Every day humanity seems to be come more lost. People try to fulfill themselves and their purpose through their own talents and efforts. People who do not know God try to fill the void in their hearts with various things: alcohol, promiscuity, drugs, other vices. This desire to fill that void goes all the way back to the garden. This void that humanity has in their life will only be fulfilled by God. Even the best among us are not living the life that God intended because sin an disobedience that entered at the garden. Because of the act of sin, God's prized creation was banned from his presence and were sent away to seek redemption. There is a desire embedded in everyone's heart to change and be better. God is not an angry Tyrant waiting to condemn those who anger Him. Some try to characterize God that way and ask: Why would a God who loved us, let these things happen in our life? That is a misguided question. God is constantly trying to draw us toward Him. It is not God's will for anyone to live a hopeless life. It is not Gods will for his creation to be tormented by things that happened years ago. We all want change. Change starts with us. God has a new start and can turn lives around. No matter how how we fell that our life is messed up, God can turn it around and bring us back into fellowship with Him. In order to take advantage of that promise, we must get a revelation of who God is. That revelation will lead to transformation. Once we understand who God is and we take a step toward Him, we begin a path that will lead to salvation. We get a revelation from God, and then act in obedience, He will provide another revelation. In our text, we find a man of great power and importance in the court of the queen. We can infer that since he was reading the prophet, he had some level of belief. He was seeking and had a void in his heart. He was reading, but he didn't understand. He needed a revelation. Philip started with the same scripture he was reading, and preached Jesus. Everything starts with Jesus. Jesus is the revelation. Everything we need is in Jesus. In his quest for transformation, the man in our text had to first get a revelation. Having the revelation is not enough. Revelation and Transformation are God's part. The link between is our obedience. We have to act upon that revelation. It is not enough that the preacher preaches and that we hear, we must act on that revelation. We must step out in faith and act on our revelation. Faith is the active ingredient in a miracle. We will not get what God has for us until we activate our faith and step out to receive it. Activation is the link between revelation and transformation.

Every day humanity seems to be come more lost. People try to fulfill themselves and their purpose through their own talents and efforts. People who do not know God try to fill the void in their hearts with various things: alcohol, promiscuity, drugs, other vices. This desire to fill that void goes all the way back to the garden. This void that humanity has in their life will only be fulfilled by God. Even the best among us are not living the life that God intended because sin an disobedience that entered at the garden. Because of the act of sin, God's prized creation was banned from his presence and were sent away to seek redemption. There is a desire embedded in everyone's heart to change and be better. God is not an angry Tyrant waiting to condemn those who anger Him. Some try to characterize God that way and ask: Why would a God who loved us, let these things happen in our life? That is a misguided question. God is constantly trying to draw us toward Him. It is not God's will for anyone to live a hopeless life. It is not Gods will for his creation to be tormented by things that happened years ago. We all want change. Change starts with us. God has a new start and can turn lives around. No matter how how we fell that our life is messed up, God can turn it around and bring us back into fellowship with Him. In order to take advantage of that promise, we must get a revelation of who God is. That revelation will lead to transformation. Once we understand who God is and we take a step toward Him, we begin a path that will lead to salvation. We get a revelation from God, and then act in obedience, He will provide another revelation. In our text, we find a man of great power and importance in the court of the queen. We can infer that since he was reading the prophet, he had some level of belief. He was seeking and had a void in his heart. He was reading, but he didn't understand. He needed a revelation. Philip started with the same scripture he was reading, and preached Jesus. Everything starts with Jesus. Jesus is the revelation. Everything we need is in Jesus. In his quest for transformation, the man in our text had to first get a revelation. Having the revelation is not enough. Revelation and Transformation are God's part. The link between is our obedience. We have to act upon that revelation. It is not enough that the preacher preaches and that we hear, we must act on that revelation. We must step out in faith and act on our revelation. Faith is the active ingredient in a miracle. We will not get what God has for us until we activate our faith and step out to receive it. Activation is the link between revelation and transformation.

Our text in I Kings is about the death of David and the actions of Solomon to purge the kingdom of those who had shed innocent blood. Joab knowing that he was in trouble, ran to the house of God and took hold of the alter. By the time that Benaiah arrived, Joab was by the alter and there he lost his life. Joab died BY the alter. When he needed God in time of crisis, he ran to the alter and layed upon it, but as he began to feel comfort, he was only by the alter. Joab is not the only person to have died by the alter. If we are going to make it to heaven, it will not be without an alter in our life. Shouting and running the isles is great, but that is not the totality of living for God. Alters are not an option. Alters are places of transformation, but being by the alter is not enough. We must throw ourselves on the alter and lay ourselves out before God. Prayer on the alter is what transforms life. We can sing, dance, and lift our hands without being changed, but laying on the alter is where change happens. The alter was not meant to be pretty. Alters in the old testimony were a place of death. There was blood on them. Death is never pretty. An alter for us is not a comfortable place. Alters are private places. They are just for us where we can lay ourselves bare for God. Alters do not lie. Alters always tell the truth. They reveal what no man can see. We have away of trying to hide things. We do our best to cover up who we really are because we do not like to admit that we fail, or struggle with things. When we come to that alter, God is not looking at us as much as He is looking at what we put on the alter. Many gifts placed on the alter were rejected because they were tainted. The gifts looked okay, but God knew that they were tainted. When we place ourselves on God's alter, He will see the things in our life that are keeping us from Him. We don't like alters. Alters are not exciting. Alters do not cause us to feel flush with emotion. But alters are necessary. But being close to the alter is not enough.

Our text in I Kings is about the death of David and the actions of Solomon to purge the kingdom of those who had shed innocent blood. Joab knowing that he was in trouble, ran to the house of God and took hold of the alter. By the time that Benaiah arrived, Joab was by the alter and there he lost his life. Joab died BY the alter. When he needed God in time of crisis, he ran to the alter and layed upon it, but as he began to feel comfort, he was only by the alter. Joab is not the only person to have died by the alter. If we are going to make it to heaven, it will not be without an alter in our life. Shouting and running the isles is great, but that is not the totality of living for God. Alters are not an option. Alters are places of transformation, but being by the alter is not enough. We must throw ourselves on the alter and lay ourselves out before God. Prayer on the alter is what transforms life. We can sing, dance, and lift our hands without being changed, but laying on the alter is where change happens. The alter was not meant to be pretty. Alters in the old testimony were a place of death. There was blood on them. Death is never pretty. An alter for us is not a comfortable place. Alters are private places. They are just for us where we can lay ourselves bare for God. Alters do not lie. Alters always tell the truth. They reveal what no man can see. We have away of trying to hide things. We do our best to cover up who we really are because we do not like to admit that we fail, or struggle with things. When we come to that alter, God is not looking at us as much as He is looking at what we put on the alter. Many gifts placed on the alter were rejected because they were tainted. The gifts looked okay, but God knew that they were tainted. When we place ourselves on God's alter, He will see the things in our life that are keeping us from Him. We don't like alters. Alters are not exciting. Alters do not cause us to feel flush with emotion. But alters are necessary. But being close to the alter is not enough.

The bible is not only a source of instruction, it is also a great source of inspiration. It reveals what God is willing to do for us. Living for God is not a one sided relationship. We have divine promises from God through His word. We have the promise of divine provision, divine grace, divine interventions, divine victory and the promise of divine redemption. There is another promise that we often forget: the promise of divine protection. Our text is an example of such a divine protection. God is immutable. That means that he does not change. That means that what he was yesterday, He is today. If He has done it before, He will do it again. The devil tells us that we are alone, that we are abandoned. When the devil speaks, it is a lie. The devil wants to amplify the problem so that we cannot see the promise. Hell wants us to see the sickness instead of the healer, the chains instead of the One who frees. He wants us to believe that the problem is bigger than our promise. God is FOR us and if God is FOR us, who can be against us? Unbeknown to us, God gives us a preview of what is to come. Every time God shows up in a small way, it is a preview of when God will show up in a big way. Don't forget the times that God showed up in a small way, because it is an example of when He will show up in a big way. We can encourage ourselves in the Lord. Stop looking at the problem, and remember the preview. There is a fire in our future. Our text is the story of three men who had led a good life. They were well favored young men. Trial will come into each of our lives that will test who we really are. While we stare into the furnace of our problem, we must remember the previews that God has given us in life that promise that He will see us through. No weapon formed against us will prosper. The greater the problem, the greater His presence. In the lowest valley, in the hottest fire, God is already there. If the enemy didn't get us at bad, he cannot get us at worse. God prepares us for battle and He will protect us in the battle. God does not let us go into a battle without preparing us for it and protecting us during it. The deliverance has already been decided. Making it through the trial rests in God's hands. We do not have to wonder can we be delivered? Can we be saved. God has already done that. In our text, the three boys had no choice. They were bound and thrown into the fire. God met them in the fire and delivered them. We do not have to live in the fire. God has made a way out. When we find our selves facing the fair, we must remember the times when God has given us a preview of a promise.

The bible is not only a source of instruction, it is also a great source of inspiration. It reveals what God is willing to do for us. Living for God is not a one sided relationship. We have divine promises from God through His word. We have the promise of divine provision, divine grace, divine interventions, divine victory and the promise of divine redemption. There is another promise that we often forget: the promise of divine protection. Our text is an example of such a divine protection. God is immutable. That means that he does not change. That means that what he was yesterday, He is today. If He has done it before, He will do it again. The devil tells us that we are alone, that we are abandoned. When the devil speaks, it is a lie. The devil wants to amplify the problem so that we cannot see the promise. Hell wants us to see the sickness instead of the healer, the chains instead of the One who frees. He wants us to believe that the problem is bigger than our promise. God is FOR us and if God is FOR us, who can be against us? Unbeknown to us, God gives us a preview of what is to come. Every time God shows up in a small way, it is a preview of when God will show up in a big way. Don't forget the times that God showed up in a small way, because it is an example of when He will show up in a big way. We can encourage ourselves in the Lord. Stop looking at the problem, and remember the preview. There is a fire in our future. Our text is the story of three men who had led a good life. They were well favored young men. Trial will come into each of our lives that will test who we really are. While we stare into the furnace of our problem, we must remember the previews that God has given us in life that promise that He will see us through. No weapon formed against us will prosper. The greater the problem, the greater His presence. In the lowest valley, in the hottest fire, God is already there. If the enemy didn't get us at bad, he cannot get us at worse. God prepares us for battle and He will protect us in the battle. God does not let us go into a battle without preparing us for it and protecting us during it. The deliverance has already been decided. Making it through the trial rests in God's hands. We do not have to wonder can we be delivered? Can we be saved. God has already done that. In our text, the three boys had no choice. They were bound and thrown into the fire. God met them in the fire and delivered them. We do not have to live in the fire. God has made a way out. When we find our selves facing the fair, we must remember the times when God has given us a preview of a promise.

For many people there is a failure to understand who we are in Christ. We are fathers, mothers, teachers, etc here on earth. But who we are in Christ is who we will be in eternity. Too many people struggle with their identity in God. When we struggle in that area, we will struggle living for God. As a child of God, we are heirs to the throne. We are all princes and princes in God's kingdom. With royalty comes privilege, power and authority. We cannot purchase this, we inherit it when we are born again of the water and in the spirit. God has promised to give us power, dominion and authority. Bro. Stevision asks: If we have this power and authority, why are so many allowing Satan to have influence in our lives? We have let the enemy rule over us for too long. It is time to get an attitude of determination. If the enemy has no resistance, he will continue have his way. We must stand up in the spirit and declare our authority over the devil. The bible says let the redeemed of the Lord say so. By taking a stand like that, we are declaring who we are. Hell does not have an answer to us declaring our authority. We not have to be tortured and tormented. When we say so, we are exercising the authority that God put inside us. Too many of us let the devil draw the line in the sand. It is up to US to draw the line. Determined people do not back down. Everything around in the world may be screaming no, but our faith has to say yes. It is time to tell hell that it is not over because WE say so. God has the final say. God honors bold prayers. God honors tenacity. God is still able to move in our situation. The enemy may come at us again and again and ask why. The answer is Because I said so. The one with the authority gets to say so. We must claim the authority that God has given us with a declaration of determination.

For many people there is a failure to understand who we are in Christ. We are fathers, mothers, teachers, etc here on earth. But who we are in Christ is who we will be in eternity. Too many people struggle with their identity in God. When we struggle in that area, we will struggle living for God. As a child of God, we are heirs to the throne. We are all princes and princes in God's kingdom. With royalty comes privilege, power and authority. We cannot purchase this, we inherit it when we are born again of the water and in the spirit. God has promised to give us power, dominion and authority. Bro. Stevision asks: If we have this power and authority, why are so many allowing Satan to have influence in our lives? We have let the enemy rule over us for too long. It is time to get an attitude of determination. If the enemy has no resistance, he will continue have his way. We must stand up in the spirit and declare our authority over the devil. The bible says let the redeemed of the Lord say so. By taking a stand like that, we are declaring who we are. Hell does not have an answer to us declaring our authority. We not have to be tortured and tormented. When we say so, we are exercising the authority that God put inside us. Too many of us let the devil draw the line in the sand. It is up to US to draw the line. Determined people do not back down. Everything around in the world may be screaming no, but our faith has to say yes. It is time to tell hell that it is not over because WE say so. God has the final say. God honors bold prayers. God honors tenacity. God is still able to move in our situation. The enemy may come at us again and again and ask why. The answer is Because I said so. The one with the authority gets to say so. We must claim the authority that God has given us with a declaration of determination.

Do not confuse the title of this message with the common phrase: How to get something for nothing. They are similar, but different. The world wants something for nothing. That is an entitlement mentality. However, getting something OUT of nothing is different. The difference is one word OUT. OUT is a word that implies effort. The people that want something for nothing are not willing to put in any effort. However, someone who wants to get something out of nothing is willing to work for it. God honors effort. In every area of our life, we should not sit back and wait for someone else to do it. Spiritually, we cannot be content to bask in the presence of God that is created by the worship and prayer of others. We all need to participate in that worship and prayer to bring that about. It is not always easy. There are times when we pray and worship, and feel: Nothing. There are times when we fell as if our prayers do not get above the ceiling. Our text seems to highlight the prophet Elijah, but Bro. Stevison uses this passage to highlight the servant in our text. He heard the word of his master: Go look toward the sea. He went and looked and saw: nothing. He was obedient to the man of God, and saw absolutely...nothing. We have all been in that position. We obey the preacher and we get nothing. The answer is in Elijah's reply: Go AGAIN. That is how to get something out of nothing. Go again. We cannot get the abundance of God if we do not put forth any action. Environment should not determine our effort. There is more praise on the mountain top than in the valley, but the valley is where the most effort is needed. The servant must have thought that Elijah was crazy to send him again and again. If we want to get what God has, we must continue to press through. Every time the servant went to look, he faith was tested. He continued to be obedient and pressing. Every time we lift our hands, every time we pray, every time we press our faith is growing to a new level. That is how to get something out of nothing.

Do not confuse the title of this message with the common phrase: How to get something for nothing. They are similar, but different. The world wants something for nothing. That is an entitlement mentality. However, getting something OUT of nothing is different. The difference is one word OUT. OUT is a word that implies effort. The people that want something for nothing are not willing to put in any effort. However, someone who wants to get something out of nothing is willing to work for it. God honors effort. In every area of our life, we should not sit back and wait for someone else to do it. Spiritually, we cannot be content to bask in the presence of God that is created by the worship and prayer of others. We all need to participate in that worship and prayer to bring that about. It is not always easy. There are times when we pray and worship, and feel: Nothing. There are times when we fell as if our prayers do not get above the ceiling. Our text seems to highlight the prophet Elijah, but Bro. Stevison uses this passage to highlight the servant in our text. He heard the word of his master: Go look toward the sea. He went and looked and saw: nothing. He was obedient to the man of God, and saw absolutely...nothing. We have all been in that position. We obey the preacher and we get nothing. The answer is in Elijah's reply: Go AGAIN. That is how to get something out of nothing. Go again. We cannot get the abundance of God if we do not put forth any action. Environment should not determine our effort. There is more praise on the mountain top than in the valley, but the valley is where the most effort is needed. The servant must have thought that Elijah was crazy to send him again and again. If we want to get what God has, we must continue to press through. Every time the servant went to look, he faith was tested. He continued to be obedient and pressing. Every time we lift our hands, every time we pray, every time we press our faith is growing to a new level. That is how to get something out of nothing.