Preacher Jokes 4 – Pulpit Humor
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Bible Based Bumper Stickers
Adam: "You are what you eat."
Eve: "At least he doesn't compare me to his mother."
Abraham: "I'm goin' not knowin'."
Noah: "Honk if you believe in treading water."
Moses: "From a basket case to the promise land."
Elizah: "When Jezebel ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
Balaam: "My second donkey talks!"
Prodigal Son: "All roads lead to home."
At the Sinai desert: "Winding road next 40 years"
At the Red Sea: "Caution! Subject to sudden flooding"
The Taxi Driver Gets A Mansion
A priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them.
'Come with me', said St. Peter to the taxi driver.
The taxi driver did as he was told and followed St. Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an Olympic size pool.
'Wow, thank you', said the taxi driver.
Next, St. Peter led the priest to a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little old television set.
'Wait, I think you are a little mixed up', said the priest. 'Shouldn't I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and preached God's word.'
'Yes, that's true. But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed!'
One Really Good Deed
This guy arrives at the Pearly Gates. He has to wait to be admitted, while St. Pete leafs through his Big Book.
He's checking to see if the guy is worthy of entry or not. Saint Peter goes through the books several times, furrows his brow, and says to the guy, "You know, I can't see that you did lots of good in your life but, you never did anything bad either.
Tell you what, if you can tell me of one REALLY good deed that you did in your life, you're in."
The guy thinks for a moment and says, "Well, there was this one time when I was drivin' down the highway and I saw a Biker Gang assaulting this poor girl. I slowed down my car to see what was going on, and sure enough, that's what they were doing. There were about 50 of 'em torturing this chick.
Infuriated, I got out my car, grabbed a tire iron from my trunk and walked straight up to the leader of the gang. He was a huge guy with a studded leather jacket and a chain running from his nose to his ear. As I walked up to the leader, the Gang formed a circle all around me.
So I ripped the leader's chain off his face and smashed him over the head with the tire iron. Then I turned around and yelled to the rest of them, 'Leave this poor, innocent girl alone, you slime! You're all a bunch of sick, deranged animals! Go home before I teach you all a lesson in pain!'"
St. Peter, extremely impressed, says, "Really? Wow, when did all this happen?"
"Er.. about two minutes ago."
The Seventeenth Chapter
A Sunday school teacher was giving her class the assignment for the next week.
"Next Sunday," she said, "we are going to talk about liars, and in preparation for our lesson I want you all to read the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark."
The following week, at the beginning of the class meeting, the teacher said, "Now then, all of you who have prepared for the lesson by reading the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark, please step to the front of the room."
About half the class rose and came forward.
"The rest of you may leave," said the teacher, "these students are the ones I want to talk to. There is no Seventeenth Chapter in the Book of Mark."
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The Master of Breakthroughs – Sermon Outline
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WHEN THE MASTER OF BREAKTHROUGHS SHOWS UP
2 Samuel 5:17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[a] 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.
Footnote in Bible Gateway –1. 2 Samuel 5:20 Literally Master of Breakthroughs
The above passage shows us that God brought breakthrough to David against the Philistines. From David's life we see what kind of man we need to be to see breakthrough against the barriers before our lives:
1. A MAN WALKING IN HIS ANOINTING
2 Samuel 5:17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel,…
2. A MAN PROTECTED IN HIS STRONGHOLD
2 Samuel 5:17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
Jesus is our stronghold and our God will use all the force of Heaven to keep us secure in Him.
ILLUS-One day Mr. Wesley was sitting by an open window looking out over the bright and beautiful fields in summertime. Presently, a little bird, flitting about in the sunshine, attracted his attention. Just then, a hawk came swooping down towards the little bird. The poor thing, very much frightened, was darting here and there, trying to find some place of refuge. In the bright sunny air, in the leafy trees, or the green fields, there was no hiding place from the fierce grasp of the hawk.
But, seeing the open window, and a man sitting by it, the bird flew, in its extreme terror, towards it, and with a beating heart and quivering wing found refuge in Mr. Wesley's bosom. He sheltered it from the threatening danger, and saved it from a cruel death. Mr.
Wesley was at that time suffering from severe trials, and was feeling the need of a refuge in his own time of trouble as much as the trembling little bird did, that nestled so safely in his bosom. So he took up his pen and wrote that sweet hymn–
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.
- Richard Newlin
3. A MAN WHO ENQUIRES BEFORE HE CHARGES
19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
Presumption has been the downfall of many a strong man. We need to learn to humbly seek God in spite of what our manly prowess may be leading us to do. David could have presumed that all his previous victories assured this one, but he knew the Lord gives the victory so the Lord should be the One giving the orders.
ILLUS-At Kenesaw, during the battle, those who approached a certain tree were almost sure to get shot. Eight men had fallen at that place. A sign was put up: "Beware!" A man in a braggadocio spirit said, "I am not afraid to stand there. There is no reason why a man should be not there, any more than anywhere else." He stepped up to the tree, and instantly fell, fatally wounded. – Talmage
4. A MAN WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO OBEY GOD
And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[a] 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.
Knowing God will give victory in the battle is only seen by the man who then has the courage to step into the battle. David had courage that had been tested and he had faith to do what God said.
ILLUS-A woman and her husband interupted their vacation to go to a dentist. "I want a tooth pulled, and I don't want Novocain because I'm in a big hurry," the woman said. "Just extract the tooth as quickly as possible, and we'll be on our way." The dentist was quite impressed. "You're certainly a courageous woman," he said. "Which tooth is it?" The woman turned to her husband and said, "Show him your tooth, dear."
It's easy to expect someone else to be brave but are you willing to be bold for the Lord in the tests of daily life?
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Preacher Jokes 3 – Pulpit Humor
By · CommentsA BUNCH OF BULL
A farmer answered a knock on his door one morning. An electric company worker handed him a piece of paper stating that the electric company would like to run a power line through his pasture. The farmer said, "No."
"Legally, that paper says we can," replied the worker.
As he turned and left returning to his co-workers in the field, the farmer went to his barn and turned his bull into the pasture.
As the bull rumbled toward the workers in the field, the farmer hollered, "Show HIM your paper!"
BETTER KNOW WHEN TO TAKE A STAND
A group of guys took a trip to France and decided to attend Mass in a small town, even though none of them understood French. They managed to stand, kneel and sit when the rest of the congregation did, so it wouldn't be obvious they were tourists. At one point, the priest spoke and the man sitting next to them stood up, so they got up, too. The entire congregation broke into hearty laughter.
After the service they approached the priest, who spoke English, and asked him what had been so funny. The priest said he had announced a birth in the parish and asked the father to stand up.
GIFT OF INTERPRETATION
Mom walks into the kitchen and sees her daughter with the whole box of
animal crackers spread on the counter top.
Mom: "Why did you pour out the whole box?"
Daughter: "The box says, 'Do not eat if the seal is broken. I'm looking for
the seal."
LEFT HANDED GOD
Little Bobby was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in kindergarten.
His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful.
His grandmother remarked, "Doesn't it look like an artist painted this scenery? Did you know God painted this just for you?"
Bobby said, "Yes, God did it and he did it left handed."
This confused his grandmother a bit, and she asked him "What makes you say God did this with his left hand?"
"Well," said Bobby, "we learned at Sunday School last week that Jesus sits on God's right hand."
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Unleashing the Power of Unity – Sermon with Notes
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UNLEASHING THE POWER OF UNITY
By Eddie Lawrence
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
1. OUR UNITY IS MORE THAN A SPIRITUAL CONCEPT
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being ….
-What good is it to have the right doctrinal position on unity if you are not in unity. That is what Paul is saying to the Philippians.
-Hours before Jesus was nailed to the cross, he was draped in travail and intercession in Gethsemane praying for all of us to be one and to be unified and to function like he and Father function. This is the key to seeing God's glory manifest in our lives.
ILLUS- There is a difference between being together and being in unity. A husband and wife can be together in the same house and not have any unity and harmony.
HUMOR- Like two cats whose tails are tied together. They may be together but they are not in unity.
2. OUR UNITY MEANS WE CAN BE LIKE-MINDED
Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, …
-A few verses later Paul describes the mind of Christ. This is what we as Christians are to have and it is the way we begin to be like-minded.
-Our perspective must be from our position in Christ.
-We see as Christ sees.
ILLUS- Remember one of those submarine movies on TV where the admiral sees something through the perioscope and then invites someone else to see what he is seeing. Jesus as our captain invites us to see what he sees.
3. OUR UNITY MEANS WE CAN HAVE THE SAME LOVE
Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, ….
-When we have the same love, there is an awesome power released in our midst. We are love Jesus. We are to love one another. We do this through God's love not our own natural love that is often based on what we like or don't like. It is God's love that is filled with commitment and sees the purposes of God. It is sacrificial. It is the love that kept Jesus on the cross while praying for those who rejoiced in seeing him there.
-Divisions are creating when people love the worship but not the God who is worshipped; when people love the preacher, but don't receive what he preaches, etc.
KEY- Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35 that we are to love each other the way he loves us! Therefore, it is vital that we know He loves us and the way he has loved us and continues to love us. Our identities are to be rooted in the love of God. We are lovers because of the we have are loved. We love Him because He has first loved us.
4. OUR UNITY MEANS WE CAN BE ONE IN SPIRIT AND OF ONE MIND
Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Principles:
Prayer of agreement- Jesus honors our agreement in prayer with him.
Warfare Synergy- one can put a thousand to flight. Two can put ten thousand to flight.
Bridal Intimacy- Unity is the place where intimacy grows. In marriage, with Christ, and with His church.
5. OUR UNITY MEANS WE CAN BE GENUINELY CONCERNED FOR ONE ANOTHER
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Practical Side: Where there is true unity people treat people in deference and love. Simply put, operating in the love and grace we have in Christ, we can over ourselves and begin living beyond ourselves and seeing Christ in action through our lives. This is what causes the world to know we are Christians.
CONCLUSION: Will we do this? Are we doing this? Can we do this? Only by getting into the place where our love for our Lord is paramount, our love for one another is evident, and our lives portray that we value those around us to the extent that we will sacrifice ourselves for them.
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Preacher Jokes 2 – Pulpit Humor
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Okay here are four more funny ones you can use. Blessings and hope you enjoy the jokes.
ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!
The story is told about a king in Africa who had a close friend he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."
"No," his friend replied, "this is good!"
"What do you mean, "this is good!" How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you and would have been eaten!"
GOOD SERMONS – BAD SERMONS
A preacher was told by his doctor that he had only a few weeks left to live.
He went home feeling very sad, and when his wife heard the sad news she said to him, "Honey, if there's anything I can do to make you happy, tell me."
The preacher answered, "You know, dear, there's that box in the kitchen cabinet with what you always called "your little secret" in it and you said you never would want me to open it as long as you lived. Now that I'm about to go home to be with the Lord, why don't you show me what's in that secret box of yours?"
The preacher's wife got out the box and opened the lid.
It contained $10,000 and three eggs.
"What are those eggs doing in the box?" the preacher asked. "Well, Honey," she replied, "every time your sermon was really bad I put an egg in the box.
Now the preacher had been preaching for over forty years, and seeing only three eggs in that old shoe box, he started to feel very proud about himself and it warmed his soul.
"And what about that $10,000?"" he asked.
"Oh, you see," she whispered softly, "every time there were a dozen eggs in the box, I . . . ummm . . . sold them . . . and put a dollar in the box."
EXCERPTS FROM REQUESTS SENT TO LANDLORDS
1. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bathe the children until it is cleared.
2. This is to let you know that there is a smell coming from the man next door.
3. The toilet seat is cracked: where do I stand?
4. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is running away from the wall.
5. I request your permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.
6. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces.
7. Will you please send someone to mend our cracked sidewalk. Yesterday my wife tripped on it and is now pregnant.
8. Our kitchen floor is very damp, we have two children and would like a third, so will you please send someone to do something about it.
9. Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny color and not fit to drink.
10. Could you please send someone to fix our bath tap? My wife got her toe stuck in it and it is very uncomfortable for us.
WILL YOUR FRIEND VOUCH FOR YOU?
A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation. He wrote:”I would very much like to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at night?”
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who said, “I’ve been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I’ve never had a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will vouch for you, you re welcome to stay here, too.”
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7 Confessions for Increased Favor – Sermon Outline
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SEVEN CONFESSIONS FOR INCREASED FAVOR
by Leif Hetland ( LeifHetland.com)
1. Supernatural Increase and Promotion.
"But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison."
Genesis 39:21
2. Restoration of Everything the Enemy has Taken From You.
"And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go emptyhanded.” Exodus 3:21
3. Honor in the Midst of Adversaries.
"And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people." Exodus 11:3
“It's not the law of religion, nor the principles of morality that define our highways and pathways to God; only by the Grace of God are we led and drawn to God. It is His grace that conquers a multitude of flaws and in that grace, there is only favor. Favor is not achieved; favor is received.”
-C. Joy Bell
4. Victory in the Midst of Impossibilities.
“For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no favor, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Joshua 11:20
5. Recognition, Even when You seem the Least likely to Receive it.
“Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.’" 1 Samuel 16:22
6. Prominence and Preferential Treatment.
“The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” Esther 2:17
7. Battles Won which You won’t even fight – God will fight them for you!
“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”
Psalm 44:3
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Preacher Jokes 1 – Pulpit Humor
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Preacher Jokes to Release a Little Joy
DON'T SCARE ME!
The passenger tapped the cab driver on the shoulder to ask him something. The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the sidewalk, and stopped inches from a department store window.
For a second everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look mister, don't ever do that again. You scared me half to death!"
The passenger apologized and said he didn't realize that a little tap could scare him so much.
The driver replied, "You're right. I'm sorry. Really, it's not your fault. Today is my first day as a cab driver. I've been driving a hearse for 25 years."
DON'T BE LIKE THIS GUY!
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The Favor of the Lord – Sermon Outline
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THE FAVOR OF GOD
by Leif Hetland (Leif hetland.com)
“For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12
A Definition of “favor”:
Webster: “friendly regard shown toward another, especially by a superior”
W.E. Vines: Greek word - “Charis” (same word for Grace). Grace on the part of the giver, favor or kindness”.
IT'S TIME TO START LIVING IN THE —F. O. G.—(favor of God)
I. FAVOR IS A GIFT
Consider the story of Mary in Luke chapter 1.
"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26 – 28
“Found Favor” verse 30: She didn’t earn it, buy it – there was nothing in her that suggested she would be the one to bring the Son of God into the world.
Mary is about to find out something….
everyone needs to know….
YOU ARE GOD’S PRIZE POSSESSION!
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:3-5
-A Lack of Knowledge Keeps You from Living up to Your Privileges!
-You are Royalty. Religion won’t tell you that. Jesus said in John 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor”. When you are honored by someone, you can expect “preferential” treatment.
-You are so highly favored that no weapon formed against you will prosper.
"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:17
-You are so highly favored that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39
YOU CAN EXPECT IMPOSSIBLE DOORS TO SUDDENLY OPEN AND EVERY SITUATION TO TURN AROUND.
“Fools mock at sin, but among the upright
there is favor.” Proverbs 14:9
2. FAVOR BRINGS INCREASE
Increase was on the way for Mary.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:31-33
She didn’t have much hope of ever seeing “increase” but her life was about to change.
ILLUSTRATION: God’s Unmerited Favor
When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is wage.
When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize.
When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.
But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award-yet receives such a gift anyway-that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.
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You Have Been UPGRADED – sermon notes
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Thanks to my friend Leif Hetland, who travels the nations, for the following teaching. Leif's ministry site is LeifHetland.com .
YOU HAVE BEEN UPGRADED!
by Leif Hetland
This is the Social Dimension.
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5 Steps of Recovery – Sermon
By · Comments(The following came from a friend of mine, Leif Hetland. You can learn more about his ministry at leifhetland.com)
5 STEPS OF RECOVERY
by Leif Hetland
INTRODUCTION: GOD HAS GIVEN ME A "NOW" WORD FOR 2012
I have tried to operate my ministry using the five steps of David's recovery for many years. As 2011 drew to a close I began to cry out to the Lord for a WORD for 2012. I felt a stirring in my spirit and I believe that God told me, "TELL MY PEOPLE 2012 IS THE YEAR OF UPGRADE!"
2011 was an unusual and interesting year. On one hand, I saw tremendous blessing, power, and anointing. On the other hand, it seemed every time I turned around, the enemy was trying to steal things from me. I woke up one day and realized that; the greater the anointing, the greater the attack. The enemy only attacks what he is afraid of, so it was obvious to me that I was doing something right.
Of all things my briefcase was stolen, my wallet, along with all my important documents that were in my briefcase. Things that I thought I could not live without were taken away. If it's ever happened to you, well, you know how disconcerting it can be.
It became crystal clear that the enemy was trying to take:
· My Dignity
· My Identity
· And My Dreams
I was reminded of John 10:10:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full. "
While it is true that’s what the enemy wants to do, we also know that what he steals, God will make sure it is restored!
I was reminded of the story of David in first Samuel 30.
You will remember that David had been a man on the run. Even though he had the anointing on him, he is still not reigning as King.
When he learned how to take back what the enemy had stolen from him, it became a turning point in his ministry.
God told David,
“Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
You remember the story?
While David and his men were away from his stronghold at Ziklag, the enemy attacked. They took their families captive, and burned the city. David and his men were distressed, and didn't know what to do. David's men were so angry they blamed him and even talked of stoning him.
What was David to do?
If you will look closely at this passage of Scripture, you will see five keywords that outline David's recovery:
1. Praise
"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
1 Samuel 30:6
This is the foundation for his recovery. David began to learn how to focus on the promises of God and not on the problems at hand. He encouraged himself in the Lord. It's always great to get encouraging words from other people, but sometimes, when everyone is against you, it's best to learn how to encourage yourself. This is what David was learning to do.
One of the hardest, most difficult things to do is to praise God when everything is going wrong.
WHAT WE DO AND SAY FIRST WHEN WE HEAR BAD NEWS IS A HINT AS TO WHAT WE BELIEVE.
2. Prayer
"Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
1 Samuel 30:7 – 8
David asked specific questions and got specific answers. He called for the man of God and got into agreement and he did not come out from the agreement until he heard from God. We give up too easily when faced with difficult problems.
“Again I say[ to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19 – 20
3. Pursuit
"So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor."
1 Samuel 30:9 – 10
This Is the Turning Point in David’s Recovery.
So David went – David pursued. God gave his word, and David acted on it. He could have looked at the negatives and said, "I don't think this plan will work." Everybody is mad at me, I've lost my stronghold, my family, and my men. David didn't do that, he pursued the enemy and recovered it all.
4. Prevailed
"Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. 18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all."
There will always be warfare attached to our recovery. David stepped out on the word of God, focused on the promises of God, and God began to move on his behalf. God led them right into the enemy's camp.
God is raising up an army of men and women who will learn how to pursue, advance on the enemy, and take back everything.
5. Perpetuate
”Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men[a] of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.”
1 Samuel 30:21 – 25
There were some who couldn't go to the battle. They were too weak to follow David, and stayed by the supplies. David did not punish them for not going. His attitude was that they would all share in the reward. The principle is obvious. He is sowing generous seeds for future harvest. That is how we perpetuate the victories that we win.
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