HEBREWS 11:1 and 40 (various) and 12:1-3
11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.  (I PRAY THAT YOU READ THAT ENTIRE CHAPTER)
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
 
Hebrews is considered by many scholars and teachers to be “The Book for Disciples” because it is such a tool of study and understanding, chronicling so effectively the journey of being thoroughly and effectively about the struggles of endurance, patience and the soaring highs and perilous lows of standing on your faith.   It’s not without clear purpose that God would have led me here to find scripture for today’s word.
 
I was on Facebook last week and one of my friends posted about how she couldn’t help being “OVERwhelmed last night because I keep hearing of fatal car accidents. Was in a near fatal one last yr, but God kept it far. Have U ever been close to a deadly/fatal thing, but God kept it far?”  WELL, YOU KNOW THAT SHOOK MY SOUL!
 
The conversation that quickly transpired was person after person, myself included, who had not only been close to but directly involved in such potentially fatal accidents, but Grace and Mercy kept us.  By the time we finished that conversation, people had testified about accidents and angels, pregnancy scares and praise, gunshots and grace.  Lord we had church on Facebook that Wednesday morning and I pray that we do so today.
 
I thought about people in the Bible who had endured a great deal of struggle or conflict, but God kept it far.  God kept it far doesn’t mean that you haven’t endured anything, survived anything, been tested by anything.   God kept it far is a testament to the fact that favor has somehow been imparted to most of us throughout our lives AND that we live in it and under it everyday and sometimes it takes accidents and incidents to shake our core and restart or reignite our faith, aggressively reminding us that we are here, today, by grace that has kept us from and even during some overwhelmingly tragic things in our lives.  As I thought about people in the Bible, I wondered about the conversations that they must have had to have with people, as they held on to their faith, during trying times. 
 
When you are going through a thing, especially a something that isn’t going to just go away tomorrow, what is it like to have to have conversations with people, the ones who will still show up and be with you, as you wait?  What is it like to stand on the promise of God’s word when naysayers around you keep saying God doesn’t love you, it’s over, it’s finished, give it up, turn it loose, curse your God and die?
 
I thought about:
The woman with the issue of blood
The man at the well for 38 years
The Samarian woman at the well
2 Blind men who refused to be silent
Meshach Shadrach and Abednego!
My car accident and the nurse and police officer who stopped
 
Even as they waited on the Lord, they had power prose to tell about God’s grace.  Even as people snickered and snared, damned and dared, each of these people and so many in this room today are here because God never left you or forsook you, even when it felt like you were all alone.  So many times we get caught up in other people’s doctrines and damnation, misquotes and misinformation that we forget our own story!  If you are mindful and can step away from what people say about who you are IN God, you will be able to look back over your own life, your own journey, your own testimony and see who you are TO God.  No matter what they try to say about you, to you, against you, you’ve got to always remember the Grace and Mercy of God that has rested over you in times of trouble.  Think about it….you have messed up, slipped up, mucked up and somehow you got up. 
 
THAT SOMEHOW IS BECAUSE GOD KEPT YOU!
 
People talk about people and try to judge people, suggest that they are better than people and that God’s peace and power are only for some and not others.  People wonder why people make it out of situations that have caused others their demise.  GOD KEPT YOU…do you remember that, all day, every day?
 
I am here today because God keeps on doing great things for me.  People have said I am not worthy, am not of God, am teaching people something that the Bible contradicts…but God kept me.  I am sure beyond doubt that God knows its me that God is blessing, saving, lifting, pouring into, providing for, healing, holding, helping, prospering and even when men and women would call radio stations and try to declare something to dispute God’s love for me, God kept me.
 
Someone in here today has gone through something and I am not talking about a something that turned out the way you wanted it.  I am talking about something that went wrong, blew up in your face, cost you something big, meant something special to you.  You went through that thing and you made it through to the other side to be able to declare, even when you messed up, slipped up, got fed up or what you lost didn’t turn up, BUT GOD KEPT YOU!
 
Alice Walker says that the reason she called her well-known novel “THE COLOR PURPLE” was that it represented one of the richest, most magnificent things that God ever did, even in a world that the character couldn’t see at first.  Celie suffered ugly pain at the hands of a man who treated her like a slave, separated her from her only family member, berated her and hated her because he couldn’t be with the woman he truly loved.  He tried to break her.  He almost succeeded, BUT GOD KEPT HER.  She endured wrathful things at the human hands of a man who himself was broken.  Then one day, Celie realizes the power of her might in God:
 
Among the things that Mister had said to her was:
 
“You’re ugly
You’re skinny
You’re shaped funny
You’re black
You’re poor
You’re a woman
You’re nothing at all”
 
But her revelation was: 
“I may be ugly.  I may be black.  I may be poor, but Dear God, I’m here!”
 
(PASS OUT POST IT NOTES)
 
In the Book of Hebrews is tell us that BY FAITH, many have endured and made their way through struggle.  BY FAITH, many have gotten up from tragedy triumphant.  BY FAITH, we have heard and lives stories of God’s majesty and might over our lives and we can’t forget that, even when people try to suggest or when you forget to confess that God is Lord!  This isn’t just a consternation or admonishment for your enemy.  It is a spiritual jolt to your joy.  It is a redeeming reminder.  It is a powerful praise that you have to intentionally put on…PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD…and you must do so everyday!
 
You may be going through something…BUT GOD KEPT YOU!
You may not know what to do…BUT GOD KEPT YOU!
You may not be sure how that thing is going to turn out…BUT GOD KEPT YOU!
 
That post-it is a reminder:  Sometimes, you have to put on your fridge, your car, your front door, your office door, and sometimes, even on your forehead!  Write these 4 mighty words on that post-it and remember it when the world wants you to forget or go off course and scream about something else or lose your focus.  BUT GOD KEPT YOU!

People say that you aren’t worthy
People say that God doesn’t love you
People say that you are stupid
People say that you deserve what you got
People say that you make stupid choices and take dumb chances
PEOPLE SAY THAT, but GOD KEPT YOU!
 
You stood outside the gate called Beautiful for too long
You stood by the waters for others got healed for too long
You suffered with that issue of blood for too long
You were told to be quiet by the church leaders as Jesus walked by for too long
You suffered through HIV and AIDS and cancer and crack for too long
You have been rebuked and talked about for too long
You have trusted in the Lord too long to not be able to testify to the world that
GOD KEPT ME
 
Your salvation is not a figment of your imagination.  Your healing is not a hoax
Your deliverance is not a deviation from God’s word!
 
SAY…GOD KEPT ME…sometimes, it is YOURSELF who needs to be reminded, when you slip and are ready to let go.  When you are in the midst of a trying time or weary mind…REMEMBER THAT GOD KEPT YOU!  Your greatest weapon against any fear AHEAD is your SAVED LIFE BEHIND YOU!
 
In the midst of hell and high water
In the midst of wicked words from the world
In the midst of hatemongers and hateful laws
 
SAY… GOD KEPT ME
 
Don’t you forget that, don’t you deny that, don’t you minimize that even as the world tries to demonize you, scrutinize you, separate from the Love of God!
 
YOUR HATERS ARE THE MEMBERS OF YOUR MINISTRY!  You have got to talk, to tell them about the God you serve and who loved you unconditionally, even when they don’t want to listen!
 
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET FULL OF YOURSELF AND YOUR SITUATION…THAT GOD KEPT YOU:  ON YOUR JOB…IN YOUR HOUSE…IN YOUR FAMILY…GOD KEPT YOU!
 
TAKE THIS STICKY AND USE IT TO RESTORE YOUR PEACE WHEN TROUBLES COME, USE IT TO RECLAIM YOUR VICTORY WHEN MADNESS SHOWS!  BUT GOD KEPT YOU!
 
They may have changed their hearts but you can’t change your praise…You Are Here Because GOD kept you!
 
We closed that Facebook conversation that day by saying:  WELL, SINCE GOD KEPT ME…I BETTER GO AND BE GREAT!  WELL…SINCE GOD KEPT YOU…YOU OUGHTTA GIVE GOD GLORY…SINCE GOD KEPT YOU…YOU OUGHTTA LEAP FOR JOY…SINCE GOD KEPT YOU, YOU BETTER RUN ON AND SEE WHAT THE END WILL BE…SINCE GOD KEPT YOU!…