 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||
|
by Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries © Copyright Reserved August 24th 2008 A Quiet Storm is Coming, Are you Ready? This Sermon is written to honor the many brave souls that went into the storm of Hurricane Katrina and the many who lost there lives during the days of August, 24th thru the 29th.
When I was preparing this message for Prayer Tower Ministries, I did not know that I would have to preach while standing in a storm. I was informed two days ago that my contract services would no longer be needed for one of my primary clients. The news took me by surprise. I got in my car and drove for three hours toward Los Angeles. With everything that has taken place this year, I could not believe anything else could possibly happen. So here I am standing in the storm, still keeping my eyes on the prize. Here I stand, burning in the refinement for God's Glory. “Watch carefully the skies that light the morning. Soon they will light the dark. Watch carefully the waters that lay quietly around the world, soon they will rumble across the land”! PRAYER Dear Lord, remove any distraction that would hinder your mouth piece from speaking. We invite the Holy Spirit to feel the walls of this church. We call upon dear Father to release 5,000 angels to stand guard as we make war in the body of Christ. Arrest every demonic spirit that creeps in misty valley of every soul! We are here for refinement, purification, and reformation of every saint that is ready for the final test. Prepare us oh Lord! for the final storm that is coming. Our sermon text comes from "Malachi Chapter 3, verse 1-3" 'Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,' says the LORD of hosts. 'But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, as in former years. And I will come near you for judgment.' As we look upon the events taking place across the world, a question comes to mind! Who can endure the day of His Coming? Are we prepared to walk through a valley that is burning and present our flesh to the refiner? The recent earthquake in China killed over 50,000 people.
This message today is to help us reflect on sacrifice and the willingness to be purified for the glory of the Lord. I think about the news broadcast of a Chinese mother covering her child as the earth crushed her to death. We are coming into a season that sacrifice and refinement will be required. There are so many things that we have trouble giving to God. Are you willing to give your life to God as a living sacrifice? I believe that God is calling for the men and women who are willing to be refined and purified. Can you imagine giving up everything you have to follow God's instructions? Can you deny yourself the world? The lessons that Christ left behind is the map to keep us on course. As a missionary, I am constantly submitting my life as a living sacrifice. There are things that we want that don't always bring glory to God's Kingdom. In this end time we must cut off the enemy's access. Our challenge is to let go what we want and pursue what God has defined. As we remember the New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, let us also consider the question, “Are you prepared for refinement! Are you prepared to claim victory over life and death? A few year ago I was sent to Houston, Texas as a missionary to provide security, comfort and support for the angry hearts affected by the disposition of the storm. For the first time I understood what the refiner fire was all about. I understood what God was calling me to become. For the first time I forgot about myself. I remember the testimony of a young man left in the water overnight. He was only about 5 ft tall and he could not swim. He was determined to stay alive, so he jumped all night long, lifting himself briefly to get air until a chopper located him still holding on to life. I later spoke with him, he cut me short and said, “God is in control”, “God saved me”. He was traumatized, but like the sons of Levi, he was purified, he was purged like silver and gold. He was broken from his flesh; he was broken from listening to anything that was not about God. The people that I met during my service in Houston lost everything. When the second storm came that threatened Houston, the Katrina Families were asked to leave the shelters and hotels and catch the bus to Dallas. This was higher ground. After word had gotten out, something happened that surprised the churches, the families refused to run from the storm. It was all about trusting and knowing God. One woman said that if God wanted her dead, going to Dallas was not going to change that. As I was directed to the airport, I was angry that I had to leave. I did not want to go. I wanted to be with these brave hearts that I had been blessed to share time with. I had no fear about the storm. Today in our churches, Christians across the world are embracing for a final storm, the return of our Lord and Savior. Let us renew our quest as we seek God's face. Is there anyone who will go with me? “Is there anyone who will say, Send me, I'll go!” Let us Pray!
Dear Lord, thank you for the preparation that is breaking the flesh today! Purge our hearts and minds of anything that does not bring glory to Your Kingdom. Teach us how to walk through the valleys that prepares us for refinement. Purify our thoughts; take away the obstacles that prevent us from stepping into the ring of War. Release the Holy Spirit to every soul in this body of Souls! Allow the overflow of your presence to purify our hearts and minds.
“Use us, pick us, mold us, define us, refine us, spend us dear Lord until there is nothing left ”. We want to be used to build your Kingdom. Teach us to fight in the dark. Send us into the battlefield to embrace the storm. In Jesus Name, Amen
Location: For Speaking Engagements contact Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries 714-924-5778 © Copyright Reserved
|
|||
| EditRegion4 |