First and Last Laugh

 

(Genesis 12:2)  “I’ll make a great nation of your descendants, I’ll bless you, and I’ll make your reputation great, so that you will be a blessing.” 

(Genesis 18:13-14) “And the LORD said unto Abraham, ‘Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.'”

(Genesis 21:2-3, 6)  “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac…. And Sarah said, ‘God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.'”

Have you ever laughed from unbelief to a vision or a promise from God? You have looked at your past or current situation and said to yourself…” yeah, whatever!” Better still, have others laughed at you when you have shared this vision with them? There is a saying that goes…” He who laughs last laughs the loudest”…. Make sure you are the one to laugh last.

Sure, you laughed because what God put in your mind seemed impossible. But you need to start taking steps of faith toward those goals and start acting as if they are already done. You might be tried along the way, as God is filing you to perfection. But if you hold on, you will surely laugh again, but this time it will be out of rejoicing for the fulfilled promises of God.

When Abraham first received the promise of having descendants, he was 75. The second time he was told of having an heir he was 99 and his wife, Sarah whose womb was way past being functional was 89. Neither of them actually believed what God had said and that is why they had already had an heir for Abraham through Sarah’s maid, Hagar.

Sarah obviously laughed when she heard the promise of conceiving as only she knew her physical limitations as a woman. But the second time she laughed, it was not with doubt at God’s promise, but with joy that spread to all that saw the promise come to pass. Their Firstborn Isaac.

I laughed the first time my wife prophesied that I was going to start to preach, pastor, appear on TV programs, write books, and plant churches in different countries. Now, I look back and laugh as all those things have come to pass one by one.

Keep in mind that if Jesus has given you a desire, vision, or goal, He will make sure you have the tools and resources to accomplish it. By doubting the vision, you doubt the one who can make it happen.

Prayers

• Heavenly Father, Your greatness has made me great. You have made me the head of the nations. You are God, who subdues the people under me.
• Thank You, Father, that your promises are all true and we can rest assured that they will come to pass.
• Thank you, that even if we don’t completely believe in what You have spoken, You will still fulfill those promises.
• Forgive us for looking at our situation and our limitations instead of at your power and ability to provide.
• Forgive us for ever laughing at anything You have shown us in dreams and visions and doubting in your ability to do it.
• We declare that we will laugh once more as we see the impossible things in our lives come to pass.
• We declare that everyone will see and rejoice with us that You are faithful to those that hold on to Your promises.
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• We ask in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen