ARISE, COME FORTH, WALK

I want to speak to those who feel captivated, lost, or hopeless, those who can’t see a way out or imagine their life amounting to anything for the kingdom of God. I want to suggest to you that God is speaking to you, whether you can hear Him or not. He’s calling you to things you may not yet have considered for your life and your future.

He does not call things the way they are but He calls them the way they will be. I challenge you to believe for a miracle in your life. He went to a cross so that not only the penalty of sin but the power of sin over your life might be broken. He wants to bring you out of the place where you are into the abundant life He promises through His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is a dark hour, but the Lord Jesus Christ is calling His church to rise up — and that includes you. If you have even a seed of faith in Jesus for your salvation, He is calling you now out of darkness into His marvelous light.

What is God’s view of you? Is His opinion of you the same as yours? Does He condemn you in your captivity, or is He calling you into something only He can do? If any person is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old things pass away. That is either true or it is not. If Christ is in you, the old ways, the bondages and the wildernesses lose their hold. God begins to speak newness into your life.

Your part is to hear His voice and believe. Then get up and start moving toward the sound of His voice and the promises He makes for your life and family. I did that years ago, and God has not failed me. Even now He calls me into places I have not gone before, and I’m still willing to listen because all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Psalm 29:1 “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” The phrase “the beauty of holiness” means being set apart for God.Some of you say, “I can’t get off my couch. How can I give glory to God? I’m trapped in despair. My grandfather was captive; my father was captive; I am captive.” Hear this: it is not your job to give glory to God. Your job is to believe that He can use your life to bring glory to His name. That changes everything. You are responsible to open your heart, hear His voice, and begin to move toward the freedom He offers.

Psalm 29:3 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders.” Those waters roar in your mind; they threaten to drown you but only one voice can change things: the voice of God. His voice has the power to calm the storm, create life where there is none, and change your future.

Psalm 29:5: “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars.” Cedars are strong, long-lasting trees; they can stand for generations. In our lives there are “cedars” entrenched patterns and family traits we think will never break. But the voice of the Lord can splinter those cedars and set you free. He will give you new life; He will make you skip like a calf, full of joy and newness.

Psalm 29:7: “The Lord divides the flames of fire.” There are impossible places that threaten to overwhelm you. When God speaks, He makes a pathway and gives you peace in the middle of the storm. What Christ gives is everlasting. He will lead you through.

Psalm 29:8: “The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness.” Barren places in your life  places that seem to produce nothing — will be shaken and made fruitful. I remember when I was a young police officer, my heart was cold and empty. When Christ came in, He shook that wilderness; I began to care for people. The voice of the Lord brings new life; it causes the barren to produce. That’s what it is to be born again — to start over with a new heart, new mind, new spirit, new life.

Psalm 29:9“In his temple all say, ‘Glory!’ ” Those who choose to walk with God, to let Christ be Christ in them, will find themselves shouting glory. Your worship will no longer will depend on music or a preacher but God’s presence will stir you. As you change day by day, you will shout, “Glory to God!” You’ll dance in your living room because only God could have done this.

Finally, the psalm promises: “The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” He will give strength to you and bless you with peace.

In Luke 7 and the widow who mourned her only son her hope was gone. Jesus stopped the procession and said, “Arise.” The power of death no longer had authority where the voice of God spoke. Perhaps you feel you have no future. The Lord says to you tonight: arise. Get up from where you are. Take a step of faith, a simple, brave step and show God you hear Him.

John 11: Lazarus was dead, and people had given up hope. Jesus called, “Come forth.”  John 5: a man lay by the pool for 38 years, with no one to help him into the stirred water. Jesus said, “Take up your bed and walk.” He invited him to roll up his old life and carry it as a testimony of what God had done.

I challenge you to rise up. Move toward the voice of God, the voice that breaks cedars, divides flames of fire, and brings new life into every human heart that trusts Him. Roll up your old way of living by faith. Tuck it under your arm and get ready for a journey like you never believed possible. When people ask, “What is that?” you can say, “That’s where I used to lie for 38 years. But I heard the voice of God. I heard the Creator of the universe, who died for my sin so I could have new life. I got up and began to walk with Him.”

This will be the victorious church in these last days. It will be ordinary people who heard God and obeyed — not the wise or mighty by worldly standards, but those whom God chose: the weak, the humble, the despised. God uses what the world calls nothing to show His glory.

I’m done with you sitting on the couch, mourning the past. I’m done with your whimpering about addictions. It’s time to get up and start walking with God.

I want to speak to those who feel captivated, lost, or hopeless, those who can’t see a way out or imagine their life amounting to anything for the kingdom of God. I want to suggest to you that God is speaking to you, whether you can hear Him or not. He’s calling you to things you may not yet have considered for your life and your future.

He does not call things the way they are, but He calls them the way they will be. I challenge you to believe for a miracle in your life. He went to a cross so that not only the penalty of sin, but the power of sin over your life might be broken. He wants to bring you out of the place where you are into the abundant life He promises through His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is a dark hour, but the Lord Jesus Christ is calling His church to rise and that includes you. If you have even a seed of faith in Jesus for your salvation, He is calling you now out of darkness into His marvelous light.

What is God’s view of you? Is His opinion of you the same as yours? Does He condemn you in your captivity, or is He calling you into something only He can do? If any person is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old things pass away. That is either true or it is not. If Christ is in you, the old ways, the bondages, and the wildernesses lose their hold. God begins to speak newness into your life.

Your part is to hear His voice and believe. Then get up and start moving toward the sound of His voice and the promises He makes for your life and family. I did that years ago, and God has not failed me. Even now He calls me into places I have not gone before, and I’m still willing to listen because all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Psalm 29:1: “Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” The phrase “the beauty of holiness” means being set apart for God. Some of you say, “I can’t get off my couch. How can I give glory to God? I’m trapped in despair. My grandfather was captive; my father was captive; I am captive.” Hear this: It is not your job to give glory to God. Your job is to believe that He can use your life to bring glory to His name. That changes everything. You are responsible to open your heart, hear His voice, and begin to move toward the freedom He offers.

Psalm 29:3: “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders.”Those waters roar in your mind; they threaten to drown you, but only one voice can change things: the voice of God. His voice has the power to calm the storm, create life where there is none, and change your future.

Psalm 29:5: “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars.” Cedars are strong, long-lasting trees; they can stand for generations. In our lives there are “cedars” entrenched patterns and family traits — that we think will never break. But the voice of the Lord can splinter those cedars and set you free. He will give you new life; He will make you skip like a calf, full of joy and newness.

Psalm 29:7: “The Lord divides the flames of fire.” There are impossible places that threaten to overwhelm you. When God speaks, He makes a pathway and gives you peace in the middle of the storm. What Christ gives is everlasting. He will lead you through.

Psalm 29:8: “The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness.” Barren places in your life, places that seem to produce nothing will be shaken and made fruitful. I remember when I was a young police officer, my heart was cold and empty. When Christ came in, He shook that wilderness; I began to care for people. The voice of the Lord brings new life; it causes the barren to produce. That’s what it is to be born again — to start over with a new heart, new mind, new spirit, new life.

Psalm 29:9: “In his temple all say, ‘Glory!’” Those who choose to walk with God, to let Christ be Christ in them, will find themselves shouting glory. Your worship will no longer depend on music or a preacher, but God’s presence will stir you. As you change day by day, you will shout, “Glory to God!” You’ll dance in your living room because only God could have done this.

Finally, the Psalm promises: “The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” He will give strength to you and bless you with peace.

In Luke 7, the widow who mourned her only son had lost her hope. Jesus stopped the procession and said, “Arise.” The power of death no longer had authority where the voice of God spoke. Perhaps you feel you have no future. The Lord says to you tonight: “Arise.” Get up from where you are. Take a step of faith, a simple, brave step, and show God you hear Him.

John 11: Lazarus was dead, and people had given up hope. Jesus called, “Come forth.” John 5: A man lay by the pool for 38 years, with no one to help him into the stirred water. Jesus said, “Take up your bed and walk.” He invited him to roll up his old life and carry it as a testimony of what God had done.

I challenge you to rise. Move toward the voice of God, the voice that breaks cedars, divides flames of fire, and brings new life into every human heart that trusts Him. Roll up your old way of living by faith. Tuck it under your arm and get ready for a journey like you never believed possible. When people ask, “What is that?” you can say, “That’s where I used to lie for 38 years. But I heard the voice of God. I heard the Creator of the universe, who died for my sin so I could have new life. I got up and began to walk with Him.”

This will be the victorious church in these last days. It will be ordinary people who heard God and obeyed, not the wise or mighty by worldly standards, but those whom God chose: the weak, the humble, the despised. God uses what the world calls nothing to show His glory.

I’m done with you sitting on the couch, mourning the past. I’m done with your whimpering about addictions.

It’s time to get up and start walking with God.