Turning The Tides

TOOLS TO TURN THE TIDES

 

TIDE: The rising and falling of the surface of the ocean.

 

Our life is our TOOL BOX… let’s look at some of the tools in our box of tools.

Tears…to wash the soul, Disappointments… to take inventory of our why’s, Sorrow… shapes and protects Joy… tools of gladness, Peace…tools of rest, Valleys… tools of training and experience, Climbing…levels of experience, Love… tools of sharing, Sharing… to help others, Laughter…good medicine, Suffering… growth with pain, Patience…waiting period and growth, Eternal life… forever with the Lord, Holiness…Christ like lifestyle, Endurance…tools to go through, Faith…acting on God’s word, Persistence… continue in spite of, People… helpers one of another, Thanksgiving, Prayer, Worship, Longsuffering, Obedience, Submission, Humbleness, Teachable spirit, Coach able attitude, Fear, Hatred, Murder. Why do we think Paul said that he keep under his body and bring it into subjection. .All these things are in the flesh our tool box. I Cor. 9:27

 

 

The Woman with the Issue of Blood…  Came for herself. Luke 8:43-48

Her FirstTool: Faith I will get through this

VS.43: Long suffering, 12 years, Patience…Many physicians, maybe this one will help me, Persistence…my change will come, Hope…things would get better, and she kept the faith and kept trying until she had no money.

 

VS44: Faith in action, She presses, touched and was made whole.

 

VS45-47: Her faith and endurance got her the results she wanted, However, because of the type of disease she had and the Law of Moses she kept silent.  EX. Aids we don’t talk about  We do not want the tool of rejection or others to use their tool of neglect against us. Whether we talk about it or not , when we use the right tool Jesus will answer and it will be revealed. What we do in secret God himself will reveal. When others have no idea what you are going through, don’t even know that you are in the crowd, God is working for your good all the time. WE MUST BE BALENCED TO RIDE THE WAVES and not be swallowed up by the rising of the TIDE. As God said in Gen. 1: referring to the creation, it is good, enough to do what I need to do. Her faith and actions brought her deliverance she had enough to be made whole.

 

 

 The Syrophoenician Woman Mark 7:25-30

She came on behalf of her young daughter

 

Faith: if I talk with Jesus and tell Him about my daughter, she will be made whole. Delivered from the unclean spirit.

VS25: Spirit of humility…fell at his feet SOMETIMES we miss our blessing and time of visitation because we are not humble. Definition: not proud or haughty.  The spirit of humility is not rude to others.

 

VS26: She begged Jesus she did not command him, She was not in the position to command anything. SOMETIMES we make our request to God in an arrogant tone . Yes he said make your request known. IT is our attitude and motive that get God’s attention. REMEMBER he is our Father and most parents respond faster when asked in love. How much more our heavenly Father.

 

VS27: Let me take care of the Jews first, it is not time to minister to the Gentiles.

 

VS28: I heard what you said, however, the little dogs the ones that can’t hunt in the woods or turn over the trash cans to get provisions, they need HELP…I am only asking for a little thing. I am not asking for my country or my city. I am not asking to become a Proselyte. I am asking for my young daughter, she can’t help herself…just a crumb.

 

VS29-30: Because you came with the right attitude and motive I will grant your request. When she used the tools of faith, humility, and persistence she got the desired results.  And we will turn the tide in our lives and the lives of others when we use the right tools at the right time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Woman from Oxford Came for herself.

 

Key scripture: Phil. 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

June 10,79 she received the plan of salvation, Worker with the local, district, state and International church org. Willing to use the talents and gifts, in her new found faith, with her new family and friends.

 

In the mid 80’s the Lord visited her through Is. 54:2-3: Don’t worry that you do not have children, you will have more children than the married woman.  Is. 55:3-5: Listen I have chosen you to be a witness, leader and commander to the people. People are coming to you and you are going to people that don’t know you, because of the Lord thy God

 

She was found helping when ever needed, even moving in to help her Pastor after the home going of her husband. THE 4TH SUN. Jan.1990, during morning prayer at home before Sun.Sch. the Lord visited her again: he said that YOU WILL BE TEACHING. Since she was the assist. Supt, she thought  the teacher would be absent and she would have to fill in. Not so the teacher was there. HOWEVER within a few weeks, an area church called and invited her to speak fro their Brotherhood service. God was moving in her life. From that point on her ministry expanded, she traveled to the east coast , the north west and the South east and stops in between. God was sending her to other people and other people were coming unto her.

 

Aug, 29-1999 THE TIDE HAS STARTED TO RISE and she knoweth it not.  Her daddy was admitted to the hospital and 9 days later admitted to glory. He was her friend, her buddy. Oh what a lost, THIS wave was a hard one to ride since God had remover a special TOOL from her tool box. 3 months later in mid November She realized that her tool was really gone and that she must ride the wave using the tool of thanksgiving. She found herself giving thanks for the good times she and her father shared down through the years.

 

April 2001, she conducted her first full day retreat for a non-Apostolic church, God was still moving in her life sending her to a people she knew not, because of her God..

 

June 10,2001 While taking a nap after morning service she dreamed that the Human Resource Admin. Gave her termination papers with no date on them.  Later that same evening during church service while prostrate on the floor she received a message that the persecution on the job will stop. My health will be restored and my ministry will be multiplied . and God was doing this because of her faithfulness.  She decided to use the tool of “I have time” and ignore it and it will go away, and did not ask the Lord how should she prepare for this change. The tool of justification showed up when they transferred one of the managers that was a trouble maker from her dept. of course no more persecution.

 

Aug. 2001 I preached a message : Get Ready for the SHIFT. I preached my self happy. However, I never applied it to my life. I heard it but I did not receive it.

 

Nov. 9 thru 12: She and her  siblings spent the weekend with their older brother and his family in S.C., the first time they had all been together since the home going of their father. God smiled on the family.

 

NOV.13TH  11:15 AM the tide crashed on the shores of Helen Rogers and her sand castles of life were washed away right before her very eyes.   The tools of I’ve got time , ignore it and it will go away and procrastination did not work.

 

 “I” was one of the tools that I should have left in my tool box.

I was preparing for early retirement not unemployment. I did not totally ignore the dream 5 months earlier, I put a date on the papers in my mind based on the Company business. I did not ask God anything thing.

 

People were being laid off and some terminated monthly and I still did not seek God concerning the dream nor the message. The tool of ease in Zion was really working. After all I had 25 years with the Company. God does not work by seniority. He ordained that date before my birth.

 

Now like the strong Saint that I thought I was, I told myself “now you must put in action what you have taught others for 22 years. GOD will provide, he promised so in his word. After all I am his child and living the best I know how. So with that thought in mind and Promising myself that no matter what I must keep my praise and must not gain weight. A weight gain for me is a true sign of depression is on the horizon.

 

My long time friend  Evang. Robinson told this group June 2001 during this meeting that I was rich and she needed a rest after 3 years as president and  we were going on a curses in the Fall. So we booked the trip in Aug. when I had paycheck FAITH.

 

Now that I am unemployed  I am wondering where is my wealth she knew about.

 

On Nov. 26 exactly 13 days after my last paycheck we set sail.

 I planned to use this time to redefine my life. Seeking God’s will of course.

 While I was walking on the 5th deck one day a tool from the past presented itself. One that I knew was destroyed years ago. It was the tool of suicide , it spoke softly and said if you would just jump you would not have to worry about the future, by the time they miss you it will be too late.

 Incase I was not as strong as I thought I went inside. But I remember what Luke 11:24-26 states, unclean spirit returning to check out his house.

If I would have been caught off guard I would have entertained the thought and he would have talked more. I grabbed the tool of composure, identified who was talking and shut the door to my mind. And remembered it is written “MY LIFE IS IN GOD’S HANDS” I SHALL LIVE AND NOT DIE AND SURLY NOT KILL MYSELF.

 

Jan 2002. I picked up the tool of encouragement. I told myself you will get through this season. The tool of tears came to visit, the tool of oh my money is short, and My friends came some brought the tool of “you can make it” and others were Job’s friends they watched silently or said can’t you find something else.

I decided to turn my hobby in to a lucrative business and it takes time to start a new business.

 

Mar. 2002 Whiling planning my trip to our International Spring Convention in B’ham I was introduced to  Primerica. I told the person that I would visit the company late Mar. The Lord spoke and said go with him which was the next night. When I saw the presentation I knew that this was the place I was to be.. Through the tool of faith I saw the churches growing financially  because through Primerica I could help people learn the real meaning of   stewardship.

 

 My excitement is high, my sister likes the company’s  principles I’m on the right track for my new career. I went for my next  meeting and realized that I will need a  licensed. And that means TEST..   THE TOOL OF FEAR paid me a visit. I was already dealing with having to drive 50 miles to the office. I worked less than 5 miles for 30 yrs. The tool of the unknown, the tool of are you sure you heard the right voice.

 I was in  a real battle.  I grabbed the word. He hath not given me the spirit of fear.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

 I quoted the word but my spirit and mind  would fight with the Holy Ghost.

 

Now I am studying for the test and realize that my long term retention has shut down.

 I didn’t use it on my job I had all the info in the computer. I took the 40 hr. course, studied and set for the exam and failed.  That was not so bad other people failed the first time. But it was for me , My income was about to change. Failed the 2nd time the tool of panic, disappointment you are too old, they are talking about you, you have disappointed the people that believed you would land on your feet. I took the tool of a LOUD SCREEM shut up. I was learning that SELF will rob you if you let it.

 

The tool of people showed up. My sister encouraged me. My team members were very supportive. We cried and studied together.

 

 After failing the 3rd test and $ 183.00 in fees. I had a serious talk with the Lord, I asked him for Revelation knowledge as to what was going on. Since he told me to do this and knew that a test was required. I needed specific guidance from him.

  He did not answer me until the next morning between 4 and 5 am.. He said to read John 10:10 The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. I HAD BEEN ROBBED and didn’t know it. I had allowed my mind to shut down and not retain the material. And some other enemies that I didn’t realize I had was present some from childhood. I started praying for deliverance for specific things along with my Church and Primerica family.  One day the tool of tears showed up at the office and the tool of helps came, one of the agents took me aside and we prayed and talked and God dried up the tears.

 

At this juncture I realized that I need to be totally delivered from my  way of doing and remembering that I can do nothing of myself. However, I can do all things through Christ.

 My sister helped me  to walk by FAITH, What my daily break mean, That God is the same one that provided for the Children of Israel and he will provide for us.

He reminded me that I did not thank him enough. I spent more time asking than giving of thanks.

 

I spent 40 more hours in the classroom , got a tutor and passed the exam 9/24,02.

  Now I am ready to help the people. Fear paid me a visit,  You will go broke with this company, you don’t have any clients and I didn’t at that time. I had already asked the Lord to tell my sister that we will not loose the house. And He did. I had to use all of my energy to keep my self believing that God really is going to provide for us. I used the tool of Faith and told myself that many people in my situation did not live to tell about it. I had a job to do and with the help of the Lord I was going to do it.

 

 I had started to learn how to depend on the Lord and that he really know all about us. He used my pastor to tell me that one of the reason I lost my job was to work humility in me. I smiled politely and thanked him. And in my spirit I was hot.

 

Since then I have made up my mind that I am tired of going around my mountain and want to go to the promise land.

Then God started revealing to me what I need to put off and put on.  Year end found me making less than $ 3 K in 6 mo. following his will. HE IS TEACHING ME THAT HE WILL PROVIDE HIS WAY AND NOT MINE.

 

Jan. 2003 I was listening to one of my assignments on tape and the speaker said that when his business was not moving he went on a fast and God prospered it.  So I reached in my tool box and took out fasting. I know it works and this one would have to be longer than the norm, that did not matter, I needed to hear from God. I needed to draw closer to God by denying my self. My sister had already told me that I can’t judge the growth of my business by the other agents, because God was teaching me to trust him. On the last day I took my afternoon break and Pastor White was on TV, he said that he when he was a new pastor that he would travel to the meetings of other anointed Pastors just to be in the presents of the anointing of a growing ministry. His statement locked in my spirit and the Holy Ghost was awesome in the room. In the meantime my guest called and cancelled her appointment. While I was pondering the cancellation the Lord said to me You are to go to the meeting if you have to go by yourself. The other agents seemed to be recruiting all the time and I had not signed up anyone in 6 months. The Holy Ghost reminded me that Jesus did not go to Calvary, rise, ascend and send the Holy Ghost and stop. Jesus ascended to continue working for me at the right hand of the Father.

 

He instructed me to attend the meetings to obtain and keep the anointing of success in my life and on the business He is birthing in me. I must stay in the atmosphere of the big achievers.

 

Now it is test time: Each agent had 30 days to recruit 3 people and qualify to attend this special meeting every Thursday. I didn’t qualify along with several other people. One of the ladies decided to sit near the meeting area since it was a public . I said not so. I was not a groupie in the world and certainly not now. Then I remembered that I were in the atmosphere of the movers and shakers. So I took the tool of humility and got rid of the tool of pride and set near by with the other agent. Then several days the other agent did not show. I took on the tool of obedience and sat by myself.

 

Some of the tools that turned the tide for me: teachable spirit, obedience to God word. Confessing, forsaking, persistence , patience, willing to help others, being coach able , Faith, submission to God, actively pursing the will of God and doing everything for His name sake . Jesus Only.

 

As a result of using those tools along with others: I went to my first convention a level above what I had asked the Lord for and I placed 3rd in the office in sales the first quarter this year.  Thank God for the tools that will turn the tide in our lives.