KEY TEXT
Psalm 78:19-29 – They spoke against God: They said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?’ Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire.”
Many of us want to live a life that counts. We want to impact the world around us. Like the theme of your camp – We want to transform the world.
If we want to transform the world, we must have a faith that doesn’t limit God. We need to link with the greatest Transformer of all time – Jesus Christ! He took only three and half years to transform a world of hopelessness into a world of hope in His salvation which He purchased freely for us at the cross.
This morning, I would like to share a sermon entitled, ‘DON’T LIMIT GOD’.
If you want to live your lives with your potential maximized to the fullness for the transformation of this world, you must not limit God. There are people who say that no one can limit God but that’s not what the Word of God says.
In the key text that we have just read, the psalmist recounts God’s miraculous deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt. Yet, even after they had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, the people “spoke against God: They said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness….Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?”
Verses 40-42 reveal the heart of the problem: “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they TEMPTED God and LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy.
Here, the scripture shows us that we can limit God.
How not to limit God in our lives?
1. DON’T LIMIT GOD THROUGH DOUBT, UNBELIEF AND IGNORANCE
As remarkable as this story of our key text is, and as often as we wonder how the Israelites could act this way, the truth is that we tend to do the same. In bringing us to faith in Christ, God has given us great miracles and mighty deliverances but as we travel our way through our own wilderness, we sometimes get a little weary and forget what God has done. It is easy to begin to limit God and say, “Well, God helped me last year, but I wonder if He’s getting tired of helping me.”
We can limit God through our unbelief and doubts.
Look at Peter. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). And the Bible says that Peter did indeed step out of the boat and walk on the water. We tend to focus on Peter sinking in the water, but the Bible emphasizes that he truly did walk on the water. It was not until Peter looked about him at the boisterous wind and the waves that he began to sink. “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).
DOUBT SINKS YOU. FAITH HOLDS YOU UP.
Isaiah 28:16 (Msg) – A trusting life won’t topple.
Application: When you look around at your circumstances and see all the things that are coming against you, and everything that could happen to you and everything that the enemy tells you is going to happen to you, you begin to sink. But when you keep your eyes on Jesus, you keep walking on the water.
E.g. For seven and half years, the enemy of my soul kept coming to me to tear down my confidence in the Lord and the vision that the Lord has given me for this church and this building. There were times when I looked at myself and I began to sink. How true it is – when you look down, you become depressed; when you look around, you become distressed but when you look up, you will be blessed. It was there at my lowliest time that the Holy Spirit would quicken the word of God to me and my faith would rise that caused me to stand erect before God again and walked with him again.
We limit God by DOUBTING Him. We limit God by our UNBELIEF. And we can limit God by our IGNORANCE.
Faith begins where knowledge is. If we do not know that God is a miracle-working God, that limits God. If we do not know that God heals the sick, that limits God. If we do not know that God can provide for our every need, that limits God. If we do not know that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us, that limits God. We must have knowledge of the Word of God.
According to Psalm 78, the people of Israel were so obstinate in their unbelief that they made God angry. God had delivered them through the Red Sea and by the power of miracles brought them out of Egypt. With their own eyes they had witnessed phenomenal deliverances from God. Yet when they got into the desert, they began to complain. They said, “Can God take care of us in this wilderness? What about our children? How are we going to get clothes for them? What about our own bodies? What are we going to eat?” They questioned whether God could provide them with “a table in the wilderness.”
One provocation after another, and finally God became “furious” with them. They said, “What are we going to do? Can God, this God who brought us out of Egypt, can He furnish food and clothes out here in the middle of the desert?” The Bible states they limited the Holy One of Israel.
In response, God said, “I’ll show you what I can do. Moses, strike the rock, and it’ll give forth water,” and it did. And then He said, “I’ll show you how you’ll eat,” and He rained manna down for forty years. When they cried out for meat, He brought the south and east winds together and rained down so many birds upon them that they ate until it came out of their nostrils.
God said, “Don’t ever say, ‘Can God?” Rather, you should shout, “God can!”
I don’t know what you face today. I do not know what needs you have; but don’t limit God by ignorance, doubt and unbelief. We have a great God. He made the world. He flung the stars from His fingertips. He keeps everything in order by the word of His mighty power. He is the great I AM and He’s a God of love and mercy who wants to provide for all of your needs. So don’t limit God.
2. DON’T LIMIT GOD BY YOUR MIND, FINANCES OR JOB
You can limit God by your mind. Sometimes we face life’s challenges and are determined to figure it all out on our own. We think, “What in the world am I going to do? What in the world could God do for me? I’m all on my own on this and nobody’s going to help me.” You get your mind all worked up but it’s the carnal mind, which is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). Your carnal mind can’t see a way out, but our minds are finite. God is bigger than our minds.
E.g. Casey was a house mover down in Beaumont, Texas and a street evangelist for Jesus. One day he and all his men went way out in the country to move a building. Some of the men in his crew thought he was out of his mind because he was always talking about miracles. When he got way out in the country, he pulled off on the shoulder of the highway and said, “You know what, I’ve forgotten my chain. I have to have a chain to do this job.” Because Casey was always talking about miracles, some of the men snickered and laughed and made fun of him behind his back, wondering what he was going to do to get a chain. Then Casey said, “Come up here, men. Let’s pray for a chain.” They thought Casey was a nut case, praying for a chain. Would God drop one out of heaven? But Casey refused to limit God by his mind. When you walk with God, you know He can and will do anything to bring glory to His Name. So out there on the shoulder of the highway, Casey lifted his hands and began to pray, “Oh, Lord Jesus, You know I forgot my chain. I’m sorry, but I forgot it and I have to have a chain. We’re too far out here in the country to get a chain and I don’t have time go back to get one. God, I need a chain. Oh, God, in the name of Jesus, give me a chain.”
Who would pray like that? How would God give Casey a chain in the middle of nowhere? But as he was praying in the midst of his crew’s unbelief, a pickup truck came down the highway going really fast and turned right. As it turned, out of the back end of the truck rolled a chain, and it came to rest curled up right at Casey’s feet!
Don’t limit God. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think.
Don’t limit God by your finances either, for God is able to increase your finances. You say, “Well, I want to do something for the world. I want to do something for the world. I want to do something for my family.” Don’t limit God by your paycheck.
E.g. On November 8, 2013, Yolanda hit the Philippines and the Northern tip of Panay was adversely hit too. That very Sunday (Nov 10), Pastor Toh Nee, my husband, stood before our church and raised P100,000 by faith to buy relief goods for the people of Ajuy. On Monday (Nov 11) about 40 of our people boarded a few jeeps and we went to Ajuy to distribute relief goods to the distressed people there. After the trip, we all felt good and Ptr Toh Nee just told God, “I wish I could do more.” After that Monday, God answered the prayer of Ptr Toh Nee by sending different people and churches from different nations to contact us and God used these people and churches to give P5 million to etab to facilitate the distribution of the relief goods. Not only were we able to bless Ajuy, but we went as far as Binonan, Estancia, Barbaza, Kalibo and Libertad to assist the typhoon affected victims. We helped to rebuild 27 houses and 26 boats for them and we bought many cows, pigs and goats to help in the livelihood of the victims.
Don’t limit God by your paycheck. Don’t limit God by your job. God is bigger than your checkbook and your job.
3. DON’T LIMIT GOD BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
Don’t limit God by your circumstances. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat looked out of his window in Jerusalem one day and three great armies were coming against him. As far as their circumstances were concerned, the king and people of Jerusalem and Judah were doomed.
Application: Perhaps that’s the way your circumstances present themselves today. You may have so many unsolvable problems around you that you just don’t know what in the world you’re going to do. Well, you’re in the place of Jehoshaphat, which is a good place to be, as long as you don’t limit God by your circumstances.
So Jehoshaphat gathered all the women and children and the men out in the field and they lifted up their voice to God. Jehoshaphat said, “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hands is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?….O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (verses 6, 12).
They believed that God could get them out of that impossible situation. And the Bible says, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel….And he said, ‘Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: “Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!” (verses 14-16,17).
When the army of Israel went out the next morning, they sent singers out in front of the army, saying, “Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever.” They did not need to resort to stealth and secrecy or attack from every direction. They put the praisers out in front of their army, for the joy of the LORD is our strength. And the enemy heard it, became frightened and was defeated without the people of Judah lifting a sword, yet taking all the spoil.
Application: People may be coming against you. Everything may be rising up against you. You don’t know what to do. Cry out to God. Don’t limit God. He is able to deliver by many or by few. With God, all things are possible.
4. DON’T LIMIT GOD BY YOUR MEDICAL REPORT
Don’t limit God by your doctor’s report. We thank God for doctors and medication. But remember that at times they are limited in what they can do to help people.
Don’t be discourteous to a doctor but don’t limit yourself to their report. They’re telling you as much as the technology shows and as much as they know from their training and experience. But there’s another report above and beyond the report of the doctor.
E.g. A pastor testified: “The doctor’s diagnosis told us that my wife was going to die in 1981. Her doctor looked into my face and said, “Your wife will be dead within a few weeks, Pastor – not months, weeks. She has metastatic cancer of the liver. We know nothing to do for her. Make up your mind. She’s going to be dead in a few weeks. I looked at him, and I said, “Doctor, we believe in miracles.” He looked at me and said sternly, “You’re going to have to have one.” I looked back at him and said, “We’ll get one.” That was over thirty years ago. God healed her. She is walking miracle.”
Don’t limit God.
What is your circumstance today? Where are you today? Are you discouraged? Are you downcast? Does it look as though no one can or ever will help you? Does it look like there’s no help on any side wherever you look? Well, stop looking around you and instead look up. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think.
What does God have in store for you today? His dream for your life is so much greater than you can imagine. If God showed you everything He has in store for you, it would boggle your mind.
Many people miss PIVOTAL OPPORTUNITIES in their lives because they have grown accustomed to the status quo. They refuse to make room in their own thinking for the NEW THINGS God wants to do in their lives. When a great opportunity comes along, rather than launching out in faith, they say, “Well, that could never happen to me. That’s just too good to be true.” It’s time to quit limiting God. Remember: God is your source and His creativity and resources are unlimited. God may give you a dream or an idea for an invention, a book, a song or a cause. One idea from God can forever change the course of your life. God is not limited by what you have or don’t have. He can do anything if you will simply stop limiting Him in your thinking. Have a faith that doesn’t limit God.
My Testimony: I am a Singaporean and I came to the mission field in Iloilo City when I was 23 years old. I am 53 years old. I literally grow old here in Iloilo City. More than 30 years ago, I looked around at the circumstance of my life and I became distressed because my father’s business went bankrupt and it threw my entire family into great disarray. My parents split up because of that. Then I looked inside me and I became depressed because I had a broken relationship with a guy and I couldn’t get into National University of Spore. I got a job that I didn’t like and it seemed my life was hopeless until one day I was attending a Mission Convention in Spore and the speaker was calling for people to give their lives totally to God and let Him change their destiny. It was a call for full-time mission. I was always afraid of mission but at that time, God was speaking to me that the only way to break the generational curse of my family and to get out of the hopelessness of my life was to turn my life entirely to God. Also, I was reading the Bible in Isaiah and God spoke to me that He would use me as a light to the nations. That’s how I landed in Iloilo City. I was untrained. All I had with me was my faith, zeal and youth. Some members of my church in 1986 looked at me and said in their heart the same way Saul said to David when he wanted to attack Goliath – “You are not able to go against this Philistines; for you are but a youth.” What can a 23 year old untrained young girl like me do? All she could do was not to limit God and not let others despise her youth. God encouraged me at that young age to delight and meditate on His commandments for that would make me wiser than my enemies and have more understanding than all my teachers and the aged (Psalms 119:97-100). The Bible became my best friend. I believe everything the Bible says about me. I believe what the Bible says about what God can do. 30 years have passed and I dare to testify, to the glory of God- that He really changed my destiny; he really enlarged me; he didn’t limit me because I didn’t limit Him – from a mediocre person, God transformed me to be a woman of faith; He broke the generational curse and bless us with a good church like Evangel Tabernacle. What I failed to accomplish when I was young, God accomplished it through my two daughters. I married a missionary like me – Ptr Toh Nee who shared the same calling and vision as me and God is using me – the little that I have and expand it to bless many Ilongos today. Through one ordinary life, God used me to do extraordinary things for Him. I know God has enabled me to live a life of impact – a life that counts. I give glory to God. Don’t limit God.
