April 19, 2020

Don't Waste It!

Don't waste it!

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Joshua 1:1-5 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.

Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. Some have used the current “global crisis” as an opportunity to further their agenda. Don’t worry, I’m not going to talk about politics or politicians. I will refrain from giving voice to my frustration over elected government officials using the “stimulus package” to give themselves raises while hard working Americans suffer because of the economy that said elected officials have tanked through fear and panic. I will not talk about churches being shut down in certain areas while abortion clinics are deemed essential and “life sustaining”. I will not go into how we as American citizens have so easily given up our freedoms one by one for some sense of security in the midst of crisis! No, today I want to focus on how we as believers can use this opportunity to grow.

I want to share some things God has been showing me about crisis and how not to waste it.

Don’t GO through this, GROW through this!

A crisis not grown in is wasted.

Crisis; a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. A time when a difficult or important decision must be made.

A crisis, by definition, is difficult. It involves pain. Pain is an indicator that something is off. (physical pain indicates something is wrong in the body.)

Crisis is a great revealer and clarifier.

He will use it to reveal things in your heart you didn't know were there. Attitudes, thought processes, bitterness, wounds, etc…

Whenever God reveals something in us that is not where it needs t be, He’s never doing it to condemn us but to grow us.

Crisis inevitably brings change. Normal will be different once you have gone through a crisis.

There are 3 things I want to show you about crisis. 2 are certain and unavoidable. The other is optional.

Crisis will bring change and it will bring pain, but growth is optional.

Crisis brings change.

Growing through a crisis without change is like a woman who wants to have a baby, but doesn't want the pain or change to her body that come with it. It doesn't work that way.

All growth demands change.

Crisis does not change purpose! Sometimes it activates our assignment and pushes us into our purpose.

Sometimes crisis will precede promotion!

As long as Moses was alive, they could not enter the promised land. They were unable to advance until they were willing to embrace change that was brought about my a crisis.

We will see change out of this crisis. Some good and some not so good. There will be new opportunities and way to minister to people.

Crisis brings pain.

Joshua lost his mentor. There was undoubtably pain. He had not had any time to grieve or process the situation.

The people lost their leader of 40 years! The one who lead them out of bondage.

It was sudden. It was unexpected. It was chaotic. I was a crisis situation.

Chinese word for crisis: Two pictures, one denoting Danger and the other Opportunity. Every crises has two things in it: Danger and opportunity.

Never allow your emotions to cause you to miss opportunity. Every crisis is an opportunity for growth.

Perspective will determine your response. Your response will determine your growth.

When I see the crisis I’m facing as an opportunity to grow spiritually, it will make the pain I’m dealing with worth it.

You will only grow to the threshold of your pain. Right perspective increases your pain threshold.

In crisis, change and pain are unavoidable. Growth is optional.

You are the only one who can decide if you GO through crisis or GROW through crisis.

Without hesitation I can say for certain that I have learned more about myself and grown closer to The Lord in times of pain.

Principals for GROWING (not just going) through Crisis.

Seek His presence in midst of the Crisis.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;

Earnestly look for Him!

The crisis doesn't change our purpose. We are called to be people of His Presence!

Our intimacy level with God. V1

First time we see that God spoke directly to Joshua is in crisis!

He has been in His presence, but now He was taking him to a new level.

We must pursue a deeper walk with Jesus!

God did not cause the crisis, but He will NEVER WASTE IT!

Ask God for wisdom.

James 1:2-8 TPT 2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. 5 And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. 6 Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. 7–8 When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?

To grow through crisis your thinking must change.

To do what you’ve never done you have to think like you've never thought.

You can’t take old mindsets into new seasons.

Old minds can not receive/perceive new blessings.

Thank God and operate in the wisdom He has already given you!

Don't ask why, Ask what.

Ask God what He wants you to learn from this crisis.

Every situation is an opportunity to grow.

You will get bitter or better and which you become is dependent upon your reaction.

You will be a victim or victorious, but you can’t be both.

Give thanks and look to the promises.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 17 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 do not quench the Spirit.

Not for, IN.

You have to become a promise person. A promise person doesn't focus on the change around us they focus on the promises of God that never change.

Joshua 1:3-5 NLT [3] I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you- [4] from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.' [5] No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Five promises God gives us for motivation to Embrace change: God says, "I promise”

Provision (inheritance)

Purpose

Protection

Presence

Persistence (faithfulness) Peace

Every crisis is an opportunity to proclaim the Truth by faith!

Look to His Word!

Joshua 1:8 NLT [8] Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Successful change and subsequent possession of the promise is absolutely dependent upon your revelation of the word of God. Not your knowledge, but your revelation.

Knowledge is something that you have heard, or may even remember, but revelation is something you have put into action in your life. The fruit of Revelation is manifest by your choices, actions, and reactions.

Meditate: The Hebrew word the notes and active reciting or re-speaking of God's word. It means too mutter, to recite over and over again.

Faith comes by hearing. The more you speak it, the more you hear it, the more you believe it.

This is a continual studying, growing in the word of God.

Only through continual growth in the word of God will you prosper and succeed.

Trust God no matter what!

The enemy is after your faith!

Every crisis is an opportunity to grow your faith or to give up your faith.

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By Ignite Church Rogers

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