In our text, John the Baptist sends his diciples to Jesus to inquire if He was who He said He was. John was a man of great faith and works who had led a life of directing people to Christ. John should not have needed proof, but there are times in every life that can lead any of us to question. John finds himself in a deep prison. He is in the darkness. In that darkness question begin to come. Sot it is for us. When we get into a dark place, the questions can come. Questions about things that at one point were solid and without doubt. Questions come out of the dark and the unknown. Questions about the dark do not mean that we are in the dark. God knows. God is not in the dark. We must guard to not question in the dark what we have known in the light. Here is a may who boldly proclaimed Christ, but now finds himself wondering "is He really the Christ?" The question was certainly the culmination of many things. One of these may have been because of his own impatience at how God was working things out. John was not a meek preacher. He was a hell-fire preacher whose message shook the countryside. He had preached that God would bring judgment. As far as John was concerned, he thought that the kingdom was coming and it would come by God laying an ax to the root of sin. It did not play out that way. Jesus was meek and long suffering. John surly struggled with that dichotomy. Bro. Hughes points out that despite his doubt, John did not remain in that frame of mind. He was not content in his doubt. He sent his disciples to find out are you the Christ, or should we look for another? He sent them to boldly ask the question to settle the doubt. The only way to rid ourselves of doubt is to ask. Questions do not disqualify us from service to God. Just because we don't know or understand does not mean that we cannot serve God. John was no less of a man because he had doubts. Doubts do not invalidate us as a people or a child of God. John went to the right source to find the help he needed. He went to Jesus. John's friends could not answer the question. The only one who could help was Jesus. All the books int he world, or the best scientists or psychologists cannot replace the presence of God. No matter how dark it seems, or how differently from what we expect, God is still in control and has it all worked out. Questions and doubts do not disqualify us from being a chlid of God; we must be careful to let those doubts lead us to Him. Jesus has the answer to the questions in the dark.

In our text, John the Baptist sends his diciples to Jesus to inquire if He was who He said He was. John was a man of great faith and works who had led a life of directing people to Christ. John should not have needed proof, but there are times in every life that can lead any of us to question. John finds himself in a deep prison. He is in the darkness. In that darkness question begin to come. Sot it is for us. When we get into a dark place, the questions can come. Questions about things that at one point were solid and without doubt. Questions come out of the dark and the unknown. Questions about the dark do not mean that we are in the dark. God knows. God is not in the dark. We must guard to not question in the dark what we have known in the light. Here is a may who boldly proclaimed Christ, but now finds himself wondering "is He really the Christ?" The question was certainly the culmination of many things. One of these may have been because of his own impatience at how God was working things out. John was not a meek preacher. He was a hell-fire preacher whose message shook the countryside. He had preached that God would bring judgment. As far as John was concerned, he thought that the kingdom was coming and it would come by God laying an ax to the root of sin. It did not play out that way. Jesus was meek and long suffering. John surly struggled with that dichotomy. Bro. Hughes points out that despite his doubt, John did not remain in that frame of mind. He was not content in his doubt. He sent his disciples to find out are you the Christ, or should we look for another? He sent them to boldly ask the question to settle the doubt. The only way to rid ourselves of doubt is to ask. Questions do not disqualify us from service to God. Just because we don't know or understand does not mean that we cannot serve God. John was no less of a man because he had doubts. Doubts do not invalidate us as a people or a child of God. John went to the right source to find the help he needed. He went to Jesus. John's friends could not answer the question. The only one who could help was Jesus. All the books int he world, or the best scientists or psychologists cannot replace the presence of God. No matter how dark it seems, or how differently from what we expect, God is still in control and has it all worked out. Questions and doubts do not disqualify us from being a chlid of God; we must be careful to let those doubts lead us to Him. Jesus has the answer to the questions in the dark.

We live in a world that tries unceasingly to discredit the work and word of God. Scientists try to analyze the work of God in a natural realm. They try to rationalize the works of God through a lens of logic and knowledge. We as the church of God recognize the world's agenda to turn attentions away from God and His miraculous works. God is not threatened by the devil or the world. He is not swayed by human emotions. Whether we think He can, He CAN do it nonetheless. God is able. We have witnessed many things in our lives that should solidify in our minds the ability and attitude of God, yet we still are susceptible to a failing of belief. The devil tries to convince us that our situation is impossible, that we have no hope. God is ABLE. If he did it once, He will do it again. Our text describes a recipe for a miracle. First we need a problem that we cannot solve. We need an impossible situation. We do not like this part. We have equated the absence of problems as being blessed of God. In truth the presence of struggles is the opportunity for God. If we aren't sick, we cannot tell how God healed! Elijah comes to the woman who was desperate. She was about to prepare her final meal with what she had and was ready to die. She was facing an impossible situation. The second ingredient in our recipe is faith in God. The woman in our story was suffering from a lack of faith. Elijah's first words to her were Fear Not. Fear cannot take the place of faith. If there is no faith, the miracle will not happen. Faith sees what is not as if it were, fear just magnifies what is. We do not have to have proof to know that He is able. Our society is right now. The world wants us to believe that we do not have to wait on things. God sometimes makes us wait. It is in the process that God is teaching us to trust Him. If God answered every prayer right away, our faith would not be very strong. Faith is developed over time and in the process of believing that He will do it when everything around us says that it cannot be done. The final ingredient is obedience in action. We can have faith, but if we do not have a willingness to obey the word of God, we will miss our miracle. The woman went and did as Elijah instructed and the bible tells us that the meal didn’t waste and the cruse of oil never ran out. God is able. If we face an impossible situation the recipe for a miracle is faith and action.

We live in a world that tries unceasingly to discredit the work and word of God. Scientists try to analyze the work of God in a natural realm. They try to rationalize the works of God through a lens of logic and knowledge. We as the church of God recognize the world's agenda to turn attentions away from God and His miraculous works. God is not threatened by the devil or the world. He is not swayed by human emotions. Whether we think He can, He CAN do it nonetheless. God is able. We have witnessed many things in our lives that should solidify in our minds the ability and attitude of God, yet we still are susceptible to a failing of belief. The devil tries to convince us that our situation is impossible, that we have no hope. God is ABLE. If he did it once, He will do it again. Our text describes a recipe for a miracle. First we need a problem that we cannot solve. We need an impossible situation. We do not like this part. We have equated the absence of problems as being blessed of God. In truth the presence of struggles is the opportunity for God. If we aren't sick, we cannot tell how God healed! Elijah comes to the woman who was desperate. She was about to prepare her final meal with what she had and was ready to die. She was facing an impossible situation. The second ingredient in our recipe is faith in God. The woman in our story was suffering from a lack of faith. Elijah's first words to her were Fear Not. Fear cannot take the place of faith. If there is no faith, the miracle will not happen. Faith sees what is not as if it were, fear just magnifies what is. We do not have to have proof to know that He is able. Our society is right now. The world wants us to believe that we do not have to wait on things. God sometimes makes us wait. It is in the process that God is teaching us to trust Him. If God answered every prayer right away, our faith would not be very strong. Faith is developed over time and in the process of believing that He will do it when everything around us says that it cannot be done. The final ingredient is obedience in action. We can have faith, but if we do not have a willingness to obey the word of God, we will miss our miracle. The woman went and did as Elijah instructed and the bible tells us that the meal didn’t waste and the cruse of oil never ran out. God is able. If we face an impossible situation the recipe for a miracle is faith and action.

God used Paul to open the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was intimate with God, but he suffered much. In our text, Paul is a prisoner being moved to Rome with other prisoners. Even in this setting, Paul was a voice of reason. In the midst of a great storm, the guards feared that they would be lost. They were making preparations to abandon ship, but Paul says "except they abide in the ship, they cannot be saved." God has provided a way for us to safely survive the storms of life. That way is the Church. Except we abide with the ship, we will be lost. As long as we stay on the ship, God can work out our salvation. There is one exception to our salvation: we must stay on the ship. In the old testament, there were cities of refuge where one accused of murder could flee and be safe. As long as a man was running toward the city of refuge, the people would defend and protect the runner. If however, they turned around, there was no obligation of protection. As long as we stay in our place of refuge, God will protect and defend. If we decide to leave the protection, God is under no obligation to us. Only those on the ship will make it to the other side. Getting off the ship is the only exception to our salvation.

God used Paul to open the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was intimate with God, but he suffered much. In our text, Paul is a prisoner being moved to Rome with other prisoners. Even in this setting, Paul was a voice of reason. In the midst of a great storm, the guards feared that they would be lost. They were making preparations to abandon ship, but Paul says "except they abide in the ship, they cannot be saved." God has provided a way for us to safely survive the storms of life. That way is the Church. Except we abide with the ship, we will be lost. As long as we stay on the ship, God can work out our salvation. There is one exception to our salvation: we must stay on the ship. In the old testament, there were cities of refuge where one accused of murder could flee and be safe. As long as a man was running toward the city of refuge, the people would defend and protect the runner. If however, they turned around, there was no obligation of protection. As long as we stay in our place of refuge, God will protect and defend. If we decide to leave the protection, God is under no obligation to us. Only those on the ship will make it to the other side. Getting off the ship is the only exception to our salvation.

David is the subject of many a sermon. We know that David was the youngest son of Jesse and was anointed to be king. He spent most of his young years being a shepherd. Likely it was during this time, that David built a powerful relationship with God. This time as a shepherd prepared David for better things. For all the good things that David did, we also see his failures and his falling. When we talk about David, we do not focus on the low points, we focus on the parts where he was known to be a man after God's own heart. David has in tune with God as much as any man could have ever been. In our text, David was transporting the arc of the covenant back to the house of God. Most historians believe that there were places along the route where they would erect an alter and sacrifice to God and worship. When they reached the end of their journey, David was worshiping with great vigor. It is in this atmosphere, that the bible tells us that David's wife looked out a window and saw him worshiping. In every church there are two kinds of people. There are those like David who will worship with abandon and not worry about who is watching. The other kind of person is like Michael who watch as others worship. She was capable of worshiping. She was blessed and had every reason to worship, yet she watched. Worship is different for different people. We have come to equate worship with action and demonstrative actions. Worship is not about dancing and leaping about. Worshiping is connecting with God in whatever way is necessary. Worship is spiritual. Everybody can worship. If all we can do is clap, then clapping is worship. There is more going on in our text than just moving a box. He was putting the arc of God back where it belonged. When God is where He is supposed to be, the byproduct will be worship. When God is in our heart, we will worship. Michael had become comfortable in the king's palace without a true appreciation of where she was. She was in the presence of the king, but did not acknowledge it. The world looks at the church like Michael looked at David. "Why do you spend all that energy" God values and desires worship. Michael looked at David and mocked him for his worship. Davids response was that the worship was for God, not her. The bible tell us that Michael did not have children. Worshipers reproduce, watchers are barren. God cannot afford to have that complacent spirit infect His church. The worshipers reproduce in the body of Christ, while the watchers do not. Just a few worshipers can infect many around them to become worshipers. Why watch when you can worship.

David is the subject of many a sermon. We know that David was the youngest son of Jesse and was anointed to be king. He spent most of his young years being a shepherd. Likely it was during this time, that David built a powerful relationship with God. This time as a shepherd prepared David for better things. For all the good things that David did, we also see his failures and his falling. When we talk about David, we do not focus on the low points, we focus on the parts where he was known to be a man after God's own heart. David has in tune with God as much as any man could have ever been. In our text, David was transporting the arc of the covenant back to the house of God. Most historians believe that there were places along the route where they would erect an alter and sacrifice to God and worship. When they reached the end of their journey, David was worshiping with great vigor. It is in this atmosphere, that the bible tells us that David's wife looked out a window and saw him worshiping. In every church there are two kinds of people. There are those like David who will worship with abandon and not worry about who is watching. The other kind of person is like Michael who watch as others worship. She was capable of worshiping. She was blessed and had every reason to worship, yet she watched. Worship is different for different people. We have come to equate worship with action and demonstrative actions. Worship is not about dancing and leaping about. Worshiping is connecting with God in whatever way is necessary. Worship is spiritual. Everybody can worship. If all we can do is clap, then clapping is worship. There is more going on in our text than just moving a box. He was putting the arc of God back where it belonged. When God is where He is supposed to be, the byproduct will be worship. When God is in our heart, we will worship. Michael had become comfortable in the king's palace without a true appreciation of where she was. She was in the presence of the king, but did not acknowledge it. The world looks at the church like Michael looked at David. "Why do you spend all that energy" God values and desires worship. Michael looked at David and mocked him for his worship. Davids response was that the worship was for God, not her. The bible tell us that Michael did not have children. Worshipers reproduce, watchers are barren. God cannot afford to have that complacent spirit infect His church. The worshipers reproduce in the body of Christ, while the watchers do not. Just a few worshipers can infect many around them to become worshipers. Why watch when you can worship.

We are living in perilous times. Behind much of the chaos and confusion we see today are the result of the devil's attempt to defeat us in any way possible. His greatest weapon in this assault is to remove our hope. If he can convince us to give up, he wins. The news is full of stories of people who let life overwhelm them to the point that they lost all hope and lost it all. Bro. Stevison declares there IS hope and it is available to us all through Jesus Christ. When Adam ate of the fruit in the garden, he removed himself from the source of life. When we remove something from it's source of life, it dies. Only God can restore back to the source of life. God wants to restore what was lost in the garden. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can be restored. All through the old testament, the people could never escape the oppression of their sin. When Jesus came and died, he gave to us all the ability to walk in victory. The spirit that God puts in us, is the only thing that Hell cannot put down. When God put his spirit in us, he put into us the ability to get back up after a fall. What God put in us cannot be conquered. This does not mean that hell will not leave us alone. Quite the opposite, it makes us more of a target. The more someone makes up their mind that they will live for God the greater the enemy will try to come after them. In our text, Paul was preaching and a young man fell asleep and fell out of a window. They supposed him to be dead. Paul went to him and prayed over him. We have all fallen. It is easy to think that we are facing the end. The fall does not have to be final. Today is our opportunity to get back up. He fell out of the third story and the church people wrote him off. Everyone came down and declared him dead, but Paul saw it differently. The spirit of God that is within us is the connection. It has been said that we are not defeated until we give up. As long as we continue to get up, the enemy cannot win. Hell cannot kill what won't die.

We are living in perilous times. Behind much of the chaos and confusion we see today are the result of the devil's attempt to defeat us in any way possible. His greatest weapon in this assault is to remove our hope. If he can convince us to give up, he wins. The news is full of stories of people who let life overwhelm them to the point that they lost all hope and lost it all. Bro. Stevison declares there IS hope and it is available to us all through Jesus Christ. When Adam ate of the fruit in the garden, he removed himself from the source of life. When we remove something from it's source of life, it dies. Only God can restore back to the source of life. God wants to restore what was lost in the garden. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can be restored. All through the old testament, the people could never escape the oppression of their sin. When Jesus came and died, he gave to us all the ability to walk in victory. The spirit that God puts in us, is the only thing that Hell cannot put down. When God put his spirit in us, he put into us the ability to get back up after a fall. What God put in us cannot be conquered. This does not mean that hell will not leave us alone. Quite the opposite, it makes us more of a target. The more someone makes up their mind that they will live for God the greater the enemy will try to come after them. In our text, Paul was preaching and a young man fell asleep and fell out of a window. They supposed him to be dead. Paul went to him and prayed over him. We have all fallen. It is easy to think that we are facing the end. The fall does not have to be final. Today is our opportunity to get back up. He fell out of the third story and the church people wrote him off. Everyone came down and declared him dead, but Paul saw it differently. The spirit of God that is within us is the connection. It has been said that we are not defeated until we give up. As long as we continue to get up, the enemy cannot win. Hell cannot kill what won't die.