Where is the victory?

Recently, in our "In Christ” column I wrote that God is looking for ordinary people to do extra ordinary things. If you missed it I want to start with reading it for you. If you did already read it – well it will be just review and you will do better on the test at the end of todays lesson. Actually there is not really a test -so relax.

"Help Wanted. Looking for a few ordinary men (and women) to do extraordinary things! Willing to offer eternal accommodation and out of this world compensation as a gift to you! Must be willing to walk in faith and deliver healing to the sick. Must be willing to accept financial prosperity and pass it on again so you can have all your needs met. Applicants must be willing to let go of their past so they can receive their future. No special training necessary and no applicant refused. I will call you – will you accept? - God.

Would you answer an ad like this? Many go through life not knowing that this very offer is open to them. Some have not answered the call because of fear of failure. Some because someone told them they could not accept because of who they were, what they did in the past or that they needed special training. And of course there are some who simply did not know the position existed.

Well I'm here today to tell you it does exist and that all the reasons why you were told not to apply are a lie! OK, now that I have your attention. Are you interested in applying? Actually you don't need to apply. All you need to get this job is use your faith to believe God will work through you. If all the true Christians would apply their faith, as we read about in the book of Acts, the Church would be the biggest employer in the world. The hospitals would be empty and the banks would only exist to hold the finances of the church until it could be distributed to those in need.

Wow, now you have lost it Pastor Dale!

Hey, I didn't say it, God did! This is how the early Church started out. Over time faith has been replaced with a reverence for God, but not really trusting Him. The Word says, "it is impossible to please God without faith!” I believe this is why we don't see the healing, or the prosperity or the deliverances in the churches, as we should be seeing today. It is not too late - if we apply for the job mentioned above you will see the results we see in Acts 4:13-14 "13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.” NLT bible.

My prayer for you if you have been told not to apply or felt God could not use you is Acts 4:29-31 "29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. 30 Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God's message with boldness.” NLT bible

I believe it is time to shake Whitehorse!”

I love these scriptures! What a great way to shut the religious folks up. "14 But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.” I know some folks who have had a lot to say about my life and what God won't do, but when He did do it they seem to disappear and I don't hear from them...

Today I want to go into it a little deeper into this message. God is looking for a family He can bless. Usually when people hear this they say, "Oh pick me Lord, pick me!” Why is it most people including non believers are open to the blessings of God, but we are not seeing the miracles like in the past, we read about in the bible?

If you asked a sick person if they wanted health most would say, "YES!” I say most as I have talked to at least one person who was crippled and was honest about it -they did not want healing. They were willing to live with what they had and they will. Even God can't heal you if you don't want it.

Along the same line of thought if someone was broke and you asked them if they wanted prosperity most people would say, "YES!” Again I have talked to some people who for some reason believe God wants them broke (which simply is not true). They say they would not accept prosperity... well they will most likely never need to refuse it; they will get what they believe for -poverty, but it won't be from God.

Again if someone is suffering from torment, despair or addictions and you asked them if they wanted free... most would say, "YES!” So.. if most people would accept relief from their suffering and the bible says that God has set us free from sickness, poverty, and bondage by the death and resurrection of Jesus why are there so many sick, broke and suffering people?

I believe it is because we all have heard too many false teachings – really lies about God and His ways. That is why the bible says we are to re new our mind! We need to change the way we think and what we believe about the bible! Kenneth Hagin said many times, "don't believe something because I said it! Get into the Word and believe it because the Word says it!

That is so true that is why too many Christians really don't understand God's way of doing things they trusted what they heard instead of reading for themselves. If they heard a lie and did not check it out for themselves they will never reach their full potential in Christ.

We see in the book of Acts the early Church started out in faith and we see the results in Acts 4:13-14 is a good example "13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.” NLT bible.

Ordinary men who had had no special training.

I believe God is looking for a special group to work through. It is not about how much formal training you have! It is not about who you are, based on your worldly status or if you parents were Pastors or not! It is about faith -period! Hebrews 11:6 "6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” NLT Bible

Faith is not just believing God exists unfortunately that is what some preachers teach! Those are the ones who are always fund raising to meet the needs of the church. OK enough said about that. Hebrews 11:6 is very clear, it is impossible to please God without faith... AND anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God AND that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

If we believe God won't give us anything we will get what we believe! If we believe God will reward us, guess what He is true to His Word! I believe God is in the rewarding business! The key is are we sincerely seeking? Are we believing He will reward? We can't be selfish and be satisfied with what we have. God wants us to use our faith to receive more so we can give more. He wants us to use our faith that He will deliver us so we can help get others delivered! He wants us to use our faith to receive healing so we can help others receive their healing!

"Oh, Pastor Dale I don't know if I could ever pray for someone to be healed.” Why not? If God said He wants to heal people I would not want to be the reason someone dies sick when they did not need to. We all will be held accountable for our actions. What we do with our knowledge of His Word is the basis of that accountability. We are and will be judged according to His Word. It is very important we find out what it says. Don't you think?

If you have been around people very much especially church people there are a lot of ideas as to what God is like or how He wants us to live or what He will or won't do for us or too us. I'm here today to encourage you to find out for yourself by digging into the Word. Sincerely seek the Lord and He will reward you for it. Find out the truth about God for yourself and don't rely on what you heard in the past. It is life or death maybe for you or someone you know.

Serving God is so much more than learning about Him. It is learning His ways and using our faith to allow Him to work through us to cause His Word to come to pass in the time period we live in. God is still answering prayer. Victory is still available through faith! If you feel you lost the fight I'm here today to tell you it is not over, until you win! God's Word is alive and powerful – if we believe and use our faith to receive!

I wrote in the column that Acts 4:29-31 was my prayer for those reading the column and it is also for you today! If you want God to work through you. If you want to see people healed. If you want to see people prosper. If you want to see people set free... it starts with you seeking boldness! The same boldness we read about in the early Church.

Again my prayer for you if you have been told not to apply for a job with God or felt God could not use you (Acts 4:29-31) "29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. 30 Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God's message with boldness.” NLT bible.

I believe as more Christians seek God for what He has promised the more we will see Him work through us to glorify Him. Signs, wonders and shaking of the holy Spirit! Lets seek the boldness so we all preach God's message, the truth of His Word.

Submission by Pastor Dale McDonald