24th August 2008 Lighthouse Celebration
I heared a story that may amuse you.
Two young brothers were always in trouble. At last their mother sent them to see the pastor to see if he could sort them out.
The first went in sat down and the pastor asked him “Where is God?” No answer, so he asked again. “Where is God?” Again, no answer. He asked again, “Where is God?”
At this the boy ran out and found his brother. “We are in big trouble now,” he said, “they’ve lost God and they are blaming us.”
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
God is a big God. When he blesses he blesses us with every spiritual blessing.
We don’t need to limit Him with “small god” thinking – which says, “My problems are bigger”
Ephesians 2:7 (Amplified Bible) He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favour) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
His promises are for total fulfilment, limitless, grace, that can’t be measured.
He is far more able to bless us than we can even dream.
the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace.
It is
Superabundantly, far over and above all we can ask imagine
Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us
This is a “now” promise. When we are in heaven - we won’t be asking – we won’t need his power working in us there. His promise is for the full measure of blessing now.
Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified Bible) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—
What he can do is beyond or dreams.
He is able to perfect, complete – bring to fullness what he desires in us.
Our part is not to give up believing. We are to hope; that is the have a confident expectation in Him. Trust in Him.
The time is now when he will act on our behalf.
We might be ready to give up – we are tempted, but that is the time when the breakthrough is near. The devil knows it. We need to know that the devil comes to steal kill and destroy our dreams because then we give up on believing God.
I preached on expectation. That is the positive hope that is required for faith, which is the substance of things hoped for.
Today I want to go further – To say that he can do more than we can hope for – more than we expect. He is the God of surprises.
We can have faith in his promises; Promises in the written word, the logos. We can have faith in what he has said to us, the rhema word, the revelation, what we hear him saying
to us.
There is more. We can have faith in Him.
Have faith in God
In trusting him we can stand in the place were we know that God will supply all our needs. He will surprise us. We don’t know how he will bless us, we don’t know when he will bless us. We don’t know when the answer to prayer will come or how it will come. He can do more than we can ask or imagine, think or dream.
But, you say:
“He doesn’t do it for me. I have been praying but -----“
But he is the God that can do whatever. He can do it for you. He can do more than you can think possible. He is the God of the impossible so the improbable is easy for God.
David was about to be stoned by his followers when they had lost everything to a raiding band. He strengthened himself in the Lord his God – a week later he was crowned king. The impossible situation was turned around by God.
On the other hand there are situations that you are responsible for – things you do that cause problems – attitudes, actions, habits, and ways of thinking that are not helpful. God can show you that these need to change and he can help you change. Some of these things are the ones you say, “That’s the way I am, I could never change.” BUT God is the God who can do the impossible. Can you allow him to?
Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
‘Overtake’ here has the meaning of something coming upon you that you did not expect – a surprise.
So we can expect more than an expectation – (positive hope for something) – that is when our expectation is expecting God.
The condition here is to obey.
Jesus taught us in words and example to obey. These are his commandments: to love God, love each other and to love those he died to save – the whole world!
Let’s stand in the place of surprises, let’s stand in the place of blessing. Let God’s love in so that we can love with the gift of his love in us.
The place of blessing belongs to us. When we were born again we accepted that Jesus died for us and took upon himself all the curses that there are in this world for us to be free from them – he gave us the blessing in exchange. So we have the blessing. We are expected to live in the blessing – to know and experience the blessed life. The thing is we don’t all know it or accept it so we don’t get the blessings that our the bye-product of THE BLESSING. We need to know it, to have faith that it is so, to live in it. If you don’t know it you don’t expect it, you don’t trust in the fact.
Let’s expect the unexpected from the God of surprises.
When there are problems in life – there always are and always will be until we get to heaven. There is also the temptation to doubt. We confess the impossibility of anything different. We don’t believe God can make a difference. That is a bigger problem than the problem because the answer is for those who believe and we miss the blessing. It is not out there were we can see it. It is sneaking up ready to overtake us.
Here is a story I heard.
This man was due to have an operation to remove a life threatening tumour. At the last minute on the day of the operation he was ent home because the surgeon was not available for some special reason. Two weeks later he is back in hospital having tests for the operation to take place later that day. He is ready but the time for the operation comes and goes. Three hours later the surgeon comes to tell him that they will not operate. Another delay? The surgeon explains that they have been studying his test and scan results; they had called in other doctors for consultation too. He explains that although the tumour was there in the scans from two weeks ago, today they can’t see any evidence of it and as far as they can tell he is perfectly well. Wasn’t he glad that the operation was delayed? God is a God of surprises.
Some of you are waiting for relatives to be saved. Others will say “that’s impossible” It isn’t
When I got saved some said “I never thought Tony would get religion” I am glad that there were others who prayed believing in the impossible. Well I didn’t get religion, I got Jesus.
If you are sick and there are those who doubt that you can ever be well. Don’t get into agreement with them. Trust God and get into agreement with him.
Let’s get into the place where we know that we are blessed!
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
We have the blessing of god almighty through Christ Jesus. Let’s trust God – expecting him to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Let’s trust him when things go wrong – he can do the impossible –like he did for the man who had the tumour.
I heard of a girl who had a flat tyre on the way home from church – a dark and wet night. Some problem! But God is a God of surprises. Some one stopped to help her. They got married within the year. He can turn problems into stepping stones.
Stand in faith trusting God.
We stand in the blessing.
He has not left us helpless as he has sent his holy spirit to be our helper.
He lives inside us to bring us to remberance of being blessed by God.
Our sin has been taken away.
We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
We are the healed and whole ones.
We are delivered and set free.
We are called to prosper in all things and to be in health even as our souls prosper.
This is the word of God for you. Do you receive it today? Be blessed in the receiving and in living out of it.
Antony Cornell Page 5 25/08/2008
