Moving Past Dissapointment- Pastor Dave Divine

Hello, men and women, I'm Pastor Dave right here at Life Fellowship Church and I just want to say a moment to say hello to you and to let you know that we see you, we care about you and we want you to know that God sees you too and God wants to know you and be with you through this time. I'm the transition pastor here at Life Fellowship Church and we're in this season where God is bringing a new leader in one day in the next few months, but we don't know when. But until then, I'm going to be preaching God's word and teaching God's word. And I just want to speak to you for just a moment as you're watching this, maybe on the Pando app, but I just, I just want you to know that God has a word for you and he has a word for you just as you simply hear the word or open the word and read the word. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And right now, all of us need to be people in this, in this, in the society we live in, in the situation you're in today, we need to walk by faith. We need to know that God is in control and that he's just wanting us to trust him. So how do we walk by faith? Well, the Bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So, so hearing God's word is one way that faith can rise up in us. And so we need to hear God's word. And let me give you just five, five ways real quick that you can get a grasp on God's word, because that's where our faith comes from. That's where our hope comes from. That's where life comes from. There's life in this word. So I just want to tell you five ways that we can grasp God's word and faith can come no matter what, what you're facing today. Faith can rise up to help you overcome in this moment. All right. The first thing is we need to hear God's word. So when you have an opportunity on the Pando app or to watch life fellowship church, hear God's word, hear God's word, take some notes, write it down, but hear God's word.

Another way is right there. You can hopefully just read God's word, take God's word in, hear it, read it. Another way is to dig in a little deeper and study it, hear it, read it, study it. And you can begin to get a grasp on God's word. Another way, and this is my favorite, is to memorize God's word. You know what? I tell people, memorize one verse a week, just one little verse a week, but put it to memory and get it in your heart so it's always available to you. Hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, and you memorize it and God will speak that word out of you, in you, as it's in your heart and in your mind. And then the fifth one is to meditate on it. Just meditate. As you're laying down at night, as you're just sitting somewhere quietly, think about what God says. Think about that verse you're memorizing for the week. Meditate on it. Somebody said meditation is the word that is chewing the cud, it's like the cow that's just chewing the cud, he's just meditating on it, he's chewing that cud. I'm meditating on God's word today. I'm letting these words of life produce faith in my heart. So I hope that will help you today. Hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and walk by faith, not by sight, because God sees you, he knows you, he's in control, and he's gonna see you through this today. In Jesus' name, I wanna pray for you. Father, thank you for your love to me, thank you for your love to my friends, thank you for your love that you so freely have given us through your son, Jesus. And I just pray that you would just let your presence just be with our friends today, these men and women of faith. Help them, Lord, to just know that you are with them through it all, and we praise you for it in Jesus' name, amen.

All right, see you soon, God bless you. Hey, men and women, such an honor and a blessing to come to you again through your tablet on the Pando app from right here in McKinney, Texas at Life Fellowship Church. It's a blessing for me to be able to speak to you guys and walk with you guys. My name's Logan Williams. My TDC number's 1490218. I have four numbers after that, round and round and round the system. Just couldn't get it right, man. Would go to church when I would come to prison and then I would get out and get deceived and I'm right back into the drugs and crime and sexual sin and all the things that come with that. And man, God rescued me on August 11th, 2021. I was in a hotel room just surrounded by crazy people, a bunch of drugs. He just began to download to me, man, hey, get up and leave this room and I got you. I got a plan for you. I'm with you, but you're gonna have to get up and leave this room. Many of you have heard my testimony many times and because that's how he is, man. He wants us to participate with him. He's gonna ask us to do hard things. He's gonna ask us to lay down sin and strive to live a righteous life. It's not just, I went to church one day and this magic wand waved over me and I'm good now. He wants us to, it's the prodigal son story in Luke 15. So when he came to himself, he said, I'll arise, I'll go to my father. Because how many of my father's hired hands

have more than enough to eat yet here I am perishing. I'll rise, I'll go to him and he rose and he took a few steps out of the pig pen. We're gonna have to rise and take a few steps. I had to rise and get up out of that hotel room. But he was true to his word. He had me, man. But I had to lay that down and it was hard. But my life has never been the same. We pray for you at Life Fellowship Church. There are two amazing prayer groups. They're right in here. One Saturday morning, I come to it at 7.30 and we put all your prayer requests up on the stage. And as we're walking around, we take an hour, we're walking around, we're just praying individually. People all over this church, we walk all over the church. But we come and we lay hands on all your prayer requests and we pray for you because we love you. You are part of our church family. And if you're anywhere near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, when you get out on a Sunday, man, we want to meet you. Come see us. Look for me, I'm at all three services. Tell your friends and family that they can download the same Pando app on their phone, the same one that you watch. I have it on my phone. And y'all can watch the same messages, the same teachings, the same content.

The Chosen is on there, the Bible Project is on there. There's a bunch of books on there. Do this walk together, even though you're behind bars. Don't fall victim to the lie that I can't spiritually participate with my family because I'm over here and they're over here. That's not true. Do that and then talk about it. When you speak on the phone or at visitation or when you write letters or messages to one another, hey, what did that message speak to you? What the Holy Spirit say to you through that teaching? Hey, let's look at this teaching together and see what we come up with. This is so valuable, guys. And I want you to have that on your unit too, in the place that you're at, in your housing unit, man. Pray for some like-minded men or women to come around you that y'all can do this thing together. And if you don't have that, man, pray for that. God will answer that prayer because it's so important. This last Sunday, yesterday, Pastor Dave preached a message. He used Psalms 3-3 to start it. I'm gonna read the first four verses of Psalm number three and then I'm gonna talk about it. Says this, Lord, how many are my foes? How many rise up against me? I mean, just verse one alone. If there's anything, if there's a group of people out there

that that verse speaks to, Lord, how many are my foes? How many rise up against me? It's gonna be people incarcerated. There's plenty of people rising up against you. The system is rising up against you. You may be people of the opposite, whatever, beliefs may be rising up against you. Verse two, many are saying of me, God will not deliver him, but you, oh Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord and he answers me from his holy mountain. You know, I had a mentor that used to speak into my life when I first got saved and he used to tell me, Logan, you don't have to be this amazing theologian that has the entire Bible memorized, but you need to have a scripture every day that you can fight with, that Ephesians six, sword of the spirit, where the enemy's coming against you or when you're having a disappointment or when something doesn't go your way, you need to have a scripture that you can fight with. And I wanna give you that one. Just speak that out. But you, Lord, are my shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. Pray it back to him. Say, Lord, I'm going through this right now, but you say in your word in Psalm three, three,

but you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to you, Lord, and you answer me from your holy mountain. Pray scripture back to him. That is very, very important. very profitable and I've found in my life. And it's a weapon that you can use. It's the sword of the spirit. And so if it's not this one, man, get one. I had another mentor that used to tell me, do not leave the house until you get a word from God. In other words, open your Bible in the morning and read until God gives you something. And when I see him or talk to him now, first question he always asked me five years later, hey man, what God give you this morning? What was the scripture? What was the word that he gave you this morning? You know, it doesn't take a whole lot of time, but it does take some time and it takes some discipline. Pastor Dave Devine is our transitions pastor. He's an amazing man of God. He preaches from the word. We're really, really excited here at our future. We've come through some storms, if you will, losing our senior pastor, but man, I can tell you, because you are part of our church family, our staff is more solidified, more bound together like a band of brothers and sisters than ever before.

Like we've been through a war together. And so we have high hopes for Life Fellowship Church and we love you guys. I love you guys. You're my heart because I've sat there. I sat there, August 24th is today's date. Of 2020, I was burning up on the gurney unit, just stuck in COVID. I know, I know those feelings. I didn't have a tablet though. They didn't have tablets back then, but they got them now, praise God. And I'm glad you guys are using them to watch content like this. Let me pray for you guys. Heavenly father, we love you. And I know that every single person matters to you. Although they may be a number to the state of Texas or whatever state they're in, God, we know that they are never just a number to you, that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. And you think about them more than grains of sand on this planet. That's what you say in Psalm 139. And so God, I thank you that you love us so much. If there's anyone watching this, God, let them know that they didn't just accidentally click on this. If they're watching this video, you're after them. You've left 99 to come and find them.

And God, I don't think they're gonna get away. I pray God that you would just chase after them with desperation. That just like you grew tired and weary walking all the way to Samaria to meet with that Samaritan woman at the well, that you would grow tired and weary chasing after my brothers and sisters that are watching. And that you would let them know how much you love them, that they are valuable to you, that they are your sons, your daughters, that they were worthy of dying for. Let them have the knowledge of that love, that love that passes knowledge, that love that changes things. And so God, I pray, man, that you would bless them to overflowing in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, guys. Who's house? God's house. Let's give them some praise. Thank you. Good morning, Life Fellowship Church. How's everybody doing? Let's stand for this time of worship. We're very excited that you guys are here. We believe that the Lord's gonna move. That he's gonna come and visit us. And we're ready to worship you.

Come on, let's sing this together. Hallelujah My weapon is a melody I raise a hallelujah Heaven comes to fight for me I could sing in the middle of a storm Louder and louder You're gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes Will arise Death is defeated The King is alive I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me I raise a hallelujah, I will wash the darkness away I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery I raise a hallelujah, this is for you Those who hold me, if you lost, you hold on me I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive Sing a little louder, it deserves a hallelujah Sing a little louder, oh sing a little louder We're gonna sing a little louder Come on, sing a little louder, sing a little louder Let's sing a little louder, we're gonna sing a little louder Oh, sing a little louder, sing a little louder In the presence of my enemies Sing a little louder, oh louder than the unbelief Oh, sing a little louder, my weapon is a melody Sing a little louder, I'm handing off my voice Sing a little louder, in the presence of my enemies Sing a little louder, oh louder than the unbelief We're gonna sing a little louder, my weapon is a melody We're gonna sing a little louder, when the call is divisible We're gonna sing a little louder I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive

I raise a hallelujah, I raise a hallelujah I raise a hallelujah, I raise a hallelujah I raise a hallelujah, I raise a hallelujah I raise a hallelujah Thank you Lord, you're so good, you're so good What a privilege we have to come together and lift up the name that is above every other name We get to come together and praise the name of Jesus I don't know about you, but I know that He is worthy to be praised So come on, can you just lift your hands all over this house Say God, you are so worthy to be praised We love you, we honor you You are matchless in every one of your ways. I cast my mind to Calvary Where Jesus bled and died for me I see His wounds, His hands, His feet My Saviour, Lord, that cursed tree His body bound and drenched in tears They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb The entrance sealed by heavy stone Messiah still and all alone O praise the name of the Lord our God O praise His name forevermore For endless days we will sing Your praise O Lord, O Lord our God On the third at break of dawn The Son of Heaven rose again O trampled death, where is your sting? The angels roar, for Christ the King O praise the name of the Lord our God O praise His name forevermore For endless days we will sing Your praise O Lord, O Lord our God

O praise the name of the Lord our God O praise His name forevermore For endless days we will sing Your praise O Lord, O Lord our God Shall return in robes of white The pleasing Son shall pierce the night And I will rise among the saints My gaze transfixed on Jesus He shall return in robes of white The pleasing Son shall pierce the night And I will rise among the saints My gaze transfixed on Jesus O praise the name of the Lord our God O praise His name forevermore For endless days we will sing Your praise O Lord, O Lord our God O praise the name of the Lord our God O praise His name forevermore For endless days we will sing Your praise O Lord, O Lord our God All the glory, all the honor, all the riches, all the glory, all the glory, all the glory, all the riches, all the power, all the glory is yours. Thank you, thank you Lord. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art. Hallelujah! I'm just grateful, I'm grateful to have you with us. I love to see Jesus, to hear Jesus. How I want to stand before You, Lord I long to see Your face.

Search my heart and lead me in Your love. Clean my hands and pour me water, take me to Your holy place. Lord, Your presence is my one desire. There's nothing sweeter than being with You, Jesus. There's nothing better than being with You. I want to declare this to Jesus. You alone can satisfy, no one else can take Your place. In Your presence I bore out my devotion. We long to be in Your presence, we long to see Your face, Lord. How I want to stand before You, Lord I long to see Your face. Search my heart and lead me in Your love. Would You clean our hands? Clean my hands. My hands, they hold me closer Take me to your holy place For your presence is my one desire There's nothing sweeter Than being with you There's nothing better Than being with you There's nothing sweeter Than being with you There's nothing better Than being with you You alone can satisfy me No one else can take your place In your presence I pour out my devotion You alone can satisfy me No one else can take your place

In your presence I pour out my devotion We long for your presence, Jesus There's nothing better than your presence, Lord We can try to seek all around In people, in places, in jobs But only you can satisfy Only you can satisfy our souls Our hearts, our being, Lord So we put you in the first place We come here to seek you To seek you So come and satisfy your people On all their knees, Lord Come and fill this place with your glory As I'm running after you You're chasing after me You're looking for my heart, Lord All I want is to be near you Your heart is calling me Closer to you As I'm running after you Every time that we come to seek your face, Lord You always show up, Lord You always come and satisfy all our souls So come and do it again Come and do it again Pour it out again, Lord All I want is to be near you We long for more

We long for more, Lord Jesus For all of your presence over us tonight As I'm running after you You're always chasing me You're looking for my heart, Lord Help me, Lord To be near you Your heart is calling me Closer to you As I'm running after you You are broken, satisfied No one else can take your place, my Lord In your presence, I pour out my heart Oh, you alone can satisfy me Oh, in your presence We pour out our devotion before you, God For as I'm running after you You're always chasing me Always, always I say, take me in, Lord. You're looking for my heart, Lord. Help me, Lord. I say, take me in, Lord. You're looking for my heart, Lord. Take me in, Lord. We're going to run before the Lord. We're going to prostrate to his Father. As I'm running after you, you're chasing after me. You're fading, Lord. You're just fading, Lord.

We're closing. We are closing. Be of my voice. Be yours. Come on. Join us, God. Be mine. Closer to you, I love you. You alone can satisfy me. No one else can take your first place. In your presence, I pour out my devotion. There's nothing sweeter than your presence, Lord. God, we thank you for your presence. There's nothing sweeter than being in your presence. You know, I was just thinking about my life and all of the things that I've chased after in my life that promised sweetness, comfort, success, relationships, sin, and how those things may have tasted good briefly, but they always left me empty. They always left me hungry. They always left me wanting more. The psalmist said, you will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand, there are pleasures forever. So there is something. There is someone that will never leave us empty. But it's in a place. It's in a place. And how often times, gosh, do we strive to get to a certain place?

If I could just get to this place in my career, if I could just get to this place in my finances, if I could just get to this place in my marriage, or if I could just live in this place or go on vacation in this place, then I would be okay. And there's only one place that matters, and that is in the presence of the Lord. And Moses understood this. In Exodus 33, he literally told God, hey, if your presence isn't coming with us, like, don't even send us out. Because he knew that nothing else mattered. The land didn't matter. The victories didn't matter. The promises, nothing else matters without the presence of the Lord. So let's press in right now. Let's press in today. Just because the music stops doesn't mean that the praise has to. Because the same God that we just worshipped is about to speak to us through his word. So let's press in. Father, we love you. We thank you for your sweet presence. Jesus, we declare that you are the sweetness we've been looking for. And Jesus, we declare that you are the fullness of joy. And God, I thank you. I thank you that you're a God who moves. You're a God who never lies. And if your word says that in your presence is the fullness

of joy, God, we believe you and we walk in that. And I pray, God, that as we leave this place today, that we wouldn't leave your presence here. That we would carry that with us throughout this week. That we would carry that into our homes, God. That we would carry your presence into our school. That we would carry your presence into our workplace and around our friends. And that they would see that. And that, God, that would just spur all kinds of divine appointments and conversations. Because we just want to make much of your name and enlarge your kingdom. In any way that you want to do that, God, we say here we are. Send us. And so I ask that you would bless the words that come forth today from Pastor Dave's mouth. That they would land on fertile soil. Amen. praise and all the glory in Jesus name amen amen well good morning welcome to Life Fellowship Church you can have a seat thank you so much for for being in service with us today my name is Logan Williams I have the awesome honor and privilege of leading out the prison ministry the local outreach and the overcomers Christ based recovery group on Monday nights at 630 with my beautiful wife it's a blessing how you guys doing did you have a good week man I had an awesome week and I want to tell you about a couple things that happened this week last weekend one of our brothers that was at the Buster Cole unit that we go to every Wednesday night the TDCJ prison his name is Daniel he got out about 18 months ago and he's come a couple of times but man he came last weekend and I could tell that is he had a burden on him and he was like man

I feel like God's calling me for more God's calling me but I'm a little afraid I'm a little apprehensive I'm kind of new to all this I really don't know what's happening or what that means and so I invited him to come back to Overcomers on Monday and he came he shared his heart he got saved we all laid hands on him and prayed for him and then and then we left and then one of our one of our group one of our members was like hey man we should have baptized him so I get on the phone I call him up I'm like Daniel man how far away are you do you want to get baptized and this brother busted a u-turn came back and as the Sun was setting as the Sun was setting we baptized him right out here man it was an awesome moment was an awesome moment but that's not all there was another couple that my wife and I met last week his name was Juan her name was Dulce this was their second time at Life Fellowship Church he was from Guam and she was from Peru they haven't been in the country very long they're expecting a baby and all he wanted to know was when can I get baptized like here it goes again and I'm telling him well okay as a good leader here's the Church Center app and you can sign up right here it's in October and I saw his face kind of fall and I was like what's going on brother he's like I got saved eight years ago when I was 12 years old and I haven't been baptized and the way he said it was it's my dream to get baptized and I don't want to wait till October and I'm like brother amen what when is it when is your day off I will meet you up here and on Friday my brother Gilbert and I baptized Juan and I just share that with you because when you give today you get to participate in moments like this you're funding ministries that promote life change and I don't I've been here for three years and this has never happened before it happened twice in one week is that a coincidence or do you think that God could be communicating to us hey man I'm still here I'm still moving I'm still touching people's heart my hand is still on Life Fellowship Church and so man I just want to say as a pastor who just dreams of revival and loves moments like that I just want to say thank you for your generosity thank you for your hearts your giving hearts I love you guys man I love this church so

the ways to give her on the screen or you can just tap the seat back in front of you let me pray for the offering father we love you and we thank you thank you for every single heart that is in this room God I pray that you would bless them this week man that you would bless that the work of their hands God that you would bless their families that you would bless their friends that you would just pour out a blessing on them and God I pray that you would just accept these tithes gifts and offerings as an act of worship this morning and that you would take those and you would just multiply those and you just do whatever you want with those to enlarge your kingdom and to make much of your name and we just want to give you all the praise and all the glory and we love you so much in Jesus name amen amen we have a lot going on here at Life Fellowship Church so please turn your attention to the screen and have a wonderful service everything that Jesus has said in the Bible is profound but he made two statements that just stay with me resonate that make me ask more questions I've actually come that you may have life and have it abundantly the second thing he said he said I'm the vine and you're the branches if you abide in me and I abide in you he says you will bear much fruit well we're in a it's a class it's actually 13 lessons we do it over a period of about nine or ten weeks but what we do is we just have people go into the word and say what does it say about these topics that leads us to the abundant life so it starts off with some pretty good fundamentals which again a lot of people don't understand what's the Bible and where'd it come from why is it significant And then who's God who's Jesus and then even more importantly, who are we how does he see us and Then from there it leads into okay Well, if that's how he sees us then what is this abundant life that he has for us, especially when I realized my life It's not perfect. Is that really for me? Am I missing something? so that's the whole purpose of this class is that that abundant life is for everyone and Abundance is not what most of us think it's actually the life he has for us Despite the fact that we live in a world that's going to decay and our lives are not perfect on this earth

And so it begs an awful lot of questions and we answer those questions during these nine weeks. This is for Everyone this is for singles. It's for couples It's for anyone who says I want to understand more about this life that God has for me I'll give you a bit of a teaser. It's only in him with him and we're gonna learn how to do that Happy Sunday church. We're so glad you're here today. And if you're new here, welcome text new to 510 10 We'd love to connect with you answer any questions you have and help you find your next step here at life fellowship Looking for another way to build community and grow in your faith. I left many women meet every Tuesday night It's a great opportunity to connect with others grow together and be encouraged throughout the week. Come join us this Tuesday night We would love to have you. Did you know that we have a child care and early learning center right here at life fellowship? The Academy at life fellowship provides a safe nurturing and faith-filled environment for children We're honored to partner with families as we care for each child and help build a strong foundation for their future if You're looking for child care or early learning for your family. The Academy is the place We're excited for what God wants to do today Absolutely. So let's lean in and get ready for today's message You They say this mountain can't be They say these chains But they don't know you like we I So much Hey God we believe God we believe God we believe Oh No Oh God we believe Yeah When this seems to be

We trust in You, God, You have the final say. You are the way when there seems to be no way. We trust in You, God, You have the final say. You are the way when there seems to be no way. We trust in You, God, You have the final say. Move the immovable, break the unbreakable. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. From the impossible, we'll see a miracle. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. Move the immovable, break the unbreakable. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. From the impossible, we'll see a miracle. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. And you said, I believe. And you said, so it is done. And you said, and I believe. And you said, and it is done. And you said, and I believe. And you said, and it is done. And you said, and I believe. And you said, and it is done. And you said, so I believe. And you said, and it is done. And you said, so I believe. And you said, and it is done. Move the immovable, break the unbreakable. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. From the impossible, we'll see a miracle. God, we believe. God, we believe for it. Lord, you said, you said, fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I'll strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Thank you, Lord. You said it. You said with your stripes, we are healed. Lord, you said it. I believe it. You said it is done. You said, but my God shall supply all of my need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. You said it, Lord, I believe it. In Jesus name. You can be seated if you would take your Bibles and go with me first to Psalm 3. I want to welcome all of you here today. I'm Pastor Dave. And I'm so glad to be back with you preaching again today. And some of you asked about Cindy. She's going to be back next week. I know I'm not as good when she's not here, but she's going to be back next week with us. And I'm so thankful for that. But I want to welcome all of you that are watching online. Those of you that are in the Department of Corrections, we're so glad you're tuning in and being with us today. You're part of our church family and we welcome you. We hope you'll open your heart and receive the word today. We're continuing our series. If God is for us.

And I just want to encourage you, because here's what I know. That no matter, no matter how long you walk with Jesus, there will be disappointments. But if God is for us, if God is for us, who can be against us? You know, we all have stuff that didn't go as we had hoped. We have expectations that were not. met and sometimes those disappointments can actually be overwhelming in fact look what david said in psalm 3 in verse 1 he said this he said oh lord how many are my foes many are rising against me many are saying of my soul there is no salvation for him in god many are saying these things and i feel i'm feeling it but david wasn't going to stay there look what he says in verse 3 but you oh lord are the shield about me my glory and the lifter of my head take your hand right there and put it under your chin lord you're the lifter of my head sometimes it doesn't take much to get from here to here but he's the one that will lift our head and the new living translation says and he will lift my head high how many of you just need your head lifted up just a little bit today how many of you need your head lifted up high the lord will do that he's he's promised us that so david david suffered multiple disappointments negative reports by friends family i mean they didn't believe in him at all as a young shepherd he even had threats upon his life but david knew where and how and who to look to for his head to be lifted up you know often disappointment comes simply because we had an expectation that wasn't met maybe it was as simple as the vacation this summer it just uh didn't measure up to what you'd hoped for or maybe the argument even this week or last night or even this morning just spoiled everything or you didn't maybe get accepted into the school that you'd applied for that's disappointing maybe you weren't invited onto the team or you were sure you were certain he was going to propose this past spring i mean what was he thinking or maybe maybe it was your dream job and now it's gone or the investments didn't pan out as we're expected what was the kids when something happened or sometimes yes sometimes the disappointment comes from the very last person or the very last place you would expect it from even the church and it and it can feel like in those times that even god has let me down but no matter how much disappointment you have faced or when you have faced it or will face the question is always this how do you move past it how do you get from here to that place that's past disappointment if you're taking notes i hope you'll write this down and i hope you will

write these down first of all no one no one is immune from disappointment not only did david experience it there was joseph and jonah in fact jonah got so low that he wished his life away three times and then there's elijah i love elijah story we're going to look at it this morning the great prophet of god who once wanted to give up and run away and he actually did some of you know the story in first kings chapter 18 it's also in chapter 19 if you have some time this week i encourage you to go to those two chapters first kings 18 19 and read the whole story read it slowly it's a great story of faith but let's go to a part of it this morning in chapter 18 of first kings verse 17 and i want to show you when ahab saw elijah now who's ahab ahab was an evil king of israel and abril said ahab said to elijah is this you you trouble of troubler of israel and elijah answered him i've not troubled israel but you have and your father's house because you have abandoned the commandments of the lord and you have followed the bales or the false gods now therefore send and gather all israel to me at mount carmel and the 450 prophets of baal and the 400 prophets of azrael just bring all your false prophets and those who eat at jezebel's table now jezebel was ahab's wicked wife if you know the story if you don't wicked wife verse 20 so ahab said to all the people of israel gather the prophets together at mount carmel and elijah came near to all the people and said how long will you go limping between two different opinions if the lord is god follow him but if baal then follow him i love how he says how long are you going to go limping between two opinions limping between how long are you going to go straddling the fence it's a great question this morning i know i'm only a few minutes into the sermon but how long are we going to go straddling the fence with god and elijah continued and basically said you know what let's just get two bulls as sacrifices and we're not going to put any fire to it here's what we'll do let's what it says in verse 24 he says you call upon the name of your God your little g-god and I will call upon the name of the Lord and the God who answered by fire answers by fire he is God and all the people answered it is well spoken we'll do it so the prophets of the false gods Baal and Asherah foolishly said we're in we're gonna have the battle between the gods so basically on this mountain Mount Carmel there's this great showdown between good and evil I mean if pay-per-view had been a thing this one would have grossed millions at the time a showdown between the Prophet of God and the Prophet of

the false gods and God's man says we're just gonna believe God for it so Elijah says okay you guys go first so the false prophets built an altar and prepared a bowl for a sacrifice and they called on the name of Baal I don't have time to go into this in detail but they prepare this sacrifice for Baal and they all day long they pray they dance they shout they're doing everything they can to get the attention of this God by the way that doesn't exist and nothing happens of course no fire nothing and so Elijah what does he do he prepares his bowl his sacrifice verse 32 but but he does it with a twist he actually makes the challenge a little bit more difficult for God how many of you know nothing's too hard for God nothing's too difficult but but but I think Elijah's wanting to make sure that nobody would say that this victory comes from anything except God well let's read it verse 32 of chapter 18 Elijah with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord and he dug a trench around it he arranged the wood cut the bowl into pieces and laid it on the wood now now watch this then he said to them fill four large jars with water and poured on the offering and on the wood and then he says do it again and they did it again do it a third time he ordered and they did it the third time the water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench at the time of sacrifice the Prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob I'm I can picture him him kneeling down like Logan did a moment ago Oh God okay now it's gonna get real God you're the God of Abraham Isaac Israel which is Jacob you're the God of Israel and we need you right now we need you to show up let it be known today that I am your servant and you're the God of Israel and if you've done all these things and we've done all these things at your command verse 37 answer me Lord answer me so these people will know that you Lord our God and that you are turning their hearts back again at the end of the day that's all God really is looking for for hearts to be turned back to him so that's what that's what Elijah's praying and then verse 38 says this then the fire of the Lord fell down burned up the sacrifice the wood the stones and the soil and also licked up the water in the trench and when all the

people saw this they fell prostrate and cried the Lord he is God the Lord he is God God would you do the impossible again today so people will cry out the Lord he is God the Lord he is God can we believe for the impossible in such a way where people will cry out the Lord he is God and that day is Elijah called on God and fire consumed this water soaked sacrifice while the prophets of Baal couldn't even get a spark God do it again so Yahweh the one true God through his mighty power enables Elijah to win this great great victory the greatest victory of his life it's a great story in first Kings 18 you say well pastor Dave I thought we were talking about disappointment hang on unfortunately Elijah's victory also ignited the wrath of Ahab's wife the evil Queen Jezebel and the Bible says in first Kings 19 verse 2 that Jezebel vowed to have Elijah dead in 24 hours I mean Elijah didn't even have 24 hours to celebrate the great victory no victory prayed no no championship rings no visit to the White House no just an angry Queen threatening him and so what is God's man Elijah do another showdown no God's man just runs he runs off so the obvious question then is why did he run well some people think it's because he was so disappointed because Israel had not quickly believed and fully turned to God when they witnessed this incredible manifestation powerful miracle at Mount Carmel. Obviously God was for them. Obviously God showed up in a supernatural powerful way, but why couldn't they recognize that? Or others have said, well, he felt disappointed or let down because he found himself immediately in the crosshairs of an evil, angry woman, Jezebel. And I'm trying to put myself in Elijah's sandals for a minute. I mean, God, give me a break. God, how much more are you expecting me to do?

I mean, look what I've just done by faith. I trusted you, I believed in you, and now I'm running for my life. God, I'm tired. Enough's enough, right? Either way, write this down. Disappointment can cause or tempt you to run away. It just can. It can feel so overwhelming. David said, Lord, how many are my foes? Many, so many are rising against me. It can tempt you to leave the most important people. It can tempt you to run from and leave the most important things. It can tempt you to walk away from God altogether. Let's keep reading. First Kings 19, verse one, Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the false prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, so may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as one of them by this time tomorrow. In other words, I'm coming after you, Elijah, and you're gonna be dead in 24 hours. Verse three, then he, Elijah, was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree or a juniper tree.

And he asked that he might die, saying, it's enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my father's. Listen, discouragement, disappointment, it can hit fast and it can hit hard. It just doesn't. Sometimes it can just make you think the only option is to run away. If I can be transparent, it has crossed my mind more than once. I don't think I'm alone. I can remember a time 17 years ago where I was depleted. And if disappointment means, dis meaning out of appointment, then I was that, I was there. I was out of the place of my appointment because I was depleted, I was tired. I remember telling Cindy, Cindy, my legs hurt. I can't get my legs to stop hurting. I was emotionally zapped. And I remember having dinner with a pastor friend and I just felt like opening up and telling him what I was thinking. And Cindy and I were there with this couple. And I told him what I was feeling while I was walking through. And he said, Pastor Dave, you're near burnout. You're near burnout. And he told me, he said, you need to go get this book called Leading on Empty

by Pastor Wayne Cordero. And I was so empty the next morning, I literally drove quickly to the bookstore, devoured the book over the weekend. And as God would have it, I had a board meeting scheduled for Monday night, elder meeting. And I told the elders that night, just what I was feeling, what I was walking through at the time. And they unanimously, unanimously quickly said, Pastor Wayne, get away for 90 days. Just get away. And I'm thinking, this church can't do without me for 90 days. At least I thought that's impossible. There's too much going on. I can't. So I didn't, but I did leave for 30 days. And in those 30 days, the Lord did refresh me and did renew me. He lifted my head up. So I should have got away for 90 days. I should have listened to my spiritual leaders, but God helped me through that period of time. Listen, when you're disappointed or you're running on empty, get away before you run away. Get away before you run away. Tap the brakes, slow down, get some rest.

Listen to godly voices. Because when disappointment comes, you need to get encouragement, be encouraged, get courage. And it comes oftentimes from mature believers, Christian believers. That's why life groups, groups are so important for this. Because you can regularly just open your heart, share what's in it, pray together, talk to people, let them encourage you, get in a group. Listen to this, at the point of your deepest need, at the point of my deepest need, God was there. And he sent the right people at the right time and helped me to get up. I don't know how many times I've received. The kind word from people over the years Some calling now some texting of course to pray for me a word of encouragement or even a good dessert Always goes a long way All of these are ways God uses to lift up our head so write this down if you're taking notes I hope you are don't let disappointment linger Don't let it linger you can get up the Elijah story shows us here in chapter 19 verse 5 and he laid down Slept under a broom tree and behold an angel touched him and said arise and eat Elijah you can get up and he looked and behold there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a Jar of water and he ate and drank and lay down again and the angel of Lord came again a second time and touched him And said arise and eat for the journey is too great for you and he arose and he ate and he drank and he went in the strength of that food for 40 days and 40 nights to Oreb the Mount of God now 40 40 days 4 nights. That's some serious health food right there But see there's also this word from the Lord that came to him and said Elijah arise Get up

Listen, you can't move from where you are until you move That's more profound than you think You gotta move it might just be one Faith move and I think that's what faith is faith is action based upon a belief Sustained by a confidence that what God's Word says is forever settled in heaven. It's faith It's stepping out Eddie faith by faith I'm gonna act because I believe and I have a confidence in what God says Faith is action based upon a belief sustained by confidence as the ABCs of faith move in God's direction get up start again move in faith trust God again because the only way you lose is when you Don't get up. The only way you lose is when you quit One faith move can change everything. So Elijah got up He ate he got up and ate again and was refreshed and he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Oreb the Mountain of God. I also want you to see quickly your disappointment has a destination and you get to choose it God has a good plan for you But you decide if you're gonna get up and go with God's plan because God was the lifter of Elijah's head No longer was Elijah disappointed and fearful, but now he has this destination now He has this purpose now He has a mission and Elijah now has moved towards the mountain of God called Sinai and he met with God there and he encountered God's presence at Sinai and in verse 9 the Lord asked Elijah About his experience How many of you think God? Didn't know about his experience. He knew about his experience, but he wanted to hear Elijah's voice Elijah what brought you out into the wilderness and all of a sudden The emotion started coming out all of a sudden those things that build up in Elijah Maybe even a little self-pity came up out of Elijah's heart towards God in verse 10 And he says this in 1st Kings 19 10 God I've been very zealous for you The Israelites have rejected your covenant not me God they've broken down your altars They put your prophets to death with the sword and I'm the only one left and now they're trying to kill me, too

Hear me it's it's important to pour out your heart to God It's important to tell God what you're feeling. It might even sound a little whiny Like it did here with Elijah But God I've done everything, right? I've been faithful. I can't believe this is happening. I'm the only one left and God probably smiling a little bit No, you're not But I understand how you're feeling Elijah Because how we feel is real But that's when faith begins to move in and because God is for us. We we can get up not whining but winning We get up and begin to move by faith what I'm preaching today Can happen to any of us? It happened to Elijah. It happened to Jonah happened to David It happened up it happens to all of us and sometimes our feelings can be then begin to produce Imaginations and meditations that are completely outside of God's will and God's plan for us because the enemy is what he's trying to cause us To quit he's trying to steal kill and destroy. I heard a story as I close for a few minutes I just want to tell you a story about a great Christian leader a man of God that some of you I know you're familiar with David Wilkerson David Wilkerson is the author of the book classic Christian book the cross and the switchblade He found a team challenge world wide. He founded Times Square Church in the heart of New York City in Manhattan. David and his wife Gwynn are in heaven now. The current pastor of Times Square Church, Pastor Tim Delaney, told this story and it so spoke to me and I think it so relates to what we're talking about today. Many years ago, in the early 1970s, Pastor David's wife Gwynn was diagnosed with cancer. She had had multiple cancer surgeries and David said the treatments and the surgeries were affecting her emotionally. He said this affected us both so much that our marriage was at a very, very dangerous place and at this time Teen Challenge was growing rapidly. It was taking off. Lives are being impacted just like this church growing. Lives are being impacted. So many things. Our church, I can relate to it, how just when the church was growing and we were building

and all of a sudden, I want to run. The man of God, David Wilkerson, the founder, is traveling around the world. He's raising money to build the ministry. He's raising money to fund Teen Challenges all over the world and Gwynn is dealing with this cancer. And for David, the imaginations of what could be or what might happen started happening. He started seeing his future playing out of what might be. My God, you're gonna take her and so maybe there's something else for me. Maybe there's a younger woman for me. You know, all those kind of crazy thoughts can begin to come at those very difficult times. And he said, very honestly, he said, we were at each other's throats. He said, I was invited to speak at a fundraiser in Southern California for Teen Challenge to raise money. And he wrote, he said, Gwynn and I had this awful fight over something the night before and I just had it. He said, we arrived at this banquet and we're sitting there and we wouldn't even look at each other. This is a man that many of us have revered, a man of great faith. And brother David said, he said, I just got up from that banquet and I walked outside and I just couldn't even turn around and go back. I just started walking the streets during the banquet. He said, I was getting ready to leave Southern California after the banquet to go overseas. So he said, he said, I had a pocket of traverse checks in my pocket for that, full of traverse checks for that trip. And he said, I also had my passport with me. He said, the thought hit me. I'm just gonna run and go to Mexico City. I'm just gonna get away. I'm gonna forget it all. I'm out. I can't deal with her. I'm done with the battles of team challenge. I'm so tired. I'm out. And just like Jonah found a ship to run to Tarsus, David Wilkerson immediately sees a bus station. And as the enemy would have it, guess where the next bus is going? Mexico City. He said, I was, I went up to buy my ticket. He said, I was one or two people away from buying my ticket. And all of a sudden I hear a soft but an audible voice as I'm standing in line. And that voice said, David, you're a fool. I'm even though God can talk pretty straight when he needs to. You're a fool. And David looked around and there wasn't anyone standing close by. He said, I was that close to allowing an imagination to

become a manifestation. David Wilkerson came that close to running away, leaving his wife, leaving the ministry, and leaving the story of an amazing kingdom ministry unwritten. He said that he was so convicted after he heard God's voice that he literally ran back to that banquet. He arrived just in time for them to call his name to speak. And he heard, let us introduce to you the great man of God and faith, David Wilkerson. And that night he said, God used me greatly. And he apologized to Gwen. He said, Gwen, we're gonna go on a second honeymoon. And God healed their marriage. The psalmist said it this way. Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me. You're my glory and the lifter of my head. And God gave Elijah a new set of marching orders at Sinai. And if I may paraphrase, God said, Elijah, get up, get back in Israel, go back to, get back, get back to Israel, get back in the game and I'll show you what to do. Here's what I know that is true. God wants you to hear this today. He wants you to know that He will lift you up. He will move you past disappointment. He will take you to a place that's full of blessing, full of His presence, full of life, hope, joy, provision, and I believe purpose for what you know He's called you to do. But you've got to move from where you are to where God wants you to go, and He'll take you there. Would you bow your heads with me right now? Lord, you said that you're our glory and the lifter of our head. Help people right now just begin to say, Lord, lift my head up. Lift my head up. Move me past disappointment. Let me know that you're in that place that you're calling me to. You're in that next place. You have provision. You want to meet my need.

You want to lift me up. I wonder how many of you here today, just as a quick hand up and down, you might say, Pastor Dave, this is so needed for me right now. This is right where I'm at. Hands are going up all over this room, yes. Go ahead. Lift up your hand. Anywhere in this room, maybe you're in the Department of Corrections right now. You say, man, I've got to have my head lifted up. He's there for you right now. Lord, I know you said, You said, I believe. Will you believe him? Will you believe for it? Let's believe for it right now. You said, I believe. Maybe you just need to throw your hands up and surrender and say, God, I'll get up. I'll get up. I'll move. I'll do what you're saying. I believe you, Lord. You said, It is done. You said, Lord, minister to your church today. Minister to people today. You said,

It is done. One more time, less. You said, I believe. You said, It is done. You said, I believe. You said, It is done. I wish I had time to tell you the rest of the story. But God spoke to Elijah. Not in the earthquake, not in the fire. He spoke to Elijah in a whisper. It's just a little small whisper. So I want to encourage you today. Whether you've felt like you've heard the voice of the Lord today or not. He does want to speak. So I must let me encourage you. Just find that quiet, quiet place that he leads you to. And listen for his whisper. And be ready to arise and get up. And begin to move. However, the Holy Spirit is leading you. Because he loves you. So, so much. Just one more moment with your heads bowed. And your eyes closed. I just want to ask. Is there anyone in the room or you're watching online today.

And you know you're not in a right place with God today. But you want to be. You feel something in your heart that's pulling you. That's nudging you. That's convicting you maybe. Even of sin. That's the Holy Spirit. And he wants to allow you to be in a right place with Jesus today. So he moves on us and draws us to Jesus. And it's as simple as a faith prayer. A prayer of faith and repentance and decision. And if you're here today or you're watching online. You say, I want to be in right with God. I want to be saved. I want to be in a place where Jesus can change my life. Then a simple prayer just like this. Say it with me. Dear Lord Jesus. I give you my life. I know that I've sinned. And I know that I've gone my own way. But today Lord Jesus. Would you be my Lord and Savior. Would you forgive me of sin and cleanse me. Right now I repent. And I turn to follow you. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. For paying the price for my sin. And thank you for rising again on the third day. And I believe right now.

I believe. I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. And today I'm saved. I follow you. I have a brand new start. Thank you for giving me a brand new heart. I believe. Thank you Jesus. Won't you stand with me right now. Pastor Logan. Amen. Guys if you just prayed that prayer. For the first time. Or maybe you renewed. Scripture says that heaven is celebrating right now. And we want to celebrate with you as well. If you could just text the word Jesus to 51010, it'd be our honor to connect with you, to walk with you, to get you plugged into a group. Guys, we've never meant to do this walk alone. We need good, godly people around us. And you know, I have a mentor right when I got saved, and he used to tell me, Logan, you don't have to be this great theologian that has the whole Bible memorized, but every day you need to leave the house with a scripture to fight with, that Ephesians 6, sword of the spirit, to come against the enemy. And so I just want to encourage us all this week, not only to be intentional to hold our head up high, but let's use that scripture that he opened with, that Pastor Dave opened with, Psalm 3.3, but you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head. And if we get disappointed this week, man, just speak that over your life. Pray that back to him. Guys, you pray God's word back to him. Amazing things happen when you do that. So I just want to encourage you guys. We're going to invite the prayer teams to come forward. Please come and get prayer. We believe in the power of prayer. And I'm just going to tell you, like I tell all the inmates, man, don't be shy. Come up and get hands laid on you and get prayed for because prayer moves things. And so may bless you as we

go. And the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace in Jesus name. Amen. I love you guys. You'll have a wonderful Sunday.