Believing God Enough To Remain Seated
February 2013
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!"
Ephesians 3:20
Are you believing God for something so great, something so big; something that others say is impossible? Friend, I have in the past and I am currently doing so. At New Years Eve service my dad said that this would be the year of great grace. My Pastor here in Atlanta (Pastor Creflo Dollar) had been preaching about grace for the whole year of 2012. And then, my peers who went to Passion 2013 (wish I could have gone) here in Atlanta said that Pastor Louie Giglio said,"This is the year of God's favor! What do you want?" Whew….I almost started to shout on that one! Grace is defined as unmerited; undeserved favor. So….friend, what do you want? What do you want God to do for you and are you in the right position to receive it? Let's dig in!
Please read John 6:1-15. Here we see a great crowd of people who all have a great need. They needed some food. Now, although I am not in need of food, I can relate because I have a great need. I am reminded of the quote that says, "I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need!" This quote became reality for this great crowd and friend, I am believing God that it will become reality for you and I.
So now let's talk about that great need you have. In order to receive friend, we must be in the right position. We see here that there was not enough food for these 5 thousand people. Among this great crowd, there was only 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish. Notice that in verse 5 Christ asked Philip," Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" Verse 6 blessed my life….."…….for He already had in mind what He was going to do." God already knew what He was going to do. I am reminded of 2 Peter 2:9 which says, "The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from trials." Do you believe God's word? Do you believe that God knows what He is doing and that He already has a plan not just for your life, but for your day and circumstance. Do you believe it? Anytime friend you are trying to figure out how YOU are going to do it…..immediately say…."THE LORD KNOWS HOW!"
Now let's check out Philip's response in verse 7, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!' Does Philip's response sound familiar to you? Maybe you shared that great need/desire that that you are believing God for with someone and they said, "Boy please, that's impossible." Or, "Girl, that won't happen no time soon! It will take forever!" Maybe you have even said, "Lord, how in the world are you going to do that. That's impossible. How are you going to use me, open up that door, restore that relationship, heal me, how…..how….how!?!?!" Oh but we do serve a God who can make our little, grand; our impossibilities, possibilities; our dreams, realities and our weaknesses, strengths! Nothing is too hard for our God! After all, "The One Who calls you is faithful, who will also do it!" (2 Thessalonians 5:4)
Now, we see in vs. 8-9 that in this huge crowd, one little boy had just a little to offer. But notice this, before God did the miraculous and met the needs of the people…..He had them sit. (vs. 10) Are you sitting? Now this type of "sitting" is not meant to be looked upon as lazy….this was a sign that showed that they wholeheartedly believed and trusted in God to meet their need. How do we know? Let's do a self-check. Sometimes when we are believing God for something and it seems to be taking a long time to manifest….we get restless. We start trying to do it ourselves, fix it ourselves, or make a way for ourselves. Sounds familiar? We try people……oops…..they don't have the answer. We try to go to plan "B" and "C" just in case God doesn't come through with plan "A." Friend, we do any and everything, but sit! We complain, we worry, we get anxious, we get angry, we put ourselves in a box singing, "Nobody knows the trouble I see." We do everything but believe God, trust God, seek His face, follow Him…..and sit. This great crowd believed that God was not just a source, but that He was their only source. Do you?
Friend, it's time to get in the right position to receive. It's time that we cease trying to figure it out and fix it and just sit.. Sit on His Word. Sit on His faithfulness. Sit on Who He is. "He is the first and the last. The beginning and the end. He is the keeper of creation and the creator of all. He is the architect of the universe and the manager of all time. He always was, always is, and always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He was bruised, but brought healing. He was pierced, but eased pain. He was persecuted, but brought freedom. He was dead, but brought life, He has risen to bring power and reigns to bring peace. The world can't understand Him, armies can't defeat Him, schools can't explain Him and leaders cannot ignore Him! Herod couldn't kill Him, Nero couldn't crush Him, and the new age cannot replace Him! When you are tempted to do anything, but sit you remind yourself that He is life, love, longevity, and He is the Lord! He is goodness, and kindness, and faithfulness, and He is God. He is holy, righteous, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His Word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind in on US! He is our Savior, our guide, our peace, joy, comfort, and Lord. He rules our lives. We serve Him because His bond is love, His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and His goal for us is abundant life. We follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, and the leader of all leaders. His goal is a relationship with us. He will never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book! NEVER! When you fall, He'll lift you up. When you fail, He will forgive you. When you are weak, He is strong, when you are lost, He is your way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He will heal you. When you are broken, He will mend you. When you are blind, He will lead you. WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY, HE WILL FEED YOU! When you face trials, He is with you! When you face persecution, He shields you! When you face problems, He will comfort you. When you face lost, He will provide for you! He is your source. He is your God and that is Who You belong to!" (Priscilla Shirer) You sit on that. You rest in that. You have faith and hope in that. You walk in that. You live in that!
Now that you know about being in the right position, vs. 11 tells us what God did for this great crowd and will do for us. "Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED. He did the same with the fish." (NIV) Let's stop there. I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20 which says, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!" Friend, my dad, my pastor here in Atlanta, and Pastor Louie Giglio said that 2013 would be the year of great grace and favor. What do you want? I believe the Word when it said according to YOUR faith be it unto to you. (Matthew 9:29) I believe the Word when it said that with man it is impossible, but ALL things are possible through Christ. (Mark 10:27) I believe that once we sit and remain seated on the Word, God will do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! I believe God! I also believe that not only will God meet our needs, but He will bless us so much that we would have no other choice, but to be a blessing to someone else. I believe God for an overflow blessing! (John 6:13)
Friend, continue to believe God. Continue to walk by faith and not by sight! And no matter what the devil tries or says…..REMAIN SEATED! God will not fail YOU!!
Be encouraged!
Ephesians 3:20
Are you believing God for something so great, something so big; something that others say is impossible? Friend, I have in the past and I am currently doing so. At New Years Eve service my dad said that this would be the year of great grace. My Pastor here in Atlanta (Pastor Creflo Dollar) had been preaching about grace for the whole year of 2012. And then, my peers who went to Passion 2013 (wish I could have gone) here in Atlanta said that Pastor Louie Giglio said,"This is the year of God's favor! What do you want?" Whew….I almost started to shout on that one! Grace is defined as unmerited; undeserved favor. So….friend, what do you want? What do you want God to do for you and are you in the right position to receive it? Let's dig in!
Please read John 6:1-15. Here we see a great crowd of people who all have a great need. They needed some food. Now, although I am not in need of food, I can relate because I have a great need. I am reminded of the quote that says, "I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need!" This quote became reality for this great crowd and friend, I am believing God that it will become reality for you and I.
So now let's talk about that great need you have. In order to receive friend, we must be in the right position. We see here that there was not enough food for these 5 thousand people. Among this great crowd, there was only 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish. Notice that in verse 5 Christ asked Philip," Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" Verse 6 blessed my life….."…….for He already had in mind what He was going to do." God already knew what He was going to do. I am reminded of 2 Peter 2:9 which says, "The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from trials." Do you believe God's word? Do you believe that God knows what He is doing and that He already has a plan not just for your life, but for your day and circumstance. Do you believe it? Anytime friend you are trying to figure out how YOU are going to do it…..immediately say…."THE LORD KNOWS HOW!"
Now let's check out Philip's response in verse 7, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!' Does Philip's response sound familiar to you? Maybe you shared that great need/desire that that you are believing God for with someone and they said, "Boy please, that's impossible." Or, "Girl, that won't happen no time soon! It will take forever!" Maybe you have even said, "Lord, how in the world are you going to do that. That's impossible. How are you going to use me, open up that door, restore that relationship, heal me, how…..how….how!?!?!" Oh but we do serve a God who can make our little, grand; our impossibilities, possibilities; our dreams, realities and our weaknesses, strengths! Nothing is too hard for our God! After all, "The One Who calls you is faithful, who will also do it!" (2 Thessalonians 5:4)
Now, we see in vs. 8-9 that in this huge crowd, one little boy had just a little to offer. But notice this, before God did the miraculous and met the needs of the people…..He had them sit. (vs. 10) Are you sitting? Now this type of "sitting" is not meant to be looked upon as lazy….this was a sign that showed that they wholeheartedly believed and trusted in God to meet their need. How do we know? Let's do a self-check. Sometimes when we are believing God for something and it seems to be taking a long time to manifest….we get restless. We start trying to do it ourselves, fix it ourselves, or make a way for ourselves. Sounds familiar? We try people……oops…..they don't have the answer. We try to go to plan "B" and "C" just in case God doesn't come through with plan "A." Friend, we do any and everything, but sit! We complain, we worry, we get anxious, we get angry, we put ourselves in a box singing, "Nobody knows the trouble I see." We do everything but believe God, trust God, seek His face, follow Him…..and sit. This great crowd believed that God was not just a source, but that He was their only source. Do you?
Friend, it's time to get in the right position to receive. It's time that we cease trying to figure it out and fix it and just sit.. Sit on His Word. Sit on His faithfulness. Sit on Who He is. "He is the first and the last. The beginning and the end. He is the keeper of creation and the creator of all. He is the architect of the universe and the manager of all time. He always was, always is, and always will be unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone! He was bruised, but brought healing. He was pierced, but eased pain. He was persecuted, but brought freedom. He was dead, but brought life, He has risen to bring power and reigns to bring peace. The world can't understand Him, armies can't defeat Him, schools can't explain Him and leaders cannot ignore Him! Herod couldn't kill Him, Nero couldn't crush Him, and the new age cannot replace Him! When you are tempted to do anything, but sit you remind yourself that He is life, love, longevity, and He is the Lord! He is goodness, and kindness, and faithfulness, and He is God. He is holy, righteous, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His Word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind in on US! He is our Savior, our guide, our peace, joy, comfort, and Lord. He rules our lives. We serve Him because His bond is love, His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and His goal for us is abundant life. We follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, and the leader of all leaders. His goal is a relationship with us. He will never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book! NEVER! When you fall, He'll lift you up. When you fail, He will forgive you. When you are weak, He is strong, when you are lost, He is your way. When you are afraid, He is your courage. When you stumble, He will steady you. When you are hurt, He will heal you. When you are broken, He will mend you. When you are blind, He will lead you. WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY, HE WILL FEED YOU! When you face trials, He is with you! When you face persecution, He shields you! When you face problems, He will comfort you. When you face lost, He will provide for you! He is your source. He is your God and that is Who You belong to!" (Priscilla Shirer) You sit on that. You rest in that. You have faith and hope in that. You walk in that. You live in that!
Now that you know about being in the right position, vs. 11 tells us what God did for this great crowd and will do for us. "Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated AS MUCH AS THEY WANTED. He did the same with the fish." (NIV) Let's stop there. I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20 which says, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us!" Friend, my dad, my pastor here in Atlanta, and Pastor Louie Giglio said that 2013 would be the year of great grace and favor. What do you want? I believe the Word when it said according to YOUR faith be it unto to you. (Matthew 9:29) I believe the Word when it said that with man it is impossible, but ALL things are possible through Christ. (Mark 10:27) I believe that once we sit and remain seated on the Word, God will do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! I believe God! I also believe that not only will God meet our needs, but He will bless us so much that we would have no other choice, but to be a blessing to someone else. I believe God for an overflow blessing! (John 6:13)
Friend, continue to believe God. Continue to walk by faith and not by sight! And no matter what the devil tries or says…..REMAIN SEATED! God will not fail YOU!!
Be encouraged!
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