Where is the Thumbprint?

March 11, 2005
Pastor Chris Abernathy
Columbus, Georgia




If you would, turn in your Bibles with me to the book of First Corinthians chapter twelve. First Corinthians chapter twelve. And when you reach the book of First Corinthians chapter twelve, please stand for the reading of God’s Word tonight. Praise the Lord. First Corinthians chapter twelve. Praise the Lord. When you get there, say amen. Look at verse eighteen. It says:

18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20. But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23. And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Let us pray.

Most holy and gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for who You are and for what You do. Master, hide Your son behind the cross, that Your people would see and hear You only and not me. Master, I decrease tonight, that You would increase. And Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

You may be seated in the house of the Lord. Praise God. Hallelujah.

God began to deal with me today with the body. He began to show me things about the body. Glory to God. And I want Minister Stewart and Minister Steve to come. Because I want to show you something. Come on, move quickly. Praise the Lord. Amen.

Now, Minister Stewart is going to represent the body. Amen. And God has called us as members of the body, one body. But then God began to show me with the body that there are pressure points on the body. Amen?

Now, Brother Steve, Minister Steve, I want you to press one of the pressure points, because I know you know where they are on Minister Stewart. Press a pressure point. I want him to react. Yeah. There we go. Amen. Now press another pressure point. Right. Now stop trying to act like you don’t know where they are, because you know where they are. Amen.

And so God began to deal with me that we as the body, we have pressure points. And God sometimes allows these pressure points to be pressed (glory to God), that we may give a reaction from the pressure point. He allows us to go through the pressure (glory to God), that we may respond in a way that God is looking for us to respond in.

You see, when he applied pressure, he could have reacted in a negative way, and began to what? Retaliate. Glory to God. But God has been pressing us and pressing us and pressing us and pressing us. And we’re at the point right now where we are getting used to being pressed in particular places in the body. Amen, somebody.

He’s pressing us even in this house. And there are parts of the body (glory to God) that are going through warfare. But God is saying to us, if they are really a part of our body, how come we’re all not feeling the pressure? Come on, somebody. God is saying we’ve got to all feel the pressure that’s being applied to the body. Because the eyes can’t tell the hands, “I don’t need you.”

So when the eyes are hurting (oh, my God) and when the eyes are suffering, the hand should feel the suffering. When the feet are suffering, the hand should feel the suffering. Why? Because we are one body. Look at your neighbor and say, “We’re one body.” Thank you.

Now, what God is saying to us tonight is that there has been a whole lot of suffering going on. And there has been a lot of pressure that has been applied to God’s people. And some of us (glory to God) are not feeling the suffering and the pressure that the others are feeling. Glory to God. And God is saying, “Now, look at your brother. Look at your sister. They may be suffering in a certain area. Now, if you’re a part of that same body, you cannot ignore the pain.” Look at your neighbor and say, “The pain is real.” Oh, come on, somebody. The pain is real. The pain is real.

You see, even when I get blessed (glory to God), the Bible tells me that I need to rejoice. But when there’s another part of the body that’s still suffering, I need to learn how to suffer with them and go through with them sometimes. Look at your neighbor and say, “You got to learn how to suffer.”

The pressure, the pressure points, He’s pressing them, and it doesn’t feel good. But if He’s pressing me, how come you don’t feel it? Oh, you need to hear this tonight. If He’s pressing me, if He is causing me to suffer, evangelists, how come you’re not feeling my suffering? If He’s causing you to suffer, pastor, how come I don’t feel the suffering that you’re going through? If I remember, He said that we’re a part of one body. Glory to God. And whatever I feel, you are supposed to feel. And whatever you feel, I’m supposed to feel.

There’s a reason to why He is applying the pressure. He took me to Jeremiah eighteen. Glory to God. And He began to talk to Jeremiah. And He had (glory to God) the children of Israel on the potter’s wheel. And He said He wanted to mold the children of Israel. And you see, when there is clay on the potter’s wheel, you begin to press it, don’t you? And see, you see thumb prints in it. I don’t see some thumb prints in some of you. That means that you’re not allowing God to press on you.

Whenever (glory to God) the potter gets ready to mold (glory to God) whatever he’s making, he’s got to apply pressure. Come on, somebody. And evidently Israel wasn’t allowing God to apply the pressure. And God spoke to Jeremiah. And He said, “Can not I do with you as I please?”

When there’s no thumb print of God on you, that means that you’re doing what you want to do. I wish I had somebody in this house to understand what I’m talking about today.

He’s applying pressure to me. There are thumb prints and hand prints all over me. You see, you got to understand that God’s trying to make me into something. And if I don’t turn out right the first time, guess what? He should be able to break me and make me all over again. It’s not time for me to wimp out and quit. It’s time for me to let God put me back on that wheel and start to press me. Look at your neighbor and say, “You need to let Him press you.” Give Him a handclap of praise tonight. Glory to God. Glory to God.

I believe somebody’s on the potter’s wheel tonight. I believe somebody’s been pressed. I believe that we’re on the potter’s wheel tonight, when we let God do with us what He wants to do with us. And if we don’t turn out right the first time, will we let God break us all over again? I wish I could get a witness in the house of God. I been pressed on every side. Do you hear what I’m saying? I’m being pressed. Are you being pressed? Look at your neighbor and say, “Neighbor, are you being pressed tonight?” Give God a handclap of praise in the house of the Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

He wants to mold us, and He wants to make us into a vessel that’s going to bring Him honor. You see, if I’m a vessel and I don’t bring God honor, God’s going to break me all over again. If I don’t allow God to make me into what He wants to make me into whoa is me, somebody. Whoa is me. I’m being pressed. Are you being pressed tonight? Give God a should in this house. Hey! Glory to God.

It doesn’t feel good. But it’s not supposed to feel good. Look at your neighbor and say, “I’m uncomfortable right now. I’m uncomfortable right now. I’m uncomfortable right now.” Can’t you see His thumb prints? Can’t you . . . Oh, my God, somebody. He’s pressing me. He’s pressing me. He’s making me. He’s molding me. Give Him praise in this place tonight.

You see, God is getting us to a place in our spiritual walk that no matter what we go through, we won’t compromise. You see, we been compromising so long, and we been compromising so much. We let people say what they want to say in our presence. We let people do what they want to do in our presence. But don’t you know that you’re bearing in your body the marks of the Lord? You’ve been pressed. I’ve been pressed. We’ve been pressed. Give Him praise tonight.

You see, when you’ve been pressed long enough, you won’t compromise. But see, if you haven’t been pressed enough, you’ll keep on giving in to the devil. You’ll keep on saying whatever is whatever. But I came to tell you I can’t say whatever is whatever, because what God says, that’s what’s going to be. Give Him praise in this place. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Somebody shout “Hallelujah.” Somebody shout “Glory!” Somebody shout “Thank You, Jesus.”

I’ve been on the potter’s wheel. I’ve been in the Master’s hands. I’ve been, I’ve been, I’ve been. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Thank You, Jesus.

Pressure points. Pressure points. Pressure points. He allowed you to have these pressure points on purpose. He allowed them to be there, because every now and then we get hard-headed. And then He allows the pressure to be . . . Oh, my God, somebody. Glory to God. You can be seated in the house of the Lord.

Let me tell you something. God is speaking to us. Because most of us don’t like the position that we’ve been placed in. Most of us are in a position that is uncomfortable and undesirable. Most of us are going through a situation right now (glory to God) that we wish was different.

Don’t you know that God is your Father? And if God is your Father, that means that He can get you out of any situation that you’re in. But if you’re in that situation, and God’s not getting you out, that means God is still working on you. He’s still working on you. He’s still working on you. He’s still working on you. He’s still working on you. My God is still working on you.

Sister Denise, He’s still working on you. You’re looking for a way out. But you can’t find a way out, because He’s working on you. God has you on the potter’s wheel. And God is shaping you. And He’s molding you into the image of Christ. And it doesn’t feel good, because you’ve been on the potter’s wheel for a while now. But I came to tell you, don’t get off now. Don’t stop now. Don’t quit now. Oh, my God. Lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting, and tell God yes. Tell God yes. Tell God yes. Tell God yes. Tell God yes.

When things are going wrong in the midnight hour, when tears are coming down your face, tell God yes. When man says no, and man says no way, tell God yes. Tell God yes. Tell God yes. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In the midst of the battle, in the midst of the storm, oh no; you need to tell God yes. Because I’m looking at you, and God’s got you on the potter’s wheel. And He’s pressing you on every side, in the front, and in the back, and all around you. And you’re saying, “God, when?” And you’re saying, “God, how?”

But God said, “Wait. I’m molding you. I’m shaping you. I’m fashioning you for My glory.” Shout “Yes. Shout “Yes. Shout yes. Shout “Yes.” Somebody needs to say “Thank You, Jesus.” Thank You, Jesus.

You’re being pressed right now. You’re looking for a way out. But you got to wait on God. Wait on Him. Don’t stop now. Don’t quit. Stay in the race, for he that endureth to the end shall be saved. You’re a man of God. Don’t let the devil mess with your mind. You’re walking through the fire, and you’re walking through the flood. But it can’t stop you. It can’t stop you. It can’t stop you. Yes. Yes.

You’re on the potter’s wheel, and He’s shaping you; and He’s fashioning you; and He’s making you; and He’s developing you; and He’s maturing you; and He’s touching you; and He’s healing you; and He’s loving you. My God, tonight. Hey! Jesus. Hallelujah. Somebody shout “Hallelujah.” Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Yes.

You’re wondering what’s going to be, and you’re wondering how it’s going to happen and how it’s going to turn out. But if you would just lift your hands and shout “Thank You, Jesus; glory to God,” He’s going to cause it to work out for your good. In the Name of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus. Peace, be still. Peace, be still. Peace, be still. Oh, the anointing’s on you. Peace, be still. Peace, be still. Somebody shout “Glory.” Hallelujah.

Just pray in the Holy Ghost. Not my will, but Thy will be done. I’m on the potter’s wheel right now. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds my future in the palm of His hand. I’m not worried about tomorrow. I’m going to let tomorrow take care of itself. In the Name of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus. Shout “Yes!” Yeah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Somebody say, “Hallelujah.”

You see, they don’t think you’re going to make it. But you’re going to make it. Hey, I feel the Anointing of God. They’re trying to make you quit. They want you to give up. But God said if you hold out and wait a little while longer, He’s going to work everything together for your good. Hey. It’s only a test. It’s only a test. It’s only a test. Yeah. Glory, glory.

God, send the fire. God, send the fire. God, send the fire. God, send the fire. God, send the fire. Come on, stand on your feet and give God some praise.





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