This One Last Thing Part 2,” Karl shares a message centered on persisting in faith and obedience regardless of one’s physical circumstances or self-perception. He encourages us to rely on God’s infinite power to perform miracles and to “keep pouring” even when they feel they have nothing left.
Key points from the sermon:
1. Trust God’s Perspective Over Your Own
Karl emphasizes that you should not let your own thoughts or failures override what God says about you. He reminds us that if they believe Jesus has overcome the world, then their failures are only temporary setbacks to learn from. He references his previous message, stating, “If you have a pulse, get to work,” and warns against letting lies about yourself stop you from following God.
2. The Principle of “Just Keep Pouring”
Drawing from the story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath, Karl explains that God often performs miracles when we are at the end of our own resources.
• Action over lack: The widow had only a handful of flour and a little oil, yet she followed Elijah’s instruction to bake for him first.
• Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothing): Karl notes that humans always need a starting material (like chemical filaments for 3D printing), but God creates from nothing.
• The Miracle is God’s Responsibility: God does not ask us to perform the miracle; He asks us to use what we have—whether it is a staff, five rocks, or two fish—and He provides the increase.
3. Don’t Stop Until God Says So
Using the story of Elisha and King Jehoash, Karl illustrates the danger of setting your own limits on God’s work. When Elisha told the king to strike the ground with arrows, the king stopped after three times, which Elisha said limited his victory.
• Persistence: Karl argues that the king decided for himself when “enough was enough”.
• Abundance: He points out that when Jesus performed miracles, like feeding the five thousand, there was always an abundance left over, showing that God’s miracles are meant to overflow and bless the community, not just the individual.
4. Overcoming “Giants” and Fear
Karl addresses the “giants” people face—such as financial hardship, sickness, or family breakdowns—noting that fear stems from a wrong view of God.
• God is Bigger: He compares the Israelites, who saw themselves as “grasshoppers” next to giants, with David, who saw that God was bigger than Goliath.
• Dealing with Anxiety: He explains that “Do not fear” is not a condemnation but a reminder to bring anxiety and challenges to God.
• New Mercies: Even if you have failed to face your giants thousands of times in the past, Karl reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning and He offers opportunities to try again.
5. Mission and Call to Action
Karl defines his personal mission as introducing people to the “Great I Am” so they can know who they truly are. He challenges the congregation to identify the lies they believe that cause fear and to “break them off” as they move into the future. His final exhortation is to keep sowing and blessing others in God’s strength, not their own.