Monday, October 25, 2010

IT AIN'T OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER!


Exodus 14:9-10 “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid:”

So oftentimes, we put limits on the abilities and desires of our God. We liken His character and His attributes to those of mere mortals and as a result we fall short of seeing His Glory on display. Israel was about to be miraculously delivered from 400 years of bondage and slavery at the hands of the wicked Pharoahs. Israel had obeyed the Word of the Lord and they were marching exactly as He had directed them, until they encountered their first obstacle. They had come upon the waters of the Red Sea. Mountains to the right and mountains to the left; the sea lay straight ahead and behind them were Pharoah and his army bent upon their total annihilation! And because they could see no way out, they “were sore afraid.” They were terrified and lost their faith. They reduced God down to their own capabilities. Somehow He had lost His capability for the miraculous in their minds eye.

So often in life we behave much in the same manner. We are total giants of faith until we run into our first major obstacle. God is in control and we believe in His Immensity as long as we remain somewhat in control. However, when we reach the place where we are no longer able to make a move (just in case God doesn’t) then we begin to lose confidence in His Word and His Abilities. WE forget those things that He has done in the past. Remember when David faced his giant, he began to rehearse those things which the Lord had previously done in his life. 1 Samuel 17: 36 “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”

Even though there appeared to be no way out for those Israelites, the Lord Who is our “WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY” made a way and miraculously opened a path into the sea. I would also remind you here that this same sea that was opened as a path of deliverance for the people of God, became the method of destruction for the enemies of those same people. Not one enemy remained! Exodus 14:28 “And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.”

Maybe you are currently facing an impossible situation; a situation of life and death; or something you’ve never encountered before. God wants you to know today that He is our POSSIBILITY! He becomes your possibility only in the midst of impossibility. The tougher the possibility, the greater He will shine on behalf of His people and the greater His Glory. Don’t give up on the brink of a miracle. Don’t ever quit! Refuse to agree with the world and those who are wavering in doubt and defeat.

I stated above that “It ain’t over until it’s over!” Now here’s the real awesome revelation about God’s Kingdom. Even when it appears to be over, it is only just beginning. Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died and been entombed for four days. John 11:14 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” All hope was lost. Everyone had lost hope in the face of the impossible. But God said “This ain’t over!” Jesus “…cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” John 11:43 The God of Possibility stepped in when all hope was gone. The people had given up and had committed him to the grave. They stopped believing and chided Jesus for delaying his arrival.

Whatever way God had chosen to respond to their heart cries, He would have displayed His glory. With God’s divine direction and orchestration, there would be no wrong choice. Either way God had chosen would have been just the beginning! Risen from the dead, Lazarus was given a new lease on life and an opportunity to give Him glory in the earth. If God had chosen to leave his body in the grave, it still would have been the most incredible day of his life. I’m not so sure that Lazarus had not struggled somewhat having to return to his old life, knowing what lie ahead just a few short days later bursting forth in Resurrection Power! Face to Face with God the Father or back to the dirt bowl we call life.

Let me ask you one last question. “If you were Lazarus, and God had given you the decision, what choice would you have made?” The Glory of God OR back here? I don’t think that would be too hard to decide!

If today you are staring impossibility right in the face, then be encouraged because your POSSIBILITY is in control! EVEN IF IT IS OVER, IT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING! We are Kingdom people and we live by different rules!
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Joseph from the pit to the Palace.
Moses from a decree of death to leading Israel out of Bondage.
The widow of Nain receiving her only son raised to life.
Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
Joshua and the Walls of Jericho.
Gideon and his three hundred men.
Noah saving his entire household.
Abraham becoming a Father of many Nations.

Now what about you? What will be your testimony to His Glory?

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