Rhema Ehiemere - Downsized for Destiny

On your way to your seat, look at your neighbor and tell them, «Downsized for Destiny.» One of the contradictions I’ve noticed with us a lot of times is that we want the odds stacked in our favor, but we also want to experience miracles. My question is, if the odds are stacked in your favor and if all the conditions and all the chances are aligned and arranged to guarantee your success, then it’s not really a miracle. We are not surprised because you have the requisite knowledge, skills, and qualifications to be successful. So, don’t be surprised if we are not surprised that you succeed. But if the odds are stacked against you, and you have challenges and adverse conditions, and somehow you are able to still make it, then that is a miracle. This is why sometimes God has to wait until you’re disadvantaged because He wants to show you and let you know that He is the only advantage. Sometimes God is just going to wait because you have all of these skills and attributes and everything you can depend on. God waits until He is the only advantage; when you’re disadvantaged, that’s when God shows up. The Bible says in Psalms 20:7, «Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.» It says in Psalm 121, «I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help; my help comes from the Lord.» I need you to understand, please, that the odds don’t have to be stacked against you for God to show you favor. The odds don’t have to be in your favor for God to show you favor. In fact, the God that you serve is a specialist when it comes to challenges. The God that you serve is an expert when it comes to difficulties. The God that you serve is an authority when the odds are stacked against you. And the question is, Pastor Emma, can you prove it? I’m glad you asked; I can prove it. Look at the life of Moses. The odds were stacked against Moses. He got to the Red Sea and all of a sudden, God was still able, in spite of the situation, to split the Red Sea, and the children of Israel were able to pass on dry ground. The odds were stacked against them. Look at Daniel. The odds were stacked against him. They threw him into the lion’s den. What are the chances that you’re going to get killed if you’re in the lion’s den? And in spite of that, somehow God protected Daniel. Look at David. The odds were stacked against him. Somehow God was able to protect him, and David was able to defeat Goliath. Look, I can go on and on. Look at Jesus. The odds were stacked against Him feeding the 5,000, but somehow He was able to use five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men, excluding women and children. So regardless of where you are, I need you to understand that the odds can and will be stacked against you sometimes, but God says even though the odds are stacked against you, you can still come out victorious. I like what the Bible says in Psalms 103; it says, «Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.» We’ve been singing about the goodness and the mercy of God this morning, so I want you to take a second and reflect on your life. Cast your mind back in retrospect; there were times the odds were stacked against you, but somehow you were able to make it. Let me use straightforward language for some of you— but God made a way. Because I can be saying the odds are stacked against you, but if you’ve been in church long enough, those two words are able to conceptualize the fact that in spite of overwhelming adverse situations, you still came out with victory. Look at your neighbor and tell them, «But God.» Oh, look at them and tell them, «But God, but God, but God.» I can preach on those two words for a whole hour— but God, but God, but God. After all you’ve been through growing up, you were not supposed to be here, but God. Given your family’s dysfunctional background, you’re not supposed to have a stable relationship or marriage, but God. Given the doctor’s diagnosis, you’re not supposed to be alive today. They told you your kidneys were packing up; they told you it’s not, but, but, but God. Given the long sentence the judge gave you, you were not supposed to be out, but somehow you made it out. But God— somebody say, «But God.» Yes, you were raised in the foster care system, and there was no way you would have ever thought you could raise a child successfully, but God. After all your years of pain, all your years of anguish—yes, I know you were abused, confused, and molested. I get all of that, but you’re not supposed to be this happy; you’re not supposed to be this blessed; you’re not supposed to be this cheerful. But all of a sudden, but God! Oh, I wish I had a church that could understand the mercies of God. Look for a neighbor that knows what to do with this type of atmosphere and tell them, «But God, but God, but God, but God.» I just have one question: who would not serve a God like this? Who would not praise a God like this? Who would not worship a God like this? The Bible says…