preached @ Metro 18th March 2007 by Pastor Jeff Williams

Ever found it hard to hold onto faith? Ever felt as if your faith was been tested? Ever thought , is it worth it? Ever thought,  maybe I was wrong? We’ve been talking about the power of God and faith. There is often a period between the promise and the fulfillment of that promise.

1 Kings 18:42-46 There had been a drought for 3 years – no rain at all Elijah took a position, which he did not move from – he placed his head between his knees and prayed.

“HOLD YOUR POSITION”! 6 times Elijah received a negative report form his servant – “there is nothing”.

Have you ever prayed for healing, prayed for financial blessing, prayed for answers – NOTHING HAPPENED!!!

Elijah took a position of praise and worship – v42.  On the 7th occasion the servant returned, and said he saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand on the horizon.

We often change our position when things don’t seem to be happening.

Isaiah 60 Talks about a place called Zion – Verse 1 Arise shine your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen on you. Zion is the city of God – In the book of revelations it speaks of this city, as the bride of Christ – the New Jerusalem. 

Verse 18 says – “You shall call your walls salvation, and your gates praise”  The gate – the entrance point into this city – is to praise God – to acknowledge God- who He is and what He has done.

Rev 21:21 tells us that the gate sare made of a single pearl . Think for a moment how a pearl is formed. Through irritation and conflict.  A granule of sand gets inside the oyster shell, and a pearl forms around the granule of sand.

 As we praise God, in the midst of trials, and circumstances that seem like defeat- a gate is formed- a place of entrance where the King of glory can come in.  Are we creating gates for God to work???

PS 34:3 Magnify the LordMeans -“to enlarge” – means to make God bigger than anything else in our life, bigger than our problem.

 May each of us take a position of praise and worship, and allow a gate to form in our lives where our God can show Himself strong and powerful!