I must admit this was one of the weirdest titled messages, in regards to it readily corresponding to the text, that I have ministered thus far. I knew a week in advance that I was to minister but the message never really came together until early Sunday AM around 5AM...and mind you this was the 8AM service that I was preaching. God has truly instilled a trust in him like never before...I used to fret and worry on Saturday nights when the message hasn't jelled but now I put it in Gods hand and go to sleep.
I was led to John 2:1-10...the story of the Wedding at Cana of Galilee. The vein of the house is transition in this season and we are heavily involved in the political process...so I thought a message centered around transitioning will be relevant and minister directly to the house.
We have already been chosen/called/elected...we have already won...but how do we transition smoothly into the assignment?
CHANGE IS NOT CHANGE UNLESS IT IS VERIFIED, VISIBLE, & VALIDATED!
Makeover - metamorphosis...water/wine did not merely undergo a physical, cosmetic change but a chemical change of nature/makeup. God is changing the very nature of us.
Takeover - Mine hour has not come....The anointed respected the appointed. This was not his time/season...but his mother sees greatness in him
Leftover - 6 water pots that were not filled...was typically used for tradition/custom and therefore it was "half full or empty". Change/transformation comes about when we are spirit "filled". God will use spirit filled people. One cannot be spirit lead unless you are spirit filled.
Hangover - custom called for the caterers to take advantage of the drunkenness of the party goers so that they were not able to tell the difference between good wine and bad.
CHANGE IS NOT CHANGE UNLESS IT IS VERIFIED, VISIBLE, & VALIDATED!
Verified Change...The first few verses give us a list of those who were invited to the wedding. I wondered why did the writer go to great lengths to list the attendees and not the name of the bridegroom & groom since they were the most important part of the wedding. The only pupose of those coming was to VERIFY and WITNESS the change. The attendees at weddings are only there to witness the change that has already taken place. Enemies....Haters....Opposition are sent around us to verify the change! God will never leave himself without a witness. He will allow others to witness your dark times AND your morning to testify and confirm truth that God delivered.
Visible Change...We will be summoned to "draw out" and "bear" the change that has occurred. Can you bear living debt free, healed, whole, peaceful, complete....most of us cannot bear it because we have not been disciplined enough yet and because we have learned how to live and cope in poverty and living just to get by.
Validated Change...The governor of the feast validates the change finally and declares a change from the ordinary and a change from the original custom...."He has saved the Best for the Last".
**As I stated earlier I felt very good during the message...our sound team really had the mics right for me...this was one of those messages where the time flies. Our media ministry hold us placards in the balcony informing of of the remaining time...this was one of the very few times where I had too much material and kind of rushed it. I didn't really get a chance to properly organize everything because it was coming so fast! During the introduction the placard said 20 minutes and then all of a sudden it was at 15 and I was still in the intro. But after all, this was a very timely and layered message that God really poured into me. Certainly change is in the air and we are being transitoned as we speak to take the seat of authority so that we may reign in our everyday lives!