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Total Health Chapter 16 - Part 2 Seeing Through the Darkness April 14, 2012
Total HealthChapter 16 - Part 2
Seeing Through the Darkness
April 14, 2012
Pressing on in Faith
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Hebrews 12: 1-2a NIV
God’s Promises
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
- Psalm 103:1-5
1. Remember to daily think about this verse this week; Practice this verse! Do you have faith for these particular verses?
2. Look at the other bible versions of this verse;
3. Let your meditations turn into prayers, talking with God;
4. Ask God to reveal and show you special things about it;
5. Consider defining key words in the verse;
6. He may encourage or correct you;
7. Write down what you think He may be telling you about this verse.
The Importance of “God-Focus”
Joe just finished a great “pep” talk in the locker room with his teammates before the competition was to begin. He is feeling confident that all his training will pay off today. Joe makes his way to the gymnasium and his intensity and enthusiasm is felt by the other team members. As he enters the gymnasium he glances over and sees the immense physical stature of his opponent. Joe immediately hangs his head in discouragement. The competition is lost before it even begins.
This is a Common Scene
One moment you are sure of yourself and the very next moment you let fear enter in and your mind defeats you.
Have you been like this. Many Christians are. They are moved and persuaded by what they see and feel.
They let the circumstances of life dictate how they feel and ultimately how they live.
Joshua and Caleb
The Warrior—The Spy An outstanding example of Jehovah’s warriors was Caleb. He earned his greatest fame as a spy who had confidence in the power of his God.
Caleb was 38 years old at the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. He belonged to the tribe of Judah.
Stalwart in his faith in divine power, "Caleb stilled the people and said, `Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’" (Num. 13:30)
Only Caleb and Joshua gave an evaluation prompted by faith in the Almighty.
Caleb never doubted the verity of the promises of Yahweh. He believed with all his heart and soul that Israel would inherit the land which God had promised them.
"So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isa. 55:11)
"I am the LORD, I change not" (Lam. 3:23,22).
An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity. A pessimist finds a calamity in every opportunity.
Caution is prudent if followed by action. But fear doubts the supremacy of the divine arrangement; it questions the wisdom and love of the LORD. Fear paralyzes.
Elisha and his servant
• Very early in the morning, Elisha's young servant, one of the "sons of the prophets," went outside to begin his duties. What he saw alarmed and frightened him. Running back inside he went to Elisha crying, "Oh my father, look! A host—an army—has surrounded our village. What are we to do? What are we to do? There are thousands of soldiers and chariots and horses." Almost in tears, he wrung his hands, pacing the floor. Elisha, with quiet, calm dignity, put his hands on the servant's shoulders and said to him: "Don't be afraid. We have a lot more on our side than are on the side of the enemy."
"What could the prophet mean?" thought
the young servant. "Did Elisha not understand me when I told him that the Syrian army was camped outside the village?
Did he not hear me when I said there were chariots and horses and soldiers in the thousands? Does he not realize that if the city of Dothan were to gather an army, it wouldn't even amount to a hundred soldiers? There are scarcely one hundred people living in the whole of Dothan. What ever can the prophet mean?" He turned his eyes on Elisha.
Elisha's face was calm. He had not even a trace of worry. He did not need to look out the window to see the army of Syria, and how big it was. He did not need physical eyes to see that the army of God was far bigger than the army of Syria. God's army was not visible. Elisha just knew it was there. He knew his God so well that he knew that He would not desert him at a time like this. His faith did not need to be strengthened. But the faith of his fearful servant did. Elisha prayed that the young man's eyes would be opened.
"And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." v. 17
Do These things still happen today?
You Betcha!
While pregnant, his mother suffered a life-threatening infection with a pathogenic amoeba. Because of the drugs used to rouse her from a coma and to treat her dysentery, the fetus experienced a severe placental abruption. Doctors had expected a stillbirth and recommended an abortion, even though illegal in the Philippines, to protect her life, but she decided not to have one.
The Tebow EdgeThe Tebows lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and he
played linebacker and tight end at the local Trinity Christian Academy for one season.
Tebow's preferred position was quarterback, but Trinity football team's offense did not rely on passing the football, so he moved into an apartment in nearby St. Johns County, making him eligible to play for the pass-oriented offense at Nease High School.
His performance soon turned heads and led to a minor controversy regarding the fact that he was a home-schooled student having his choice of school to play for.
• When Tim Tebow started playing he was not even considered good.
• Tebow came into national prominence as a junior at Florida's 4A Nease High School. Tebow was soon known not only for his running and throwing, but for his intense competitiveness and uncommon physical courage.
Later that same year, Tebow suffered an injury to his right leg late in the first half of a game.
Originally thought by the Nease coaching staff to be a bad cramp, he played the entire second half with a broken fibula, at one point rushing for a 29-yard touchdown.
After the game the extent of the injury was discovered and he was held out for the remainder of his junior season.
Nevertheless he was named Florida's Player of the
Year and became a major college football quarterback prospect.
During his senior season he led the Nease Panthers to a state title, earned All-State honors, was named Florida's Mr. Football and a Parade magazine high school All-American, and repeated as Florida's Player of the Year.
Tebow played in the US Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas which featured the top 78 senior high school football players in the nation and was shown nationally on NBC television.
• Tebow received an athletic scholarship to attend
and play for the Florida Gators Football Team from 2006 to 2009.
• While he spent his freshman year as a backup, eventual career highlights at Florida include winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007, leading the team to a BCS championship in 2008, and a 13–1 2009 season. The Gators coaches selected him as a team captain in 2008 and 2009, and he is the only three-time recipient of the Gators' most valuable player award, having been chosen by his teammates in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Tebow was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (25th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
When asked how Tebow will be used, McDaniels commented that Tebow probably won't start at quarterback as a rookie;
On October 17, Tebow scored his first NFL touchdown, which was a five-yard running play against the New York Jets.
On November 14, Tebow threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Larsen on his first career NFL pass attempt, as part of a 49-29 home victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
He also added a one-yard rushing touchdown in the game. His performance against the Chiefs earned him his first Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honor.
Tebow finished his rookie season playing
sparingly in six games as a back-up (primarily on plays involving the wild horse formation, which is Denver's variation of the wildcat formation) before starting the last three games of the Broncos' season.
He threw for a total of 654 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 227 yards and six touchdowns.
Tebow became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in each of his first three career starts.
• On March 21, 2012, in the wake of the Broncos signing free agent Peyton Manning, Tebow was traded, along with the Broncos‘ 2012 7th round draft pick, to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets' 4th and 6th round picks.
Does God have Tim Tebow on a world stage?
This was a guy that was not suppose to be born and certainly wasn’t suppose to do anything out of the ordinary.
But God……!
Setting your Mind on God
When you begin to set your mind to seek your destiny in God, difficulties will come that will discourage you.
One day the vision may be completely clear. The following day your vision may seem cloudy and the next thing you know all you can see is darkness.
Keep pressing into the things of God. Having the right perspective will allow you to see through the darkness.
Borrowing Trouble
Do not worry about things that you don’t even know will come to pass.
Train your mind and thoughts to think about the promises of God. Do not think of all the potential bad things that might happen to you rather than concentrating on the promises of God.
You are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.
My God always causes me to triumph.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Luke 18:27: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
As the risen Christ told Thomas, "Be not faithless, but believing." John 20:27
Your Mouth
Train yourself to speak encouragement to yourself, peaking out the promises of God.
This mental discipline is being “God-Focused.”
German battleship Bismarck
“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” …… “also look at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder where ever the pilot desires.
-James 3: 2 , 4
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
John Wesley
One day he was walking along a road with a friend who, sore vexed and troubled, expressed his doubts of God’s goodness.
“I don’t know what I shall do with all my worries and troubles.” he said.
Wesley noticed a cow looking over a stone wall and put the question to him.
“Why does the cow look over the wall?”
“Because he cannot see through it, I suppose.” His friend replied.
“Precisely!” said Wesley. “So, if you can’t see through your troubles, try looking over them: and look up to God.”
Everyone Experiences it
Is it disappointment with God?
Is it a lack of patience with us that a situation we have prayed about has not changed?
Do you feel that God is unfair?
You do you feel that God ignores you sometimes?
If you answer “Yes” to any of those questions….
Check your heart.
Check you faith walk.
Have you been following the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
Questions and Doubts
Steal from you the vision that God wants to place in your heart.
Yes, these questions are normal, but it is what you do with these questions that can make a difference.
We live in the flesh, but God wants us to be spiritually minded.
God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow
More than likely you have missed it along the way.
It is not God who has not responded.
God Hears
The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15
For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer. 1 Peter 3:12
This is where Faith comes in
Faith is the firm belief in something for which there is not proof.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
-Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the distinctive mark of the saints of the bible.
Philip Yancy says:
A kind of faith that goes hand-in-hand with trust is fidelity.
This is a deep loyalty to God.
Fidelity is that “hang-on-at-any-cost” faith.
“We may experience times of unusual
closeness, when every prayer is answered in an obvious way and God seems intimate and caring. And we may also experience “fog times,” when God stays silent, when nothing works according to formula and all the Bible’s promises seem glaringly false. Fidelity involves learning to trust that, out beyond the perimeter of fog, God still reigns and has not abandoned us, no matter how it may appear.”
-Philip Yancy
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Do you want this “Hang-on-at-any-cost” faith ?
Begin to draw close to God and you will sense this loyalty grow in you.
When things don’t seem to go right, remember that life is full of trials. Be alert!
Many of the challenges that you face may become hindrances to reaching your destiny.
Your Cross
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
-Luke 9:23
Wendell Smith says…
The “suffering” that often occurs in our life is the inward struggle between our will and God’s will.
Suffering is saying “no” to self and “yes” to God. This crossing of wills is a critical part of discovering your destiny.
This “crossing of wills” can be a major hindrance for you. You may be asking yourself “Why does it have to be so hard?”
As you try to follow God’s way, He is right along with you, giving you the power to “take up you cross” and pursue His destiny for you.
The trials you go through and the disciplines of the
Christian life make you stronger.
God allows them for your sake, not His (James 1:2-3).
Consider Job and all that he suffered. He endured. He had the kind of loyalty that gave him the power to triumph in the end.
Though the darkness shown all around him, and the feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed him- he was “God-focused” and deeply devoted.
Let’s be specific
Hindrances to reaching your destiny are things such as lack of motivation, laziness, rebellious attitudes and lack of discipline.
Lack of discipline is the strongest hindrance that will keep you from your destiny.
Dr. James Dobson says…
That if he could tell families and young people one thing it would be, “learn to discipline the flesh.”
God can help you overcome these difficulties but you must choose to do your part.
Sin and Temptation will always effect your vision…
Look at Samson in the Bible. He had the spirit of God on him and that great power was evident in his physical strength.
He, however, allowed a lack of discipline of the flesh to be his downfall at the end of his days. He had the Holy Spirit on him and was touched by God but still gave into his desires. He made his choice, but you can learn from his life. Judges 16.
Only you and God know the personal weaknesses that can keep you from your destiny in God. If your life is weakened by music, then alter what you hear.
Be careful what you expose yourself to. If movies affect you negatively, then alter what you see.
Don’t tolerate temptation in your life – resist it !!!
Samson tolerated Delilah and ultimately gave in to her continual temptation. Do you thing he reached his full potential in God?
There are no Shortcuts
The American way is “faster and easier the better!” However, this is not always how God works.
Things that take hard work, discipline and time often produce the best results.
Do you find yourself in school wanting as many shortcuts to learning as possible?
Do you look in the back of the book for definitions of words instead of reading the material?
In math, are you tempted to look in the back of the book for answers to the homework problems?
There is something in everyone that wants instant results, ultimately avoiding the process of learning.
“Short cuts usually lead away from growth, not toward it.” -Philip Yancey
God does not promise that you can avoid or skip over the trials. He does promise to be with you as you walk through them.
Keeping the promises of God in your heart as you go through disappointments will help you reach your God-given potential.
Are you Weary?
Not physically, but spiritually. Being tired in your spirit is more dangerous than being tired in your body.
Many Christians can feel “worn-out” and exhausted from trying to do all the “right” things. You get harassed from all sides.
Pressure from friends, family and society are hard to withstand.
Even more difficult is the pressure you can put on yourself. Can you relate?
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13
God knows that the struggles are hard and that you will become spiritually exhausted!
He also gives you the source to renew your strength. Just wait on the Lord.
Wait with patience, anticipation and with humility in His presence. Wait expectantly.
God never Sleeps“…the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the
ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have not might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
-Isaiah 40:28-31
Your Inheritance
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.” -Philippians 3:20
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2
By adoption you are entitled to an inheritance from God your Father. You cannot earn this inheritance; it is given to you by God’s grace because of your status in His family.
His home in your heart is the only prerequisite for securing your place in His eternal house.
The culmination of the fullness of your inheritance waits for you in heaven, but that does not mean that you cannot enjoy the blessings that come with being a child of God while you live on earth.
Are you living in the fullness of your Salvation in Christ Jesus?
When Jesus suffer and died for us he provided all that we needed both here on earth and in heaven.
“ Surely He has borne our grief's and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
-Isaiah 53:4-5
“Our Heavenly Mansion”
It is easy to lose sight of it while you experience the trials of an earthly life.
There is a glorious place waiting for you. You can experience great anticipation when you think about your eternal home with the Father.
Your place is perfectly suited for you. You do not have to more – nor do you want to!
This place for you is filled with blessings. The ultimate inheritance, however, is to enjoy Jesus Christ forever – He is the true treasure.
It has been said that:The light of heaven is the Face of
Jesus Christ;The joy of heaven is the presence of
Jesus Christ;The melody of heaven is the name of
Jesus Christ;The harmony of heaven is the praise of
Jesus Christ;The theme of heaven is the work of
Jesus Christ;The employment of heaven is the service of
Jesus Christ; And the fullness of heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself.
