Sermon - Rev. Lightner - Because of Who You Are

Provision never looks like what we expect. Have you ever had a need from God and you had in your mind how you wanted it to be handled only for god to show up and do it differently? Have you ever said to yourself, I didn't see that coming that way. Have you have you ever just stopped and paused and watched how god shaped the journey of your life to ensure that you had everything that you needed even when you didn't feel qualified. [00:07:57] (34 seconds)  #ProvisionUnexpected

David arrives at this point and declares who god really is. He declares some promises by god, some some things that we often take for granted because we assume certain things and and David says right here, surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I would dwell in the house of the lord forever. David grabs a word that is a word of confidence. It is surely. David does not say maybe perhaps or it could happen. He said, surely. He said, surely because there's an assurance and and an expectation when you hear Shirley. Anybody that tells you, surely, god will take care of it knows who god is and anybody that says, it will be with you for the rest of your life understands even when life takes unexpected turns, when storms rise, and when the valley appears, you can still count on god's goodness and mercy to follow you. [00:27:51] (67 seconds)  #SurelyGoodnessAndMercy

Even when the pathway sometimes seemed unclear, god will allow you to stand back and be blessed by the fact that you trust god despite of what it looks like. Joseph understood his brothers better because he was able to proclaim in Genesis chapter 50 verse 20, you meant it for evil, but god meant it for good. Your pathway that god leads you often comes with chaos, betrayal of people, imprisonment, trouble, struggle, and strife yet god is positioning you or guiding you into a direction that will cause people to question it but god knows what's best. Providence means god is not only providing for your needs but he's also shaping your direction. God knows where god is trying to take you. Amen. [00:18:14] (55 seconds)  #ProvidenceGuides

I remember Vicks 44 D because it was nasty but it did its job. I remember three sixes because it was nasty but it did its job. Sometimes it don't look like what it is but I remember these things because what happens when you took these things, you were overflowed. You, first, you went down and then you came up and that's what we as a people of god have to realize. Sometimes, god have to put you in the valley. In order to take you to the mountain top. God's grace is not measured out of teaspoons. It's comes in overflowing and abundance. In other words, when god gets ready to do something for you, he may start you in the valley in the presence of your enemies and protect you while you're there only for your enemies to be left in the valley and for god to take you to the mountain top. [00:26:10] (47 seconds)  #ValleyToMountainTop

Let's let's just be real about it. When god is moving for you, god will make a way for you that you don't understand. Amen. Somebody ought to testify because you know all the times that you didn't have enough and god made a way. Amen. Somebody ought to testify when you didn't have a job, god gave you a job that you weren't qualified for. Somebody ought to testify that when your car broke down, your bills you could not cover, that god opened up a door, open up a window, and bless you beyond belief because you had to trust god and I want to tell y'all today, god is still providing. Amen. God is still doing for you despite of you. [00:10:39] (43 seconds)  #WalkByFaithNotSight

We all know that one pretty well. We all understand that one pretty. The valley is a place where faith becomes real. It it it is where life stops being theoretic and becomes personal. The valley of the shadows of the death represent a dark place and danger where we feel closed in and boxed in. Well, feelings feel distance. What what what we often want somebody to help us out and we have to realize that god is there with us because the text says, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. In other words, if you trust god, god is going to take care of you despite of what it looks like. Amen. [00:21:03] (41 seconds)  #GodProvidesAndGuides

David shifts from this particular Providence point to move to Providence. David lets us know this right here that when god's got something for you, he provides for you but he also guides you on how to use it. You know, some of us, when god provides for us, we become our own guide then. You know, the lord done blessed me. I know how to do this piece right here and so Imma just take over this piece myself and and not realizing that that that god provides for you but he he wants to give you provisions to let you understand that he's a providential god that can direct the steps that you're going simply because he knows what's best. Amen. The writer says, he restores my soul. [00:11:22] (45 seconds)  #AnointingAndRestoration

but when I think about restoration of a Christian, I think about the realignment of our spiritual habits. In other words, god redirects us to where god wants us to go because god knows the pathway that we need to follow. Watch this y'all. Shepherds not only feed sheep but they also lead and guide them. They make sure that the sheep know what he's supposed to be at. Have you ever been to a sheep pastor? Have you ever watched it on TV? That the shepherd is always looking at every aspect of the sheep's life. If the sheep are hungry, the shepherd leads them to food. If the sheep are thirsty, the shepherd leads them to water. If someone comes and tries to assault the sheep, the shepherds protects them but it all comes in the guiding principles of our trust the shepherd. Amen. [00:14:18] (58 seconds)  #MothersPrayerForValley