Things are Subject to Change part 7
We’ve been ministering on the subject of God turning your situation around. Many of us are going through different adverse situations and there will be more storms ahead. We don’t have to be overcome by those situations, but we can have victory over all the storms in life.
I) Turn with me to 2COR 4:18
A) Paul tells us here that we are not to look at the things that are seen, but to the things that are not seen.
1) We are not to be looking to the problems that we are going through.
(a) Those things are only temporal if we’ll do what the Bible tells us in (HEB 12:2) and that is to be “Looking to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(b) If we’re looking to God and the Lord Jesus Christ, God will turn your situation around.
2) Now, we have to use wisdom.
(a) Let’s say you have a financial need and God blesses you with the money to pay the bill, you don’t want to spend that on something else.
(b) Sometimes things might be a little more complicated and you don’t know what to do.
(i) But (James 1:5) says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” KJV
(ii) If you need wisdom ask God for it and believe that He will give you that wisdom, and you will have it.
B) Back in our scripture here in (2COR 4:18) God is telling us not to look at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen.
1) God can and will work behind the seen.
(a) The reason I say that God will work behind the seen is that there is another realm of existence besides this natural realm, and that’s the realm that God works.
(i) If we place our trust in God to turn your situation around, it’s done in the spirit. It’s done in the spirit realm.
(a) It may take some time for it to manifest in this natural realm.
(ii) That’s why Paul instructs us in (HEB 6:12) to have faith and patience.
(iii) If we lose our faith or our patience we stop the miracle from manifesting in this natural realm.
2) We have to continue to stand in faith, knowing that God is turning our situation around.
(a) Do you know what I mean when I say, “Stand in Faith?”
(i) True Biblical faith is only based on the Word of God.
(ii) We have to get into the Word and find a promise that God made that refers to our situation and hold on to it.
(iii) Knowing that if God said it, He will bring it to pass.
3) Turn to HEB 1:13-14
(a) In the unseen realm there are angles, ministering spirits, who are sent by God to minister FOR the heirs of salvation. That’s you and I.
(b) The NIV translation says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits SENT TO SERVE those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) NIV
(i) God has sent His angels to work in our behalf.
4) If God opened our eyes to see in the spiritual realm we would see multitudes of angelic beings that have been assigned to us by the Lord.
(a) They are there for the specific purpose of ministering to us and for us in our daily lives.
(i) God is working right now to change our situation.
(b) But our faith, patience, and our confession will greatly influence the results that we receive.
(i) Paul said that it’s through our faith and patience that causes us to receive the promises.
(ii) (Proverbs 18:21) says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
(a) If we speak words of life, the Word of God over our situation, it enables God and His angles to bring in the promises of God.
(b) But if we’re speaking out the problem, words of doubt, it hinders God from moving in our lives.
II) Now sometimes people will say, “Well if I could just see into the spirit realm and see what God is doing, then I could rest assured.”
A) There is a way that you can see into the spirit, and that’s with the EYE OF FAITH.
1) The world might tell you that it’s all over, that there’s no hope, there’s no way out.
(a) But you and I can laugh and reply, “You don’t see what I see, you don’t know what I know.”
2) When you’re under the greatest pressure don’t surrender don’t quit. It’s time to rejoice.
(a) Sure, the devil may have lunched his fiery attacks against you, but if you take the SHIELD OF FAITH you will be able to QUENCH EVERY FIERY DART OF THE WICKED.
(b) What do I mean by “TAKE THE SHIELD OF FAITH”?
(i) Know that God will see you through to VICTORY.
3) During the time that Paul was in prison, he had this same kind of confidence in God that we’re talking about.
(a) He knew that God was going to see him through to victory.
4) That’s why he could write in (PHIL 1:19) “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation.” KJV
(a) We need to have the same knowing that God will turn our situation around.
III) Turn with me to ROM 12:1-2
A) Most of the time this V is used in teaching that we need to get our minds renewed to the Word of God.
1) And that is very true. The only way that we’re going to be able to have faith in God to turn our situation around is for us to have God Word in us.
(a) We should have God’s Word in us to such a degree that when something negative happens the 1st thing OUT OF OUR MOUTH is the Word of God.
(b) We should have God’s Word in us to such a degree that the 1st thing TO OUR MIND is that God will turn this to victory.
B) Listen to how the LIVING BIBLE puts it, (Romans 12:2) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,”
1) What are the Behaviors and Customs of the world?
(a) Any time something bad happens, they become ANGRY, BITTER, but most of all they become NEGATIVE.
2) Paul says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think.”
(a) Paul says that there is to be something new and different about us. We are to have a FRESH NEWNESS IN ALL WE DO and THINK.
(b) Instead of being ANGRY we should REJOICE, instead of being BITTER we should have the ATTITUDE OF EXPECTANCY, and instead of being NEGATIVE we should be POSITIVE, POSITIVE that GOD WILL COME THROUGH.
3) Let me read to you the last part of (ROM 12:2) from the LIVING BIBLE, “Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.” TLB
(a) Once you have turned the NEGATIVE ATTITUDE into a POSITIVE one, once you put on JOY, and the ATTITUDE OF EXPECTANCY, God says then your will be satisfied.
(b) WHY? Because then you will see the miracle hand of God turn your situation around; all your need will be met.
WOLCC Sunday 5/11/1997