June 23, 2009

• How your Crisis can lead you to your destiny by Pastor Danquah

  Pastor Danquah preached on Sunday the following encouraging sermon before heading back home.  I know that he impacted many lives including mine with his teachings.  We need encouragement at times in our walks because it is true that satan does oppress us.

  God has orchestrated all that has happened in your life, and it fits what He has planned for you.  What you are going through now is changing things. What you are going through, as a believer, will ultimately turn to your good.  This may not be true for the unbeliever.  God knows the beginning from the end.  You are in the midst of God’s perfect plan even if it does not seem like it.

  Pastor Danquah first brought us to Luke 4.

  Luke 4:1-2 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into^b]’> with groanings which cannot be uttered.

  Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

  All things work together for Good – even our wilderness crisis, or whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, are orchestrated by God to work for our good.  No matter what satan throws at us, God can turn it for our good. Even our obstacles and challenges God will use to prosper us and they will not kill us.

  1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

  Don’t brag on your difficult temptation and elevate it, know that the temptation will bring something else.  God will make a way of escape for you.  An angel will help you to escape.  The Spirit of the Lord will help you to pass through your crisis.  If you have no temptation, you will have no testimony.

  We are going through a crisis but God is letting that be a testing for us.  The devil does not know everything or he wouldn’t be bringing us into a crisis.  For what satan doesn’t know is that God will use that same crisis to catapult us up.  Would satan have tried to kill Jesus if he knew that the resurrection would follow?    Trials that we face, crisis of finances, health, or circumstances caused by satan, will end up bringing gold out of us.  We are not the only person going through a crisis, but the crisis we are facing will help us end up in our destiny. 

  Joseph went from the pit to the palace. God used the hand of oppression to prepare Joseph for his destiny.  Joseph was sold into slavery, went to Potiphar’s house, falsely accused and sent to prison, where he was able to prophesy over two other prisoners, and that ultimately led him to Pharaoh’s house where he became Prime Minister.  Pastor Danquah told us that Joseph probably wondered how he would ever achieve the dream that he had, and could easily have lost faith as a slave or a prisoner, yet God used those circumstances to elevate Joseph.

  When God gives us a dream or a destiny He does not tell us what is in the middle.  If he did we wouldn’t obey Him, hoping to avoid the challenges.  Because we are a the Child of the Lord, don’t worry about what is tempting us or our crisis.  God is sovereign.

  To a Child of Destiny, Crisis is God’s messenger, a prophesying Spirit over our life. Nothing can stop our destiny.  God is not surprised by what happens to us, it will be used to fulfil his purpose for our lives.  Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted.  The Holy Ghost can bring you into a trial. 

  When you dig up a chunk of gold it does not look like gold, it looks like a dirty stone.  But when it is processed then we see the gold.  We have to go through the process to bring the gold out of our lives. If flour was not mixed, kneaded and put in the oven, it would not come out as great bread to eat. 

  God is letting you go through this crisis, and it will result in His Glory.

  2 Corinthians 12:6-7 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

  We are sometimes given difficulties to keep us from being prideful.  We want God to lift us up and exalt us without us having to go through the wilderness experience.  But we need to go through the wilderness to reach our destiny.  Joseph went from the pit to prison to the palace. 

  If we operate in fear through our wilderness experience we won’t reach the palace.  Whatever challenges God is allowing it is so He can build us more toward our destiny.  All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.  God will turn our crisis to good. 

  We can strategically place ourselves so that God can give us what we need.  God’s supernatural power can give us far more beyond what we can imagine or think.

  2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  Paul had a thorn that troubled him and he prayed three times for God to deliver him from that, but God did not deliver him.  God’s grace is sufficient.  God will work out the thorns in our lives to bring perfection to us.  We want to serve God, and in order to do that the best way we can, God has to chip off the rough edges or we can’t be used.  Sometimes a person can draw one person to church, but their attitude or actions pushes five away.  God trains us so that we work better for Him.  God’s grace is sufficient.  He has an angel with us who will take care of us.  God will open our eyes so we can see that.

  Notice that we will receive glory in infinity, and we will see God’s grace.  We can rejoice in difficult times for we know that God’s power will help, and God is helping us to deal with our flesh issues. We are in the will of God, and God is over our situations, and we will get to the other side of glory.  Never give up.  God has a miracle for us.

  2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

  Three weeks ago Pastor Danquah was in Toronto and while he was there, God told him that he must die to the flesh, that God will help to kill the flesh.  When the flesh is dead then no matter what a person says or does will not offend you.  We can love them the same, even if they have hurt our feelings, for our feelings would be dead.  If we want to serve in the house of God we need to die to ourselves, for people will hurt you.  God wants to grow and mature you.  Your difficulties will lead to your maturity.  Humble yourself in the school of the Spirit so you do not have to go to summer school.  Don’t delay your progress by fighting against the difficulty – learn what you need to learn and mature past it.  Our flesh delays our promotion.  Promotion comes from the Lord.

  Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

  Tribulation will end us up in hope.  God wants to give us patience so we can grow.

  2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

  Our outward man will be bombarded, but our spiritual man is renewed day by day.  We will have disappointments, but we are growing in the Lord and becoming more like Jesus. God will build our Spirit up and His Glory will shine through.  When things are difficult, don’t give up, lean more on God and trust in God.  Even in the valley of the shadow of death, still trust God. 

  Before God spoke the prophesy over you, He knew about the economic crisis that was going to strike America.  God has taken care of the situation.  Don’t let what is happening in our country take away from your dreams.  All things will work together for good.  After a trial we will see the finger of Almighty God. 

  2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

  The Holy Spirit will lead you to affliction but it will work a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  what we are going through God calls a light affliction (even if it doesn’t feel light to us).  Only God knows we want to stop, not see anybody.  But it is for a moment – there will be good news, for our affliction is not permanent.  It is for but a moment.  It will end.  Cheer up and know that the Lord is with you, we do not have to go through hard times forever.  There will be a time for good results and we can be happy and be in the Glory of God.  Our crown is coming.  If you fear the trials you won’t have a testimony or promotion.

  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown in the fire, choosing to worship God, not an idol.   There life is a testimony of their faithfulness.  Our life is a testimony that will be written in Living Word Chapel. 

  2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

  If you are exercising, say doing sit ups, at first they will seem difficult, but if you do them every day, you will achieve your goal.  You do not look at the present pain, but at your future goal.  If you look only at your pains and trials you will not go forward. Look toward what is not seen, toward the eternal, not focusing on the circumstance or problem.  Look at Jesus and as you look at His face the devil will not be able to distract you.  Know that as we keep seeking and looking at Jesus, goodness and mercy will follow us and we will look toward the eternal things.

  There is always a crushing before the anointing.

  Exodus 27:20 And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

  The olive is beaten and crushed to produce oil.  God is squeezing the glory out of you.  There oil is on you and the anointing will see you through, you will be blessed.  But before the oil comes out of the olive there is crushing. What if the olives screamed and refused to be crushed?  There would be no oil, no anointing. 

  Exodus 30:22-25 Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.

  There are other spices in this oil, and they too will be crushed so that the glory can be bought out of you.  Your flesh is your biggest enemy and our flesh has to die.

  Jesus was crushed and died on the cross, now He is seated at the right hand of God, in glory.  We want to let the Holy Ghost move in our lives and we need to die – then we grow quicker.  Our attitude will drive us away.  God will crush you and bring good things out of you, and then you will display the Glory of the Lord. 

  Jesus was crushed and trampled before His power manifested.

  Luke 4:14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

  Jesus returned from the wilderness in the power of the Spirit.  Then His fame began to spread and miracles happened.  The wilderness will lead to promotion. 

  Hebrews 5:8-10 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

  Jesus learned obedience.  Pastor Danquah reminded us that he is not elevating suffering, but that when we do face suffering it can help us grow and mature.  God will use it to increase the anointing and to bring countless souls into the kingdom of the Lord.  Our prosperity will attract souls to the Kingdom. Ask God to show us how to bring the anointing to affect people for the Kingdom. 

  When you are going through a God kind of crises, then God will highly exalt you and change your name.  You will be a rising star and the crisis will cause gold to emerge.  After the crushing your destiny will emerge like gold from the raw metal. 

  Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  When we go through suffering and mature, we will be changed.  God will give us a new name. It takes humility to get promotion.  Crushing will cause death to our flesh.  Jesus went and obeyed the Holy Spirit, fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, and resisting temptation.  God is making a victory and will turn your current suffering int a blessing.

  God will show His glory to you as you mature through this hardship. 

  In Africa when you have a headache you pray for a healing for you do not have the money to go to a doctor or to have medicine to relieve your headache.  In America we tend to reach for an aspirin or seek a doctor.  We do not operate on the kind of faith that is necessary in Africa.  We are too much at ease. 

  Suffering and crises can help us build our faith.

  John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

  God can solve your problems for you and that will change your situation as you see your miracle manifest.  Others will see your miracle and then:

  Isaiah 41:20 That they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
  

  These teachings were so encouraging that people went home blessed abundantly.  I pray that they also encourage you and bring you to your victory even in the face of the trial, knowing that God is producing gold in you!

  Heather

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