TODAY ON ANSWERS WITH BAYLESS CONLEY: SHE SAID, "EVERY SINGLE POINT ANSWERED A QUESTION
THAT I HAD ASKED GOD.
THIS MESSAGE WAS FOR ME.
I'M SO GLAD I CAME."
I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, GOD COMMANDS PROVISION TO COME.
HE WILL COMMAND A COMPANY TO GIVE YOU A JOB.
HE WILL COMMAND DOORS OF FAVOR AND BLESSING TO OPEN FOR YOU.
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS YOU ARE FACED WITH EVERY DAY.
WE ARE ALL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS THAT WILL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THESE ANSWERS MIGHT BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
GET READY TO DISCOVER ANSWERS IN THE BIBLE WITH BAYLESS CONLEY.
HI, I'M BAYLESS CONLEY, WELCOME TO THE BROADCAST TODAY.
MAYBE YOU'VE WONDERED, "WHY DO THEY CALL THEIR SHOW ANSWERS?"
WELL, WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE ARE ANSWERS IN THE BIBLE FOR VIRTUALLY ANY QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
AND TODAY WE WANT TO DEAL WITH, "IS IT IMPORTANT THAT I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE IF GOD WANTS
TO USE ME, IF HE WANTS TO BLESS MY LIFE?"
SEE WHAT THE SCRIPTURES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
STAY TUNED AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM TODAY FOR A SPECIAL INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT FROM BAYLESS.
LORD, FOR THIS MORNING, WE ASK YOU TO GIVE US UNDERSTANDING IN YOUR WORD.
WE GIVE YOU OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.
JESUS, WE PRAY YOUR NAME WOULD BE GLORIFIED.
IF YOU AGREE, SAY AMEN.
I WAS READING A STORY NOT TOO LONG AGO ABOUT A GUY THAT PLAYED BAGPIPES FROM NOVA SCOTIA.
HE ACTUALLY GOT A LOT OF GIGS TO PLAY IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND ONE DAY, HE GOT AN INVITATION FROM A FUNERAL DIRECTOR TO PLAY AT THE FUNERAL OF A HOMELESS
MAN.
HE WAS TOLD THIS GUY HAD NO FAMILY.
HE HAD NO FRIENDS.
AND AS A RESULT, HE WAS GOING TO BE BURIED IN THE PAUPER CEMETERY THAT WAS SORT OF IN
THE BACK COUNTRY.
THE GUY AGREED TO DO IT.
HE HAD THE DAY FREE, DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LINED UP. AND HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS
SORT OF BACK-WOODS AREA WHERE THE PAUPER CEMETERY WAS, AND HE GOT LOST.
AND LIKE A TYPICAL GUY, HE DIDN'T ASK ANYONE FOR DIRECTIONS.
HE ARRIVES AN HOUR LATE.
AND THERE IS A HEARSE IS NOWHERE IN SIGHT.
THE FUNERAL GUY IS OBVIOUSLY GONE.
THERE'S JUST THE DIGGERS.
SOME OF THE WORKERS ARE THERE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY TAKING A LUNCH BREAK.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
SO HE PARKS, AND GETS HIS BAGPIPES, APOLOGIZED TO THE GUYS FOR BEING LATE, LOOKS DOWN INTO
THE GRAVE, AND THE VAULT IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND SO HE JUST STARTS TO PLAY.
WHEN HE BEGAN TO PLAY HIS BAGPIPES, ALL THE WORKERS STOPPED EATING THEIR LUNCH.
THEY GATHERED AROUND.
HE SAID HE BEGAN TO PLAY HIS HEART OUT LIKE HE'D NEVER PLAYED BEFORE FOR THIS HOMELESS
MAN.
THIS MAN THAT HAD NO FAMILY, HAD NO FRIENDS.
HE SAID, "I PLAYED, AND I PLAYED."
ONE OF THE WORKERS BEGUN TO WEEP.
HE SAID, "THEN, I BEGAN TO WEEP."
HE SAID, "THEN, ALL OF US WEPT TOGETHER."
HE SAID, "I JUST LITERALLY PLAYED FROM SOMEWHERE DEEP DOWN INSIDE."
HE SAID, "WHEN I FINISHED, I GATHERED MY BAGPIPES, AND HEADED BACK TO THE CAR.
MY HEAD WAS BOWED, BUT MY HEART WAS FULL."
HE SAID, "AS I BEGAN TO OPEN THE DOOR OF THE CAR, I HEARD ONE OF THE WORKERS SAY, 'I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT EVER, AND I'VE BEEN PUTTING IN SEPTIC TANKS FOR 20 YEARS.'"
OBVIOUSLY, HE WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT TODAY, HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL DIRECT US TO SPECIFIC
PLACES TO BRING ILLUMINATION, PROVISION, AND MISSION.
IMPORTANT PLACES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL DIRECT US TO BE FOR ILLUMINATION, FOR PROVISION,
AND FOR MISSION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ILLUMINATION FIRST.
I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THESE SCRIPTURES.
IT'S IN JEREMIAH CHAPTER 18 VERSES 1 AND 2.
IT SAYS,
THE WORD WHICH CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM THE LORD, SAYING: "ARISE AND GO DOWN TO THE POTTER'S
HOUSE, AND THERE I WILL CAUSE YOU TO HEAR MY WORDS."
EVERYONE, SAY THERE.
THERE I'LL CAUSE YOU TO HEAR MY WORDS.
NOW, I MEAN, JEREMIAH COULD HAVE SAID, "LORD, AM I NOT HEARING YOU NOW?
YOU'RE JUST TELLING ME TO GO DOWN TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE, BUT YOU'RE ALREADY SPEAKING TO ME.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST KEEP SPEAKING?
WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THERE?"
IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT HE WAS THERE BECAUSE GOD WAS GOING TO BRING ILLUMINATION TO HIM.
AS HE WENT TO THE POTTER'S HOUSE AND SAW THE POTTER FASHIONING SOMETHING ON THE WHEEL,
IT BECAME MARRED IN HIS HAND.
THE LORD SAID TO HIM, "CAN I NOT DO AS THIS POTTER DOES WITH ISRAEL?
AS THE CLAY IS IN THE POTTER'S HANDS, SO ISRAEL IS IN MY HANDS."
AND HE WENT ON TO TELL HIM SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL AND GAVE A WORD
FOR THE NATION.
BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR JEREMIAH TO BE IN A SPECIFIC PLACE TO RECEIVE THE ILLUMINATION
THAT GOD HAD FOR HIM.
I REMEMBER A SEASON IN MY LIFE.
I WAS ACTUALLY AN ASSISTANT PASTOR.
THIS IS PROBABLY 37 YEARS AGO THIS OCCURRED.
I JUST REACHED, AT LEAST, IN MY MIND, A REALLY CRITICAL POINT.
I WAS PRAYING HARD, AND LOOKING FOR ANSWERS, AND JUST FELT LIKE THE NEXT MOVE, WHATEVER
KIND OF MOVE I TOOK, THAT DESTINY WAS GOING TO BE HINGED ON IT. AND I WANTED TO GET IT
RIGHT.
I WAS JUST ACTUALLY STRESSING ABOUT THINGS, AND REALLY PRAYING A LOT, PRAYING OFTEN, AND
NOT SEEMING TO GET A BREAKTHROUGH, NOT SEEMING TO GET DIRECTION.
AND I HEARD ABOUT SOME MEETINGS THAT WERE GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE IN ANAHEIM.
IMMEDIATELY, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THOSE MEETINGS, I HAD A SENSE INSIDE THAT I NEEDED TO BE THERE.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I HEARD WORDS, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, TO ME, THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS SPEAKING
TO ME.
I JUST KNEW INSIDE STRONGLY THAT FOR SOME REASON, I HAD TO BE THERE.
AND SO I TOOK JANET.
SHE AND I CAME TO THE MEETINGS.
AND I THINK IT WAS A DAYTIME MEETING.
I REMEMBER THE GUY SAID, "ALL RIGHT, YOU ALL GET YOUR BIBLES OUT AND HOLD THEM UP."
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
I'M A WORD MAN.
I LIKE THIS."
WE HELD UP OUR BIBLES.
HE SAID, "ALL RIGHT NOW, PUT THEM UNDER YOUR CHAIR.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NEED THEM."
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "OH NO."
BUT THEN, HE PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN.
HE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TEACHING OUT OF A NOT-TOO-COMMON VERSION OF THE BIBLE.
RATHER THAN HAVING US COMPARE THE DIFFERENCES, HE JUST WANTED US TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE WAS
GOING TO SAY.
I SAID, "OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE."
THE MOMENT HE BEGAN TO SHARE HIS MESSAGE, IT WAS LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM
DISAPPEARED.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE.
EVERY WORD HE SPOKE TO ME SPOKE DIRECTLY TO MY HEART.
GOD ANSWERED EVERY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND SO PROFOUNDLY GAVE ME DIRECTION.
THAT DAY, I WILL NEVER EVER FORGET IT.
IT WAS SO IMPORTANT, SO PIVOTAL TO ME.
I REMEMBER ANOTHER TIME YEARS LATER.
I JUST SUDDENLY HAD THIS SENSE THAT I NEEDED TO HEAR A PARTICULAR PREACHER.
HE HAPPENED TO BE A KOREAN PASTOR.
AND I THOUGHT, "DO I HAVE TO GET ON A PLANE, FLY ALL THE WAY TO KOREA, AND GO TO HIS CHURCH?"
BUT I JUST SOMEHOW, I HAD THIS KNOWING THAT I HAD TO HEAR THIS GUY. AND SO RATHER THAN
BOOK PLANE TICKETS TO KOREA, I STARTED LOOKING IN CHRISTIAN MAGAZINES TO SEE IF THIS GUY
IS PREACHING ANYWHERE.
LO AND BEHOLD, HE'S HOLDING A MEETING UP IN WASHINGTON.
I GOT A TICKET, FLEW UP TO WASHINGTON, WENT TO THE MEETING.
THIS GUY PREACHED TWO HOURS.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE GOOD TO PREACH TWO HOURS.
HE WASN'T THAT GOOD, BUT HE SAID ONE THING IN THAT MESSAGE THAT I CAN HONESTLY SAY MAY
HAVE SAVED THE MINISTRY FOR ME.
IT CERTAINLY KEPT ALL OF THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAD GATHERED AS A CHURCH.
IT KEPT THAT MOMENTUM FROM BEING DERAILED AT THE VERY LEAST.
AND HONESTLY, THAT ONE THING THAT HE SAID MAY HAVE SAVED THE MINISTRY.
WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF I HADN'T BEEN THERE.
I HAD A LADY COME TO ME A WEEK AGO AFTER SERVICE.
I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE.
SHE SAID, "PASTOR BAYLESS, I DIDN'T WANT TO COME TODAY, BUT IT'S LIKE THE HOLY SPIRIT
TOLD ME I HAD TO BE HERE."
SHE SAID, "EVERY SINGLE POINT ANSWERED A QUESTION THAT I HAD ASKED GOD.
THIS MESSAGE WAS FOR ME.
I'M SO GLAD I CAME."
WELL YOU KNOW, "THERE" MAY BE A CHURCH SERVICE FOR YOU.
THIS MAY BE A "THERE" PLACE FOR YOU AND A "NOW" MOMENT FOR YOU AS WE SIT TOGETHER.
IT MAY BE A MISSION'S TRIP THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE ON SHORT-TERM MISSIONS' TRIPS WITH THE CHURCH.
JUST FELT THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO AND HAD SUCH A PROFOUND ENCOUNTER WITH GOD THROUGH SEEING
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OR SOME INTERCHANGE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THERE ON THE MISSION FIELD
THAT IT LITERALLY ALTERED THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIFE.
I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CHANGED CAREERS AS A RESULT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE DURING
ONE OF THOSE MISSIONS' TRIPS.
GOD WANTS TO BRING US ILLUMINATION, BUT, SOMETIMES, THAT ILLUMINATION IS TIED TO A PLACE, A SPECIFIC
PLACE.
LOOK WITH ME, IF YOU WOULD, IN GENESIS CHAPTER 22.
GENESIS CHAPTER 22.
LET'S TALK ABOUT PROVISION.
GENESIS 22 AND VERSE 1,
NOW IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS THAT GOD TESTED ABRAHAM, AND SAID TO HIM, "ABRAHAM!"
AND HE SAID, "HERE I AM."
THEN HE SAID, "TAKE NOW YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON ISAAC, WHOM YOU LOVE, AND GO TO THE LAND
OF MORIAH, AND OFFER HIM THERE AS A BURNT OFFERING ON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS OF WHICH
I SHALL TELL YOU."
SO ABRAHAM ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SADDLED HIS DONKEY, AND TOOK TWO OF HIS YOUNG MEN
WITH HIM, AND ISAAC HIS SON; AND HE SPLIT THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING, AND AROSE
AND WENT TO THE PLACE OF WHICH GOD HAD TOLD HIM.
EVERYONE, SAY, THE PLACE.
VERSE 4,
THEN ON THE THIRD DAY ABRAHAM LIFTED HIS EYES AND SAW THE PLACE AFAR OFF.
DROP DOWN TO VERSE 9 IF YOU WOULD.
THEN THEY CAME TO THE PLACE OF WHICH GOD HAD TOLD HIM. AND ABRAHAM BUILT AN ALTAR THERE
AND PLACED THE WOOD IN ORDER; AND HE BOUND ISAAC HIS SON AND LAID HIM ON THE ALTAR, UPON
THE WOOD.
AND ABRAHAM STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOOK THE KNIFE TO SLAY HIS SON.
BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CALLED TO HIM FROM HEAVEN AND SAID, "ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM!"
SO HE SAID, "HERE I AM." AND HE SAID, "DO NOT LAY YOUR HAND ON THE
LAD, OR DO ANYTHING TO HIM; FOR NOW I KNOW THAT YOU FEAR GOD, SINCE YOU HAVE NOT WITHHELD
YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, FROM ME."
THEN ABRAHAM LIFTED HIS EYES AND LOOKED, AND THERE BEHIND HIM WAS A RAM CAUGHT IN A THICKET
BY ITS HORNS.
SO ABRAHAM WENT AND TOOK THE RAM, AND OFFERED IT UP FOR A BURNT OFFERING INSTEAD OF HIS
SON. AND ABRAHAM CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE, THE-LORD-WILL-PROVIDE; AS IT IS SAID TO THIS
DAY, "IN THE MOUNT OF THE LORD IT SHALL BE PROVIDED."
OF COURSE, THAT IS THE NAME JEHOVAH JIREH.
TRANSLATED, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.
IT'S ONE OF GOD'S COMPOUND REDEMPTIVE NAMES.
HE SAID, IN THE MOUNT OF THE LORD, IT SHALL BE PROVIDED.
PARAPHRASE, YOU COULD SAY, IN THE SPECIFIC PLACE, GOD DIRECTS YOU TO BE, IT SHALL BE
PROVIDED.
NOW, CERTAINLY, THIS STORY WAS A TYPE OF CHRIST, CALVARY, AND REDEMPTION.
I WAS LAID OUT ON THE ALTAR.
THE KNIFE WAS POISED ABOVE MY HEART.
IT WAS GOING TO STRIKE AND HURL ME INTO AN ETERNITY OF SEPARATION FROM GOD.
BUT THANK GOODNESS, THERE WAS A RUSTLING IN THE THICKET, AND A SUBSTITUTE WAS FOUND.
AND JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, LAID DOWN ON THE ALTAR OF THE CROSS, AND HE DIED IN
MY PLACE SO THAT I COULD GO FREE.
GOD DID NOT WITHHOLD HIS ONLY SON.
NOW WE UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS FROM THE STORY, BUT ON A VERY, VERY PRACTICAL LEVEL, IT TEACHES
US THAT GOD'S PROVISION IN OUR LIVES MAY BE TIED TO A SPECIFIC PLACE.
GOD HAD SENT THAT RAM TO A SPECIFIC MOUNTAIN.
WHAT IF ABRAHAM HAD GONE TO THE WRONG MOUNTAIN?
WHAT IF HE HAD GOTTEN TIRED ON THE JOURNEY?
I MEAN, THEY JOURNEYED FOR THREE DAYS.
AND THEN, IT SAYS, "THEN, HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND THE PLACE WAS STILL FAR OFF."
WHAT IF HE THOUGHT, "MAN, I'M TIRED.
THREE DAYS, AND IT'S STILL ALL THE WAY OVER THERE?
THIS PLACE LOOKS AS GOOD AS ANY.
LET'S JUST DO THIS HERE."
THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO PROVISION.
GOD SENT THAT PROVISION TO A SPECIFIC PLACE.
GOD HAD ORDAINED THAT ABRAHAM AND THE PROVISION MEET THERE.
ABRAHAM IS GOING UP ONE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
THE RAM IS GOING UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
LOOK WITH ME, IF YOU WOULD, IN 1 KINGS CHAPTER 17.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
1 KINGS THE 17TH CHAPTER AND VERSE 1 SAYS,
AND ELIJAH THE TISHBITE, OF THE INHABITANTS OF GILEAD, SAID TO AHAB, "AS THE LORD GOD
OF ISRAEL LIVES, BEFORE WHOM I STAND, THERE SHALL NOT BE DEW NOR RAIN THESE YEARS, EXCEPT
AT MY WORD."
THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM, SAYING, "GET AWAY FROM HERE AND TURN EASTWARD, AND
HIDE BY THE BROOK CHERITH, WHICH FLOWS INTO THE JORDAN.
AND IT WILL BE THAT YOU SHALL DRINK FROM THE BROOK, AND I HAVE COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO
FEED YOU THERE."
EVERYONE, SAY, THERE.
…I HAVE COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO FEED YOU THERE."
SO HE WENT AND DID ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, FOR HE WENT AND STAYED BY THE BROOK
CHERITH, WHICH FLOWS INTO THE JORDAN.
THE RAVENS BROUGHT HIM BREAD AND MEAT IN THE MORNING, AND BREAD AND MEAT IN THE EVENING;
AND HE DRANK FROM THE BROOK.
NOW, THE RAVENS WOULDN'T HAVE FED HIM JUST ANYWHERE.
GOD SAID, "I'VE COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO FEED YOU THERE."
LISTEN, GOD HAS A "THERE" FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
IF ELIJAH HAD GONE TO ANOTHER BROOK, HE WOULD HAVE MISSED THE BLESSING.
IT WAS BY THE BROOK CHERITH THAT GOD HAD COMMANDED THE RAVENS TO COME.
I REMEMBER YEARS AGO, I WAS MINISTERING IN EUROPE.
I HAD MEETINGS IN WALES, AND I THINK MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, AND FINISHED UP IN NORTHERN IRELAND
IN BELFAST.
THIS TRIP WAS A RARE TRIP.
I HAD THE FAMILY WITH ME.
JANET AND THE KIDS WERE WITH ME.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE BELFAST AND COME BACK TO LA.
THERE'S NO DIRECT FLIGHTS OUT OF BELFAST SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH LONDON.
SO I MADE SURE WE HAD PLENTY OF BUFFER TO GET TO THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'VE GOT
GIRLS, IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER TO GET READY.
AND SURE ENOUGH, I WAS REALLY GLAD I HAD CREATED THAT BUFFER OF TIME.
WE GOT THERE.
AND WE ENDED UP LEAVING THE HOTEL LATER THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED, BUT WE GOT THERE IN TIME.
OKAY, THE FLIGHT IS NOT FOR AN HOUR.
WE GO THROUGH THE LINE.
I GET UP THERE.
I PUT THE TICKETS DOWN.
THE WOMAN LOOKS AT ME, AND SHE SAID, "SIR, YOU'RE AT THE WRONG AIRPORT."
I SAID, "WHAT?"
SHE SAID, "YEAH, YOU'RE AT THE WRONG AIRPORT.
IF YOU WANT THE BLESSING OF A FLIGHT TO LONDON, YOU NEED TO CATCH A TAXI AND HEAD ACROSS TOWN
TO THE OTHER AIRPORT."
I SAID, "I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER AIRPORT."
WE WENT OUTSIDE.
I HAILED A TAXI.
I PAID THE GUY TO BREAK THE LAW.
WE ACTUALLY GOT THERE.
THEY HELD THE FLIGHT FOR US, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ON THE FLIGHT AND MAKE IT HOME.
BUT YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE IS AN IMPORTANT THING.
VERSE 7, IT SAYS,
AND IT HAPPENED AFTER A WHILE THAT THE BROOK DRIED UP, BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO RAIN IN
THE LAND.
IT CAME TIME FOR A CHANGE.
OUR "THERE" PLACES SOMETIMES ARE SEASONAL.
SOMETIMES, THINGS DRY UP, AND IT'S TIME TO SAY, "GOD, WHERE NEXT?"
VERSE 8,
THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM, SAYING, "ARISE, GO TO ZAREPHATH, WHICH BELONGS TO
SIDON, AND DWELL THERE.
SEE, I HAVE COMMANDED A WIDOW THERE TO PROVIDE FOR YOU."
EVERYONE, SAY, THERE.
SAY, THERE.
"I'VE COMMANDED A WIDOW THERE."
IN BOTH PLACES, GOD COMMANDED A BLESSING.
GOD COMMANDED THE RAVENS, AND GOD COMMANDED A WIDOW.
I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, GOD COMMANDS PROVISION TO COME.
HE WILL COMMAND A COMPANY TO GIVE YOU A JOB.
HE WILL COMMAND DOORS OF FAVOR AND BLESSING TO OPEN FOR YOU.
HE'LL USE RAVENS AND WIDOWS IF HE HAS TO. AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WON'T BE TRIALS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T GO THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH NOW AND AGAIN.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IN...
WHEN WE ARE IN OUR "THERE" PLACE, WE CAN EXPECT GOD'S PROVISION IN OUR LIFE.
WE CAN EXPECT GOD TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GUY IN CHURCH.
THE CHURCH WAS ACTUALLY QUITE NEW, MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD.
I'D GOTTEN TO KNOW THIS GUY.
I REALLY LIKED HIM.
HE'S PLUGGED IN SERVING.
I HAD SPENT TIME WITH HIM.
HIS DAUGHTERS ARE PLUGGED INTO THE YOUTH AND FLOURISHING.
HE'S GOT A SOLID MARRIAGE.
AND HE TOLD ME ONE DAY, HE SAYS, "PASTOR, I'M TAKING MY FAMILY.
WE'RE MOVING OUT OF STATE."
I SAID, "WHY?"
HE SAYS, "WELL, I WAS TALKING TO THIS GUY I KNOW, AND HE'S OFFERING ME WORK THERE.
AND YOU CAN GET A FOUR-BEDROOM HOUSE FOR THE PRICE OF A TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE HERE."
HE SAYS, "HOUSING IS SO CHEAP THERE."
I SAID, "WELL, HAVE YOU FOUND A CHURCH?"
HE SAID, "WELL, NO."
THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS AN INTERNET THEN.
IT WAS A LITTLE MORE ARDUOUS TO SEARCH THINGS OUT.
I SAID, "WELL, YOU NEED TO REALLY LOOK INTO THAT."
I SAID, "LOOK, IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
YOU NEED TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF, BUT WILL YOU PLEASE JUST CONSIDER THESE THINGS, AND
REALLY PRAY ABOUT IT?"
I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE FLOURISHING HERE IN THE YOUTH GROUP.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I'VE SEEN THEM.
THEY'VE GOT FRIENDS.
THEY'RE ON FIRE FOR GOD.
YOU'VE GOT A SOLID MARRIAGE."
I SAID, "YOU'VE GOT GOOD WORK.
MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE A FOUR-BEDROOM HOUSE, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE GOT A NICE TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE.
THE BROOK REALLY HASN'T DRIED UP HERE.
IT STILL SEEMS TO BE FLOWING.
PLEASE PRAY ABOUT IT."
ALL THAT HE SAID WAS, "PASTOR, NO.
I CAN GET A FOUR-BEDROOM HOUSE."
IT'S LIKE THERE WAS THESE VISIONS OF FOUR-BEDROOM HOMES SPINNING AROUND IN FRONT OF HIS EYES.
FOUR BEDROOMS, FOUR BEDROOMS.
AND HE DIDN'T PRAY ABOUT IT.
PACKED HIS FAMILY AND LEFT.
I SAW HIM ABOUT, I THINK, MAYBE A YEAR AND A HALF LATER.
HE WAS BACK.
HE WAS BROKEN, ABSOLUTELY BROKEN.
HE SAID, "PASTOR, I GOT THERE AND THE GUY THAT HAD OFFERED ME WORK SAID, IT NEVER MATERIALIZED.
I WAS WITHOUT WORK, AND MY DAUGHTER STARTED HANGING AROUND, ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS HANGING
AROUND WITH THE WRONG CROWD.
SHE GOT IN BIG, BIG TROUBLE."
HE SAID, "I WAS UNDER SUCH PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THE STUFF THAT WAS GOING ON AND BEING OUT
OF WORK.
YOU KNOW MY PAST BEFORE I GOT SAVED.
I HAD CHALLENGES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE."
HE SAID, "I MESSED UP, AND I STARTED USING AGAIN."
HE SAID, "PASTOR, I'M DIVORCED.
MY WIFE AND I BROKE UP.
I'VE LOST MY FAMILY.
I'VE LOST MY MARRIAGE.
I'VE LOST EVERYTHING."
MY HEART JUST WENT OUT TO HIM.
PLACES ARE IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO TAKE TIME TO PRAY AND TO SEEK GOD.
PLACES ARE IMPORTANT FOR ILLUMINATION, FOR PROVISION, ALSO, FOR MISSION.
THAT IS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF HEALING AND BLESSING
TO OTHERS.
I KNOW MOST OF US WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY IN ACTS CHAPTER 16.
PAUL AND SILAS, THEY'RE TRYING TO GO INTO ASIA TO PREACH THE WORD TO ASIA MINOR.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO DO IT, SO THEY TRIED TO GO TO BITHYNIA, AND THE
HOLY SPIRIT SAID NO.
THEN, A VISION APPEARS TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT.
A MAN OF MACEDONIA IN HIS VISION SAYS, "COME TO MACEDONIA AND HELP US."
THEY PERCEIVED THAT IT WAS GOD SPEAKING TO THEM.
THEY IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO GO INTO MACEDONIA.
BUT YOU THINK, "WHY NOT ASIA MINOR?
WHY NOT BITHYNIA?
DIDN'T JESUS SAY GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL?
IS ASIA MINOR NOT PART OF ALL THE WORLD?
IS NOT BITHYNIA NOT PART OF ALL THE WORLD?"
I MEAN, THEY WOULD HAVE, IN A GENERAL SENSE, BEEN VERY OBEDIENT TO CHRIST AND THE GREAT
COMMISSION.
BUT THERE ARE SPECIFIC PLACES THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE.
A PINEAPPLE DOES GREAT IN HAWAII.
IT DOESN'T DO GOOD AT ALL IN ALASKA.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC PLACES FOR YOU, FOR YOUR GIFTING, AND FOR YOUR WIRING WHERE YOU'LL
FIND EXPRESSION, WHERE YOU'LL FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY.
AND SO, THEY GO TO MACEDONIA AND TO THE CITY OF PHILIPPI.
THERE'S NOT EVEN A SYNAGOGUE THERE.
PAUL'S MO WAS TO GO INTO A SYNAGOGUE, REASON THAT CHRIST WAS THE MESSIAH THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES.
WIN PEOPLE TO CHRIST, START FROM THERE.
BUT ACCORDING TO JEWISH CUSTOM, THERE HAD TO BE, AT LEAST, 10 JEWISH MALES IN A CITY
OR IN A TOWN IN ORDER TO START A SYNAGOGUE.
IF THERE WEREN'T 10 JEWISH MEN, THEY WOULD MEET ON A RIVERSIDE, AND READ THE SCRIPTURES,
AND WORSHIP TOGETHER.
WELL, THERE'S NO SYNAGOGUE.
THEY GO TO THE RIVERSIDE, AND THERE'S ONLY WOMEN THERE.
THERE'S NOT ANY MEN AT ALL.
PAUL SHARES WITH THE WOMEN AND GOD OPENS ONE WOMAN'S HEART.
HER NAME IS LYDIA.
SHE'S A SELLER OF PURPLE FROM THYATIRA.
NOW, THYATIRA, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ASIA MINOR WHERE PAUL AND
HIS COMPANIONS WERE TRYING TO GO.
IT WAS FAMOUS FOR PURPLE DYE.
THEY HAD THESE MOLLUSKS IN THE RIVER THERE THAT THEY WOULD USE.
IT WAS FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
THEY ACTUALLY WOULD DIE GARMENTS FOR ROYALTY THERE.
AS LYDIA, A SELLER OF PURPLE HAS STILL GOT ALL OF HER BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, THAT'S THE
PLACE THAT THE PURPLE CAME FROM.
SO SHE GETS ON FIRE FOR GOD.
SHE GETS RADICALLY SAVED.
AND NO DOUBT, SHE'S GOING TO TAKE THE GOSPEL THROUGH HER BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS BACK INTO
ASIA MINOR.
IN FACT, IF YOU READ IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, ONE OF THE SEVEN INFLUENTIAL CHURCHES MENTIONED
IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOMAN WAS INVOLVED IN ESTABLISHING THAT CHURCH.
AND I THINK THE POINT IS IF WE'LL JUST TAKE CARE OF THE "THERE" GOD HAS FOR US, GOD WILL
SEE TO IT THAT THE OTHER "THERE'S" WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
LYDIA GETS SAVED.
A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM HER HOUSE, A PHILIPPIAN JAILER, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH HAS HAPPENED.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE CITY OF PHILIPPI, IT WAS STRATEGIC.
IT COMMANDED THE ROAD BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA NAMED AFTER PHILIP OF MACEDONIA, THE FATHER
OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
YOU CAN FIND SOME SECULAR HISTORIANS THAT WILL POINT TO THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA.
SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST EUROPEAN CONVERT.
THEY POINT TO HER CONVERSION AS THE TURNING POINT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
IT WAS LITERALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
BUT GOD WANTED THEM IN A SPECIFIC PLACE.
AND YOU KNOW, HIS DIRECTION DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO SPECTACULAR OR DRAMATIC AS A
VISION.
SOMETIMES, MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S FAR MORE SUBTLE.
WELL, I HOPE THAT YOU GOT SOMETHING OUT OF WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, IF SOMETHING STOOD OUT TO YOU IN THE MESSAGE, TAKE A MOMENT
AND THINK ABOUT IT.
DON'T LET THAT THOUGHT OR THAT TRUTH GET AWAY FROM YOU.
NOW, WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T FINISH THE MESSAGE.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A PART TWO SO YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK.
BUT, HEY, IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS I'M GOING TO COME BACK WITH A CLOSING THOUGHT BEFORE
WE SAY, GOOD-BYE.
WELL FRIEND, WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US TODAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A CLOSING THOUGHT.
I THINK AS MUCH AS WE ENDEAVOR TO ACCOMPLISH THE WILL OF GOD AND LIVE IN A WAY THAT'S
PLEASING TO HIM AND WALK IN THE PATHWAYS THAT HE HAS PREPARED FOR US, THE TRUTH IS WE ALL
MESS IT UP SOMETIMES.
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT HUMAN FACTOR.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, HEY, WHEN WE MESS UP GOD DOESN'T FALL OFF HIS THRONE AND GO,
"OH KNOW, YOU'VE MESSED EVERYTHING UP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START OVER.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE."
NO MY FRIEND, NOTHING TAKES HIM BY SURPRISE.
NOT OUR MISSTEPS; NOT OUR FAILURES.
AND GOD HAS AN AMAZING WAY OF GETTING US BACK ON TRACK; GETTING US IN THE PLACE THAT WE
NEED TO BE.
SO, IF YOU'VE TAKEN A WRONG STEP; IF YOU'VE MESSED THINGS UP, MY FRIEND, DO NOT LOSE HEART.
GOD HAS HIS HAND ON YOU.
HE'LL GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
THIS IS MORE ABOUT HIM THAN IT IS ABOUT US.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
WOMAN VO: NEXT WEEK ON ANSWERS WITH BAYLESS CONLEY:
I THINK, SOMETIMES, WE HYPER-SPIRITUALIZE EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK AS WE LEARN TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WAYS, IT HELPS US BECOME
NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL AND SUPERNATURALLY NATURAL.
THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A SENSE, HOWEVER SUBTLE IT MIGHT BE, EVEN IF IT'S LIKE A WISP OF PERFUME
ON THE BREEZE, TAKE A MOMENT, CONSIDER IT INSIDE, GET IN COMMUNION WITH YOUR OWN HEART.
SAY, "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
COULD THAT BE THE HOLY SPIRIT TALKING TO ME?"
WOMAN VO: FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION VISIT ANSWERSBC.ORG.
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