Overwhelmed? Turn To The Wall..

 Overwhelmed? Turn To The Wall..

When you feel so overwhelmed by challenges on everyside, or just too humongous for you to bear, find a place of solace, turn your face away from all the distractions, and your back away from all the noise. Turn to the wall, and seek God's face in prayer. His word to us is that, if and when we seek HIM with all of our hearts, we will find HIM. HE will always come to our rescue. Jeremiah 29

Prayer is our most powerful weapon! 

FACT: PRAYER is the most powerful weapon on earth!

11 Kings 18 - 20 This is the story of King Hezekiah. 

Hezekiah was a jewish king of Judah several years ago.  He became king at age 25. His father worshipped idols and false gods. But when he became king he did the very opposite of his father. He worshipped the Almighty God, and did right in the sight of God. By destroying altars, and all places of worship to other gods, simultaneous to re-opening the temple of God for local worshippers; Hezekiah was committed to his faith in God. He destroyed the bronze snake rod that belonged to Moses because the people had started to idolize it. He re-introduced God to his nation. 

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At that time, there was a very powerful Assyrian king called Sennacherib who was determined to conquer all of the region. This included Judah. At first, Hezekiah tried to sway him by offering all the silver and even the gold which came from the architecture of the temple.  He was extremely arrogant. He boasted that having conquered all of Israel, that Judah was defensless towards him. In fact,  he stated that it was also futile for them to seek the assistance of any allies such as Egypt. He offered Hezekiah 2000 horses if he conceded. His army consisted of 185,000 soldiers.  

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All the nations were afraid of him. So far, he had conquered everyone else.  But Hezekiah had a strategy. His defense was to go into his chambers and pray to his God. That's all that he did.  He went into God's temple and asked God for intervention. He encouraged Isaiah and others to pray with him to God. He sought help from his God, and God answered favourably. God sent one angel who killed all the 185,000 soldiers in one go.  When the Asyrian king returned to his home, God allowed his very own two sons to kill him with his sword.  God has not changed. HE'S still in control of everything and everyone in the earth.

Problems are a part of life.  They come in different sizes, shapes and forms. Some are like tsunamis, they knock us off of our bearings completely.  They are so gigantic and overwhelming. Especially now that we're in the latter days.  We have to decide in advance what will be our strategy when confronted. The bible says God has shortened the days because they are more evil than before.  HE did it to help believers cope and encourage their faith.  

Matthew 24: 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

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On another ocassion, God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah with a message. He told him to get his affairs in order because he was going to die.  AGAIN, Hezekiah went before God.  Hezekiah used the same strategy as before.  His defense was to go into his chambers and pray to his God. That's all that he did. He shut his door and turned his face to the wall and prayed for God to change his mind. Before Isaiah could get far, God instructed him to turn back and tell Hezekiah that HE had heard his prayers.  HE was going to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen more years instead. Practice turning to and talking with God especially when you're in problems. Start the conversation and wait on God. James 5 The effective fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much, ask Daniel.

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When we walk in obedience to God and HIS precepts, what won't HE do for us?  When we trust HIM with all of our hearts and soul and mind, what can keep HIM from coming to our rescue? HE loves us so much.  HE leaves the 99 and comes after us the one lost sheep. HE'S the father of the prodigal son, watching and waiting for us to come back home to HIM.  (HE does not condemn us.) We are the lost coin HE stops at nothing to find. HIS love is relentless towards us.  All we have to do is call upon HIM because HE is our for sure deliverer.  When everyone else is afraid or has deserted you for whatever reason, look to God your faithful father. 

Psalm 91:14-16

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

WORSHIP: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

TESTIMONY:

HE will protect you always!

Faith Is A Lifestyle, Try It!

 Faith Is A Lifestyle, Try It!

Faith is a lifestyle, not an event.  It is a result of having had an encounter with the Almighty God which causes you to trust in who HE is, inspite of what HE is doing in your life.  Sometimes you will not know or understand what HE'S allowing to happen to you. However you believe in HIS faithful character/ authenticity that is unchanging.  God has integrity. So you trust that whatever is happening, HE is aware and HE has already prepared a favorable outcome on your behalf.  God is always the Sovereign King.  Nothing happens by surprise. HE is always in control.

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

John 1 speaks about God in the form of Jesus becoming 'The Word' on earth.  The word is the belief system that God has ordained for mankind.  When Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, it led them down a rabbit-hole of lies and deception. With each successive generation, mankind became more distant from the truth about God's nature and desire for man's relationship with God and the things in the earth.  Jesus came to re-educate us.  Jesus said, repent, change your way of thinking. You've got it all wrong. Let me show you how to do it. Let me show you how to do life the way the almighty God intended. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the father but through me. Hebrews 11 It is impossible to please God without believing in HIS precepts about how we should live our lives. 

Romans 10:17

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith in God is about believing in someone that you can't see, who has the ability to create something you can see.  If you can see it, it's not faith. It has nothing to do with your feelings.  It's more about the stance or direction you decide to take inspite of how you feel.  The more you move in that direction, the stronger your faith becomes. It is a testimony based on your experience in/ with what you believe in. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  The patriarchs in the bible chose to trust God, and HE in turn proved HIMSELF faithful to their beliefs. 

It is very important to know God's promises.  Because HE says that HIS Word will not return to HIM void. Isaiah 55 HE commands us to 'taste and see that the Lord is good'.  HE is faithful to HIS Word.  So if you know HIS Word you will know what is HIS Will and laws.  You will learn what to expect and it will improve your confidence in HIS ability to sustain and deliver you like King David. Psalms 138

Psalm 138:2

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Just as you would sit on a chair without examining it. Or take your medication as prescribed, or even book a flight and fall asleep on the plane until you reach your destination; so it is too that you should rely on God. It's so amazing how we display trust daily in things and persons, even strangers eg. the bus driver, the car, the train conductor, the chef at the restaurant, the traffic light, just to name a few. Yet the God who created us and loves us so much with such an everlasting love, inspite of all that HE continues to do like hold the sky in place, the seas by the shore, the sun to rise and set repeatedly everyday, oxygen for us to breathe in; has such a hard time getting us to entrust our future in HIS hands.  The devil is a liar. Don't believe him like Eve did. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path.  

TESTIMONY: My Jewish faith in Jesus couldn't be contained!

WORSHIP: Trust In God (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) | Elevation Worship

Change your way of thinking! Believe!