You Are Not Cancelled
We live in a Cancel Culture where our society is quick to cancel and write off things and people if it’s not according to their liking.
This term is used to describe the recent movement that has led people to lose their jobs or their influence because of troubling things that have been said, especially on social media.
Simply put, cancel culture is the boycotting or silencing of someone or something with threat of financial or popularity loss. Unfortunately we live in a cancel culture.
We’ve all heard it…
People have been cancelled
TV shows have been cancelled
Schools has been cancelled
Places of Worship have been cancelled
Truth has been cancelled
But you know what? You know what has not been cancelled, who has not been cancelled? YOU!
YOU ARE NOT CANCELLED!
Others cannot cancel you when God has called you.
The Church, the Body of Christ is not cancelled. The Church is Alive and contrary to popular demand, the Church is in Victory. We just finished celebrating a powerful week for the Christian faith where we can all say in one accord, “Our Redeemer Lives”.
Your Worship has not been cancelled. There is a song inside of you, a song of hope that shouts God’s goodness in-spite of the challenges that you may be facing that are threatening to silence your voice.
The Fruit of the Spirit are not cancelled. You can still be loving, kind, patient, forbearing…you can still have joy in the midst of your mourning and peace that surpasses all understanding.
The Great Commission is not cancelled. You can still preach the Good News to that friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, stranger that does not know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Your gifting is not cancelled. They may be tucked away or buried somewhere but it’s time to shake off the dust and begin to use them.
Your assignment in God has not be cancelled. There is still work to be done here on earth for God’s kingdom and His glory.
One of the things the enemy wants you to believe is that this is a wasted year, a year of unfulfilled goals and dreams. A year where once again you don’t see the promises of God come to pass. A year where you’re left hopeless and empty handed. But I refuse to label this year, this season, this moment as a wasted one because nothing in God is ever wasted. Absolutely nothing in Him is cancelled.
The Bible says in Philippians 1:6 I am convinced (this is Paul speaking) and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect it, will continue it, will bring it to completion, until it’s finally finished- until the day of Christ Jesus.
God doesn’t cancel, He doesn’t give up, He doesn’t quit, He finishes what He starts!
Paul has an unshakable confidence to say that back then in the New Testament so that we can hold on to it now (2023). Just as he reminds us of this in the verse above, I want to remind you today that the God Who started the work in you will continue to mold and form, sculpt and shape you into the vessel of His own choosing.
You are not cancelled
You are called
I love the intentionality in which God works in each of our lives. He is so detailed and precise with every aspect of us: the good, the bad and even the ugly. In His hands He can turn a complete mess into the most beautiful abstract work of art… all for His glory!
Romans 8:28 says And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.There’s a shift and a turning point happening in many lives, where God is turning messiness into a beautiful abstract canvas so that others can see God’s glory displayed in it.
God wants you to view life from His lens and understand that even if things around you change, God will never change.
Let me ask you this?
Can you endure change without thinking God has changed?
Is your faith in Him durable?
Is it resistant?
Can it weather out any storm?
Because the truth of the matter is that:
In the past couple years, things have changed and will never go back to being the same. Normal life as we know it is a thing of the past
There’s still a lot of fear and uncertainty and for many the future is unknown.
It seems as though there are so many questions and so little answers
And if all of that is not enough, the enemy never sleeps and continues to work. He whispers lies after lies in our ears, taking advantage of our vulnerability. Let me tell you, he’s on a mission and won’t stop until he attempts to accomplish it. John 10:10 says that he came for 3 things: to Kill, Steal and Destroy. He wants to kill your purpose, steal your joy and destroy your faith. AND HE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE HIS LIES! Lies like:
God will never use me
His promises won’t come to pass
There’s someone else better and more equipped for the task
I will never amount to anything
I’ve made so many mistakes, there’s just no way
I’m too broken to have purpose
I’ve been burned so many times by people I trusted, I just can’t…
And the list may go on
I want to remind you of what the bible says in John 8:44. It says that the devil is a liar and that there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. So whatever he is whispering in your ear, reject it, it is a lie. You have the authority in God to reject and cancel it in the name of Jesus. The bible also says in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”.
Let’s analyze this:
Destroy arguments: arguments take place in your mind
Every lofty opinion: opinions take place in your mind
The knowledge of God: takes place in your mind
Take every thought captive: thoughts take place in your mind.
Make the decision today to replace those lies with God’s Truth. The Word of God has divine power, and this power that is build in the Word of God is our supernatural weapon against all the lies, accusations and torments Satan tries to inflict upon us.
Yes its true, People change, circumstances changes, seasons change yet God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Don’t allow the failures and hurt from the past sabotage what God wants to do in the future. The Bible says in James 1:17 that Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. But there is one question you should never ask yourself and it is…. Will God change too? The answer is NO! He is unchanging. He is faithful. He is Truth. He is a Promise Keeper. That is who He is… and even though you don’t see it, He is working!
I want to end by saying that God can still do something beautiful with you, in you and through you- right now. Don’t cancel the plans God has for your life. He wants to do something not next year or even in a few months..He has plans for now! Dare to believe that God has not finished His work in your life.
I pray that we’re able to surrender our expectations to God. Because expectations can bring forth deception if those expectations are not met. UNMET EXPECTATION IS DECEPTION. But when we surrender are all to the One who holds our lives in His hand and is never taken by surprise by anything that is happening, then we can confidently trust that the Good Work He Has begun in us will be completed in each and every one of us. It’s time to show the world that we serve a God who does not cancel His people, He does not cancel His plans, He does not cancel His promises no matter how grim they may look. We must prove that our faith can weather the storm and although the pressures of life seems to be breaking us, we must remember that we are only bending not breaking. Our faith and trust in God is unshakeable and stronger than any metal and as indestructible as diamonds.
You are not cancelled, you are called!
Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!
~landypf