Fresh Outlook Blog
Welcome to the page where our Pastors get to talk about whatever is on their heart. We pray that the thoughts that are shared with you on this page will be a blessing to you.
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Double for Your Trouble in a Covid-19 World
By: Rocky Oliver
Zechariah 9:12 (NKJV)
Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.
I am sure that you have heard the expression, “When life throws lemons at you, make lemonade!” Well, I want you to know that when the devil throws lemons at you, God Himself will make lemonade for you! After all, the Bible says in Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for your good.
And He does it with style - He restores double for your trouble! If you have lost a husband or wife through divorce, or a precious child through death, God can restore double to you, so that you end up having more than before, if not in quantity, then in quality!
Consider Job in the Old Testament. When he lost everything, his wife told him to curse God and die. He refused and, instead, responded to God in faith, and we are told in Job 42:10 that “the Lord gave to Job twice as much as he had before”.
When David lost the child he had with Bathsheba, he stopped pleading and started worshiping God because he trusted in the mercies of God. Later, God blessed David and Bathsheba with another son named Solomon, who became the wisest and richest king the world has ever known.
Today, God promises to restore double for your trouble - “Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” If He declared it, He will do it! So you must have hope that things will be even better than before. That is why in the same verse, He calls you “prisoners of hope”. Understand that hope in the biblical sense means a confident expectation of good things happening in your life. You are a prisoner of that! You can’t help but wake up feeling hopeful. You can’t help but expect good things to happen to you!
So when trouble comes from the devil, don’t give up and say, “It is hopeless!” Don’t worry or get angry. Worship God like David did and see that trouble as an opportunity for God to bless you with more than what you originally had. And because God has declared it, be confident that you will get double for your trouble!
God Is Willing
By: Denise Oliver
Did you know that you can rely on God's goodness? God is good and God is willing. No matter what you are facing today you can go to Him in prayer and trust Him and His willingness.One of the best descriptions or definitions of God's grace I have ever heard is: God's willingness to use His power and His ability on your behalf even though you do not deserve it. Most of the time Christians go to God in prayer on the basis of their worthiness. If that is the case no one would get their answer to prayer! Everything we receive from God starting with salvation is through grace. We see Father God's heart through His Word and particularly through 3 John 2, Beloved, I wish or desire above all things that you would prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. The word salvation in the original text refers to healing, safety, soundness, and to rescue from danger and destruction. Romans 8:32 says, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things? Do you feel like your prayer life consists of trying to talk God into something? Rest assured that God is for you!Romans 8:31 declares, If God be for us who can be against us? By Grace through Faith we receive from God. Through faith and prayer mighty things can happen because of a gracious and loving Father.Go to Him today in prayer from a position of victory to a gracious God who in 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ...
BE A BRIGHT SHINING EXAMPLE OF HIS LOVE, GRACE, AND WILLINGNESS TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD!
May His Goodness be put on display in your life today!
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If you enjoyed these messages, have a question or a comment, let us know at roliver@rockyoliverministries.com.