Venture Through

What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan?

In this message we explore how challenges, disagreements and closed doors are often part of the journey of faith. Instead of stopping us, they can redirect us toward God’s bigger purpose.

Through the story of the early church and the perseverance of people who kept going despite opposition, we are reminded that God can use even the most difficult seasons to position us for something greater. When we trust His leading and keep moving forward, what looks like a barrier can become the doorway to new opportunity.

Transcript

Morning, church. How are we doing today? Praise God. Well, let's begin with a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we just want to thank you for the opportunity to be in your presence.

We thank you for this church. We thank you for what you're doing. We thank you that, Lord, you've given us the opportunity to be part of this great work. And so we pray that you will go ahead of us and order our steps. Thank you for everyone here.

Lord God almighty, I pray. Excuse me. I pray that anyone that walked in here with a burden, Lord, your word says that it shall come to pass in the day. In that day, the burden will be lifted and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing. Holy Spirit, have your way in this place.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we have prayed. Amen. Glory be to God. Glory be to God. You're looking so good this morning.

I love your smiles.

We've been tracking along in this new series, a Journey through Acts. And as I was saying in the previous service, the Book of Acts is quite a powerful chapter. It's very captivating. It's transformative. And whenever I read A Book of Acts, I'm inspired because.

Not because of what took place, but what God can do through us when we make ourselves available through the Holy Spirit. And in this series, Pastor Mark began by sharing with us that when we venture, we venture with, to start with venturing with the Holy Spirit. Because without God, we can do nothing. The Holy Spirit leads us. And the word of God says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons or daughters of God.

It's for the Spirit best witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. Deep calls unto deep. There's something about God's spirit connecting with your spirit. And so we're venturing out with the Holy Spirit.

But you can't venture out only with the Holy Spirit. You also need people to venture with. And so God sends people like you and I for the work that he's given to us. When you look in the scriptures, when Moses was building the TABernacle, there were two men, one by the name of Holiab and one by the name Bezaleel. These men were full of wisdom.

They were skilled. They were the ones that helped to build. So Moses had a parting. God given parting. But these men were skilled, you know, craftsmen that helped to build.

So we venture with teams. And then last week, Pastor John talked about venturing out. And so as we venture out into groundbreaking scenarios, groundbreaking, you know, opportunities like Paul and on his first missionary trip. Now, today, my assignment is to talk to you about venturing through. So you ventured with.

You ventured out, but then you come to a place where you're like, where do we go from here? You're encountering opposition, challenges. And the question is, how do you descend between a door that God has opened, yet interwoven with challenges, with opposition and wonder? You know, God has close. How do you descend between the two?

70 years ago, an organization by the name open door started. And it started with a step, as with every journey. A young man by the name Andrew, who was in a missionary school, was being trained in a missionary school in Scotland, came across a magazine. And in the magazine, they were promoting a festival. And the festival was a festival for a socialist movement for young people.

And he noticed that they had millions of members. I found it very intriguing because he was thinking, you know, even in the church, just to get people to meet in small groups was a challenge. And so he thought, how come you have millions of young people who meet? And not only that this group would meet, like every two to three years was a big festival. So Andrew noticed that the next meeting was in Europe, and of course, in most of the places that they had been meeting, he was not familiar with.

And the meeting was every two to three years. And so I decided to write to them, and in words somewhat similar to this, he wrote to them saying, I would like to come to your. Use the word manifestation. I would like to come to your meeting, as it were. But I am a Christian, and when I come, I will behave as a Christian.

Well, you thought, period, they're not going to respond to my letter anyway because it comes across, you've already bent your bridges by saying, hey, I'm a Christian. I'll behave as a Christian. But alas, he got a response when the response was, you are welcome. You can come and you can do as a Christian wants to do. You can do what you want, and you can come as a Christian.

So he thought, wow, this is a very great opportunity for me. So he decided to. Now, for some of us that are a bit old school, this is before the chatgpt generation. Some of us remember tracts, where we used to go out and give tracts and we tell people about Jesus. So brother Andrew gathered a lot of tracts, and then he would gather some bibles and get, you know, some of the bibles that was in the language because the festival was taking place in Warsaw in Poland.

And when he got there, he noticed that the young people were assertive. They were confident, they were militant. They were passionate about what they were doing. And then he said, he taught himself, every knee must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus is Lord. And he was asking God, what do I do?

And he came into this revelation, a scripture. In Revelation 3. Two, where the Scripture says, awake, strengthen what remains, which is at the point of death. And that was the inspiration that gave Brother Andrew, the inspiration that he got and said, I will go. And over the decades, he would go into communist countries by sharing the Word.

And he earned the name God's smuggler. What a name. But Brother Andrew inspires me because, and I think about his story, I drew a parallel between that and the story of Paul and Barnabas because he obeyed. He went, he stepped out, he took that step. Now, as we read from Acts, chapter 15, from verse 35 to 41, there is a narrative there.

And the narrative is Paul and Barnabas. They stayed in Antioch preaching and teaching the word of the Lord. And the Bible says, and with many others who were with them. And after some days, Paul says to Barnabas, hey, let's go visit the brethren that are in the cities that we've preached the word of the Lord to and see how they are doing. Now, we don't use the word brethren.

Possibly, I mean, now to make it contemporary. He might have said something like, let's go see the bros, you know, in the cities that we preach to. And so he pushed out a suggestion. But Barnabas was determined to go with John, called Mark. And Paul insisted, no, we're not going with John called Mark or John Mark, because John, Mark, he departed from us when we got to Pamphylia.

And so he didn't go with us to do the work. And so the scripture says that there was a sharp contention. That sharp contention triggered them to go, depart and go in different ways. So you had Barnabas go with John Mark. They traveled down to Cyprus, Paul and Portugal, Silas.

And then they traveled down to Syria and Cilicia. And when we think about it, you know, it's quite interesting because Paul was ready to step out of the comfort zone. And as soon as he said, let's go to preach and visit the churches that we preach the word of God to, they began to have contention, challenges. And let me just say this. You know, there are times where you know that God has given you a mission, an assignment.

You step into God's purpose. But then the challenges start coming against you and it starts to boast against your faith, your trust, your confidence in God. It's a bit like when Jesus said, let's go to the other side. And when they started tracking onto the other side, a storm arose. And I found out that as I, you know, learned from time to time that it's a feature of life.

However, we will not be distracted by it because we know that if God. Romans 8:31. If God be for us, who can be against us? And so they track along and they go into the city preaching the word of God. In Acts chapter 16, it says that when Paul and Silas came, they came into the cities.

They came into Derbe and Lystra, and there they met Timothy. Isn't that interesting? In spite of the challenges? That was when Paul met Timothy, a young, you know, disciple whose father was Greek, his mother was Jewish. And so the Bible says that Paul got him circumcised because of the Jews that were in the region.

And then they went around and they delivered all the decrees that the apostles, the elders had determined. And the Bible says that the churches were strengthened because they took that step. And so they take that step, and he goes back into Lystra. Now, last week, Pastor John talked about, made reference to Lystra. Lystra is a place where they preach the Gospel.

A layman got healed, and now they began to deify them, began to worship them as gods, small G O D s and then we call one Zeus and they call one Hermes. And then the Jews organized, stirred up the crowds to stone them. In fact, they stoned Paul. They left him for dead. Some of all these challenges were there, but Paul still went.

And as I was preparing this, it dawned on me that one of the most difficult things to do is to go back to the place where you failed, a place where you've had a challenge, a place where you've experienced your experiences, haven't been so good, but, you know, that's where you got to go. And you take that step. All kinds of things you have that, you know, like you're taking off, you have that gravitational pull as you're taking off, that thing is pulling you down. But with God, all things are possible. So let's look at some of the things that Paul faced.

An overview. First, he had the dispute over circumcision. Acts chapter 15 from verse one to two. It says that. And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, unless you are circumstanced according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of Them should go to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about discretion. So that was one of the positions that, you know, Paul faced. And then also you have the tension when it came to the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15:5. But it says for some of the sect of the Pharisees who believe rose up saying it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law. So again, there was, you know, contention there.

We look at the disagreement between, you know, Paul and Barnabas. Now, this was a relational issue there. But I just wanted to say to somebody here, opposition isn't the end of the story. Because in God's hands, it becomes preparation, positioning for something greater.

When sometimes you feel that you're going through a difficult patch or the doors have closed on you, or maybe, you know, try something, didn't work, and then God is the one that shut the door on you. I shared this in the last service. I said, maybe you can resonate. This might resonate with you where you try to do something and the doors have closed. Every time the doors close, close, close, closing on you.

And then years down the line, you look back and you're like, God, thank you for closing that door. So thank God for closed doors, and thank God for open doors. Because we are inscribed in the palm of God's hands and our walls are continually before him. He knows, he sees, he hears. So in God's hands, we are being prepared, we are being positioned for something greater.

I can just imagine Paul being faced with these closed doors, separation from Barnabas, the disappointment. Somebody that he preached the gospel with, spent quality time with, not sharp contention. They decided to go separate ways.

And then this one was on a human level. But when they came into the region of Galicia and Phrygia, they wanted to go preach the gospel in Asia. And the scripture says that they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit. Again, they tried to go further, you know, from the areas of Mysia into Bithynia. Again, the Holy Spirit did not permit them to go.

But in the places where the Holy Spirit did not permit them to go, as they traveled down from Mysia and came to Troas, it was in Troas that at nighttime, Paul receives a vision. And in the vision, he sees a man that comes to him, pleading with him, saying, come over to Macedonia to help us.

God knows. God sees God. He has the plan, the master plan, if only we will align ourselves with him. And so he gets this vision and he changes course. And they began to make their way towards the Macedonian region.

And so the relational issue with Barnabas. I was forbidden to preach in Asia. I prevented from entering Bithynia. In all of it, Paul never gave up. So what are the lessons that we can learn from this?

The first lesson is God is with us. No matter the challenges we face, he's with us. That's why you and I are still standing. That's why you and I can even lift up hands and say, praise God and call his name, Yahweh. God is with us.

That's why you can wake up in the morning in spite of the challenges. You're like, I'm going again.

That's why you have breath in your nostrils, in your lungs. Because God is with us no matter the challenges we face. And let me add this.

At the end of the story will be God's glory.

Because God will not share his glory with no one. He will make the things that look. He will use the things that are despised, the things that look weak, the things that people you know, look down on. That's what he will use. So your story is being cooked in heaven.

Jesus Christ, your story is being cooked. And when it's being served, my God, many will come and celebrate with you. I believe that's for somebody here.

God will lead us through opposition.

By you, Lord, I can run against the truth. By you, I can leap over walls. By you, God. By you, God.

And let me just encourage you, close doors, redirect us to God's better plan. There is a better plan. There is a better way. God has something better in store. You're going to look back if our 31st of December, 2026 is too far.

You're going to look back and say, God, I thank you. Because you have a better plan. You have a better plan. So that job you've been applying for and the door is closed, that's one. I believe that even with more better pay, package packs, everything you need is in there.

There's a reason why that door is closed. But as the door is closed, I believe that you are being prepared for something greater. When God says go, go immediately.

Because I believe that amazing things happen when we venture through difficulty. So let's think on these things. What if Paul had given up?

I believe there wouldn't have been any church in Philippi, not even a letter to the Philippians. We might not even be quoting some of the scriptures we quote in Philippians. My God shall supply all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. If Paul had given up, the letter to the Philippines would not have been written. But even still, there Will be no Lydia story.

The story of Lydia, where they went in there, Lydia's family encounters, you know, Paul and the team, and then they receive the Holy Spirit. They get baptized. They. There wouldn't have been. So I believe that, you know, as Paul saw in the vision, a Macedonian call.

As we venture through as a church, there are people in this city that are calling out like a Macedonian call. Come over and help us. Because God has empowered us as a church to do so. I want to encourage us to venture through, no matter the challenges, as we push forward, to cancel, as you push forward, to make room for our city to come to know Jesus Christ. We have to keep going.

We have to keep pushing through. But I'm also conscious of the fact that there are many in here that are facing difficulty. And I want to say to you that God will lift you. God will fight for you. God will come through for you.

God will turn things around for you. God will do a new thing. Behold, I do a new thing. He said, remember, not the former things. Don't even consider the things of old.

For I will do a new thing. And it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and I will cause rivers to flow in the desert places. So.

So maybe you are here going through the wilderness. God will make a way for you. Maybe you are here and you are in a parched place, the desert all around you. He will cause rivers to flow in the desert places for you.

So the question is, what opposition are you facing? Now, the scripture says in First Corinthians 16, 9, it says, for a great and effective door has opened before me. But there are many adversaries. Many, many. But the door has opened.

It's a bit like sweet and sour Chinese food.

The door has opened. I'm excited about the door now. I mean, when I hear open doors, excitement. And again, oh, man, I got to dig my heels in.

It works both ways. Open doors, challenges. But God is with us, all of it. He opens the doors. We go because he's with us.

A great and effective door has opened to me. And there are many adversaries. Many, many adversaries. Recently, I was having a conversation with a child, a friend of mine. We grew up in the same community.

And in that time when we were young, you know, early, early 20s, revival hit our community. And my friend, he pastors a church in Coventry, has been doing that for the last 20 years. He was a heroin addict. People were scared of him. He was quite a thick, you know, like, well, Built young man, you know, and whenever he was under the influence of heroin, people would be scared of him.

He came from a good family, but he chose the wrong way. And one day he encountered Jesus. But when we all encountered Jesus, we had a passion to preach the gospel. And we'd go out early in the morning and preach the gospel without microphones, no PA system, none of these. We just stand there, preach, preach, preach the gospel.

So one day as we were preaching, we went to a neighborhood to preach one day, and a gentleman came out and said, you're not going to preach here. You're disturbing me. You're not going to preach here. He stopped us. In fact, he threatened us.

He said, I'm going to release my dogs on you. Now, where I grew up, you know, now, I don't know about you, but for me, the dogs are not pet dogs. They are dogs for protection. And if you're a thief, and then woe be tied, if you jump into the home, you'll be saying, the Lord is my shepherd. Or you'll be saying, though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.

It's your choice. But those dogs are there to protect. And so the man threatened us. And we were really intimidated. We left and we used to meet in the morning to pray before I would go early in the morning.

So we got together the next day. We thought, hey, we have got some unfinished business. So as we began to pray, we received a revelation. Hey, if God can shut the mouths of lions, what is a dog?

So we went back and we began to preach in the same spot. And the man said, you've come again. And he opened his gate and released the Rottweilers. And they started coming towards us. Were we scared?

Yes. But we stood, we kept on preaching. The doors came, smelt our feet, and then ran back. The man was embarrassed.

So the opposition may come, but God is with you. You may feel the fear factor, but God is with you. You may feel, what if it fails? But God is with you. And in closing, I want to do this.

I believe that there are people here or somebody watching me online who doesn't know Jesus Christ. And I want us to do this as a family. It's a sensitive moment. Can we all close our eyes so nobody feels shy, nobody feels intimidated? And we are going to pray this prayer together as a family to help those that don't know Jesus.

And let's say this short prayer. Lord Jesus, I surrender to you. Wash me of my sins. Be my Lord and my personal Savior from this day now and forevermore in Jesus name, Amen. And the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Maybe you prayed that prayer for the first time. There'll be people to my left and to my right. They want to speak to you, take you to the next steps. But for those that are here, as I mentioned, what do you do? How do you descend between the door God has opened that is interwoven with challenges and the door that God as close?

How do you navigate that? Number one, go back to the drawing board, ask God. Number two, find that conviction point, the place that you know, that you know, that you know. This is what God said to me. If you can't find it, ask God.

God redirect me. God show me. God help me. Because he's faithful. And the plan he has for us is bigger than our own plans.

May the Lord bless you. May the Lord keep you. May the Lord cause you to be victorious. May the Lord cause you to smile. May the Lord cause there to be celebration and jubilation in your home.

May the Lord cause the heavens to be open over you. May you come back with a bountiful story, stories, testimonies of the faithfulness of God. In Jesus name, Amen. God bless you.