Why God Delays Your Blessings

If you forget giving you complainer, not a survivor.

Jonathan talks about how easily we can fall victim to spiritual amnesia. Time to get see the enemy is good. Letting us focus so hard at our problem that we don't remember how big God has been in the past. This is the alternative, we have offered speaker, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Dallas, Texas, president of the alternative today in a special message by Jonathan Evan will discover why winning the battles ahead of us may depend on remembering the victories behind us once joined him as he explains about found myself in Exodus 17 because it exit 17. There is a battle and he gave me some encouragement last night as I was reading it and so I want to give you some encouragement through the battle that you're facing. Exodus 17 verse eight then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Riverdale. So Moses said to Joshua choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.

Joshua did as Moses told him and fought against Amalek and Moses and Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill so it came about when Moses held his hand up that Israel prevailed and when he let his hand down Amalek prevailed, but Moses hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on and Aaron and her supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus, his hands were steady until sunset so Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword and the Lord said to Moses, write this in the book as a memorial and recited to Joshua that I may utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the earth. Moses built an altar and named it the Lord is my banner today.

This encouraged me because he's teaching me here. This is how we fight battles that have times where you have all these things going on in your life but if you go up to me while taking care of your responsibilities down there.

I will show up.

Many of you are dealing with health issues you're dealing with financial issues you're dealing with relational issues you're dealing with career issues you're doing with addiction issues you're dealing with children issues list can go on and on to stand up on the stage and have a moment to tell your story but it's a spiritual battle. There are things going on in heavenly places to try to take you out and the worst thing that we can do is tuck tail and run when it's our opportunity to pull down the power of having to overcome what's going on. The people of Israel were on their way to the promised land. They were going in the direction that God had called them to go when they came to a place called record them in order to camp can't means that we want to be revitalized. We want to sit down and get our mojo back because we got a long journey. So were trying to get reduced if you will that had their Vita mix is out and they had their juices out and they were trying to get things organized blood flowing in the right direction so they can keep going in the direction the God call them to camp this want to get ready for the next phase. The expectation is that if were camping were getting revitalized for God is taking us next.

The problem is is that the place where they camp was also the place where they didn't have any water knife you can imagine, going from Africa through the Middle East on foot and you and got no water does not like a small problem when talking about life-and-death talking about a major problem and not only is it a major problem, but it messes up your expectations. We stopped here in order to be revitalized in the place where we stopped to be revitalized as the place is hurting us the most. There are people in this room right now.

You will do something to be revitalized. If you just got settled now and slow down in your marriage and be revitalized. And that thing just sped up, you thought that if you can get that new job or that career that you would be revitalized with your experience, what was it wasn't what was on paper, you would be revitalized with this new opportunity. These new things you thought this would be a place where I have an opportunity to camp and get ready for work. God is taking me only to find out that that's the place where you fight your biggest battles and what messes you up is the expectation is the expectation that I thought that we were going in the direction that God has called us to go if you look in verse one verse two in verse three of chapter 17. It was God who told the king and entering the water were following Jesus who calls himself the living water in John chapter 4, and why my thirsty people who were thirsty in your finances thirsty intermarriage. The list goes on and on.

Following the living will come on Jesus, that's just what going through. That's what you're going through, and sometimes you have that misunderstanding that conflict when you're saying but I'm just doing what you said they were thirsty. The people began to grumble and complain saying I condone complaining when I read the story Michael.

I can't understand me. You told them you can water you told him that this would be a place that they can have an expectation to be revitalized and things went downhill and then they started to look at the leader so annoyed at the circumstance that they were in the rocks mode do some about this you feel like someone is going to write you start looking out here picking up stones try to figure out whose fault it is that you're going through what you're going through their learning in season and out of season.

How to trust me. Chapter 14 were caught between a rock and a hard place to get the Red Sea in front of chapter 15, we didn't have any water. Chapter 16 we needed some manner. Chapter 17. We still have anyone come on Jesus one thing after another reason why I want to this passage because in our personal life and thinking may come on man. It's one thing after all.

We just doing what you asked us to do this is confusing to me. Sometimes condone the complaining of the people of Israel.

I used to read the people of Israel and judge him like no did you see we did yesterday are complaining you remember it was like a chapter ago real time lapses like last chapter, but then when you go through oh now I understand that I have to caution myself because that come on, Jesus starts to become a complaint like he just owes me some start become entitled in my speech because of what were doing and got a single business transaction I'm working to take you somewhere and so I'm I'm feeling people of Israel like you because he told you to go there you dehydrated. He's the living water, so he says, so it feels in the Moses saw them tossing the rocks and he said, Jesus is God when they can. You about this Thursday, you told us to camp here. One way to the promised land. You promised God said okay. People were at the breaking point. They started asking the question, is the Lord with us or not. The real question is was real busy with me or not they asked that question. And Moses got a word from the Lord that said not mosey on the Mount horrible and you go up there and make sure you take the staff of God with you know what that represents right represents the spiritual realm. The power drawing down heaven to your experience on earth I need you to do that and I need you to go strike that rock. And when you do water will come out of it so that the nations will no longer thirst.

I got to experience God coming through right at the breaking point, he likes doing it. I like him to come in, he likes doing it because he wants you to know that right when you're about to give up.

He hadn't given up on you he throws you a bone so that you can continue the journey is readying you for what where he's taking you without faith it is impossible to please the Lord. He needs you to trust him. Some of you are in that phase. Words just thirsty and it doesn't seem like there's any provision come from anywhere. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, not those who don't wait to be times when you say to yourself, Jesus. I'm just doing what you told me to do. You brought me out here and then they said wouldn't it be better for us just to go back to Egypt. Some of us, and here's a man might be better for me just go back to my old life might be better for me just to go back to my old way of thinking, a way of operating. No provision of, but don't forget and 14 you are between a rock and a hard place, but the sea opened in 15 you needed water was provided in 16 you were hungry manner fell from heaven too much oil but at least Amanda was in good portion so as 17. Were you complaining about, see the enemy is good. Letting us focus so hard at our problem that we don't remember how great and big God has been in the past.

So how do we develop a better spiritual memory, Jonathan Evans will come back with more about that just a moment first.

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Once again, with more of today's lesson so quick to forget, and the water was coming down after Moses struck the rock and the people looked up right when they were about to give up and you saw God water is better than what we get God water that came from the rock that had to be the best I can see the people of Israel. Now they went to the desert Walmart and got the party cups right is the provision came then Amalek came to fight against Israel and come on Jesus, we can catch a break. Many of you are filling the people of Israelite man is one thing after another and not only is it one thing after another. It's one thing after another in rapid means the location.

It is the same location is that same job in the same coworker the same sickness same family strife thought to yourself, I can just get rid of this one thing, but again I don't want us and myself to forget God's grace. Where is God's grace in the story God provided the water before Amalek showed up.

See, he knows what's coming and he'll make those provisions so that you're ready to handle if you forget what he's given you for what you're going through. You'll be a complainer not a survivor but remember how great God is because he's preparing you for great promise in that promise. Sometimes can get dark. But if you don't stop walking. You can keep experiencing where he's taking you. There's a battle that has to be fought.

You got it will be responsible.

You can't complain about it. You gotta go fight against it, and Moses tells us he said to Joshua and verse nine you go down and I will go up as you go down and take care of that responsibility because we can't ignore the battle but I'm not let you go down there without me going up to handle the spiritual war like my mom said this battle wasn't there and up there determines what happens down here. Some of us are so earthly bound. There were no heavenly good. Some of us just flying in the sky just talking all the spiritual language walking around looking all churchy, but you can be used on earth peace and you gotta go up and grab the spiritual perspective while taking care responsibilities down here within the top of the stairs in our house and us it came to give me a hand hold my hand try to go down the stairs related to short. You caught off guard and bowling balls rolling down the stairs, so I grabbed his hand and Camden is my strong-willed son anyone to help is determined. So when I grabbed his hand. He said I don't know what is. Went down went down to the last step in the fall to four so I said okay. Camden is shot.

He took the step first put didn't touch the ground before his back foot came off the it just knocked the wind began. It was a worship service hand coming back to the father because he recognized his to try to take this journey down here without having a hold of my father let you go because we have to have a stronghold even two years later my son came there for years so you for now. Go down the stairs's dad hold my hand and you form a new better we know better now. Moses let you know better now you go down and take care that responsibility.

But you have to have a firm grasp because I have confidence in. My father even though I know I still have to take a walk and I will tell somebody out there will be responsible and go fight hard, go fight hard to let go your Father's Day because he determines the end result in the middle of this battle, Moses arms to her. They got heavy and the Bible says verse 12 says that Erin and her took a stone and put it under him and had him sit on it. You always know when you have the right people around because they don't give you a rock to sit on people asked me are you doing as I'm doing okay.

I really do pretty good one. My faith is in one thing and it's a rock and I believe I have an expectation because the rock even when I fall apart, it doesn't. It's immutable is not going change no matter what you feel is a rock you have to have people around you that can give you the rock guitar all don't quote them scriptures don't only hear that yesterday you need that because it's true. His hands got heavy and his boys gave him a stone sit on. They held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other because of them, not just Moses. His hands were steady until sunset.

Thus, we know what happened. Joshua overwhelmed Amalek with the edge of the sword. What is the sword Ephesians 6 he took the spiritual perspective from up there insulators enemy down here.

Why is the word word important will pretty much the only offense of weapon you get many of us are just living defense but his word says if you ask according to my will I hear you, you better know that I hear you and your petitions will be grabbed by heaven, what it says in first John 514. His word says in John 15. If you abide in me and my word abides in you can ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

That's what your word says his word says in Mark 11 that if you pray, believing, you will be receiving that's what his word says his word says don't be anxious for anything but the prayer and supplication make your request, no.

So, since he says it. We don't do it to have an expectation that Jehovah nisi will give us victory in our family in your life, your family's life looking for because we have and we can have an expectation that even though we have battles God is only preparing us for a great promise ready for the battle is ready for the battle only play defense is time to play offense may give you a bad omen handed because what he says, no matter what you do you feel close enough to God to see him as a daddy loves you unconditionally. That's the kind of connection.

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