Pastor Wayne Cordeiro & Pastor John Tilton
January 3, 2021 - W2101

Awake & Arise!

God's Purposes & Processes

Pastor Wayne Cordeiro & Pastor John Tilton 

January 2&3, 2021 

[Video]

PASTOR WAYNE CORDEIRO: The year 2020 was one of uncertainty, struggle, and pain: a virus took countless lives of people we knew and loved; businesses have shut down, jobs have been lost; and churches were forced to close their doors. We also witnessed unprecedented levels of protestors in city streets and felt the sting of racism and deep heartache of hate!  

It has been difficult, at times, to see the hand of God; but even in the darkest moments, He has been present, faithful, and powerful!  As the new year begins, let us stand on this simple truth:  "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not grow faint!"   

We don't know what 2021 will hold for us, but we do know that it will be held by "the steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV."  We stand on this Truth! It is our Hope for the new year!

[End Video] 

PASTOR JOHN TILTON:  "Awake & Arise with God's Purposes and Processes!" Do you feel a sense of power and excitement in that command? It’s about perspective! We leave 2020 behind and go forward into 2021 with God's purposes and processes! 

In looking back on 2020, we were locked down on a number of occasions: We couldn't go out and gatherings were limited to five people. We were working from home and were isolated most of the year--and many have gone to sleep, emotionally and mentally!

Ephesians 5:13-14 ESV says:"¹³ But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'”

Paul is telling the Ephesians that when you see darkness prevailing all around, it is the light of Jesus Christ that will outshine the darkness! It's a call to wake up and move forward so that the Lord Jesus Christ and His light will continue to shine; then, we will experience the largest turnaround from the greatest crisis in history. 

[Video]

PASTOR WAYNE:  Happy New Year, Everyone! Today, we'll talk about The Process that God puts us through and the Purpose that He has for us--the Process and the Purpose of God are two different things.  If we understand this, it will drive out regrets from our lives.  

Our problem is that we're only happy when things turn out the way we expect them to, and we set ourselves up for disappointment! God's ways are not always our ways--they are better! He can see around the corner--the detours, obstacles, the enemy at work, and what must come to pass!  Even in the midst of crisis, God still has a purpose for our life--more than the eye can see! In Hawaii, one of our New Year's greeting is Kung Hee Fat Choy (Chinese), basically, wishing you "A Happy Crisis-Free Year!"  But no one can guarantee that, or what the economy will do.   

Several years ago, I heard an inspirational speaker explain two Chinese characters: "Wei Ji," which means crisis.  He explained that "Wei" means "danger" and "Ji" means "opportunity;" that in every crisis, there is imminent danger, but (bundled incognito) is substantial opportunity!  The Bible teaches that every miracle begins with a problem!  In the midst of crisis, people are hoping that God would come through as a healer or savior and see the glory of God! I guarantee that in every crisis that you face in 2021, there will be an opportunity for you to see the glory of God--in every case!  

In 1 Samuel Chapters 27-29, David is involved in a little?known story that happened after he killed the giant Goliath: David is celebrated among the Philistines but becomes intimidating to King Saul. King Saul is afraid that David may take over his throne and out of fear, jealousy, and envy, he pursues David to kill him--this is well?known throughout the guards.  Even Saul's son Jonathan (next to the throne) doesn't want David killed; but Saul demands that they go after David, and David constantly becomes a fugitive in flight!

Goliath was a Philistine; and when David killed him, he became a legend who killed their best warrior!  David thought that if he joined and helped the Philistines fight their wars that Saul would not cross their border to start a war with Israel. And Achish, king of the Philistines, welcomes David and gives him and his people sanctuary in the city of Ziklag; David fights with the Philistines, increasing favor as the people realize what a great warrior he is!

A year and 4 months later as they are settled nicely in Ziklag, Saul and his men are getting closer to their border.  David himself could not throw a lance or spear at Saul because God told him, "You will not touch the Lord’s anointed." But, as part of a war, they could take Saul down!  Achish invites David to join them, but the men do not want David and would not go to battle unless David is disqualified! David is upset at being demoted and distrusted to fight!

God intervened in this situation because Saul and his son Jonathan would be killed in battle and had David been there, his name would be tarnished that he was in battle against the Israelites, his own people!  Also, in this battle, the king and Jonathan, David’s best friend, would be slain, so whether David drew the arrow against them or not, he would’ve been blamed. God was looking out for David and slams the door on David’s fingers!

Just as God worked with David, He will work with you; so, when a door slams shut, don’t be quick to get upset!

1.  I Will Look at Every Adversity and Search for God’s Greater Plan 

God sometimes sets up roadblocks because He can see further down the road than we could ever see, and David is told he's not going to battle, and he is upset: 

1 Samuel 29:8-10 NASB says: "⁸ ...David said to Achish, “But what have I done...that I cannot go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” ⁹ But Achish replied to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us into the battle.’ ¹⁰ Now then, rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, leave.”

David was loyal and wanted to fight for the king, but sometimes a roadblock could be the best thing that happens to us, and God answers, "No, you see the process that is painful, but I see a purpose that will have been circumvented."  

Many of you may remember the plane that went down from Indonesia for Singapore.  It was to leave at 7:30 but because of weather conditions, they sent out emails and messages to passengers that they were leaving at 5:20.  There were 162 people killed on that flight; but ten people didn’t get that email message, and when they arrived at the airport, the agent informed them the plane had already left.  Forty-two minutes later, the news announced that this plane had gone down in the ocean with no survivors. The attitude of the late commers changed from anger to shock and then to grief.  They didn’t see it, but it was a "blessing in disguise!”

•       I Won't Only Look at the Process, But I Will Look for God's Purpose

1 Samuel 30:1-2 RSV says: "¹Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amal?ekites had made a raid...and burned it with fire, ² and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great." 

Psalm 37:23 NKJV says: “The steps of the good man are ordered by the Lord.”  

The process is temporary, but the purpose is eternal; the process is uncomfortable, but the purpose is glorious; the process can bring you to tears, but if you'll understand God's purpose, it will bring joy that cometh in the morning! 

•        I Will Look at Every Uncertainty as a Way to Build My Trust  

1 Samuel 30:8 says: "And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” ¹⁸ David recovered all that the Amal?ekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.  ¹⁹ Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David brought back all."

When I first went to Hilo, [Hawaii], it was to a small church startup with about 23 people, and they paid $500 a month and I had to figure out ways to increase my income to support my family. I came across a magazine that paid $50 an article and soon started writing more articles; I look back now 13 books later, and wonder where did God teach this boy from Palolo Valley to write?  It was in a crisis!  All I saw was the uncomfortable process; God saw His divine purpose!

I found a house that we could live in and bought it for $79,000.  The foundation wasn’t level as the rotted pieces of post and pier had fallen.  I jacked up the foundations and worked under a small crawlspace and poured concrete under the house; then I had to break down and rebuild the termite eaten part of the house. After a while, it looked nice, and I thought, "I’m so good at this, I’m going to sell this house and look for another beater-upper."  We flipped 12 houses this way.

Where did I learn to do that?  Crisis.  God knew that in the midst of a crisis He would teach me something that would help fulfill His purpose! There will be a deal that God will squash or a door that He will close because there's a window of opportunity that He will open over here; when there is death here, there might be life there!  That's how God redirects us to what's most important.  Otherwise, we'll miss the most important and settle for the unimportant!

God is committed to His purposes for your life, for this church, and for us as a congregation. Understand that sometimes the process that God is taking you through is uncomfortable, but the purpose is glorious!  The process may bring tears, but the purpose gained will bring joy in the morning.  And when you understand and never compromise the purposes of God for your life, it will drive out all regrets from your life.  

[End Video]

PASTOR JOHN:  Would you all agree that we came out of the greatest crisis in the history of man in 2020?  How do we go forward so that we can use the purposes and the processes of God and navigate our way forward when you walk out of this door?  

3. I Will Be Intentional and Diligent in Drawing Close to The Lord  

By using the acrostic P-A-W, I will illustrate this point:

P - Prayer. Jeremiah 29:12 NIV, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Keep God as part of your life every day throughout the day: while driving, talk to the Lord; when something happens at work, stop and say, "Lord, help me!" Whatever you're going through, make God a part of your day in your prayer life--30 seconds or a couple minutes.

A - Assembling of Saints.  Hebrews 10:25 NKJV says: " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." We were not made to be isolated, so use opportunities to call someone (assembling of saints), especially in this unique time. We are meant to come together in fellowship and speak into one another's lives. It is important to exhort and build up one another. 

W - Word of God (reading and studying God's Word). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV says: 

^"16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The word of God is important! If you're struggling to read and understand the Bible, try another version, one that will speak to you, and study the Word. These three things will make a difference for you in 2021 as we Awake & Arise! being strong, knowing God’s purposes and processes: Prayer, Assembly, and be in the Word.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1.   What is something you are struggling with?

2.   How has God turned your crisis into a learning opportunity?

3.   Share times when God intervened in a circumstance to save or change your life.

4.   How can you change your PAW for 2021?