each night, 27:04 except for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 pm. 27:08 It's an in-person meeting only, so you can't catch it online. 27:13 You've got to be in the house. 27:14 We're going to be joined in musical partnership 27:17 by gospel recording artist Smokie Norful. 27:21 Jonathan Nelson and Donnie McClurkin. 27:25 Each night, dinner is going to be served 27:27 and there's going to be 27:28 special programing for you and for your little ones. 27:32 It's going to be a high time in Zion, 27:35 where we're going to be preaching 27:35 the good news of Jesus Christ. 27:37 And we're going to be reminded that this world is not our home. 27:42 Again, I look forward to seeing you in Long Beach, 27:44 California, from July the 14th to the 27th. 27:49 Make sure that you're planning to be there 27:51 and you bring somebody with you. 27:53 If you want more information, go to our website 27:56 at www.breathoflife.tv God bless. 28:00 I'll be seeing you this summer. 28:05 (Breath Of Life Music) |
Revised 2024-05-15