I See Greater
Focus Scripture
"‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” — Haggai 2:9 NKJV
Introduction
Have you ever looked at a problem so great that you thought for sure that this was where it ends? Maybe your thoughts have whispered “This is when everyone discovers I’m an imposter” or “There’s no way I’ll become debt free now.” Perhaps you’ve asked, “How could I ever overcome this?” Or maybe you’ve said, “I’ll always be a failure.” I want you to know that what you feel is real, but your feelings are reacting to a lie. There’s nothing in the word of God that supports the claims of insecurity, inescapable debt, or permanent failure. No matter the challenge, greater always stands on the other side of it. Therefore, as you’re looking at your problem, I encourage you to look again because I see the promise—I see greater!
This week we will continue to transform our sight into Promise Vision through prayer, worship and the study of God’s word. Each day we will lift a common problem that many believers face and demonstrate through the word how the promise is greater than the problem.
This week we will continue to transform our sight into Promise Vision through prayer, worship and the study of God’s word. Each day we will lift a common problem that many believers face and demonstrate through the word how the promise is greater than the problem.
This Week's Devotionals:
Day 1: You See Destruction
When God spoke through the prophet, Haggai, declaring a promise of greater glory, the people were working through the rubble and remains of what once was. I’m sure there were some who couldn’t see beyond the aftermath of destruction. God was not unaware of their discouragement. His response was clear, “Be strong, work, and don’t be afraid because what was could not compare with what’s coming” (Haggai 2:4-5,9—my paraphrase).
The truth is, this was not the first time that God guided someone through what looked like an impossible situation. In 2 Kings chapter 6, we find the prophet, Elisha, and his servant in what seems to be a tight spot:
“And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” — 2 Kings 6:15-17 NKJV
You may wonder why these men were there for Elisha in the first place. You see, Elisha had a supernatural ability to sense the movements of enemy armies, giving the Israelites a strategical advantage against their enemies. This ability was a gift from God to benefit His people. While it benefited the Israelites it caused great distress in the heart of the Syrian king. So much so that he thought there was a traitor amongst his servants. That is until one of the servants spoke up made the king aware of Elisha’s ability. Therefore, the Syrian king sent band of raiders to capture Elisha. The entire city was surrounded by soldiers for one reason—retaliation.
Anticipate Retaliation
I want you to know that retaliation is a common response of satan and his army when the believer has become a threat to his kingdom. In other words, he has no dealings with so-called believers who pose no threat, but once you begin to pray, it’s a problem. You can work your 9-to-5 until you retire and that’s no problem to the devil until you begin to bring the Kingdom of God with you into the workplace. You can binge watch TV all day and there be no recompense, but the moment you begin to capture, refine, and work the vision God has given you, that’s the moment that hell becomes nervous because you’ve become a threat. And once you become a threat, you become a target for retaliation. While this is a reality, I want you to know that there’s no reason to fear. No weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The retaliation of the enemy, no matter the form it comes in, has one purpose—to distract you from the promise. Satan knows that there’s greater glory on the other side of his attack. Therefore, he will use every device of distraction to dismantle your focus. Don’t be distracted. Keep your eyes on the promise. Maintain the focus of the Father.
Leverage the Power of Experience
When Elisha’s servant got up early in the morning and saw the army that surrounded the city, he saw what looked like the end. He saw what could easily lead to their destruction. Yet he says, “Alas, my master. What shall we do?” Although clearly shaken, I’m glad this young man didn’t react through fear but had enough sense to go to someone who had more experience. Someone who’s seen something like this before. Someone who’s been around long enough, and this isn’t their first rodeo. Perhaps you’re in a situation where you’re surrounded by your troubles. You’ve awakened to the news of a new mutated form of the COVID-19. Maybe you’ve learned that a loved one who’s sick in the hospital or perhaps other urgent matters have arisen in your life. I want to encourage you to stay connected to someone who has more experience than you. Don’t ever think that you can do this by yourself. You need strong, seasoned believers around you. Someone who can tell you “It’s not what you think it is” or “It’s not as bad as you thought.” You need someone who can tell you that the sufferings of this present time cannot be compared to the (greater) glory that shall be revealed to you and in you through Christ Jesus! You need someone in your life who can see clearly when you can’t.
Do Not Fear Because God is Near
The servant when to the man of experience—he went to Elisha, the prophet and his response was “Do not fear.” Does this sound familiar? It’s the same response that God gave to the Israelites through Haggai as they stood in the aftermath of destruction. God said, “According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ (Haggai 2:5 NKJV). God did not overlook the concern in the hearts of the people. Nor did Elisha overlook the emotion of his servant. Instead, he responds to the worry that’s troubling his heart with the same message that I’m sharing with you today: “Do not fear because God is near.” It’s an instruction backed with the promise of God’s presence. It’s simple and clear, yet it becomes so cloudy when standing face to face with destruction. Have you ever said from your mouth “Yes, Lord,” while your mind is screaming “WHY?! Why shouldn’t I fear? Why shouldn’t I be worried about this financial situation? Why shouldn’t I be worried about this new variant of the coronavirus? Why shouldn’t I be worried about my child? Why shouldn’t I be worried about my future? Why shouldn’t I be worried?!” It's important to know there's a difference in concern and being overtaken by fear. It is not God's will that we should be controlled by fear. Instead, we should be comforted by His love (1 John 4:18).
God’s response to Israel’s fear was a promise of His presence and greater glory. Elisha told his servant that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” I want you to know that God has not overlooked your concern. He’s responded with His presence. And I’ve been instructed to tell you that while you may see destruction, I see greater. I see greater for your health. Greater for your family. Greater for your finances. Greater for your future. Maybe you can’t see it now, but I want you to know I’ve prayed for you just as Elisha prayed for his servant. That God would open your eyes so that you can see. Now it’s your turn. Pray to the Father who’s focused on you—who’s concerned about you. Pray that He would open your eyes so that you can see that the destruction was really a distraction. There’s greater on the other side of this.
The truth is, this was not the first time that God guided someone through what looked like an impossible situation. In 2 Kings chapter 6, we find the prophet, Elisha, and his servant in what seems to be a tight spot:
“And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” — 2 Kings 6:15-17 NKJV
You may wonder why these men were there for Elisha in the first place. You see, Elisha had a supernatural ability to sense the movements of enemy armies, giving the Israelites a strategical advantage against their enemies. This ability was a gift from God to benefit His people. While it benefited the Israelites it caused great distress in the heart of the Syrian king. So much so that he thought there was a traitor amongst his servants. That is until one of the servants spoke up made the king aware of Elisha’s ability. Therefore, the Syrian king sent band of raiders to capture Elisha. The entire city was surrounded by soldiers for one reason—retaliation.
Anticipate Retaliation
I want you to know that retaliation is a common response of satan and his army when the believer has become a threat to his kingdom. In other words, he has no dealings with so-called believers who pose no threat, but once you begin to pray, it’s a problem. You can work your 9-to-5 until you retire and that’s no problem to the devil until you begin to bring the Kingdom of God with you into the workplace. You can binge watch TV all day and there be no recompense, but the moment you begin to capture, refine, and work the vision God has given you, that’s the moment that hell becomes nervous because you’ve become a threat. And once you become a threat, you become a target for retaliation. While this is a reality, I want you to know that there’s no reason to fear. No weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The retaliation of the enemy, no matter the form it comes in, has one purpose—to distract you from the promise. Satan knows that there’s greater glory on the other side of his attack. Therefore, he will use every device of distraction to dismantle your focus. Don’t be distracted. Keep your eyes on the promise. Maintain the focus of the Father.
Leverage the Power of Experience
When Elisha’s servant got up early in the morning and saw the army that surrounded the city, he saw what looked like the end. He saw what could easily lead to their destruction. Yet he says, “Alas, my master. What shall we do?” Although clearly shaken, I’m glad this young man didn’t react through fear but had enough sense to go to someone who had more experience. Someone who’s seen something like this before. Someone who’s been around long enough, and this isn’t their first rodeo. Perhaps you’re in a situation where you’re surrounded by your troubles. You’ve awakened to the news of a new mutated form of the COVID-19. Maybe you’ve learned that a loved one who’s sick in the hospital or perhaps other urgent matters have arisen in your life. I want to encourage you to stay connected to someone who has more experience than you. Don’t ever think that you can do this by yourself. You need strong, seasoned believers around you. Someone who can tell you “It’s not what you think it is” or “It’s not as bad as you thought.” You need someone who can tell you that the sufferings of this present time cannot be compared to the (greater) glory that shall be revealed to you and in you through Christ Jesus! You need someone in your life who can see clearly when you can’t.
Do Not Fear Because God is Near
The servant when to the man of experience—he went to Elisha, the prophet and his response was “Do not fear.” Does this sound familiar? It’s the same response that God gave to the Israelites through Haggai as they stood in the aftermath of destruction. God said, “According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ (Haggai 2:5 NKJV). God did not overlook the concern in the hearts of the people. Nor did Elisha overlook the emotion of his servant. Instead, he responds to the worry that’s troubling his heart with the same message that I’m sharing with you today: “Do not fear because God is near.” It’s an instruction backed with the promise of God’s presence. It’s simple and clear, yet it becomes so cloudy when standing face to face with destruction. Have you ever said from your mouth “Yes, Lord,” while your mind is screaming “WHY?! Why shouldn’t I fear? Why shouldn’t I be worried about this financial situation? Why shouldn’t I be worried about this new variant of the coronavirus? Why shouldn’t I be worried about my child? Why shouldn’t I be worried about my future? Why shouldn’t I be worried?!” It's important to know there's a difference in concern and being overtaken by fear. It is not God's will that we should be controlled by fear. Instead, we should be comforted by His love (1 John 4:18).
God’s response to Israel’s fear was a promise of His presence and greater glory. Elisha told his servant that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” I want you to know that God has not overlooked your concern. He’s responded with His presence. And I’ve been instructed to tell you that while you may see destruction, I see greater. I see greater for your health. Greater for your family. Greater for your finances. Greater for your future. Maybe you can’t see it now, but I want you to know I’ve prayed for you just as Elisha prayed for his servant. That God would open your eyes so that you can see. Now it’s your turn. Pray to the Father who’s focused on you—who’s concerned about you. Pray that He would open your eyes so that you can see that the destruction was really a distraction. There’s greater on the other side of this.
Day 2: You See Weakness
One of the greatest believed enemies of mankind is weakness. The world despises weakness. To allow your weakness to show is considered as an embarrassment. Therefore, people will take whatever measures necessary to avoid the exposure of one’s weaknesses. In fact there are four common things that people do to address their weakness:
The first two–develop it or collaborate, are ideal solutions when approaching our weakness. The latter two–overcompensate and deflect, are toxic approaches to dealing with weakness. Yet, they are more attractive because they seem easier than the first two. But what happens when you have a weakness that you cannot fix. A handicap you cannot cover or overcompensate for? What happens when you’re forced to confront it, and your integrity won’t allow you to deflect on others? And no human collaboration has the power to meet you where you are weak? Let’s look at someone who was in a similar place in life.
Apostle Paul is believed to be responsible for writing nearly half of the New Testament of the Bible which outlines essential doctrines in the church. He planted many churches while on mission trips and is believed to have shared the Gospel of Jesus even with Caesar himself. Many miracles were wrought through Paul. He was stoned, left for dead. Yet, he got up and continued his work. Paul has made arguably the greatest impact on the church next to Christ himself. Yet, Paul had a weakness he could not escape (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He described it as a thorn in his flesh—a messenger of Satan to slow him down or else he may become exalted more than he should. This thorn left Paul handicapped. He discovered that no accomplishment he made, no wisdom he possessed, no prayer he prayed could remove the thorn from his flesh.
After several prayer attempts, he received a response from Jesus. He said “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus didn’t say he’d take the thorn away. He didn’t say He’d remove the weakness. Instead, He said “My grace is sufficient for you.” The grace of God is considered unmerited favor. Favor that cannot be earned or purchased, it’s free and supplied only by Him. This favor was available for Paul and it’s available for you.
What’s your thorn? What’s your weakness? What if instead of overcompensating or deflecting, you chose to allow God to use your weakness as a meeting place for his grace? It’s only when we invite the grace of God into our weak places that we can experience the limitless power of God perfected in our lives.
Perhaps you’ve been looking at your weakness as a liability—a burden of embarrassment. I want you to know that instead of weakness, I see greater. I see an opportunity for a supernatural collaboration that will exceed anything you could have ever done by yourself or with others. Use your promise vision! Paul did! After hearing what Jesus had to say concerning his weakness, Paul said “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. With promise vision, you can look at the most embarrassing weakness and see supernatural strength. I see greater. Do you? Instead of hiding your weakness, praise God for it! Because when your weakness will become a platform for God’s promise of greater glory in your life!
- Develop it. For some they will put in the work to strengthen their areas of weakness. This is ideal when it’s possible as it cultivates character and fosters authentic growth.
- Collaborate. When a person is unable to develop their weakness, the most effective thing to do is to collaborate with someone who is stronger in that area than they are. This acknowledges the reality of one’s weakness and embraces the power of community.
- Overcompensate. When a person overcompensates for a weakness, they will focus on becoming stronger in another area to draw attention away from their area of weakness. The person who overcompensates will run quickly to things that accentuate their strengths and shy away from assignments that shed light on their weaknesses. While one area may appear robust, there’s a weakness that will eventually be exploited by our spiritual opponent of darkness.
- Deflect on others. When a person is insecure about their weakness and feel threatened about potential embarrassment, they can react aggressively towards people by exploiting the weaknesses of others in order to shine the light on another instead of their self. This person ends up looking much like the enemy we’re already fighting.
The first two–develop it or collaborate, are ideal solutions when approaching our weakness. The latter two–overcompensate and deflect, are toxic approaches to dealing with weakness. Yet, they are more attractive because they seem easier than the first two. But what happens when you have a weakness that you cannot fix. A handicap you cannot cover or overcompensate for? What happens when you’re forced to confront it, and your integrity won’t allow you to deflect on others? And no human collaboration has the power to meet you where you are weak? Let’s look at someone who was in a similar place in life.
Apostle Paul is believed to be responsible for writing nearly half of the New Testament of the Bible which outlines essential doctrines in the church. He planted many churches while on mission trips and is believed to have shared the Gospel of Jesus even with Caesar himself. Many miracles were wrought through Paul. He was stoned, left for dead. Yet, he got up and continued his work. Paul has made arguably the greatest impact on the church next to Christ himself. Yet, Paul had a weakness he could not escape (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He described it as a thorn in his flesh—a messenger of Satan to slow him down or else he may become exalted more than he should. This thorn left Paul handicapped. He discovered that no accomplishment he made, no wisdom he possessed, no prayer he prayed could remove the thorn from his flesh.
After several prayer attempts, he received a response from Jesus. He said “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus didn’t say he’d take the thorn away. He didn’t say He’d remove the weakness. Instead, He said “My grace is sufficient for you.” The grace of God is considered unmerited favor. Favor that cannot be earned or purchased, it’s free and supplied only by Him. This favor was available for Paul and it’s available for you.
What’s your thorn? What’s your weakness? What if instead of overcompensating or deflecting, you chose to allow God to use your weakness as a meeting place for his grace? It’s only when we invite the grace of God into our weak places that we can experience the limitless power of God perfected in our lives.
Perhaps you’ve been looking at your weakness as a liability—a burden of embarrassment. I want you to know that instead of weakness, I see greater. I see an opportunity for a supernatural collaboration that will exceed anything you could have ever done by yourself or with others. Use your promise vision! Paul did! After hearing what Jesus had to say concerning his weakness, Paul said “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. With promise vision, you can look at the most embarrassing weakness and see supernatural strength. I see greater. Do you? Instead of hiding your weakness, praise God for it! Because when your weakness will become a platform for God’s promise of greater glory in your life!
Day 3: You See Insignificance
As a pastor, I'm invited into people's lives while they're in the most vulnerable conditions. Through providing much pastoral care, I've discovered that toxic view of weakness is fruit that bears from the root of insignificance. Feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and insufficiency. The person who feels insignificant often feels second-rate to others and consider what they have to offer as imperfect and substandard. It's the feelings of insignificance have cause countless people to tirelessly pursue validation from those around them and even people that don't know them. The one who feels insignificant will spend an overwhelming amount of time and effort dressing their bodies and decorating their lives to create an illusion of success. All of this to create an impressive timeline to convince people that they aren't insignificant. What's tragic is this person is fighting to reverse a lie that they never had to believe. The truth is, no one is insignificant in the eyes of God. Every person matters to Him.
I want to show you a moment where Jesus taught His disciples about how value is determined in the Kingdom of God:
"Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two [a]mites, which make a [b]quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” — Mark 12:41-44 NKJV
One could ask why did Jesus make this observation? However, I believe that it’s easy to see that in the culture of that time people valued the wealthy over the poor. The reason why is because money makes the world go round—or so people think. Therefore, the value of the man or woman is often determined by his/her net worth, the car they drive, the home they lease—I meant own. Perhaps the real question is what does man value more? The money or the man? The truth is money answers all things, but all things ultimately belong to God (Psalm 24:1). The thing that God values more than anything else are relationships—God values people. What’s intriguing is that each of us were created in God’s image, made in His likeness. That means the world is full of people that carry God’s image. Yet, there are very few carry His heart.
I could imagine the thoughts, whispers, and even laughs that reverberated through the courts as the widow gave her two mites. People saying “What difference could that possibly make? She should’ve kept that.” Some overlooking her presence altogether, focused on the large sums being left by the rich. What she gave was insignificant in the eyes of those who surrounded her. But in the eyes of the King of Glory, what she did was greater than all the others. The rich grace out of their abundance so they still had much left over, but the widow gave from a place of poverty—insufficiency, scarcity and lack. When she gave there was nothing left because she had given her all. Yet, Jesus said she gave the most. They saw insignificance, Jesus saw greater.
Perhaps there are areas in your life that you see as insignificant. Maybe you feel that you don't have enough experience or lack education. Maybe you've thought about giving to your local church but feel that what you make isn't enough to matter. Perhaps you feel that your life doesn't carry value worth the breath you breathe. I want you to know that while you see insignificance, God sees greater. When God looks at you, He sees beauty. He sees greatness. He sees a life that was fearfully and wonderfully made. When God looks at you, He sees himself. He sees a life worth dying for. You are not insignificant. You mean the world to God. He loves you and values your life.
You will never have to prove yourself to people because you have already been approved by God. I understand that you may not have much. You may not be the smartest, the richest, the most experienced. But that what you have, give it to Him and I assure you that your latter will be greater than your former.
I want to show you a moment where Jesus taught His disciples about how value is determined in the Kingdom of God:
"Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two [a]mites, which make a [b]quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” — Mark 12:41-44 NKJV
One could ask why did Jesus make this observation? However, I believe that it’s easy to see that in the culture of that time people valued the wealthy over the poor. The reason why is because money makes the world go round—or so people think. Therefore, the value of the man or woman is often determined by his/her net worth, the car they drive, the home they lease—I meant own. Perhaps the real question is what does man value more? The money or the man? The truth is money answers all things, but all things ultimately belong to God (Psalm 24:1). The thing that God values more than anything else are relationships—God values people. What’s intriguing is that each of us were created in God’s image, made in His likeness. That means the world is full of people that carry God’s image. Yet, there are very few carry His heart.
I could imagine the thoughts, whispers, and even laughs that reverberated through the courts as the widow gave her two mites. People saying “What difference could that possibly make? She should’ve kept that.” Some overlooking her presence altogether, focused on the large sums being left by the rich. What she gave was insignificant in the eyes of those who surrounded her. But in the eyes of the King of Glory, what she did was greater than all the others. The rich grace out of their abundance so they still had much left over, but the widow gave from a place of poverty—insufficiency, scarcity and lack. When she gave there was nothing left because she had given her all. Yet, Jesus said she gave the most. They saw insignificance, Jesus saw greater.
Perhaps there are areas in your life that you see as insignificant. Maybe you feel that you don't have enough experience or lack education. Maybe you've thought about giving to your local church but feel that what you make isn't enough to matter. Perhaps you feel that your life doesn't carry value worth the breath you breathe. I want you to know that while you see insignificance, God sees greater. When God looks at you, He sees beauty. He sees greatness. He sees a life that was fearfully and wonderfully made. When God looks at you, He sees himself. He sees a life worth dying for. You are not insignificant. You mean the world to God. He loves you and values your life.
You will never have to prove yourself to people because you have already been approved by God. I understand that you may not have much. You may not be the smartest, the richest, the most experienced. But that what you have, give it to Him and I assure you that your latter will be greater than your former.
Day 4: You See Impossible
As humans we are hybrid in nature. Comprised of both the celestial and terrestrial. Spiritual beings, housed in physical bodies. The soul of the man, brought to life by the breath of God, is carried around in the flesh of man. Our spiritual nature is eternal, but our physical nature is temporal. Meaning, our physical bodies are not eternal. Each of us will eventually grow old and die. This truth clearly highlights the fact that there are limitations that man—in his own might, is unable to overcome. There are somethings that the biological clock runs out on.
Consider the fifty-year-old who’s had a passion for basketball all his life and now aspires to become a professional basketball player. His time has clearly passed for that opportunity. His body is no longer unable to keep up with the pace of the game and his bones are not able to withstand the beating of an eighty-two-game season. Therefore, most people would say that his chances of getting into the National Basketball Association are next to impossible. He’s then forced to reality of a missed opportunity. One of the greatest pains in this world is to possess a burning desire that falls victim to the asphyxiation of limitations. A passion strangled by the relentless grip of impossibility. Hope was the only life that kept the desire alive, but once hope is gone, the passion fades and the man or woman is left with the remains of what was and what could’ve been.
In the opening chapter of Luke, we’re introduced to Zacharias and Elizabeth, a husband and wife who were elderly and had no children. Zacharias was a priest that served God faithfully and while serving, he had an encounter that would change his life:
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” — Luke 1:11-13, 18 NKJV
The angel revealed that Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a child. Scripture doesn’t reveal when this prayer took place, but it’s clear in Zacharias’ response that they had stopped praying long before this encounter. However, no matter how long ago they prayed, the angel is letting them know that God heard their prayer. I want you to know that God heard your prayer. Perhaps you prayed for your child long ago and now they’re grown, and their life doesn’t look anything like your prayer. Maybe you prayed for success in your business, yet it still looks like it’s failing. Or maybe you prayed for a miracle, but the situation still looks like tragedy. I want you to know that your prayer did not fall on deaf ears. God heard you.
The angel goes on to tell Zacharias that his wife would become pregnant and have a son named John. But look at his response to the angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” First, I want to say that I commend Zacharias. He had enough sense to know that you never call a woman old! Even though he was deep within tabernacle, inside the holy of holies where the presence of God was, Zacharias wouldn’t take a chance that she might hear about it! Just a little humor but let’s press onward. Zacharias was taken aback by the angel’s words. In his eyes, it was far too late for he and his wife to have a baby. Her womb was barren and is now old along with his loins. In his eyes this was impossible. How could they possibly have a baby? Their time has passed…
I want to talk to someone who sees impossible. Perhaps you’re looking at a situation in your life that you feel is impossible. You see, when a couple is barren and have gone many years without having a child, when they reach a certain age, they begin to lose hope—feeling that it’s too late. For someone, you feel it’s too late in your life. Maybe you feel like it’s too late to go back to school. Maybe it’s too late to start that business. Maybe you feel it’s too late to redirect your children because maybe you weren’t as present you should have. Maybe you think it’s too late to change your eating habits. You say, “I’ve been eating like this for so long…” but I believe that God will give you the strength to build discipline into your health. Perhaps you think that it’s too late for you to go into ministry or too late to reach those in your office. Or you think it’s too late to save and restore your marriage. You think it’s too late… saying, “I haven’t produced anything. We haven’t produced anything. We’ve gone so long without any productivity.” But I want you to know that what you see as impossible, God sees as greater.
I want you to know how this story ends. Elizabeth did have a baby and his name was called John. There are many other details to the story, but the what’s important for you to know in this moment is that God took an impossible situation and applied His word to it. You see His word is greater than any impossibility that man sees. Because His is word is unstoppable! It carries momentum that no man can stop. I encourage you to employ the word of God in your life. Arm yourself with the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17)! You can overcome any obstacle in life if you use His word. Remember, His word is unstoppable and can bring greater out of the impossible.
Consider the fifty-year-old who’s had a passion for basketball all his life and now aspires to become a professional basketball player. His time has clearly passed for that opportunity. His body is no longer unable to keep up with the pace of the game and his bones are not able to withstand the beating of an eighty-two-game season. Therefore, most people would say that his chances of getting into the National Basketball Association are next to impossible. He’s then forced to reality of a missed opportunity. One of the greatest pains in this world is to possess a burning desire that falls victim to the asphyxiation of limitations. A passion strangled by the relentless grip of impossibility. Hope was the only life that kept the desire alive, but once hope is gone, the passion fades and the man or woman is left with the remains of what was and what could’ve been.
In the opening chapter of Luke, we’re introduced to Zacharias and Elizabeth, a husband and wife who were elderly and had no children. Zacharias was a priest that served God faithfully and while serving, he had an encounter that would change his life:
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” — Luke 1:11-13, 18 NKJV
The angel revealed that Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a child. Scripture doesn’t reveal when this prayer took place, but it’s clear in Zacharias’ response that they had stopped praying long before this encounter. However, no matter how long ago they prayed, the angel is letting them know that God heard their prayer. I want you to know that God heard your prayer. Perhaps you prayed for your child long ago and now they’re grown, and their life doesn’t look anything like your prayer. Maybe you prayed for success in your business, yet it still looks like it’s failing. Or maybe you prayed for a miracle, but the situation still looks like tragedy. I want you to know that your prayer did not fall on deaf ears. God heard you.
The angel goes on to tell Zacharias that his wife would become pregnant and have a son named John. But look at his response to the angel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” First, I want to say that I commend Zacharias. He had enough sense to know that you never call a woman old! Even though he was deep within tabernacle, inside the holy of holies where the presence of God was, Zacharias wouldn’t take a chance that she might hear about it! Just a little humor but let’s press onward. Zacharias was taken aback by the angel’s words. In his eyes, it was far too late for he and his wife to have a baby. Her womb was barren and is now old along with his loins. In his eyes this was impossible. How could they possibly have a baby? Their time has passed…
I want to talk to someone who sees impossible. Perhaps you’re looking at a situation in your life that you feel is impossible. You see, when a couple is barren and have gone many years without having a child, when they reach a certain age, they begin to lose hope—feeling that it’s too late. For someone, you feel it’s too late in your life. Maybe you feel like it’s too late to go back to school. Maybe it’s too late to start that business. Maybe you feel it’s too late to redirect your children because maybe you weren’t as present you should have. Maybe you think it’s too late to change your eating habits. You say, “I’ve been eating like this for so long…” but I believe that God will give you the strength to build discipline into your health. Perhaps you think that it’s too late for you to go into ministry or too late to reach those in your office. Or you think it’s too late to save and restore your marriage. You think it’s too late… saying, “I haven’t produced anything. We haven’t produced anything. We’ve gone so long without any productivity.” But I want you to know that what you see as impossible, God sees as greater.
I want you to know how this story ends. Elizabeth did have a baby and his name was called John. There are many other details to the story, but the what’s important for you to know in this moment is that God took an impossible situation and applied His word to it. You see His word is greater than any impossibility that man sees. Because His is word is unstoppable! It carries momentum that no man can stop. I encourage you to employ the word of God in your life. Arm yourself with the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17)! You can overcome any obstacle in life if you use His word. Remember, His word is unstoppable and can bring greater out of the impossible.
Day 5: You See Denied
There are times in life when you will experience what feels like a denial. When it seems that what you’ve been praying for just isn’t coming through. Now I want to clarify, I’m not talking about what James described as praying amiss (James 4:3). Meaning prayer that’s self-centered and not Kingdom centered. When praying this way, we can pray all we want, ask all we want, and receive nothing because we do so with selfish intent. But when you’re praying with a heart that’s aligned with Heaven and there seems to be no result, this creates much concern. We must be careful to discern these matters in the spirit & wisdom of God. Because if examine this matter in the flesh, it can feel much like denial and/or rejection. Both of which are lies that will sow the seed of doubt in one’s heart if not removed or displaced. That doubt has one purpose and that’s to distract you from living out the fullness of your destiny. In view of what looks like denial, I want to submit to you that what you’re experiencing isn’t a denial but is actually a delay.
A Demonic Delay
The text later reveals this angel’s name is Gabriel, the messenger (Luke 1:19). The same Gabriel who was sent to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayer. Daniel prayed for twenty-one days but God had answered His prayer on day one. Yet, the answer had not reached Him. Out of concern, God sent another angel, named Michael, to investigate the delay. Michael is a mighty warrior angel and the leader of God’s army. He discovered that Gabriel had been held up for twenty-one days by an evil spirit, the called the prince of Persia. He stepped in to assist Gabriel so that he could then deliver God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 10:13).
What Daniel experienced was a demonic delay—a delay sanctioned by satan. This type of delay is an attempt to sabotage the plans of God. What’s key is knowing that the plans of God cannot be stopped because they are founded on the word of God which is unstoppable (Isaiah 54:10-11). So, the only thing the devil and his army can do is create a delay in the arrival of the promise or answer to the believer’s prayer. But why slow down what you can’t stop? I’m glad you asked! Satan banks on the ignorance, impatience, and weariness of the believer. His hope is to delay the promise long enough so that the ignorant person would think that God has rejected their prayer. So that the impatient person gives up on doing what’s good, dishonoring the process, thus forfeiting the promise. And lastly, so the weary person, the one who’s experienced much loss, would become discouraged, and lose hope. Therefore, we must be intelligent, persistent, and strengthened in our prayer life. Because when we pray, Heaven is notified of the delay and the King will move on our behalf.
A Kingdom Delay
While we will experience demonic delays, we must know that not this is not the case for all things. In fact, there are some things that are delayed by God. I like to call this a kingdom delay—a divine rule, sanctioned by the Word of God to protect the will of God. But what’s important to know is that a kingdom delay is not considered late because the King is always on time. A delay in the kingdom is awaiting a divine appointment called the fullness of time. It’s awaiting God’s perfect timing. The timing of harvest (the harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few…). Galatians 6:9 tells us to “not weary in doing what’s good, because in due time we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The New Living Translation says “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” God is not slack concerning His promise over your life, the right time just hasn’t come.
When we look at Zacharias and Elizabeth because they were in the latter years of their lives, it’s easy to assume they were denied or even ignored by God. But the angel of the Lord reveals that neither is the case. This was a Kingdom Delay. Think of it, whenever a baby is born prior to the full term, there is always a risk of complication in the birth and a threat to the life of the baby. This is called a premature delivery. The arrival of the baby before complete maturation. I want you to know that God’s Kingdom does not operate prematurely. He will never allow a promised answer to arrive to its destination before reaching full maturity. Otherwise, it would be a threat to efficacy of His word, and NOTHING will stop God’s word. Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son would be John, the forerunner of Jesus. Prophecy said that John would be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.” If John had come earlier, instead of being the voice of one crying in the wilderness, he’d be just another person making noise. It was a Kingdom Delay that put John in the right place, to be equipped with the Holy Spirit to carry out his assignment in the earth.
Your prayer was not ignored. Your prayer was not denied. It was delayed to align with Heaven’s timing and the priorities of the King. What we must know and believe is the priority of the King is always for greater glory. Had the promise come earlier, you wouldn’t have been ready. To the person who prayed for the promotion: if God would have promoted you when you asked, your development would be incomplete. Your character wouldn’t have been strong enough to support the weight of the assignment. To the couple who’s been praying for a pregnancy: perhaps it was delayed because God’s plan included the adoption of a precious child who would grow to be a world class international leader. Whatever your story may be, don’t assume your delay is a denial. God is preparing both you and your environment for greater glory.
Work While You Wait
What will you do while you’re waiting on the answer to your prayer? While waiting on your promise of greater glory? Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed for a child and now were old, yet Zacharias kept working. He kept serving. He kept seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness even without the possession of the promise. Zacharias remained faithful. I want to encourage you to remain faithful during your heavenly delay. The answer to your prayer is not late. The promise is not late. Your harvest is waiting on the fullness of time. Your promise is on schedule for a divine appointment in time. Therefore, stay focused, endure the discomfort of the delay, and continue to pray until you see greater.
A Demonic Delay
The text later reveals this angel’s name is Gabriel, the messenger (Luke 1:19). The same Gabriel who was sent to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayer. Daniel prayed for twenty-one days but God had answered His prayer on day one. Yet, the answer had not reached Him. Out of concern, God sent another angel, named Michael, to investigate the delay. Michael is a mighty warrior angel and the leader of God’s army. He discovered that Gabriel had been held up for twenty-one days by an evil spirit, the called the prince of Persia. He stepped in to assist Gabriel so that he could then deliver God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 10:13).
What Daniel experienced was a demonic delay—a delay sanctioned by satan. This type of delay is an attempt to sabotage the plans of God. What’s key is knowing that the plans of God cannot be stopped because they are founded on the word of God which is unstoppable (Isaiah 54:10-11). So, the only thing the devil and his army can do is create a delay in the arrival of the promise or answer to the believer’s prayer. But why slow down what you can’t stop? I’m glad you asked! Satan banks on the ignorance, impatience, and weariness of the believer. His hope is to delay the promise long enough so that the ignorant person would think that God has rejected their prayer. So that the impatient person gives up on doing what’s good, dishonoring the process, thus forfeiting the promise. And lastly, so the weary person, the one who’s experienced much loss, would become discouraged, and lose hope. Therefore, we must be intelligent, persistent, and strengthened in our prayer life. Because when we pray, Heaven is notified of the delay and the King will move on our behalf.
A Kingdom Delay
While we will experience demonic delays, we must know that not this is not the case for all things. In fact, there are some things that are delayed by God. I like to call this a kingdom delay—a divine rule, sanctioned by the Word of God to protect the will of God. But what’s important to know is that a kingdom delay is not considered late because the King is always on time. A delay in the kingdom is awaiting a divine appointment called the fullness of time. It’s awaiting God’s perfect timing. The timing of harvest (the harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few…). Galatians 6:9 tells us to “not weary in doing what’s good, because in due time we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The New Living Translation says “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” God is not slack concerning His promise over your life, the right time just hasn’t come.
When we look at Zacharias and Elizabeth because they were in the latter years of their lives, it’s easy to assume they were denied or even ignored by God. But the angel of the Lord reveals that neither is the case. This was a Kingdom Delay. Think of it, whenever a baby is born prior to the full term, there is always a risk of complication in the birth and a threat to the life of the baby. This is called a premature delivery. The arrival of the baby before complete maturation. I want you to know that God’s Kingdom does not operate prematurely. He will never allow a promised answer to arrive to its destination before reaching full maturity. Otherwise, it would be a threat to efficacy of His word, and NOTHING will stop God’s word. Zacharias and Elizabeth’s son would be John, the forerunner of Jesus. Prophecy said that John would be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.” If John had come earlier, instead of being the voice of one crying in the wilderness, he’d be just another person making noise. It was a Kingdom Delay that put John in the right place, to be equipped with the Holy Spirit to carry out his assignment in the earth.
Your prayer was not ignored. Your prayer was not denied. It was delayed to align with Heaven’s timing and the priorities of the King. What we must know and believe is the priority of the King is always for greater glory. Had the promise come earlier, you wouldn’t have been ready. To the person who prayed for the promotion: if God would have promoted you when you asked, your development would be incomplete. Your character wouldn’t have been strong enough to support the weight of the assignment. To the couple who’s been praying for a pregnancy: perhaps it was delayed because God’s plan included the adoption of a precious child who would grow to be a world class international leader. Whatever your story may be, don’t assume your delay is a denial. God is preparing both you and your environment for greater glory.
Work While You Wait
What will you do while you’re waiting on the answer to your prayer? While waiting on your promise of greater glory? Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed for a child and now were old, yet Zacharias kept working. He kept serving. He kept seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness even without the possession of the promise. Zacharias remained faithful. I want to encourage you to remain faithful during your heavenly delay. The answer to your prayer is not late. The promise is not late. Your harvest is waiting on the fullness of time. Your promise is on schedule for a divine appointment in time. Therefore, stay focused, endure the discomfort of the delay, and continue to pray until you see greater.
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