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FACING CROSSROADS - LESSON 3
Our main objective is to learn how to accept the Crossroads in our life…..how to learn from them; apply the lessons to our life, and then to move on from there. Every crossroad that we come to requires us to face “where we have been and where we are going….this leads to the all important question of “HOW WILL YOU GET THERE?” There has to be a plan….but….Whose plan are you following, your plans or God’s? Jeremiah 29:11-13… “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” How much of your heart? ALL of your heart! So, how will we get there? It takes “FAITH”… Romans 10:17 ……. So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. **The proof of faith is obedience!
You say, “I Can’t”…..no, YOU can’t, BUT GOD….but God can. BUT GOD…those two words, that represent a contrast, change anything and everything…..
Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. REMEMBERED Genesis 17:19 But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. KEEPS HIS PROMISES Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. COMFORTS Genesis 48:21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. HE IS WITH US Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, {but} God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. WATCHES OUT FOR US Genesis 50:24 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob." PROVIDES Judges 15:19 But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi so that water came out of it….PROVIDED 1 Samuel 23:14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. PROTECTS 1 Chronicles 28:3 "But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.' HE SPEAKS TO US….WE NEED TO LISTEN Job 34:5 "For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my right; HE IS SOVEREIGN Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. REDEEMER Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. STRENGTH Psalm 75:7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. JUDGE Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. KNOWS ALL THIINGS Act 2:24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. RAISES US UP |
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Quote from Beverly Lewis (The Crossroad): The crossroad will forever serve as a reminder of God’s grace and mercy in our lives…. Remembering each crossroad causes us to think about how God has blessed us.
Remember YOUR Crossroads…..make them Spiritual Markers… In Joshua Chapter 4, we seen an example of the “stones” being used for this purpose….it’s a reminder for us whenever we “pass that way again”, that we will “remember” what God did for us at that time.
Therefore, give a name to each spiritual marker….then apply God’s name…His attribute, of how He was there. IE: Crossroad Name: Crossroad of Loss ..... God’s Name: God (Jehovah) my Comfort Crossroad Name: Salvation .................. God’s Name: God my Savior Crossroad Name: Major Surgery .......... God’s Name: God my Healer
ADDITIONAL VERSES FOR FACING OUR CROSSROADS:
Psalm 119:10-11 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:10 NAS With all my heart I have sought You, do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Psalm 119 (The Message) 1-8 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set ; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me. 9-16 How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word, I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living I'll transfer to my lips, all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. 17-24 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands.
EXTRA THOUGHTS
God asked Hagar “two” questions.. Where had she been and where was she going…..She could only answer the first one…where she had been.. We can know where we have been, but only God knows where we are going.
Notice that God sent her right back into the situation she was trying to escape from…because He had a purpose for her being there. He reminded her of who she was...Sarai's servant...
How often do we try to run away, get out of some uncomfortable circumstance… (a job, a neighborhood, a marriage..etc..)…..and sometimes find that when we run away without consulting God's Will for our lives.. We find ourselves wandering in a wilderness with no answers to where we're supposed to be going next. (This does NOT mean to encourage someone to stay in an abusive situation. notice that the Angel told Hagar to return and act as she should. How was she acting before? (v.4)..Could be God cares more about our character than our comfort...God hates pride and arrogance..)
So often we ask God, "O' Lord, get me out of this...instead of, O' Lord, what would you have me to get out of this?"
Nothing comes into the life of a believer that is not first sifted through the will of God.
And in Genesis 16:13-14...In her darkest hour, God became real and personal to her. He is the God Who Sees Me! (Psalm 139). He sees us where we are, and when we are on the wrong path, He sets us on the right way again and we'll never be the same again..
From Isaiah 30:21 (The Living Bible) And if you leave God's paths and go astray, you will hear a Voice behind you say, "No, this is the way; walk here."
And I close with this thought: Sometimes, like in Hagar's life, that path takes us right back home again……
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