Participants: John Dinzey (Host), Dr. Roland Hill
Series Code: FDOF
Program Code: FDOF000009A
|
00:18 Hello and welcome to "Foundation of Our Faith."
00:22 It is my joy to welcome you to this wonderful hour of blessing 00:26 on the Dare To Dream Network and, by the way, 00:29 you need to tell your friends 00:30 about the Dare To Dream Network. 00:32 This is a network that is helping people, 00:35 it's also delivering people through God's grace 00:38 and bringing people to Jesus Christ. 00:39 So tell your friends about the Dare To Dream Network. 00:43 During this hour, 00:44 you will hear a powerful message from God's Word, 00:47 we are coming to you from Southern Illinois 00:50 through the 3 Angels Broadcast Network, Dare To Dream Network 00:53 and we want to ask you to remember also, 00:56 Dare To Dream in your prayer and financial giving, 00:59 so that this network 01:00 will continue to reach people for Jesus Christ. 01:03 My name is John Dinzey 01:04 and I'd like to welcome all those that are present 01:06 and all those that joining us wherever you may be. 01:10 During this hour, you will hear a message from God's Word 01:14 through the ministry of Dr. Roland Hill. 01:17 A message for this opportunity is, "It's Done." 01:21 This is a four part series, so you will, 01:24 next opportunity we'll hear the message entitled 01:26 "Vision Delayed." 01:28 The third message is "Wealth is in Your Worship" 01:32 and the fourth message in this series is entitled, 01:36 "It's Bigger Than Me", "It's Bigger Than Me". 01:39 Perhaps you're not acquainted with Dr. Roland Hills. 01:42 I'd like to tell you a little bit about him, 01:44 Dr. Roland J. Hill is pastor of the Allegheny East Conference 01:48 of the Seventh-day Adventist church 01:50 and he's the former Director of Development and Stewardship 01:53 for the Texas Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 01:57 He has 39 years of ministry and seems like 02:02 he's not about to slow down. 02:03 The Lord is using him, 02:04 taking him all over the world to present seminars 02:08 and to bring people to Jesus Christ. 02:10 I don't know where he found the time 02:11 but he has written 18 books so far. 02:14 So we praise the Lord for this, 02:17 as a matter of fact, one of the joys of his life 02:19 was to marry the woman of his dream, 02:21 Dr. Susie M. Hill that accompanies also, 02:25 as he goes to the seminars, he also participates, 02:30 empowering people through their stewardship messages 02:32 in hundreds of seminars worldwide. 02:35 So we want to welcome Dr. Roland Hill in a moment 02:39 and we want to encourage you to pray for him. 02:42 He is a product of the Oakwood University 02:46 and also Andrew's University 02:48 and also has studied at the Reformed Theological Seminary. 02:52 So we look forward to hearing this message from God's Word, 02:55 Dr. Roland Hill. 02:56 When I met him, I learned immediately 02:59 that this is a man that depends on the Holy Spirit to use him 03:03 and so we are pleased to have him here 03:07 in the Dare To Dream Network. 03:09 We also have the music ministry 03:11 that is going to be brought to us out during this series 03:14 by one of God's servants. 03:16 This person is also a talented individual 03:20 that the Lord has blessed with a gift of music 03:23 and this is Lyndon Carriger. 03:25 As a matter of fact, he is a product of Union College, 03:29 the Seventh-day Adventist University 03:31 that is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. 03:35 And after graduating from Lincoln, 03:37 he thought he would continue his career in television, 03:43 as a master control operator. 03:45 Trained as a technical director and photo journalist, 03:48 worked for four years. 03:49 But there's something about the call of God 03:51 that is difficult to resist 03:53 and the Lord called Lyndon to a music ministry. 03:57 So he left his work in television 04:00 and dedicated his life to ministry in music 04:04 and the Lord has been using him in a mighty way 04:06 to bring people to Jesus Christ. 04:08 Thus far he has two CD's that he has produced, 04:12 by the grace of God, 04:14 one "With all my heart" and also "Whisper your name." 04:18 And we want to encourage you to get these 04:22 so that you can not only be blessed, 04:25 but also help others 04:28 to learn about Jesus Christ through music 04:30 and so Lyndon will be singing for us during this time, 04:35 a song entitled, "Give Us This Day", 04:38 "Give Us This Day." 04:39 Before he comes, 04:41 I would like to encourage all to join me prayer. 04:44 We would like to ask you to stand for prayer 04:47 and for those of you that are wherever you maybe, 04:50 I want to ask you to pause and pray with us. 04:53 And immediately after the prayer, 04:54 we will here the music 04:57 that will elevate us to God's throne of grace 05:00 and then immediately following, 05:01 the preaching of God's Word in the lips of Dr. Roland Hill. 05:06 So let us go to the Lord in prayer. 05:11 Our loving, heavenly Father, we thank you so much, Lord, 05:16 that we can take this opportunity 05:19 to hear a message from Your throne of grace. 05:23 And Father, we want to ask You to bless Your servant 05:28 with the Holy Spirit, use him again. 05:31 Use him in a mighty way, 05:33 help us to understand the message You have for us 05:37 and the desire that You have for us, 05:39 Lord, to be close to You, 05:41 to experience salvation and peace 05:45 and to also escape this world of corruption 05:48 and to find that there is a better way 05:51 and is found in Jesus Christ. 05:53 We pray, Father, for all that are present 05:55 and all that are joining us, wherever they maybe. 05:59 We pray for Your blessing and we ask it in Jesus' holy 06:03 and blessed name, amen, amen. 06:06 May God bless you, you may be seated. 06:08 We now leave you with the music and song 06:12 through Brother Lyndon Carriger. 06:43 Give us this day 06:50 Our daily bread 06:55 You said you would 07:03 Supply all my needs 07:12 According to your riches 07:21 I have but to ask 07:28 And I receive 07:39 To go, to go from here 07:46 And share this love 07:50 You gave to me 07:58 To show, someone who's lost 08:06 And help them find their way 08:14 The way to truth and faith 08:21 So they can be free 08:28 Like me 08:32 Free like me 08:40 Lord, we need your love 08:48 And Lord, we need your peace 08:57 Lord, we need your joy 09:10 This day 09:26 Give us this day 09:41 Amen, man, you make me want to preach tonight. 09:46 Thank you for that anointed song, my brother 09:49 and now you are part of my evangelistic team. 09:55 Good evening, saints, 09:58 it is exciting to be with you this evening 10:02 and for the next few messages, I promise you, 10:06 it will be an exciting experience. 10:09 In fact, I'm so excited I'm busting with praise. 10:15 Take your Bibles and turn with me 10:20 to a passage of scripture 10:22 that will be a blessing for all of us tonight. 10:25 Psalm 33, 10:33 I want you to follow along with me 10:34 as I read verses 6 through 9. 10:43 "By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, 10:47 and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth, 10:53 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. 10:58 He lays up the deep in storehouses. 11:01 Let all the earth fear the Lord, 11:02 let all the inhabitants of the world 11:04 stand in awe in Him. 11:08 For He spoke and it was done. 11:13 He commanded, and it stood fast." 11:17 Tonight's message is entitled "It's Done." 11:23 Father God, as we begin this message tonight, 11:27 we know unless You speak, we will not hear 11:30 but when You speak, we will not only hear, 11:35 we will be touched and we will be transformed. 11:39 And that's our prayer, that's our desire, that's our belief. 11:43 So we look forward and anticipate your moving tonight, 11:47 is our prayer, in the name of Jesus, amen. 11:52 I'm convicted, my brothers and my sisters, 11:55 that believers ought to be the most excited, 11:59 positive and productive people on the planet. 12:04 I need to say that again, 12:06 I believe that believers ought to be the most excited, 12:09 positive and productive people on the planet 12:12 and here's why, because believers have the Word. 12:18 God's Word is the basis for all excitement 12:22 because it is grounding all of the possibilities. 12:29 When you believe God's Word, 12:32 you will believe, you'll like this, it's done. 12:39 You will believe your salvation is done. 12:43 You will believe your success is done 12:46 and I promise you by the end of this sermon, 12:48 you will be shouting with me, it's done. 12:51 In fact, practice with me right now, say it with me, it's done. 12:57 And honestly, when you say it, 12:59 you feel better after you say it 13:00 because it is a completion that comes 13:05 and is guaranteed from the Word of God. 13:10 Psalm 33:9 again says, "For He spoke, and it was done. 13:15 He commanded, and it stood fast." 13:18 What I want you to do now is 13:19 wrap your mind around that thought, 13:22 "He spoke, and it was done." 13:28 This eternal concept, 13:31 to be truthful is difficult for us to conceive, 13:37 God spoke a word and it was done. 13:42 Can you imagine? 13:43 A word and it was done. 13:48 See for us, words have some power, 13:52 they can bring comfort, they can bring cheer, 13:55 they can even hurt people, 13:56 but as far as being a creed of force, 13:59 we don't see that as word, as power. 14:04 For us, in some sense, words are mainly wishes, 14:09 vaporized thoughts, momentary ideas, 14:13 but for the psalmist, he declares, 14:17 listen now that God's Word is a creative force, a power. 14:24 "He spoke and it was done." 14:29 Psalm 33: 6 says 14:32 "By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, 14:35 and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." 14:41 In Genesis 1, God reveals how His world is created. 14:46 He speaks light, it's done. 14:49 He speaks firmament, it's done. 14:51 He speaks grass, trees and earth, it's done. 14:55 He speaks sun, moon and stars, it's done. 14:59 The only thing that wasn't spoken into existence was man. 15:05 And then for us, He formed us out of the dust of the earth, 15:10 listen now, He vaporized His word 15:14 and breathe into man's nostrils, the breath of life 15:18 and man became a living soul. 15:20 Please, don't miss this, please don't miss this point. 15:25 All inanimate and animate objects 15:28 come and came into existence by the Word of God. 15:37 Can I be honest with you, 15:39 pondering this thought, quickens my spirit. 15:46 Can you get excited with me? 15:49 He spoke and it was done, 15:56 in fact, if it's true that when God speaks it's done, 16:03 listen, then why do we worry so much? 16:08 Can I preach a little bit now? 16:11 Then why are we so fearful about attempting great things, 16:16 why are we so quick to quit 16:18 when life gets difficult, 16:20 if in fact, when God's speaks, it's done. 16:26 If God said it and I believe it, it's completed. 16:29 It's accomplished. It's finished, it's concluded. 16:32 It's ripe, it's ready, it's done. 16:39 Psalm 33:9 actually allows us, you'll like this, 16:44 to catch a glimpse of the mind of God. 16:50 Let me say that again, 16:51 when you look at Psalm 33:9 16:54 it allows you to peak into the mind of God, 16:58 would you like to see into the mind of God, tonight? 17:03 When you said, He spoke, and it was done, 17:07 in the mind of God, He process the past, 17:12 the present and the future at the same time. 17:16 Eternity, or what we called the perfect present, present, 17:21 so when God speaks a word, 17:23 listen now, a panorama of reality flashes before Him 17:29 and through His mind, it's done. 17:31 Oh, I like that, He spoke, the idea was created, 17:37 planned and executed. 17:41 Simply by the Word, 17:46 please don't ask me how it's done. 17:49 I just have enough evidence to know that it is done. 17:55 No, no, I'm feeling you, please, 17:58 don't dismiss this labored thought 18:01 as some high flung theology, my brother. 18:06 Don't think that this preacher's trying to 18:09 show his theological training. 18:14 And please don't think I'm simply giving you 18:16 some nice words to cover the preaching period. 18:21 What I've discovered, my brothers and my sisters, 18:23 is that this concept 18:26 is the foundation of all faith. 18:32 Oh, I need to say that again, 18:34 see this concept about the Word of God, 18:38 is the foundation of all faith. 18:43 Oh, let's go the Word, 18:48 Hebrews 11:3 18:56 "By faith, we understand 18:58 that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, 19:04 so that the things which are seen 19:06 were not made of things which are visible." 19:11 Again this is the foundational concept for all faith. 19:17 The belief in the creative power of God, listen now, 19:21 activate the mission of the patriots. 19:25 Everything they did was based on their understanding 19:29 that when God spoke a word, it's done. 19:34 Abel offered a sacrifice 19:36 because he believed God's Word about salvation. 19:40 Noah built an ark 19:42 because he believed God's Word about judgment. 19:45 Abraham left, as a senior citizen, 19:48 his home for the Promise Land 19:50 because he believed God's Word about promises. 19:55 No, Moses, confronted Pharoah 19:58 because he believed God's Word about delivering 20:01 so listen now and even Rahab 20:09 hosted the spies 20:11 because she was convinced about the Word of God's mercy. 20:18 Listen, who in their right mind would tackle a mission, 20:25 they didn't believe could be accomplished. 20:30 I know I wouldn't, 20:33 I don't know too many who would, 20:35 who would start out on a mission and say, well, 20:37 I don't think I'm gonna make that. 20:41 See the patriarchs believe God's Word 20:44 and they stepped out on God's Word, 20:47 they endured because of God's Word. 20:51 Because their belief, listen now, 20:53 was grounded in the creative power of God's Word. 20:58 They believed that if God said it, 21:03 it's done. 21:07 Let me labor the point just a little longer, 21:11 see we struggle with these deeper concepts about God. 21:18 Can I get a shout out? 21:24 Our thoughts about God are often really shallow, 21:29 the thing we know about God is he's a nice guy, 21:35 and that's why our confidence about doing the work 21:37 and mission of God is often shallow 21:40 because our ideas about God are shallow, 21:43 but this concept, when received and acted on, 21:47 will release your potential. 21:51 And it will give you confidence about your salvation, 21:55 note this, God's Word is not simply 22:00 a harmonious blending of consonants and vowels. 22:05 God's Word is not random, divine, rhetoric. 22:09 God's Word is not powerless, celestial proclamations, 22:13 listen now, God's Word is the concrete expression 22:19 of the mind of God. 22:23 Oh, I like that, so I'll see one again. 22:26 God's Word is the concrete expression of the mind of God, 22:31 listen now, it's a reality. 22:36 It's the concretized expression of a divine idea 22:41 when God speaks a word, something will happen. 22:47 In fact, when God's speaks a word 22:49 one of three things or all three happens. 22:51 Either something is created, produced or redeemed. 22:55 Oh, he does it all at one time, 22:57 creation, redemption and production 22:59 because when He speaks something, it's done. 23:07 Because we struggle 23:12 with the reality of His Word, 23:15 God decided to give some concrete demonstration 23:21 of the power of His Word. 23:25 Therefore He gave us His son. 23:30 John, come on, John 1, 23:33 I want you to read that with me... 23:43 John 1, beginning with verse 1 23:49 "In the beginning was the Word, wow, 23:55 and the Word was with God, 24:00 and the Word was God." 24:05 God says, I'm gonna give you 24:07 a concrete example and demonstration 24:10 of the power of My Word. 24:12 I will send My son as the word made flesh, 24:16 get down to verse 14, 24:18 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, 24:22 and we beheld His glory, 24:23 the glory as the only one begotten of the Father, 24:26 full of grace and truth." 24:28 Jesus became or came 24:31 as the personification of the Word. 24:37 The Word became flesh 24:40 and God spoke about this centuries before, 24:44 He spoke a word that His son would come. 24:47 Isaiah 9: 6 "for unto us" you remember that-- 24:52 that's that Christmas one, 24:54 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, 24:58 and the government shall be upon his shoulders, 25:01 and his name shall be called Wonderful, 25:05 Counselor, Mighty God, 25:07 The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 25:11 He spoke it, it was prophesied 25:18 and Jesus' coming proved that it's done. 25:23 And then Jesus 25:27 lived out the power of the Word, 25:33 he showed that when God's said something, 25:37 the word becomes a reality. 25:42 And I get so exited about this because often times, 25:45 we don't see that when God says something, 25:49 it's going to come to past and that's why we quit so quick 25:54 because we don't really believe 25:55 when God tells us something, that will be done. 25:58 Oh, it might be done, it can be done. 26:01 And maybe it should be done 26:02 but I really don't think, it will be done 26:04 but when God speaks a word into your life, 26:07 when He tells you, what you need to do on your mission 26:09 and your purpose in life. 26:11 Once He tells you that you must believe 26:13 and act as if it's done. 26:18 In fact, one of my favorite writers says, 26:22 when you pray, you should get up off your knees 26:26 and act as if your prayer has been answered. 26:35 Go with me to Mathew 14 26:39 and here now we have a demonstration 26:42 in the life of Jesus about the power of God's Word. 26:47 I want you to leave here tonight 26:48 believing that everything in your life, 26:50 when God speaks it to you, it will be done. 26:52 Not maybe done, but will be done 26:57 and God wants you to know that you should not entertain 26:59 one thought of failure, 27:01 when you cooperate with the one who knows no failure. 27:07 Matthew 14 beginning with verse 29, 27:12 "And Peter answered him" 27:15 actually let's go up a little bit, verse 23. 27:20 "And when He had sent out the multitude, 27:22 He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. 27:25 Now when evening came, He was alone there. 27:28 But the boat was now in the middle of the ship, 27:31 tossed by the waves, 27:32 for the wind was contrary. 27:35 Now in the fourth watch of the night, 27:36 Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 27:40 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, 27:43 they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' 27:45 And they cried out for fear. 27:47 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 27:51 'Be of good cheer! It is I, do not be afraid.' 27:55 And Peter answered Him and said, 27:57 'Lord, if it is You, command me to go-- 28:02 Command me to come to You on the water.' 28:05 So He said, 'Come.' 28:06 And when Peter had come out of the boat, 28:09 he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 28:12 But when he saw the wind was boisterous, 28:14 he was afraid and beginning to sink 28:16 he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' 28:19 And immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand 28:21 and caught him, and said to him, 28:23 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" 28:29 You see the picture? 28:31 Jesus is riding, 28:33 all the disciples are riding on the boat, 28:35 the storm comes, the ship begins to go back and forth. 28:39 And it's interesting that these are sailors 28:41 who are accustomed to the sea. 28:42 But yet they are afraid some thing like us, 28:44 when we come to the turbulent times of our life, 28:47 rather than trusting God, we get scared. 28:52 And Jesus now is walking on the water, 28:56 the disciples, according to the Word of God, 28:58 thinks he's a ghost. 29:00 But when they realize it's Jesus, 29:02 cause Jesus says, don't be afraid, 29:04 ain't it interesting? 29:06 That God understands our frailness 29:09 and all through the Bible He says, don't be afraid. 29:14 Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. 29:19 So when Peter, who's always the loud mouth, 29:25 says Jesus, I want to do like you do. 29:29 I want to walk on the water. 29:33 And it's interesting when he said that, 29:35 Jesus responded right away, 29:36 he wanted to show him and the disciples 29:39 the power of the Word. 29:40 Like He wants to show us tonight, the power of the Word. 29:43 He wants you to leave here convinced 29:45 that when God says something for you and your life 29:48 and your ministry, your church, your home, your children, 29:51 it's done, He wants you convinced about that. 29:56 So let's go back to the text. 29:57 Matthew 14:29 30:03 so he, speaking of Jesus said, come. 30:08 Isn't it interesting, Jesus didn't give a dissertation 30:11 on what he was to do. 30:14 He didn't give a long, white paper on what he should do. 30:18 He didn't do a dissertation on what Peter should do. 30:21 He simple spoke a word, 30:23 sometimes, my brothers and sisters, 30:25 we don't need a whole lot of word, 30:27 one word from God is enough for you to do. 30:30 All you need to do. 30:35 And God said to Peter, Jesus said to Peter, 30:38 come, he said to Peter, come, 30:44 that word concretized in the water 30:50 and became a platform. 30:54 You all now hear me, became a platform in the water 30:59 and Peter was walking on solid water 31:03 and he was walking successfully 31:07 until he stopped looking at Jesus, 31:09 the word and began to look at the ways. 31:12 Maybe the reason why we struggle so much 31:15 and have failures, 31:16 we're allowing the ways of life to keep us from seeing Jesus. 31:24 And just as he was sinking, Jesus reached down 31:29 and grabbed his hand, 31:30 pulled him up from the sinking water. 31:35 And said a powerful word to him, 31:39 "oh, you of little"-- 31:46 how little faith we all have. 31:51 We struggle because we do not believe 31:56 that God's Word is a creative power, 32:00 we really don't believe that when God speaks something 32:03 that it is a reality, 32:05 that it's not guess work with God. 32:07 He's just not giving out a word, 32:10 we struggle to have faith and he says, 32:13 oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt? 32:20 Why do we doubt so much, my brothers and sisters? 32:24 When God has made it clear in His Word, 32:27 when He says it, it's done. 32:35 He wanted Peter to understand 32:39 that when He said come, listen now, 32:41 when He said come, 32:44 his ship was already completed to Jesus. 32:50 No matter what the waves were doing around him, 32:53 if Jesus said it, he could through the waves. 32:57 Oh, I like that, 33:00 when Jesus speaks into your life, a word, 33:02 you could walk through the waves of your life. 33:05 Through the struggles of your lives. 33:07 But you know what's sad? 33:10 Sometimes non-believers, 33:15 people who are not in a faith community, 33:18 catch the power of God's Word before we do. 33:23 Oh, I need to say that again. 33:25 Sometimes non-believers, 33:28 people who are not a part of a faith community 33:31 catch God's Word before we do. 33:37 Luke 7:1, 33:51 "Now when He concluded all His sayings 33:55 in the hearing of the people, 33:56 He entered Capernaum." 33:58 Luke 7:2 "And a certain centurion's" 34:04 and the centurion is roman soldier not a believer, 34:08 "his servant, who was dear to him, 34:10 was sick and ready to die. 34:12 So when he heard about Jesus, 34:14 he sent elders of the Jews to Him, 34:16 pleading with Him, to come and heal his servant. 34:20 And when they came to Jesus, 34:21 they begged Him earnestly, saying 34:23 that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 34:27 for he loves our nation, and he's built us a synagogue. 34:30 Then Jesus went with them. 34:32 And when He was already not far from the house, 34:35 the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, 34:38 'Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy 34:42 that You should enter under my roof. 34:44 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. 34:50 But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 34:55 For I also am a man placed under authority, 34:59 having soldiers under me. 35:00 And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, 35:03 and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, 35:05 and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.' 35:08 When Jesus heard these things, He was marveled at him, 35:11 and turned around and said to the crowd 35:13 that followed Him, 'I say to you, 35:15 I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel'" 35:20 Jesus is blown away. 35:22 Here is this brother who's not in the faith community. 35:27 Who understands the deeper things of God 35:30 because why, he saw the works of Jesus, 35:34 he heard the word of Jesus, 35:37 he heard about Jesus and he thought about it. 35:40 He said, you know what? 35:42 I got power in my words, 35:45 if I tell one of my soldiers to come, 35:48 he comes, he doesn't hesitate, 35:51 when I tell one of soldier to go, 35:53 they don't-- they go without hesitation. 35:56 So if I can do this, 36:00 what about this man called Jesus, 36:02 what can He do? 36:06 He thought about it and he said, 36:09 I'm asking this powerful man to come to my house. 36:17 Maybe what I should do is just go and ask him to speak a word 36:24 because if his word, listen now, 36:28 if his word can open up blind eyes, 36:31 can make the lame to walk, to cause the dumb to talk, 36:36 to raise the dead, 36:37 to feed five thousand with a little boys at lunch 36:40 and can stop an angry wind, 36:42 surely his word can heal my servant. 36:47 And sure enough, Jesus was excited about this mans faith. 36:54 And he spoke a word and the moment, the moment, 37:01 the moment He spoke the word, the servant was healed. 37:08 Because when God speaks a word it's? 37:14 Please don't miss this point, when God says something, 37:19 it's accomplished, it's done. 37:26 Listen, the Word of God is inseparable 37:33 from the being of God. 37:38 I need to run past that again. 37:41 Listen to me, the Word of God is inseparable 37:47 from the being of God, 37:50 God can never say anything that isn't a reality. 37:57 Oh, you should shout with me on that one. 38:03 Isaiah 55:11 proves this. 38:07 Isaiah 55:11, 38:17 Word of God says, you need to read this 38:19 or you need to tuck this away in your-- 38:21 in your memory banks. 38:24 So the next time when God tell you something 38:26 and you start doubting him, 38:30 I want you to pull out the sticks 38:32 and you will see that this is not some high flung theology. 38:35 This is the foundation of our faith, 38:38 the patriarchs understood, 38:40 until they knew the creative power of God's Word, 38:44 they would move but soon as they understood 38:46 the power of God's creative Word, nothing could stop them. 38:51 Isaiah 55:11, 38:56 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. 39:01 It might not return to me void. 39:08 It shall not return to Me void, 39:12 but it might accomplish, 39:17 it shall accomplish what I please, 39:21 And it shall prosper in the thing 39:23 which I sent it out." 39:25 So if God says it, my brothers, my sisters, 39:31 I believe it, because it's done. 39:37 All of my doubts are settled, all of my fears are dispelled, 39:41 all of my anxiety is eliminated. 39:43 All of my worries are obliviated, why, 39:46 because I know that God will never say anything 39:50 and speaking anything in my life 39:52 that will not be a reality. 39:54 It must come to pass. 39:57 But our biggest challenge 40:00 is our confusion about the Word. 40:06 It's interesting how people want to speak 40:07 a word into your life, 40:08 be careful who you allow to speak a word into your life. 40:16 And there's a lot of confusion about the Word today 40:19 and there are many who believe 40:20 that they are many different words and many different ways. 40:23 I got news for you, that's the confusion, 40:26 that's why people are so uncertain about their life. 40:28 That's why they have no purpose in their life 40:30 because they're confused about who is the Word 40:33 and what is the Word? 40:36 Can I be straight forward with you? 40:39 Until we recognize Jesus as the Word made flesh, 40:45 this concept that I'm talking about means absolutely nothing. 40:54 Because when you don't know Jesus, 40:59 as the Word made flesh. 41:05 You're constantly confused 41:07 by all the other words spoken around you. 41:13 You'll be constantly in search for truth 41:18 and I'm amazed as I travel the world, 41:19 how many people are looking for truth 41:22 and they are looking over what is truth. 41:26 The Word of God makes clear what is truth. 41:28 John 17:17, the Word of God says, 41:30 "Sanctify them with thy truth. 41:32 Thy word is truth." 41:34 Jesus says, I'm the truth, the light and the way. 41:38 And since Jesus is truth and His Word is truth, 41:41 when I understand and receive 'em into my life, 41:45 I discover a certainty about my salvation 41:48 and confidence about my success. 41:53 Can I talk to you for a minute? 41:56 When you are convicted about this concept, 42:00 you will never again doubt your success. 42:05 In fact, the last sermon in the series, 42:06 I'm gonna talk about success 42:08 and I'm gonna tell you that success is bigger than you. 42:12 And I'm gonna help you to understand that this word 42:14 that I'm speaking tonight into your life 42:16 becomes the foundation for all of what you believe. 42:18 And when you believe when God speaks a word 42:20 it is a reality, it gives you confidence about your success, 42:24 listen, and confidence about your salvation. 42:27 I see so many people struggling by-- 42:29 oh, you say, I don't know. 42:33 But when you understand the Word of God, 42:35 and God speaks salvation into your life, 42:37 you receive it, then in there. 42:41 How do I know 42:45 that the real Word is the real Word? 42:51 I've discovered in my own life 42:52 and my years of working with people and pasturing people. 42:56 That in order to know the Word of God, 42:58 you've got to read the Word of God. 43:02 In order to know that it's the Word of God, 43:04 you've got to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, 43:07 from Genesis to Revelation, from Revelation to Genesis. 43:10 You've got to read the whole story, 43:12 not a text here and a text there. 43:14 A book here and a book there, 43:16 you've got to read the whole book, 43:17 you've got to see the whole picture. 43:19 And I've discovered that when people do that, 43:21 they began to hear God speaks and believe His Word. 43:27 The next thing you need to do is, 43:28 you need to examine the results in the lives of people 43:32 who have accepted Jesus as their personal savior 43:34 and understand His Word. 43:37 And you would discovered that the excitement 43:39 and the productivity that comes for people 43:42 who are walking in Jesus and walking in His Word. 43:45 And the next, 43:47 you've got to obey God's Word. 43:53 Several years ago I was deep in some study of the entire Bible. 43:59 And I realized that there over a 1,000 passages of scripture 44:05 referring to obedience. 44:10 You see, the test of true faith is not in your talk, 44:17 'cause people love to do a lot of talk. 44:20 The rest of your true faith is in obedience. 44:25 The Word of God says, 44:26 blessed are they who think about obeying His Commandments. 44:32 Word of God says blessed are they that do His Commandments 44:39 and then finally, 44:44 we need to stop trying to be God. 44:52 See when God says it, it is mine, 44:55 it's done instantaneously. 44:58 But for us, we got to wait, 45:03 and that's where the problem is because we don't like to wait. 45:07 In this technologically advance world, we don't like to wait. 45:14 When we're booting up our computer, 45:16 if takes more than a half of a second we get anxious 45:19 because we don't like to wait. 45:23 And so when God speaks a word, 45:26 it happens instantaneously for Him. 45:28 But he purposely allows it to be delayed 45:33 because it's part of His testing. 45:37 When I preach tomorrow night about vision delayed 45:40 and not destroyed, I will talk about waiting, 45:42 but tonight, understand that testing 45:45 comes in the waiting period. 45:48 Waiting patiently on God is proof 45:52 that you believe that what God says, it's done. 45:56 Oh, let me say that again, 45:59 waiting patiently without anxiety and fear is proof 46:04 that you believe in the creative power of God, 46:07 that when He said it, it will be done. 46:12 See when you believe it, 46:13 it doesn't meant on how long it takes. 46:17 It could take weeks, it could take months, 46:21 it could take years, but because you believe 46:26 what God says, you know it will be done. 46:36 The ultimate proof of God's Word is the cross 46:45 and this excites me. 46:49 Because Jesus made a promise, a word, 46:55 1 John 1:9 He said, "If you confess your sins, 47:01 He is faithful to forgive you of your sins 47:05 and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness." 47:13 This concept of God's Word, 47:18 being a reality is crucial for your walk with God. 47:27 Because God speaks a word, He says, again, 47:30 if you confess your sins, if you confess your sin, 47:34 if you confess your sin, He is faithful 47:38 and just to forgive you of your sins 47:44 and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 47:46 Watch this now, many people, 47:47 because they do not believe this concept, 47:51 struggle with, well, God, You said it but, 47:55 first of all, I don't know if you love me enough to do it. 48:00 And then secondly, do you have the ability to do it? 48:05 And so for years they go struggling with guilt and shame 48:09 and they're struggling in their sins, 48:11 they are hooked on their addictions 48:14 and they're wondering why they can't get free 48:16 and the reason why is because they don't believe 48:19 that God's Word is a creative power 48:22 that can break them free of any vice, of any sin, 48:26 and hold them before God as if they never sinned. 48:31 So He says, if you confess your sins, 48:33 here it is, you are done, 48:38 Matthew 1:21 says, "And she shall bring forth a son, 48:43 and you shall call his name Jesus. 48:45 For He shall save his people from their sins." 48:51 He made it clear that if His people would believe 48:56 that this promise that He would send a child, 49:00 not to save it in your sins but to save you from your sins, 49:05 would come, and die for our sins 49:10 because the Word of God says, 49:12 in Roman 6:26-23, "The wages of sin is death, 49:18 but the gift of God is eternal life." 49:21 That's a promise, that's a word. 49:24 He said I'll give it to you, all you have to do believe, 49:27 you can't earn it. 49:29 You can't buy it. 49:31 You can't work for it. 49:33 You just have to believe my Word. 49:40 I can't tell you how many people 49:41 I've run a cross through the years, 49:44 who can't believe that it's done, 49:49 but I told you, the ultimate proof of 49:52 the certainty of God's Word is the cross. 49:56 Jesus said, I'll pay the price, 49:59 I'll pray the heavy price. 50:01 I'll carry the world's sins on my shoulders 50:05 and there in Calvary, Jesus hung there 50:09 as proof positive that when God says something, 50:13 yeah, it took many years for Jesus to come 50:18 but in the mind of God it was already done 50:20 when in the counsel of heaven, God the Father, 50:24 God the Son and the Holy Spirit decided 50:26 on what they would do to save mankind. 50:29 It was done right at the end. 50:33 So when Jesus went to Calvary, it was God saying, it's done. 50:40 Hebrew 10:10-11, "By that, will we have been sanctified 50:47 through the offering of the body of Jesus, 50:50 once and for all." 50:53 Jesus said, I will pay it all, 50:58 all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain 51:04 but Jesus washed it, white as snow. 51:09 It was done. 51:12 And then as Jesus was stretched out on Calvary's cross, 51:18 he made one of the most profound statements, 51:23 that confirms the creative power of the Word of God. 51:29 In John 19:20, John 19:30 rather, 51:37 He said three words, simple words, 51:43 profound words, life changing words, 51:47 he said, it is finished. 51:56 It's done, listen, 51:58 your salvation is complete in Me. 52:04 All you have to do now, is believe His Word, 52:10 your shame is done, your past is done. 52:17 Your guilt is done, your frustration is done. 52:24 Your struggling to save yourself is done. 52:30 Because of when God says something, it's done. 52:40 Father, why don't You teach this young boy, 52:47 how to trust this Word. 52:51 He wanted the young boy, 52:54 to understand that when he said something 52:55 he could take it to the banking, 52:58 it was satisfied, it was complete. 53:02 So he took his little boy and marched him out 53:07 to a high, six foot brick wall. 53:15 Stood him on the wall and then he left him there, 53:18 he said, stand still son. 53:23 He disappeared and he came down below the wall, 53:25 the little boy couldn't see him, 53:26 he can only hear him. 53:31 And he yelled at to the boy he said, jump, jump. 53:40 And of course the little boy is tentative, 53:44 he hesitates but he knew his father 53:50 had never let him down. 53:52 Can I speak to your hearts for a minute, 53:54 God has never let us down. 54:00 And He will never let us down, 54:03 when He says something you can take it to the bank. 54:05 You can know that your future is secure in Jesus 54:08 because when he said it, it's done 54:11 and so the little boy, couldn't see his dad 54:14 but he could hear his voice. 54:17 He knew the power of his dad's word, 54:20 because his dad had never let him down. 54:22 And so he jumped, fell into the arms of his father... 54:33 isn't that what God wants for all of us tonight. 54:37 Does it? 54:39 He wants you to trust Him with your future, 54:46 with your success and again, I see ministry struggling 54:53 because they can't believe God, but in my years of ministry, 54:59 doing some impossible things, 55:02 I've had to take God at His word, 55:06 I can't tell you about the many things 55:08 that God has sent me out, 55:09 that was beyond my abilities and capabilities 55:13 and everybody around me told me it could not be done. 55:18 But as a young boy, 6 six years old, 55:20 when I gave my heart to Jesus 55:22 and I accepted my call to Jesus, I couldn't-- 55:24 I was convinced there and there, 55:26 that when God speaks a word, it's done. 55:30 And for all of my life, 55:32 I've been an obnoxious optimist, 55:36 trying things and doing things 55:38 because I know that if God's spoken into my spirit, 55:45 it's going to be done. 55:48 And tonight, I encourage you 55:52 to trust Him in your ministry, 55:56 trust Him in your job, 55:58 trust Him in your marital relationship, 56:02 I see people give up on the marriages 56:07 and I've been blessed to be married for 39 years 56:09 to the women of my dreams, hallelujah, 56:13 but I'm gonna tell you what has blessed us 56:16 to stay together is because 56:17 we believe God brought us together 56:20 and He spoke into our life 56:22 and told us our marriage would work. 56:23 Can I get a shout, amen. 56:26 And when it got tough, we can holler out, it's done. 56:32 When the waves of trails blew on us, 56:37 we could be convinced 56:39 that because God's brought us together, 56:41 spoken to our marriage, spoken to our careers, 56:44 spoken to our lives, it's done. 56:48 Will you pray with me now? 56:51 Eternal Father, thank you for teaching us 56:54 about the creative power of Your Word. 56:57 Forgive us for doubting You, 57:01 forgive us for worrying and fretting. 57:05 Tonight, we leave here convinced, 57:08 that what You say, will come to pass 57:12 that it is done. 57:16 We will obey Your commands, 57:18 we understand that all of Your biddings, our enablings, 57:20 if you've told us to do it, it will indeed happen, 57:24 we just need to be patient and wait on it, thank You, God. 57:29 We will make sure we will spend time with you. |
Revised 2015-05-06