Where Can I Go Without Your Presence

¹Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your descendants I will give it.'

 ²"I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.

 ³"Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and ^(I)I might destroy you on the way….¹²Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, '^(R)Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know ^(S) whom You will send with me ^(T) Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'

 ¹³"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, ^(U)let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight ^(V)Consider too, that this nation is Your people."

 ¹⁴And He said, "^(W) My presence shall go with you, and ^(X) I will give you rest."

 ¹⁵Then he said to Him, "^(Y) If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.

 ¹⁶"For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that ^(Z) we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" (Ex. 33:1-3, 13-16 NASB)

Here we find a very powerful message hidden within the self-induced turmoil of the Nation of Israel; The necessity and significance of the presence of God. The Apostle Paul, in painting images of the Holy-Spirit as God’s presence in the post resurrection era, points to Old Testament shadows and types in which the temple was the dwelling place of God. In several separate instances, Paul points to the believer as the temple of God. First, the believers collectively (the church as a whole is referred to in (1 Cor. 316; 2 Cor. 6:16), and then the individual believer as being the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19). What Paul is pointing to is the eternal presence of God in the dealings of His creation.

In one particular instance, we see God giving Moses explicit directions for the building of the tabernacle in which He would dwell amongst His people (Exodus 25-31). Then there was the debacle in the desert where the Israelites decided they would worship a calf instead of God (Exodus 32). Because of their contrary and obstinate ways, God tells Moses that he will not go with them, but send an angel instead, because if He went their disobedient ways would cause Him to destroy them on the way (Exodus 33). 

What I would like to focus on here is Moses’ response to the proclamation of God. Moses detects the inadequacy in God’s absence. You would think Moses would be satisfied with having a guardian angel, but Moses has an immense and acute perspicacity of what is at stake and immediately addresses the issue. Moses basically says to God, “You have declared us your people; you have proclaimed that you are pleased with me, but how will anyone know that you are pleased with me or that we are your people, unless you go with us. How will your people and myself be distinguished from all other people unless you go with us (Ex. 33:15-16 paraphrased). In other words, Moses was saying that the very identity marker of God’s people is God’s presence. Unless God be present in the midst of His people there can be no indication that they are His people. We all know that God honored Moses’ supplication, the Tabernacle was built, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (which later became the temple in Jerusalem).

It is of great relevance to understand that God’s presence in our circumstances and daily dealings carries an immeasurable impact in us fulfilling our destiny. His presence is the only way we can combat the enemy with success. Today we are the temple and the Glory that fills the temple is God the Holy Spirit. Though he eternally indwells the believer, we flee from his presence by quenching (1Thess. 5:19) and grieving (Eph. 4:30) Him. We ignore His promptings and disregard His revelations. As Moses did in the book of Exodus, we must come to the knowledge that we cannot successfully navigate the dark labyrinthine corridors of this perverse world without the presence of God to guide us. We cannot master the maze of mediocrity and move into the greatness of our designed destiny without His presence. We cannot sustain our gait without His presence to strengthen us. We cannot move past the monuments of malevolence laid at our feet daily by the enemy.

So many of us have set out on this journey with little or no regard to the proximity of God in relation to our walk; we have deemed it within our rights to walk alone. However, the design does not make an allowance for deviation from the plan. So much of our pain and frustration can be retraced to our unwillingness to walk with God and to submit to his will. For some of us, the presence of God interferes with our plans and desires, so we consistently tuck Him away until that convenient moment at which we decide we need Him.

Let us come to a place of understanding. Let us see with spiritual eyes that without the presence of God, we are dead in the water. Join me in inviting God in to establish our path and luminously reveal us as His Chosen.

May you be richly blessed,

Bishop Rick Wallace

Founder & President

Rick Wallace Ministries

100 Men of Purpose

Author: The Invisible Father: Reversing the Curse of a Fatherless Generation

Built For the Battle

Built For The Battle

Foundation Scripture: 1 Samuel 17

Topical Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:31-36

31When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him.  32David said to Saul, "(AI)Let no man's heart fail on account of him; (AJ)your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."  33Then Saul said to David, "(AK)You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth."  34But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,  35I went out after him and attacked him, and (AL)rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.  36"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God."  37And David said, "(AM)The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine " And Saul said to David, "(AN)Go, and may the LORD be with you." (1 Samuel 17:31-36 NASB)

The battle will come; of this we can be certain. No amount of maneuvering will allow any of us to circumvent the realities of this life. We will each face our share of battles in this spiritual warfare. The question then becomes not if, but when; and if when, will we be ready when the battle comes? Through elucidation, the question simply is: Are you built for the battle? When the enemy engages you on the battlefield of life, will you be prepared to stand? When you are faced with the harsh realities of the battle that lies ahead, will you stand in unwavering confidence or will you crumble under the pressure? We are not promised a euphoric life of ease; in fact, we are told on more than one occasion that the storm will come. We are told that there will be trials and tribulations. When it comes to the day of the battle will you be able to say with a certain level of imperiousness, “I’m built for this!”

I pray fervently each day for each one of you; that at the day of battle, you will be able to stand up, square your shoulders, look the enemy in the eye and say, “I’m built for this.”

I’m built for this; this is more than a simple of statement of confidence. It is a state of mind; a state of being; a place in life when the Christian gains stability by recalling the doctrine resident in his soul conjoined with the memories of God’s divine intervention in times past. In this they find they have been prepared for this very thing they must now endure.

As we approach our scriptural text, we find a man or should I say boy who was definitely built for the battle. David was a man known for his valor, and it all began with him slaying Goliath, the giant that defied the army of the living God. We all know the story of David and Goliath. We were told this story as kids, but what about the story behind the glory?

By the time David met Goliath he had already been anointed as Soul’s replacement as Israel’s next king. For a detailed account you can read 1 Samuel Chapter 16. Being anointed is only a part of David’s preparation for the battle that lay ahead. Being anointed by Samuel with the anointing oil was actually semantic symbolism of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that which David had been called [elected] by God to do. It is immensely important that when performing certain rituals, we are aware of its symbolic inference. Here it is not the oil, but what the oil symbolizes. Sometime we become so engrossed in sacrament and ritual, that we lose sight of the truth that the ritual represents; I digress. David has been anointed. Being anointed is the empowerment to fulfill your designed destiny, but being anointed and being aware of that anointing are two different things.

In order to face any particular task, one must have confidence. Confidence is the knowledge or cognizance of one’s ability to accomplish a specific task. Confidence is an understanding of one’s capabilities in a given area. Confidence is the endogenous source that produces efficacious results.

David was “built for the battle”, pervaded with confidence. As we move forward, we will find the source of this confidence and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will tap into the source as we ourselves, become “built for the battle”.

We will begin this study with David having been sent out to the battlefield by his father to take food rations to his brothers and to bring a report of their condition to their father. When David arrives, he hears Goliath, the Philistine warrior, shouting insults at the army of Israel. I’m not sure what astounded David more, the insults of Goliath or the fear of the Israelites. Let’s look at verse 26:

26Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (NSAB)

David inquires into what will be done for whoever kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel. He wants to know who this uncircumcised Philistine thinks he is, defying the armies of the Living God. It is important to take notice that David indentifies with Israel, but more importantly, he identifies with God. It is not that Goliath has disrespected the army of Israel in itself, but that the army of Israel belonged to the one true and living God!

It was never about David nor was it about Israel; it was always about God. This must be taken to mind as we move through this ethereal journey of Christianity.

28Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." (NASB)

In verse 28, we see Eliab’s envy revealed. As the oldest of Jessie’s sons, he had been passed over by God to be King. God had said, in essence, that though his outward appearance was stately and imposing, inwardly he was deficient in the qualities necessary to be king of Israel. In other words, he looked the part. He even fooled Samuel, but he was deficient where it mattered most. It is obvious by his reaction that he has not quite gotten over the disappointment. There are always going to be haters. Those who for whatever reason can’t stand to see you succeed and prosper. We must never become engrossed or consumed with concern over those who wish for or seek our demise. They are placed there by the enemy [Satan] as a distraction, but God will use them as an instrument of preparation and elevation. As we will soon see, the battle is the Lord’s.

Let us move on to the meat of the message. We find in verse 31 that someone reported David’s words back to Saul and Saul sent for David. It may be worth pointing out that Saul and David already have a brief history. Once the anointing left Soul, he became restless and could not sleep, because he was troubled in his sleep. David was a good harpist and Saul brought him in to play for him so that his soul could be soothed and he could rest. David did such a good job that Saul made him his armor bearer.

Now this young boy tells his king basically, tell everyone not to worry, I’ve got this. Verse 33 reveals a great deal about why David would eventually replace Saul as king. Saul had failed to view the situation though the lens of divine viewpoint. He was seeing the situation through a humanistic paradigm. Saul tells David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth (NASB).” Yet, David’s response was inundated with doctrinal viewpoint. It is apropos in this spiritual warfare that we avoid viewing our situations and circumstances through secular paradigms. David did not see things as Saul saw them, he saw God in the midst of the situation. David was built for the battle and he was about to reveal how.

“Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Sam. 17:34-36 NKJV)

In the original Hebrew text, “keep his father’s sheep” carried the literal meaning of “kept on keeping” his father’s sheep. This illuminates that David was not a part time shepherd. He spent more time with the sheep than he did in the house with his family. It becomes easy to see where David gets his endurance and perseverance. I’m sure there were many cold nights and many hot days. Yet, David kept on keeping his father’s sheep. How many of you are willing to keep on keeping?

In verse 35 David explains to Saul that in defense of his father’s sheep he had killed both, lion and bear; and that this Philistine giant would be no different. David, in essence, was saying, “I’m built for this.” We too, as we face the vicissitudes of life must stand with an unrelenting certainty and say, “I’m built for this.” The dark clouds of disappointment may be hovering over my head, but “I’m built for this!” My so called friends have forsaken me, but “I’m built for this.” Just as David, we too have been built for the battle. There is one very important point I must reveal here: David was not pervaded with a subjective arrogance or an inflated ego, but he was immersed in an implacable confidence in God’s ability and willingness to guarantee victory.

This was never about David it was always about God as I stated earlier. Both in verse26 and verse 36, David refers to Goliath as an uncircumcised Philistine. Where is the relevance in the fact that Goliath was uncircumcised? Circumcision was a mark of God’s chosen people. By stating that Goliath was not circumcised, David was illuminating the fact that a man, not of God, was defying God’s chosen people. It was an abomination. David was not defending himself nor the Israelites, but the honor of God.

It is my prayer that if you gain nothing else from this message, you acquire a keen awareness of the source of David’s Strength. For we all will have our giants we must face. Some will face the Giant of addiction. Others will face the giant of relational atrophy and yet, still others will face the nightmares of uncertainty. However, as Christians, we must face these difficulties with the calm assurance that we are built for this. Lamentations 3:21 says:

      “But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: (AMP)

We recall the power of God displayed in our lives in times past. We recall the Bible doctrine we have stored in our soul. The old folks, in the midst of difficult moments would say, “He did not bring me this far to leave me.” This was based both, on the Word in their heart and their experiential observation.

When I look back over my life, I realize that all the heartache, every disappointment, and every struggle was preparing me for this moment and this moment is preparing me for the next. Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all. There is no coincidence that David wrote this psalm. When the burdens of life become unbearable, when the forces of evil are pressing me down, I recall the victories of my past, I take a stand and declare “I’m built for this”.

I didn’t come here to tell you there would be no storms, but I did come to tell you that you can make it through the storm. God has not brought you this far to turn around and leave you. Stare the enemy square in the eyes and declare “I’m built for this”.

Feeling lost and alone, I’m built for this.

The enemy on every side, I’m built for this.

My friends have become my accusers, but I’m built for this.

I’m built for the persecution. I’m built for the battle. I’m built for the pressure. Look the enemy in the eye and tell him, “No weapon formed against me will prosper.”  Hatred won’t prosper. Sickness won’t prosper. Marital strife won’t prosper. Financial disarray will not prosper. Standing alone in my moments of weakness will not prosper. For God has promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Give God the glory and praise. I declare and decree into your live right now, that as you stand in faith you will emerge from this trial in triumph. You will walk out of this battle with your hands up! Your perseverance will be rewarded with promotion.

It is rough for many of you right now as you face the toughest trial you have ever faced, but know that God is in the midst of the struggle and he is saying, “ Be still and know that I am God.” He is saying, “There is power in the hands of those that trust me. You are now standing on the threshold of your breakthrough. Praise your way though. I dare you! He awesome power of God is about to lift you beyond the pain of the moment. Praise God!

May you be richly blessed!

Sincerely,

Dr. Rick Wallace                                               

Founder & President

Rick Wallace Ministries

100 Men of Purpose

www.rickwallaceministries.com

rpw@rickwallaceministries.com

Author: The Invisible Father

Christian Impact: I Don't Wanna Cry!

Christian Impact: I Don't Wanna Cry!: RWM SERMON- 05-20-09 I Don't Wanna Cry By Bishop Rick Wallace “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes....” (Rev. 21:4 and 7:17)...

I Don't Wanna Cry!

RWM SERMON- 05-20-09 I Don't Wanna Cry

By Bishop Rick Wallace

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes....”(Rev. 21:4 and 7:17)

“And the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces....”(Isa. 25:8)

If you are anything like me, you have those moments in which tears begin to well up in your eyes.  You make abortive and bootless efforts to suppress the inevitable tide of physically manifested emotions.  Tears can be brought on by many ardent and effusive forces.  There are tears of regret; when I take a retrospective glance at my life, tears began to flow as I am reminded of the pain that has come to others because of my selfish actions.  There are tears of pain.  The same retrospection that produces regret also paints the malevolent and inclement portrait of abandonment and heartache.  There are tears of Joy, sadness, emptiness and loneliness.  Tears are most often associated with negative emotions, so this is what we will address today.

It is a natural human instinct to hold back tears.  Nobody wants to cry.  I took some time to stop by and tell you that it’s okay to cry, your tears are temporary.

           

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...”(2 Cor. 4:17)

Jesus promised it, mama confirmed it, and experience has consummated and solidified the fact that this world will bring pain to those that inhabit it.  There is no circumvention of the trials and tribulations of this life.  You will inevitably take some wrong turns that consequently lead to pain.  You will at some point in time experience the heartache brought on by the neglect and betrayal of those you love and hold dear.  There will be a time when you will, just as David, say, “In return for my love there are my accusers...”(109:4)  There are men that with every ounce of their being attempt to stem the tide of tears that flow as a result of pains that run deep.  There are women that have sworn that they will not shed one more tear over a man that has repetitively wounded their emotional stability.  Yet, in both instances, these people wake in the morning to find their pillows drenched with tears.

Tears are as natural as the instinct to suppress them.  They are a physiological response to invisible emotions; emotions that the majority of us don’t want exposed.  In our culture, tears are considered a sign of weakness, especially when it comes to men.  However, our emotions were never meant to be suppressed, but expressed.  David, Jeremiah, and Jesus all wept.  Very few people understand that crying and weeping are part of the healing process.  Suppressed emotions are never conducive to proper healing.

The most awesome truth about our moments of weeping is that no matter how hard we try to conceal our tears, our weeping is never a solitary experience.

“And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.”(Ex. 3:7)

God acknowledges that He has seen and heard the cries of His people.  He establishes the point that He is not some distant God that is cold and aloof toward His people.  Exodus 2:23 informs us that as the cries of the children of Israel rang out, God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Remembering His promises, God looked upon the children of Israel and acknowledged them.  God has promised us that He will never leave nor forsake us.  This fact should bring solace to every believer.  Though the vault of your emotions has been breached and a medley of emotions cascade through the hollows of your existence, do not despair.  No matter how lonely the moment, irrespective to the current darkness, you are not alone. 

Not only has God promised never to leave us alone, He has promised to act on our behalf.

           

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”(2 Chron. 16:9)

“When the enemy comes in like a flood.  The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”(Isa. 59:19)

God did not simply acknowledge the children of Israel and their circumstances, He became personally involved.

“So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians...”(Ex. 3:8)

Not only have “I’ heard their cries and seen their oppression, “I” am going to intervene on their behalf.  The God we serve is completely responsive to the needs of His people.  He does not sit idly by while they face the vicissitudes of life.  God responds to those tears with a decisive force, bringing power, joy, and peace. 

In fact, it is those moments of mourning, weeping, and crying that God moves most awesomely in the lives of believers.  When the pain of the moment has taken control of your life; when the loneliness has consumed you and the manacles of depression has seized hold of you; when no one else seems to care, God hears and God answers.  God responded to the cries of Job, David, Jeremiah and more.  It was the weeping of Mary and Martha that moved Jesus to tears and prompted the resuscitation of Lazarus.  It was the weeping of the nation of Israel that caused God to speak through Ezekiel and promises to bring them up from their graves of despair.  God moves in moments of desperation.

Let us look once again at the book of Exodus so that we might closer examine the dynamics of God’s movement in the lives of His chosen.  It begins in Chapter 1.

           

“But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty....Now there arose a new king over Egypt...and he said to his people....come, let us deal shrewdly with them....therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens....and they made them serve with rigor.... Then the King spoke to the midwives...and he said, when you do the duties of a midwife to the Hebrew women, if it is a son, then you shall kill him...”(Ex. 1:7-6)

The God we serve is a “show up” God, and the show up process begins at the moment of need.  Up to this point, God had sustained His people through providential care.  They had increased abundantly and grew exceedingly mighty, but the moment the Egyptians moved against them, the show up process began.  God’s subtle movements are revealed in His providential provisions.  There is nothing subtle about the show up process; when God shows up He shows out.  He is completely radical in His movement.  He leaves no doubt as to who has brought deliverance.  Your tears are a visible sign that God is about to bust a move.

Every oppressive move of the Egyptians drew God closer to His people.  Every lash of the taskmasters whip, every drop of sweat from the brow of an enslaved Israelite, every vociferous cry of a Hebrew woman brought closer the day that God’s inimitable and unsurpassed power would be displayed on behalf of His chosen.  The tears of the believer are like a magnet that acts as a spiritually kinetic force that draws God to the center of the struggle.  Sometimes all you can do is cry.  Your ability to reason has dissipated, rendering you dysfunctional.  You want to pray, but you can’t form the words.  All you can do is cry.  Your soul sinks within you and the questions of why, how and when press their way to the surface.  Why is this happening to me?  How could he/she do this to me?  When will it end?  All of these questions have their place; however, the most pertinent question is not why, how, or when, but who?  Who can I turn to when my attempts to ebb the tides of the tribulation proves futile?  Who can I trust when no one else seems to care?  When those who are normally the pillars of support in my life are being crushed under the weight of life’s realities, who can I turn to to be the buttress that sustains me in the midst of the storm?

“When I cry out to you, Then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.” (PS 56:9)

“And it will be for a sign and for a witness...for they will cry to the Lord...and he will send them a savior and a Mighty one, and He will deliver them.”(Isa. 19:20)

“Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep....So David recovered all...and nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great....David recovered all...”(1 Sam. 30:4, 18-19)

When there is nowhere else to turn, even when there is “no more power” to weep, God hears our cries, even the silent cries of a desperate soul.  Its okay, go ahead and cry.  Your tears are a release of the pressures, hurts and disappointments of the moment.  Your tears are a clarion sounding to God that His child is in need.  Your tears are not meant to be quenched or suppressed; they are an expression of the heart’s yearnings.  Your tears are a part of God’s show up process.

Isn’t it awesome to be in Love with a God that loves you; a God that becomes personally involved in our lives.  I can’t promise you that there will not be tears, in fact, the one you hold dearest may yet break your heart; the expectations for tomorrow may go unfulfilled; In return for your love, they may become your accusers.  Yet, God, in His bountiful love, sees, hears, and responds to the cries of His people.

God, through His Word, has not only promised temporal relief from life’s struggles and disappointments, but an eternal acknowledgment and comforting for every tear shed during this ethereous journey of Christianity.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”(PS. 46:1)

“For the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(Rev. 7:17)

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”(Rev. 21:4)

In Psalms 46, we find that God is a present help in trouble.  He is there during those bouts with loneliness. He is there when you are grieving and mourning the loss of a loved one. He is there when all you possess is taken away.  No matter what you are going through; no matter how dark the moment, God is there.  Not only is He a present help, but he has promised to bring eternal peace and comfort.  He has promised to wipe every tear permanently away from your eyes, after which there will be no more death, no more sorrow, nor crying.  He has promised that He will personally take away forever, every pain, every heartache, every tormenting struggle.

Isaiah 25:8 says, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.  Isaiah 35:10 says, “And the “ransomed” of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and singing shall flee away.”

“The “ransomed” refers to those who have been purchased at a price; those whose debt has been expiated by the Son.  “The ransomed” are those who have been redeemed by the precious “Blood” of the “Lamb”.  Ransomed and redeemed are words meritorious of our concentrated attention.  These words remind us that we have been released from the prison of sin; we have been rescued from the pit of hell; we have been preserved for all eternity; we have been liberated, set free, and cut loose from the shackles of eternal damnation.  God in His matchless love has said,”I will ransom them from the power of the grave...(Hosea 13:14)

When we keep in view the fact that we are creatures redeemed by the creator; when we are able to apprehend in full the understanding of the magnitude of the love required for God to redeem us in our sinful state, we will view our trials, sufferings, and disappointments in a different light.  We will view them as Paul did:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”(Rom. 8:18)

“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed....for our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4: 8,9,17 and 18)

Your tears are a momentary response to the reality of the moment.  Your tears are a physical expression of an emotional state.  It’s okay, go ahead and cry, the pain won’t last forever.  God’s on His way and He’s bringing joy with Him.  He's coming to wipe away ever tear.  You may be crying now, but weeping only endures for a night, for joy comes in the morning.  Cry if you must, but do not despair; the God we serve is a show up God.  He is on His way to deliver, to heal, to liberate, and to exalt.  So, let the tears flow when they come, for soon God will wipe every tear away!

May you be richly blessed!

Sincerely,

Bishop Rick Wallace

Founder and President

Rick Wallace Ministries

100 Men of Purpose

Author: The Invisible Father

Lukewarm Lovers!

RWM SERMON- 06-03-09 Luke Warm Lovers

By Bishop Rick Wallace

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”(Rev. 3:15,16)

I will begin by pointing to the fact that the Word of God is eternal.  Although this passage was written by the Apostle John nearly two thousand years ago, it is still very relevant and applicable today.  The message it confers is yet true.  Though Christ here is speaking to the local church in Laodicea, a dispensational interpretation reveals that the local church in Laodicea represents the church in the final days prior to its pre-tribulation rapture.

“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:” (Rev. 3:14)

Christ is the embodiment of faithfulness and truth and the guarantor and fulfiller of all of God’s promises.  He is the source of creation and He is about to assess the state of the Laodicean church.  His existence as truth guarantees the veracity and accuracy of the assessment.

Although here, Christ ascribes a state of lethargy to the Laodicean church, I would venture to say that the church in Laodicea was once a thriving and fervent congregation.  Paul wrote at least one letter to the church as well as made mention of them in his letter to the Colossians.  The manner at which Paul mentions them gives no reason to believe that at that time there were any major issues or concerns.  The question then arises; what happened to bring this church to a state of tepidity? 

Based on the subsequent verses, it would seem that the church fell victim to their own prosperity.

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ —and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, and poor, blind, and naked-”(Rev. 3:17)

Laodicea was noted for being a banking center, producer of textiles (a glossy wool) used to make clothing and carpets, and for producing eye salve for curing eye disorders.  Jesus counseled that their material prosperity had weakened their spiritual state.  He required that they become rich in spirit, and be clothed with the garments of righteousness.  Though they were responsible for improving the physical sight of many, they; themselves were spiritually blind.

Experiencing prosperity can be a dangerous endeavor!  Not many Christians are cognizant of this fact, but prosperity not only arrives as a reward and blessing for the believer but also serves as a test of the believer’s momentum toward spiritual maturity.  Can the believer successfully manage his prosperity or will he become consumed with the gift and lose sight of the giver.  It is my belief that the pitfalls of prosperity are pride, ignorance, self sufficiency, and complacency.  Falling victim to these vices can place you in a very hazardous state of mind.

In any aspect of life, the moment someone becomes complacent, they regress, lose ground.  A complacent person no longer has the fervor and passion that propelled them to that current position and they soon begin their descent.

“I know your works...”(Rev. 3:15)

The beginning of verse fifteen serves notice that Christ is completely cognizant of our works.  You may have convinced those in your periphery that you are an all together Christian.  You may talk the talk and be readily received by the congregation, but God knows the truth.  There are many churches and individual members, who give the outside appearance of being on point; However, inwardly, they are no longer passionately seeking God.  Without passion, there is no fire; without fire there is no heat.

“You are neither cold nor hot.”(Rev. 3:15)

This description describes a condition of indifference and carelessness.  They were not infidels, yet they were not earnest believers; they did not oppose the gospel, neither did they defend it; they were not working mischief, neither were they doing any great good; They were not of disreputable character, but they were not distinguished in holiness.  They were no longer radical in their faith.  They were what contemporary believers would call moderates —another word for lukewarm.  In the late seventies the O’Jays sang a song with the lyrics: “Your body’s here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town.”  This song was expressive of someone that was physically present, but simply going through the motions.  This is what the lukewarm Christian does.  He physically remains in close proximity to the church and its functions, but his heart is distant and aloof to his lover, Jesus Christ.

“Because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16)

Here, Christ uses the notorious Laodicean water supply as the analogy for his admonishment.  The water had to be piped in from a neighboring hot spring and by the time it arrived it was lukewarm and mineral rich, which gave it a very bad taste as well as a nauseating affect once swallowed.  So, the Laodicean Church could relate very well to the analogy.  Hot mineral rich water is medicinal, cold water is refreshing, but lukewarm water is just plain nauseating.

Let it be far removed from our account that God would ever access us the title of “lukewarm lover”.  With all that he has done for each of us, we should be fulminating with a passion; a passion to serve, a passion to praise, a passion to become more intimate with our Lord and Savior!

“Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing.”(Rev. 3:17)

Though here, Christ could have been speaking of the fact that the Laodiceans had become engrossed and enamored with their material prosperity, it speaks of the fact that they had become arrogantly submersed in religion, legalism, and liturgical procedure.  They had become convinced through their faulty self-appraisals that they were all that and then some.  They gave an appearance of fervor and passion, but inwardly they were lethargic and complacent.  By declaring themselves to be rich, wealthy, and in need of nothing they were self-glorifying themselves instead of objectively self-evaluating themselves.

Self-evaluation on a daily basis is a must.  This evaluation must not be subjective in nature, but objective in purpose —meaning we cannot measure ourselves by our own inflated ego, but juxtaposed to the standard revealed in the infallible Word of God.

The next question is: Why does Christ prefer the church to be either cold or hot?  The designation to be hot and its purpose is apparent, but why cold?  A cold Christian is much more aware of his shortcomings; he knows he is in need of a change.  The pangs of spiritual inadequacy throb within him daily.  He is not illusionistically trapped inside the cocoon of arrogance.  Whereas the lukewarm Christian goes to church; a lukewarm Christian has some form of a prayer life, he pays his tithes, he even serves in prominent positions within the church, so he has convinced himself that all is well on the Christian front.  Yet, his works are empty; his prayers are perfunctory in nature.  There’s a great deal of pastors preaching to a sleeping church.

There is no doubt that some of those reading this sermon will assume that it could not possibly be meant for them, but are as lukewarm as they come.  My friend, lukewarm won’t do!

There are far too many half-hearted Christians moving about today, they have the semblance of holiness, but are empty shells.  They have come to tolerate the gospel instead of yearn for it.  Lukewarm won’t do!

There is a multitudinous mass of you who have become lethargic, undecided, and unconcerned. Lukewarm won’t do!

If you find yourself at peace with the world, you are a lukewarm Christian.  If you feel you have far more important things to do than worship, you are a lukewarm Christian.  If you can find every reason in the world to fall short of the mark, you are a lukewarm Christian.  I’m here to tell you, lukewarm won’t do!  Christ has become sick to the stomach because of the lack of passion and commitment displayed.  He has read you like a novel.  Lukewarm won’t do.

There are too many that are inadequate in their prayer life.  There are too many that feel they have arrived, but have not come close.  There are too many that have a false sense of prosperity, but are poor in spirit.  There are too many that are content with their spirituality.  I’m afraid that just won’t do!

I pray that a new passion is ignited by this message; a passion to seek his face;  a passion to humble yourselves before him; a passion to stand up for Christ.  Until this passion comes in your life, you will remain lukewarm and lukewarm won’t do.

How can we look at all that God has done for us and remain lukewarm and lethargic in service.  How dare we sleep on our faithful lover?  Today, I offer a challenge.  I dare you to stand up for Christ.  I dare you to live each day for Christ.  I dare you to call on His name with expectancy.  I dare you to catch on fire with His purpose.  When you do, watch God move.

It’s time to get hot for the Lord, it’s time to experience God at a level never before attained.  Its time to get hot!

God is waiting on your commitment.  God is waiting to see you take a stand.  He is waiting to bless you.

“For I know my thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil; to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”(Jer. 27:11,12)

This is God’s promise and desire for us, to bless and prosper us, but we must be aligned with His will for our lives.  There is no place for the lukewarm lover.  There is no place for the uncommitted soldier.  This is not the time to succumb to the paralyzing force of mediocrity.  This is not the time to slip into a comatic trance induced by the tranquilizing drug of gradualism, nor become sedated by the soothing balm of complacency.  It is time to stand up.  It is time to lift our voice in praise.  It is time to resist our innate proclivity to give in to temptation.  My friends, it’s time for a revolution; a spiritual revolution.  Look within yourself. Do you have what it takes to burn hot for the Lord?

Be warned; There is no room for lukewarm lovers!

May God bless and keep you

Sincerely

Bishop Rick Wallace

Founder and President

Rick Wallace Ministries

100 Men of Purpose

At Your Word: A True Faith Declaration!

RWM SERMON- 04-08-09 At Your Word

Foundation Scripture:

“But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your “Word” I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)

“At Your Word”; one of the most powerful statements in human history.  Yet, it is more than a statement.  It is an illuminated and erudite state of mind.  It is not supported nor justified by rationale or intellect.  It cannot be attained and cultivated by the empiricist nor the pragmatist.  This state of mind is not esoterically associated with sight walking.  It is spiritually empowered and sustained in faith.

If we are to ever live our lives in the abundance and awesome power we were created to live in, we must take on an “At Your Word” state of mind.  Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  

This state of mind requisites a total commitment of the heart.  I’m not speaking of the heart in a sentimental nor emotional type of way, but as the center of your existence; that force at the center of your soul that guides your every action.

This state of mind also calls for us to move away from our natural proclivity to intellectualize, anatomize, and rationalize every situation.  We are told not to lean to our own understanding.  This ethereal journey of Christianity calls for faith, make no mistake about it.  Not faith in the superficial sense of the word, but that faith that says, “If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.  This is a faith that is not deterred by circumstance.  This is a faith that refuses to acknowledge the illusionistic portraits of despair painted by the enemy.  When we truly trust God’s word, we will be able to stand in the midst of the storm and respond,” at your word”.

This state of mind does not consider nor tolerate difficulties and thrives in the cul-de-sac of impossibilities.  This is the ultimate in trust.  It says all things are possible if we only believe.

In our scriptural passage, Christ asks Peter to cast out his net.  This, in and of itself may seem somewhat insignificant; however, let us look a little closer.  First, Peter and his partners had been fishing the entire evening (the best time to fish) but had caught nothing.  Peter and his partners were professional fishermen and Jesus a carpenter.  Jesus had already commandeered Peter’s boat and transformed it into His pulpit.  Peter could have responded to Jesus’ directive with the arrogance of expertise; he was in fact the professional when it came to fishing. Yet, we see something completely different; Peter’s surrendered spirit.  Peter points out the obvious, we’ve fished all night and we’ve caught nothing.  Then there appears the conjunctive adverb, “Nevertheless”, in spite of or irregardless.  Nevertheless negates the preceding statement and points to the subsequent statement. 

“At Your Word” -there is no logic or rationale, but at Your Word.  All of the evidence says the opposite, but at Your Word.  Peter’s response reveals his servility, teachability and implicit obedience.  These virtues are the bridges to the blessing.

The scriptures tell us that the nets were filled with so many fish that they began to break.  When Peter’s partners brought their boat over to help, both boats were so overloaded by the catch that they began to sink.  This constitutes exceedingly abundantly above all that Peter could have asked or imagined. 

If Peter would have trusted his own intellect or expertise, he would have never experienced the awesome power of God to provide.  He would have missed his overflow moment; that moment in which the Red Sea is divided in its entire splendor; that moment when the sun stands still as time yields to prayer; that moment when dry dead bones become living flesh; that moment when you say Lord, I cannot understand, but at Your Word.

You’ve been praying for a breakthrough; you’ve been searching for that place of overflow.  God is saying to you now, “Step out on the water.  I know what the circumstances reveal, I know what your friends are saying, and I am cognizant of the things that have happened in the past.  I am God, step out on the water.” 

You have spent too much time rationalizing, contemplating, and procrastinating.  You have wondered around too long in the fruitlessness of empirical confirmation.  You have struggled mightily under the opaque shadows of inevitability.  It is time to say to the Master, “At Your Word.”  At Your Word, I will stand, at Your Word I will press on; at Your Word I will rejoice.  At Your Word, I will have the audacity to praise you in the midst of the storm.  

It was Peter who led the disciples on the day of Pentecost.  It was Peter that healed the lame man at the Gate Beautiful.  It was Peter that contributed three letters to the Biblical Cannon.  None of this would have been possible if he would not have stepped out from behind human viewpoint and into the phosphorescent light of divine guidance.

“And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”  (Isaiah 58:11)

In the preceding scripture we find promises of strengthened bones, watered gardens, and unfailing springs; these are similes for sustaining power, prosperity, and the blessings of God’s saving grace.  However, the first thing we notice here is that God will guide you.  Only when you submit to the guidance of the almighty will his power flow fully through you.  The question then arises; in the time in which we live, how does God guide us.  There are numerous ways that we are guided by God in our Christian lives: Through the filling of the Holy-Spirit; the Holy-Spirit convicts and prompts us in our actions; Through the Word of God inculcated into the mentality of our souls; the Word of God is the will of God.  Through prayer; when the believer prays to God for Guidance, which is a legitimate Christian right, God answers.  God guides us through providential circumstances; providence is the molding of events by God to obtain the fulfillment of His divine purpose.  In whatever manner God chooses to guide and lead you, it is your Christian duty to respond.

In 2 Peter 1:19, Peter alludes to the profitability of heeding God’s prophetic Word.

Right now, God is calling us to step out, stand up, and be sure.  This is not a time for sight walking.  This is not a time for rationalization.  No, this is a time to stand in faith, walk in faith, speak in faith, and live in faith.  This is a time to say, “At Your Word.”  This is done without regard to current circumstances, without consideration to past situations, without contemplation of the negative conjecture of naysayers.

It is time to cast out your nets.  God is calling you to reap the bountiful blessings of obedience.  There is someone out there God has called to step into the arena of entrepreneurship, yet, you are thinking, “I’ve tried this before and it was a disaster, experts are saying that this is not the time, the economy is not conducive to the successful launching of a business, nevertheless, “At Your Word.”  Someone has been called to relocate to a new city, to follow a dream, to fulfill their destiny, but there’s uncertainty with a new environment, the anxiety associated with change rears its ugly head, the support of friends and loved ones seems sporadic at best,  nevertheless, “At Your Word”.

God has called you to vacate that abusive relationship, to walk in the liberty of emancipation, to stand in the sufficiency of His power and grace, to live in the fullness of purpose; however, this situation is all you have ever known, there is no family support in place, you suffer from a fear of being alone, nevertheless, “At Your Word”.

At Your Word says, “Lord, I see nothing but you!  The moment is dark, but You are able.”  At Your Word says, my friends have forsaken me, but I trust your Word to heal.”  It’s time to step up and step out.

You keep gazing back into your past for confirmation.  You keep consulting the circumstances for authentication and corroboration.  It's time to view things through a different lens.  You have been viewing life through the lens of empiricism.  You have been viewing life through the lens of popular opinion.  You have been viewing life through the lens of social acceptance.  You have been viewing life through the lens of retrospective inquiry.  It is time for a paradigm shift.  It is time to start viewing things through the spiritual lens of faith.

But Bishop, I’ve never been successful in this area of my life.  My life has been one big failure after another; everyone says that I’m in over my head; they say that I’m reaching beyond my abilities.  I say that God’s Word is true.  His word says, “Things that are not possible with men are possible with God.”(Luke 18:27)  His Word says, he is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us”.

Let go of the past failures; God desires to open up the windows of heaven.  God desires to send excessive blessings, an overflow of power, a surplus of abundance and peace, over and above what you seek, extraordinary favor and a superabundance of joy.  Take Him at His Word.  Stand on His promises.  Live in His awesome power.  Cast out your net and become the head and not the tail.  Cast out your net, become the lender and not the borrower.  Cast out your net and be above and not beneath.  Cast out your net and see the glory of God revealed in your life.  I promise you if you cast out your net your life will never be the same.

I invite you to simply tell God, "At Your Word".

May you be richly blessed,

Rick Wallace

Founder & President

Rick Wallace Ministries

100 Men Of Purpose

Ph: 832-429-7542

Mobile: 713-371-8678

rpw@rickwallaceministries.com

www.rickwallaceministries.com

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