by Pastor E. A. Deckard
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward-Times
“It doesn’t matter if a million people tell you what you can’t do, or if ten million tell you no. If you get one yes from God that’s all you need.” ― Tyler Perry
Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
Forward Thinkers, my role as a Pastor has expanded to a community leader and I often find myself fighting for the rights of the “underdog”. Forward Thinkers when building a case to provide assistance for those fighting “injustice” I have to remove all my personal emotions and deal with the evidence at hand.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Forward Thinkers, people often confuse faith as something unreal or immeasurable, but the reality is the bible defines faith as something that can be backed up with evidence. The bible is full of men and women of faith whose lives are evidence that God is actively involved in the affairs of their life.
Forward Thinkers, a “faith” that cannot be tested or measured is a faith not worth possessing. You show me a man or woman of faith being used by God and I promise you there will be a trail of evidence following them.
Forward Thinkers, hearsay unfortunately is often more available in our culture than the search for the truth. We often use hearsay to try to fight our battles even though the bible encourages us to study for ourselves. Forward Thinkers we must not be found guilty of putting our trust in hearsay. The reality is, that hearsay is often thrown out because it is not strong enough to stand under examination. We need evidence to win our battles.
Evidence God Is
Genesis 18:10-14 “Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Forward Thinkers, God promises by this time next year I’m going to do something amazing in your life. The bible is full of evidence that God is not just a promise giver but the ultimate promise keeper.
Forward Thinkers Don’t Let the Facts Frustrate You—Remember Facts Can Be Misleading
Fact # 1 – They are old
Forward Thinkers, God is able to do the impossible, therefore; age is not a problem for God. As a matter of fact there are no problems too big for God to overcome. Forward Thinkers, actually age should encourage you that God can begin a new thing in your life at whatever stage of life you may be in.
Fact # 2 – They have passed their time to succeed
Forward Thinkers remember God controls the time, therefore; time to God is never an issue. God has an appointed time for everything, therefore; time is not the issue but patience to remain faithful at all times is our biggest issue. The bible is full of evidence where God works wonders and performs miracles for those who have been told they are either too old or too young. God created the four seasons and controls every stage of our lives so we must trust God to perform great works in our life time. Forward Thinkers, don’t allow the critics to control your destiny.
Fact # 3 – They have been disappointed a long time
Forward Thinkers, the bible often reminds us to let go of the past and press ahead into a marvelous future. We need to realize all our past disappointments have an expiration date and God does not need the approval of our past to grant us favor on today. Forward Thinkers, the bible is full of evidence that God can turn your disappointments of yesterday into your “miracles” of today.
Fact # 4 – They are tired
Forward Thinkers, the bible warns us not to become weary in our well doing. You may be tired this season of your life but hold on to the promise that God will renew your strength. In the midst of you being tired remember, God will give you wings like an eagle. There is evidence in God’s word where The Lord stopped the earth from rotating until a tired Joshua had been renewed with the strength to win. If The Lord renewed the strength of Joshua, He will also renew your strength.
Genesis 21:1-2 “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”
Forward Thinkers, notice God made a promise to Sarah and God kept his promise. God is definitely a promise keeper.
2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
Forward Thinkers are you ready to receive your Yes from God
BACK TO THE STORY OF JOSHUA
Joshua 1:6. God reminds Joshua of the promise.
Forward Thinkers there are 3573 promises found in the 66 books of the bible and
God has given us 86,400 seconds of life everyday to receive these promises.
Forward Thinkers if you do the math every believer is given a different promise every 6.5 seconds therefore if you hold on to your faith you will discover God as a promise keeper.
Joshua 1:11. God tells Joshua three days from now get ready to be blessed.
Forward Thinkers notice again God has a set time for your breakthrough.
Joshua 3:1-4. Early in the morning after three days Joshua is up preparing for his breakthrough.
Forward Thinkers I challenge you to believe God and get up early in anticipation of God revealing himself as a promise keeper.
Joshua 3:4. “Then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before.”
Forward Thinkers God is ready to do something new in your life therefore you must receive a new set of directions to continue to experience God as a promise keeper.
Joshua 3:5. The bible says on tomorrow The Lord will do amazing things for us.
Forward Thinkers are you prepared to witness God, the Promise Keeper, performing something amazing in your life?
Joshua 3:14-16. The bible says the water in the Jordan River stopped flowing.
Forward Thinkers God, the Promise Keeper, will prevent and stop anything that is trying to prevent you from experiencing God as a promise keeper.
Joshua 5:2-3. God now commands Joshua to circumcise all the men.
Forward Thinkers notice before we can see God as the promise keeper we must cut off all dead, fleshly and carnal parts of our lives.
Joshua 6:20. “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”
In conclusion, Forward Thinkers if God kept his promise to Abraham and Joshua He will keep it for you.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, 16711 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas, 77090. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com or www.ghic.net.