IT’S TIME TO FLY: PASTOR STEPHEN RATHOD – RCCG HOLY GHOST CONGRESS 2020 (VIRTUAL), DAY 5 MORNING SESSION TALK 1

RCCG HOLY GHOST CONGRESS 2020 (VIRTUAL)

THEME: IT’S TIME TO FLY

MINISTERING DAY 5 MORNING SESSION TALK 1: PASTOR STEPHEN RATHOD (SENIOR PASTOR IN CHARGE – COVENANT FAMILY CHURCH, TULSA OKLAHOMA USA).

TOPIC: IT IS TIME TO FLY

DATE: 11TH DECEMBER, 2020

BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 40:28-31

Hello, Good Morning!

This is Pastor Stephen Rathod from Tulsa Oklahoma – Covenant Family Church.

First of all, I want to bless the Most High God who has kept us all this time and has given us opportunity to gather together at the Redemption Camp, again.

Congratulations to Mummy G.O, Daddy G.O and RCCG Worldwide – May God bless us all (Amen).

As it is our custom in my Church, as we read the Word of God – Would you Please stand as I read the Word of God!

I am reading the Book of Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV):

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the Earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives Power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the Youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their Strength; They shall mount up with wings like Eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

May God bless the Reading, the Hearing, and most importantly; Obeying the Word of God – Amen.

This morning my Assignment is: IT IS TIME TO FLY.

Now, those who are Pilots – who FLY all the time, what they do before they take off: They have what we call “A CHECK LIST.”

They go through the routine; it doesn’t matter how long they have been flying!

But every Flight is different! And they have to have a CHECK LIST – They check the Tyre Pressures, they check the Gear Guage.

Especially this time in America (in Winter) because the ice – They have to defrost things.

I mean, they have so many things they have to check. And, even if they have checked everything; they are to wait for a COMMAND from the Control Tower.

… Only Control Tower CLEARS the Pilot.

And tells him, okay! You have XCCD enough, now get ready, you are ready to TAKE OFF.

… CONTROL TOWER clears the Pilot for FLYING.

Now, we don’t have a Control Tower but we have the Most High God! – The Everlasting God; The Almighty God.

I trust Daddy G.O, when he said, he heard from our Heavenly Father, our Daddy in Heaven that: IT IS TIME TO FLY.

That means: We have been CLEARED to take off! We have been CLEARED to FLY.

What does is matter to God? Let me ask you something!

According to the Word of God which I just read; not everyone will be able to FLY.

Let me just give you THREE (3) THINGS you need to do for you to be CLEARED to FLY.

1. Like we read; Those who WAIT ON THE LORD; they are the ones to be CLEARED to Take Off and FLY

… During this New Season; this New Year that is coming upon us! – We have heard many times from Daddy G.O. He says: Those who are Partners with God.

According to Exodus 19:4, God says: “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.”

Those who are PARTNERS – Meaning, those who have been WAITING on God.

And I know, myself, my family, my Church: we have been waiting ALL THESE YEARS.

Daddy G.O came here in Tulsa on my Birthday last February 26th; and that was the last visit he made. Ever since he left (he had Prophesied over me); I will not be tired.

But he asked me to go DEEP – Deep in Worship, deep in Study, deep in Fasting, deep in Praying, deep in Giving, deep in Loving.

And that is what I have been doing in the last ten (10) Months.

And when we say: “Those who are WAITING on God” – we have been taught:

I. To WAIT on God, is to Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth;

II. To WAIT on God is Giving Him the Highest Praise;

III. To WAIT on God is to Give Him Glory.

So all those who have been doing this all these years, inspite of the situations and circumstances – Those who have Worshipped God, those who have Praised God, those who have given God the Glory; those who have given Sacrificially, those who have given Him Honour, those who have been “Sold Out” to God.

Get ready! Because you have Passed the Test on WAITING.

Those who wait on the Lord – Just like we read in our Text;

I. God will RENEW our Strength.

As we wait on God, we have a New Perspective – We store up “Extra Strength”; we have “Vigour, Determination” to continue.

So, let me Congratulate all those who have been WAITING on God: Now you are CLEARED TO FLY.

… Not only those who are Waiting on God;

2. Those who have been WALKING with God.

The Bible says: “We WALK by Faith and not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Faith is not only WAITING, but WALKING with God.

Hebrews 11:5, the Bible says: “Enoch WALKED with God, and then WENT with God.

365 Years, Enoch WALKED with God: He walked in the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:16.

He walked in Holiness; he walked against the World System.

Thank God for all those who have been Waiting, those who have been Walking;

3. And those who have been RUNNING with God this Year.

Hebrews 12:1-2, the Bible says: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so Great a cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with Patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.”

It seems like Year 2020 is a very LONG Year.

The Bible says: “Through Faith and Patience, we inherit the. Promises of God.” – Hebrews 6:12.

WHAT IS THE PROMISE OF GOD?

1. Those who have WAITED;
2. Those who have WALKED with God – not compromising at all. Walked in the Holy Spirit, lifestyle of Holiness.
3. Those who are RUNNING this Race – Travelling light (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

Those who have dedicated their lives to Holiness and Godliness.

Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – “I have ran this race with Purpose, that I may not be disqualified.”

May God help us to be qualified; especially those who have WAITED on God: by Worshipping Him, by Praising Him, by giving Him Glory and Honour – Amen.

Those who have WALKED with God, inspite of situations and circumstances;

And those who are RUNNING to win Souls; running to spread the Gospel.

Now, Heaven declares: IT IS TIME FOR US TO FLY.

So, I thought about the Characters in the Bible; who can I pick and talk about?

My favourite Character in the Bible is CALEB – The man who determined to get to the TOP.

Blessed are those who did not give up in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November; and by the Grace of God, we have seen DECEMBER.

For those who are determined to get to the TOP, get ready: You have been CLEARED TO TAKE OFF – Amen.

Your destination is Heaven; and by the Grace of God, we will get there – Amen!

You can also listen to the audio here: It Is Time To Fly – Pastor Stephen Rathod

So I got about four (4) more Points from the life of Caleb that we can learn;

And then I will Pray with you briefly, and the Name of the Lord will be Glorified – Hallelujah.

THE QUALITIES OF CALEB: You can find it in Numbers 12, 13. Also in Joshua 13, 14.

So now, let me just summarize these four (4) Points about those who are about to FLY – WHAT QUALIFIES THEM:

1. CALEB was qualified because He always TRUSTED THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

God was the center of His life!

He always says, even to those who were opposing him.

He said: “Listen, God is with us. If God is with us; and because God is with us, I’m going to follow Him with my whole heart.”

Now listen to this about this man (Caleb), who TRUSTED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD:

God said it, Moses said, Joshua said it, and I Caleb himself said it, that: “I have FULLY followed the Lord with my whole heart.”

Blessed be the Name of the Lord! For Men of God like Caleb, who were determined to Fly High; because they know God will be satisfied with their lives.

… And God will CLEAR THEM TO FLY!

No. 1 Point – Caleb trusted the Presence of God.

2. CALEB TRUSTED THE PROMISES OF GOD.

… He was excited about God’s Agenda.

Like I said: “Those who Wait on God, remember, they will go Higher and Higher.”

So when you go Higher in God, you will see everything from God’s VIEWPOINT.

Everybody else was comparing themselves to the enemies; and saying: “There are Giants; we are like Grasshoppers.”

But Caleb, who wanted to FLY! Who was determined to end at the TOP; He was a man of courage.

My friends, it takes courage to FLY in these days; and with the help of God – WE WILL BE ABLE TO FLY.

In the Name which is above every names. In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Now understand this: Caleb was a Young Man – forty five (45) Years old. His life was God’s centred. He TRUSTED the Presence of God. He followed the Lord with ALL of his heart.

Then he said: “We are well able to go in to the Land and Possess it; because God has PROMISED us!”

But do you know what happened?

Moses believed the Majority, and did not believe Caleb.

Now, that’s the last time we heard from CALEB. Forty (40) Years had Passed; we don’t hear nothing from Caleb!

Caleb trusted in the PRESENCE of God, Caleb trusted in the PROMISE of God.

… But now, the People rebelled against God!

Listen to this: He is the Wilderness for forty (40) years – “We are talking about those who WAIT on God; those who WALK with God; those who RUN with God.”

How would you like to walk in the wilderness for forty (40) in the middle of all those “Unbelievers?”

… But Caleb was Persistent. He was focused!

Listen to this: During this time, all those twenty (20) Years plus (let us play with some numbers).

Let us say there were two (2) million People, okay!

In forty (40) years, two million (2,000,000) died.

That means eighty five (85) People died everyday – One (1) Person died every hour!

For forty (40) years, we don’t hear nothing from Caleb.

WHY? – “Commandos do not complain!”

… They have already said what they are going to say.

The Commando already says: “The PRESENCE of God is with us; the PROMISE of God is with us”

Now, in the wilderness, where everything is going wrong; People are dying left and right. But he knew one thing: “Though a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh your Dwelling Place” – Psalms 91:7.

… So he knew it!

The man who is determined to FLY (listen to this) even if you don’t see nothing, remember:

3. CALEB TRUSTED THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

God says: “My ways are not your ways; your thoughts are not My thought; the Purpose for which I send My word, I will accomplish” – Isiah 55:8-11.

Caleb Knew! – Forty (40) years in the wilderness or not; IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

He was Holding on to the Word of God: – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that Proceedeth out of the mouth of God” – Matthew 4:4

What kept him alive for forty (40) years? – HE TRUSTED THE PURPOSE OF GOD!

God kept His Commando alive! He kept his hope alive – He didn’t blame anybody.

Now, let us fast forward – Caleb is no more the forty five (45) Years Old Young Manman; he is Eighty Five (85) years old and it is time to DIVIDE the Land.

The one who remembered the Presence of God; the own who remembered the Promise of God; the one who remembered the Purpose of God came to Josua and said: “Joshua, you were there! And God PROMISED me this Land!”

As a matter of fact, remember what I said: “Those who WAIT ON GOD, they will get Stronger and STRONGER.”

Let me make a simple statement here; a lot of People are always making this statement – “Pastor Stephen, I’m TRUSTING God – It has been nine (9) Months, nine (9) years!”

Let me ask you a question: “What is the Litmus Test that you are TRUSTING in God?”

How do you move Stronger in December, 2020 (as if it is January, 2020)? You should be STRONGER in December 2020!

That’s a Sign, that indeed truly, you are WAITING ON GOD.

… So my Last Point about CALEB:

4. HE TRUSTED THE POWER OF GOD.

Remember, he TRUSTED: the Presence of God, the Promise of God, the Purpose of God;

… And now, he is TRUSTING IN THE POWER OF GOD (85 Years old)!

And Caleb said: I don’t care what you all say, IT IS MY TIME TO FLY HIGH”.

WHY? – Heaven is Pleased with me! Heaven has CLEARED me to FLY: God has RENEWED my Strength as I WAITED on Him.

And if anybody tried to discourage him and say: “Caleb, you are an old man, there are Giants on that Mountain.”

He goes back to when he was forty (40) Years and say: “WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE GIANTS?”

This Giants are Preposterous! – GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN.

WHY? – I am going to FLY! I have WAITED all these forty (40) years for this Land.

Now I am going to DRIVE OUT ALL THOSE GIANTS FROM THIS MOUNTAIN – GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!

WHY? – I am FLYING High; MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

So, let me just encourage you today or even as you read on the Label of DMC: Thank you especially to Mummy and Daddy G.O; Thank you for holding on Sir. Thank you for not giving up Sir. Thank you for never compromising the Word of God Sir.

And we are here to say this: We know you have heard from Heaven! Last year you said: “Do not fear, the Lord is our Refuge, the Lord is our Strength.” And we trusted you!

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is CLEARED TO FLY.

But let me say one more thing – It is NOT those who are just hanging around that are going to be FLYING;

But those who are indeed (like Daddy G.O always says) – Those who are GENUINE sons and daughters of God. They are the ones who are going to FLY HIGH.

*So, we have WAITED for eleven (11) Months; We have WALKED for eleven (11) Months; we have RAN for eleven (11) Months. We have done it ALL!

“But without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to Please God.” – Hebrews 11:6

… We have believed God in all these!

In the middle of Death we have Preached LIFE; in the middle of Poverty we have Preached the Promises of God.

Before I Pray with you let me ask: “ARE YOU READY TO FLY?”

If not, check your Life: Are you Waiting on God? Are you Worshipping, are you Praising, are you Giving Him Glory? Are you Walking in Holiness? Are you Running with Patience? Are you Running with the Vision of the Redeemed Christan Church of God?

So, let us do what Caleb did:

Let us TRUST (not only for 2021).

From now onwards; let us TRUST in the Presence of God; let us TRUST the Promises of God, let us TRUST the Purpose of God;

And ABOVE ALL – we are going to TRUST in the POWER of God.

We have received the POWER – the Power of the Holy Ghost. “For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.” – 2 Samuel 22:30

IT IS TIME TO FLY HIGH! We will get there SPEEDILY – GOD IS WITH US.

… Let me PRAY FOR YOU.

CLOSING PRAYER.

My Father and my God, in Jesus’ Name; Thank You for the Word of the Living God, that God has been Pleased with the Redeemed Christan Church of God;

The one who WAITED on God; the one who WALKED with God; the one who is RUNNING with God!

Now Father, I Thank You for declarng from the Control Power of Heaven that: We are CLEARED TO FLY.

Help us to TRUST: Your Presence, Your Promise, Your Purpose. And we will do it by the POWER OF GOD.

In the Name of JESUS – Amen!

May God BLESS you! May God SHINE His Face upon you! May God give you GRACE.

AND MAY YOU FLY AND MAKE HEAVEN YOUR HOME!

In Jesus’ Name – Amen and AMEN!

Be blessed! I Love you! Always HAVE and always WILL – FLY HIGH, in Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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