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TITLE: It's Not Over Until It's Over By Fenny West 09/22/09 |
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It’s not over until it’s over
The Calling of the First Disciples
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
We all have had bad days and will continue to have them whether we are believers or not. Jesus came for one primary purpose – to save those who are lost- not to prevent us from having bad days. For some of us without the bad day we experienced we would still be lost in our sins and trespasses. Pain often brings a gain. It tells you there is a problem and when you address you get relief. Suffering can turn your attention to God and when it does it is blessing in disguise- something you should even thank God for, because without it you would still be lost and on your way to hell.
So we may find in situations where God intervenes and brings us out of situations and at other time s he may let us stew in it because he has something better at the end. The important thing to realise is that He has the last word- not our enemies, circumstances. It is not over until He says so. He is sovereign, has all power and authority and his Word is final. It’s not over until it’s over. It’s not over until He says so.
As children of God we have to have this very important mind-set that our lives are in His hands. We belong to Him. And so long as we are yielded to Him, His will, will be done and His kingdom will come in our lives.
In our passage w see that Peter and his friends had a bad day. They had fished all night without catching anything. They were expert fishermen. They knew what to do and had done what they could but it was one of those bad days. It was not the first time they were having such a day. They were resigned to it. May be tomorrow will be better.
Jesus asked to use their boat for kingdom business and they gladly obliged. They did not focus on their empty nets or circumstances and they were not disappointed. After preaching the word, Jesus addressed their situation.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
They could have leaned on their own understanding, being experts at the trade, but the humbled themselves and obeyed the Master to go further into the deep water and let down the net. They had given to the kingdom of God. They had sacrificed their boat and time listening to Him and he would not leave them empty handed.
God is no man’s debtor. He will reward whatever we sacrifice in His Name.
Hence amidst a hopeless situation Jesus showed up and they focused on Him and not their circumstances and the result was a miracle catch because he has the last word.
What ever you are going through, if you are a child of God know, that you know that He is in you, for you and with you. He said I will not leave you nor forsake you until the end of the age. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Trust in the Lord. at all times. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. It is not over until He says so. Regardless how dark it may be, Jesus has the final word- not the devil, certainly, not people. Focus on Jesus, the Author and finisher of your faith. Feed on His faithfulness. Graze on His goodness. Lurch onto His love. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for you and as far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed your transgression from you. You are the redeemed of the Lord. If He is for you who can be against you? All things work together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes. No weapon that is fashioned against you will prosper. Let Him have His way in your situation. Go to Him about your circumstance. He has the last word.
Hear what He says and do what He bids. Your miracle is in your obedience and trust. Have faith in God. Regardless of your previous experience act on His word, His guidance, His leading, His prompting. It may sound ridiculous but the miraculous may well be on its way. He sees the end from the beginning, declares the end from the beginning. He is the first and the Last the ~Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end. With Him all things are possible. Do what he says!
Peter obeyed and had a mammoth catch so much that they sought for help from other fishermen. Jesus surprised them. God will surprise you as you obey Him in the midst of you hopeless situation. He will give you more than enough. You will be amazed, awestruck, dumbfounded.
Lazarus was gravely sick and the news reached Jesus but Jesus delayed in coming until he died and was buried. He came on the scene after four days. Mary was disappointed. She knew he could have healed him as he had healed many but felt it was too late now that Lazarus was dead and what more, stank.
Jesus asked where he was laid and told them to take away the stone. Mary hesitated that it was too late but when they obeyed and took away the stone, Jesus cried in a loud voice,
‘Lazarus, come forth,!’ and Lazarus came forth. It is not over until it’s over.
It’s not over until God says so. What is He saying to you? What ever He says, do it.
Even after Lazarus was raised there was yet an obstacle- the grave cloth. It hindered, limited Lazarus. Jesus addressed that also: ‘lose him and let him go!’
Your obedience will trigger your miracle and when it has happened there may be other limitations that may persist bent on beclouding the miracle. You must not give in to those limitations. You must stand to see your salvation. You must declare: whom the Son sets free is free indeed! You must walk in your freedom in Jesus’ Name. Christ has redeemed you. He begins and finishes. Do not buy the lie of your adversary, who has come to steal, kill and destroy. Hold fast to the liberty that the Spirit of God has wrought in you.
Acts 12
Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison
1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Acts12;
In this passage we find that a disciple had been executed. God allowed it to happen. Bu in the case of Peter h sent his angels to deliver him.
Is God partial? Definitely No! God is sovereign. He has the last word. He has two processions. Some people will be delivered from certain troubles other will go through them and yet he loves these two processions in equal measure as long as they were relying on Him.
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again
We all like to be delivered always but that is not God’s way. He certainly wants to deliver us from our sin. But for calamities he allows some of them and uses them to prune us, prepare us for the prepared place- heaven. What he delivers one saint from may be allowed in another saint. He knows what I need to prepare me. He knows what you need to prepare you. the important thing is being at the centre of His will and yielded to Him at all times.
Paul was mightily used to heal many people but then he had a thorn in his flesh which troubled him for long and he prayed that the Lord would relieve him of it but the Lord chose not to and instead replied: ‘My grace is sufficient for you. In your weakness my strength is made perfect.’
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.2Cor12:7-12
This same God delivered Paul and Silas from the prison in Philippi as they sang loudly in prison and the jailor and his household came to know Christ as Lord and Saviour. (Acts 16)
However we know that Paul was eventually executed after completing his race, kept the faith and this time God allowed him to be executed. So it is not over until God says so. God has the final say. He determines how we come or go. Paul was still victorious even though executed. God was not taken by surprise. God was still in control.
No one could kill Jesus before His time but in the end when it was time to go he was crucified according to the will of God. God has the final say.
John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, a mighty man of God who identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, was submissive to Him, recognising his role as the voice in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. He was a fiery bold preacher. But he was arrested and imprisoned. He thought Jesus would come and release him but after staying in custody for a long time without any sign of being released, he sent word to Jesus: are you the one or do we look for another.
Jesus sent him the reply: the blind see, the lame walk, the good news is being reached to the poor, blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
As we know John was later beheaded. Did that make him a failure or loser? Definitely ‘No! ‘God had the final word and on this occasion John the Baptist was among the procession He takes through.
. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again
In conclusion, what circumstances are you facing right now? Are you a child of God? If you are, take it to the Lord in prayer. Be not anxious. God is in control. He has the final say.
If your trouble is the result of your disobedience you will know it. The wise thing to do is to say, ‘Lord. I am sorry for disobeying You.’ Let your confession be followed by genuine repentance. Obey God and He will give you a breakthrough.
Remember: ‘He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’. (Pov.28:13 ) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:’ Ps66:18 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. 1John 1:9
If you are confident that it is not sin, then go to the Lord and ask Him to show you what to do. He may be using the situation to prune you, hone you, make you more robust for the work He has for you. Press in with prayer; press in with faith. Acknowledge His power, wisdom and sovereignty. Recognize that no weapon fashioned against you will prosper and that only His will, will be done. Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Stretch your faith muscles. That is definitely His will in times of challenges. God may be preparing you, wanting t use trouble to lift you to another level of faith in Him. Your rouble may be about to introduce you into a future glory on the horizon. Like Peter you may about to experience a catch like never before- a miracle. God may want to use your pain to work a miracle of deliverance and use you to bring others to Him like he did Paul and Silas.
Find out what He is saying in your circumstance. Whatever he says, do it. He has the final Word. It is not over until He says so. If he does not take you out of the situation like James, John-the-Baptist, (Matt.11) Paul (when the end came)
6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
, Steven (56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
. 2Tim2:6-7
Then so be it, your work is done. And that is what matters. Remember it is not what happens to you but how your handle it.
Stephen was a faithful disciple but see what happened to him. He was the first martyr See how he handled what happened to him. God was glorified!
58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:58-60)
He died preaching the Gospel and praying for those who were killing him.
He was resigned to sovereignty of God. That God remains the same- yesterday, today and forever. He is sovereign. He remains in faith till the end regardless of what we go through. Whatever He allows is for our ultimate good.
If He takes you out, give glory to Him. Proclaim His salvation. He is a miracle working God.
If He takes you THROUGH it, give glory to Him all the same. All things work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to His purpose. You will come out better, shinning like gold, like Job, to His glory.
If you die believing, you are still a victor, beloved, more than a conqueror in Him.
It’s not over until He says so!
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