Four Small Words That Make A Significant Promise: "I Won't Let Go. That's What We All Want: Unfortunately, Our Lives Are Littered With Many Who Shouldn't Have Let Go But Did! Promised Not To Let Go But Did! Vowed To Not Let Go But Did!

 "…I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, EVER. I have told you this explicitly because you don't believe me even though you have seen me in action. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. AND ONCE THAT PERSON IS WITH ME, I HOLD ON AND DON'T LET GO…" (John 6:35-38 MSG). 

The events of September 11, 2001, changed many things, including our definition of the word "hero." Because we saw, up close and personal, what REAL Heroes look like – and they look like those police and firefighters, medical personnel and even volunteers, who went into those burning towers, knowing full well that they might not come out alive, yet willingly entered in regardless, for no other reason than the fact that there were people in desperate need of a rescue!  

Immediately, professional football and baseball players began to speak out, telling the world they weren't the real heroes! The people who risk their lives every day to save others are!  

By that definition, the rescue swimmers of the United States Coast Guard more than qualify! We saw them in action after Hurricane Katrina submerged much of New Orleans! They were the men dangling from those helicopters, scooping desperate people off rooftops! Now, believe it or not, that was easy compared to some of their rescues, like plunging from a hovering chopper into an angry sea to save a life! A movie told the story of these heroes and portrayed how they lived out their motto: "So others may live." A seasoned veteran training a class of rookies shows them the depth of a rescuer's life-saving commitment. It's all about grabbing the hand of a person about to die and making this promise: "I won't let go." And They Don't!

Those four words touch a nerve in my heart, and I pray they will do the same for yours! Four small words that make a significant promise: "I Won't Let Go." If we dared to be completely transparent, that's what we all want: someone that means business when they say I will never let you go! But unfortunately, our lives are littered with many who shouldn't have let go But Did! Promised Not to Let Go But Did! Vowed to Not Let Go But Did! Parents who didn't hold on as you needed them to, spouses who cut their commitment date short, friends you thought would always be there who aren't anymore, the family that became foes, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, or old college pal you thought you'd share fond memories with for a lifetime, co-workers you figured you'd celebrate retirement with or a ministry you thought would support you through it all. Unfortunately, it seems as if no one can always be there to hold on when we're going down; even a great husband or wife far too often falls short of fulfilling the vow never to let go. And there are numerous reasons as to why people let go: People change. People leave. People are human. People die. And the list goes on and on.

However, thanks to God; HE IS NOT LIKE MAN!

Years ago, there was a movie with a title that stuck with me: "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter." In truth, our hearts are hunting for an anchorperson, that one person who will grab our hand and never let go. No matter what changes, no matter how we look or act or evolve down through the years, especially when the storm is about to sink us! 

Millions of people have grabbed that ONE hand that will NEVER let go, and HE NEVER HAS! After all, He's the One who made the promise: "‘…NEVER will I leave you; NEVER will I forsake you…. ‘ 

I love God’s use of the word ‘NEVER’ because it means: ‘not ever; not at all; definitely or surely not; at no time in the past, present or future; not under any circumstance or condition; not to any level or degree.’ 

Now that’s what you call an iron-clad guarantee! Completely unbreakable! 

This is His promise to you, and God always keeps His promises! 

“…the words that come out of My mouth will not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” (Isaiah 55:11 MSG). 

“Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus…” (2 Corinthians 1:20 MSG). 

“God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 AMPC)

“That’s right,” the Lord replied, “and I always rise early to keep a promise.” (Jeremiah 1:12 CEV)

That’s why you can say with Complete Confidence no matter what you’re dealing with: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Psalm 27:1) A few other translations read like this:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life – Who shall I dread?” (AMP)

“…So, with him on my side, I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.” (MSG)

The God that holds your hand is your HELPER, LIGHT, SALVATION, REFUGE, FORTRESS, STRONGHOLD, PROTECTOR OF YOUR LIFE, AND KEEPS YOU SAFE FROM ALL DANGERS! Therefore, you do not need to be afraid, fearful, dreading, frightened of anything or anyone! Your God, who has promised to keep His hand on you, and to keep you in the palm of His hand, will never let you go, no matter what attaches itself to you! That you can take comfort in!

That promise is from Jesus Christ Himself- the One who loved you enough to die in your place to pay for the sins that have always put God out of your reach.

Listen to how Scripture says it:

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) He shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (John 3:16 AMP). 

“…God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong so that we could be put right with God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 MSG). 

“But God shows and proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” (Romans 5:8 AMP). 

That’s how much you mean to God! He allowed His Son’s Hands to be Nailed in Excruciating Pain just so those Same Hands could Hold You and Never Let You Go! That’s shouting material right there! Not even nails could make Him let you go!

A lot of people may have failed to hang on. But remember this: JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL YOU! AND HE MOST CERTAINLY WILL NEVER LET GO OF YOU! He says of those who come to Him, “…I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, EVER. I have told you this explicitly because you don't believe me even though you have seen me in action. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. AND ONCE THAT PERSON IS WITH ME, I HOLD ON AND DON’T LET GO…” (John 6:35-38 MSG). 

LISTEN: If He were ever going to turn His back on you, it would have been when He was enduring YOUR punishment on the cross! But He stayed there so you could live with Him forever! He will not abandon the one He paid for with His blood and life! When He died for you, He proved He’d got love for you that won’t ever let you go!

When He walked out of His grave, He proved He’s got the power to hold onto you through everything life, and even death can throw at you! This means the government shutdown can’t release His hand; the foreclosure can’t release His hand; the diagnosis and disease can’t release His hand; the bankruptcy can’t release His hand; the divorce can’t release His hand; the layoff can’t release His hand; the addiction can’t release His hand; the bad habits can’t release His hand; the temptation can’t release His hand! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND NO ONE, NOT EVEN YOU, CAN RELEASE THE HOLD OF THE HAND OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE!

So, stop crying; stop fretting; stop walking in fear; stop panicking; stop pacing the floor; stop losing sleep; stop trying to come up with a backup plan for God; stop hoping for human hands to fix it; stop reading the horoscopes; stop stalking the Prophets! JUST STOP!

And then START praising God; worshiping God; walking by faith and not by sight; trust God for a favor; live in peace; kneel in prayer; rest in God’s faithfulness; remember that He has numbered every strand of hair on your head and hasn’t lost count of one, nor will He ever lose sight of you! So, trust the plan, power, and purpose of God; fulfill the will of God; seek Him, not them; read the Word of God; and get somewhere and be still and quiet and remember that He is still God, the same God that has been holding you all this time and will not ever let you go!

Yes, I know it’s too much for you to handle, but thanks be to God that you don’t have to handle it! You serve a God with Hands bigger and stronger than yours, and He’s got it and you right in the palm of them. You are safe; you are good; you are well; you are healed; you are delivered, you are whole; you are peaceful; you are joyful; you are confident; you are reassured; you are now walking into a new level of trusting God with everything and all things!

So, Remember Today That No Matter What’s Got A Hold Of You…He Will Never Let Your Hands Go! Use Prayer To Release It From Your Hands Into His, And Then Don’t Attempt To Take It Back Or Check Up On It Or See How God’s Doing With All Your Stuff! Put It In His Hands Because He Can Handle It! Then Rest Well Tonight, Knowing With Unshakeable Confidence That It Is Handled!

“For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]  So, we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP) 

1 Peter 5:6-7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,  casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” (AMP) 

John 10:28, “And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.” (AMP)

“Nothing can shake those who are secure in God’s hands.” (Author Unknown)

“My unknown future is in the hands of the all-knowing God.” (Author Unknown)

“The mighty hand of God is upon me. I shall not be shaken.” (Lailah Gifty Akita)

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” (Martin Luther)

“If we want to know the Glory of God; if we want to experience the beauty of God; and if we want to be Used by the Hand of God, then we must LIVE in the Word of God.” (David Platt)

“Surrender the thing you fear into the hands of God. Turn it right over to God and ask Him to solve it with you. Fear is keeping things in your own hands; faith is turning them over into the hands of God.” (E. Stanley Jones)

“If GOD could close the mouth of the lions for Daniel; part the red sea for Moses; make the sun stand still for Joshua; open the prison for Peter; put a baby in the arms of Sarah and raise Lazarus from the dead; then He can certainly take care of you! Nothing you are facing today is too hard for His Hands to Handle!” (Author Unknown)

 

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Your Calling Will Not Be Fulfilled in Your Comfort Zone! Dear God, I Don't Know Where You Are Taking Me; But I TRUST YOU. Don't Allow the Opinions of Others to Hinder Your Obedience to God! Do Not Get So Busy Ignoring Christ and Listening to Critics.

 Your Calling Will Not Be Fulfilled in Your Comfort Zone! Dear God, I Don't Know Where You Are Taking Me; But I TRUST YOU. Don't Allow the Opinions of Others to Hinder Your Obedience to God! Do Not Get So Busy Ignoring Christ and Listening to Critics!

Dear God, I Don't Know Where You Are Taking Me; But I TRUST YOU. Jeremiah 29:11

How often have you said to yourself or heard someone say, I missed my turn, I could have had an opportunity over there, but I let my friends talk me out of it? When I was younger, I could not understand why people would sometimes leave a church after 25 years; then, as I got older, I understood that God just moved them in another direction when they shared there were no problems.  

You have stayed here long enough. TURN.” (Deuteronomy 2:3 TLB)

God’s plan for your life always involves your gifts, His timing, and being in the right place. But three things can keep that from happening:

1...Fear of Failing: (For some reason, we’re under the impression that failures are final and fatal, and that is far from the truth. Why do we fear change when we can easily change fear? When you read the Bible from cover to cover, you will quickly discover that all of God’s children failed at some point in time. None of them were perfect. They failed as Kings, Priests, Prophets, Judges, Leaders, Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Male, females, Married, Single, Young, and Old Alike. No one that is flesh and blood is exempt from failure! However, failure is not to be feared; it’s to be learned from so that you better appreciate the success when it does come)! No Sin Too Deep, No Lifestyle Too Vile, No Action Too Heinous, No Words Too Harsh That God's Unlimited Amazing Grace Can't Reach.

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." (Thomas A. Edison)

LESSON TO LEARN: NEVER FEAR FAILURE BECAUSE IT'S NEVER FINAL OR FATAL!

2...Unwillingness to Leave Your Comfort Zone: (Sadly, many people have not failed because of where they’ve gone, but because of where they’ve chosen to stay. The truth is, you can’t get THERE, remaining HERE! This means daily, you must challenge yourself to try and experience new, different, uncomfortable, and unfamiliar things. You have to learn to broaden your circle by getting out of the box! No one fulfills their Calling in a Comfort Zone. Jesus walked the world over healing and delivering, but it was the shedding of blood that brought salvation. Last I checked, the cross was not the most comfortable way to the crown, but He endured it, and whatever your cross is, endure it! Get out of your comfort zone, so you can finally fulfill your calling)!

"If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone." (John Maxwell)

"Sometimes it takes us traveling outside our comfort zone, to discover the abilities we never knew we had." (Robert M. Hensel)

Lesson to Learn: Your Calling Will Not Be Fulfilled in Your Comfort Zone!

3...Being Swayed By the Opinions of Others: (Another sad commentary is that many people accomplish only minimal greatness because they’re so busy ignoring Christ and listening to Critics! If you are to do great things, you have to get past the opinions of people. And it doesn’t matter whether those opinions are good or bad. Even Jesus had Hosanna’s turn to Crucify by the same mouths! So likewise, you must learn to do what God has called you to do and be who He has called you to be, without the need for people's opinions, validations, confirmations, the seal of approval, and a pat on the back. When God gives the go-ahead, only a fool allows others to stop him!

"Don't let the noise of other people’s opinions drown out your inner voice." (Steve Jobs)

"Don't worry about other people's opinions of you. God never told you to impress people; only to love them." (Dave Willis)

"The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd, you are no longer a sheep; you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom." (Osho)

Lesson to Learn: Don't Allow the Opinions of Others to Hinder Your Obedience to God!

Remember This: Use Your Gifts, Move in God’s Timing, and Make Sure You Are Always in the Right Place! Never Allow Fear of Failure, The Crippling of Your Comfort Zone, or the Opinions of Others to Stop Your Forward Progression!

In focusing on our text, there came the point where to enter the Promised Land, God said to Israel, “You have traveled around this mountain long enough. Now TURN…” (NLV). Please understand that it’s crucial that you say yes to God and be willing to step out in faith when you reach this point! Whether God is directing you or redirecting you, listen, heed, and immediately obey!

Think about it, and let’s be honest, we can all admit that we’ve stayed in places longer than we should have. And to be even more brutally honest, many of us have stayed in stuff we should’ve never been in, in the first place! But how much longer do you intend to miss God? God said to them, “You have traveled around this mountain long enough…” I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a “small mountain.” In other words, mountains are Big! It’s defined as “a mass of land rising abruptly and to a large height from the surrounding level.” That doesn’t sound too tiny to me! Can you imagine traveling around “a mass of land rising abruptly and to a large height from the surrounding level”? A mountain is massive! And the word “massive” means “large and heavy; solid; exceptionally large, intense, or severe.” So, people of God, I say to you, as God said to them, “You have traveled around this mountain long enough…” Or better yet, you’ve traveled around this massive, significant, heavy, intense, and severe situation long enough…WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO HEED GOD'S DIRECTION AND TURN?! It’s been a burden; it’s weighed you down, it has caused you to lose sleep, weight, hair, and peace. How much longer are you going to endure self-inflicted suffering? God Himself is giving you permission to go in another direction, so what are you waiting for? Why are you still facing a dead-end? Why are you still standing by the cliff? Why are you stuck in park? MOVE! Better Yet…TURN!

I love the definitions of the word “Turn”: “to move into a different position; to go in the opposite direction of where you are currently; to change in nature, state or form.” However, my favorite is: “a place where a road meets or branches off into another; a turning point.” Another favorite: “a time when one period of time ends, and another begins.” And that phrase “turning-point” is another favorite of mine: It’s defined as “a time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results.” Based on the above definitions, it’s time for you to move into a different position, go in the opposite direction of where you’ve been traveling, make a change! In a nutshell: TURN!

The word “reposition” is good; it means “a strategic move to alter and adjust to a different position.” In other words, no, I am by no means saying this will be easy, but I am saying it will be worth it for you to deliberately make a strategic move and alter and adjust to different people, places, and things! After all, the people, places, and something you’ve become accustomed to having not worked for you, so why not quit, and get work elsewhere?! You’ve been doing this long enough, putting up with this long enough, tolerating this long enough, suffering because of this long enough! So now is the time to Reposition and Turn!

In a nutshell: This Turn Is To Your Benefit, So What Are You Waiting For…TURN!

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the TURN” (Helen Keller)

During a famine, God said to the prophet Elijah, “And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Leave here and TURN east. Hide by the river Cherith, east of the Jordan.  You will drink from the river. And I have told the ravens to bring food to you THERE.” So, he went and did what the Word told him of the Lord. He went and lived by the river Cherith, east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. And he drank from the river.” (1 Kings 17:2-6 NLV).

God’s PLAN for your life is always connected to a PLACE!

“…Leave here and TURN EAST…”; (1 Kings 17:2-6 NLV).

“You have traveled around this mountain long enough. Now TURN NORTH”; (Deuteronomy 2:3 TLB).

“The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, TURN TOWARD THE SOUTH…” (Ezekiel 20:45-46 CEV).

“Moses…led the flock to the WEST…The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire…” (Exodus 3:1-2 MSG)

Are You Getting This? From all four corners of the Earth, God’s people are charged and challenged to make a TURN! EAST, NORTH, SOUTH, WEST! Likewise, it’s vital for your life and calling that you are always in the Right Place at the Right Time! This week is an excellent time to look around at the people, places, and things in your life and see where you need to make a Beneficial TURN for yourself!

Think about it: Elijah would’ve missed his provision in the EAST if he didn’t TURN; Israel would’ve missed the Promised Land if they didn’t TURN to the NORTH; Ezekiel would’ve missed his ministry opportunity to deliver a prophetic word if he didn’t TURN to the SOUTH, and Moses would’ve missed the burning bush if he didn’t TURN to the WEST! So, what are you missing out on because you have yet to TURN in the direction God has commanded?!

Listen, Even Jesus “…HAD to go through Samaria…” (John 4:4 NIV). The Message Bible says it like this, “TO GET THERE; HE HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA…” (MSG). To get THERE, you have to leave HERE! And why did Jesus have to go through Samaria? To meet a woman who was destined to reach that city with the Gospel. Can you imagine a whole town would’ve missed out on hearing the Good News of the Gospel if Jesus didn’t go through Samaria?! Believe it or not, but you being in the right place at the right time is not just about you! Some people won’t receive what they need to until you get there! Some people won’t take a turn for the better until you’ve finally decided to make a turn from the worse! Some won’t get a turn until you make a turn! And do you want to be held responsible for a whole city missing God because you missed your turn?!

So, whether you’re being sent to the North, South, East, or West is irrelevant! What’s important is that you obey the direction of the Lord when He tells you it’s time to make a TURN!

God has promised to bless you, but sometimes He must reposition you for you to receive His blessing! Just ask Peter. He went from I’ll live and die with you, Jesus, to being warmed by a strange fire, with unfamiliar people, and lying about his identity to Jesus. However, it’s never too late to make a TURN because he’s later restored, repositioned, and preaching redemption to thousands! Likewise, Paul went from killing Christians to speaking life and resurrecting them! It’s amazing what just a slight TURN in the right direction can accomplish! In other words, it’s not too late for you either! So, MAKE THE TURN…BEFORE YOU MISS YOUR TURN!

Think about this as well: When Ruth moved to Bethlehem, she met Boaz and married him; it was when Bartimaeus went to where Jesus was that he received his sight! In a nutshell: You Don’t Want to Miss Your Turn Because You Missed Your Turn! So, make sure you are in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right thing! After all, to miss God is just wrong!

In closing, can you imagine how Abraham’s story would’ve read had he missed his TURN in Genesis 12:1? “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” The Living Bible says it like this, “God told Abram, “Leave your own country behind you…” (TLB). And the Amplified Bible reads, “…Go for yourself [for your advantage] away from your country…” (AMP). Abram had to leave some people, places, and things BEHIND HIM and FOR HIS ADVANTAGE AND TURN IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ALTOGETHER! And what was the blessing for his obedient TURN? “If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you, and the entire world will be blessed because of you.” (Genesis 12:2-3 TLB).  And All Because He Refused to Miss His Turn By Missing His Turn! Verse 4 is the bonus, “SO ABRAM LEFT JUST AS GOD SAID…” (MSG). What Blessings Are You Missing Out On Because You’re Still In the Same Place?! What Blessings Are You Missing Out On Because You Didn’t Listen When God Spoke?!

And was this the only time Abram would have to make a TURN? Absolutely Not! He would eventually have to TURN away from Lot, who was originally granted permission by Abram to go with him! However, Once Again, Due to Making Another Timely TURN, the Word of God Declares: “After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, “Open your eyes, look around. Look NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I’ll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, GET MOVING! Walk through the country, its length, and breadth; I’m giving it all to you.” (Genesis 13:14-17 MSG)

Abram Made a Timely TURN, and God Made Abram a Timeless Promise! So, if You Don’t Want to Miss Yours As Well, Today, Determine to MAKE A TURN!

“No matter how far you go in the wrong direction, there’s always a chance to TURN your life around.”  (Author Unknown)

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Do Your Part, And Watch God Do His. Do What Is Reasonable; Improve Your Relationship with the Lord; Relinquish the Impossible to God; Have Radical Faith that God Can and Will Do It. You’ll Walk Out Of What You Were Carried Into!

 As Long As You Believe You Can Handle The Problem On Your Own, You Will Not Reach For The Miracle-Working Power Of God. You Have To Be In A Situation So Bad That You Pray The Prayer Of Relinquishment. You Will Walk Out Of What You Were Carried Into. John 11:1, “Now a certain man was SICK, Lazarus of Bethany…” (NKJV)

John 11:17, “So when Jesus arrived, He found that he [Lazarus] Had Already Been In The Tomb Four Days.” (AMPC)

John 11:43-44, “When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! And Out Walked The Man Who Had Been Dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.” (AMPC)

John 12:1-2, “So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead. So, they made Him a supper; and Martha served, BUT LAZARUS WAS ONE OF THOSE AT THE TABLE WITH HIM.” (AMPC)

Lazarus goes from being sick; to being dead; to being carried into a tomb where he would lay for four days; to Jesus calling his name; to Lazarus walking out as a live man; and then being seated at the Passover Feast Supper table with Jesus!

From the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, we learn certain lessons:

The First Lesson is About REASON: You cannot have radical faith until you have exhausted all REASONABLE SOLUTIONS. You see, Mary and Martha did not send for Jesus UNTIL THEY’D DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO FOR LAZARUS. THEREFORE, THINK AND BE REASONABLE; IF YOU CAN DO IT FOR YOURSELF, GOD WON’T DO IT FOR YOU! For example, unless you are willing to change your diet and start eating right, how can you go to God with confidence for healing? Because even if He heals you your habits will take you right back to an unhealthy place. Unless you are willing to put the needs of your spouse above your own, what is the point in praying for a happy marriage? James writes: “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18 NKJV). Before you go crying out to God to supply a miracle, BE SURE THAT YOU’VE TAKEN THE NECESSARY TIME TO DO ALL YOU CAN DO FIRST! THERE’S NO NEED OF A MIRACLE FOR WHAT YOU CAN MANAGE ON YOUR OWN! For example, before filing for bankruptcy, make sure you have exhausted all your options first! In other words, see if you can make payment arrangements FIRST! If you can set up a payment plan to pay off a debt in five years, does it make sense to file for bankruptcy, when it will stay on your credit report for ten?! People of God remember they sent for Jesus WHEN THERE WERE NO MORE OPTIONS LEFT! John 11:3, “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Unlike our modern times, they did not have round-the-clock hospitals and doctor offices and urgent care set up back then. And even though there were doctors, because of their feet or a horse or camel, they had no better method of transformation to check on a sick individual. Therefore, it was the family’s responsibility to do all they could in the absence of professional medical care. The sisters would then take care of their sick brother Lazarus as much as they could, but then they would need a physician, thank God they called on the Great Physician! However, they did what they could, within REASON, for their brother BEFORE they even called on Jesus! Make sure you are not asking God to lay His hands on something that you can fix for yourself! You see, the word ‘reason’ is defined as, ‘the power of the mind to think, to understand and form judgment logically; that which is practical or possible; to find a solution to a problem by considering possible options.’ Its French origin (‘reisun), from Latin (‘reri’) literally means ‘to consider.’ Before you flip out and panic begging God to show up in the next 3 seconds, make sure you have considered your options.

Maybe the truth is the mortgage miracle we are asking for is for a house we knew we could not afford before we moved in it. Maybe the financial blessing we need by midnight is not as important as we are cutting up some credit cards; we need to stop shopping with money that should have been set aside to pay off your bills. Maybe it is not the car note that is the burden, but we are driving something beyond our reasonable means, trying to impress people who are more likely in greater debt than we are! Are you getting this? Consider your options and work within your abilities and reason. Then, when you know it is beyond your hands to handle, place it in God’s!

“I have found in life that if you want a miracle, you first need to do whatever it is You Can Do—if that’s plant, then plant; if it is to read, then read; if it is to change, then change; if it is to study, then study; if it is to work, then work; whatever You Have To, Do. And Then you will be well on your way of doing the labor that works miracles.” (Jim Rohn). Do what’s REASONABLE, and He will do the Rest!

The Second Lesson is About RELATIONSHIP: Some folks only turn to God when they have a crisis. Prayer is a foreign concept to them UNTIL they have a car wreck, or their marriage falls apart, or they lose their job. Then, incredibly, they say, “God, why did You let this happen to Me?” HOWEVER, IT’S HARD TO GO TO SOMEONE WHEN YOU’RE IN TROUBLE, IF YOU’VE SPENT NO TIME BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM! Jesus often spent time at the home of Mary and Martha eating at their table. They were givers, not takers: The Bible says, “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick” (John 11:2 NKJV). When you love the Lord to that extent, you can go to Him in faith knowing your needs will be met. HOWEVER, PLEASE BEAR IN MIND, THE LORD IS NOT OUR PERSONAL GENIE THAT WE RUB THE RIGHT WAY WITH WORDS OF PRAISE, WORSHIP AND ADORATION WHEN WE NEED HIM TO GRANT US THREE WISHES! (Lord please keep the 1) Foreclosure, 2) Repossession and 3) Death Demons Away…Hallelujah, I Love You…. THAT’S A Popcorn Prayer. HE CARES NOTHING ABOUT OUR RELIGIOSITY, HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP! AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, There Is A Difference Between Religion and Relationship! Look at It This Way: Religion Is Like Inspirational Music (You Do not Necessarily Have to Be Saved to Sing It, Nor Do You Necessarily Have to Even Mention the Name Jesus!); But Relationship Is Like Gospel Music (It Has to Speak of The Life, The Death, The Burial, The Resurrection and The Coming Again of The Lord Jesus Christ…If It Is in Fact “Gospel” Music!!) Furthermore, Religion Is Man-Made; The Gospel Is God-Given! Religion Is What Man Does for God; The Gospel Is What God Did for Man! Religion Is Man’s Search for God; The Gospel Is God’s Search for Man! Religion Is Man’s Trying to Climb Up the Ladder of His Own Self-Righteousness, With the Hope of Meeting God on The Topmost Rung; The Gospel Is God Coming Down the Ladder in The Incarnation of Jesus Christ And Meeting Us Sinners at The Lowest Rung! God Does not Want the Inspiration of Religion, But the Impartation and Intimacy of Relationship! ‘Impartation’ Means To ‘To Communicate, To Grant A Share Of, To Make Known or Disclose Information, To Give and Bestow Something, To Contribute, Add To, Carry or Express’! God Is Looking to Do All This with You! He Wants to Talk with You, Disclose Information to You, Bestow and Give Great Things to You, And to Likewise Receive Them from You! He Desires A Relationship! And After All He’s Already Given Us, Surely Giving This to Him Is Not Asking Too Much of Us!

“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find Him, the greatest human achievement” (Augustine)

The Third Lesson is About RELINQUISHMENT: If You Believe You Can Handle the Problem on Your Own, You Will Not Reach for The Miracle-Working Power of God. You Have to Be in A Situation So Bad That You Pray the Prayer of Relinquishment: “Lord, I’ve done all I know, and things aren’t getting any better. So, I am through trying to fix it. I turn it completely over to You. I do not know how You are going to handle it, but I know you love me and want only what is best for me. So here it is, Lord; it is all Yours” THIS IS NOT A PRAYER OF DEFEAT, IT IS ONE OF TOTAL TRUST. David wrote: “Though I am surrounded by troubles, You Will Protect Me…You Reach Out Your Hand, and the Power of Your Right-Hand Saves Me. The LORD Will Work Out His Plans for My Life – For Your Faithful Love, O LORD, Endures Forever…You Made Me” (Psalm 138:7-8 NLT). THAT’S HOW YOU RELINQUISH! The word ‘relinquish’ is defined as, ‘to willingly cease to keep or claim; to give up.’ Its Latin origin ‘relinquere’, from ‘linquere’ literally means ‘to leave.’ And that is what you need to learn to do today, give it to God and leave it there! One of the greatest blogs I’ve read regarding Relinquishment is called “Relinquish Control to Abba Father God” by Hazel Straub, and it reads as such: “Trust me with all your problems and do not lean on your own understanding. I am the solution for all your difficulties and problems. Hand them over to me and watch me as your Problem Solver. Worship and keep your focus on me, not the difficulty. Rest from your struggles; direct your eyes to me. Is anything too hard for me? Deliver your problems to me. Give me control and relinquish your grip. I am more than able to handle your difficulties and cares. Has it worked for you to leave me out of your solution, as you struggled? Hand them over to me and let them go. I am God, who loves you and bears your burdens. I am your help and strength. Let my love and joy invade you. Abba Father, there is no one greater than you and I give you all my worship. I relinquish control to you. I turn from trying to solve and handle my problems, on my own and release them to you. Thank you for bearing my burdens. I will be still and know that you are God. I trust you.” THAT’S HOW YOU RELINQUISH!

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He is the one who will keep you on track. Do not assume that you know it all. Run to God!” (MSG)

The pastor of a great church tells of running out of money when they were only halfway through the construction of their new sanctuary. The congregation was growing and there was no doubt that they needed the extra space. But the bank would not give them any more funds. So, the pastor prayed and said, “Lord, personally speaking, I don’t need this big building. I already have a place for all my children. You need a place for Yours. I do not know how You are going to take care of this, but those are Your kids, Lord, so I am turning it over to You. I’m relinquishing this responsibility into your capable hands.” GOD ANSWERED, THE MONEY CAME THROUGH, AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS THEY WERE WORSHIPING IN A BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY, DEBT FREE! SO, NO MATTER HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT LOOKS, LOOK TO THE WORD THAT TELLS YOU WITH GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! SIMPLY GIVE YOUR PROBLEM TO HIM AND DON’T ATTEMPT TO TAKE IT BACK! Philippians 1:6, “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]” (AMP) RELINQUISH IT ALL TO GOD, HE CAN HANDLE WHAT YOU CAN’T GET A HANDLE ON!

The Fourth Lesson is About RADICAL FAITH: When somebody is dead and buried, that is as “final” as it gets! To believe God in the face of such a situation requires Radical Faith! Until this moment Martha had “IF ONLY” faith.  “Lord, IF ONLY You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21 NKJV). But then she began to realize what Jesus could do and moved to “EVEN NOW” faith. She said to Jesus, “But EVEN NOW I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (vs. 22 NKJV). Radical Faith says, “Lord I believe that my future can be greater than my past, that You can turn the situation around and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, that nothing is too hard for You.” Radical Faith in the face of Radical Circumstances brings Radical Results! That means, no matter what the doctor says, your only Radical Response of Faith is, “…And by His Stripes (Wounds) We Are Healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 AMP); “…For by His Wounds You [Who Believe] Have Been Healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 AMP). That means, when the job lays you off; when the mortgage, car note, and tuition are all behind, and the lights and gas are about to be cut off. When there is no food in the fridge, when you do not have enough money to even get on the bus, your only Radical Response of Faith is, “And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 AMP). When God gives you a dream and vision so big it scares you into believing the people around you that are saying the bank will not give you a loan for that; you cannot get that grant; no one will underwrite that; you are asking too much; that is too big; that is ridiculous; that is outrageous; that is impossible. Your only Radical Response of Faith is, “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose – I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.” (Philippians 4:13 AMP); “…With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 AMP); “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 AMP) When people say, but you have had that habit and addiction forever; you have messed up every day of your life; you cheated; lied; failed; missed the mark; fallen short; walked in deliberate and willful disobedience and sin; there is just no way God will ever redeem you! Your only Radical Response of Faith is, “Some of you were sick because you’d lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; you couldn’t stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you’d be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; He got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So, thank God for His marvelous love, for His miracle mercy to the children He loves; Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what He’s done—sing it out!” (Psalm 107:17-22 MSG) Are you getting this? All you must do is exercise your Radical Faith and watch God handle your Radical Results!

The Fifth Lesson is About RESTORATION: “Therefore the sisters sent to [Jesus], saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick’…Then…He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea’” (vss. 3, 7 NKJV) You will never know what the Lord can do until you invite Him into your situation. He can give you back what you have loved and lost! He can restore what life has taken from you – and then some! It is not too late! Send for Jesus! No matter how bad your situation may be, pray, “Lord, EVEN NOW I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

“Deeply moved again, Jesus went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone covering the entrance. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Jesus, “Lord, there must already be a stench. He’s been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” So, the stone was moved away from the entrance of the tomb. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I have known that you always hear me. However, I’ve said this so that the crowd standing around me will believe that you sent me.” After Jesus had said this, he shouted as loudly as he could, “Lazarus, Come Out!” The dead man came out. Strips of cloth were wound around his feet and hands, and his face was wrapped with a handkerchief. Jesus told them, “Free Lazarus, And Let Him Go” (John 11:38-45 GWT).

For most people that is their happy part in the story. However, mine is found in John 12:1-2, “So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead. So, they made Him a supper; and Martha served, BUT LAZARUS WAS ONE OF THOSE AT THE TABLE WITH HIM.” (AMPC)

He was sick; died; carried into the tomb; called by name by Jesus; walked out of what he was carried into and then finds himself alive and well and seated at the table with Jesus being served supper! Now, I know you have been through a rough patch, and that rough patch may have been months, years or even decades, and still I speak by faith over your life that you will walk out of what you were carried into! Yes, that situation was hurtful; that sickness was painful; their rejection is sorrowful; and still you will end up better than you began!

John 11 is a hard season to be in because it is surrounded by hurt, pain, loss, death, waiting, fear, and the like, but your John chapter 12 is just around the corner! Not only will you be revived and restored and fully recovered, but the same people who saw you be carried in will be the same people to watch you walk out! And NO, you will not come out smelling like roses! After all, there was no way for Lazarus to be bound head to toe in graves clothes and lie in a grave for four days and come out without any stench at all! And neither will you! You are coming out will not look or smell good, but you are coming out anyway!

Before you know it, you will go from the Tomb to the Table...so do not throw in the Towel yet!

Do Your Part, And Watch God Do His!

Do What Is Reasonable; Improve Your Relationship with the Lord; Relinquish the Impossible to God; Have Radical Faith that God Can and Will Do It; then Rejoice, for He Will “…Restore to You the Years That the Locust Hath Eaten…” (Joel 2:25)

LEARN FROM LAZARUS AND LIKEWISE, YOU’LL WALK OUT OF WHAT YOU WERE CARRIED INTO!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com