Elevation Point Church

As we begin a new year, we generally feel hopeful. Hopeful that we’ll accomplish more, see more, feel God move more. However, as we enter a new year, we also face many of the same battles, the same fears and worries. A new year gives a fresh start, but it doesn’t completely erase everything that’s been holding us back or causing worry to inundate our hearts. The reality is that on the surface there are reasons to worry, but the greater truth is that Jesus knows all things and still instructed us not to worry. When we worry, we waste our time and energy on things that may or may not even happen. And if they were to happen, Jesus still has the answer as long as we seek Him first.

We live in a headline society. Many times, we pass along articles without even reading them, all based on the headline. When Mary and Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, it was a scandalous headline. Based on the headline, it wasn’t good news. The same is true for many of us — based on the headlines of our lives, it’s not good news. However, as we know — there was more to the story for Mary and Joseph than the headlines would’ve suggested; and the same is true for us.

God always gives His children instructions of how to handle whatever it is they face. Whether it’s through His Word, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, or through another follower of Jesus — He leads us. The problem, however, is that sometimes…those instructions don’t make sense. And yet, it’s generally the instructions that make the least sense to our natural minds that bring about the most miraculous of moments. In this message, we’re learning how to react when instructions don’t make sense.

Everyone wants to see miracles take place in their lives, but not everyone is willing to do what’s required to see them. Jesus gives instructions, and we obey. As we obey, we see the fulfillment of what He has said. And then once He brings about all He promised, our responsibility doesn’t stop there. The Leper in Luke 17 that returned to praise Jesus and thank Him was the one who Jesus said was made well. The amazing thing about Jesus is that He doesn’t just stop with healing the outward problems — in Him, the closer we get, the more we’re able to see and experience.

Miracles and blessings are wonderful, and we should celebrate when they take place in our lives. However, they should not be our primary pursuit. Whenever a miracle from the Lord becomes our pursuit, rather than the presence of the Lord — we’ve missed the point. We must be careful not to become entitled and take the gifts and blessings of the Lord for granted. When He performs the miracles we desire, He’s good and worthy of worship. And when He doesn’t, He’s equally as good and worthy of worship.

When it comes to believing for miracles in our lives, we have ideas of how God can move. We know of ways he’s done it before for us, our family, our friends, and others. Because of this, we tend to make plans based on what’s common when it comes to God’s past miracles. The thing about God, however, is that He is consistent in showing up — but that doesn’t mean He’s consistent in the way he goes about it. God has a tendency to bring about provision from what we would consider to be uncommon places.

We’d all agree that life would be easier if there were never any attacks or reasons to fear. The reality, however, is that will never be the case. Attacks will happen. Attacks from the enemy, people, and sometimes ourselves. But just because something arises to bring fear, that doesn’t mean it gets to win. Paul experienced a snake bite in Acts 28 — he experienced an attack — but even though the snake was poisonous, it had no effect on him. We aren’t always protected from BEING attacked; but in Him, we are protected from the EFFECTS of the attack.

Fear and worry cause us to overcomplicate what God has really made simple. We begin to look for answers, and we overlook the solution God has already spoken. Because when we face earthly battles, it’s easy to believe that we need an earthly solution. This only causes us to overcomplicate things that God has already handled on our behalf.