Turn Malachi 4:6 Intentionality (full sermon)

Life often unfolds differently than we expect, leaving us wondering how anything good could come from painful circumstances. Joseph's story illustrates how God can reclaim even our most difficult chapters for His purposes. Sold into slavery by his brothers at 17, Joseph endured years of hardship before becoming second-in-command of Egypt. When famine struck, he was positioned to save not only his family but entire nations. What his brothers intended for harm, God used for good. Even when we can't see clearly what God is doing, He is writing our story with purpose. Our painful experiences don't define us - they can become the very means through which God accomplishes His greater plan.

When three kings found themselves stranded in a waterless wilderness, God provided a solution that seemed impossible: dig ditches and wait for water without rain. This story from 2 Kings 3 teaches us that God often allows wilderness seasons to prepare us for His promises. The key is understanding our role versus God's role - we do the possible things while He handles the impossible. Through worship, obedience, and preparation, we can position ourselves to receive what God wants to give us. True faith means preparing for God's promises before we see their manifestation, not playing catch up afterward.

God doesn't want you to stay comfortable - He wants you to move with purpose. What comfort zone is He calling you to leave today? Sometimes His disruptions don't make sense initially, but they always lead to transformation. The question isn't whether you're qualified, it's whether you're willing to take the next step in faith.

Pastor Kevin re-visits his sermon on Intentionality to complete the full text. Through the sermon series TURN Malachi 4:6. TURN your heart to the LORD. Intentionality turning to God is the deliberate orientation of one’s mind, heart, and actions toward God—choosing to seek, acknowledge, and respond to the divine rather than drifting by habit or impulse. It involves a conscious openness to God’s presence and a purposeful aligning of one’s desires and decisions with God’s will. 

Every person must eventually stand in the Valley of Decision and choose who they will serve. This isn't a physical location but a spiritual crossroads where we decide between serving God or the idols of our modern world - money, status, pleasure, and self-gratification. Many people delay this crucial decision, thinking they have more time, but remaining undecided is itself a choice with eternal consequences. Just as Noah's generation heard warnings but failed to act before the flood came, we cannot postpone this decision indefinitely. There are only two ways to leave this valley: through death or through choosing to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. The time to decide is now, while the opportunity still exists.

Pastor Kevin was not able to bring the full sermon today, God had other plans, and that's okay. Pastor did speak briefly on God's love is the foundation of who He is, not just something He does. Unlike human love, God's love is unconditional and unfailing, demonstrated through sending Jesus to save the world rather than condemn it. The Father desires an intimate relationship with you, calling you home to experience His perfect love. This love isn't earned through performance but is freely given based on God's character. You are invited to rest in this truth and allow His love to transform how you love others.