MATTHEW 28:1-20

Looking for help in dead places
Who do you look to for answers?
Are searches for answers leading you to dead places?


As we turn our attention to find answers to everyday questions we are usually coming up against dead or dieing answers. Our Government does not posses the right answers. Many were overjoyed and filled with hope of the possible of the first black president that seem to posses what it takes to heal a political divide. Only to see that hope scared with rhetoric from and outsider. Our school system has lost its moral clarity; we depend on the school system to teach our children what is right and wrong instead they declare blindly that there are no moral absolutes. Even the financial institutions have failed us. We have witness one of Wall Street oldest financial institutions brought to its knees this past week. A company valued $170 per share in 2007 to a mare $2 a share. These places that should be providing answers are dead or dieing. Where do I go to find living, relevant answers to my questions? Where do I go to find answers to my search that will survive the elements that dashes our hope? I submit to you today that Jesus is this answer.

He was betrayed, denied and arrested. He was accused and critized. He was left alone with the weight of this world on his shoulders. Those that planned his execution was determined to secure every possibly to see him dead. Pilot washed his hands in a public display of superficial innocence. While the high Priest encourage the crowd to shout for his head. The hang in the atmosphere like a dagger to the heart, “Crucify Him, Crucify him. Heaven more with compassion as the father turns his back. He hangs there, blood dripping from his brow. His ears, like a door being held open with every gush of wind, hearing every insult that was uttered. However, he found time to provide a living answer to the theft on the cross, today you will be with me in paradise. He died and all hell breaks out in festivity thinking that it was over. The moral of the story is this, he conqured death so that we can have life. Thank God he is alive.

Thank God for Sunday morning. The Bible says Matt. 28:1 in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. He is no longer in the grave come see where he laid.

1Cor. 15:3 ¶ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1Cor. 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1Cor. 15:5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
1Cor. 15:6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1Cor. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

The central theme of the Christian religion is the absolute fact that Jesus is alive. It is on this fact that our faith is built. I have hope for the future; my life is lived with daily revernce to God and hope of the eminent return of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is unique. All other religions have great teachers, moral code of conduct, rites and rituals but non-has the claim of God become man to pay the penalty for the error of his followers. Even more important even those who do not yet believe have a chance to inherit eternal life. This resurrection Sunday is a day of remembrance and celebration. For Christ is no longer in the grave. According to the scriptures he is at the right hand of God the father.

Jesus prophcied this:
Matt. 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Luke 22:69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

The Apostles wrote under inspiration:
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Rom. 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Col. 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Heb. 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb. 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb. 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1Pet. 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Rev. 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev. 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

The relevance of Easter is that Jesus has conquered all dead situations in order to bring life to those who are seeking for it.
John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James had a problem. They were looking for Jesus in the wrong place. The giver of life does not live among the dead. So many of us are faced with insurmountable problems and we go about our day trying to give off the idea that we have it under control. However, we are heading to the place of the dead to find living answers. We are concern about how and who will helps us tackle our problems all the time forgetting that Jesus said that he was the resurrection and the life. STOP LOOKING ON OTHERS FOR THE ANSWER, LOOK TO JESUS. Let us look to Jesus he is the answer to our problems. You can come clean to Jesus and tell him; Lord I cannot make it I need your help. I cannot hold it together any longer. I need to see life and movement in my situation. I am going to do what I have to but I am concern that I cannot more the stones in my way. I do not have anyone to help me. STOP LOOKING ON OTHERS FOR THE ANSWER, LOOK TO JESUS

Mark 16:1 ¶ Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Mark 16:2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.
Mark 16:3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

Can you just stop helping yourself long enough to see that the stone is rolled away? Look and see that the answer you are pursuing is right in front of you. Because he is risen it shows that he;
I. Jesus Kept his promises
II. It ensures that the ruler of God’s eternal kingdom is the living savor
III. It gives that assurance that we will be resurrected.
IV. Christ ability to bring our morally and spiritually dead self back to life
V. It is the substance of the church’s witness

Myths about the resurrection:
JESUS WAS NOT UNCONSCIOUS AND LATER REVIVED: A Roman solider told Pilot that Jesus was dead – Mark 15:44-45, Romans did not break Jesus’ leg but pierced his side with a spear – John 19:32-34, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped his body and placed it in the tomb- John 19:38-40
THE WOMEN WENT TO THE WRONG GRAVE & UNKNOWN THEIVES STOLE THE BODY: Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Joseph saw Jesus placed in the tomb – Matt 27:59-61, Mark 15:47, Luke 23:55, Peter and John also went to the tomb – John 20:3-9
THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY: the tomb was sealed and guarder by Roman soldiers – Mat. 27: 65-66, the disciples were ready to die for there faith –Acts 12:2
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS STOLE HIS BODY; They would have produced it to stop the rumors.


Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Thank God for the cross. It is in the Christ who died on the cross that I can find my answers.


In Luke 24:13 we find two believers heading home after witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus. They had high hope for the future but now all was lost. They could not conceal their disappointment.


Luke 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

This time around things will be better. A teacher was leading them into new horizon. There hope was lifted. Moreover, just like that it was gone. Here we find them recounting the story on their way home.

Luke 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days?
Luke 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luke 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luke 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luke 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

What Do I do when my hope is shattered? What do I do when my hope is dead? Sometimes we talk to ourselves and we cry to yourself. Everything seems dead and the cry of defeat is all we know. Might as well just give up. DO NOT GIVE IN TO WHAT YOU CAN SEE NOW. I know that your vision will be clearer when Jesus shows up.

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luke 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

I plead with you today, open your heart to Jesus. He is pasting your way today. The song says he is just a prayer away. When Jesus comes things will be better. My eyes will be open, I will see clearer.

Luke 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luke 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luke 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

You might have lost confidence in the institution of church. Those whom you rely on might have let you down abuse your trust. They might have caused you to hang your head in shame. Let me introduce you to Jesus today. He will give you a new look on life.



Dead situation might have you lock ed up. We are so locked in that no one can help us. We have turn friends away, relationships cannot materialize. JESUS HAS THE KEY TO YOUR DEAD SITUATIONS. We are afraid to let anyone into our lives. Fear is holding us hostage. Thank God the risen savor can cross any barrer. Nothing is impossible with the risen Lord. He comes to speak peace to our fear.

Luke 24:36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
Luke 24:37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
Luke 24:38 ¶ “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?
Luke 24:39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”
Luke 24:40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Jesus comes to ease your doubts that fill your heart. Why don’t you look to Jesus he is the way to God.

John 14:6 ¶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Jesus can set you free from whatever is binding you. He will speak peace in your life. Because he lives I can face tomorrow. Because he lives all fears are gone. Because I know who holds the future he holds my hands.



Takeaways:

1. STOP LOOKING ON OTHERS FOR THE ANSWER, LOOK TO JESUS.
2. DO NOT GIVE IN TO WHAT YOU CAN SEE NOW
3. JESUS HAS THE KEY TO YOUR DEAD SITUATIONS.

JOHN 14:2-21

Have you ever been given a promise? Like a child waiting for Christmas you hang on to the future value of those words. Sometimes there is a distance between the promise and the fulfillment. You will look back at the written or verbal reminders of the promise. As a pastor I go to the scriptures to find reminders that gives me hope that God will come through with his promise. It is this evidence that keeps me hoping. Therefore God having giving a promised to us of a future in heaven even though the time of fulfillment is per-longed He left us reminders. Like the rainbow, the scripture points to Gods’ promise.
John 14:25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.
John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
John 16:1 ¶ “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.

Matt. 26:29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
John 5:43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them.
John 10:25 ¶ Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.
John 14:2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Thank God for the hope we have in His words. When our world has been turned upside down, the promise of deliverance is delayed, and the level of uncertainty has just been raise another level or two I can take comfort in Jesus’ words.

John 14:1 ¶ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

prom·ise verb
1. to assure somebody that something will certainly happen or be done
2. to pledge to somebody to provide or do something
3. to cause somebody to expect something
4. to assure or warn somebody that something is true or inevitable
5. to engage somebody to be married (dated)

noun
1. an assurance that something will be done or not done
2. an indication that somebody or something will turn out well or successfully



REMEMBER THIS, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE GOD AT HIS WORDS. The OT reminds of this covenant keeping God. The rainbow is a reminder of the faithfulness of God. He will keep his promises. We can always take God’s promises at face value.

Gen. 9:11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Gen. 9:12 ¶ And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:
Gen. 9:13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Matt. 24:35 Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.

In chapter 13 Jesus has just told his disciples that He would be betrayed by someone among them, denied by Peter and that He will die soon. This series of bad news, according to the disciples, left them broken and disappointed. Therefore, Jesus had to display the rainbow. In chapter 14:1 He reassures them of how faithful God is and they can rely on Him as they relied on God.

THE ULTIMATE PROMISE IS THAT OF ETERNAL LIFE. That is the promise that Jesus was reminding his disciples and us about. One day we will go to heaven. The redeemer, Jesus Christ was going to usher in the era of the Kingdom of God and will end with the Grand finale escorting believers home to heaven. What a Promise!

John 14:2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
John 14:3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

So we should keep everything in prospective, stay focus. Your trials and testing is only for a season.

Eternal life is sure. Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is the way the truth and the life.

1Pet. 1:7 These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1Pet. 4:12 ¶ Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

JESUS PROMISES THAT HE WILL RETURN ONE DAY TO TAKE US HOME. I am holding unto that promise. Verse 3 state definitively “I will come back!”

1Th. 4:13 ¶ Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
1Th. 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1Th. 4:15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1Th. 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th. 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1Th. 4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1. Second return
2. Mansion
3. Eternal Life


GOD PROMISES:
1. If people will pray
2. Before you call I will answer
3. No harm shall come near us
4. Even when we walk in the valley of the show of death
5. He will give his angels charges
6. Two or three ask
7. Come back for the redeemed
8. Mansion
9. Eternal Life
10. Never leave us: Is. 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
11. He will give us power
12. Whatsoever we bind on earth
13. He will wipe all tears from our eyes
14. Seek him first
15. We shall rule with him
16. We are more than conquers
17. We are friends of Christ: John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
18. God loves us with an everlasting love: Jer. 31:3 ¶ The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
19. Nothing can separate us from his love: Rom. 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, Rom. 8:39 neither 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.
20. He hears our prayers: 1John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1John 5:15 And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.

Look up at the rainbow it is our evidence that God keeps his promises. Remember that…
1. REMEMBER THIS, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE GOD AT HIS WORDS.
2. THE ULTIMATE PROMISE IS THAT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
3. JESUS PROMISES THAT HE WILL RETURN ONE DAY TO TAKE US HOME

Acts 20:10 (1-20)

WHAT NEXT?
HOW DO I DECERN GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE?
WHY AM I HERE?
HOW DO I DETERMINE THE PURPOSE THAT GOD HAS FOR ME?
WHAT IS GOD’S PERFECT WILL AND HOW DO I FIND IT?

Here are several questions that often times rest on our minds. Let me help you through this process in the following presentation.

Note that we are all created for a purpose.

Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Do you know why God has place you here at this time? All of our lifes experiences have position us to possess. So now what next? What is it that I am expected to do? Sometimes, like me, you interceed in prayer to decern God’s perfect will for your life. Sometimes you struggle to find what God’s will is, His direction for your life. Like me you just don’t want to do as your hearts desires. You want God’s Perfect will for your life. You might be strugling to understand God’s will for your life, let me assure you that if you are geniune about your search you will find it. Today we will examine some biblical characters to draw from them examples that will serve as helpful aid in our search.

Like Samson many of us have been given specific instructions as to what God wants us to do. In Judges 13-16 we have the chronicles of Samson’s life. He was choosen, set apart, given instruction, fill will the Spirit but he chose to follow his eyes desire. In the end he was humilated and died in prisoned by his decission. For Samson, what God expects was clearly stated by his parents but HE DECIDED TO PURPUSE HIS OWN DESIRES IRREGARDLESS OF GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.

The choises we make must be God centered not just what I want but what God wants.

Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Lot was given the choise between what looks good vs depending on the Lord to lead even through what does not look good.

Compare Lot’s method of choice vs Abraham’s choice:
Lot wanted what seemed pleasant so he move close to Sadom the last time we saw him he was been led out of the city by an angel
Abraham prayer to God Genesis 13:5-18

Gen. 13:5 ¶ Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents.
Gen. 13:6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together.
Gen. 13:7 So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
Gen. 13:8 ¶ Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!
Gen. 13:9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
Gen. 13:10 ¶ Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Gen. 13:11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.
Gen. 13:12 So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.
Gen. 13:13 But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD.
Gen. 13:14 ¶ After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.
Gen. 13:15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.
Gen. 13:16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!
Gen. 13:17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”
Gen. 13:18 ¶ So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD.

Sometimes God has to take some people out of your life for His perfect will to be accomplished.
So we can see that God’s will or what He expects us to do is not determined by what we see, what looks pleasant to the eyes nor what feels good. It is driven by that desire to truly fulfill God’s will in our life.

SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT BE DISTRACTED OR DETERIED FROM FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL OR FULFILLING HIS EXPECTATIONS but He will always speak to your heart. He does this indirectly or directly. In the end it is up to you to answer with sincere question what do you expect from me? What do you want me to do?

Peter went fishing and Jesus met him and spoke to him. Peter listened and the next time we see him he was fishing for souls. John 21

What is expected is personal decission, it is not about the other person but it is about you. What does God expects from you?

John 21:20 ¶ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
John 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
John 21:22 ¶ Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Paul was and ambious man doing what he thought was right. He was whole heartly following his desires but God spoke to him.
In Acts 22:10 ¶ “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’


There has to be a time in your life when it is not all about you, WHEN YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE UNTIL YOU FULFILL GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE. A point when you just have to walk across the room to that person and beging to invest in that soul.

In Nehemiah 1 we see his concern for the things of God, in chapter 2 he was move into action.
Neh. 1:5 Then I said: ¶ “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
Neh. 1:6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
Neh. 1:7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Neh. 1:8 ¶ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
Neh. 1:9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Neh. 1:10 ¶ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.
Neh. 1:11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” ¶ I was cupbearer to the king.

He became great because he put God, the things of God and the people of God first in His life to the point of putting his life at risk

Moses in Exodus 2 : 11 was moved into action and chose to associate with his people than the pleasures of Egypt.

In all of the examples listed today there are three things that stands out:



Don’t be like Samson & Lot and allowed the pleasure of life to lead outside of God’s will
Even if like Peter & Paul you are honestly pursing your own desires Jesus can meet and redirect your life
Moses & Nehiemiah was moved by the desire to see God’s purpose fuilled so God wants you to be moved into action

‘In conclusion as a christian, one of the most dramatic changes in your life will be the way you spend your time. Your pursuits and ambitions in life will be different. After all, you are no longer living for your self but for God. It may be a diffcult transition at first, but here are a few pointers we can glean from God’s words.” - New Beliver’s Bible”

1. Place Christ before all else – Phil. 3:4-11
2. Balance Christian service with worship – Luke 10:38-42
3. Don’t waste time oursuing things that wont last – Psalm 39:1-7
4. Spend time feeding your soul – Isaiah 55:1-13
5. Keep your Spiritual zeal alive – Romans 12:11
6. Unconditionally surrender your life to Him – Romans 12:1-2
7. Realize that God has a plan for your life – Jer. 29:11
8. Act upon what God has already revealed in scripture – 1Thes. 4:1-8
9. Trust God completely – Prov. 3:4-8
10. Listen for God’s voice – 1Kings 19:11-13


FUNDAMENTALS
If you purse God’s businesss He will always take care of yours.
Personal relationship with God First
Developing a God centered family life
Serve faithfully in the Church

ARE YOU WHERE GOD EXPECT YOU TO BE?

Lifes experiences causes us to be in unique positions. The state of being is designated for a particular achievement because have a perfect plan. The proper alignment is necessary in order to be able to achieve or realized any plan. A car that is not properly aligned will take you off course. In the physical there are various examples demonstrate the need for being where you are suppose be in order to perfectly accumplish the plan. Like a runner anticipates the crossing the finish line, like a climber reaching the summit, like a father walking his daughter down the isle, you are required to be at the right place for the right thing to happen. As the popular song writer Marvin Sapp state in his song

“Never would have made it, never could have made it without you, I would have lost it all but now I see how you were there for, I can say, I am stronger, I am wiser, I am better, Much better, When I look back over all you brough me through, I can see you were the one I held onto”

As the theme states I am in the right position, the church is in the right position to possse. Are you in the right position? ARE YOU WHERE GOD EXPECT YOU TO BE? Are you at the place where you can request of God to fulfill His promise, the place where you can say God you said that if I … and I have ……. So I am ready to possess to take control of all that you have promised. I wrote this song stateing that if it has not been for God I donot know where I would be today. As you read this article you can attest to the same fact.

“If it hadn’t been God on my side tell me what would I do, If it hadn’t been God on my side tell me whre would I be, You have seen me through many things, That’s why your praises I sing, If it hadn’t been God on my side tell me what would I do”

Here are some quick take aways:
1. IN GODS’ PLAN THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS, THERE IS ALWAYS A PLAN. JER. 29:11, JER 1:1-10 & IS. 61:1
Key:
Don’t be distracted from the plan, the busyness of life all the noise around you can distract you. Doing the right thing at the wrong time is wrong. Know the plan for yourself, this is a personal road. Don’t be trick by the fancy lure of the world and what might look right it must be right therefor it has to lineup with God’s promises.
2. GOD WANTS YOU TO BE AT A PARTICULAR PLACE.
Key:
The right eqalibrium must be in place for things to begin to happen. Hard experiences does not give you the right to not be where God expects to find you. It does not gives you the right to alter the plan To do what you want and then try to justify your actions
3. THE PROCESS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOMETIMES IS NOT EASY TO BEAR. Is. 61:1 -4
Key:
This process brings with it physical death, pain, lost of friends, being broke at times, disappointment, tears
God wants you to depend on him totally even when things are bad. I might not be successful as my peers
Like Caleb I was promised equal share but everyone is being assigned their alottment and it seem that I am forgotten. Like David we have to serve in the same court that you are to rule in as king, protect your life No God’s eyes are still on you. Think about Joseph’s hard life experiences, it got him to the perfect place the place where God wanted them to be. As the runner has to be on the track in order to compete, the Giants football players have to be on the field (they flew to Phonix) the climber cannot be in his bed, soccer player cannot be in the stands. YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE GAME TO COMPETE.
4. YOUR ABILITY TO POSSESS WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED REQUIRES YOU TO BE PROPERLY POSITIONED. JOHN 21:1-17
Key:
I am Ready God! I Am Where You want me to Be! I am Ready, use me for your glory. Peter deviated riding the ryhthem of life without any success, understand whatyou are doing might look like success unless you follow Jesus’ commannd, his plan you will toil without any success. The next time we see Peter he was doing what God wanted him to do, not fisher of fishes but of men and was he successful. No amount of excuses will suffice, it will not satisfy or validate you unfaithfullnessI close with this question. ARE YOU WHERE GOD EXPECT YOU TO BE? Many start and did not finish, many started well but stopped, got distracted, lost insterest, forfitted but the question today to you is… ARE YOU WHERE GOD EXPECT YOU TO BE?