Gen 12:1-2 The LORD had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your fathers household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. *(Heb) mishpachah = clan, family, tribe, nation
How Do We Get The Power And Authority? The kingdom Matt 3:2/4:17/5:3/5:10/6:10 Rev 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
The Great Commission Mt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Mike s Call Ralph asked me a gnawing question: If you did not need to work to make a living, what would you do with your life? God spoke to me saying: You are going to be a missionary in Africa some day I heard it as, You may be a missionary in Africa some day
Now What? Then God spoke to me again and said, You say you have faith in me, just how much faith do you actually have? The answer obviously was, Not much.
What Does It Take To Tap Into This Power And Authority? Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior Water baptism Baptism in the Holy Spirit God is ready to fulfill His word for you and in you when you are ready to be used. And, He can wait a long time if necessary.
Stacy s Call Delay = a period of time by which something is late or postponed; to detain, hold up, make late, slow up, bog down; to hinder, hamper, impede, or obstruct
Pr 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick... Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. Hope postponed grieves the heart; but when a dream comes true, life is full and sweet.
David - 1 Samuel / 2 Samuel Chosen to be king Anointed as a boy 10-15 yrs old Ruled Tribe of Judah 30 yrs old Ruled Rest of Tribes 7.5 yrs later Delayed for 15 years?
Paul Acts 9 & 13 / Galatians Salvation: Road to Damascus He is a chosen instrument Disruption To Churches sent away Restored by Barnabas Received Missionary Call Delayed for ~15 years?
Lazarus - John 11 Sick: Jesus waited 2 days Lazarus Died His sisters are heart broken Jesus came 4 days after his burial If you has only been here Delayed for days?
Responses to Delay: Disappointment (God let me down) Discouragement (I should stop praying) Confusion (Where is God?) Feelings of Guilt (I did something wrong) Anger (God isn t faithful) Fear (God has deserted me)
The real issue is: discernment When is it a delay in your eyes but preparation in the eyes of God?
One must ask: Did I contribute to the delay? Did someone I am attached to contribute to the delay? Are we just waiting for the fullness of time?
Possible Causes: God wants our attention (self rule issue?) There is unconfessed sin (stubbornness) We re not ready (character issues) He s teaching us to trust Him (in the silence) He s teaching us to distinguish His voice from others (speaking softly) A reason that God alone knows
The critical point is: that you recognize when it s time for the delay to end Daniel 9:2 During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. vs. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting
What did Daniel read in Jeremiah? Jer 25:11-12 This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins, says the Lord
What did he read in Jeremiah? Jer 29:10 This is what the Lord says: You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. vs. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Daniel begins: Exalting God-Great/Awesome/Faithful/Loving Confessing the sins of the nation Calling for God s mercy & forgiveness Reminding God that He has a name to uphold vs. 19 O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.
Daniel was not passive, he understood the time of God, it was the fullness of time for this situation to come to pass, yet it wasn t happening He spoke to the delay in faith declaring that it s time was over and a new season was supposed to spring forth
There are things, things related to your freedom, that are not negotiable, we are not to be passive about them healing, deliverance from shame, guilt, torment, depression, etc. We are to walk in financial freedom, reap the harvest of souls, fulfill our calling. No More Delay!
Jesus & blind Bartimaeus Mark 10:51-52 Sitting by the road cried out Was discouraged by the crowd Kept crying out Cast aside his beggars robe What do you want Me to do for you? How did the blind man respond? I want to see He had to speak it out
Mt 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Bind = deo = declare to be prohibited and unlawful; tie Loose = luo = release what has been held back; untie Agree = sumphoneo = sound together, be in accord, harmony; symphony
Whatsoever ye shall bind (declare to be prohibited and unlawful) on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose (release what has been held back) on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree (sound together, be in accord/harmony) on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
What is it in your life, in our congregational life, in our community, in our nation, in our world that has become delayed? Let s take a moment to listen to the Spirit of God to reveal to you any area in your life in which you have become passive