Don’t get stuck in your present. By Dr. Josimar Salum

Don’t get stuck in your present.
Dr. Josimar Salum

Reinhard Bonnke was a man of God that lived far beyond his capacity. From a small beginning in Africa he became the most successful preacher of the whole African continent. 

I posted this message he wrote:

 “When you do business with people you need money.  When you do business with God you need faith.  Faith is the currency of the Kingdom of God.”

The point is not about doing business, but the relationship with God who teaches us that Faith is the only currency of the kingdom of heaven. 

People go after money and think money is the solution of their problems. 

Faith is what we need to live. Not money. 

Men talking is money! The whole world goes after money. Money is an invention of men. Money obscures faith because faith in God supplies everything, even money. Faith in God elevates you above your existence. 

Look at this! This is faith that doesn’t accept defeat:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Then someone eager to prosper and overcome the challenges of life replied:  “But it's not easy for some from western countries.”

Let me encourage you as I have encouraged him. 

You are who you think you are! If you think there is no hope for you, you already have given up!

If you look around you with a pessimistic eye you will get stuck at your present position and condition. 

If you see God beyond your circumstances you will dream beyond what you see. You will exercise your faith to get beyond what you have or who you are. 

Where you are now is just a station of transition. 

I encourage you to think differently. 

When everyone around you is complaining about their life, you are seeing yourself above your problems and the problems of others. 

Be creative. You will never get stuck where you are if you move. 

You may not change how you were born, but you can change your future by changing the way you think. 

Think positively. 

You were born to become a champion and a king. 

Start ruling above your circumstances. 

Make decisions to change your life, step by step, every day you do something that will help you to fulfill your dream. 

A lion don’t die hungry. You decide you will not live the way you live. You don’t know about those around you, how they will do. That is not your reference. You know about you and you have decided to overcome in life no matter how is your situation today.

Remember! You have not arrived your destination. Circumstances may not change but you will change. SOON, very soon, you will see your existing life far away behind you. 

#ASONE

How God worked through circumstances

We have been looking at Israel in Egypt and how God worked through circumstances to bring His people into the Promised Land.  

Let me remind you that our Promised Land is not heaven!!!  

The Promised Land for the believer today is to walk in the fullness of God on earth as it is in heaven!  God has promises for you and me to be fulfilled here on earth.  Don’t wait to get to heaven to enjoy your inheritance in Christ!

Our circumstances God uses to move us out of our comfort zone and into His purpose and plan for our lives.  Fear wants to hold us back, but God has given everyone a measure of faith that enables us to move forward in our destiny in Christ. 

There are 3 ways God works in our circumstances:

1.     Through People.
2.     Through Process.
3.     Through Prayer.

The question is will it be History or Destiny?

What causes us to be willing to return to our past history, even when that history is BONDAGE?  There are 6 times in Israel’s history when they are coming out of Egypt (Egypt is a type of the world or bondage), that they complained about their circumstances and wanted to return to Egypt.  I have already explained that God works through our circumstances to move us forward into our destiny in Christ.  We are not much different than Israel in that we often allow our circumstances to hold us captive to the present or we choose to return to our past. Those are not options if you want to walk in your destiny!  I remind you that your destiny is not a place, but a journey walking with God!

Lets look at these 6 complaints of Israel because I believe we can learn some valuable lessons from their mistakes.  I have combined them into 5 complaints because 2 were similar requests.

1.     Complaint #1 comes right when they leave Egypt.  They are surrounded by obstacles.  The mountains around, the Red Sea before and the Egyptians are chasing them.  Fear consumes them and all hope of surviving seems unattainable.  Remember the quote from Wellington Boone, “A man without hope is a man without a future and a man without a future will always return to the past.”  In that moment of crisis, bondage looks better than death!  Maybe you are not facing physical death, but you may be facing what seems to be death.  In that moment, we will all choose the past, our history, even if it is bondage over what seems to be certain death.  UNLESS WE REALIZE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, FEAR WILL CAUSE US TO RETURN TO THE PAST.  God has a purpose, “Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, … Ex. 14:18  God tells Moses to tell the children of Israel to go forward!  WALK IN FAITH!
2.     Complaint #2 arrives when their natural need for food and water arises.  You can read the accounts in Ex. 16 and 17.  They wanted food and water.  God was going to provide, but they were being tested to TRUST Him.  These needs God has promised to provide for us, but we must seek Him first.  How often do we complain or say it was better when…Will you trust God to provide all of your needs according to His glory and riches in heaven?  Or will you return to what seemed better, more secure, even though it was far less than acceptable?
3.    Complaint #3 arrives when we get tired of His provision and we want more!  Our DESIRE for more causes us to be blinded to what we possess.  When we can’t have what we want, we want what we had!  Isn’t it amazing how desire can blind us to the provision of God!
4.    Complaint #4 takes place when Moses sends out the 12 spies to go and spy out the Promised Land.  When our faith is challenged beyond our comfort level we choose to return to the past.  What we believe we will lose, is greater than what God has promised to give us.  To walk in our destiny our faith level must increase and exceed our comfort level!  You have a choice, FAITH OR COMFORT?  If you choose comfort, you will either remain in the wilderness of religion or return to the bondage of the past!  There is no standing still with God’s plan for your life!
5.    Complaint #5 occurs after they have arrived in the Promised Land.  Remember the Promised Land is not heaven.  Even when Israel reached the Promised Land they still had to obey God to receive His blessings, Joshua 7:7.  Joshua’s complaint was after the defeat at Ai.  He wanted to return to the wilderness!  When our expectations of God are not met we want to return to the past!  The problem was that Israel had disobeyed God.  They also had become CONFIDENT in their own abilities rather than remain confident in God!  When this happens God reveals our weakness in order that we might return to Him.

I am totally amazed at what man (and yes, even me if I don’t fight past my fears) will accept in life, rather than to believe for what God has promised!  There is a purpose and plan for you to walk in your destiny in Christ!  It is not a destination, but a journey!  But it is so much better than your history!  The question remains, HISTORY OR DESTINY?  What is it going to be?  It is so easy to judge the children of Israel, but we face the same decisions on a daily basis.  They may not be as dramatic as a Red Sea encounter, but they are no less important to make the right choice to choose to have faith rather than fear.  Stand and watch God fight for you!  The battle is the Lords if we choose DESTINY!

I am praying for all of you.  Stay faithful and believe for the impossible!

Dr. Paul Taylor

President/CEO

Champions with Destiny

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