Lord Make Me A Sign // Change At Home // Dr. Dharius Daniels

I want to call our attention to a gospel narrative in the book of Luke, chapter number one, beginning at verse 26. Um, and we're going to read a couple of verses there. Hey, I want you guys to welcome everybody that's here for the first time and our online family.

Give it up for Change Global. Luke 1 26 says this. It says, "In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, which was a town in Galilee. He sent Gabriel to a virgin that's pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, who's a descendant of David."

The virgin's name was Mary. And the angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you." I want to pause the reading of scripture there and I want to share as a subject for this sermon a statement that was released by Pastor William McDial during our miracle week prayer call on Wednesday morning.

He said something that resonated with me. so strongly I felt the need to unpack it in the context of a sermon. So the topic of tonight's teaching is inspired by that conversation and the title is this. Lord make me a sign. I need a better amen than that.

Now Lord make me make me a sign. This passage here in Luke, family, I think is a powerful picture of a principle I've affectionately entitled the principle of exposure. And this principle, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it or who may have forgotten, simply suggests that God uses exposure to what he has done with others as an avenue to increase your expectation of what he can do with you. >> I'm going to read it one more time.

I want it to sink in your mind. God uses exposure to what he has done with others as an avenue, as an instrument, as an impetus to increase your expectation of what he can do with you. In other words, there are times when God gives us a front row seat to what he has done with others, not to make us jealous, but to make us hungry. >> Jealousy is the feeling you get when you mismanage your exposure.

Jealousy is the consequence of an individual allowing exposure to drive them to comparison when exposure should produce confirmation of God's capability. >> Therefore, God doesn't just perform signs and wonders. He prepares people to be signs and wonders. He doesn't just work miraculously to work miraculously. He works miraculously so that our lives can be a mirror of his miracle working power.

God doesn't just perform miracles for those who need the miracle. He performs miracles for the people that need to see. He still works miracles. Therefore, every believer that deeply desires to be used by God should have a holy conviction that says, "Lord, make me a sign. Lord, don't limit my usage to my time, my talent, and my treasure.

Use that. But beyond using my time, my talent, and my treasure, use my testimony. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Because, watch this. Because your testimony [snorts] speaks louder than the usage of your time, your talent, and your treasure. Your testimony becomes undeniable, irrefutable, unequivocal evidence of God's miracle working power. >> People could argue doctrine with Lazarus.

They could argue philosophy with Lazarus, but they could not argue his resurrection. Come on in here. They could not argue that he was sick and in the tomb for 4 days. But when Jesus walked up to the tomb and said, "Lazarus, come forth." The Bible says, "Lazarus literally comes out of that tomb."

And we KNOW HE COMES OUT of the tomb in grave clothes because Jesus tells those that are around him, "Loose him and let him go." You missed it. He allowed the same people who watched him go in the tomb to be the same people that were hanging around when he came out of the tomb because he wanted to use not just Lazarus's time, not just his talent, not just his treasure, he wanted to use his testimony.

And I want to know, am I talking to anybody in the room today that can say to your neighbor, don't tell them, but if they asked you, "What does a miracle look like?" You could just tell them it looks like the person sitting next to you, cuz I wasn't in Lazarus's tomb, but I was in my own tomb.

And somehow someway, he gave me a resurrection. So if you don't believe in miracles, look at the person sitting next to you because you are sitting next to one. Let me hear not just the people who want a miracle. Let me hear the people who are a miracle make some noise tonight.

Lord, make me a sign. And this text here is an example of what I'm articulating. >> Very often, Raan, the story of the incarnation focuses on one woman. >> And this one woman is named Mary. >> And Mary deserves attention, >> does she not? >> Mary deserves appreciation, does she not?

Mary deserves adoration, does she not? >> Mary is one of the ultimate examples of submission that we see in scripture. >> Because the WATCH THIS HER ASSIGNMENT uh uhoh uhoh uhoh her assignment disrupted her desires for her own life. >> She didn't ask for this. She's engaged >> to the love of her life. >> I mean, he put the flowers on the sidewalk.

He had her friends and loved ones there. The candles were lit. Had an airplane fly above in the sky. Mary, will you marry me? She's got Joseph, the man of her dreams. And then all of a sudden, she got to sit Joseph down and tell Joseph, "I'm pregnant."

And God did it. Her assignment disrupted her desires for her life. >> So Mary deserves the attention she historically receives. But tonight, >> we need to have a different conversation about another strong sister >> in the text >> whose name is Elizabeth. >> Did you hear what I just said?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I Elizabeth is important. Elizabeth is essential. Elizabeth is significant. Elizabeth is necessary >> cuz Elizabeth stay here is Mary's sign. ((cheering)) >> I I've got a little bit of help in here. I'm going to say that one more time. I said Elizabeth is Mary's sign. >> ((applause)) ((cheering)) >> And I believe this.

I promise you, I believe this in my soul. I really believe what God is getting ready to do through this message is awaken a degree of contentment with some of your assignments to be Elizabeth's. Woo. Because we live in a culture, a Christian cultural context where many of us prefer to be Mary.

Spotlight, front and center, premere. Um, adored, admired, exalted, the center of attention, the focus of people's affection. But but I believe that some of us in the room have the anointing of Elizabeth. >> Pastor, what what do you mean? It's it's here in the text in in Luke chapter number one.

We read it together. Here's what Luke, who is a physician, so he's detailed. Here's what Luke makes sure we know. Luke says it's in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. God sent the angel Gabriath Gabriel to Nazareth in a town called Galilee. Wait a minute. I thought this story was about Mary, >> but Luke says, just so you know, >> it's in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy that Mary gets the word that she's supernaturally conceived. >> Come on here. >> I'mma say this one more time.

Luke says it's in the sixth month. of Elizabeth's pregnancy >> that God sends the angel Gabriel to announce to Mary, you pregnant. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. >> Okay. One more time. It's in the sixth month >> of Elizabeth's pregnancy >> that God sends A MESSENGER ANGEL Gabriel to Mary to let her know you pregnant. >> Why not the first month?

Why not the second, third? Cuz in the six you showing showing. ((cheering)) >> Who's going to help me preach tonight? He waited until she was showing >> before he sent a word to Mary that she was pregnant. Maybe you're unfamiliar with Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth was unable to conceive a child. >> As a matter of fact, the Bible says she was past childbearing age. >> Did you hear what I just said?

So biologically she was incapable of conceiving a child. Agewise she is incapable of conceiving a child. Her husband who works in the synagogue did not even believe she could conceive a child. AND BECAUSE DOUBT IS SO DANGEROUS, GOD TOOK his voice. ((cheering)) Come on here. Come on here. Because doubt is dangerous when you're in a season where you're trying to give birth to something that is uncommon, unusual, and supernatural.

And God was protective of what Elizabeth was carrying because he knew that Elizabeth needed TO GET PREGNANT. NOT JUST SO THAT SHE COULD GET PREGNANT. SHE NEEDED to get PREGNANT SO THAT MARY COULD BELIEVE SUPERNATURAL PREGNANCY IS POSSIBLE. ((cheering)) >> So he took Zachariah's voice >> and say, "I can't let you speak doubt over this.

She's too fragile right now. So he waited until the sixth month and he comes to Mary and say, "Mary, you are blessed and highly favored because you're going to carry the answer to the issues that exist in the world. Here it is. God uses people as previews of your promise.

((applause)) And so Mary's [snorts] need Elizabeth's >> Mary's need Elizabeth's not so that you can believe. Come on. That God can do it for Elizabeth, >> but so that you can believe ((applause)) ((cheering)) God can do it for you. Now, here's one of the ways. Are y'all okay? Here's one of the ways I believe you can discern if God is using this season of your life to make you a sign. >> Are y'all ready for this? >> Did he let people see you in your non-childbearing season?

Did you catch it? They missed it. >> He made sure that your non-childbearing season had an audience. Because if people did not observe you in your non-childbearing season, >> THEY WOULD NOT BE able to diagnose and affirm that your Pregnancy is a miracle. ((cheering)) >> So he says, "I'm going to create an audience on the back end that feel like doubters and haters."

((cheering)) >> DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID? YEAH. I'M I'M I'M I'M I'MMA CREATE AN AUDIENCE in your non-childbearing season that feel like critics and cynics. And then I'm not going to remove them. I'mma keep them in close proximity >> SO THAT THE SAME ONES >> THAT WERE CYNICAL and critical in your non-childbearing season will have to be the same ones THAT SCRATCH YOUR THEIR head when you walking around showing >> Lord make Make me a sign.

Make me a sign. So, what does this text? Y'all tired already? You What does this text teach us about becoming a sign? See, Luke here is not just reporting a miracle. Luke is revealing a pattern. He is showing us the different ways God may want to use us to be a sign for others. >> Here it is.

Can I give you a few things? >> All right. Here it is. The first thing I see in the text here is God may want to use you and me to be a sign. Watch this. To show a miracle in the person. Okay. A woman past childbearing age isn't supposed to be able to conceive.

And a virgin isn't supposed to be able to conceive. >> Wow. >> Did you hear what I just said? I said a woman past childbearing age >> shouldn't be able to conceive >> and a virgin shouldn't be able to conceive. But if I'm able to conceive when I'm past childbearing age, ((cheering)) >> it is God demonstrating his sovereignty over time.

Not sovereignty over a period of time, but it's GOD DEMONSTRATING HE'S GOT sovereignty over time. ((cheering)) Did you hear what I just said? Yes. He is not controlled or limited BY OUR TIME FRAME. He is sovereign over time. So, Elizabeth getting pregnant SAYS TO US THAT GOD IS ABLE TO EMPOWER YOU AND ME to give birth to things >> in a season WHERE NATURALLY IT'S too late.

((cheering)) >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Yes. And I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you don't get this revelation, the enemy will use time to torture you. And the enemy who is an accuser of the brethren will keep reminding you of the time you wasted and keep reminding you of the time you mismanage and keep reminding you of the opportunities you missed because YOU DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE of them earlier in your childbearing years.

But God put women like Elizabeth in the Bible to let you and I know HE IS SOVEREIGN OVER TIME. And because he's sovereign over time, he can do it in a season in your life where other people think it's too late. Now, I'm getting ready to tell you to declare something.

And you can just sit there and not if you don't believe it. But if you believe it, I want you to say it with conviction. He's still going to do it. I'm not as young as I used to be, but he's still going to do it. And I MADE SOME MISTAKES, BUT HE'S STILL going to do it.

And I MISMANAGED SOME SEASONS, BUT HE'S STILL going to do it. And I DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY I USED TO HAVE, BUT HE'S STILL. He may NOT COME WHEN YOU WANT HIM, BUT HE'S ALWAYS ON TIME. IF YOU BELIEVE he's still going to do it, RAISE YOUR VOICE AND GIVE him praise.

Still going to do it. ((cheering)) >> Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to [clears throat] do it.

Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. Still going to do it. He's still going to do it. Not because you deserve it. He's still going to do IT CUZ MARY NEED TO SEE HIM DO IT. Did you hear what I just said?

See, you think he's not going to do it BECAUSE YOU DON'T DESERVE IT. [laughter] BUT HE'S NOT DOING IT FOR YOU. HE'S DOING IT FOR MARY. Mary needs TO SEE THAT HE CAN STILL DO IT. Somebody should have felt that in your soul, >> the miracle in the person. >> But then secondly, that's Elizabeth.

Secondly, there's a miracle in the process. >> So, so, so the Lord may make you a sign by the miracle he works in you. >> Pregnancy is a metaphor for that. What he does in you, the miracle in the person. But for some of you, the Lord may want to make you a sign by the miracle he does in the process.

What do you mean? >> Mary was a virgin. >> Okay, we don't have to do biology, do we? Theology. Let's not do biology. Mary was a virgin. >> But she was pregnant. >> Now, there's normally a process But the immaculate conception >> is a revelation of God's ability to do it without the process that everybody else has to go through to get it done.

Come on here. Yeah. And I know EVERYBODY ELSE HAS HAD IT DONE A CERTAIN WAY, but sometimes God works a miracle BY EXERCISING HIS sovereignty and allowing you and I TO SKIP A PROCESS. It means that you and I do not have to live a life where we believe GOD IS BOUND TO specific and certain processes.

This is not an endorsement of shortcuts. It's a revelation of sovereignty. Mary's pregnancy, if you're not behind schedule, don't say anything here. But Mary's pregnancy, the immaculate conception, is a miracle where God enables a woman to skip some steps. Whoa, you missed it. There's a step in between.

COME ON, CHURCH. THAT SHE GOT TO SKIP. And watch this now. The Bible says he makes my feet like Hines's feet. Did you hear what I just said? Yeah. And and I don't know if you've ever seen hine or a deer. DEERS DON'T JUST STEP. >> Deers leap.

God is not just the God that orders your steps. God is also the God that orchestrates your leaps. And I know every leap year comes AROUND PERIODICALLY. But in the kingdom, every year is a leap year. And I want somebody that believes you're getting ready to skip some steps and you're getting ready to leap forward.

THAT GOD'S GOING TO MAKE UP SOME LOST time to go ahead and thinking this is my leap year. This is my leap year. This is my leap month. This is my leap week. I'm leaping into my future. I'm leaping into my assignment. I'M LEAPING INTO GOD'S NEXT for my life.

I believe people are getting ready to ask you how you get there. >> And you're going to tell them, "I leaped here." >> GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY. HOW DID YOU accomplish that? I leaped here. HOW DID YOU COME BACK FROM THAT? I leaped here. Somebody that believes God's getting ready to help you leap.

RAISE YOUR VOICE AND SHOUT IN THIS HOUSE. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. Watch me leap. Watch me leap. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping.

I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm leaping. I'm >> Y'all quiet. I'm I'm If you believe that, one more time, release some praise all over this house. ((music playing)) >> ((cheering)) ((applause)) >> I believe we stepped in something. ((cheering)) We done hit a prophetic flow. God wants to just reiterate that point. He wants to remind you.

He wants to push out all doubt, all anxiousness, all fear. You getting ready to catch up. I said, "YOU'RE GETTING READY TO CATCH UP." I said, "You're getting ready to catch up. YOU'RE GETTING READY TO LEAVE." SOMEBODY SAY IT. OH, I'm I'm I'm leaving. I'm I'm I'm so >> I'm done. >> I'm done.

Oh, I'm leaping. He's calling me forward. Oh, I'm leaping. He's calling me higher. Oh, I'm blinking. Oh, I'm leaving. Oh, I'm leaving. >> Oh, I'm leaving. >> Oh, I Oh, I >> from glory to glory. >> Oh, I believe it. >> From glory to glory. >> Oh, I believe it. >> From glory to glory. >> Oh, I believe it.

Oh, I'm sleeping. >> God may want to use you to show I can do a miracle in a person. >> God may want to use you to show others I can do a miracle with the process. >> Or finally, he may want to use you to show others I can do a miracle with a partner. >> Here's what the Lord showed me.

Elizabeth >> is Mary's answer >> to the issue of isolation. >> She's a good >> Cuz sometimes you feel like I'm the only one. >> Right. >> And I'm talking to people tonight >> who got a crowd around you, but you still feel lonely. They love you, but they can't relate to what you're carrying. >> Did you hear what I just said? >> They don't know what it's like to carry what you're carrying.

They don't know what it's like for your feet to swell. They don't know what it's like to go through morning sickness. They don't They DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TO SLEEP ON YOUR SIDE AND on your back. They they THEY CAN'T RELATE. AND SOMETIMES we deal with isolation >> cuz you carrying something >> very few people carry. >> I know what I'm talking about.

Tim >> I felt that way carry in this church. >> Third way, king's way that can feel real lonely >> cuz a lot of people love second way >> and second way is lucrative. Second way is popular. >> And so when you're carrying third way, you can feel isolated.

You can feel like a zebra without stripes. >> And Elizabeth represents the the person >> God supernaturally sends to your life. >> Who is he is so who is so divinely joined that when you come into proximity, >> what's in you leap. [cheering and screaming] Do y'all know this story? When you come into proximity with each other, what's in you leap AND WHAT'S IN THEM LEAP.

COME ON HERE. BECAUSE THERE'S A DIVINE SYNERGY. And God may want to use your story to let Mary know you're not the only one. be the answer to somebody's issue of isolation. >> Lord, make me a sign. >> Not just a recipient of miracles, but a reflection of them. >> Not just someone who sees your power, but someone who becomes living proof of it.

((applause)) Elizabeth was assigned, but she had to be had to live six months feeling like she was the only one. >> She had to had to live six months before God sent Mary to make sense out of what she was carrying. And some of you confused now because it doesn't make sense, but you're not in the sixth month yet. >> The sixth month is coming where God makes sense out of it all.

((music playing)) >> ((music playing))