The Sound Of Victory

 Due to being in quarantine, RJ and I stayed home and watched Bethel's service via live stream. I'm thankful for technology like this, but it's just not the same as being there in person. There is something so special and powerful when you are worshiping with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a strength that surrounds you. Thankfully, RJ is feeling much better and today was his last day of quarantine set by his doctor. His doctor called today with good news that he had tested negative for Covid. We give thanks for this news. Bethel had a guest speaker today, Bro. Kyle Kelley, who is a missionary to Wales. He first started by sharing about the history of Wales. In 1904 they had a huge revival that literally changed the people and their way of lives. Today, most of the churches that once were filled with praises to the King of Kings are now historic sites for touring purposes. It's been a long time since there has been a UPC church in Wales. The Kelley family will be starting one there soon. May the breath of God breath once again over the people of Wales. After he gave his background information, he preached a phenomenal sermon on "The Sound Of Victory".  You can watch/listen to it here. His main text came from 2 Kings 7:5-7 the Israelites found themselves in circumstances that had them to a point no one could have ever thought they would get to. No one could have imagined it could be as bad as it had become. No matter how bad or deep things may become, God truly does want to give you victory. The people were in a great famine. They were starving. They had hit rock bottom to the point of cannibalism.  Meanwhile outside the city gates there were 4 lepers who had it worse. They relied on their family and friends to bring food out to them because they were unclean. These four lepers were sitting together talking about their situation. The enemy's camp was not far away. They had a decision to make. If they stayed the way they were, they were going to die. If they tried to approach the camp, they had a 99% chance of dying, yet there was that 1% chance they might actually get food to eat. So, the four of them stood up and took a step toward where food was to be found. Desperation places us in a unique position for what God wants to do in our lives. It's in this place that we realize that we have done all we can on our own and realize it's God who has got to do it. Many times, we live in a false reality. We think we can do it on our own. God steps back and lets us try and figure it out. Then, when we have done all, we can, it's then that we realize that God operates in truth. We need to recognize who I am without Jesus is no hope. When we see we are in a pit and no matter what we do, we can't get out, God is there to pull us out. If we stay where we are, we are just going to sink deeper into the pit. When the lepers took a step of faith and began to head for the camp, they did not realize they were in the middle of their miracle. All they could hear at the time was their aches and groanings. They could not see the army of the Lord that had gone on before them. They heard their groanings, but the enemy camp heard the sound of a mighty army.  The lepers walked into an empty camp that was filled with an abundance of food. Their sound of agony was really a sound of victory. Their abundance was not just for them. They realized there was enough for everyone in the city. Their step of faith not only gave them life, but also life to the entire city. Your blessing will overflow to others around you. Bro. Kelley said he believes that natural mirrors the supernatural. He had everyone physically stand up and take a step forward. RJ and I did this together. We stepped forward together in faith believing God is going to do a miracle in our lives.  All God needs is you to try one more time. To reach out in faith one more time and believe that God is going to hear you and answer you. Pray that prayer one more time. Take that step of faith one more time. This time it will be followed with the sound of victory. When you realize that if you keep sitting here you are going to die and get up and move, you step is your victory. God is good.