Inside Beauty Inspires
Inside Beauty Inspires takes on real life experiences and introduces the Word of God to help believers to navigate peaks and valleys fearlessly. Real, raw, & relevant, Inside Beauty Inspires seeks to unleash a fresh anointing in the atmosphere. Our goal is to connect our listeners to “the plug”, Christ Jesus, a savior who has paid the price for all of our sins and wants nothing more than to see His children win!
Inside Beauty Inspires
Faith in the Waiting
Have you ever found yourself caught in the gap between promise and fulfillment? That space where faith feels stretched thin and doubts creep in despite your best efforts to believe? This powerful episode delves into one of the most profound spiritual paradoxes we face: finding beauty not just in the blessing, but in the believing itself.
Drawing from the wells of wisdom in Proverbs 10, Hebrews 11, Isaiah 40, and Luke 1, we explore how faith operates as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. The biblical patriarchs and matriarchs didn't just receive God's promises—they believed them first, often waiting years or even lifetimes to see fulfillment. Their stories remind us that the waiting isn't wasted time; it's sacred ground where transformation happens.
When Elizabeth proclaimed to Mary, "You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said," she revealed a profound truth: the blessing isn't just in the receiving but in the believing itself. Think about it—what if the process that seems so painful right now is actually preparing you for something greater than you can imagine? What if your waiting season is actually a training ground?
This episode challenges us to shift our perspective and find the beauty in both the process and the promise. Whether you're currently in a season of active waiting or joyful receiving, you'll discover fresh encouragement to trust God's timing and celebrate the journey of faith. The beauty isn't just in what God gives—it's in who we become as we learn to believe His Word even before we see His hand move.
Join me in embracing this powerful truth: blessings and believing aren't enemies; they're partners in our spiritual journey. Let's learn to treasure both as we walk by faith, keeping our eyes on the One who is invisible yet ever-present in our lives.
New, new, new, everything new, new, new, new, new, new, everything new. I'm ready to go, ready for more. Welcome back to Inside. Beauty Inspires, the place where beauty is found in the word, and the word transforms lives. I am your host, prophetess Stephanie L Harrison, and today we're going deeper. Now.
Speaker 1:This episode is titled Blessings and Believing the Beauty of Both. And let's just pause for a moment and reflect. Can you see the beauty in believing even before the blessings arrive? Now I want us to think about blessings. You know, we get excited about the new job, we get excited about the healed body. We even get excited about the breakthroughs in our marriages, the answered prayers, but sometimes we forget that the blessing is the fruit of something planted long ago. It's easy to rejoice after the victory, but what about the process that took place in silence, the times you prayed, cried, fasted and trusted? That was the true beauty of believing.
Speaker 1:Now, what I want us to do is to find blessings for a moment. If we go to Proverbs 10, 22, the Bible says the blessings of the Lord make a person rich and he adds no sorrow with it. The blessings of the Lord makes a man rich and adds no sorrow with it. Now, you guys know how I am when it comes down to chapters in the Bible, I like to read them in their entirety. Um, because, again, we can learn so much, and I know that we've already gone over Proverbs 10 before, but hey, it's not a problem to go back over it, okay. So let's just start from the very beginning. And this is Solomon speaking. And you know, the reason why I want to talk about Solomon, about Solomon a little bit on today is because he gave insight on what it looks like to wait on the Lord. He gave insight on what wisdom truly looks like when it comes down to your children, when it comes down to your spouse, when it comes down to you, when it comes down to the fear of the Lord.
Speaker 1:Let's get into Proverbs, chapter 10. It says here the Proverbs of Solomon. A wise child brings joy to a father. A foolish child brings grief to a mother. Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the cravings of the wicked. Lazy people are soon poor. Hard workers get rich. A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during the harvest is a disgrace. The godly are showered with blessings.
Speaker 1:The words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. I don't want babbling fools fall flat on their faces. I don't want you guys to fall flat on your faces. So I need you guys to pay attention and to listen up To the words that are coming out of my mouth. Okay, People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow cricket paths will be exposed. People who wink at wrong causes trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace. The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain. The words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
Speaker 1:Hatred steers up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod Yikes. Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster. The wealth of the rich is their fortress. The poverty of the poor is their destruction. The earnings of the godly enhances their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin. People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. Hiding hatred makes you a liar. Slandering others makes you a fool. Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
Speaker 1:The words of the godly are like sterling silver the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their own lack of common sense. The godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their own lack of common sense. The blessings of the Lord makes a person rich and he adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
Speaker 1:The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled. The hopes of the godly will be granted. When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. Lazy people irritate their employers like vinegar to the teeth or like smoke in the eyes. Fear of the Lord lengthens one's life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land. The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but let's just talk about it, because again, there's something, when it comes down to the book of Proverbs, there's something that we can all gain. What is that one thing that we can all gain? Wisdom. We can all gain wisdom.
Speaker 1:Now, solomon describes the human life as a walk. All people move through life like a walk. Yet not all people walk through life in the same way. Some do in crooked and perverse ways, while others walk uprightly, and the way in which they walk is influenced not by their aptitude or ability, but by their companion along a long life's journey, but by their companion along life's journey. Those who walk with God follow him into paths of righteousness. Those who do not walk with him follow the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom and of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Speaker 1:Now, godly men and women of faith are singled out as those who walk with God. For example, enoch walked faithfully with God and was taken by God directly to his presence at the end of his life. Noah, who was spared the destruction brought about by the flood, was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Likewise, abraham trusted God and walked with him, though he did not know where he was going. In Jesus's day, his disciples literally walked with him as they followed him to fish for people and as the good shepherd, god knows how best to lead his people to the green pastures and still waters. His children know his voice and follow his leadership because they know that he guides them into the path of life.
Speaker 1:So, in essence, it is impossible to walk with God apart from Jesus. It is impossible to walk with God apart from Jesus. It is impossible to walk with God apart from Jesus. All people, by virtue, are their inborn sin nature, live counter to God's wisdom and are unwilling to follow his leadership. Jesus was the only man who ever followed God's path perfectly. He walked with God each day and each moment of each day. He earned a righteous standing before the Father more than sinners could ever produce on their own. And it's by grace he gives his righteous standing to his followers, who are seen by God as having lived the upright life. God demands this gift of righteousness, then motivates and mobilizes God's people to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, with God as their constant companion throughout life's journey.
Speaker 1:Now, everybody has a choice, though. Right, everybody has a choice, and when I think about the choice that people make, they typically are making the choice to walk outside of God's will. They're not including him or his son in their everyday life. Now, the verse that I want to focus on in Proverbs 10 is the blessing of the Lord, make this one rich, and he has no sorrow with it. Blessings are God given and they don't just show up. They are cultivated in our hearts before they appear in our hands. But we have to choose him. We have to choose him.
Speaker 1:The point that I'm making here is that most people don't choose to live God's way. They lean to their own understanding and instead of leaning to the understanding of the father, or trusting rather the father, they trust their own self. They trust what they can see, and you know, when it's talking about faith, that's a faith walk. You're trusting and believing in something that you cannot see. Jesus was the only perfect man to ever walk this world, to ever walk this planet and do verbatim what the father asked him to do, and that's why he is the savior of the world. Now, there's power in believing. You know, as I was speaking about some of the people that have gone on to be with the Lord, we touched on Enoch, we talked about Noah, we touched on Abraham, which brings me to Hebrews 11.
Speaker 1:Let's go over here to Hebrews 11, because I want to make a point based off of this book here. Hebrews 11. It's actually Hebrews 11, verse 1. And you know, I look at numbers like this Anytime. I see a synchrony of numbers all together, I know that the Father is speaking. So take heed to this word Hebrews 11, verse 1. And this is what it says.
Speaker 1:Faith shows the reality of what we hope for, is the evidence of things we cannot see. Faith shows the reality of what we hope for. It is the evidence of the things that we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in the days of old earned a good reputation. Now I want to go over Hebrews 11 as well. Y'all know, spirit of the Lord is here and we let God have his way, amen. Now, through their faith, the people in the days of old earned a good reputation.
Speaker 1:By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command and that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying. He disappeared because God took him, for before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God, and it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seeks him. I definitely have to give a shout out to the ladies of ISI. We seek God every single day, every single morning, 6 am, and I always give them a shout out because I wouldn't know the things that I know if it were not for them trusting in me being the leader, the teacher of the prayer call. Eight years is a long time, but to see the fruit, my God, that's the most rewarding part of this journey, amen. So shout out to the ladies of ISIC. You guys, I want to thank you guys, you know, just for believing in me and for believing in the Father and getting up each and every morning seeking his face with me. And the reason why I had to say that y'all is because it literally says here in verses and it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seeks him.
Speaker 1:Verse seven it was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith, noah condemned the rest of the world and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going and even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith, for he was like a foreigner living in tents, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.
Speaker 1:Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that even Sarah was able to receive, to have a child, though she was barren, she was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead, a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had loaned for the country they came from, they could have gone back, but they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a place, a city, for them.
Speaker 1:It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him, abraham, who had received God's promise, was ready to sacrifice his only son, isaac, even though God had told him Isaac is the son through whom your descendants would be counted. Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, god was able to bring him back to life again and, in a sense, abraham did receive his son back from the dead. It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his son, jacob and Esau. It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
Speaker 1:It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months. When he was born, they saw that God had given them an unusual child and they were not afraid to disobey their king's command. It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the opposition of God's people. Instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin, he thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. And I want to say that again he kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so the angel of the death would not kill their firstborn sons. It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned. It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days and the walls came crashing down. It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God, for she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Speaker 1:How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, barak, samson, japheth, david, samuel and all the prophets. By faith, these people overthrew kingdoms ruled with justice and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle, put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death, but others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
Speaker 1:Some were jeered at and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prison. Some died jeered at and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prison. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half and others were killed with a sword. Some went about wearing skin of sheep and goat, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world. Wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves, holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith. Yet none of them received all that God had promised, for. God has something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. We have a good father. Yes, we do. We have a good father. Yes, we do.
Speaker 1:I want you to think about for those that are Bible scholars out there, for those that are just now getting into the Word we do. I want you to think about, for those that are Bible scholars out there, for those that are just now getting into the word. We know the book of Genesis. We know Adam and Eve. We know about Abraham, isaac and Jacob. We know about these things that have been written. Now, when we go to the New Testament in Hebrews, they're speaking about the things that are written, that were written, and they're speaking about the faith that these patriarchs had during that time.
Speaker 1:Now let's just talk about believing, because faith is believing without seeing. Believing is clinging to the promise of God, even when the process doesn't make sense. Even when the process doesn't make sense Again, we know that Abraham was told to go to a place that and you know, typically when we're told to go to a place, we need our GPS system or we need directions, but Abraham had to follow the voice of God. See, god was speaking then during that time Think about it there wasn't a Bible that Abraham was looking at. He was listening and he heard the voice of God. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Believing is active. It looks like worshiping in the wilderness, praying while waiting, and praising in the prison. Think about Abraham believing for Isaac. Think about Mary believing before Jesus was even born.
Speaker 1:And then I have to think about myself believing the restoration and the healing and the answers that God has given me in the battle of waiting, in the process of pursuit. God is who he says he is. He did send his son, and the beauty isn't just in what you receive. It is in who you become after you believe. Oh, my God, let me tell you something God can do a transformation from the inside out. That's where transformation starts. Transformation from the inside out. That's where transformation starts from the inside out. So many people think that they can copy and paste and make it look like they're getting it. Baby, this is a real thing and there's nothing like the real thing. It's in your believing. That's where you find restoration, that's where you see healing, that's where you see the promises of God come to fruition. You know, even through Hebrews 11, I just read this I want us to think about the book of Hebrews. I want us to think about the faith that those that have gone on to be with the Lord had.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about faith. Faith is an intense form of trust, and people's relationship with God has always operated on the basis of faith. Time and time again, all throughout the Bible, salvation is found in the same way Trusting God's promises by faith and then following God's commands. Hebrews 11 looks at faith through the lens of the stories of the people who live their lives by faith in God. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, and these biblical characters were commended for having such faith, understanding that faith was necessary to please God. In faith, abel offered a costly sacrifice, enoch lived in a way that pleased God, noah obeyed divine warnings and built a giant ark, having never seen a drop of rain Talk about that. And Abraham left his hometown of Urb and went out, not knowing where God was leading him. Sarah bore Isaac in her old age, and the stories continue on and on.
Speaker 1:The writer of Hebrews makes the point that many Old Testament people of faith trusted God for power and victory, and they refused to compromise their faith in God, even in the midst of life-threatening circumstances. Some of these faithful people died without having received what God had promised. Some had to find a consolation in the fact that they would not realize the full blessings of God until they entered heaven. Other people powerfully experienced God's strength and deliverance, and their testimony of deliverance still stands. But many others, despite their implicit trust in God, experienced torture, mocking, beatings, imprisonment, stoning, destitution and affliction. These are the people of whom the world was not worthy. These are the people of whom the world was not worthy. Because of the examples of these faithful ones, we should be motivated to lay aside every weight that threatens to slow us down in our pursuit of God's kingdom. When we do, we'll be much better able to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, looking to Jesus as our ultimate example of determination and faithfulness. All of God's promises are kept in Jesus. Every promise that God made to these people in the Old Testament looked ahead to Jesus by believing the promise, these people were made right with God. Every promise God makes to people in the New Testament also looks to Jesus, whose work enables the blessings of God to come to people. In every case, god's promises are kept in Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about it a little bit more, because here's the bottom line. I can only speak for myself. I can only speak for the things that God has done in my life. It was by faith that I believed, and God showed himself mighty in the land of the living. When I started the prayer call, I didn't know what was going to come out of it, but, my God, I'm able to tell people it's in the word. I'm able to tell people start reading the word. I'm able to tell people start reading your word. Get a relationship with the father. Everything that you want, everything that you need, you can find it in the word, but it's in belief of his son. He's not looking. That's why you can't boast about works. It's all in the belief. And you know. We read something. He said he kept his eyes on he who was invisible. When we keep our eyes on he who is invisible, we see something that the world cannot give and the world cannot take away. They try to, but the Savior, our Savior, reigns. The Spirit of the Lord is here. Now let me be real with you.
Speaker 1:There was a season where I was believing God for something deeply personal. I had no evidence, no sign and no support, just a word. I remember it was prophetess JoLynn Whitaker. I spoke with her years ago and she prophesied things into my life that my life looked nothing like what she said. Here I am in 2025. Prophetess Deborah she came into my life about seven years ago prophesied things to me in my life that I had no clue how it was going to come to pass In 2025, I can promise you, I'm living everything that both of those prophetess stated to me and became a prophetess myself because God was calling me.
Speaker 1:You see, you have to trust God when you don't know what else to do, because, number one, it is written. And remember asking the Lord. Am I crazy for still believing that's one, it is written. And remember asking the Lord. Am I crazy for still believing that's something that you will do? And the truth of the matter is no, you are not crazy. You are consistent, and that's what it takes when it comes down to faith consistency, consistency, consistency, reading this word, seeking God's face, never letting up, never stop, never quitting. And I got the reward.
Speaker 1:And, sis, when the blessing came, it wasn't even a blessing that made me weep. It was the journey of belief that brought me to my knees. I saw his hand. More importantly, I knew his heart, because I knew that what God had for me knew what God had for me was for me. I wasn't trying to, I wasn't trying to have messed up intentions. People have intentions that are not pure and my intentions have been pure the entire time.
Speaker 1:I've been seeking his face because I just wanted to know. I just wanted to know it had to be a better way to life. I'm looking outside at the world and I see people that say they believe they have messed, corrupt hearts that are evil, have evil intentions. It made me not want to have anything to do with the world or the world's ways. So I wanted to know what God's ways were like. I wanted to know what God's words said and I started seeking his face.
Speaker 1:You know, I came across a scripture that stays in my heart to this very day. It's Jeremiah 33, verse three, and it says call to me and I will answer you and I will tell you things that you do not know. And that's what I did. I called to my father, the same thing that I'm telling you on today. I pray that you hear me by the spirit of the Lord. It's a journey. It's a journey, it's a process. You know it's not a, it's not a skate. You know I tell people this is no, you can't, you can't skate, you have to walk it out. It's a process, amen. Now let's be honest. What do you do when the blessings don't come right away, when you're praying for the healing, the child, the open door and nothing is moving? That's where the beauty of believing gets tested. That's where the beauty of believing gets tested. That's where the beauty of believing gets tested.
Speaker 1:Let's go to Isaiah 40, verse 31,. But y'all know how I am Isaiah 40, but I'm going to state what what Isaiah 40, verse 31 says. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall renew their strength, shall renew their strength. They shall renew their strength. See, when you go to waiting on God to do a thing, it's not in vain. It will come to pass. You just have to stay, you have to be still and know that his words is real, that his word will not return void. Let's go to Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40. Isaiah is one of those books too. Y'all, you get a chance. Get into it. You will definitely enjoy it. Now listen Isaiah 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God, speak tenderly to Jerusalem, tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned.
Speaker 1:Now I don't know who you are, but I feel this very, very strong and I need you to receive your word today. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all of her sins.
Speaker 1:But listen, it's the voice of someone shouting clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord. Make a straight highway to the wasteland for our God. It's the voice of someone shouting. The Lord has spoken. A voice said shout. I asked what should I shout? Shout that people are like grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flower fades beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. But the word of our God stands forever.
Speaker 1:Oh Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops. Shout it louder. Oh Jerusalem, shout and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah your God is coming. Yes, the sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flocks like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Speaker 1:Who else has held the oceans in his hands? Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or the weight of the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instructions about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. There are nothing more than dust on scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. All the wood in Labian's forest, all the Labian's animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. The nations of the world are worthy or worth nothing to him. In his eyes, they count for less than nothing, mere emptiness and for froth.
Speaker 1:To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? Can he be compared to an idol, formed in a mold, overlaid with gold and decorated with silver chains, or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won't decay and enskilled crafts to carve an image that won't fall down. Haven't you heard? Don't you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God, the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him, and I got to tell y'all this for real God used to call me grasshopper, god used to call me grasshopper, and I hear him say okay, grasshopper, okay, grasshopper.
Speaker 1:Cause I would always be asking him questions, like when I was a child. I remember saying it's true story, dad, what's the purpose of ants? Like, what is the purpose of ants? Because I lived in the country, honey, and in the country they would have these ant hills, honey. They would have these big old ant hills and I would just and if they bite you, oh, oh, my God. But I would sit there and he was like oh little, oh little grasshopper. Oh, young grasshopper, there's so much for you to learn. Oh, little grasshopper, I got to teach you some things. These ants keep moving. Never knew that this was in scripture. Never knew that grass, never knew that they actually look at us as grasshoppers. So I had to stop and just give that notion like. That's how real he is and does he speak Absolutely so. It says here, verse 22,.
Speaker 1:God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him. He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like shaft. To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? Ask the Holy One. Look up into heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by his name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength. Not a single one is missing.
Speaker 1:Oh Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your trouble? Oh Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired and young men will fall in exaltation. But not exaltation, exhaustion, sorry. Even young men will fall in exhaustion, but those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Speaker 1:Now, boy, boy, boy, isaiah 40 is something else. Huh, yes, it is. It tells you, and that's daddy speaking. Right, that's our daddy speaking. Waiting is not wasted. Waiting is not wasted when it's done in worship. Your waiting season is training ground. It's preparation for what you are praying for. So don't give up in the gap. Understand God sees, god hears and he moves, even when you don't see him. Now you heard it in Isaiah 40. You do know he was speaking about John the Baptist. Yes, he was speaking about John the Baptist because there was a voice calling and he was already spoken, this in existence. That's why you would think and this is the God honest truth I really would think that people would believe, just based off of scripture alone, because it's all intertwined.
Speaker 1:But the problem is most people are not reading their word. Let me just say it. They're not reading their word and when they're not reading their word. You say my sheep perish for lack of knowledge. Okay, there's knowledge in this word. The knowledge that the Father is speaking about is his word. The Spirit of the Lord is here.
Speaker 1:Now, one word that I see and I'm not going too off track, but just hear me by the Spirit of the Lord, one word that I see as I was reading, that was comfort, comfort. Comfort is a powerful thing, especially when a person's situation is dire. That's precisely the kind of situation in which the Babylon exiles found themselves. Because of their unfaithfulness to the Lord, they had been stripped of their land, their temple and their very identity, and yet the prophet spoke to them this message of comfort. Though they were far away from the homeland, though they were in exile, though they might have been filled with fear and apprehension about the future, god had not forgotten them. Neither had his plan for redemption been put aside. You do know that the spirit of the Lord is here and he's speaking to you about your situation as well. The comfort offer here is better than physical return to their homeland and greater than a restoration of the temple. The comfort God offers is that he will someday meet them in the form of the suffering servant, the one who will become their great king. And though some of the people would indeed return to their homeland, this was just a foretaste of the greater homecoming that awaited them. This was just a foretaste of the greater homecoming that awaited them and that awaits all of God's people when they will dwell with him for all of eternity.
Speaker 1:Just as Isaiah announced the circumstance, the situation and the comfort to the people of Judah, so came John the Baptist later, hurdling the way of Jesus Christ. John's cry was that a ruler was coming from the desert, from a distant land, and that the people should prepare the way for the glory of the Lord to be revealed in Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ. So you see, everything that the word of God spoke about, it came to pass, everything that's written in this word came straight from the throne. God is a way maker, a miracle worker, a light in the darkness. That is who he is, which brings me to Luke one. Now, of course, I've given. I've given this word before and I'm giving it today because this is what the Lord has me doing, okay, but I want you to go to Luke one, because here's the here, here's what the Lord showed me.
Speaker 1:Blessings and believing are not enemies, they're partners. Blessings and believing are not enemies, they are partners. They believe that the believing builds you, the blessings confirm you, the believing builds you, the blessings confirm you. Together, they reflect the full picture of God's goodness. Let's Now. Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They use the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Speaker 1:When Herod was king of Judah, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive and they were both very old. One day, zachariah was serving God in the temple, for his order was on duty. That week, as was the custom of the priest, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.
Speaker 1:While Zachariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the incense altar. Zachariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw. But the angel said don't be afraid, zachariah. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, elizabeth will give you a son. You are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth and he will turn many Israelites to the Lord, their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.
Speaker 1:Zechariah said to the angel how can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now and my wife is also well along in years. Then the angel said I am Gabriel. I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news. But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time. Now, don't miss it. Don't miss it because he didn't believe. Okay, he questioned, he doubted, and so you know there are circumstances and consequences that comes along when you don't believe. He couldn't say anything. He had to be quiet until the baby was born.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why it was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary Now. When Zachariah's week of service in the temple was over, he returned home. Soon.
Speaker 1:Afterwards, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. How kind the Lord is, she exclaimed. He has taken away my disgrace of having no children. He has taken away my disgrace of having no children. Okay, in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, god sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said Greetings, favorite woman. The Lord is with you.
Speaker 1:Confused and disturbed, mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Don't be afraid, mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. Don't be afraid, mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great, will be called the son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor, david, and he will reign over Israel forever. His kingdom will never end. Mary asked the angel. But how can this happen? I am a virgin. The angel replied the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy and will be called the son of God. I'm gonna say it again and I want you guys to pick up what I'm putting down. The angel replied the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy and will be called the son of God. What's more, your relative, elizabeth has become pregnant. In her old age, people used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month, for the word of God will never fail. Mary responded I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her.
Speaker 1:A few days later, mary hurried to the hill country of Judah, to the town where Zachariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary's greeting, elizabeth's child leaped within her and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Okay, now you see how come John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit. I know it's making sense because listen, it is written OK.
Speaker 1:Elizabeth gave a great cry and exclaimed to Mary God has blessed you, above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that? Enough that the mother of my Lord should visit me. When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believe that the Lord would do what he said. You are blessed because you believe that the Lord would do what he said. I'm going to say it one more time for the people in the back you are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. Now I can keep going. I could. I could keep going. As a matter of fact, I will. I keep going. I keep going because I can just really start right here, because the God, honest truth, this is the reason for the word today, that phrase right there, you are blessed because you believe that the Lord would do what he said.
Speaker 1:So many people doubt this word, so many people doubt the people of God, doubt the children of God, doubt the anointing of God. I'm here to tell you. It is real. He is real. His son is real. Listen to what Mary says. Mary responded oh, how my soul praises the Lord, how my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for he took notice of his lowly servant girl and from now on, all generations will be called blessed, for the mighty one is holy and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things. He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes and from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful, for he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever.
Speaker 1:Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her home when it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born. She gave birth to a son, and when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, they came out for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zachariah after his father, but Elizabeth said no, his name is John. What they exclaimed? There's no one in all your family by that name. So they used gestures to ask the baby's father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet and, to everyone's surprise, he wrote his name is John. Instantly he wrote his name is John. Instantly Zachariah could speak again and he began praising God.
Speaker 1:All fell upon the whole neighborhood and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Juden Hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked what will this child turn out to be, for the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way, for the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. Then his father, zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty savior from the royal line of his servant, david, just as he promised and through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hates us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant, the covenant he swore in oath to our ancestors, abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness as long as we live. And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the most high because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell the people how to find salvation through forgiveness of sin. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace. John grew up and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness and began his ministry. And until he began his, until he began his public ministry to Israel public ministry to Israel.
Speaker 1:Now, I got excited while reading that word. I got excited about reading that word because, at the end of the day, luke 1 gives the beautiful illustration of the promise God has said he was bringing to us. From Isaiah 40 to Proverbs. There is wisdom in this word. There's wisdom and knowledge. There's wisdom in fear of God, but it's not found in doubt. Doubt dilutes your faith. That's why I gave all of these examples. That's why I went to Hebrews 11, because I wanted you to understand.
Speaker 1:These prophets spoke of the things that we are, we are encountering in today's society. Now, no, we don't go through the same things verbatim that they went through during that time. But when you read the word of God, you're able to see your circumstances and situations all throughout this word. So I ask will you trust him before the door opens? Can you praise before the promise shows up? That's where the real beauty is when you choose to believe anyway. When you choose to believe anyway.
Speaker 1:Now let's talk about some things that we can do going forward. Let's speak some truths together. Repeat after me I believe, even when I don't see, I trust God in the waiting. I am blessed because I believe my promise is already assigned to me. There is beauty in both the waiting and the receiving. Bow your heads. We're going to go for prayer, heavenly Father. Lord, I just want to say thank you for reminding us today that both the blessing and the believing are beautiful in your sight. Strengthen the one listening who is weary, god. Refresh the heart that feels forgotten, father, and restore faith in the one who's been silently waiting and who seems to not understand that the promise is in the waiting.
Speaker 1:Heavenly Father, we know that you are the author and the finisher of our faith and we choose to trust you in every step of the way, no matter the circumstances or situations that we're going through. God, strengthen us where we're weak. Build us up where we're broken. Show yourself mighty in the land of the living. We know that our Messiah lives. We know that our Savior lives. We know that our Father lives. We know that it's only by grace, god and Lord, we ask for forgiveness for when we did doubt. We ask for forgiveness of sin when we didn't believe. We thank you, we repent and we turn, and we ask that you show us the way, you show us which way to go, and we know that it's in your son. Your son is the way, the truth and the life. You said in your word whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. So, heavenly Father, I ask that you seal this word with your precious blood and with the son of the son of the lamb, the lamb of the son of the lamb. I ask all of these things and yes, son Jesus, mighty and matchless name, amen, amen. In Jesus name, amen. Listen, I truly hope that you are blessed by this word. I pray to hear from you.
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