CONCEAL: To hide, cover up – (to disguise, deceive, dissemble.)
COVERED: protect or defend from harm.
We hide our hurts, scars, & our imperfections… WHEN THAT IS OUR TESTIMONY.
We look at our self & we think we need to fix what God made intentionally.
WE WERE CREATED FOR INFLUENCE & we are constantly told & tell ourselves – YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.
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not pretty enough – not special enough – not talented enough -not worth it enough – not good enough
There is one reason why you cannot find the solution, & that is because we fail to ask the question, ‘What is the problem?‘ – unless you know what the problem is, you will never find the solution.
GENESIS 2:25
Adam & his wife were both naked. They didn’t feel any shame.
GENESIS 3:1-11, 21
The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. But God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’ “You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “God knows that when you eat fruit from that tree, you will know things you have never known before. Like God, you will be able to tell the difference between good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree’s fruit was good to eat and pleasing to look at. She also saw that it would make a person wise. So, she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it. Then both of them knew things they had never known before. They realized they were naked. So they sewed together fig leaves and made clothes for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It was during the coolest time of the day. They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called out to the man. “Where are you?” he asked. “I heard you in the garden,” the man answered. “I was afraid, because I was naked. So I hid.” The Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?” … The Lord God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife to wear.
We try to conceal darkness & things we do not like or that we struggle with instead of getting God involved.
If you do not know the truth yourself… he will use the truth to confuse you into giving up the authority you have already been given by God.
Adam & Eve knew immediately that everything had changed:
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, & they realized they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together & made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 3:7
WE COULDN’T EVEN COVER OURSELVES PROPERLY,
WE SIMPLY CAN ONLY CONCEAL THINGS FOR A TIME.
- We are already covered by God, but when we stepped out of His covering & had to face the world in our own strength – we felt inadequate – Life will always feel that way without God.
Instead of being COVERED by God – we settle for being COMFORTABLE. WE BEGIN TO THINK THAT HOW GOD MADE US, IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
1. COMFORT IS THE ENEMY OF GROWTH.
THE GREATEST ENEMY OF FAITH IS FAMILIARITY.
What you want may not be what you need… God knows that – The word you resist is the one you need.
(LUKE 18) – Jesus told a rich man who asked to follow him – GIVE UP WHAT YOU VALUE, leave what you know & follow me…
It takes a lot of faith to leave what you are used to – We can get so comfortable, even in dysfunction.
It is easier to give your all to God when things are difficult.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t take us away from the situation or the circumstance, BUT HE CHANGES YOU IN IT.
- You are a different person… you do not respond the same, the situation has no power over your life… because God has the Power!
2. TO LIVE YOUR CALLING, YOU must FORSAKE YOUR COMFORT.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT IS FROM GOD? – What God has for you will never require you to compromise your character.
The enemy will always try to get you to compromise who God has made you to be.
There is a huge difference in walking in peace & staying in comfort.
EPHESIANS 3:20
God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us.
Jesus doesn’t follow your agenda – We get frustrated & we wonder where God is & if He is even real… because God isn’t following our plan for our life.
- Resist the urge to resist what God has welcomed into your life.
MARK 4:35 – Let’s go to the other side.
(Jesus doesn’t tell them why, he just says what TO DO.)
CAN YOU OBEY GODS WHAT WITHOUT THE WHY? – You don’t need a ‘why’ to be obedient.
- We must KNOW what God really said. But it’s not enough to know what God said, we have to DO what God says.
3. THE TRUTH ONLY WORKS IF YOU USE IT.
If we do not do what God says, it will not work.
- We try things Gods way & give it a trial period like – God if you don’t show up, I’m doing it my way.
Eve knew what God said, but she didn’t know it enough to understand she had authority through what He said… against the enemy.
We must apply the word. When the enemy asked her, “DID GOD REALLY SAY?” – She had that moment to use what God said… & she didn’t. If we don’t understand the power of God, & we don’t use it. we will never see it in action.
IF WE DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD SAID – WE WILL BELIEVE WHAT THE ENEMY AND OTHERS SAY.
- The enemy wants to make you feel like God is trying to rip you off… so you do whatever you want… We dethrone God & our self in His place.
JOHN 10:10
…You will know the truth, & the truth will set you free
IF YOU DO NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH – YOU WILL THINK THAT WHAT YOU ARE FACING NOW, IS REALITY.
Whose voice did you lift above God?
- It’s not that we cannot acknowledge our hurt.
- God just wants us to acknowledge His voice as greater than our hurt.
MAKE WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY DID TO YOU, OR WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!
We have all been wronged. & it’s easy to focus on that. But we have also been the one who was wrong.
WHO YOU SAY GOD IS, WHAT YOU BELIEVE HE CAN DO, WILL EITHER ENABLE OR DISABLE HIM TO MOVE IN YOUR SITUATION.
The enemy will always try & get you to freak out over something that God already has control over… so that you frantically take the reins away & try to do it on your own.
HEBREWS 4:12
For the word of God is alive & active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul & spirit, joints & marrow; it judges the thoughts & attitudes of the heart.
- The Word of God is TRUTH.
ISAIAH 55:11
The words I speak… will not return to me without producing results. They will accomplish what I want them to. They will do exactly what I sent them to do.
- The Word of God is LIVING.
1 PETER 1:24
For, All flesh is like grass, & all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers & the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.
- The word of God is ACTIVE.
The news, or an article may inform us, a book can motivate us. Poetry & movies can captivate us – BUT ONLY THE WORD OF GOD CAN CHANGE US.
4. YOU HAVE TO USE WHAT YOU KNOW.
The Bible is full of people with issues. We know them by their issue.
- Many people are identified by their circumstances instead of who they are in God.
MAKE GOD BIGGER THAN YOUR ISSUES OR PROBLEMS.
We think things & hear things about God, but we do not say it or live it – & therefore we never get to see Gods power active & working in our lives… because we KNOW IT, & yet we do not SOW it into our own lives.
Often, we consult our emotions instead of the Holy Spirit.
You can’t just know God’s words – you must KNOW God!
DANIEL 11:32
… But the people who know their God shall be strong & do great things.
JESUS USED THE WORD OF GOD AGAINST THE ENEMY’S ACCUSATIONS.
- If even Jesus had to use the word of God against the enemy… we need to!!!
THE DEVIL DOESN’T HAVE TO DEFEAT YOU – IF HE CAN DISTRACT YOU!
The enemy tries to hurt you early in life, SO THAT YOU WILL BE LED BY HURT – INSTEAD OF GOD.
WHATEVER YOU ARE FULL OF, YOU WILL BE LED BY.
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That’s why we must give things to God, so that we aren’t full of the wrong things.
There are things God knows about you – that you don’t know about yourself. The only way you can know this, is by seeking HIM – BUT INSTEAD YOU HAVE BEEN SEEKING THEM…
5. TALK YOURSELF INTO IT!
Have you ever been corrected? – It is not fun.
HOW EASILY YOU ARE OFFENDED REVEALS HOW MATURE YOU ARE.
Obedience is connected to how much you love Jesus – To be obedient will cost you something.
PROVERBS 12:1
To learn the truth you must long to be teachable, or you can despise correction & remain ignorant.
GOD CORRECTS THOSE HE LOVES
We can love the idea of God, but do not actually LOVE GOD.
- The prerequisite for greatness – is to KNOW YOUR GOD – not just believe in Him.
WHAT HAVE YOU TALKED YOURSELF OUT OF – THAT GOD IS TRYING TO BRING YOU INTO?
- We all have something we are talking our self out of.
- You can talk yourself into it… just like you talk yourself out of it.
NO ONE CAN TALK YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY BUT YOU!
- You have a purpose – but every time God tries to bring you into it, you talk yourself out of it.
JOSHUA 1:8
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day & night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper & succeed in all you do.
DEUTERONOMY 31:7-8
Be strong & courageous… do not be afraid or discouraged.
WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME LISTENING TO OUR SELF & NOT ENOUGH TIME TALKING TO OUR SELF.
It’s not enough to read the bible, you must REHEARSE THE BIBLE.
Talk yourself into: (what you need more of today)
YOUR LIFE WILL FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF YOUR CONVERSATION.
Do you love God & trust God – even when he doesn’t give you what you want, how you want it.
The enemy will make you feel like you need to hide.
The devil is hoping that you don’t know who you are.
BUT YOU HAVE POWER TO WIN AGAINST THE ENEMY!
JAMES 4:7
Submit to God, resist the devil – & he will flee from you.
It is the obeying God part that is key.
- Do what God tells you to, & the enemy will have no authority in your life.
We do what we want to do, & hope God will bless it. & then we get mad at God & blame the enemy for what we have personally chosen.
The power to resist is in submitting.
IF YOU JUST DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO… RESISTING THE ENEMY IS EASY.
We internalize our pain… we cover up our brokenness… & we cover up what looks DARK or ugly to us…
- The enemy will lie to you when you are in pain, to see if you will take the bait…
- God has already covered you but we try to cover ourselves with a cheap replica of grace called shame, that separates us from God.
SO MANY OF US SAY THINGS LIKE:
- I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
- WHAT ELSE CAN I DO
- I HAVE TRIED IT ALL & NOTHING HAS WORKED
- I AM SO TIRED OF FIGHTING
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?
- HAVE YOU DONE WHAT YOU DO KNOW…
I HAVE TRIED IT ALL & NOTHING HAS WORKED.
- IF YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO – INCLUDING WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO…
- THEN YOU NEED TO LET IT GO & LET GOD!
I AM SO TIRED OF FIGHTING
- IF YOU ARE RUNNING EMPTY, YOU ARE NOT INVOLVING GOD ENOUGH!
- HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS… WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, HE IS STRONG.
- IF YOU ARE OUT OF FIRE, PASSION, DRIVE, PURPOSE… YOU MAY JUST HAVE BEEN DOING IT IN YOUR OWN POWER.
IF YOU NEED TO GET FREE, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING, IF YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SHAME OR PAIN OR HURT…
STRUGGLE IS NOT WRONG, BUT AT WHAT POINT TO YOU WALK IN VICTORY.
REPENT: TO CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION.
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU & SO DOES THE ENEMY.
You get to decide which one you fulfill.
The enemy cannot stop Gods plan for your life, he tries to get you to stop seeing it, SO YOU MISS IT
