Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church
We always feel like we're surrounded by bad things.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my Lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord , so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17 NIV
The most high God is surrounding our enemy.
Don't get discouraged by what you see with your physical eye.
I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord ! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Psalm 3:6-8 NIV
Open your eyes of faith.
The one who controls the fire is with us.
and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty." He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Daniel 3:23-25 NIV
Sometimes God will allow the fire to show you as an example.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
Daniel 3:26, 28 NIV
God will use the fire to establish you, give you more credibility, and take you to the next level.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Daniel 3:28 NIV
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Psalm 34:19 NIV
When the teenagers were in the fire only the cords (the things that were holding them back). They weren't burned and their clothes weren't burned (nothing they needed)
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:7 NIV
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15 NIV
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
Psalm 91:11 NIV
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
Exodus 14:13 NIV
Tauren Wells @ Lakewood Church
Lawson at 18 months does not like to hear the word no and he is just learning to communicate because there is something in the human condition that sees no as a deadend. With God every no is attached to a better yes.
After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night [no]. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens." They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in.
John 21:3-6 MSG
A lot of us look at the present problem as the greatest miracle opportunity.
Joshua was up early and on his way from Shittim with all the People of Israel with him. He arrived at the Jordan and camped before crossing over. After three days, leaders went through the camp and gave out orders to the people: "When you see the Covenant-Chest of God , your God, carried by the Levitical priests, start moving. Follow it. Make sure you keep a proper distance between you and it, about half a mile—be sure now to keep your distance!—and you'll see clearly the route to take. You've never been on this road before."
Joshua 3:1-4 MSG
Sowing Generously
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV
