In The Middle - Pastor Michael Todd

Your response is more important than the reason why.

• Stop trying to figure out why you're there and how you got there but rather figure out how to respond while you are there.

• You can't dictate what happens but you can dictate how you react.

• Many of us are suffering silently, with hurt, depression, thoughts of inferiority. We feel as if we are alone.

• Romans 12:12

• God said that he has done something for us that will take away all our problems, we just have to believe.

• When your reality has not matched up with the truth of the resurrection you still have to speak life on the situation while it is still in the tomb, the resurrection will come, you are just in the middle right now and how to act determines it all.

• Matthew 6:25-34

The Method of the Middle

Reality

• This is the problem. We don't like it, it is hurtful, it is frustrating.

• Know that God is still there.

• Patience

Dilemma

• After reality hits, you enter a dilemma.

• This is where you HAVE to make sure you listen to the right thing because the enemy knows that you are desperate and will try to deceive you.

• Make sure you are looking at it with the right perspective. With Christ in mind.

Deception

• The enemy will begin to instill doubt in you "Did God really say _______?"

• When you are in a dilemma listening to deception, you end up making the wrong decision. Which has its own consequences.

Decisions

• After EVERY decision something dies.

Death

• If you make the wrong decision, purpose dies, dreams die.

• If you make the right decision, pride dies, your plan dies and God's plan is revived.

Deliverance

• When you make the right decision.

• You have to outlast the middle before you get here.

Now, what if you make the wrong decision?? (THIS WAS FOR ME! CONFIRMATION RECEIVED!)

When I found out I was pregnant I made a decision in the middle of the dilemma, deception happened and then death.

• Sometimes when you are in the middle you listen to the lies and the deception, and you make the wrong decision. We are human, it happens. This does not mean that God has forgotten you.

• In the middle, you may do things that you said you would NEVER do.

• Look at Peter, he never thought that he would deny God once let alone three times. Peter did what he never thought he would do.

• When you do the thing you said you would never do. You feel that now because you did it, its all over, there is no more hope for you.

• This is when the enemy makes you believe that your works is connected to your worth.

• And this is why people turn away from God, because their actions don't match up with what they wanted for themselves in Christ, but they did because they were desperate and now they feel judged as if there's no going back.

• But THE GRACE OF GOD IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU! For every mess up. Forever person whose done what they said they would never do. For ever person who had the abortion, For every person who cheated, for every person who has sinned "BIG" or "small".

• The enemy wants you to believe that there are degrees to sin. (They are not and Jesus dies for ALL of them)

The Promise is not Void because of the Pain.

• Just because you are in the middle and looks dead does not mean it is dead, this is just the waiting period.

Focus on the character of Jesus not the concerns of the critics.

• These critics can be your friends and family even.

• Everyone is always going to have something to say, this is between you and God.

God ALWAYS makes a way in the middle.

The Resurrection is not an event, it is an interruption.

• He is interrupting the plan of the enemy

• He is interrupting your plans for yourself

The Blessing // Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation

The Lord bless you

And keep you

Make His face shine upon you

And be gracious to you

The Lord turn His

Face toward you

And give you peace

May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family and your children

And their children, and their children

Way Maker // Sinach

Even when I don't see it, You're working

Even when I can't feel it, You're working

You never stop, You never stop working

You never stop, You never stop working