Pastor Jason Anderson - Audio

Our society has gone through a bout of isolation, and the effects have been devastating. We closed schools and masked our children; we closed churches and canceled holidays. And then we have an "isolation device" called a "phone." God's words ring true now more than ever. "It is not good for a man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18 NKJV) Autism, learning disabilities, mental illness, and depression are at an all-time high. We are now experiencing the most addicted and suicidal generation in history. And you might say, "What does that have to do with being alone?" EVERYTHING.

"It's not worth it, it's not worth my time, it's hard to go to church." I know. "They hurt me." Jesus says, "Yeah, they hurt me too." Is it worth it? People are worth more than your pain. Humans are worth more than the hurt. Ask Jesus. "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3 NIV)

"... that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:17-18 NKJV) The saints here are you and the people around you. Treasure is sitting in the seat next to you, in front of you, behind you. I know you have great friends at work and in your neighborhood, but for me, the most significant relationships have always been found and cultivated in the church.

"Now David was greatly distressed... but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:6 NKJV) If you've been struggling, I want you to know your second wind is coming. There are places you want to go in your marriage, family, health, and finances, and God built you to win—not to end where you started, but to take that promised land.

"He made him ride in the heights of the earth, that he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock..." (Deuteronomy 32:13 NKJV) God is hiding goodness among the difficulties. The riches, the goodness, the best pleasures—the promises of God—are honey, but the honey is in the rock. The best of the produce will come from the hardest of places.

What's the solution to overcoming temptation in your life? Here it is. Don't take what Satan brings you. The enemy is a liar; sometimes, the deception is so great that we make a treaty with it. We keep it around like it's a part of us, like it's serving us, but don't do that... it's a trap. "Away with you, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10 NKJV)

In the Word, there is often an assignment attached to a breakthrough. In John 2, Jesus tells the servants at the wedding feast to "fill the jars with water." If they hadn't, they wouldn't have seen a miracle. The Israelites... if they don't cross the Jordan, they don't get a miracle; if they don't circle Jericho seven times, they don't receive their breakthrough. "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5)

Too many believers are walking around with the power of Christ pent up inside, waiting for Jesus to fix everything. I know sometimes we have to wait on the Lord, but today I want you to know that sometimes the Lord is waiting on you. Let's talk about three Bible stories where each initiated a miracle: Mary, Peter, and the Blind Bartimaeus. See God's hand in your life; take the initiative and unleash the power of God into your world.

"Then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain." (Isaiah 4:5-6 NKJV) We are citizens of the Kingdom of God, and Isaiah describes those planted in God's house—a people positioned above the mess unaffected by the storm. There may be trouble, noise, and despair in the land, but in the assembly, there is shelter. It's a place of refuge and rest, a place you can flourish and be blessed, even when the land is a mess.

"Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" (Genesis 15:5 NKJV) It's time to look up at the stars and remember what God said. When you remember what He has promised, you get back into hope, into faith. You release the hand of God, and the power of His word will explode into your life!

At the cross, Jesus purchased every promise for us, including restoration. So, no matter what you have lost, according to His Word, you can believe God for restoration. And the thing about our God is that He doesn't only restore you; He brings you more—His promise is a double portion. "Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." (Isaiah 61:7 NIV)

Everything is fighting for your resources, maybe now more than ever. The news, politics, gas prices, social media, Netflix... they're all loud, and they all want your attention. But my Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this world." It's all just noise—weeds—fighting for your resources. "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things, come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)

We can look at our life, marriage, spouse, job... and see what's missing. We can look at ourselves, say, "I'm not enough," and go down a path of condemnation and guilt. And, if I'm no good, then you're no good. Do we drink from the cup of criticism and judgment, looking for what's wrong with ourselves and others, or do we look for and speak the good things?

NEWSFLASH: Satan doesn't like you. He's actually afraid of you and the Word of God working on the inside of you. The parable of the sower and the seed shows how the Lord wants to grow you into a devil-butt-kicking machine, but "Some [seed] fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture." (Luke 8:6) The enemy comes to steal the seed, but God wants to use the attack for His glory.

There is God's way of thinking and our way of thinking, and we can get so set in our own ways that we miss what is better! God wants to grow and change your world. "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it." (Luke 8:5)

"But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15) So, let's talk about hearing the word of God--the starting line to your growth in every area of the LORD.

It's easy to trust God and have faith when everything is going great, but what about when we're knocked down, stranded, dead in the water with a full-on storm approaching? There is a lion in each of us who refuses to give up the fight. I STILL BELIEVE!

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." This is the ministry of reconciliation. And reconciliation doesn't stop with people; it includes things, property, and influence. The reason things continue to get worse isn't that God is missing; it's that we are not yet in the position He has given us. The world's wealth is laid up for the just; it's waiting for us to take our place.

The enemy has lied to us and has believers attacking believers in the name of Christianity. Brothers are attacking one another. Christians are throwing stones and persecuting the church and each other. But we are stronger together, so let's talk about unity in the body of Christ! "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)

No matter how far you go, there will always be others who have gone further--this is the order of God. No matter where you are, some have not been there yet. And so, no one escapes the responsibility to consider those who have not yet been where we have been. Let the mothers and fathers rise and raise the sons and daughters!