Sermon

They Said, "There's Nothing."

Highlife Church

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  1. They said there's nothing. They said there's nothing. Who's ever heard those

  2. words from the devil before?

  3. They said there's nothing. We've been there.

  4. What do they do? Oh, okay. Bless you, mate.

  5. Bless you. Bless the council. Yeah, you too, mate. See you, Andrew.

  6. So we've been there. We've heard those faith-destroying words, haven't we?

  7. There's nothing, which I believe are honestly sent by the devil. There is nothing.

  8. There is nothing. There's no money. there's no love, there's no hope.

  9. But God said in that very same place where you hear those words will come forth

  10. an abundance, an abundance.

  11. The rain is on its way. The rain is on its way and abundance is on its way.

  12. Now, I want to read the Bible to you this morning, 1 Kings 18, and it's Elijah.

  13. It's Elijah praying for rain.

  14. And I reckon that if they had umbrellas in those, days, that Elijah would have

  15. had an umbrella with him at that stage.

  16. If he's praying for rain during a drought, Elijah would have been carrying an umbrella.

  17. So let me read it to you. And it's just incredible.

  18. It says, so 1 Kings 18, 41 to 46, and it says, then Elijah said to Ahab,

  19. and I'll give you a bit of background in a minute, but Elijah said to Ahab,

  20. go and get something to eat and drink.

  21. Go and get something to eat and drink. For I hear a mighty rainstorm coming.

  22. It's like, It's like when God says to us, just go and sit down,

  23. have something to eat and drink. I've got this for you.

  24. So Elijah said to Ahab, go and get something to drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming.

  25. So Ahab went to eat and drink, as he would. But Elijah climbed to the top of

  26. Mount Carmel, bowed low to the ground, and prayed with his face between his knees.

  27. Then he said to his servant, go and look out towards the sea.

  28. The servant went and looked Then returned to

  29. Elijah and said I didn't see anything Seven times

  30. Elijah told him to go and look Finally the

  31. seventh time his servant told him I saw

  32. a little cloud About the size of a man's hand

  33. rising from the sea And Elijah shouted

  34. Hurry to Ahab and tell him Climb into

  35. your chariot and go back home If

  36. you don't hurry the rain will stop you And soon

  37. the sky was black with clouds A heavy wind

  38. brought a terrific rainstorm And Ahab

  39. left quickly for Jezreel Then the Lord gave

  40. special strength to Elijah He tucked his cloak into his belt And ran ahead of

  41. Ahab's chariot All the way to the entrance of Jezreel Now we've all heard this

  42. story before We all know that Israel at the time Was being ruled by a wicked

  43. king named Ahab Thank you.

  44. Who not only led Israel away from

  45. God into idolatry, but he also married a witch by the name of Jezebel.

  46. Together, they led the children of Israel into deep rebellion and false worship, okay?

  47. So God raised up this prophet Elijah.

  48. He raised up this prophet that would not be shaken and would not compromise,

  49. and God sent him to confront the spirit of wickedness and false religion.

  50. Elijah confronted Ahab and the false prophets of Baal and called fire down from heaven.

  51. Now the people have repented and the false prophets have all been destroyed. Awesome.

  52. In our text, the prophet, the man of God, Elijah, has prophesied the rain is

  53. coming and the drought is over.

  54. He tells Ahab, as we said earlier, go and get something to eat and drink,

  55. Ahab. Don't worry because the rain is on its way.

  56. So Ahab goes up to eat and drink, but Elijah goes away with his servant and

  57. throws himself down to the earth and begins to pray.

  58. Who knows, sometimes we need to throw ourselves down and begin to pray. Yeah. Yeah.

  59. So he sent his servant out to look towards the sea to see if there was any evidence.

  60. Of rain coming to see if there was a change coming to see if there was any sign

  61. whatsoever of rain coming.

  62. And his servant comes back with a bad report. There's nothing.

  63. There's nothing. An empty report, a negative report. He comes back with nothing.

  64. He reports to Elijah, the man of God, there's nothing.

  65. Six times he's sent out. The servant leaves the man of God to wrestle with God

  66. while he scans the heavens for a sign, for any evidence that God has heard his prayer.

  67. Six times the report comes back the same. There's nothing.

  68. There's nothing. There was no mistaking his words either. It was clear.

  69. They were sharp and they were to the point there was nothing.

  70. There was nothing. No doubt these words had an effect on Elijah,

  71. but a true man of faith is not shaken by what he sees or what he does.

  72. Isn't that right, you two?

  73. Not shaken at all, not shaken at all.

  74. Instead of being discouraged, what does Elijah do? He intensifies his prayer.

  75. He takes the negative report as a challenge to the word of God.

  76. He takes that negative report of there's nothing as a challenge to the word of God.

  77. God had actually told Elijah to appear before Ahab and he would send rain.

  78. Okay. And he stood on that word. Elijah stood on the word of God.

  79. And the Bible says he prayed fervently.

  80. He prayed fervently.

  81. Finally, on the seventh time, his servant returns with this little side note.

  82. He starts by saying, there's nothing.

  83. There's still nothing. But I saw a little cloud, a little cloud the size of

  84. a man's hand rising up to go out to sea.

  85. Now, that poor servant was probably ready to hear those familiar words to go and look again.

  86. Instead, Elijah jumps up. He's so excited. He jumps up off his knees and he

  87. sends his servant in a different direction.

  88. He sends him with a new order and a new instruction. He says,

  89. go tell Ahab to hitch up his chariot, get down off his mountain,

  90. for there's the sound of the abundance of rain.

  91. He saw a little cloud and Elijah's saying, there's a sound of the abundance of rain.

  92. Then there's the sound of a downpour and a deluge and extremely heavy rain.

  93. And this word God put in my spirit, this is the word that God put in my spirit

  94. this morning and told me to prophesy to you.

  95. He said, prophesy to my people in the place where they said there is nothing

  96. shall come forth and abundance, shall come forth and abundance.

  97. I don't know who I'm talking to this morning, and I don't know what it means to you, but I know.

  98. I know what it means. Somebody has heard those words before that there is nothing,

  99. not once, not twice, not three times, but over and over again. There's nothing.

  100. There's no hope. The business won't sell. There's no way There's no love There's

  101. no chance There's no change There's nothing left There's nothing we can do Who's

  102. heard those words before?

  103. Those words are meant to signify the end. They really are. All those words.

  104. There's nothing. There's no change. There's nothing left. They're meant to signify

  105. the end. In other words, you might as well stop praying now.

  106. You might as well stop confessing because there's nothing. You might as well stop hoping.

  107. You might as well stop expecting and stop dreaming.

  108. Even stop looking. There's no point. There's nothing. Stop praising.

  109. Stop marching around those walls. Stop trying to sell your business.

  110. But I came to tell you this morning, don't stop. Don't stop. Don't stop believing.

  111. Don't stop confessing God's word. Don't stop marching around those walls.

  112. Because in the same place where they said there's nothing, shall come forth

  113. how much? An abundance. An abundance.

  114. Now, does anyone hazard a guess when the darkest time of the night is?

  115. When's the darkest time of the night? Well, I'm here to tell you,

  116. and I need to remind you, it always gets darkest just before it gets light.

  117. So just before dawn is the darkest part of the night.

  118. Warfare surrounds the birth of a miracle. That's what I'm here to tell you this morning.

  119. Warfare surrounds the birth of a miracle. Just before your breakthrough,

  120. you will fight your greatest battle.

  121. Let me say it like this.

  122. Your abundance is just beyond nothing. Goes from nothing to abundance, just like that.

  123. I may not have any evidence from a natural perspective, but I've got confidence

  124. in God's word because God's word is true.

  125. You're in a perfect place for a miracle just before dawn because it's all about

  126. to break loose in abundance.

  127. Do we need to tell you what, you know, with these guys, with their miracle that's happened this week.

  128. It was definitely 11.59 p.m., wasn't it? It was the last minute.

  129. They were all ready to start selling stuff off from their business.

  130. But God came through. God came through. And he said, no, the entire business is sold.

  131. So at the last minute, but that is God, isn't it?

  132. They said there's nothing. They said there's no chance.

  133. Oh, boy, there was. Oh, boy, there was. All right.

  134. You're in position for a perfect

  135. miracle okay let me read another story

  136. about a miracle i'm going to show you a few videos as well and it's not of a

  137. rocket launch or anything like that it's or explosions although elaine told

  138. me some exciting news this week you know she shared who was it that was speaking

  139. about this uh explosive who was that.

  140. One of the prophets. One of the prophets. Yeah, put your hand up. Let me know.

  141. Elaine said that in these coming days, months, soon, communion,

  142. communion, which was said well

  143. led by Roy this morning, we're going to experience explosive communion.

  144. Explosive communion. That's going to be awesome. We'll put rocket ships and

  145. explosions on the screen there when we have communion because that's talking

  146. about what God's going to be doing by the blood of the Lamb.

  147. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

  148. Explosive. All right, here we go. Luke 5, verses 1 to 7, it says this.

    Luke 5:1–7

  149. One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of Galilee, great crowds pressed

  150. in on him to listen to the word of God.

  151. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them

  152. and were washing their nets.

  153. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner,

  154. to push it out into the water.

  155. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there When he'd finished speaking,

  156. he said to Simon Now go out where it's deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish,

  157. Master Simon replied We worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing But if you say so,

  158. I'll let the nets down again And this time the nets were so full of fish they

  159. began to tear A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat and

  160. soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

  161. Let me play a couple of videos for you from the, what's that show?

  162. The Chosen, yeah, there we go, The Chosen. Thank you, mate, have you heard this before?

  163. Let's have a look at this story on The Chosen.

  164. I reckon these two were laughing like that this week when they got their news.

  165. That's just God, isn't it? God providing. You see Jesus laughing,

  166. just laughing, going, I love you guys so much.

  167. Just listen to what I have to say and I will provide. That's what he says. I love it.

  168. It's so good to be able to see that. So Peter fished all night and caught nothing,

  169. But with one word from Jesus, he went from nothing to abundance, to abundance.

  170. He went from nothing to overflow.

  171. He went from nothing to too much. It nearly sank his boat.

  172. He had to call his partners to bring their boat. And both boats were overloaded and began to sink.

  173. Someone needs to know that today. Someone needs to know it's closer than you

  174. think. your miracle, your healing, your breakthrough, it's closer than you think.

  175. You're on the brink of a breakthrough. And why do you think hell has been fighting you so hard?

  176. Because you're on the brink of a breakthrough.

  177. I don't know if you can see it, but God's been working in the dark.

  178. God's been working in the nighttime.

  179. You know what? God works the night shift. That's what God does providing for us.

  180. He does his best work in the nighttime seasons of our lives.

  181. Whether you see it or not, all things do work together for your good if you

  182. love the Lord and are called to you according to his purpose.

  183. Genesis 26 tells the story. Here's another one.

  184. Genesis 26 tells the story of Isaac, the son of Abraham dwelling in a land stricken with famine.

  185. Now, what does that word famine means? It means severe drought,

  186. no rain, no crops. It was a desolate place. It was a horrible situation and horrible conditions.

  187. He thought to go to another place to look for better conditions. That's what he thought.

  188. Better environment, better weather,

  189. better ground. It's like these guys traveling off for better weather.

  190. I said to Peter during the week, I said, so where do you go first?

  191. And he said, oh, Adelaide.

  192. That'll be lovely. But then he cruises right across to South Africa and heads north.

  193. And then there's better weather coming. But anyway, back to Isaac.

  194. He thought to go and look in another place, to go somewhere else,

  195. better ground, better weather. But God said, no.

  196. God said, he's saying yes to you guys, But he's saying, he said no to Isaac.

  197. Stay here and sow your seed here where there's nothing.

  198. Why? God said no. No doubt Isaac was criticized and ridiculed for his decision,

  199. but no doubt they called him a fool for wasting his seed, sowing in a drought-stricken

  200. land, but Isaac obeyed the Lord.

  201. Isaac obeyed God and sowed his seed in the land where there was nothing,

  202. and there came forth an abundance.

  203. He reaped in the same year A hundredfold

  204. In the same place Where there was nothing

  205. I want to tell somebody this morning I want to tell somebody who's looking For

  206. a better place For a better environment For more favourable conditions I want

  207. to tell you Hold on Hold on Because God's going to bless you Right where you are,

  208. Right where you are In the place where they said There is nothing there came

  209. forth an abundance, an abundance.

  210. And I know it's hard to keep going where there's no visible evidence of change. Isn't that right?

  211. I know it's hard to keep tithing and sowing your seed when you're in a financial famine.

  212. Yep. I know it's hard to praise God for healing when your body is wrecked with

  213. pain. How's the bursitis going, David?

  214. Keep praying for you. Keep praying for you.

  215. So I know it's hard to believe for rain when you've been in a long drought.

  216. I know it's hard to stay positive when everything you see is negative.

  217. I know by the Spirit I'm talking to someone this morning as well.

  218. I know by the Spirit I'm talking to someone who's been in a long drought.

  219. I came to declare to you the Word of God. The drought is breaking.

  220. There's a drought-busting anointing in this place. So hang on, hang on.

  221. Somebody needs to lift their hands and thank God that the drought is breaking. Thank you, God.

  222. Thank you, God. I hear the sound of an abundance of rain over your lives.

  223. I hear, I've heard all the negative reports. I've heard the negativity.

  224. I've heard discouraging words.

  225. I've heard the weather report of no relief in sight. There's no rain in the forecast, Elijah.

  226. They say the drought continues, Elijah. But Elijah sees something else.

  227. I'm like Elijah today. I'm tuned into a different frequency.

  228. I'm not listening to the bomb.

  229. I'm not watching the bomb. I'm hearing heaven's forecast.

  230. And heaven's forecast is predicting heavy amounts of rain.

  231. Heavy amounts of rain. Heaven's forecast is predicting flash flooding of abundance.

  232. You've received a weather warning today.

  233. Elijah's standing in the place where he heard the words, there's nothing.

  234. Then he turns around and says, I hear the sound of an abundance of rain.

  235. In other words, it's already been released in the heavens. and it's on its way here.

  236. It's on its way here. Let me pause for a second and tell somebody it's on its way. It's on its way.

  237. It's closer than you think. Heaven's radar has already located it. It's in your town.

  238. It's in your street. It's in your neighborhood. It's coming down your road.

  239. It's coming to your house. It's on its way.

  240. I don't know who I'm talking to, but God told me to prophesy to you that the drought is over.

  241. It's over. The anointing is changing. Your season is right now.

  242. The yoke-destroying, burden-removing anointing is in your house right now.

  243. Believe it. See it. See it with me.

  244. So the servant comes back a seventh time and he says, I don't know what this

  245. means, but I see a little cloud the size of a man's hand.

  246. Elijah knew what it meant. Elijah knew it meant his prayer had been heard Well

  247. today your prayers have been heard I'm declaring The answer is on its way God

  248. told me to tell somebody Your prayer has been heard And the answer is on its

  249. way Your prayers have not been in vain.

  250. Your sowing has not been in vain. Your giving has not been in vain. It's on its way.

  251. Your faithfulness, your obedience, it has not been in vain. God's getting ready to reward you.

  252. Blessings are coming your way. Abundance is coming your way.

  253. Joy unspeakable and full of glory is coming your way.

  254. Josh, come on up for me. play some music, make me sound good. Come on.

  255. So you may be today, you may be standing in the middle of a desert and you may

  256. be staring at nothing but sand, nothing but sand.

  257. Or you may be standing in the middle of the Valley of the Dry Bones with nothing

  258. but death and desolation and emptiness and confusion all around you.

  259. We could be standing there. You could be standing there.

  260. But let me remind you that it was into Ezekiel's boneyard that the wind of God

  261. began to blow and put back together everything that's been stolen,

  262. everything that's ever been broken.

  263. God's blowing on it and bringing it back to life. And he raised up a mighty army.

  264. Let me say it one more time in the place where they said there's nothing shall

  265. come forth an abundance, an abundance.

  266. Somebody hearing this message, you've been in a drought, but the drought is breaking.

  267. No, no, the drought's not just breaking. The rain is falling right now.

  268. The rain's falling. The wind's blowing. How is the wind this week? The wind's blowing.

  269. The anointing is flowing. Who am I talking to right now? Is anyone receiving this? Come on, come on.

  270. How many will do something crazy at this time? How many will do something crazy

  271. and do like Elijah and start acting like it's already been done?

  272. Who would do that? Start praising like you believe heaven's weather report in

  273. your life, that the abundance is coming, that the rain is on its way. Here it comes now.

  274. Receive it. Come on, hold your hands out. Let's receive some of this abundance

  275. from heaven because God is answering prayers right now in our lives.

  276. What is it you've been praying for?

  277. What is it you've been hanging out for? What is it you've been crying out to

  278. God for in the nighttime?

  279. What is it that's keeping you awake at night? Well, God's here to tell you right

  280. now that it's coming your way.

  281. The answer is on its way. So receive it.

  282. Receive the rains from heaven in your life right now.

  283. They're on their way and it's starting to rain right now on your life.

  284. The presence of God, the abundance of God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus

  285. Christ is falling upon you right now.

  286. The answer is coming. Hold firm.

  287. Hold firm. Receive.

  288. Receive from God right now. Thank You, Lord.

  289. Thank You, Lord. I pray in Jesus' Name, as I always do, Lord God,

  290. that You would provide where You said You would provide, that you would give

  291. where you've said and you've promised.

  292. That it's coming our way, Lord God. The abundance, the sound of an abundance of rain is coming.

  293. Maybe just spitting at the moment, maybe a little cloud on the horizon,

  294. but I hear the sound of an abundance of rain, the abundance of blessing on each of our lives.

  295. Just as you've blessed Brad and Carolyn this week, Lord God,

  296. you're bringing abundance of blessing to us all, Lord God.

  297. What it is we're crying out for, What it is we're praying for What it is we're fasting for.

  298. What it is we're giving for. Lord, you are providing. The answer is here now, Lord God.

  299. We hear heaven's weather forecast, Lord, that the abundance is coming our way

  300. and we receive that, Lord God.

  301. We need to go from this place this morning with our umbrellas in hand,

  302. ready to catch the abundance coming from heaven and believing it.

  303. Lord, I pray that you touch every person here this morning with this message,

  304. the message that you would have them hear this morning, Lord,

  305. that there is an abundance coming your way, that there is answers coming your way and receive them.

  306. Walk out of here with your hands out saying, I'm ready to catch it, Lord.

  307. I'm ready to catch it. I see it coming. It may be just a little speck on the

  308. horizon, but hey, it's coming my way.

  309. So I'll receive that right now in Jesus' name. That's God's promise to us.

  310. And we thank you for that, Lord. Thank you for your word.

  311. Thank you for your Lord. Lord, we thank you for Elijah, Lord God.

  312. We thank you for Simon, the fisherman.

  313. We thank you for the other guy that I read about in the Bible.

  314. What was his name? His name.

  315. Isaac. Thanks, Agent. We thank you for Isaac, Lord. Men of faith, Lord God.

  316. Men of faith who do not question you, Lord. And when they do question you,

  317. Lord, you looked at Simon and you just smiled.

  318. You smiled at him and he turned back to you and he said, it's your word,

  319. Lord. It's your word, it's your promise.

  320. It's what you've said in my life and we believe that. So Lord,

  321. we praise you for that this morning.

  322. We praise you for answered prayer, for abundance, for provision,

  323. Lord God, if we would just hold out our hands and expect, speak it out.

  324. We thank you, Lord. We bless your name. Amen. Hallelujah.