Unfamiliar Places

Unfamiliar Places

I love the Lord, I love life, my family, church family, and I love this church, with all of you. I am absolutely in love with living. When I wrote this it brought to mind an old Hippie song we used to sing at campfires.

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.”

Seems like I remember Jesus saying the same thing, just in a little different way.

Paul shared this with Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

I come to you this morning, in His name. To share some thoughts titled, “Unfamiliar Places”

Proverbs 3 is a book that defines the pursuit of, and the traits of wisdom. Wisdom is not the foundation of my message today, but when we come to understand the plan of God for our lives we will be wise from the experience.

2 Verses go with my thoughts, but I will read 12 from the KJV. Just too good to skip.

Proverbs 3:1-12 KJV

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

This would be a great message to read on a regular basis. Nothing in life is more encouraging than hearing the words of the Lord, and His commitment to His people. What an awesome story of His love, care, and concern for those who follow Him. Even when He corrects us, it is done in love, and because He loves.

Here are the two verses that begin my thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP

5 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

These passages held great importance to me as I was praying this week. Trusting in God. Looking beyond our narrow vision of life and destiny. Trusting God for direction and safety as we acknowledge His purpose, and walk in it.

Trusting and believing that where God will take us is infinitely better than anything we can imagine ourselves. “ In all your ways know ,and acknowledge, and recognize Him.”

You have heard me say often that God’s timing is different from ours. It is perfect. It considers every obstacle, failure, and tragedy. Every path we must take and the faith we need to walk it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Amplified

There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.

The Hebrew for the word purpose has a very interesting meaning. It is, “to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.”

So this passage is actually saying that when your season of time has come it will be a delight to be in. You will take pleasure in your purpose. Pleased with your life and what God is doing in you, with you, and for you.

I want to read the two verses again.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I read these again to remind us of how we must live every day, and also to remind you that before you experience this season of time. This time of peace, joy, delight, and pleasure in your purpose. These places that you are in are exactly where you want to be.

Most often before you reach this place, you will have to walk through unfamiliar places. Unfamiliar, “different; unaccustomed; unusual; strange”

Abraham became the father of Israel. Two things happened that put him in an unfamiliar place.

1^st, God told him to leave his homeland, his father, and go to the land of Canaan. Where is this place he may have thought. What will I do when I get there. It was an unfamiliar place for a seventy year old man to be.

2^nd, God promises that his seed would go forth in all the earth. He had no children. He had to wait 30 more years for Isaac. All that time, in an unfamiliar place.

David was a good shepherd. Protected his flock. God wanted him to be a king. He found himself in unfamiliar places. Giant, sought to be murdered by Saul. He walked these unfamiliar places before he could be king.

Peter was a good fisherman. Jesus wanted him to be a fisher of men. This was something unfamiliar. Something he didn’t understand until he was filled with the Spirit. He found his familiar place. Daniel was in captivity, but skilled in the high levels of government. Favored by the ruler of the land.

God put him in an unfamiliar place. By taking a stand for righteousness. Daniel’s purpose was to see visions from God. Write prophetically of end times, the Ancient of days and the Messiah. This was his purpose, but he had to first go through the lions den. His unfamiliar place.

“How did these people and many more find their purpose from these unfamiliar places?” It came from a very familiar principle.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

#inHisname