The Prophetic Preparation
Gtcotr/ws101602
Introduction:
On Wednesday evenings from January 9th of this year through June 19th, we came together to hear a continuing message that I announced God had given me for our church. Although some mid week services were lent to other current needs such as VBS, visiting ministers, we always rebounded back to the study God had given us and remained faithful until we finished the lessons. Immediately following the last lesson in late June, as promised, I began to coax and coach individuals and families toward their miracle. I asked each one to choose a miracle and begin putting the principles learned into practice. Since then several have testified to receiving what they sought God for.
I believe that our whole church was being prepared for what only God knew was coming to us. Over the last three days, through all the added pressures of my life, which have been many and difficult, I have touched the grace and goodness of God to see that we were prepared and have been chosen to bring about a miracle blessing from God to His church.
This is marvelous to us, but it is not anything less than what we believe and teach to be God’s way. God is with us, coaxing us, coaching us, drawing us on to believe and act beyond our risks, beyond our fears, beyond our questions, beyond our competence and beyond our experience. We have now become one of those communities which God has invited to participate in His miracle plan … what will be our response. Will we be like the children of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea, like the young rich ruler, like doubting Thomas or like King Agrippa who said to the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:28, “… almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
I am not almost persuaded, but fully persuaded like Abraham in Romans 4, who against hope believed in hope; against the odds, took a risk on God having a plan and that God was able to perform what had been promised. We, the family of God at COTR, are not new comers to this faith. We are like so many others in the bible who live by faith and dare the impossible.
For this time and season that is upon us, allow me to feed your faith, strengthen your resolve and gather your support. Let us go at once to meet this call, perhaps it is for this reason we have come to the kingdom. Listen to the admonitions given us months before we were given this current opportunity.
The passage:
2 Kings 4:1-7
1 ¶ Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
The points: (quoted from the teachings found in my published study notes)
Miracles:
Enable us
Equip us
Position us
1. Elisha understood he would have to move this woman into a position to receive a miracle from God.
* first be motivated to depend on God and not the arm of man
* next offer what you have to God for His touch
* then you must obediently follow the prescribed course of action required
* finally you should use the blessings and benefits received for that which God intended when He blessed you.
2. Even true and gifted men of God do not always know everything, even about the works and miracles they themselves are involved in.
* People can get frustrated with pastors and counselors who clearly hear from God … as though they are stonewalling information when it is very possible they just don’t know the future, but they do know the next step … and without taking the next step …
3. God chooses the simple things of this world and the things which are nothing to bring about great things. (1 Corinthians 1:28)
4. One’s refusal to do their simple part is often the single downfall of God’s great plan.
* Do not sacrifice the big picture for some small conviction
* Naturally most people think what is best for them is best … however: Life is teamwork.
5. God is not against borrowing
* Borrow with a plan and plan not always to have to borrow
* Borrowing is also a test of humility
6. God demands people participate in their miracle.
* Where God is unable to motivate people to supply what they can and give what they have, He often does not perform miracles.
* The only ingredient required … is trust.
7. Borrow not a few:
* get a big vision of supply
* Don’t limit God
* ask big … bigger than you may actually need right now
* When it is all over and done with, I would have been willing to give you more than you will get … go for it!
8. Timing is a critical factor in receiving from God.
* Miracles begin and miracles end
* The acorn
9. Who you are connected to can determine your destiny.
* Who you include in your inner circle can limit your outcome
* Jesus suffered no man to follow Him except … (Mk 5:37)
* The 10 doubtful spies weighed heavy on those candidates for miracles and pushed them completely out of miracle territory.
* God does not want us burdened down with the weight of doubtful darts and probing questions when we are engaging in such critical moments of the miraculous.
* The common distractions of nay-sayers and the critical minded skeptics.
Note: I am not saying this now that we are in the face of a miracle opportunity … no! This is what I said long ago before we ever thought we could be in this place. These principles have the credibility of being a prophetic utterance designed to prepare hearts and minds to believe and act.
10. Many have the gift of pointing out the blatantly obvious
* there is no shortage of vision but rather resources, either money or personnel, who are committed to see the project through.
* Each miracle is designed by God to furnish what He has determined we need and not what we may think we need.
* Let the miracle run its full course
* Don’t limit the miracle by your limited need.
11. The miraculous can be hard work.
* don’t get tempted by tiredness or ‘just get enough’ thinking and quit in the middle of your miracle.
12. You don’t have to know the whole journey to take the first step.
* Maybe God has not given the man of God the full picture yet.
* Act in faith with what we have
* A time of proving is almost always required
* A break through may require a break with or break from
* Miracles may require walking on some new ground doing some new things
* Stubbornness is your enemy
* faith in God and faithfulness to act in faith toward God
Conclusion:
We have asked God for a miracle.
The opportunity to participate is at hand.
It will take faith and action.
Timing is critical.
Go for it! (Caleb quote: Numbers 13:30))
Now!
I have earned your trust & I now need your participation.
Fill out your participation request form tonight.
Ask your family members and friends to participate.
If you have questions, join the club, but have some faith and participate … I guarantee your personal safety … get out of the boat and walk on some water for a change … you may get a little wet, but you won’t get hurt.
