How to trust God [Even when it makes no sense]

Written By Adam Dragoon

Originally preached in our Sunday Evening service on April 14, 2024.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 17:24-27 (NKJV):

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the [temple] tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the [temple] tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 "Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."

Summary

This sermon discusses the importance of not allowing highs to be too high and lows to be too low. It emphasizes the need for maturity in handling both good and bad times. The story of Rick Rescorla, who planned the evacuation of Morgan Stanley Bank during the 9/11 attacks, is used as an example of someone who had a plan in place before a crisis occurred. The sermon also explores the story of Jesus and Peter paying the temple tax, highlighting the importance of following God's instructions and trusting Him to provide.

TAKEAWAYS

  • Maturity involves not allowing highs to be too high and lows to be too low.

  • Having a plan in place before a crisis occurs is a mark of maturity.

  • Following God's instructions and trusting Him to provide are key to navigating difficult situations.

  • God is faithful and works things out behind the scenes beyond our understanding.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

FULL TRANSCRIPT (AUTO-GENERATED):

Adam Dragoon (00:00.494)

Thanks for listening to the Sermon Podcast from the Potter's House Church in Virginia Beach. Our vision is winning souls, making disciples, and planning churches. You're about to hear a message that was preached live from one of our recent church services. We hope that you'll open your heart to hear the Holy Spirit speaking directly through this message. Stay tuned after the message for information on how to get connected with us. Thanks again, and enjoy today's message. Let's open up our Bibles this evening. I want you to turn with me.

to the book of Matthew, chapter 17. Matthew, chapter 17.

One of the marks of maturity in life is to not allow the highs to not be too high and the lows to be too low. One of the marks of immaturity is that when you go through something great, you get up to the top of the mountaintop and often want to spend too much time there. Or when it goes, when life goes down into the valley and things get dark and scary,

We have the tendency to freak out in that moment and to lose all hope and faith and trust. That's a mark of immaturity. How many remember what it felt like as a teenager that when you felt, when you were going through a hard time, it felt like it was the end of the world. And also when things went well for you, it felt like things could never get better. I can remember distinctly feeling that way as a young person.

And what I realized, you know, as you grow up a little bit more is there are good times, there are bad times, but the Lord is faithful through it all. One of the marks of maturity, I believe, is to have in the back of your mind even through the good days and even in the bad days, when there's enough money in the bank, when there's not enough money in the bank, when the rent is paid, and when the rent is due, you know what I'm saying? Like when your wife loves you,

Adam Dragoon (02:04.91)

And when your wife is upset with you, when your family enjoys your presence, and when they wish you would go away, to figure out that God is still working things out. That there is a process, and we are part of that process. And that God is faithful to help us through some things. We're going to read a scripture about how God works out a certain situation, and I believe it will encourage you tonight.

This story comes out of September 11th, but long before September 11th ever happened, there was a man named Rick Rescorla. He was 62 -year -old head of security at the Morgan Stanley Bank, and he developed a very specific evacuation plan for the bank. The offices of Morgan Stanley Bank were situated in the South Tower at World Trade Center in New York City. And when he...

uh... learned about the intelligence that was available to everyone at that time that there was some crazy dude out in the middle east somewhere named Osama bin Laden and he had a plan to use jet planes to try to destroy the World Trade Center but when everybody else thought that that was crazy this guy heard that and said I'm the head of security I need to make plans and he did he made plans uh... to have his bank

be able to evacuate in the case of a plane hitting the tower. So on that day, that fateful day, September 11th, 2001, when American Airline Flight 11 hit the World Trade Center Tower 1 at 846 a .m., this man, Rick Rascorla, he ignored all the building officials' advice to stay put. That was the advice at the moment, stay put. But he began instead to...

to put into action the plan that he had already made, the orderly evacuation of Morgan Stanley's 2 ,800 employees on 20 floors of World Trade Center Tower 2. He started that plan in motion, and there was also 1 ,000 other employees in World Trade Center Building Number 5. And on that day, he put the word out to all of the employees of that bank. He said, be proud to be an American.

Adam Dragoon (04:27.63)

Everyone will be talking about you tomorrow. He's saying God bless America over his security radio and on his bullhorn to help people stay calm as they left the building and of all 2800 employees of Morgan Stanley's Bank every single one of them Ended up reaching safety outside the buildings The last that we heard from this man He was last seen heading up the stairs of the 10th floor of the collapsing World Trade Center

tower number two to go make sure that there was nobody else left and he died that day he was the only one of the whole bank that passed away and uh... what i want you to get out of that story is here's a man that there was all these people working in that bank they didn't know they could not foresee but he was thinking ahead he made a plan for their well -being long before uh... even without their knowledge he had a plan and put it into motion

And this is what I want to share with you tonight from our scripture. We survey God who puts plans into motion. He is working things out behind the scenes beyond our ability to understand. And you've got to be able to trust him in the difficult parts of life. Let's read this story from the life of Jesus. Matthew 17 beginning with verse 24. So when they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said,

Does your teacher not pay the temple tax? He said yes. And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes? Do they take them from sons or from strangers? Peter said to him, From strangers. Jesus said to him, Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, casting a hook.

and take up that fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money. Take that, give it to them for me and for you. Let's pray tonight. Father, we come by the blood of Jesus. I thank you, Lord, that you are a God who is able to provide. You're able to see our needs even ahead of time. God, you are already working out a plan to meet every need that is facing us this week, this month, and this year.

Adam Dragoon (06:54.766)

Lord, I pray just give us the faith to trust you, God, in all things and God, to steady our hearts tonight for whatever may come. We give you glory. We give you praise in Jesus' mighty name. That's what people would say. Amen. This is a message I've titled, Working It Out. We believe in a God that works things out. Now, just to give you some context of what's happening in the scripture, there was a reason why they needed some money on this day.

there was a temple tax says that the leaders who uh... who were in charge of this temple tax came to peter they asked him does your teacher not pay the temple tax and he said yes now you something you should know about this temple taxes so that we understand uh... the the details of this story this temple tax was not a lot a lot of money it was half of a silver coin uh... in today's money that would be something like ten dollars or less

So it was not nothing, but it also wasn't that big of a deal. A $10 temple tax. It was minimal. It was something that most people would not have to worry a whole lot about. But there's something that you should take away from this scripture, which is very important for us to understand, and that is that Jesus didn't have it. He didn't have $10 to his name to pay the temple tax, neither did the disciples. And so I don't know if there's anyone...

Convinced by the prosperity doctrine, but I don't know how that works out in the prosperity gospel Jesus didn't have ten dollars to pay the temple tax on that day He knows what it's like to be in need Did you hear what I said? He knows what it's like to be in need So when you find yourself in need whether that's financial need or otherwise You can go to Jesus. He knows what that feels like and so the question that they asked Peter that day is

does your teacher not pay the temple tax? They assumed that Jesus was not going to pay it. And even Jesus begins to explain, he tells a little parable to Peter to explain why actually he shouldn't need to pay this temple tax. And this is how he understands that. He says in verse 25, what do you think Simon? Who do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes from? From their sons.

Adam Dragoon (09:22.158)

or from strangers. In other words, if you're the king and you're the one taking up taxes, who do you take the taxes from? You don't take them from your kids in the palace. That would be silly. You don't get taxes from your direct family members. You get it from all the people of the kingdom. And so Jesus is making the point here, I'm the son of God, so if anyone doesn't need to pay this tax, it's me.

I don't need to, I'm not required to. The father would be okay if I refused. There's no necessity for me to pay the tax. However, the Bible says this, in order to not offend the temple tax collectors, he decided we're going to pay this. So there is a lesson here that we should learn before we move forward.

And that is that there are some things in our Christian lives, there are some things that we are not obligated to do, but would still be a good idea. You are not obligated to do everything, but how many understand there are such things as a good way to live and a better way to live. And it is very often the case that we let the good way to live become the enemy of the better or the best way to live. Jesus says, I'm not required.

Truth be told, if I didn't pay this tax, I wouldn't be sinning. My father would still be okay with me. But if there is a road between not paying the tax, causing a scene, perhaps causing other people to question my authority, versus I just pay the 10 bucks and cause this problem to go away, he says I'd rather do that. And there's a powerful lesson there sometimes for us to understand. It's how many of the conflicts of our life would just go away,

If we would do the thing that we don't have to do. If we would just stop being lazy sometimes and do a little bit of hard work and put in some extra effort. And when, you know, when the Roman soldier asks you to walk with him one mile, you say, you know what, I'll go with you two miles. Or when he asks of you, your cloak, Jesus said, you give him your tunic also. Do we have to do that? Is that required to get to heaven? No.

Adam Dragoon (11:45.23)

But it's a difference between a good way to live and the best way to live. And I believe some Christians can learn from that even here tonight. There are some areas, many areas of Christian liberty that, you know, we have been made, we have been set free in Christ. Thank God. The truth sets us free and we are truly free indeed in Christ. But there are some things that Paul says, it's better for me not to get involved even though I can do things, I don't do things for the sake of Christ.

of others. He makes this point in Romans chapter 14 verse 21, it is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you're doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning.

if you go ahead and do it for you are not following your convictions if you do anything you believe is not right you are sitting polls making a point here he's saying listen there's a good way to live and there's a better way to live he's saying okay are you might be able to eat meat or drink wine and still get to heaven but what about the christian brother who doesn't believe in those things what about those who are weak in faith and they see someone uh... who is uh... uh...

more advanced in the faith we could say. Paul says, hey, you should keep that to yourself. You know, don't be broadcasting that to the whole church. 1 Corinthians 8 verse 6, he says, we know that there is only one God and the Father who created everything, we live for Him. There's only one Lord Jesus Christ through whom God made everything. However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real.

So when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think that this is the worship of real gods and their weak conscience is violated. So it's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it. And we don't gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. Paul says there's more here at play.

Adam Dragoon (14:08.718)

than just what your personal convictions are. You live among a people that are looking at you. Can I tell you, Christian parents, your children are watching you. You might be able to survive watching this movie or that movie, but you better be careful what you allow your kids to watch with you. What you say is okay. You know, Lot, Lot went down to Sodom, and he figured I can make a pretty good killing down there.

I can make some money. And you know, Lot was able to survive Sodom. You know who didn't survive? His wife and his four daughters. He was able to go to Sodom and survive. But his family was destroyed as a result. Right? And this is what we're talking about. Paul says that there are those who are weaker in the faith, both in the church and even in our family. We look at little people across this congregation here tonight. That God is preparing a future and a destiny for them.

What did Jesus say for those of us who cause little ones to stumble? It would be better for them, better for them to have a millstone hung around their neck and cast into the sea. Paul said, if what I eat causes someone else to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live. I don't want to cause another believer to stumble.

He says, the way that I live has a profound effect on other people, especially a man who is in spiritual leadership as a church planter. He's an example. He's a man of faith. He's been around for a while. So what he does has an effect on people's lives, like it or not. Charles Barkley was famous for saying, I am not a role model. Well, if you are a public, visible person, you are a role model, like it or not. And as a father, as a mother,

as a as a adult in the church people are looking at your life they're listening to how you speak they're watching what you say what are your convictions and so it's important for people that that we understand this Jesus said I don't need to pay this tax but you know what I don't want there to be any misunderstandings I don't want there to be an appearance of evil I don't want people to get the wrong idea so I'll pay the stupid tax

Adam Dragoon (16:30.958)

It's 10 bucks anyway, what's the big deal? Sometimes, just pay the tax, man. Just do the thing you don't want to do, what's the big deal? We need to set examples that will bring life and not death. And that's why in our personal lives we set a high bar. We set an example that is high enough for people to reach to so that when it comes time for...

our children or the next generation of disciples to set their level of convictions that they're going to at least stretch beyond where they are now. See, if you go to a church where the expectations are low, if you go to a church like what Andre described, a former church he went to, where the pastor was sleeping with all the ladies in the congregation, you know, that's a pretty low bar. Or you go to a congregation where there's no accountability.

financially or the preacher doesn't pray. Like where's the bar? Where do we set the expectation then? If the preacher's not doing right, then where's the congregation gonna go? That's the problem. And so in our Christian faith, we have to raise up the expectations so that others can look to our example. We know that ultimately Christ is our savior. He is where our convictions come from. He is the savior.

but he does speak to other people through us. And so let's look then at the reason for a reaction. So in response to this demand, the pockets of Jesus are empty. And so he is going to perform a miracle. And I love this miracle. It only takes one verse to tell, but it has so much truth in it. Jesus is about to produce a coin in a fish's mouth. Now what's amazing about this miracle?

think about this he's going to pay the temple tax it's a half a silver coin it's worth about ten dollars in today's money now if Jesus wanted to he could have said Peter give me your hand and he could have put his hand and he could have said in Jesus or he said in my name a silver coin and poof there it is he could have done that he could have said father cause a coin to fall from heaven right there.

Adam Dragoon (18:57.742)

He could have done that if he wanted to. He could have sent, uh, San Gabriel, tell him to bring a coin or two, maybe a couple extras while you're at it, Father, and just put them right here in my pocket so that he could pay the temple tax. But that's not how Jesus did this. There is a reason, there is, uh, there is, uh, there is something unique about this method that teaches us something here tonight. The way that God is going to provide for their need that day is he's gonna tell Peter,

fishing. Now we know about Peter. Peter is a fisherman, isn't he? Oh, I know how to do some fishing. Now, normally Peter is a commercial fisherman. He's going to use nets to bring in a large catch. But in this case, Jesus says, we're not going for a massive net full of fish here. We just need the one. So Jesus tells him, tells the fisherman how to go fish. How about that? How about when Jesus tells you,

to do the thing that you know how to do pretty well. And so Jesus tells Peter, he says, go to the sea, put in a hook, and the next fish that comes up first, take that one. I love this. I love it because it requires for Peter to follow some instructions. It requires Peter to believe the words of Jesus, to take him at his word, and to follow some instructions. He asked Peter to do something.

to step out in faith. He didn't say, you know, in my name, produce that silver coin and poof, there it was. He said, no, Peter, I want you to go down to the sea and pull a fish out of the water. And this is often how God works, isn't it? When we need a miracle, God is going to require a step of faith from you. He is going to ask you to do something which might seem trivial.

or meaningless. Peter already knows how to do it. I've done this a thousand times, Lord. It's like I've been casting all night on the one side of the boat. What's the difference if I put it on the other side? Jesus. And Jesus said, put it the other side of the boat. And he said, well, I've been doing this all night, but you know what? You're Jesus, so I'm going to give it a try. You've got to have that willingness in your life to follow the instruction even when you're frustrated, even when you're stressed out, even when the taxes come due.

Adam Dragoon (21:22.638)

Even when it seems like things are not going the right way, you've got to be able to hear the voice of God and follow those instructions. It's Abram when God says, go out from your country to a land I will show you. It's such a, it's an action that requires great faith because Abram has to get all of his stuff, all of his family, all of his...

Belongings and pack them up and go move out from the land where he's been living. He's 70 years old. Have you ever moved? That stinks man, especially 70 years old and especially when there's no uhaul

And so he's got to put all of his stuff on the back of a camel and walk for years maybe to get to the place where he's going. But it was there that God had a plan for him. Are you willing to go out to a place you don't even know where you're going yet? The children of Israel, they have to go out of Egypt and they're not going directly to the promised land, are they? First stop is the wilderness. We don't like the wilderness part. Can we just skip over to the?

land flowing with the milk and honey part? Can we get to that part first? Can we get to the part where there's the wells that we didn't dig and the houses we didn't build? Can we just go, can we skip the whole starving and thirsting in the desert part? Could we just, is that okay? Is there a helicopter or something you could take us over, Lord? How many know? There's no shortcuts. We have to follow the path that God sets out before us. The disciples, Jesus said, put down your nets and follow me.

There was a cost, there was a price to pay, there was a cutting off of the old life. See, all of these, these miracles, they come when people are willing to step into the action that God calls them to. For the rich young ruler, here's an example of someone who was unwilling to follow his instructions. This young ruler comes to Jesus and Jesus is kind to him.

Adam Dragoon (23:26.478)

calls him teacher, rabbi, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And he says, follow the commandments, honor your father and mother, gives him a list of things to do, and he says, rabbi, I've been faithful to do all these things. Great, good job. I've got one more thing for you to try. And to this man, he said, sell all that you have, give to the poor, come follow me. Here's a man, he received an instruction that he didn't follow. For whatever reason, maybe,

the grip of material possession was on him. Maybe he had too much attachment to this world, but bottom line is he walked away sorrowfully that day because he couldn't follow the simple instruction that Jesus put before him. Can I ask you a question tonight? Are you willing to follow the simple instruction that Jesus puts in front of you in order to see the miracle? To the man with the withered hand, stretch forth your hand. To the man at the pool,

of Siloam, do you want to be made well? Pick up your bed and walk. Jesus leaves the decision in your court because it requires faith tonight. Miracles are awaiting for those who will abandon the natural explanation in order to follow Christ. Peter was able to walk on water one day. Do you remember that story? For all of his faults and his failures and their

multitude of them. He's the only one that walked on water, at least for a few steps. But you know, he couldn't walk on water without getting out of the boat. You know why? He was willing to do something that the others were not. And therefore he saw the miracle power of God. Now when we are willing to follow God's instructions, I want to tell you there's no limit to God's ability to

to provide for his people. I just want you to think about what was necessary for this miracle to happen. Now, I think that this could have happened one of two ways. I tend to think it's more one way than the other. It's possible, I suppose, that Peter put the fishing line into the sea and there was a little fish swimming by and he chomped down on that hook and God said, okay, there's the fish. That's the one.

Adam Dragoon (25:51.214)

And God miraculously, bam, abracadabra, poof, puts the coin into that fish's mouth for Peter to pull it out. I don't think that's how it happened. I think that God is much more powerful than that. I think that the story started when somebody was out on a boat and there was a wave that knocked him over and he had half a drachma in his pocket and it fell out.

And it could have been weeks before, months before, we don't know how long, and it fell out and it floated down to the bottom of the sea. That was step number one. It could have been weeks, it could have been years ago, we don't know how long. But God knows where every lost coin is, in every bottom of every sea. Then the next step is, there was some fish swimming along, and he saw something shiny on the bottom of the sea. And the fish,

He gets curious and he swoops down and he goes, and we don't know how long, maybe it got stuck in his throat. You know, fish can still survive with things stuck in their throat because they have gills. And so we don't know, maybe a day, maybe three, maybe a week, maybe two weeks before this whole incident took place. But there was some fish swimming around in the sea that already had the coin stuck in his mouth. How crazy is that? How many fish were in that sea?

probably a few hundred, a few thousand. And so this moment comes along and Peter puts out his line, there's a hook on the end, and it just so happens that right where that hook lands is exactly the spot where this fish that already had the coin, that had already been dropped into the sea, then that fish bites on that hook and that's the fish that he pulls out of the water.

Are you following all of the steps that God did in order to make sure that his son Jesus could pay the temple tax? Do you know why God put all of those things in motion? Because he cares about his son Jesus. Now here's the good news tonight. If God can do that for his son Jesus, that means he can also do it for you.

Adam Dragoon (28:13.262)

I love that Megan testified tonight. For a year and a half she's been worried about where she's gonna go, where she's gonna live. She's been asking for prayer, where am I gonna go, where am I gonna live? And for a year and a half, God has been preparing a coin in the fish's mouth. And just like that, here it comes, done. And I wanna tell you, that didn't come for free, that didn't come without her making some phone calls, without her doing some work on her side, right? And maybe not doing everything in the right.

order and time and not doing everything perfectly, but God can prepare an answer for your need. Let me ask you right now, you look at your life, what needs? Financial needs? Is there a solution to a problem that you can't figure out? And you think that, man, I've got, this is so difficult, this is so complex, it's like a bowl of spaghetti and all I got is one noodle to pull on.

How is this gonna work out, man? I wanna tell you, God is smarter than you. God is bigger than you. God is richer than you. He has resources. And you know, God knew that this problem was gonna happen in your life a million years ago. He knew about it. He was aware of it. We serve a God who is Jehovah Jireh. Now we, you know, we sing that name in songs and we can put that name.

in our prayer life and it has a meaning and sometimes we attach it with the idea that you know God is just going to send us thousand dollar checks in the mail but you know what the name Jehovah Jireh really means? The name Jehovah is the name of the Lord and the word Jireh it means the one who is able to see and to provide to see and to provide even the English word provide

has the thought of vision, right? Pro means to see forward or ahead, and vidae, the Latin root, means vision, to see something ahead of time. And so Jehovah Jireh, where he got this name is from the incident of Abraham taking his son Isaac up the mountain, and poor Isaac, he's looking at dear old dad and he says, I see the wood, I see the fire, but where's the sacrifice?

Adam Dragoon (30:37.678)

And he's starting to put things together. I've got a problem here. Abraham is saying to Isaac, we just got to believe God, man. Well, I don't know. What are we going to do? God told me to bring you up here. So I'm just following the instructions. He lays his son on the altar, binds him. He lifts up the knife. Genesis 18, you read it for yourself. Make sure I'm getting the story right. He lifts up the knife. And at the last moment, when he has proven that he's serious, that he's going to follow God's command,

Then God stops him and they turn their eyes over and there's a bush over there at the top of the mountain. And in the bush is a ram caught in the thickets. God has seen this problem already. That means that poor little lamb, he was stuck there already when they arrived. He had been there already. He was prepared. And that's where Abraham gives God this name, Jehovah -Jireh, the Lord who sees my need.

before it ever existed. You've got to have that kind of trust in your life. You've got to have that kind of faith. Somewhere along the way, God's gonna ask you to trust him, that he's working something out. I can't see it, I can't sense it, I can't figure it out. Guess what? If you could figure it out, then you would be God. But we can't figure it out. He's God, he knows what he's doing. And so the final...

thought then is that we've got to trust him. Matthew 6 verse 8, Jesus rebukes his followers and he says, don't be like those heathen people, don't be like them, for your father knows the things that you have need of before you ask him. Matthew 6 verse 8, Matthew 6 verse 25, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, what you will drink, about your body, what you will put on.

Is life not more than food and body more than clothing? If there are no workers to bring in the harvest, then the fruit will die. Oh, that's the end. Are you worried tonight? What are you worried about? What are you, what are you, what is keeping you up at night? You know, sometimes just one simple instruction to follow Jesus can solve all of the mysteries. I believe in a God who is working all things together.

Adam Dragoon (33:01.486)

Romans 8 verse 28, we know that all things work together for good. Say good tonight. To those who love God and those who are called according to his purpose. Did you know God's working it together? He's working it in your life. He's working something. If you trust him. First Corinthians 2 verse 9 as we close, I has not seen nor ear has heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared.

for those who love him. Did you know God's preparing something for you? He's preparing an answer to your need. He's preparing for the financial need, for the relationship need. He's preparing for the ministry need that is in front of you, for your family's needs. He's preparing. He has not forgotten about you. He has not left you to yourself. We get all these ideas in our head, all of these fears and anxieties, but I tell you, what we should be doing then is anticipating.

See, the reason that Peter could do this is because Peter already had experience with Jesus, didn't he? He had experienced this before. This is toward the end of Jesus' ministry, the story that we just read. So Peter knew what it was like for Jesus to say, cast the net on the other side of the boat, and for him to pull up a catch bigger than he'd ever seen before. Peter knew what it was like when he followed the instructions of Jesus to take the bread, bless it, break it.

and it would multiply to feed five thousand men. He had seen it. He had experienced it. He had touched it and seen the miracle with his own hands. He had seen these miracles and so when Jesus says, hey Peter, I need to provide for this temple tax, what I need you to do then is I need you to go and put a line into the sea. So Peter didn't have a problem with it that day. The problem is many times to the uninitiated or to the inexperienced,

or to those who simply forget God's miracle working power, Peter is not going to say, I forget about it Lord, what's that going to do? How am I going to pay with a fish? See, Jesus didn't explain this before the fish came out of the sea. Peter caught the fish and discovered. And I want to tell you tonight, God does not explain everything to you. He doesn't lay out the plan. He doesn't give you the five -year vision statement.

Adam Dragoon (35:28.622)

All he says is, follow me. And I love how they're depicting that in this chosen series, even in the one we saw yesterday. Jesus is out walking. He knows where he's going. Disciples have no idea. Like, where is he going? Where are we going, guys? And he's marching them down to Caesarea Philippi, and they're like, oh, gates of hell. Are you sure we want to go here, Lord? See, we're not called to understand everything.

We are called to obey. And if we will, I guarantee you tonight, we serve a God who is a provider who is working all things together. Let's bow our heads tonight. We'll close our eyes for just a moment. God's dealing with hearts. Can you be reminded that God is working something out? God is working his plan for his purpose. And what he needs from you is he needs your trust. He needs your faith.

He needs your obedience. If you would simply follow the instructions, I want to tell you, God is faithful. Faithful to help us in our time of need. And before we close this service, I want to ask if there's someone here tonight, the need that you have in your life is a spiritual one. You have a need to be forgiven, to be set free from sin. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. There's nobody here who deserves His mercy and His grace.

His forgiveness, but He is faithful. The Bible says that God loved the world so much that He gave His Son. Whoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. And I wonder if there's anyone here unsaved or backslidden in your heart. You're unsure about your eternal home. Unsure tonight about what's going to happen to you if you pass into eternity to stand before God. You have the opportunity tonight to turn

to the risen Savior. Before we close this service tonight, is there someone here you need this forgiveness of Jesus Christ? You need His mercy and grace on your life. I want to pray with you tonight. Would you lift up your hand? Is there someone here? You're not right with God, but you want to be. Don't miss this opportunity. Would you slip up your hand quickly so I can pray with you? Is there someone here, anyone here at all? God is moving on your heart. Would you lift up your hand? Someone quickly tonight. Believing God to forgive your sins and set you free.

Adam Dragoon (37:57.262)

You've been walking in disobedience and rebellion against God. But He's here tonight to receive you, your faith, your repentance. He is faithful and just to forgive us. One last call. Is there someone here quickly tonight? You need what we're talking about. Don't miss this opportunity to get your heart right. He doesn't deal with us forever. His conviction doesn't last forever. In this moment, don't miss this opportunity. Turn your heart to the Lord. Is that you? Quickly, would you lift up your hand?

before we close this service tonight. Hallelujah. Let me speak. Let me speak to believers here this evening. Oh, church, what pleases our Father in heaven? What pleases Him? More than anything else is not your sacrifice. It's not your discipline. It's not your repetition. It's not your longevity. What pleases our Father most is our obedience.

And there's somebody here tonight that maybe you found yourself in the middle of a need. Maybe like Jesus and Peter in this moment, it's a financial need. I've seen God do financial miracles, unbelievable miracles to supply in exactly the time necessary. I want to tell you, we serve a God who knows exactly where you are and exactly what you need. He will provide when we're faithful. He will ask us to follow His instructions, yes.

But when we do, He is a miracle working God. Maybe it's a relational need, a ministry need, a need at your job, a need in your relationship, your marriage, your home, your children. You find yourself with a bowl of spaghetti on your hands, I don't know how to work this out. But we serve a pretty smart God, a sovereign God. And before your problem was ever made known to you, He already had the solution and He knows how to work it out.

And I want to remind you tonight, all he's asking for is your faith and your obedience. Will you trust him tonight? We're going to open up this altar. If God's dealing with you, would you come? Let's make a space here at this altar to once again declare, Lord, I'm going to trust you in all things. I'm going to follow you. I'm not going to freak out. I'm not going to lose my faith. I'm not going to fall into depression and anxiety.

Adam Dragoon (40:22.798)

how often these stressful situations cause us to react in incorrect ways. I want to challenge you, George. Let's come, let's begin to cry out to the Lord for a few moments as we pray together here at this altar, Lord help me simply to hear your voice and to follow it faithfully. Let's pray for a few moments. You know, one thing that I have noticed is that whenever God does meet our need,

Isn't it great when he does? I mean, it doesn't always work out the way that we think it's gonna work out, right? Because God is God and we are not. Sometimes he leaves some things unfinished. Sometimes he solves the need that we thought could never be solved. But what I'm always amazed at is that the resolution to the problem that I thought was never gonna work out, it's always easier than I thought it was gonna be. Isn't that amazing?

you know i tell people the story of how we got this building you know this building required miracle miracle miracle miracle after miracle just to get in the door and you know when uh... when the for sale sign went out at the on the side of the road so we all were here when that happened and uh... miss caitlin was the first one to say let's believe god for it and when i heard her say that can i be honest with you i said yeah right that's not gonna happen

we came out here and some of us were here when we marched around the property in faith on a sunday night came out here marched around like Jericho saying God give us this building but in the back of my head I was saying how's that gonna happen man are you serious great man of faith that I am but God did it God did it you know why because he gets the credit and he gets the glory and so I just want to challenge you in your faith

Listen, you're going to look back on this situation that you're in right now. One day you're going to look back on it and all that God did to get you through it and you're going to say, man, that wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. And just God needs you to trust Him, to believe Him, and to stay faithful to Him. Let's close in prayer tonight. Would you lift up your hands? I want to pray with you this evening. Let's say this prayer together. Say, God in heaven, I repent for my anxiety and my fears.

Adam Dragoon (42:50.574)

I recognize you tonight. It's Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who is able to provide. I'm putting my trust in you. I'm putting my life in your hands. The best place that I can be is in your will. I need you to speak to me. Help me to hear your voice so I can follow your instructions. And I need you tonight.

Strengthen me and give me faith, confidence to follow you, believing that you have all that I need. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's give him praise right now. God, we thank you. And we praise you, Lord. We give you honor. We give you glory.

Adam Dragoon (43:48.27)

Amen. You know, often we're praying that our situation would change. And I believe that often God is praying that the situation would change you. So let's learn how to be faithful in every situation. Thank you for listening to this message from the Potter's House Church in Virginia Beach. If you sense the Holy Spirit drawing you out of your sins and into a new life with Him, pray this prayer from your heart today. God in heaven, I know I've sinned against you. I've hurt people. I've hurt myself.

and I've broken your laws. Today, I turn from my sins as I surrender to your perfect will. I believe Jesus Christ is your son and that he died and rose again for me. I receive him today as my Lord and Savior. May the old things of my past pass away as you make me a new creation. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit to give me strength to live for you for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. We want to help you live for God. Please join us in person for one of our upcoming church services.

We are located in the heart of Virginia Beach at 1045 Lenhaven Parkway, about one mile from the Lenhaven Mall. Please check the show notes for links to our website and social media. You can also find a link to support this ministry with a generous donation. We would be so grateful. We look forward to sharing future messages here on the VBPH Sermon Podcast. In the meantime, we pray that God would strengthen you to serve Him with all your heart.

Adam Dragoon
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