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May 30, 2021

Even if not, we win!

Even if not, we win!

Speaker: Dennis Gallaher

Category: Sunday Morning

Let's be a mature Church and say "either way - we win"!

The unprecedented happenings in this world this past year are increasing to unchartered territories. There is extreme famine, starvation, disease, recession, and more. As the world changes to accept the language of sin and morality, God will not be mocked. The foundation of our freedoms is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So the maturing of the church is needed today and it calls us to boldly declare Jesus Christ. Most moves of God are preceded by an upheaval of evil: Noah, Moses and the Red Sea, The 10 Tribes of Israel's destruction (read about it in Isaiah 36-37, 2 Chronicles 32, 2 Kings 18-19), Hezekiah, Esther, the Maccabees, Joseph and Mary and more. The devil rises up to keep the people of God down. Many in our church have a testimony of disaster that led to deliverance and blessing. Now is the time for the church to solidify our faith by simple obedience to His Word. It is time for faith to grow up not just simply grow. It is time for the next generation to accept the call of discipleship and stop the victimization lifestyle. 

In the book of Daniel, three enslaved young men were warriors of God. They said "no" to worshiping and bowing down to a statue. Daniel 3:15 Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?

These boys refused to worship this statue but said, Our God can deliver us and He will but even if He does not...either way - we win. Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 

What do we do when all fails, when we lose a house, when there is no money? It takes walking through some fire or difficulties, and getting to that place where we say "either way." God didn't bring us this far to leave us or for us to stay the same.

Here are three challenges for us today:

  • Don't be a victim any more. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Stop sinning and stop making excuses. Look to the great cloud of witnesses that say, we win! The disciplines of life are tough but they yield the fruit of righteousness. 
  • Be a unity builder! John 17:20-21 I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. Real evangelism happens when the church comes together and are unity builders. 
  • Develop the conviction to pray! Stop making excuses. Teach your children to pray. 

Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

The three boys could be seen in the fire plus another one. They were all perfectly protected and delivered. The King finally says, "Blessed be the God of Shadrack, Mesahk, and Abednego." They violated the King's demand, went against the culture, yielded up their bodies, were thrown into a fiery furnace. What are we yielding up? an offering? what we have? our bodies? 

There are two lies that keep believers from a fiery furnace lifestyle. These will keep us spiritually asleep, immature, and lukewarm.

  • Lie #1: Self-condemnation is believes that we are not good enough. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Self-condemnation is rooted in the unwillingness to believe that God is who He says He is. God loves us! And we can't do anything about that - either accept or reject. He choose us! 
  • Lie #2: Self-sufficiency is believing that God is not good enough - doing all without God. 

The first lie allows us to stay stuck in life. The second lie breeds self-deception and love of this world. Both will keep the body of Christ immature, ineffective, and divided. The years ahead will have challenges but no matter what - "we win"! Now is the time for a fiery furnace lifestyle!

Does self-condemnation keep you from receiving God's grace? Step out and touch His garment today.

Does self-sufficiency keep you from God's great strength and His greater grace? 

Where can you apply "We Win" to a situation in your life?