Sermon Notes: THEN…HE FLIPPED IT

  “THEN…HE FLIPPED IT”

Zechariah 4:7, 8:13

I. INTRODUCTION

“It looks like it’s not – until it is!”  The Lord specializes in turning stuff around, especially difficult, if not impossible, situations.  Usher in 2020 with this reality permanently ingrained in your mind: “The Lord can flip anything at any time anywhere for me for His glory!!!”   Zechariah provides a great example.

In 536 BC, a remnant of Jewish refugees returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.  Shortly after the reconstruction began, the project was put on hold for almost fifteen years.  Just when the community had given up, The Lord flipped a hopeless situation by speaking Zechariah 4:7!

II. THE NEED FOR A FLIP

1. Seventy years after the captivity in Babylon, while Joshua was the high priest and Zerubbabel was the governor, the temple was in ruins.  The situation seemed impossible.
2. Unlike the days of Solomon, the budget was meager, at best; the workforce was depleted; the people were discouraged; and the people wondered whether The Lord cared at all.
3. The Lord’s promise (Word) seemed to have been null and void!
4. Bottom line: both the internal and external obstacles to rebuilding the wall were absolutely fierce!

III. FLIP YOUR OBSTACLES!   Job 22:28; Zechariah 8:13

1. In AD 170, Marcus Aurelius wrote: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
2. Declare: “Every time I experience an obstacle, God will expand my capacity!”
3. Declare: “Stress will not become distress!”
4. Declare: “I will manage stress, so the stressing becomes a blessing.”
5. That is not TED Talk.  Properly managed stress becomes a catalyst for growth.
6. The obstacles you overcome get grafted into your testimony.  Your testimony becomes your prophecy!  Your prophecy helps turn the obstacle into an overcoming occurrence.     Revelation 12:11

IV. THE LORD WANTS TO FLIP YOU  Galatians 3:13, 14

1. 1. When you are in a season of obstacles, opposition and ominous options, know that Hebrews 4:15 is on your side. The Lord sympathizes with you.
   2. Further, Jesus carried the full weight of the world’s sin on His sinless shoulders.
   3. By doing so, Jesus defeated sin and death. I Corinthians 15:55-57   He also broke the curse.  Galatians 3:13
   4. When Jesus broke the curse, He redeemed us AND released the blessings of Abraham. Galatians 3:14

V. THE LORD CAN FLIP YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE

1. Galatians 3:29
2. Galatians 3:16
3. Acts 3:25, 26
4. Genesis 12:1-3
5. Genesis 28:13-15
6. Genesis 17:1-8
7. Exodus 1:6, 7

If you are in Christ, then you are promised the inheritance of Abraham, which includes land, prosperity and sociopolitical prominence.     (Brueggemann)

VI. CONCLUSION

By God’s grace, by Jesus’ blood and sustained by the power of The Holy Spirit, both you and your situations are being flipped right now!

Source:  An Introduction To The Old Testament by Walter Brueggemann and Double Blessing by Mark Batterson

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