Finding the Strength to Rise Above Your Situation

Proverbs 24:16 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

Message:  Finding the Strength to Rise Above Your Situation

When things crumble and come crashing down, God’s people can find new strength to rise above rather than living life beneath the rubble.  Rubble defined (fragments of broken buildings: broken stones, bricks, and other materials from buildings that have fallen down or been demolished). 

The bible has many examples of those who had to rise above their circumstance. Moses was disinherited by Pharaoh- Ex 7:14-  Pharoah’s heart is hardened and he refuses to let the people go. (Moses received deliverance from God).

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. Genesis 37:20  Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Joseph received deliverance from God and was promoted).

The Apostle Paul was convicted as a serial killer.  Acts 9:13 – Then Ananiah answered Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem. (Saul was delivered by God and promoted).

David sinned with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. (II Samuel 12:14 – Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die   Bathsheba’s baby by David).  However David repented by fasting and praying and God forgave Him-and he went forward.

Mary Magdalene was a woman with personal demons. (Luke 8:2 And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene out of whom went seven devils).  Mary was set free from God and she served him.

God’s strength caused each of these individuals to defy the odds and rise above their adverse situations. 

Finding strength to RISE ABOVE my situation means that I need to:

Make Peace with God – Proverbs 16:7  - When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.   Psalm 139:23-24-Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Romans 8:28 – All things work together for the good of them that love God.  Matthew 6:33 Seek you first the Kingdom of God and all of his righteousness and all of these things shall be added..

The goal of our heart should be to please God.

 Sometimes people attempt to make a deal with God in order to get him to do what they require.  Lord, if you bless me with this request, I will be a tither.  These persons are looking for help – not God.

 II Cor 5: 17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away behold all things are become new. When a person is seeking help from God but not a relationship with God – once the help is obtained - they will not change.  

AS YOU SEEK TO RISE - BE OBEDIENCE ORIENTED, NOT RESULTS ORIENTED – Mark 13:33 – Take ye heed, watch and pray for ye know not when the time is.  (watch- observe: to look at and keep your attention on something or somebody over a period of time).

   Results Oriented-  We begin looking for immediate outcomes.  We tend to take shortcuts and justify compromise.  We start to match God’s performance against our expectations. James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. 24 – For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  Carnal Watchman-Seeking Rewards from God without repentance.

   Obedience Oriented –  James 1:22 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. We see every event as an opportunity to grow.  Obedience does not require explanations to satisfy the demands which we all struggle in times of calamity.   Instead we focus on how can I better serve you. Spiritual watchman – Seeking rewards from God while living Holy!

MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE KEPT ON TRYING WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE NO HOPE.

Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you.  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go!

Courage is not a feeling you have to stir up.  It is not an emotion that you wait for.  COURAGE IS A COMMAND.  IT IS AN ACTION THAT YOU TAKE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO DO SO, REGARDLESS OF WHERE EVER YOUR KNEES ARE KNOCKING  IT IS A CHOICE YOU DO MAKE, NOT A FEELING YOU WAIT FOR.  Courage is not the absence of fear.  Rather, courage is moving forward in spite of fear.  A GOOD SOLDIER UNDERSTANDS COMMANDS.  If he is ordered to stand up, then regardless of how he feels, he stands up.  God says, I command you to be courageous.  Our reply needs to be, Yes, Lord!

A DOUBTFUL AND UNBELIEVING MIND

St. Matthew 14:31  O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

St. Mark 6:6 – And he marveled because of their unbelief.

Topic:  Are we dealing with doubt or unbelief?

Subtopic:  A doubtful and unbelieving mind

We usually speak of doubt and unbelief  together as if they are one and the same.  Doubt and Unbelief have different meanings. 

Doubt –1 Kings 18:21 – How long will you halt and limp between two opinions?

To stand in two ways, implying uncertainty, being anxious, through a distracted state of mind, of wavering between hope and fear. Doubt causes a person to waver between two opinions. Doubt is not something that God put in us. Romans 12:3 –God gives every man a measure of faith.      God has placed faith in our heart, but the devil tries to negate our faith by attacking us with doubt.

Unbelief - is always rendered as disobedience.

Matthew 17:14-20¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,  ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  ¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.  ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  ¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Jesus said, How long shall I be with you, and how long shall I suffer you.  In other words,How long do I have to teach, train and transition you to react and respond and reproduce according to your faith in ME!  Because they were not  stepping out on what they were taught and what they heard, they were unable to produce the spiritual fruit that Christ expected of them!   

Romans 10:17 For FAITH cometh by HEARING and HEARING by The Word of God.

Giving Christ First Place

St. Mathew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom  of God and all of his righteousness, and all of these things will be added unto you.

St. Matthew 22:37 -Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Topic:  Giving Christ First Place

Subtopic:  If Christ is not first place in your life- what is?

We must Never be too busy to Put God first.

God must be the Priority Everyday and Before Everything!

Mat 6:25 ²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

There are so many things in our lives that divert our attention from putting Christ first. Jesus was not saying that what we eat drink or wear is not important.  He simply stressed that we need not worry about them.  These concerns must not have first place in our lives.

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^{Mat 6:26-27} Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]?

GOD’S PROMISE is OUR CHOICE- ST. MATTHEW 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, (HIS WORD)  and all these things will be given to you as well.

THESE THINGS – VS 25- food, drink, clothing – and what it will take to obtain these THINGS.

Jesus teaches us not to worry about the things of life.  Worry is different from being concerned.  God wants us to be concerned about others, situations, what is happening in your life and your relationships with others.  Pray about those things, but don’t worry and fret over them.  If the situation is one over which you have no control give it to God- He does have control.

God wants us to invest our emotional energies on spiritual priorities, rather then wasting it on worrying.  Instead of worrying we can be praying, reading the bible, exercising witnessing or serving Him!

God’s Kingdom is manifested on earth when HIS WILL is being executed in our lives!  Our motto ought to be BRING DOWN THE KINGDOM THROUGH MY LIFE! 

This, then, is how you should pray:
   " 'Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name,
 ¹⁰your kingdom come,
   your will be done
      on earth as it is in heaven.
 ¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
 ¹²Forgive us our debts,
      as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 ¹³And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.^[a]'

Christ Has Risen

ST. JOHN 20: ¹On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

Romans 6:4 -⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

TOPIC -Christ has Risen

SUB TOPIC -Step out of your tomb and live a New Life!

A TOMB EXPERIENCE IN LIFE CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A TIME OF LIFE WHEN WE FEEL ENCLOSED AND ENTRAPPED BY THE STORMS OF LIFE.  OVERWHELMED AND UPSET BY THE STONE THAT ENTRAPS US TO OUR SORROW.  The Tomb is a place of sorrow.  The unsaved are held by the power of the tomb daily, and the saved can place themselves in the tomb of despair by not trusting God and allowing sin to overtake them.

ST. JOHN 20: ¹On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

    The stone was not rolled away from the entrance to the tomb so Jesus could get out.  He could have left easily without moving the stone.  It was rolled away so others could get in and see that Jesus was gone.  Pastor’s observation, “He got out so that we could Get in …touch with God…the realm of blessings…to the mountain of glory….in the cleansing bathtub…..”

St. John 20:1-2 ¹On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ²She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him."  Pastor’s observation – Mary thought that Man had something to do with his resurrection.  Men were used as tools of death but not tools of life.  Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People who hear about the resurrection for the first time may need much time before they can comprehend this amazing Miracle of God!  The Four Stages of Unbelief

1.      At first, many think that the Resurrection of Christ is a fable, interesting, but not real.

a.      St. John 20:2 – We don’t know where they have put him.

2.      Like Peter, they may check out the facts and still be confused about what happened. St. John 20:6 - When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth.

3.      Only when they encounter Jesus personally are they able to accept the fact of the resurrection.

a.      St. John 20: ¹⁶Jesus said unto her, "Mary!" She turned herself and said unto Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, "Master").

4.    As they commit themselves to the risen Lord and devote their lives to serving him, they begin to understand fully the reality of his resurrection presence with them.  St. John 20: 26-²⁶And after eight days the disciples were again within, and Thomas was with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be unto you."  We all must experience a personal relationship with the Lord at some time in our lives.  ROMANS 10:17 FAITH COME BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

·        Perhaps we will meet him in the Valley of suffering, at our lowest point, confusion, heartaches or despair and DEEP loss- As Job’s Faith was tried in the VALLEY, Job Chapter 1-(HE LOST HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS, HE LOST HIS SHEEP AND OXEN-HIS JOB, HE LOST HIS SERVENTS-WORKERS OR HELPS, AND HE LOST HIS HEALTH)….

^{JOB 3:25} What I feared has come upon me;
       what I dreaded has happened to me.

 ²⁶ I have no peace, no quietness;
       I have no rest, but only turmoil."

·         JOB 1:22 – IN ALL OF THIS JOB SINNED NOT, NOR ACCUSED GOD FOOLISHLY. HE TREMBLED IN HIS TOMB SITUATION BUT REFUSED TO FORSAKE HIS GOD REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION.

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·         ^{EXODUS 24:12} – 20  The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." ¹³ Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. ¹⁴ He said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them."  ¹⁵ When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, ¹⁶ and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. ¹⁷ To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights

IT IS WHEN WE CAN TRUST THE RISEN SAVIOUR AT ALL TIMES WHETHER GOOD OR BAD IS WHEN WE WILL EXPERIENCE GOD ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN OF HIS GLORY AND THROUGH FAITH WE CAN STEP OUT OF OUR TOMB EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE THE LIFE THAT HE HAS ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE.

THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WE CAN HAVE UNENDING AND UNBENDING TRUST IN GOD DESPITE OUR TOMB SITUATION…

ROMANS 8:37-39 ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



I will do a New Thing

I will do a New Thing!

Isaiah 43: 18,19

Truly I believe that as there is a time and season for every purpose on earth. The time and season has arrived for this intelligent, gifted, powerful black man to step into the giant shoes as leader of the United States. The Black nation of people have been dehumanized, held back and oppressed for too many years. Many of children of color felt that it would never be possible to attain position as the President of the United States. Now we can encourage ALL children to believe that they can do ALL and EVERYTHING that the Lord God enables for them to do regardless of the color of their skin.

Isaiah 43: 18, 19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

As the Lord assured Israel in the scripture above that he would do A New Thing for them. This promise was meant for that particular time in biblical history BUT the same scripture can also apply for Today. We realize that Obama is where He is today because GOD has done a NEW THING for the nations of Mankind to Marvel upon. It now has sprung forth and our Lord is able to bring refreshing water for the people that dwell in the desert times of today. Let us Pray that the Lord will crown Senator BARACK with Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and Provide Divine Protection for him and his family!            

A Closed Door

A CLOSED DOOR

Have you ever gone to a store and found you had arrived too late? A closed and locked entry can be frustrating. Your plans have been denied and another alternative has to be selected. What if, another selection was not available? Genesis 7:16 describes the event just prior to the great flood. God shut Noah and his family in the Ark. Those 8 precious souls were all that God allowed to be saved from the worldwide flood. Have you ever wondered about those on the outside? Noah had prepared the Ark to save those who would obey God and repent of their wickedness (Gen 6:5, 11-12). Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). He proclaimed God's will to that generation during the Ark's preparation. What did the people near the Ark's preparation site think of the erection of the largest boat ever built until the 20th century? Did they think the gathering of animals to take on board the Ark was unusual? The evidence was present before their eyes that some great event was in the offing. Noah had warned of the impending doom. Yet, they delayed, disregarded, and disbelieved. The time came and the door was shut, Gen 7:16.

This was the closing of an age and the destruction of all life on the earth. Salvation was contained therein and only within the Ark. Did people try to gain entry? Did they appeal to Noah for entrance? What price would they have paid to be aboard? Where were the mockers and those who ridiculed the impossibility of the event now unfolding before their eyes? We can only imagine and speculate about their last moments. The door represents time. The door is slowly closing for each and all. In this time we have available we must seek God (Is 55:6). Psalm 88:10-12 describes the futility of the prayers and pleading of the dead. They had time to pray and prepare, but delayed, disregarded or disbelieved.

Written by Brother D. Campbell

Raising your Level of Expectancy

Raising your Level of Expectancy

Hebrews 11:1 – Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Note:  We cannot have HOPE without having Faith.  Hope is CONFIDENT EXPECTATION!  At Hope Haven we should grab hold of a confident expectation concerning our future.

Your Life will follow your Expectations  -Proverbs 23:7 - for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he   

    What you expect is more than likely  what you will get

    If you dwell on positive thoughts your life will follow in that direction

    If you choose to dwell on negative thoughts, you will live a negative life.

    If you expect defeat, failure or mediocrity, your subconscious mind will make sure that you lose, fail or sabotage every attempt to push above the average, and you will think of ways to elevate yourself by hurting or hindering others.

We must learn to change our thinking before we can ever change our living conditions.  Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

   

Program your mind for success

Each day you must choose to live with an attitude that expects good things to happen to you. Proverbs 18: 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

    When you arise in the morning you should set your mind in the right direction and speak positive things, such as, this is going to be a great day. The Lord is guiding and directing my steps.  His favor is surrounding me.  I am excited about today.  Start your day with faith and expectancy and then go out anticipating good things. Phil 4: 6 Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

    Refuse to allow negative words coming from the minds of negative people influence your day.  Don’t allow vipers to Poison your positive mindset.  Negative Words are Death to the Spirit---They don’t uplift, heal, help, nourish, inspire, cure, bring hope…they eat at the soul.

    If your expectations this year are the same as they were last year or ten years ago, then you may be trapped in a life rut – a life track or path of living with no positive expectations.  IT IS TIME TO GO FORWARD ………….

God usually meets us at our level of expectancy

o   Some people tend to expect the worst, and they have what their faith expects.  You don’t have to be a Pessimist – Worrywart with gloomy expectations….

o   Other people feel so overwhelmed by their troubles that they have difficulty believing that anything good could happen to them.

§  I have so many problems

§  My marriage is in trouble

§  My children won’t do right

§  I’m out of here

§  I feel depressed

§  I think I need some meds

§  If it don’t work I will just go somewhere else

§  My business isn’t going well

§  My health is going downhill

§  How can I live with enthusiasm? How do you expect me to get up and say this is going to be a good day when my life is so messy?

o   You have to start believing that good things are coming your way, and they will.

o   What are you expecting in life?  Are you anticipating good things or bad things?  Significant or mediocrity?  Are you expecting things to change in your favor?  Are you expecting to experience the goodness of God?  Or are you allowing your circumstances or feelings to dull your enthusiasm for life and imprison you in a negative frame of mind?

o   Break out of your self-imposed Prison – One of the common slogans among men and women who are serving long sentences in federal prison is, you’ve got nothin’ comin’.  It is a sad, hopeless statement, robbing the inmates of the little hope that they have left.

o   Many people on the outside of prison are living behind self-imposed bars, in prisons of their own making, and have adapted to the same type of thinking.

o   You can break out of that prison mentality.  The door is unlocked.  All you have to do is to start expecting good things in your life and start believing the Lord for a great future.  Tell yourself that YOU DO HAVE GOOD THINGS COMING!

Eyes of Faith

o  Start viewing life through your eyes of faith and start seeing yourself as happy, healthy and whole.

o  Even when your situation looks bleak, and when you feel like being discouraged or depressed, our must encourage yourself by praying, Lord, I know that you are in control and even though this looks impossible, I know today could be the day that things turn around.  Today could be the day –

o  You must make a conscious decision, an act of your will to maintain an attitude of expectancy and keep your mind filled with thoughts of hope.

o  Thought:  What if I do all of that and it doesn’t work.  What do you have to lose by keeping your hopes alive?

o  Your difficult situation will never improve as long as you stay in a negative frame of mind.

o  If you develop an attitude of faith and expect events to change positively, then at the right time, that situation will turn around. 

o  Good things don’t happen as quickly as we would like, but instead of slouching into negative expectations, we must keep our minds set on God with an attitude, Lord, I know that you are at work in my life.  Although my miracle did not occur today, but I believe that you are working on it.

o  Sometimes we need to stop focusing on all that we have lost-and be grateful for all that we have left!

Find somewhere where you can Pray and DREAM

o  Perhaps you need to change your environment.  Quit sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.  Quit worrying about how nothing is ever going to get better in your life.  Instead go find somewhere you can dream, it may be at church, it may be the park, or a walk by the lake.  Find someplace where your faith will be elevated.  Get into an atmosphere of victory, where people build you up rather than tear you down.  Find a place where people will encourage you and challenge you to be the best you can be.  Find a place where people inspire you to reach for new heights.

Raising your level of Expectancy

Work Sheet

Name: _______________________ Date: _____________

How do you normally start your day?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What thoughts do you dwell on the most?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do the following statements sound like you? 

o  It just isn’t fair

o  I’m not going to get anywhere

o  I think I’ll just quit

The Need for Peace

THE NEED FOR PEACE DURING TURBULENT TIMES

Romans 5:1 - ¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

PEACE WITH GOD

PEACE WITH GOD IS FOUNDATIONAL PEACE.  WE HAVE TO HAVE PEACE WITH GOD BEFORE WE CAN HAVE ANY OTHER KIND OF PEACE. 

^{JOHN 14:1}Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (Peace with God inspires HOPE)  ²In 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.  ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

COLOSSIAN 3:15 - ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

EMOTIONAL PEACE

THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED RULE HERE IS USED ONLY ONE TIME IN THE BIBLE, AND IT MEANS TO UMPIRE.  IN OTHER WORDS WE SHOULD LET THE PEACE OF GOD BE THE UMPIRE IN OUR LIVES.  AN UMPIRE KEEPS THE PEACE.  HE MAKES SURE THAT THE GAME IS PLAYED IN A SMOOTH AND ORDERLY MANNER.  THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE AN INTERNAL UMPIRE WHO WILL KEEP US AT PEACE EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND US SEEMS CHAOTIC.

ROMANS 12:18 ^-If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

RELATIONAL PEACE

Relational Peace is having peace with other people.  This type of peace reduces conflict.  RELATIONSHIPS can be a source of stress.  For most of us our biggest problems are people problems: getting along with the boss, the family, the relatives.  We must deal with conflict, competition, and criticism on a regular basis.  These things can rob of us peace.