Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III
Sermon Synopsis 5.3.26

Scripture: Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV)
“For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Prayer:

Thank You. You are worthy, and God, we thank You for being who You are. God, we come into this place, and we have tuned in, because we need to hear a word from You. God, we thank You for how we got here, but we thank You even more for how we are going to leave here.

We give You glory now. Open up our hearts that we might receive what You have for our lives. Let Your anointing flow. Let yokes be destroyed. We thank You that somebody’s life will be changed forever. Give us our marching orders now. We are ready to hear from You. In the name above every name, the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Let every heart say amen.

I.               INTRODUCTION

• Let’s be honest. Most of the things that truly matter did not happen overnight. We understand that, but we don’t always embrace it.
• The marriage we admire did not happen overnight. The business we respect was not built overnight. The leader we look up to did not arrive overnight. We live in a culture that celebrates outcomes but ignores process. We see highlights without history, success without struggle, and results without reality.
• Because of that, many people become frustrated when life does not move at the pace they expect. You start questioning whether what you are working on is even worth it.
• But God is not just interested in producing results in your life. He is interested in developing you.

II.               GOD OFTEN STARTS SMALL SO WE WILL LEARN TO TRUST HIM

• God has a pattern. He often starts small, but He never ends small.
• David did not go straight to the palace—he went back to the field.
  Joseph did not go straight to the palace—he went through the pit and the prison.
  Jesus Christ spent 30 years preparing for 3 years of ministry.
• God is teaching you how to trust Him when things are small. When it’s small, you cannot depend on your name, your network, or your resources. You have to depend on God.

A. What Feels Small To People Is Still Significant To God

1. People celebrate what they can see, but God values what they cannot see.
2. God sees:
3. Every prayer you prayed
4. Every tear you cried
5. Every seed you sowed
6. Every time you stayed faithful when nobody was watching
7. What feels small to people is always significant to God.

B. Small Assignments Are The Training Ground For Greater Responsibility

1. Before David faced Goliath, he faced lions and bears. That was preparation, not punishment.
2. You may be in a “lion and bear” season right now. God is teaching you how to handle pressure, make decisions, and remain faithful.
3. If you are not faithful with little, you will not be trusted with much.
4. When you build out of alignment, consequences follow:
5. Code Violation – You are building outside the standard
6. Failed Inspection – What looks good publicly fails privately
7. Stop-Work Order – God pauses what you’re building
8. Condemned – The structure cannot stand
9. Liability – You don’t just hurt yourself; you impact others
10. God is checking alignment before He releases elevation.

III.               GOD USES THE PROCESS TO PREPARE US FOR WHAT HE PROMISED

• We resist process, but process is necessary.
• God is not focused on speed. He is focused on alignment.

A. When God Slows You Down, He May Be Strengthening Your Foundation

1. Slowing down is not failure—it is strategy.
2. A tree that grows slowly develops deep roots. A diamond forms under pressure. Strong foundations take time.
3. Some delays are not designed to discourage you. They are designed to develop you.

B. Skipping The Process Creates Success That Cannot Survive Pressure

1. Shortcuts produce results that cannot sustain pressure.
2. Samson had strength but lacked discipline.
   Saul had position but lacked obedience.
3. Opportunity without preparation is dangerous.
4. If you rush it, you can ruin it.

IV.               HOW YOU SEE YOUR CURRENT SEASON WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU QUIT OR CONTINUE

• The people in the text looked at what they were building and saw something small. God saw something significant.
• Perspective determines outcome.

A. When You Value Small Progress, Endurance Becomes Possible

1. Progress is not always dramatic, but it is still progress.
2. Showing up is progress
3. Praying is progress
4. Choosing peace over pettiness is progress
5. Paying bills when it’s tight is progress
6. Walking away from conflict is progress
7. Stop minimizing what God is doing in your life.
8. Epistle to the Philippians 1:6 – God will complete what He started.
   Epistle to the Galatians 6:9 – You will reap if you don’t quit.
   Book of Isaiah 40:31 – Waiting on the Lord renews your strength.
   Book of Zechariah 4:6 – Not by might, but by His Spirit.

B. Honoring The Process Protects The Promise God Has Given You

1. There is a promise, but it only comes through process.
2. “Lord, I will not rush what You are refining.
   I will not fight what You are forming.
   I will not complain about what You are cultivating.
   Because if I honor the process, I will be ready for the promise.”
3. What God is preparing in you is just as important as what He is preparing for you.
4. You may feel like you are laying one stone at a time, but every stone matters.
   1. Keep building.
      Keep trusting.
      Keep showing up.
      Stay consistent.
5. It may not be fast, but it is faithful.
   It may not be loud, but it will last.
6.              Greater is coming.