John 11:43-44

43. Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
44. And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

We got to celebrate. God sent His Son to show the world His glory and to declare His Kingdom. Christ was revealed to us through miracles, signs, and wonders. And because we don’t know, we put Him to death by nailing Him to the Cross. But God raised Him up. And death was defeated. The pains of death could not hurt Him. And Jesus stepped out of the tomb. He stepped out and my life began afresh. And I am justified, revived, empowered, and victorious. Yes! He stepped out. Today, somebody here is stepping out. Acts 2:22-24.

There are some things you believe the Lord for since the year began. You want to get healed. You want some good breaks. You want a dream to come to pass. You want God to bring the right person into your life, or a situation to turn around. And until now, nothing has happened. But you cannot get discouraged yet. Let me challenge you to do this one thing, which guarantees your breakthrough. Step out.

The Bible says, "Faith without work is empty." For me to know what you believe, I got to see the actions you take on what you desire. Many times you need something from God, and you say you are waiting on God, while in fact it is God that is waiting on you to step out. James 2:14-26.

The moment you pray to God, He has heard you. He says, "Before you call, I will answer..." He is set to fulfill His promise. He is set to perform the breakthrough, the healing, or the promotion. He is set to connect you to the right person, or to turn the situation around. He is only waiting for you to step out for Him to step in. Isaiah 65:24.

It makes God happy when you prosper. But you cannot get the promised result without your committed action. When you do what you have to do, you compel God to do what He says He would do. For instance, if you really want to get a college degree, you must engage in intensive study.

Ruth was a woman well favored. But it was her stepping out that qualified her for the favor she got. She took a bath, put on nice perfume, dressed cool, and went to lie down by the feet of Boaz. I am saying she stepped out of the farm line. And she found favor with Boaz for that historical marriage. Ruth 3.

‘Pass me not O Gentle Savior’, is not a song you sing on your knees. Doors might be opened before you. But you got to step through it to break through to your next level. You cannot be a lazy Pastor, and have a living church. You got to do what you got to do. Every prize demands a press. Those who press always obtain the prize. Only the diligent will stand with kings. Psalm 1:3; Proverbs 22:29.

Long ago as a new preacher, I was told when you open your mouth, God will fill it. One day I was to preach next Sunday. So, from Monday, I opened my mouth and said, “God, fill it up. Put your Word in my mouth.” Come on, Toni. It does not work like that. You got to sit down and study, and do your research, and get your message together. Then the anointing will flow. 2 Timothy 2:15.

God has a Promised Land in your future, filled with all the heavenly blessings. But you cannot get it while you are standing by the obstacles, like the Children of Israel at the Red Sea, crying and fretting, and longing for the past. God is telling you to “Go forward.” You got to step out. Exodus 14:15.

God says, “I will go before you.” He did not say He would stand there with you. He says He would go. Our God goes forward with those who go forward. When you step out in faith, you will feel some grace, favor, and some supernatural power pushing you forward. And the Red Sea will part way. Isaiah 45:2-3.

Some things God is not going to help you do. For example, God has washed your sins with the blood of Jesus. And He has given you the Holy Spirit to sanctify you. But you cannot attain to the level of holiness with your flesh still running loose. You got to work out your own salvation. You got to cut off that lust, that greed, that anger, that fear and unbelief. And you got to do it yourself. Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:1-2.

God has already got you into a marriage. It’s not for Him to keep you married. It’s now up to you to keep your marriage together. It’s up to you husband to love your wife, and you wife to respect your husband. God already gave you your own business. He is not going to come and run the factory for you. God has already got you a job. He is not coming to wake you up to go to work. Ephesians 5:21-27.

I know you went through hell before. I know you are going through some hot water now. And you do not think you can do it. But if you fan to flame the little faith left in you, you will do it. I know you are waiting for Joe or Helen to come and help you. And they look like they are not coming. Don’t get mad at them. If God wants, He would have used them to do it. Now, you got to get up and step out on your own.

You remember Lazarus? He was terribly sick. Everyone thought Jesus was coming to heal him. But He did not show up. And Lazarus died and was buried. Four days later, the Lord came. At Lazarus' tomb, Jesus commanded that the stone be removed from the mouth of the grave. He called Lazarus to come out. And the man that was dead came out alive. John 11:39-44.

What I am telling you is Lazarus stepped out. At the moment Jesus called into the grave, life came back into his body. But Lazarus did not lie down there grumbling, “What took You so long, Lord? Why did you not come before I died? Lazarus got up from the floor of the tomb and stepped out. He was still in the grave cloth. He could not walk properly. But he stepped out. If Lazarus had failed to get up from the ground and step out, he would have died a second time. And that’s it.

If you want to see the best of God for your life, you got to be willing to be a part to the answer to your prayer. Step out. God never left us without what we need to get over. He says, “I want you to go ahead and prosper.” But you say you are waiting on the Lord to give you power, strength, wisdom, endurance, talent, or creativity. God says "I have given you all that and more. Since I breathed my breath into you, I imparted a part of Me in you. All you got to do is step out."

You might be listening to my voice today, and you really want to step out and go where God is taking you. But you think it’s too late, or you are too old, or you do not have what it takes. You think you can’t make it. You think it’s impossible. But the moment you step out, and step up, and step on it, the Omnipotent God steps in.

When Lazarus stepped out, the Lord took over, and sent people to help remove the grave cloth from him. If you will step out, God will raise help to meet your need. He will send amazing people across your path. He will open doors that no one can close. He will shut the mouth of your enemies, and take you to the place He wants you to be.

Sometimes, you need to give yourself some pep talk. Open your mouth and tell yourself, “I can do this. I have been dreaming about it too long. I have been hanging around too long. I have been waiting on people to do it for me. But I can do it now. I believe God will make way out of no way. He will bring water out of dry land. I am stepping out. Give me this mountain. I am ready to go for it.” Isaiah 43:18-19; Joshua 14:12.

I read about this runner. He got set unto his mark to run. He had prepared well to run this race. But when the gun went off, he froze. The sound that supposed to propel him into his breakthrough froze him out.

You too might always be on the mark, always getting set. But you never go anywhere. You are too doubtful. You are too timid. You are afraid of failure. You want to start the business, but you think you might fail. You want to go back to school, but you think you might fail. You want to get married, but you think you might fail. You want to have babies, but you think you are not going to be a good mother.

But if you are caught in a battle of fear, and it looks like you are losing the fight. Don't get discouraged. In fact, the only way to conquer fear is to step out anyway. You got to lose your doubt and find your faith and step out. And if you do, the Lord will step in to deliver you from every reproach that makes you fear.

If you expect the blessings of Abraham, you got to step out like Abraham did. Do you not know that Abraham was not the first person God told to go to Canaan? It was his father, Terah. But Terah got half-way and settled for less. But when God told Abraham, he stepped out and went all the way. And Abraham became father of nations and a blessing to all people. Genesis 11:31-32.

You got to step out of your slumber. You might have thousands of great ideas. But they are only in your dream. You got a degree, but only in your dream. You have a wonderful marital life, but only in your dream. You got a big house, but only in your dream. You are the pastor of a mega church, but only in your dream. You got to step out of your dream and step on it. If you don’t step out now, your joy, peace, comfort, and fulfillment would take place only in your dream.

And you got to step out of your limitation. I had a dog when I was young, Mercy. He used to chase people in the neighborhood. And a lot of kids got hurt by running from him. So my Dad decided to put him on leash and tie him to a pole. Now he could not go beyond the length of the rope. But after a while, the rope was removed. But Mercy would not go beyond the point where the rope used to stop him.

You claim you can do all things by the strength that Christ gives you. But if you do not step outside your limitation, the strength you carry is a waste. Where you are is not where God is taking you. Step out. And God will take you to greater heights. Come out of your hiding. Come out of your darkness. Come out of your fear, or doubt, or timidity. Come out of your limitations, and see how high you go. Philippians 4:13.

Friend, let me challenge you to step out in faith. God promised to give you beauty for ashes, but you got to step out of the ashes to get the beauty to show. Let no fear tie you down. Let no disappointment wear you out. Step out of all the worries and anxieties of life. And your sound mind will open up. And you will accomplish amazing fits far beyond what you imagine. Ephesians 3:20.

You got to step out. And if you do, God is going to step in and help you, and bless you. And you shall be like a palm tree, standing above the crowd, and flourishing all around. And you shall possess the promises of God. And your life shall become fruitful, and successful, and prosperous, and victorious.
Hallelujah



LET'S PRAY:

Lift up your two hands and pray to the Risen King:

Jesus stepped out
And when the Lord stepped out
Sin stepped down
Sorrow, Shame, Sickness, and Lack
All stepped down
And death was arrested
And the pains of death hurt no more

By the reason for this season
By the power that raised Jesus
The power that lives in you
You are stepping out

You are stepping out
From darkness into light
From worries into peace
From chains into freedom
From sadness into gladness

And as you step out
You shall be lifting high
Into everlasting victory
In glory in Jesus Christ

So shall it be
In Jesus name

Thank You, Father Lord


AMEN.

Do you believe you are stepping out today?
If you do,
Then, give God a victorious shout of praise

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