G. T. Ministries

Gregory Tucker
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Christianity

My podcast will be called "Faith beyond Fear" encouraging people to trust God in the midst of what they are going through.  

  1. 2d ago

    Due Season!

    Send us Fan Mail SERMON: “DUE SEASON!” Monthly Theme: HARVEST TIME Sermon Title: DUE SEASON! Main Scripture: Galatians 6:9 (KJV) Supporting Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:1; Genesis 26:12; James 5:7–8; Psalm 126:5–6; Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 5:1–11 Sermon Thought: Don't Give Up Before Your Harvest Comes! Main Scripture — Galatians 6:9 (KJV) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Introduction: Everybody Wants a Harvest, but Nobody Wants to Wait! Church, I want to preach today about two powerful words found in Galatians 6:9: DUE SEASON! There is something about the word harvest that excites people. Harvest means increase, abundance, fruitfulness, and the gathering of what has been planted. But there is something we must understand about harvest time. You cannot have a harvest without first going through a season of planting! Everybody wants the harvest, but not everybody wants to sow. Everybody wants the blessing, but not everybody wants the burden. Everybody wants the promise, but not everybody wants the process. Everybody wants the victory, but not everybody wants to endure the battle. And everybody wants God to move, but nobody wants to wait!   You know, church, some of us want God to operate like a microwave! We want to put our prayer in on Monday, press a button on Tuesday, and have our blessing ready by Wednesday! And if God hasn't answered by Thursday, we're ready to call customer service! But I've discovered something about God. God doesn't operate according to our microwave. He operates according to His divine timetable! A farmer doesn't plant tomatoes today and go outside tomorrow morning with a basket expecting to pick tomatoes! He understands that there must be a process. There must be planting. There must be watering. There must be sunshine. There must be patience. And there must be time. Likewise, there are some things God is doing in our lives that require time. Somebody here has been praying for a long time. You've been praying for your children. You've been praying for your marriage. You've been praying for healing. You've been praying for your finances. You've been praying for your church. And sometimes you wonder, "Lord, when will my season come?" But I want to encourage you today. Don't give up! Your due season is in God's hands! What Does Due Season Mean? The word due means proper, appropriate, or appointed. The word season refers to a particular time or period. Together, due season means the proper or appointed time for something to happen. It is not necessarily when we want it. It is not necessarily when we expect it. But it is the time God has appointed. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" There is a time to plant. There is a time to water. There is a time to wait. And there is a time to reap! I want to share seven important truths concerning our due season. 1. DUE SEASON REQUIRES SOWING BEFORE REAPING Scripture: Galatians 6:7–8 (KJV) 7. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." 8. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Before you can experience a harvest, you must first plant a seed. The farmer understands that if he wants corn, he must plant corn. If he wants wheat, he must plant wheat. If he wants apples, he must plant apple seeds and cultivate the trees. The same principle applies spiritually. If you want love, sow love. If you want peace, sow peace. If you want kindness, sow kindness. If you want spiritual growth, sow the Word of God into your life. Bible Illustration: Isaac Sowed During a Famine Genesis 26:12–13 (KJV) 12. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him." 13. "And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:" What makes this passage so powerful is that Isaac sowed during a famine. A famine is a season of shortage, difficulty, and uncertainty. But Isaac refused to allow the conditions around him to determine his obedience to God. He sowed when others might have been afraid to sow. He planted when others might have been holding back. And the Bible says he received a hundredfold! The lesson: Don't allow difficult circumstances to stop you from doing what God has called you to do. You may be going through a famine financially, but keep trusting God. You may be experiencing a famine emotionally, but keep believing. You may be going through a dry spiritual season, but keep praying. You may not see immediate results from your labor, but keep sowing. Preaching declaration: "Don't stop planting just because the ground looks dry!" 2. DUE SEASON REQUIRES PATIENCE WHILE WAITING Scripture: James 5:7–8 (KJV) 7. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." 8. "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James uses the farmer to teach us patience. The farmer cannot rush the harvest. He must wait for the rain. He must wait for the seed to germinate. He must wait for the roots to develop. And he must wait for the fruit to mature. Some Christians struggle with waiting because they want everything immediately. But there are some things that cannot be rushed. Bible Illustration: Abraham and Sarah God promised Abraham that he would have a son. But Abraham and Sarah waited many years before Isaac was born. Genesis 21:1–3 (KJV) 1. "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken." 2. "For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." 3. "And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac." Notice those words in verse 2: "At the set time." Not Abraham's time. Not Sarah's time. But God's appointed time! Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Sarah was 90. What looked impossible to man was possible with God. The lesson: Waiting does not mean God has forgotten His promise. Sometimes God uses the waiting season to strengthen our faith. Sometimes He uses it to develop patience. Sometimes He uses it to prepare us for greater responsibility. "While I'm waiting on God, God is working on me!" 3. DUE SEASON REQUIRES ENDURANCE WHEN YOU BECOME WEARY Scripture: Galatians 6:9 (KJV) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Notice Paul does not say we will never become tired. He warns us not to become weary in doing good. There is a difference between being tired and giving up. You can be tired and still faithful. You can be disappointed and still obedient. You can be discouraged and still determined. Bible Illustration: Elijah Became Weary 1 Kings 19:4–8 (KJV) 4. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." 5. "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat." 6. "And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again." 7. "And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee." 8. "And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." Elijah had experienced a great victory on Mount Carmel. He had witnessed fire come down from heaven. But afterward, Jezebel threatened his life, and Elijah became discouraged. He was physically exhausted. He was emotionally drained. He felt alone. But God did not abandon Elijah. God provided rest. God provided nourishment. And God strengthened him for the journey. The lesson: Sometimes the problem is not that you've lost your faith. Sometimes you're simply exhausted. Even strong people need encouragement. Even faithful workers need rest. Even pastors need strengthening. And even those who encourage others sometimes need someone to encourage them.  "I may be tired, but I'm not giving up!" 4. DUE SEASON MEANS GOD IS WORKING WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE IT Scripture: Mark 4:26–29 (KJV) 26. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;" 27. "And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." Support the show

  2. 3d ago

    Hope When My Soul is Down!

    Send us Fan Mail    “HOPE WHEN MY SOUL IS DOWN” Main Scripture — Psalm 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Supporting Scripture — Psalm 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” INTRODUCTION — WHEN THE BATTLE IS INSIDE There are some battles people can see. If your arm is broken, somebody can see the cast. If your leg is injured, somebody can see you limping. If you have been in an accident, somebody can see the damage. But some of the greatest battles people fight cannot be seen from the outside. You can look good and still be hurting. You can wear a uniform and still be hurting. You can carry a badge and still be hurting. You can wear a clergy collar and still be hurting. You can sing in the choir and still be hurting. You can preach to everybody else and still need somebody to preach to you. You can smile for the picture and cry when everybody goes home. The psalmist asks himself: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” Notice where his problem was. He didn't say, “My body is down.” He said: “MY SOUL IS DOWN.” Sometimes the body gets out of bed, but the soul doesn't. Sometimes you go to work, but your soul is tired. Sometimes you come to church, but your soul is hurting. Sometimes you tell everybody, “I'm doing fine,” while your soul is crying: “Somebody help me!” But I love this Psalm because the writer doesn't stop with: “Why art thou cast down?” He tells himself: “HOPE THOU IN GOD!” That means: “Soul, we're hurting—but we're not quitting.” “Soul, we're crying—but we're not giving up.” “Soul, we don't understand—but we're going to keep trusting.” “Soul, this is a dark chapter—but this is not the end of our story!” POINT 1 — ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN YOUR SOUL IS HURTING Psalm 42:3 “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” The psalmist didn't pretend. He said: “I've been crying.” Sometimes Christians have been taught that admitting emotional pain means they don't have enough faith. But the Bible is filled with people who expressed deep emotional pain. David cried. Job cried. Jeremiah cried. Elijah became discouraged. Even Jesus wept. John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” Tears don't mean you have lost your faith. Sometimes tears mean: “I've been carrying too much for too long.” Illustration If the warning light comes on in your automobile, you don't solve the problem by putting tape over the warning light. The light isn't your enemy. The light is telling you something needs attention. Emotional pain can be like a warning light. Don't ignore it. Don't hide it. Don't be ashamed of it. Pay attention to what your soul is telling you. POINT 2 — DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOUR PAIN TELLS YOU When people are hurting deeply, pain can distort their thinking. Pain may say: “Nobody cares.” Pain may say: “Nobody would miss me.” Pain may say: “I'm a burden.” Pain may say: “Things will never get better.” Pain may say: “There's no way out.” But feelings, although real, are not always reliable descriptions of the future. Psalm 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? HOPE THOU IN GOD...” The psalmist challenged what his emotions were telling him. Sometimes you have to tell yourself: “I don't know how this is going to work out—but I'm staying.” “I don't know what tomorrow holds—but I'm staying.” “I don't feel strong right now—but I'm staying.” “I need help—and I'm going to get help.” Don't allow one terrible moment to convince you that your entire future will be terrible. POINT 3 — REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY BROUGHT YOU THROUGH Psalm 42:6 “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.” Look at those words: “THEREFORE WILL I REMEMBER THEE.” When his soul went down, his memory went back. Sometimes when you cannot see what God is doing ahead of you, you have to remember what God has already done behind you. Remember the doors He opened. Remember the sickness He brought you through. Remember the bills He helped you pay. Remember the nights you cried and somehow made it until morning. Remember the situations you thought would destroy you—but you're still here. Psalm 103:2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” If God brought you through that, don't give up in this. Your present trouble is not the first trouble God has brought you through. POINT 4 — DON'T ISOLATE YOURSELF IN YOUR DARKEST MOMENT One of the dangerous things about deep emotional pain is the desire to withdraw. You stop answering the telephone. You stop returning messages. You stop going around people. You stop talking. You suffer quietly. But Scripture teaches us: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Notice: It doesn't say: “If they stumble.” It says: “IF THEY FALL.” God knows there will be times when somebody falls. But God's answer is: Make sure somebody is close enough to help you get back up. Illustration A police officer may call for backup when a situation becomes too dangerous to handle alone. Calling for backup doesn't mean the officer is weak. It means the officer understands: “This situation requires help.” Sometimes you've got to call for emotional backup. Sometimes you've got to call for spiritual backup. Sometimes you've got to call for professional backup. Tell somebody: “I need you.” “I'm struggling.” “I'm having thoughts that frighten me.” “Please stay with me.” “Help me get some help.” There is no shame in calling for backup. POINT 5 — TALK BACK TO YOUR TROUBLED SOUL Psalm 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God...” The psalmist is doing something unusual. He is talking to himself. Sometimes you've got to preach to yourself. David did it again: Psalm 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” There are times when nobody else is around to encourage you. You've got to tell yourself: “Soul, we're going to make it.” “Soul, we're not giving up.” “Soul, God has not forgotten us.” “Soul, help is available.” “Soul, we're going to talk to somebody.” “Soul, we're going to see another day.” You've listened to your trouble long enough. Now let your trouble listen to you! POINT 6 — GET THE HELP YOU NEED Sometimes people think: “If I pray, I shouldn't need counseling.” But prayer and professional help do not have to be enemies. We pray for healing, but we still go to the doctor. We pray before surgery, but we still allow the surgeon to operate. We pray over our medication, but we still take it as prescribed. So when someone is struggling emotionally or thinking about suicide, getting professional help is not an admission of spiritual failure. Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Notice that word: “SAFETY.” God can use: A pastor. A counselor. A doctor. A therapist. A chaplain. A trusted family member. A faithful friend. Don't limit how God can send help. Sometimes the answer to your prayer is the person God sends to walk with you. POINT 7 — YOUR STORY IS NOT FINISHED Psalm 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Here is the shouting part of this message: “I SHALL YET!” “Yet” means: It's not happening right now—but it's coming. I'm crying now— BUT I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM. I'm hurting now— BUT I SHALL YET PRAI Support the show

  3. 4d ago

    When Strong People Hurt

    Send us Fan Mail  “WHEN STRONG PEOPLE HURT” Main Text — 1 Kings 19:4–8 1 Kings 19:4 — “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Verse 5 — “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.” Verse 6 — “And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.” Verse 7 — “And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” Verse 8 — “And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” Introduction There are some people we don’t expect to break. We don’t expect the police officer to break because the officer is supposed to protect us. We don’t expect the firefighter to break because the firefighter runs into what everybody else runs away from. We don’t expect the soldier to break because soldiers are trained to be tough. We don’t expect the pastor to break because everybody comes to the pastor for prayer. We don’t expect the strong mother or father to break because everybody in the family depends upon them. But strong people hurt too. Elijah was a strong man. In 1 Kings 18 he stood against the prophets of Baal. God answered him by fire. Yet by 1 Kings 19, Elijah was sitting underneath a tree saying: “It is enough.” That is the language of somebody who has reached his limit. The man who called down fire from heaven was now asking God to let him die. Sermon Truth: Being strong does not mean you never struggle. Sometimes being strong means recognizing when you need help. 1. STRONG PEOPLE CAN BECOME OVERWHELMED 1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life…” Elijah didn’t stop being a prophet because he was hurting. He didn’t stop belonging to God because he was discouraged. He was overwhelmed. Sometimes the person saying, “I’m all right,” is not all right. Sometimes the person helping everybody else needs somebody to help them. Don’t confuse somebody’s uniform with their emotional condition. A badge doesn’t make you immune to pain. A title doesn’t make you immune to depression. A collar doesn’t make a pastor immune to discouragement. A Bible in your hand doesn’t mean there aren’t tears in your eyes. 2. YESTERDAY’S VICTORY DOESN’T PREVENT TODAY’S STRUGGLE 1 Kings 18:38–39 Verse 38 — “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” Verse 39 — “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” What a victory! But one chapter later Elijah is saying: “It is enough.” Never assume: “He preached Sunday, so he’s fine.” “She sang in the choir, so she’s fine.” “He went to work, so he’s fine.” “She was laughing yesterday, so she’s fine.” People can function publicly while suffering privately. 3. EXHAUSTION CAN CHANGE HOW YOU SEE LIFE 1 Kings 19:5–6 “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.” Notice something powerful. God didn’t begin by rebuking Elijah. God allowed Elijah to rest. Then God gave Elijah something to eat. Sometimes a person’s spiritual condition is affected by physical and emotional exhaustion. Psalm 127:2 “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” There are times when you need prayer. There are times when you need counseling. There are times when you need medical attention. And sometimes you need some rest. 4. DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” If God intended us to carry everything alone, He wouldn’t have told us to bear one another’s burdens. There are burdens that become lighter when somebody helps you carry them. Tell somebody: “I’m struggling.” “I’m not doing well.” “I need somebody to talk to.” “I’m afraid of what I’m thinking.” That’s not weakness. That may be the decision that saves your life. 5. GOD CAN HANDLE YOUR HONESTY 1 Kings 19:9 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” God gave Elijah an opportunity to talk. Church must be a place where people can tell the truth. Not: “How are you?” “Blessed and highly favored!” when inside you’re falling apart. Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” God says: Pour it out! Tell Him you’re angry. Tell Him you’re tired. Tell Him you’re afraid. Tell Him you’re confused. Tell Him you’re hurting. God would rather hear your broken prayer than lose you in your silence. 6. YOUR PRESENT PAIN DOES NOT CANCEL YOUR FUTURE Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Elijah thought: “It’s over.” God said, in effect: “No, Elijah. I still have something for you to do.” 1 Kings 19:15 “And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus…” I love those words: “GO, RETURN.” Elijah said: “Take my life.” God said: “You’ve still got life to live.” Elijah saw an ending. God saw another assignment. Don’t make a permanent decision because of a temporary season of unbearable pain. Stay long enough to see what God has next. 7. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WALK ALONE God eventually connected Elijah with Elisha. 1 Kings 19:19 “So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him… and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.” Elijah had been saying: “I, even I only, am left.” But God showed Elijah: “You’re not alone.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Everybody needs somebody who can help them get back up.   Support the show

  4. 5d ago

    Nevertheless at thy Word

    Send us Fan Mail NEVERTHELESS, AT THY WORD! “Don’t Let Weariness Make You Miss Your Harvest” October Theme: HARVEST Theme Scripture: Galatians 6:9 Main Text: Luke 5:1–11 KEY 1 — DON'T LET WEARINESS MAKE YOU QUIT Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing…” Peter said: “We have toiled all the night…” Peter was tired because he had been working. Sometimes the people who become the most weary are the people who have been the most faithful. The prayer warrior can become weary. The preacher can become weary. The teacher can become weary. The caregiver can become weary. The parent can become weary. The person who is always helping everybody else can become weary. BEING TIRED DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE UNFAITHFUL. Even Elijah became discouraged. Even Moses became frustrated. Even Jeremiah became weary. The problem isn't that you get tired. The danger comes when tiredness makes you stop doing what God called you to do. Galatians doesn't say: “You'll never get tired.” It says: “DON'T FAINT!” Fainting means you stop before you reach the destination. You stop praying. Stop believing. Stop serving. Stop witnessing. Stop expecting. The enemy doesn't always have to destroy you if he can simply wear you down enough to make you quit. So when you get tired: Rest if you need to. Pray. Renew yourself. Get back into the Word. But: DON'T QUIT! KEY 2 — DON'T ALLOW AN EMPTY NET TO DEFINE YOUR FUTURE Luke 5:5 “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing…” Peter's net was empty. But an empty net only described what had happened. It did not describe what was about to happen. YOUR PRESENT CONDITION IS NOT ALWAYS YOUR FINAL CONDITION. Peter could have looked at the empty net and said: “There aren't any fish.” But there were fish in the water! His problem wasn't that there was no harvest. HE JUST HADN'T REACHED HIS HARVEST YET. Sometimes we look at what hasn't happened and conclude nothing is happening. “I've been praying and nothing changed.” “I've been witnessing and nobody came.” “I've been sowing and nothing grew.” But remember: A SEED DOES ITS FIRST WORK WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE IT. When you plant a seed, it disappears beneath the ground. For a while, the field looks exactly the same. But underneath the dirt: Roots are developing. The seed is opening. Life is beginning. INVISIBLE DOESN'T MEAN INACTIVE! Don't call your ministry unsuccessful because you haven't seen everything God is doing. Don't call your prayer unanswered because you haven't seen the answer yet. Don't call your field barren because the harvest hasn't broken through the ground. EMPTY NETS DON'T MEAN EMPTY WATER! KEY 3 — LET GOD'S WORD OVERRULE YOUR EXPERIENCE Peter said: “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word…” Peter was an experienced fisherman. He knew the lake. He knew the nets. He knew the best fishing times. Everything Peter's experience told him said: “THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.” But Jesus said: “LET DOWN YOUR NET.” Peter had a decision to make. Would he trust his experience or Christ's Word? Peter said: “NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD!” That's faith! Faith doesn't deny the facts. Peter didn't say: “We didn't really have a bad night.” He admitted: “We have taken nothing.” Faith can acknowledge the facts without allowing the facts to have the final word. Abraham's age said impossible. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! The Red Sea said impossible. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! Jericho's walls said impossible. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! Goliath said impossible. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! Lazarus had been dead four days. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD! Sometimes you need a NEVERTHELESS in your spirit. My body says one thing— NEVERTHELESS! My circumstances say another— NEVERTHELESS! My experience says it hasn't worked— NEVERTHELESS! People say give up— NEVERTHELESS! “AT THY WORD!” KEY 4 — SOMETIMES HARVEST REQUIRES ONE MORE CAST Jesus said: “Launch out into the deep…” Jesus sent Peter right back to the place where he had been disappointed. Think about that. Same lake. Same boat. Same net. Same fisherman. BUT ANOTHER CAST! Sometimes God doesn't change your field. HE TELLS YOU TO TRY THE FIELD AGAIN. You prayed before? PRAY AGAIN! You invited them before? INVITE AGAIN! You witnessed before? WITNESS AGAIN! You tried to reconcile before? TRY AGAIN! You encouraged that child before? ENCOURAGE THEM AGAIN! You worked the ministry before? SERVE AGAIN! You cast the net and it came up empty? CAST IT AGAIN! Illustration: Imagine somebody digging for treasure. They dig ten feet. Nothing. Twenty feet. Nothing. Thirty feet. Nothing. They become frustrated and walk away. Then someone else comes along, digs one more foot, and discovers what the first person had been searching for. The first person's labor wasn't useless. THEY JUST STOPPED TOO SOON. Galatians says: “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” You don't know whether your next cast is your due-season cast. DON'T STOP ONE CAST TOO EARLY! KEY 5 — OBEDIENCE CAN TURN YOUR PLACE OF DISAPPOINTMENT INTO YOUR PLACE OF HARVEST Luke 5:6 “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes…” Notice: “WHEN THEY HAD THIS DONE.” Peter didn't just hear Jesus. PETER OBEYED JESUS. The miracle followed obedience. And look where the miracle happened. SAME LAKE! The place that had given Peter nothing all night suddenly gave him more than he could handle. Same water. Same boat. Same fisherman. Same net. DIFFERENT RESULT! Why? Because Jesus spoke and Peter obeyed. God can bless you in the same place where you were disappointed. The place where you cried can become the place where you rejoice. The place where you struggled can become the place where you testify. The place where you thought nothing was happening can become the place where God gives you abundance. Psalm 126:5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” MAYBE YOUR TEARS HAVE BEEN WATERING YOUR HARVEST! Don't curse the field because you haven't seen the harvest yet. KEY 6 — GREAT HARVESTS REQUIRE PARTNERS Luke 5:6–7 “They inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners… that they should come and help them.” Peter prayed for fish. But when the fish came: PETER NEEDED HELP! The harvest was bigger than one man could handle. That's a picture of the Church. No pastor can gather the harvest alone. No minister can do it alone. No deacon can do it alone. No missionary can do it alone. No evangelist can do it alone. No altar worker can do it alone. No teacher can do it alone. EVERYBODY IS NEEDED! One person invites. Another greets. Another teaches. Another prays. Another works the altar. Another follows up. Another disciples. Another encourages. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” THERE IS NO NEED FOR COMPETITION WHEN WE'RE PULLING THE SAME NET! And notice something else: “Their net brake.” If God sends the harvest we've been asking for, are our nets ready? If new souls come, are we ready to teach them? If hurting families come, are we ready to love them? If young people come, are we ready to minister to them? If new converts come, are we prepared to disciple them? We don't just need to pray: “LORD, SEND THE HARVEST!” We also need to pray: Support the show

  5. Oct 1

    Don't Give Up Before Your Due Season

    Send us Fan Mail HARVEST “Don’t Give Up Before Your Due Season” October Theme: HARVEST Main Scripture: Galatians 6:9 (KJV) “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” HARVEST Acronym H — Hold On to Your Faith A — Always Plant Good Seed R — Remain Faithful While You Wait V — Value the Process E — Expect God to Give the Increase S — Stay Until Your Season Comes T — Take In the Harvest INTRODUCTION — THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE GROUND When you look at an empty field after a farmer has planted, it may appear that nothing is happening. You don't see corn. You don't see tomatoes. You don't see wheat. You don't see fruit. All you see is dirt. But the farmer sees something different. The farmer knows: “There is something in the ground!” The farmer doesn't abandon the field because he cannot see the harvest yet. He knows that harvest doesn't begin when the crop appears—harvest begins when the seed is planted. Some of us are looking at areas of our lives where it appears that nothing is happening. You've been praying—but something is in the ground. You've been serving—but something is in the ground. You've been giving—but something is in the ground. You've been helping people—but something is in the ground. You've been faithful when nobody noticed—but something is in the ground! Galatians 6:9 says: “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Tell somebody: “DON’T GIVE UP—THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE GROUND!” H — HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” A farmer has to believe in something he cannot yet see. When he puts seed into the ground, he is making an investment in tomorrow. Faith operates the same way. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Abraham had to hold on when the promise took years. Joseph had to hold on through the pit and prison. Job had to hold on through suffering. David had to hold on while Saul was chasing him. Your faith must outlive your frustration. Don't allow what you see today to make you stop believing what God said yesterday.   “If God gave you the promise, hold on until the promise produces a harvest!” A — ALWAYS PLANT GOOD SEED Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Life has a law of harvest: What you plant determines what you reap. If you sow hatred, don't expect love. If you sow confusion, don't expect peace. If you sow dishonesty, don't expect trust. But if you sow love, kindness, mercy, faithfulness, generosity, prayer and righteousness, you are putting good seed into the ground. And don't stop sowing good seed because somebody treated you badly. Their behavior doesn't determine your seed. Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…” Keep planting good even when people don't return good. God is keeping the record of every seed. R — REMAIN FAITHFUL WHILE YOU WAIT Harvest requires waiting. James 5:7 “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it…” The farmer cannot plant Monday and harvest Tuesday. There is something between seedtime and harvest time called: WAITING TIME. And waiting time tests us. Can you keep praying when the answer hasn't come? Can you keep serving when nobody says thank you? Can you keep believing when circumstances haven't changed? Can you keep worshiping when you don't understand what God is doing? Noah remained faithful while building the ark. Joseph remained faithful in prison. Joshua remained faithful serving Moses. David remained faithful tending sheep. Ruth remained faithful gleaning in the field. Don't let the waiting room make you walk out before God calls your name! V — VALUE THE PROCESS We love harvest, but we don't always love the process that produces it. Before wheat becomes bread, it goes through a process. Before grapes become juice, they must be pressed. Before olives produce oil, they must be crushed. Before gold becomes pure, it must go through fire. And before some of God's greatest purposes are fulfilled in us, we have to go through a process. Joseph's pit was part of his process. David's wilderness was part of his process. Moses' forty years in Midian were part of his process. Even Jesus spent thirty years preparing for approximately three years of public ministry. Don't despise the process. God may be developing something in you before He delivers something to you. Your process is preparing you to handle your harvest. E — EXPECT GOD TO GIVE THE INCREASE 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” This is where we must understand our role. We plant. We water. BUT GOD GIVES THE INCREASE! You cannot make the seed grow. You cannot manufacture the blessing. You cannot force the door open. You cannot make somebody change. You cannot produce spiritual results through human strength. Do your part—and trust God with His part. The little boy gave Jesus five loaves and two fish. That wasn't enough to feed thousands. But when what was little got into the hands of Jesus, multiplication took place. Don't measure your harvest by the size of your seed when God is involved! S — STAY UNTIL YOUR SEASON COMES Here is the heart of Galatians 6:9: “For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Everybody has a due season. Joseph's due season came. Job's due season came. Ruth's due season came. Hannah's due season came. David's due season came. But what if they had quit one chapter earlier? Sometimes we don't know how close we are. You may be one prayer away. One act of obedience away. One connection away. One opportunity away. One door away. Don't leave the field because the harvest hasn't appeared yet. Your assignment is not to determine when due season comes. Your assignment is to stay faithful until it comes. Tell somebody: “STAY IN THE FIELD!” T — TAKE IN THE HARVEST Eventually the farmer sees what he has been waiting for. The field changes. The crop matures. And now something has to happen. The farmer has to go get the harvest! Jesus said in John 4:35: “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Harvest isn't only about what God wants to give to us. Harvest is also about the souls God wants to reach through us. Matthew 9:37 “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” One Way Church, there is a harvest outside these walls. There are hurting people. Broken families. Lost young people. People searching for answers. People who need salvation. People who need to hear about Jesus. We have spent years planting. We have spent years praying. We have spent years preaching. We have spent years serving our community. NOW LET'S GET READY FOR HARVEST! CLOSING — FROM SEED TO HARVEST Galatians 6:9 gives us three stages: WELL DOING — That's the planting. DUE SEASON — That's the waiting. WE SHALL REAP — That's the harvest. But there is one condition: “IF WE FAINT NOT.” Don't faint now. Don't quit now. Don't turn around now. Don't abandon the field now. There is too much seed in the ground! Some of you have prayer seed in the ground. Some have giving seed in the ground. Some have serving seed in the ground. Some have sacrificial seed in the ground. Some have tears in the ground. Psalm 126:5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” You cried while you planted it—but you're going to rejoice when you gather it! FINAL HARVEST DECLARATION H — I will HOLD ON to my faith! A — I will ALWAYS plant good seed! R — I will REMAIN faithful while I wait! V — I will VALUE the process! E — I will EXPECT God to give the increase! S — I will STAY until my season comes! T — I will TAKE IN the harvest! And because Galatians 6:9 says: “In due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” I declare: MY SEED IS PLANTED! MY SEASON IS COMING! MY GOD IS FAITHFUL! Support the show

  6. Sep 30

    There is a reward for staying faithful

    Send us Fan Mail THERE IS A REWARD FOR STAYING FAITHFUL Final Message in the Steadfastness Series Theme Scripture — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Supporting Scripture — Hebrews 10:35–36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Central Thought IF YOU REMAIN STEADFAST, GOD WILL NOT FORGET YOUR FAITHFULNESS. INTRODUCTION — DON'T QUIT BEFORE PAYDAY There is something everybody who works understands: PAYDAY. You can work Monday and not get paid Monday. You can work Tuesday and not get paid Tuesday. You can work Wednesday and still not see a check. But you keep showing up because you know: PAYDAY IS COMING! The farmer understands this. He puts seed into the ground. He waters it. He tends the soil. He pulls the weeds. He waits. For a while, he sees nothing. But he doesn't walk away from the field because he understands: HARVEST DOESN'T COME THE SAME DAY YOU PLANT. And sometimes serving God feels like that. You've been praying— but haven't seen the answer. You've been serving— but nobody seems to notice. You've been giving— but haven't seen the return. You've been faithful— but you're still going through. You've been standing— but the battle isn't over. And the enemy whispers: “What's the use?” But Paul answers him in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “…your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” In other words: GOD SAW IT! God saw every prayer. God saw every sacrifice. God saw every tear. God saw every time you wanted to quit but kept going. God saw every time you were hurt but still served. God saw every time you were tired but still showed up. God saw every time you could have walked away— BUT YOU STAYED! And the message I want to leave with you as we close this month of Steadfastness is: DON'T QUIT BEFORE PAYDAY! THERE IS A REWARD FOR STAYING FAITHFUL! 1. NOAH — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR OBEDIENCE Genesis 6:22 “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” God told Noah to build an ark. Imagine the assignment. Build a massive vessel because judgment was coming. Noah had to keep working while waiting for what God said. Every day: Cut wood. Carry wood. Build. Keep building. Keep believing. Keep obeying. Hebrews 11:7 says: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark…” Noah's steadfast obedience eventually saved: HIS HOUSE. THE REWARD Genesis 7:1 “Come thou and all thy house into the ark…” His obedience didn't only affect Noah. HIS FAMILY BENEFITED FROM HIS FAITHFULNESS. Never underestimate what your steadfastness may mean to your family. Your children are watching. Your grandchildren are watching. Somebody coming behind you may benefit because: YOU DIDN'T QUIT. Illustration — Building the Bridge Sometimes the bridge you are building isn't primarily for you. You're building something somebody behind you will cross. Keep building. YOUR FAITHFULNESS MAY BECOME SOMEBODY ELSE'S WAY THROUGH. 2. JOSEPH — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR INTEGRITY Joseph had every reason to become bitter. His brothers betrayed him. He was sold into slavery. Potiphar's wife falsely accused him. He was placed in prison. The butler forgot him. But Joseph remained faithful. Genesis 39:21 “But the LORD was with Joseph…” Notice: God was with Joseph: In Potiphar's house. In temptation. In false accusation. In prison. And eventually: IN THE PALACE. Genesis 41:41 “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” Joseph went from: THE PIT to: POTIPHAR'S HOUSE to: PRISON to: THE PALACE. THE REWARD The place where Joseph suffered was not the place where Joseph finished. Somebody needs to hear that. WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE YOU WILL END UP. Illustration — The Elevator An elevator may stop on several floors before reaching your destination. Don't get off just because it stopped somewhere you didn't expect. Joseph had several stops. But God knew his destination. STAY ON THE ELEVATOR! 3. RUTH — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR LOYALTY Ruth lost her husband. Naomi told her she could return home. Orpah left. But Ruth said: Ruth 1:16 “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge…” Ruth could have turned back. Instead: SHE STAYED. She went to Bethlehem with Naomi. She worked in the fields. She gleaned behind the reapers. She remained faithful. Then God connected her with: BOAZ. Ruth 2:12 Boaz told her: “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel…” There's our message: “A FULL REWARD.” Ruth started the story grieving. But she didn't finish the story grieving. She became the wife of Boaz. The mother of Obed. The grandmother of Jesse. And part of the family line leading to David—and ultimately to Jesus according to Matthew 1. THE REWARD Ruth thought she was simply staying with Naomi. She didn't know God was writing her into: A GREATER STORY. You don't always know what God is doing through your faithfulness. JUST STAY FAITHFUL. 4. DANIEL — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR CONSISTENCY Daniel is one of our greatest examples of steadfastness. Kings changed. Governments changed. Laws changed. But: DANIEL DIDN'T CHANGE HIS DEVOTION TO GOD. When the decree against prayer was signed: Daniel 6:10 “…he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” They put Daniel into the lions' den. But Daniel remained faithful. Daniel 6:22 “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths…” THE REWARD Daniel 6:28 “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” The lions couldn't stop what God had for Daniel. The conspiracy couldn't stop it. The den couldn't stop it. GOD REWARDED HIS STEADFASTNESS. Illustration — The Tree A tree doesn't run away when winter comes. It stays planted. Winter passes. Spring returns. And eventually: FRUIT APPEARS AGAIN. Don't uproot yourself because you're going through winter. YOUR SEASON CAN CHANGE! 5. JOB — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR ENDURANCE Job lost: His possessions. His servants. His children. His health. But Job declared: Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” Job didn't understand everything happening to him. But he refused to abandon God. James 5:11 says: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord…” I love that phrase: “THE END OF THE LORD.” Don't judge your story in the middle. You haven't seen: THE END YET. Job 42:10 “…also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” THE REWARD The suffering was real. But: SUFFERING DIDN'T GET THE LAST WORD. Illustration — Don't Leave During Intermission If you walk out of a play during intermission, you may think the story ended badly. But: THE STORY ISN'T OVER. Somebody may be living in the middle chapter. Don't write “THE END” where God has only written: “TO BE CONTINUED.” Stay steadfast! 6. PAUL — STEADFASTNESS WILL REWARD YOUR LABOR Paul knew what it meant to suffer. He was beaten. Imprisoned. Stoned. Shipwrecked. Rejected. Persecuted. Yet he said: Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me…” That's: STEADFASTNESS! Then near the end of his life Paul said: 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Notice the three statements: I FOUGHT. I FINISHED. I KEPT. Then Paul says: 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…” THE REWARD Paul understood: THERE IS A CROWN AFTER THE CROSS. Support the show

  7. Sep 29

    Courage Under Fire

    Send us Fan Mail COURAGE UNDER FIRE Theme: STEADFASTNESS Theme Scripture — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Main Text — Daniel 3:16–18 (KJV) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Central Thought COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FIRE. COURAGE IS REFUSING TO BOW BECAUSE OF THE FIRE. INTRODUCTION — YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR COURAGE UNTIL YOU'RE UNDER FIRE It is easy to talk about courage when there is no fire. It is easy to say: “I trust God!” when everything is going well. It is easy to say: “I won't be moved!” when nobody is pushing you. It is easy to say: “I'll stand for God!” when everybody around you is standing too. But courage is proven when: The pressure increases. The opposition gets stronger. The consequences become real. And standing for God starts costing you something. That's: COURAGE UNDER FIRE. Fire has a way of revealing what something is made of. Some materials melt under fire. Some materials burn in fire. But other materials become stronger through fire. And sometimes God allows us to go through fiery situations, not because He has abandoned us, but because there are things about our faith that can only be demonstrated: UNDER FIRE. THE BACKGROUND Nebuchadnezzar built a golden image. Daniel 3:5–6 says that when the music played, everybody was commanded to: BOW. And whoever refused would be: “…cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Imagine the pressure. Thousands may have been bowing. Government officials were bowing. Leaders were bowing. Everybody around them was bowing. But three Hebrew men remained: STANDING. Shadrach. Meshach. Abednego. Their attitude was: “Everybody else may bow—but we won't.” That is 1 Corinthians 15:58 in action: STEDFAST. UNMOVEABLE. So what can we learn about having: COURAGE UNDER FIRE? 1. COURAGE KNOWS WHAT IT BELIEVES BEFORE THE FIRE COMES Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't decide what they believed when they saw the furnace. Their convictions had already been established. They knew God's command: Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” And: Exodus 20:5 “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them…” So when Nebuchadnezzar said: “BOW!” they had already decided: “NO!” Steadfast people don't wait until pressure comes to decide their convictions. Some things need to be settled beforehand. I will serve God. I will obey His Word. I will remain faithful. I will not compromise my convictions to fit in. Illustration — The Anchor You don't wait until the storm has carried the ship away to drop the anchor. The anchor must be ready: BEFORE THE STORM. Settle some things in your heart before temptation comes. COURAGE STARTS WITH CONVICTION. 2. COURAGE STANDS WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE BOWS Imagine the scene. The music plays. Thousands bow. But three men remain standing. Sometimes courage means being willing to be: DIFFERENT. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world…” It takes courage to live for God when everybody around you is moving in another direction. It takes courage to say: “I won't do it just because everybody else is doing it.” Noah stood when his generation was wicked. Joshua said: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Daniel prayed when prayer became illegal. And these three Hebrew men stood when everybody else bowed. Short Illustration — The Dead Fish A dead fish floats with the current. But a living fish can swim against it. Anybody can follow the crowd. It takes spiritual life to say: “I'M GOING GOD'S WAY EVEN IF THE CROWD IS GOING THE OTHER WAY.” 3. COURAGE DOESN'T LET THE FIRE MAKE THE DECISION Nebuchadnezzar gave them another opportunity. Essentially: “I'll play the music again. This time, bow.” Then he asked: Daniel 3:15 “…and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” He increased the pressure. But their answer was: Daniel 3:16 “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” In other words: “WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER MEETING.” “WE DON'T NEED MORE TIME.” “OUR MINDS ARE ALREADY MADE UP.” Some decisions should not be renegotiated every time pressure increases. If God said it yesterday— it's still right today. Illustration — The Price Tag Suppose you walk into a store and something has a sign: NOT FOR SALE. It doesn't matter how much somebody offers. The answer remains: “IT'S NOT FOR SALE.” Somebody needs to put a sign on your convictions: NOT FOR SALE! My faith is not for sale. My worship is not for sale. My integrity is not for sale. My relationship with God is not for sale. PRESSURE DOESN'T GET TO SET MY PRICE. 4. COURAGE BELIEVES GOD IS ABLE Daniel 3:17 “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…” Before they entered the furnace, they declared: “OUR GOD IS ABLE!” They didn't know exactly what God would do. But they knew what God: COULD DO. Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” When you're under fire, remind yourself: GOD IS ABLE. Able to heal. Able to provide. Able to restore. Able to open doors. Able to make a way. Able to keep you. Able to bring you through. Short Story — David When David faced Goliath, he remembered the lion and the bear. Yesterday's victories gave him courage for today's giant. Sometimes when you're under fire, you need to look back and remember: “THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME GOD HAS BROUGHT ME THROUGH!” 5. COURAGE TRUSTS GOD EVEN WHEN THE ANSWER IS “BUT IF NOT” This may be the strongest part of the entire story. Daniel 3:18 “But if not…we will not serve thy gods…” They said: God can deliver us. But then they said: “BUT IF NOT…” That's mature faith. Immature faith says: “I'll serve God if He does what I want.” Mature faith says: “I'LL SERVE GOD BECAUSE HE IS GOD.” Job said: Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” This is where steadfastness becomes real. If God opens the door—I'll praise Him. But if not—I'll still praise Him. If He changes the situation—I'll trust Him. But if not—I'll still trust Him. If He brings me out immediately—I'll serve Him. “BUT IF NOT—I'M STILL NOT BOWING!” Illustration — Wedding Vows Marriage vows aren't supposed to say: “For better only.” They say: “For better, for worse…” Commitment is demonstrated when conditions aren't ideal. Our commitment to God cannot depend entirely upon comfortable conditions. 6. SOMETIMES GOD DOESN'T KEEP YOU FROM THE FIRE—HE MEETS YOU IN IT They stood for God. Yet they were still thrown into the furnace. That teaches us something important. Faithfulness does not guarantee: NO FIRE. Sometimes faithfulness takes you: THROUGH THE FIRE. Daniel 3:24–25 Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and said: “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered: “True, O king.” Then he said: “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt…” They put: THREE IN. Nebuchadnezzar saw: FOUR WALKING AROUND! The fire didn't cause God to abandon them. THE FIRE REVEALED THAT THEY WERE NOT ALONE. Isaiah 43:2 “…when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Illustration — The Teacher During the Test During a classroom test, the teacher may be quiet. But quiet doesn't mean the teacher left the room. Somebody may be in a season where God seems quiet. Don't mistake God's silence for God's absence. HE IS STILL THE Support the show

  8. Sep 23

    Don't Sweat the small stuff

    Send us Fan Mail DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF September Theme: STEADFASTNESS Theme Scripture — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Main Scripture — Nehemiah 6:3 (KJV) “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” Central Thought DON'T LET SMALL THINGS MOVE YOU FROM A GREAT WORK. INTRODUCTION — BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE LITTLE THINGS There are some things in life that deserve our attention. There are problems that must be addressed. There are responsibilities we cannot ignore. But then there are other things that we allow to become much bigger than they deserve to be. Somebody didn't speak to you. Somebody sat in your seat. Somebody didn't return your telephone call. Somebody forgot to thank you. Somebody didn't recognize what you did. Somebody looked at you the wrong way. Somebody disagreed with your idea. Somebody said something you didn't like. And before we know it, something that should have lasted five minutes has occupied our minds for five days. We lost our peace. We stopped speaking. We became angry. We couldn't sleep. We couldn't worship. We couldn't concentrate. And sometimes we even allowed something small to affect something much bigger. That's why the title of this message is: DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF! Now, that does not mean every problem is small. There are serious matters in life that require prayer, wisdom, action, and sometimes help from others. But spiritual maturity teaches us: EVERYTHING DOESN'T DESERVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MY ENERGY. You have only so much time. Only so much emotional energy. Only so much attention. And you cannot spend your whole life fighting battles that don't matter. ILLUSTRATION — THE PEBBLE IN YOUR SHOE You can be walking toward an important destination with good shoes on your feet. But one little pebble gets inside your shoe. The mountain didn't stop you. The weather didn't stop you. The distance didn't stop you. But that tiny pebble has your entire attention. Sometimes it isn't the big things that move us. It's the little irritations we refuse to deal with properly. And that brings us back to 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Be ye stedfast, unmoveable…” If I'm going to be unmoveable, I cannot allow every little thing to move me. Nehemiah understood that. He was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He had a God-given assignment. But Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and others kept trying to distract him. Nehemiah's response was essentially: “WHAT I'M DOING IS TOO IMPORTANT TO COME DOWN FOR THAT!” Church, sometimes you've got to look at the distraction and say: “I'M DOING A GREAT WORK. I'M NOT COMING DOWN!” 1. DON'T MAKE A BIG THING OUT OF A LITTLE THING Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” Notice the words: “pass over.” Not everything requires a response. Not every comment needs an answer. Not every misunderstanding needs a meeting. Not every criticism requires a defense. Not every disagreement requires an argument. Sometimes spiritual maturity is demonstrated by what you are willing to: LET GO. BIBLE EXAMPLE — ABRAHAM AND LOT In Genesis 13, Abraham's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen began arguing because there wasn't enough room for both groups. Abraham could have said: “I'm older.” “God called me.” “You came with me.” Instead Abraham said: Genesis 13:8 “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee…for we be brethren.” Abraham valued: RELATIONSHIP more than: BEING RIGHT. Short Story Two people can pull on opposite ends of a rope all day. The moment one person releases it— THE STRUGGLE ENDS. Some battles continue only because: WE KEEP HOLDING THE ROPE. Ask yourself: “Will this matter next year?” If not, maybe it doesn't deserve to ruin today. DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. 2. DON'T LET LITTLE PEOPLE PULL YOU DOWN FROM A GREAT WORK Nehemiah 6:2–3 Nehemiah's enemies invited him to meet them in the plain of Ono. But Nehemiah understood: “they thought to do me mischief.” His answer was: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” Notice something important: Nehemiah did not stop building to prove to his enemies that he was building. HE JUST KEPT BUILDING. There will always be people who don't understand your assignment. Some will criticize. Some will question. Some will misunderstand. Some may even misrepresent you. But you have to decide: “IS ANSWERING THEM MORE IMPORTANT THAN FINISHING WHAT GOD GAVE ME TO DO?” Illustration — The Airplane When an airplane takes off, cars and houses below begin to look smaller. The objects didn't shrink. YOUR ALTITUDE CHANGED YOUR PERSPECTIVE. Some things look enormous because we're too close to them. Go higher in prayer. Go higher in the Word. Go higher in your thinking. And some things that looked huge will start looking small. DON'T COME DOWN! 3. DON'T LET SMALL OFFENSES BECOME BIG BITTERNESS Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you…” Bitterness rarely begins as a giant tree. It begins: AS A ROOT. Something was said. Something wasn't said. You weren't invited. You weren't recognized. Someone hurt your feelings. And instead of dealing with it properly, you watered it. You replayed it. You talked about it. You rehearsed it. You thought about it before bed. And something small started growing. BIBLE EXAMPLE — ESAU Genesis 27:41 says: “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him…” The hurt became hatred. The offense became bitterness. Bitterness has a way of making yesterday's pain control today's life. Illustration — The Splinter A splinter is tiny. But leave it under the skin long enough and it can become infected. The problem isn't necessarily the size of what entered. The problem is: HOW LONG YOU ALLOW IT TO REMAIN. Somebody needs to pull out: The offense. The resentment. The grudge. The bitterness. Forgive them and: KEEP MOVING. 4. DON'T LET SMALL DISTRACTIONS STEAL A BIG DESTINY Nehemiah 6:4 “Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.” Four times! They kept calling. Nehemiah kept saying: NO. Steadfast people must learn how to say: NO. Everything asking for your attention does not deserve your attention. BIBLE EXAMPLE — MARTHA Luke 10:40 says: “But Martha was cumbered about much serving…” Martha wasn't doing something sinful. She was serving. But she became distracted by something good and missed something better. Jesus told her: Luke 10:41–42 “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful…” That's powerful. MANY THINGS WERE BOTHERING MARTHA. Jesus said: ONE THING WAS NECESSARY. Illustration — Phone Notifications Imagine trying to have an important conversation while your phone alerts every few seconds. Ding! Message. Ding! Email. Ding! News. Ding! Social media. Eventually you have to silence the notifications if you want to focus. Some Christians need to put some things in life on: SPIRITUAL “DO NOT DISTURB.” Because God is trying to do something greater. 5. DON'T LET SMALL BEGINNINGS DISCOURAGE YOU Sometimes the “small stuff” isn't a problem. Sometimes it's: THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BIG. Zechariah 4:10 “For who hath despised the day of small things?” We often want God to start big. But God frequently starts small. A seed is small. But inside that seed is a tree. David was a shepherd boy. Joseph began with a dream. Moses had a rod. The widow had a little oil. The disciples had five loaves and two fishes. The mustard seed is small. But small doesn't mean: INSIGNIFICANT. BIBLE EXAMPLE — DAVID When Samuel came to Jesse's house, David wasn't even initially brought before him. He was out tending sheep. His family saw: A SHEPHERD BO Support the show

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About

My podcast will be called "Faith beyond Fear" encouraging people to trust God in the midst of what they are going through.  

Information

  • Creator
    Gregory Tucker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    210
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 G. T. Ministries
  • Show Website
    G. T. Ministries