GREAT EXPECTATIONS! (PSL)

(Daniel 11:32b)
A Message by Rev. Dr. Stanley Lim on 23rd & 24th September 2000

Introduction :

“But the people who know their God will be strong and take action (God’s Word)”. The word “exploit” in the NKJV is translated as “take actions”. In other words, the people who constantly knowing God through His daily revelations will be people of great actions. The former U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson once said: “The Church that Christ is building confronts the world, not by cleverness or wisdom, not by promises or methods or institutions. The church Christ is building confronts the world in the very power of God Himself in the life of the believer”.

The Chaplain is right – Our Strength is God.

It’s an awesome truth: Building great churches means building great Christians! That makes every church a gathering place of eternally and spiritually significant people. That gives every congregation everlasting relevance and makes every believer a “somebody” of inestimable value. Church, you are in the middle of the action!

William Carey, the great missionary to India once said, “Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God!” What a challenge!

Before we can be people of action and carry out great exploits, we must fulfil the first condition that God sets before us: KNOW GOD

I. KNOWING GOD INVOLVES OUR CONFRONTATION WITH THE DREADFULNESS OF PERSONAL SIN.

Let’s not be overly excited with the pure joy of His sweet presence when we are gathered together in His name. Rather we must transparently strip ourselves of all weight of sin in our personal lives. Remember, God is always faithful to His own words. He performs great deeds in His church because He has to honor His own words. Isaiah 55:11, God said: “My Word, which comes from My mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to Me without results, but it will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.”

The more we sense God moving in our lives the more we must find personal victory over sins and habits that drag us down. It is the devil’s wish to bring thoughts of guilt and condemnation by reminding us that we are not worthy and good enough and still have secret sins in our lives even though we are experiencing a tremendous move of God.

What is importantly to do is to be in a support group in which you are accountable to and where you will be transparently open to its members. It is a risk you have to do! But remember, living life itself is a risk. And if we have risked living our lives these many years, why not risk one more time to attain spiritual growth. Amen! This act is termed in modern management as “networking”.

You network with people who are overcomers so that you will be encouraged and challenged to tread the path of victory as well. 2 Cor. 1:3-5: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort. He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God. Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him.

II. KNOWING GOD DEMANDS OUR TOTAL SURRENDER TO THE EMPOWERMENT OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

God can and will use anyone greatly. The one and only obstacle is not that you do not have gifts, talents, skills, good looks, etc. That obstacle is YOU. Some even give excuses of their families being their hindrance to effective service. “If there is a will, there is a way!” We are all ordinary people. Nothing but just a lump of clay! But ordinary people; lumps of clay placed in the Master’s hands can do wonders! See for yourself the men and women that God used in the Book of Acts. They only had one ingredient, i.e. willingness to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Hand over your weakness and frailty to Jesus and He will turn them into great strengthens for His glory!

God wants to use us just as we are. God wants to use our hands, our feet, our mouths, our ears, etc. There are so many ministries that you can be involved in. The church is ever in shortage of workers. Just come forward and we will place you into ministry. There are so many needs but not enough people to meet those needs.

CONCLUSION:

Have you ever prayed, “Lord use me?” Why not relieve that prayer this morning and come experience Him in your personal live. Come experience God’s wonderful hands in bringing much anointed action.