"Shake It Off" (Preached 1/1 & 1/8 -2012)

Text: Isa. 52:2, "Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion." 

Intro.  Today we enter into a New Year...some do so with great expectations..others with trepidation...and some see it as just another day to get through.  

Many are stepping into the New Year with the excess baggage of the past year hanging from them.  Having faced some of the most difficult times of their lives they are finding it hard to "let go" of "what was" and with hope pursue "what is".  Today I want to encourage each here to "Shake It Off".  

Shake yourself from the dust of defeat, demotion, disappointments, discouragement, despondency, depression. Shake yourself from the dust of self pity, sadness and sorrow. Shake yourself from the dust of poverty and insufficiency, weakness and sickness, oppression and affliction.  Shake thyself from the dust whether the Devil likes it or not. Arise, sit down, loose thyself from the chains of oppression whether Satan approves or not.

Shake off the "what was" of yesterday and pursue the "what is" that lies ahead.  

What is ahead is not simply a dream...it is reality waiting  to be claimed. 

I. The What Was:  The things of the past can become weights of control... roadblocks...blinders....They keep you from seeing the potential that lies ahead and pulls all of your energy out of you.

    Note two areas in the Word that instruct us to disconnect from "What Was":

      Isaiah, prophesied restoration during a time of loss and bondage...Isa. 43:18-19, 

      "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I 

       will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make 

       a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

      a. Remember not the former things...

      b. I will do a new thing...

      c. It will be "a suddenly"...

      d. Some will miss it...

      e. It will be a supernatural occurrence...

      Remember...this was given during the early stages of their bondage...the 

      heartache, the loss, the discouragement was fresh...Often times that is the most 

      difficult time of your captivity...when everything is fresh on your mind and you 

      clearly see what you have lost.

      Phil. 3:13 Paul, understanding the control of the past, instructs the young     

      Christians in Philippi in regard to what was ahead. "Brethren, I count not myself to    

      have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are 

      behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the 

      mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

      

      a.  There is more...

      b. The need of forgetting what was behind.  

      c. It wouldn't be easy.  " I press toward the mark (goal)..."Anything worth having is 

          never an easy attainment.  If you want it enough to fight for it and fight to 

          keep it you better well know someone or something else feels the same way.

      

II. The Pursuit:   Dreams/visions are made of what we wish for...they have their place but should never be considered "the end of the story".  I've heard of & read that you can "dream your way to success". In truth the dream/vision only opens the door to give a glimpse of what can be...the attainment requires pursuit. That is where the work begins!

     Reality is comprised of what is real just waiting for us to claim/stake a claim on.  

Paul's Reality, Phil. 3:7-12, 

a. Prioritizing the now need with the valuables of the past, v7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.  

b. Understanding true value, v8 Yes, further more, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord  and  of progressively becoming more deeply  and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),  

c. His true pursuits, v9-11 And that I may [actually] be found  and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.  10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I) may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving   and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]  11That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral)  resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].  

d. Admitting his need, v12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have 

     already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp)  and make my 

     own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me  and  made 

     me His own. 

Conc.  Today each of us stand on the threshold of extreme possibilities.  We can decide to remain where we are and become nothing more than a relic of the past ( something that has lost it's usefulness and is only good for looking at) or we can admit our need...see and accept our strengths...and pursue the prize before us.

IT IS UP TO YOU....

"It Is Comin..."

I know we are hearing it often today but I want to say it also....we, the church, are on the threshold of one the greatest moves of God the church has ever witnessed. (Some have already moved beyond the threshold and into the beginning of what God has destined for His end-time church. Others are spectators...not sure they want to be a part of what is Comin...which one are you?) It will be a time that the "sower will overtake the reaper"...a time that "vats will be full of oil".

Matt Sorger, a young evangelist, wrote in an article I read several months ago concerning Three Things God Is Saying To His People Today that spoke into my spirit some truths that are definitely for the church, MWC, TODAY....truths that I believe is transitioning us into this time of restoration....a time that will cause us to accomplish God's will for each of us individually and corporately.

Before noting those three directives note some Word that reveals that It Is Comin....

Text: Habakkuk 1:5 "Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you."

Ezekiel 12:25 KJV "For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged......"

Zechariah 4:6-9, ‘“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

The key to anyone accomplishing what God has destined for us is found in the last words of v. 6...."but by my Spirit."

Today that same Spirit is speaking to the church....giving us what is needed to be successful in our pursuits...

(NOTE: There are scriptures I added to each statement that opens the way into the fulfillment of each of these areas. Time nor space will allow me to cover in detail what was covered when the series was preached. Maybe at a later date..)

#1. Church gatherings are about to experience a fresh wind of God's Spirit as whole meetings will be caught up in His manifest presence. Hag. 2:2-9 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

The Questions: Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:

Admonition...Be Strong & Work: v.4, Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: (Haggai 2:4 KJV)

The Covenant Promise: v. 5, According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt (Ex.6:2-8), so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

The Shaking: For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations (Everything that can be shaken will be shaken...only what is built on the solid rock will stand.), and the desire of all nations shall come:

The Glory: V. 7b "and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former (I Kings 8:10-11), saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

#2. Mantles are soon to be released over the church, empowering people to do extraordinary things for the kingdom of God. Those who have been in a place of hiding (possibly in the shadow of someone else, learning from them) and preparation are about to come forth in power.

(The Mantle:    There were three types of mantles worn in biblical times. This is the `adderet, a cloak that could be made of animal hair and was a garment of distinction worn by kings and especially by prophets (1 Kgs. 19:13, 19; 2 Kgs. 2:8, 13-14; Zech. 13:4). The mantle automatically marked a man as a prophet, a spokesman of God. It was also a symbol of sacrifice and commitment. The life of a prophet was not a life of luxury. The mantle represented a man’s gift, the call of God, and the purpose for which God had called him.)

The Power of The Past...II Kings 2:1-11, "And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth–el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth–el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

The Power of The Present...II Kings 2:12-16, "And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send."

Elijah - 14 Miracles Elisha. 28....double portion anointing!

#3.The voice of the Lord will be heard not only from the pulpit, through anointed preaching and teaching, but also from the pews. A fresh anointing for the corporate prophetic utterance is about to be revived. God's voice will be heard through His people. Acts 2:2, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

Note: For these things to transpire there must be a shift in our mindsets concerning how we do church/or have church. God, I believe, is transitioning the church for these things to happen...the end results of this transition will be a church who's emphasis and goals will be God related and Kingdom dominated.

Conc. "Are you (we) ready to become part of the solution instead of being a part of the problem?"