<b>TEXT & REF</b>: EXODUS 14:9-16, PSALM 46:1-11, LUKE 9:62, ROMANS 5:3-5, 1CORITHIANS 9:24-27; 10:13, PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14; 4:13, 2TIMOTHY 2:3-6, HEBREW 12:1-3; 13 : 5-6.

 

THERE IS NO ONE PERSON ON EARTH THAT DOES NOT FACE HARD TIMES IN LIFE . THIS IS WHAT KEEPS US CAREFUL, STABLE AND CONSCIOUS OF THE LIFE WE LIVE IN HARD TIMES OR TOUGH TIMES .

HARD TIMES ARE WHAT GET US FOCUS AND SERIOUS IN OUR LIVES ENDEAVORS.

TO ADVANCE IN LIFE, GOD WANTS US TO ALWAYS FOLLOW HIM BECAUSE HE LEADS US, AND HE IS AHEAD OF OUR EVERY STEP …. PSALM 23: 1-2 , ISAIAH 30:21, DEUTERONOMY 31 : 8.

WE MUST HAVE IN MIND THAT, WE WILL RUN THROUGH TROUBLE WATERS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, IN ORDER TO GET TO OUR NEXT LEVEL IN LIFE . WE MUST ALSO ALWAYS BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT, GOD IS AHEAD OF US, LEADING , SO WE NEED NOT FEAR ANY EVIL .

WE CANNOT ADVANCE IN LIFE , WITHOUT MOVING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE INTO STRANGE AND DIFFICULT TERRAIN, WHERE WE NEED TO WORKOUT OUR WAY TO ETERNITY.

THE COMFORT ZONE IS A LAZY MAN’S ZONE, THAT WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY HIS WORKS PROVERB 24:30 -34

[30]I WALKED BY THE FIELD OF A LAZY PERSON,

THE VINEYARD OF ONE WITH NO COMMON SENSE.

[31]I SAW THAT IT WAS OVERGROWN WITH NETTLES.

IT WAS COVERED WITH WEEDS,

AND IT’S WALLS WERE BROKEN DOWN.

[32] THEN, AS I LOOKED AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT,

I LEARNED THIS LESSON:

[33]A LITTLE EXTRA SLEEP, A LITTLE MORE SLUMBER,

A LITTLE FOLDING OF THE HANDS TO REST —

[34] THEN POVERTY WILL POUNCE ON YOU LIKE A BANDIT;

SCARCITY WILL ATTACK YOU LIKE AN ARMED ROBBER.

TO GO FORWARD, ADVANCE, OR MOVE AHEAD MEANS TO GO IN A PURPOSEFUL WAY.

IT IS TO MOVE PROGRESSIVELY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

IN THE MIDST OF STORMS OF LIFE, YOU CANNOT REMAIN STATIC; YOU MUST KEEP MOVING OR YOU WILL DROWN.

WHILE THE EGYPTIAN’S WERE PURSUING THE ISRAELITES FROM BEHIND, THEY WERE FACED BY THE RED SEA… THEY WERE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.

GOD DID.NOT TELL THEM WHAT HE WILL DO BUT HE TOLD THEM TO KEEP MOVING AHEAD AND DON’T STOP. IT WAS WHEN THEY OBEYED HIS INSTRUCTION, THAT HE PARTED THE RED SEA . FAITH IN GOD, MAKES A WAY WHERE THERE’S NO WAY . .EXODUS 14:10,13-15, SAID :

[10] AS PHARAOH APPROACHED, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LOOKED UP AND PANICKED WHEN THEY SAW THE EGYPTIAN’S OVERTAKING THEM. THEY CRIED OUT TO THE LORD,

[13] BUT MOSES TOLD THE PEOPLE, “DON’T BE AFRAID. JUST STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD RESCUE YOU TODAY. THE EGYPTIANS YOU SEE TODAY WILL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN.

[14] THE LORD HIMSELF WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. JUST STAY CALM.”

[15] THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “WHY ARE YOU CRYING OUT TO ME ? TELL THE PEOPLE TO GET MOVING ! :

GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS CHILDREN IS THAT HE WILL NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE THEM HEBREWS 13 :5B-6.

IN JOSHUA 1:9 & HEBREWS 13:5B-6 GOD SAID:-

JOSHUA 1 :9

[9] THIS IS MY COMMAND—BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED. FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.”

AND IN HEBREWS 13 :5B-6 :

[5] …. FOR GOD HAS SAID,

“I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.

I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU .”

[6] SO WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE,

“ THE LORD IS MY HELPER, SO I WILL HAVE NO FEAR. WHAT CAN MERE PEOPLE DO TO ME ? “.

IF WE HAVE THIS CONFIDENCE IN GOD , GOING THE PATH OF GOD IN HARD TIMES, WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR US .

BE IT IN THE MIDST OF RAGING FIRE OR TURBULENT WATERS, WHATEVER THE SITUATION, WE KNOW THAT, GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE HIS OWN, WHO HAS FAITH IN HIM.

FAITH AND OBEDIENCE IN GOD , ARE WHAT WE NEED, TO SAIL THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS OF LIFE.

IN THE MIDDLE OF DANGER, GOD IS IN YOU, WORKING OUT YOUR VICTORY FROM WITHIN ! HE IS YOUR REFUGE, STRENGTH AND YOUR HELPER AT ALL TIMES. WHETHER IN THE STORM, QUAKES, FAMINE ETC…. THE LORD IS WITHIN YOU WORKING THINGS OUT FOR YOU . JUST BELIEVE AND FEAR NOT AS HE COMMANDED .

IF THE RED SEA THAT SAVED THE ISRAELITES KILLED ALL THE EGYPTIANS, GOD WILL DO THE SAME TO SAVE YOU …

EXODUS 14:9-16 .THE TABLE IS ABOUT TO TURN TO YOUR FAVOUR AND THE SIEGE WILL SOON ENCOMPASS THOSE THAT ENCOMPASS YOU !

PSALM 46:1-5 EXPLAINS OUR POSITION WITH GOD IN HARD TIMES :

[1] GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH,

ALWAYS READY TO HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

[2] SO WE WILL NOT FEAR WHEN EARTHQUAKES COME

AND THE MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE INTO THE SEA.

[3] LET THE OCEANS ROAR AND FOAM.

LET THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE AS THE WATERS SURGE! INTERLUDE

[4]A RIVER BRINGS JOY TO THE CITY OF OUR GOD,

THE SACRED HOME OF THE MOST HIGH.

[5] GOD DWELLS IN THAT CITY; IT CANNOT BE DESTROYED.

FROM THE VERY BREAK OF DAY, GOD WILL PROTECT IT. “

HE WILL NOT LET YOU FALL. THE LORD OF HOST IS WITH HIS CITY. HIS CITY IS YOU AND ME AND AS HE SAID IN 2KINGS 19:34 “I WILL DEFEND THIS CITY (YOU AND ME) TO SAVE IT, FOR MY OWN SAKE….”.

IF YOUR MIND AND FOCUS IS ON THE LORD, THE ROAD MIGHT BE ROUGH AND WINDING, BUT HE WILL GET YOU THERE, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS. HIS PROMISE IS THAT HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU

IF YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PATH , AND THE STORM CATCHES UP WITH YOU, GOD WILL NOT GO WITH YOU IN THAT WRONG DIRECTION YOU ARE IN. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHERE YOU LEFT GOD AND BEGIN WITH HIM THERE, AFTER REPENTANCE, JUST AS THE PRODIGAL SON DID IN LUKE15:18-20

[18]I WILL GO HOME TO MY FATHER AND SAY, “FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST BOTH HEAVEN AND YOU,

[19] AND I AM NO LONGER WORTHY OF BEING CALLED YOUR SON. PLEASE TAKE ME ON AS A HIRED SERVANT”

[20]“SO HE RETURNED HOME TO HIS FATHER. AND WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM COMING. FILLED WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION, HE RAN TO HIS SON, EMBRACED HIM, AND KISSED HIM”

REMEMBER, THE PURPOSE OF A SIEGE IS TO MAKE THINGS TOUGH AND TIGHT FOR YOU, SO YOU MIGHT SURRENDER. GOD IS IN THE SIEGE WITH YOU, WHEN THE ENEMY IS IN CHARGE TO FORCE YOU TO SURRENDER TO HIM.

EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN 2CHRONICLES 32:1-31.

IN BOTH SIEGES, GIVING UP TO GOD GIVES YOU VICTORY IN THE END, THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO A NEW AND HIGHER LEVEL IN YOUR SPIRITUAL WALK AND WORK WITH GOD. THIS IS THE ADVANCEMENT THAT COMES AFTER EVERY SIEGE.

EVERY FREEDOM FIGHT IN GOD’S ARMY, COMES WITH LIBERTY.

IN ANY SIEGE IN A LIFE OF A BELIEVER , THE ARMY THAT IS FIGHTING ON YOUR SIDE IS LED BY THE LORD OF HOSTS, WHO IS GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF. WHICH MEANS YOU CAN NEVER LOSE THE BATTLE.

THIS IS BECAUSE HE WILL ANNIHILATE ALL THE ENEMIES, THAT THEY WILL NEVER EVER , RISE UP AGAINST YOU AGAIN EVER IN THE SPIRITUAL REALMS OF BATTLE.

JEREMIAH GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE LORD OF HOST DOES TO ADVANCE YOU IN TOUGH TIMES JEREMIAH 50:25-34 THOUGH THIS PASSAGE IS LONG, I WILL WANT US TO READ IT TOGETHER, SO IT WILL ENCOURAGE US IN THESE HARD AND THOUGH TIMES :

[25] THE LORD HAS OPENED HIS ARMORY

AND BROUGHT OUT WEAPONS TO VENT HIS FURY.

THE TERROR THAT FALLS UPON THE BABYLONIANS (THE BABYLONIANS HERE, REPRESENT YOUR ENEMIES) WILL BE THE WORK OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES.

[26] YES, COME AGAINST HER FROM DISTANT LANDS.

BREAK OPEN HER GRANARIES.

CRUSH HER WALLS AND HOUSES INTO HEAPS OF RUBBLE.

DESTROY HER COMPLETELY, AND LEAVE NOTHING!

[27] DESTROY EVEN HER YOUNG BULLS —

IT WILL BE TERRIBLE FOR THEM, TOO!

SLAUGHTER THEM ALL!

FOR BABYLON’S DAY OF RECKONING HAS COME.

[28] LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM BABYLON,

AS THEY TELL IN JERUSALEM

HOW THE LORD OUR GOD HAS TAKEN VENGEANCE AGAINST THOSE WHO DESTROYED HIS TEMPLE.

[29]“SEND OUT A CALL FOR ARCHERS TO COME TO BABYLON.

SURROUND THE CITY SO NONE CAN ESCAPE.

DO TO HER AS SHE HAS DONE TO OTHERS,

FOR SHE HAS DEFIED THE LORD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

[30] HER YOUNG MEN WILL FALL IN THE STREETS AND DIE.

HER SOLDIERS WILL ALL BE KILLED,”

SAYS THE LORD.

[31]“SEE, I AM YOUR ENEMY, YOU ARROGANT PEOPLE,”

SAYS THE LORD, THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES.

“YOUR DAY OF RECKONING HAS ARRIVED —

THE DAY WHEN I WILL PUNISH YOU.

[32]O LAND OF ARROGANCE, YOU WILL STUMBLE AND FALL,

AND NO ONE WILL RAISE YOU UP.

FOR I WILL LIGHT A FIRE IN THE CITIES OF BABYLON

THAT WILL BURN UP EVERYTHING AROUND THEM.”

[33] THIS IS WHAT THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES SAYS:

“THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH HAVE BEEN WRONGED.

THEIR CAPTORS HOLD THEM AND REFUSE TO LET THEM GO.

[34] BUT THE ONE WHO REDEEMS THEM IS STRONG.

HIS NAME IS THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES.

HE WILL DEFEND THEM

AND GIVE THEM REST AGAIN IN ISRAEL.

BUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF BABYLON

THERE WILL BE NO REST ! “

THOSE THAT TROUBLE YOU WILL NOT FIND REST SAYS THE WORD OF GOD .

THIS SEASON, THE LORD OF HOST HAS TAKEN OVER YOUR BATTLE, NOT BY YOUR MIGHT NEITHER BY YOUR POWER BUT BY HIS SPIRIT. HE IS ADVANCING YOU SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY AND YOU MUST GO FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARDS IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME. YOU SHALL SING A NEW SONG AND YOUR SONG OF VICTORY SHALL BE HEARD BY JUNE/JULY THIS SAME YEAR .

THE FACT THAT THE LORD IS ALLOWING YOU TO ENCOUNTER SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR LAWLESSNESS DOES NOT MEAN HE WILL NOT TAKE TO ACCOUNT YOUR REPENTANCE AND PRAYERS. HE WILL ! BECAUSE HE IS HOLY AND JUST. YOUR CRY HAS COME TO HIS EARS AND HE WILL FREE AND BLESS YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO OBEY HIM. FOR THOSE WHO WILL NOT OBEY, HE WILL JUDGE AND REMOVE THEM FROM HIS PRESENCE. THE BATTLES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF OUR GOD. IN THIS DIFFICULT TIMES, HE IS STILL IN CONTROL NO MATTER WHAT MAN THINKS OR SAYS. WHATEVER THING IS HAPPENING IN OUR TODAY, IS NOT NEW, IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. HE FIXED IT THEN, HE WILL FIX IT AGAIN NOW. REMEMBER HIS WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN ROMANS 8:28… THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM ? THE LORD OF HOST THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, IS IN CONTROL AND HE IS GREATER THAN EVERY DIFFICULT SITUATION OF TODAY. THIS WEEPING

IS ONLY FOR THE SEASON; OUR JOY OF VICTORY IS AROUND THE CORNER , PSALM 30:5.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD SAYS YOU WILL EAT THE FULLNESS OF THE LAND … ISAIAH 1:19, KEEP ON MOVING WITH THE LORD, DON’T LOOK BACK …. LUKE 9:62, AND YOU WILL GET THERE ! WOG