…is knowing the principles by which he does things and deals with us.

 

*Isaiah 55:8-9*

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

*Isaiah 40:28*

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding unsearchable.

 

*If you do not know God’s ways, the results you will enjoy as a believer will be at best subject to randomness, chance or probability.*

 

*Exodus 33:13a*

“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you.”

 

*In God’s economy*

- If a challenge comes after a victory, God may want to take you higher. 

- If you suddenly experience a valley after a mountain-top encounter, it may be that God wants to elevate you to the peak of a higher mountain.

- If you confront a seeming impossible situation after a conquest, God may want to promote you to gain more grounds. 

 

*In this kingdom*

- You gain speed by waiting.

- You are elevated on your knees.

- You truly live by dying.

- You gain by yielding.

- You conquer through submission.

 

- The pathway to promotion is adversity.

- The pathway to leadership is service.

- The pathway to power is sacrifice.

 

*Three cases plus one* 

*Ezekiel 36:37* 

“ I will once again answer your prayers, and I will let your nation grow until you are like a large flock of sheep. 38 The towns that now lie in ruins will be filled with people, just as Jerusalem was once filled with sheep to be offered as sacrifices during a festival. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 

  

*Ezekiel 37:1-3* 

“Sometime later, I felt the Lord's power take control of me, and his Spirit carried me to a valley full of bones. 2 The Lord showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. 3 He said, “Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?”

 

*Powerful prophetic word of restoration, then a “Valley-of-dry-bone” situation.*  

 

Father, help me to fully trust you even when I'm in the valley. Grant me the understanding to know what the word is saying to me - to know Your way.

 

*Trust is a crucial element in understanding God’s ways.*

 

1b. *Elijah’s Error*: He almost dropped the ball (1 Kings 19:4-14).

 

*Colossians 1:15-17*

*He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God*, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 

*Matthew 3:13-17* 

“Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?” 

15 Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all God wants us to do.” Then John agreed. 

16 So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17 Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.” 

  

*Matthew 4:1-3* 

“The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. 2 After Jesus had gone without eating for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry. 3 Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.” 

 

*Affirmation of Jesus Christ by God the Father as His Son, who was then led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.*

 

*Prayer Point* 

Father, I thank you for your Presence on the mountaintop and in the valley low. I agree with your word that says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil.” 

 

*Abortion of God’s plans and purposes is inevitable if a believer fails to understand God’s ways.*

 

*Mark 4: 35-41* 

“That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross to the east side.” 36 So they left the crowd, and his disciples started across the lake with him in the boat. Some other boats followed along. 37 Suddenly a storm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat, and it was about to sink. 

38 Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we're about to drown?” 

39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm. 

40 Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don't you have any faith?” 

41 Now they were more afraid than ever and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” 

  

*Mark 5:1-5* 

“Jesus and his disciples crossed Lake Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa. 2 When he was getting out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit quickly ran to him 3 from the graveyard where he had been living. No one was able to tie the man up anymore, not even with a chain. 4 He had often been put in chains and leg irons, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one could control him. 5 Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with stones.” 

 

*Jesus gave orders to His disciples that “Let’s cross to the other side.” There arose a storm. He calmed the storm. They indeed arrive at the other side, only to be confronted by a man possessed by demons. The deliverance of the man with demons led to the conversion of ten cities.* 

 

*Prayer Point* 

Father, I receive grace for strength and thank you in advance for victory, elevation, my rising, promotion, healing and deliverance etc.