Transcript: Discovering God as Our Waymaker: Psalm 46:1-3

Have you ever felt though you were like in the midst of a fierce battle? A raging storm? Or a disaster? We all have been there, right? Every one of us have been there. Every one of us. But I want you to understand, in all these situations, we're never alone. We always have someone at our side that will make a way for us. Michael W. Smith wrote a worship song that says, Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness. My God, that is who you are. And He is the way maker today. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Today I'm sharing with you the message way maker. We start in Psalm 46 starting in verse 1. Best place to start is at the beginning. It says, God is our refuge and strength. Amen. Oh, I love that. He is our refuge and strength. Have you ever felt helpless in a situation? Sometimes we feel that way. We feel like we're helpless in a situation. The Israeli army, they felt helpless against the Philistines. You remember the story? I know you do. They're sitting there towering in the corner, not because of the Philistine army, but because of the big warrior they had that was nine feet tall named Goliath. And they were all towering in the corner behind the bushes and all because they were fearful because they thought that big dude is going to take every one of us out. And they were scared to death. And so all these amazing God-following, worshipping, you know, warriors are cowering in the corner. Cowering behind the bushes. Cowering from one man and then a little boy comes up and he says, what are you cowering for? That's just a man. We follow Jehovah God. He said, let me take care of this. He went and got five stones out of the brook, put them in his pouch, went out onto on a battlefield with a slingshot and Goliath looks and sees this little child and he goes am I a dog? Did you send it a boy? And I love David's response. He goes, oh you come with a sword and a spear and a shield but I come in the name of the Lord and that little boy's faith brought down that giant. and many people say oh well but he had five stones he he he must have realized that he wasn't going to hit him the first time oh no no he was prepared because Goliath had four other brothers and he was prepared because he figured just in case any of his brothers are out there then I'll have prepared for them as well. That was the point. See, that's the whole point. God is our refuge and our strength. We can't do this in our own strength. God is our refuge and our strength. A very present help in trouble. I love that. Very present help in trouble. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 23 and verse 4, it says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Amen. See, Satan, I want you to understand this. Satan wants to wreck your life. That is exactly what Satan wants to do. Satan wants to wreck your life. Punish you because you serve God. That's what he wants to do. He wants to wreck your life and punish you because you serve God. That's his whole point. Oh, but God is our refuge and our strength. A very present help in the time of trouble. Hallelujah. The verse 2 says, Therefore will not I fear. I love that. Therefore will I not fear. See, the biggest weapon that Satan has is what? Fear. That's his biggest weapon against us. Is if he can make us fearful about the future. fearful about our lives, fearful about our health, fearful about our families, he's got us. Fear literally cripples us. That's the truth. Fear will cripple us. You know, sometimes I talk a lot about Jasmine, our little dog. And it's true. It's amazing. Jasmine, when we had our car accident, Jasmine has not been the same. She was in the car with us. And Jasmine has not been the same since that day. She's fearful. She finds herself in the middle of the night sometimes just waking up and shaking. And I really believe she has anxiety because of that car wreck. It's fear. Fear will cripple us. and that is Satan's major goal is to cripple our faith and fear will cancel out faith let me say that again in case you missed that fear will cancel out faith it will because you cannot have faith if you're full of fear think about it if you have faith and then fear creeps in it cancels it out You cannot have faith and fear at the same time So that why Satan tries to put fear into us I love what it says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 6. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man shall do unto me. I love that. Because Satan is going to come in like a flood. He's going to come in and he's going to try to do something for you. But there is a way maker. There is a miracle worker. There is a promise keeper. And his name is Yahweh. His name is Jehovah. That is our way maker. That is our peacemaker. That is our miracle worker. He's the one. And sometimes we sit there and put ourselves into this situation. Oh, well, I can do this. I can't do anything. I realized that a long time ago. I can't do anything on my own strength. Oh, we think we can beat Satan. Well, I can do this. I'm strong. I can beat Satan. Oh, I can do this. I can't do anything on my own. I can't do anything on my own. I know that. I'm just mortal clay. I'm just a weak human being. Oh, but if I have God in me, Greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world. Amen. That's the point. If I have the way maker make it away from me, then my way is going to be a blessed one. If I have the way maker make it away from me, then my way is going to be an easy one. If I have the way maker make it away from me, then my way is going to be a blessed one. If I have the way maker make it away from me, then I'm going to be the head and not the tail, as the Bible says. If I have the way maker making a way for me, then I'm going to be good. I'm going to be okay. No matter what Satan throws at me, he can't defeat me. Because the way maker makes a way. Hallelujah. The way maker waits a way where there seems to be no way. Hallelujah. I love this. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried away into the midst of the sea. See, Satan brings all kinds of evil. All kinds of evil. He may destroy the world around you, but he can't destroy you. Amen? That's the point. You have to realize that God is that way maker. He's the way maker. He makes the way where there seems to be no way. I love this. This song says, my Lord knows the way through the wilderness. All I got to do is follow. Amen. That's the point. That's the point. My God knows the way through the wilderness. All I got to do is follow. See, that's the point. God knows the end. So why am I trying to do this in my own strength? God's given me a heavenly GPS. It's right here. It's right here. I love the GPS systems. I've got to tell you, when we had our car wreck, right, and they gave us the rent-a-car, It had the backup camera, the GPS, the whole nine yards. And I was like, boy, this thing's slick. And I was like, I like this. So I'm sitting here and I'm going, I'm going to put this on my new car, man. I'm going to put this on and get that. I'm going to put the GPS and the backup camera. I'm going to stick that on my car, man. I like this. And God is saying that I'm giving you a GPS, a heavenly GPS. I will give you the way. And it's right here. All you've got to do is follow. Hallelujah. That's all we've got to do. The Lord knows the way through the wilderness. The Lord knows the way that's going. The Lord knows what's coming ahead. I'm going to tell you something. This is true. If we knew what tomorrow held, it would probably cripple us. You know? If we knew the troubles that were coming down the line, it would probably cripple us. We'd probably be up under the bed bawling or something. Because we wouldn't want to come out. But God is saying, that's why I'm not telling you what tomorrow holds. I know what tomorrow holds. All you've got to do is follow me. See, that's the point. Just follow me. Follow me. That's what Jesus said to the disciples. You remember? When they were out fishing, He said, Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. Because what is more important? What really is more important? Is this world really important? No. I say it all the time, but it's true. This world is not our home. We're just passing through. See, we're trying to lay up treasures somewhere beyond the blue, right? That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to prepare ourselves for the real world. This is just a dress rehearsal. This isn't real life. This is just where we're trying to get somewhere else. See, and see, God is saying, I know the way through this wilderness. All you got to do is follow. Hallelujah. Verse 3 says, I love this. Through the waters, though the waters therefore roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. I like that. Interesting words here. Even though the waters thereof roar and be troubled. See, even though you feel like you're going to drown You ever felt like you going to drown sometimes In the midst of all the trials and tribulations I felt that way sometimes I felt like the things were coming in upon me so much it was like a flood It was like a tidal wave, if you will. I'm amazed. I love to watch videos of surfers. I would never do that. Never do that. I'm going to be honest with you. I would never surf. It's too scary. But I'm amazed to watch surfers as they wait and they paddle out and they wait for that big, huge wave to come up. And then they jump up on the boards and then they glide on that wave. It's amazing to see. But let me tell you, I've seen just as many as they're riding that wave. I've seen many of them wipe out. And sometimes that's how we can feel. When that wave comes in, it comes over top of us and it feels like we're going to drown. Satan brings in that wave and it feels like we're going to drown. But you've got to remember one thing. And that's remember that Jesus is right there to rescue you. Remember when Peter was walking on the water? And it was okay and it was fine and everything was good as long as he had his eyes on Jesus. But then he took his eyes off of Jesus and started looking at the circumstances around him. And then he began to sink. but the interesting thing when he began to sink and when all of the water began to come around him Jesus was there to reach out his hand and that's the point Jesus is here when all the trials and all the tribulations are coming around you and you feel like you're going to drown Jesus is there to say here I am just grab my hand hallelujah hallelujah I love it it says though the mountain shape with the swelling thereof. Even in all the trials, when it feels like the world is crumbling around us, when the world feels like it's crumbling and shaking and you don't have a strong footing, remember that earthquakes brought blessing. What do I mean by that? Think about the fact that when Jesus was hanging on a cross, what happened? The earth shook. When Jesus was laying in a tomb and He was ready to come out, what happened? The earth shook. The earth shook with blessings. And sometimes when the earth is shaking beneath us and we feel like we're quaking and we don't know a way out, I want you to understand that's when God, the way maker, is about to bring a blessing. The world may shake around you, but that's when God is about to bring a blessing. Because the earth shook, but Jesus, when he died on the cross, shed his blood for the redemption of mankind. behind. When the earth shook, when Jesus was in the tomb, Jesus came out of the tomb after the earth shook to bring us redemption and to prove to us that he's alive. He's alive forevermore. And because he lives, we too shall live also. And the blessing is ours. Hallelujah. God makes a way in the wilderness. All we got to do is follow. Hallelujah. So I want you to understand something today that God is the way maker. God is the way maker. God made a way in the wilderness. You remember the Israeli people? They traveled the wilderness for 40 years, but they ate manna, they drank water from the rock, and they wore shoes that never wore out. Because Jehovah was the wilderness way maker. Hallelujah. Then you look a step further. We've got to remember that God made a way in the sea. when the Egyptian army was closing in on God's people and they looked at the Red Sea in front of them and they went to Moses and they said, Moses, we're messed up. We can't get through. They're going to catch us. Now what are we going to do? God pulled that sea back and the Israeli people went through on dry ground because Jehovah is the Red Sea way maker. Hallelujah. Somebody say amen. Hallelujah. I love it. God made a way in the fire because when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, they walked around that fiery furnace like they were on a leisurely walk in the park. Why? Because Yahweh God was walking with them in the midst of the fire because Jehovah is the fire-walking way maker. Hallelujah. God has also made a way over a multitude. You remember when Gideon was told to take 300 men up against a multitude? Oh, didn't sound very good because they had a massive army. And God said, you only need 300 men. And Gideon was looking like, hmm, this don't add up very good. But the interesting thing when you think about it, when Gideon took his 300 men up against that multitude, what happened? They never had to raise a sword. Because Jehovah is the overcoming way maker. That's the point. So no matter what you're going through today, if you feel like you're walking in the wilderness, he's the wilderness walking way maker. If you feel like the Red Sea is in front of you, don't worry. He's the Red Sea Waymaker. If you feel like you're walking through the fire, don't worry. He's the fire walking waymaker. And if you feel like you're being overcome by the circumstances, don't you worry. Because he's the overcoming waymaker. No matter what you got going in your way. No matter what you got going in your business and in your life. No matter how hard it may seem, don't worry. God is the way maker He make a way where there seems to be no way Hallelujah So do you need the way maker to make a way for you in your situation today Call on his name. He's just a whisper away. He's just a whisper away. We don't have to be loud to talk to God. All we've got to do is say, Jesus. Jesus. And the interesting thing, he's not hard of hearing. All you have to do is say, Jesus. And he says, here am I. What do you need? Hallelujah. He's just a whisper away. 2 Timothy 4.18 says, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. So do you need the way maker today? He's here. Just call on his name. Let's bow our heads before the Lord this morning. Heads bowed and eyes closed. We're just going to follow God for a moment and just talk to God and just think about Him for a moment. Just think about Him for a moment. Is your situation tough? Whatever you're going through. It doesn't matter. Physical problems, spiritual problems, problems in the family, you know, whatever the case may be. Financial problems. Anything. Is there a mountain in your way? Is there a wilderness that you're walking? Is there a red sea in front of you? Do you feel like you're being overcome by the circumstances? Do you feel like you're walking through the fire? Whatever the case may be, is your way hard today? If it is, the way maker is here to make a way for you. Would there be someone that would be honest to God today Not to me but to God and say God I need help I need the way maker today To make a way for me Would you be honest to God and raise up the hand And say God I need your help today Hands going up, hands going up All over this place, that's beautiful, good I appreciate that I appreciate that I got my hand up today today As well because I need a way maker I need the way maker to make a way Hallelujah Maybe you're watching the video, listening to the podcast however the case may be, and you're listening and you're saying, you know, today, I need the way maker today. Raise your hand wherever you're at too. Father God, you saw these hands here in this place, and even maybe some that have watched this video or listened to the podcast, Father God, they're raising up their hand today. Father God, hands all over, saying, I need the way maker. I need the way maker. Father God, make a way for these ones. Honestly saying, I need you, God. Help them today. Father God, make a way where there seems to be no way. Beautiful song says, Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, Light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. I pray, Father God, today, You will make a way for the people that have raised up this hand today. Help them today. Help them, Father God, to know, Father God, that You love them, that You care about them, that you're concerned about them. Father God, help them to be blessed. Help them to receive the blessing of the way maker in their lives today. That they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt, Father God, that they have been touched by the master's hand. That they have been blessed by the blessing of having God, the way maker, come to their rescue. I pray that right now in Jesus' name. Father God, make it so today. Now, Father God, I want to thank you that your word is true. Your word is so true. Father God, as we conclude today, Father God, I ask you not dismiss us, but Father God, go with us and be with us until we meet again. And Father, for all that you are and all that you do, we praise you and thank you for everything, for you're worthy. We thank you. In Jesus' name we pray. Hallelujah. It's a beautiful chorus real quick. I just want to sing it one time for you. Well, the Lord knows the way through the wilderness. All I have to do is follow. The Lord knows the way through the wilderness. All I have to do is follow The strength for today is mine all the way And all that I need for tomorrow My Lord knows the way through the wilderness And all I have to do is follow And strength for today is mine all the way. And all that I need for tomorrow. I know there's a way through the wilderness. And all I have to do is follow. All I have to do is follow. Amen. you