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Pastor Rich brought a message this week in which he encouraged the states to "await again."  All too often we make assumptions about the land of things and in one case our minds are ready we make that our "reality."

God on the other hand sees things for what they are.  Rich gave three examples of biblical examples of those who needed to take a second expect.  The beginning of these is found in I Kings xviii.  At that place had been three years of  drought, and "theLord came to Elijah: 'Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I volition transport rain on the country' (vs one)."  Elijah believed and he prayer.  The story continues, "And Elijah said to [King] Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.'So Ahab went off to consume and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face betwixt his knees.  'Go and look toward the sea,' he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 'There is nothing there, he said. Seven times Elijah said, 'Get back.' The seventh time the retainer reported, 'A cloud as small every bit a man's hand is ascension from the ocean.' And so Elijah said, 'Go and tell Ahab', 'Hitch upward your chariot and go downward before the rain stops yous.' Meanwhile, the heaven grew blackness with clouds, the air current rose, a heavy pelting started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel ( vs 41-45).

The servant only saw drought, he looked to the sea and saw cloudless sky.  Even though this was repeatedly told to the prophet, Elijah was prepared to take some other wait.  To await across "failure" and "reality."  God is a great God, and the patience and willingness to wait on the Lord, required vii "looks" but God was true-blue!  We besides demand to waith on the "Rainmaker," He will provide even in our times of drought (both physical and spiritual).

The 2d "middle opening" has ii parallel manifestations.  It is plant in 2 Kings 6.  Elisha the prophet is at Dothan, and he has angered the king of Aram.  "Then he [the king] sent horses and chariots and a strong forcefulness there. They went by dark and surrounded the urban center. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early on the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the metropolis. "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked."

Here again we have a retainer which sees only the obvious.  His optics are closed to God'southward power and possibilities.  The prophet responds, "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with u.s.a. are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "Open up his eyes,Lord, then that he may encounter." Then theLord opened the servant'southward eyes, and he looked and saw the hills total of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to theLord, "Strike this army with incomprehension." So he struck them with incomprehension, equally Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is non the city. Follow me, and I will lead y'all to the homo y'all are looking for." And he led them to Samaria (vs fourteen-19)."

The servants optics were opened to the reality of God's ability and he saw the legions of God.  But the story goes on with those who idea they were in control losing their sight, and being lead from their path.  Nosotros demand to see the power of God, and we need to be blind to our own presumptions.

The terminal example offered by Brother Rich is the parting of the Red Sea in the Volume of Exodus.  The Isrealites had seen the miracles of God throughout the plagues of Egypt, but once in the desert they saw merely a bounding main before them and an regular army behind them.  How blind is that when they had already been led past a pillar of cloud by twenty-four hour period and a pillar of fire at nighttime?  They in their fears notwithstanding thought every bit slaves, they were defeated already in their minds.  But Moses is told past God to motility on wards into the sea.  This is not the sense of sight, simply the sense of religion.  The consequence, as almost of us know, is  that God didn't even permit a ocean fix His people dorsum.  Yes, it was a miracle.  We as God's people today need to call up that God is in the miracle business.  We need to come across with faith.  We need to take some other look at our can'ts and meet God's cans!

Padre