Mt Zion Spring Trumpet Magazine

Posted on May 21, 2010 by growintheword

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Victory in the Valley, Sermon 05/09/10

Posted on May 13, 2010 by growintheword

Victory in the valley
Synopsis of Sermon 05/09/10
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
Text:
Ezekiel 37:1-10: 1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
All of us have had experiences that were difficult to explain. Sometimes the answer can be elusive when we are encountering very difficult circumstances. Ultimately, we all come to one place. The place is the position of wanting to come out. It doesn’t matter how difficult it is, all of us can testify that we wonder when this is going to end. This then becomes our consistent prayer. There is something that we believers have to believe in life. It is this, regardless of our situation, regardless to whatever we are experiencing, there are lessons we must learn prior to coming out. God will not give us deliverance until we demonstrate an apprehension of things he wants us to gain while we are in it. So it is good just to go on and go through it, because you can’t get out of it until God says so. What we discover is that God is providently working in it. Romans 8:28 says 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.- We fall short and we find ourselves in messed up situations, but somehow God just works things out for our good. It is not context that defines you. It is your content. It is who you are that defines where you are.
When you look at Ezekiel 37, you see that it is a marvelous revelation. God speaks to the prophet Ezekiel about a situation. God tells him that there are some bones in the valley. This used to be the mighty house of Israel a strong army. What this gives us an insight into how people see themselves. It demonstrates how people see themselves because of circumstances, because of the exile and a variety of other issues. Israel had begun to see themselves as hopeless now, based on what has happened to them. God asks Ezekiel can these bones live. Ezekiel says to God that he is in control and only he knows. In the text God gives Ezekiel a series of things to do to bring possibility and hope to a hopeless situation. God has given this word to somebody today, because many of you would testify that life can change on you in an instant. One moment you can be on the mountain, everything can be going well and the next minute you can be in the valley. Regardless of our circumstances that we can’t control, know that we can control our response to it. We can control how we come out of it. Do we come out as a victim feeling sorry for ourselves or do we come out with the victory realizing that we came out better because of what we went through. Do we come out stronger or wiser? We are going to get the victory in our valley. You have to come out with your head up. Storms are only temporary. Hold on and see what the end is going to be and you will see that God is going to work it out.
I. It is a sad condition
1. Look at it. It is bones in the valley. It is about potential. They were in the valley and in an open place, exposed. In that place the elements can get to them and people can come by and see their circumstances. Just like this, it is one thing to handle things privately, but what do you do when it is in the valley where everyone can see the problem.
2. Scripture says there are many bones in the valley. Ezekiel 37:2 says 2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. – You might think you are the only one going through but ask others around you and you will find out you aren’t. Many of us are familiar with valley situations.
3. There is a condition going on with the bones in the valley:
a. Dryness- The elements had gotten to the bones. Just like the bones, your motivation has dried up.
b. Distance- Often when we are dried up, it is a result of being distance. With distance the motivation is gone. Like the dry bones in the valley, you lose your motivation.
c. Disconnect- Distance can cause you to get disconnected. We can’t respond to our context like everyone else. We can’t see our context like everyone else sees it. Being spiritual people we must see responsibility when others see hopelessness. Ex-Pluto is the 9th plant from the sun. It is a cold place. In fact nobody talks about it, because it is so far away from sun. Next you have Mercury. It is always hot because it so close the sun. No matter what is going on, Mercury is always hot. Pluto is always cold. Pluto is cold because of its distance. Just like this, you can tell Pluto members, because of their distance from the son. There are Mercury members inside the church too. No matter what is going on, they are always giving God the praise. They are not looking for a hand out. Instead, they are looking for a hand up!

II. Supernatural connection
1. God supernaturally connects things back together. Ezekiel 37:4-6 says 4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. – When God is beginning to move in your life it gives the prophetic for the pathetic. You need a prophetic revelation, for your pathetic situation. Most can say they would have lost their mind if it wasn’t for that one word they got. A Prophetic Word moves us from our right now to our not yet. Ex-You got all these notes you have taken from bible study and the sermons and you must know that there will come a time where you will have use all of it to help you prophesy over your situation. The power of life and death is in your tongue. God will restore you and you shall be healed by speaking those things though they be not as though they were. The devil wants to keep you quiet, because he knows if a child of God speaks over their situation things will happen! Learn how to speak over your situation.
2. How does this happen? By Process and position.
a. Process – 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.- Sinews are muscle. God says he is going to put muscle over the bones and then cover them with flesh. Finally God says he is going to breathe his breath into the bones. This is called process. In other words God is saying he is going to build us up from the inside out. This will not be a cosmetic cover up. We need God to deal with the sinew. We have pain and stuff we are wrestling with on the inside. What good does it do to build a house and not have a home?
b. Positioning – Old black Baptist Preachers used to really preach this sermon back in the times of old. This sermon of the dry bones is not a topic that has not been preached on before, but there is a deeper revelation. The bones lying in the valley disconnected was once bodies. In the valley you had one bone here and one bone there. This means that each set of bones was disconnected from different bodies. They were not all from the same body. God made the different bones from each different body find its rightful place. Each bone had to reunite with the body it came from. The bones could not be what they are supposed to be, until everyone or every bone got back to its proper place.
III. This is a season of comeback
1. You’ve been in the valley, but you can still make a comeback. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t comeback. The 2nd time will be better than the first. You learned in the valley that God can give you power. The bible says in Ezekiel 37:9-10 9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. – When we first saw them, they were bones in the valley. In other words, they were unrealized potential, but in the end we see that they were an exceeding great army.
2. The question we must ask is how do we get these bones back together? Another way to ask it is; through all that has been happening in this season concerning floods, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and etc… What is God saying to this generation? We have to speak prophetically to this city. Is it enough to just get your house rebuilt and the cars off the street? Will we be good to go if we just do that? What is God saying? In the scripture, the bones came back together.
3. Know that because of God’s mercy, you will get your stuff back, but what is the real issue? Ezekiel 37:8 says 8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. – God worked on them and they came together, but there was no breath in them. The essence of life is when God gave Adam breath. This is the point where man became a living soul. Paul said that in him (Christ) he lived and moved and had his being. It is not by might or power, but his (God’s) spirit saith the Lord. God is saying you are nothing without him. You can’t make it without God!
4. Why is God having such a difficult time getting this world’s attention? We didn’t do anything to deserve the flood we got the other week. God rains on the just and unjust at the same time. What was God saying though the events of the Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunamis, the Earthquakes, and Volcanic Ash. During the recent flood here in TN, we found out most people didn’t even have flood insurance although now they will have to have it. God is saying he allowed the recession, famines, and all these major events to come so folk can recognize what is most important. It is the stuff money can’t buy that should be important. You get to a point where you say, you are going to trust God in spite of what’s going on around you. God has to shake us a little. When he shakes us he brings us together. Folk that would never speak before are now working together, because God had to shake us. Churches that would never fellowship together are now calling asking what they can do. Lord we thank you for the shaking? Shake us till we walk right! Shake us until we talk right. Shake us until we live right! Shake us until we give right! When you come out of this, you are coming out on your fee and with your hands up. You are coming out a might army! Put your hands on yourself and say you are coming out a might army! This is your season for a comeback. Everything you lost, God is going to restore it! Your valley days are over!

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The 12 Disciples Part II, Bible Study 05/05/10

Posted on May 9, 2010 by growintheword

The 12 Disciples Part II

Synopsis of Bible Study 05/05/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Revisiting the 12 disciples

The 12 Disciples by name

  1. Andrew

  2. Bartholomew (Nathanael)

  3. James (son of Zebedee)

  4. James (the lesser or younger)

  5. John (the son of Thunder, the Revelation)

  6. Judas

  7. Thaddeus (Jude)

  8. Matthew

  9. Peter (Cephas, Rock, Simon)

  10. Phillip

  11. Simon

  12. Thomas (Doubting Thomas) He was a born a twin.

About the Disciples


First we will introduce you to a term called martyrdom. These were people who died for the cause of Jesus. All of the Disciples/Apostles were martyred in one way or another. 

Andrew  

  • He was a fisherman by occupation

  • He was the brother of Peter and the son of Jonahs.

  • He lived in Capernaum.

  • He was a disciple of John the Baptist originally. (Mark 1:1 -18).

  • He brought Peter to Jesus

  • He was condemned to die on the cross.

  • Andrew felt so unworthy to be crucified in the same fashion as Jesus, he requested to be crucified with an X-shaped cross.

  • His Symbol: Two crossed fish in the shape of an X or the X shape

  • Personality trait: Enthusiastic about Christ, Inquisitive, resourceful

  • Life lesson: He felt that we should go out and eagerly share the good news about Jesus Christ


Bartholomew (Nathanael)

  • Occupation was uncertain.

  • He was the son of Talmai.

  • Lived in Cannon Galilee.

  • We think he was a Romanian Missionary.

  • Many scholars think he came from royal blood. His name means son of Talmai. 2 Samuel 3:3 3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; – Talmai was the king of Geshur whose daughter was Maacah which was the wife of David the Mother of Absalom.

  • Nathanael was really Bartholomew’s first name. ( John 1:47 – Jesus referred to him as Nathanael)

  • He died in India where he preached. He died by being fillet alive with knives.

  • His symbol: 3 parallel knives.

  • Personality traits: Skeptic, honest, and faithful. John 1:49: 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

  • Life’s Lesson: Believers are called to test all things scripture and remain true to its principle.


James (son of Zebedee, son of Thunder, James the Elder or James the Great)

  • His Occupation is a fisherman with his father and brother. Matthew 4:18-22 says 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

  • Brother of the Apostle John. The two were inseparable.

  • He lived in Capernaum.

  • He preached in Judea and Jerusalem. In AD44, he was beheaded by Herod. This task was done in public. Acts 12:1-2: 1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

  • He was the first of the 12 Disciples to die.

  • His symbol: 3 shells (sign of his pilgrimage by the sea).

  • Personality Trait: Vengeful and fiery, selfish, and conceited. He was committed to Christ and courageous to the end. Acts 12:2: 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

    • Also part of Jesus’ inner circle (consisting of Peter, James, and John)


  • Life’s Lesson: Stand firm in the face of persecution. James- son of Zebedee


James (the lesser or younger)

  • Uncertain about his occupation.

  • Brother of Jude.

  • This is the James that wrote the Apostle of James.

  • Strong character and committed.

  •  This James died a horrible death. This James died by being sawed alive into pieces. He was crucified in Egypt.

  • His symbol: A saw.

  • Personality Traits: Strong character, Committed.

  • Life’s Lesson: He believed that all followers of Jesus can accomplish the work of God without being in the limelight.


John (Son of Thunder, The revelator)  

  • He was the son of Zebedee.

  • Brother of James the Great.

  • He was known as the beloved disciple.

  • Occupation: Fisherman

  • He was part of Jesus’ inner circle.

  • He wrote the gospel of John as well as 1, 2, & 3 John. He also wrote Revelation.

  • Asia Minor is where he preached. He was exiled to the aisle. Patmos. He was sent there to die a slow and painful death in exile.

  • He wrote what he saw in a vision after being led by the spirit of the Lord (found in the book of Revelations)

  • He was at the cross with Jesus. ‘

  • He died a natural death. There was an attempt to poison him though.

  • His Symbol: A snake around a cup is his symbol.

  • Personality traits: He was vengeful, fiery, judgmental, selfish, bold, loving, and compassionate after the Pentecost. Acts 4:13. 1 John 4.



Judas

  • He was the treasurer. John 12:5-06: 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

  • Son of Simon. He lived in Judah.

  • He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and hanged himself after that. Judas became the traitor.

  • He is hard to understand. We wonder if his betrayal was preordained by God or was Judas a demoniac agent. As a demonic agent, we wonder about the suicide? Can one repent from that? As being preordained by God, did God allow this just to execute the plan.

  • Was a violent Jewish Nationalist. He followed Jesus in hopes of promoting his own dreams. He used his position as treasurer often to negotiate.

  • His symbol: A hangman’s noose or money purse with silver coins falling out.

  • Personality Trait: Greedy, deceitful, treacherous, and remorseful.

  • Life’s lesson: He believed that not all who claim to follow Jesus are faithful to him and his foals. Thaddeus (Jude)

  • He was the brother of James the younger.

  • We know very little about him.

  • He lived in Galilee. Assyria and Persia is where he preached.

  • He died in Persia.

  • Jerome called him Trinomious. This means a man with 3 names. Mark 3:18:18And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,- Here he is called Thaddaeus. Matthew 10:3: 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; – Here is called Lebbaeus. Luke 6:16: 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. – Here he is called Judas.

  • He was characterized as a nationalist.

  • Asked Jesus how he would manifest to the disciples and not the world. He made himself kno n as king rather than servant. – John 14:22-23:22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

  • Jude was known for manifesting gifts of healing.

  • He died at Ararat-He died by arrows.

  • His symbol:  Ship, because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman.

  • Personality Traits: Inquisitive, Confused

  • Life’s Lessons: Jesus will reveal truths to those who follow him thasddaus


Mathew

  • He was a Tax collector in Galilee. Matt 9:9- Tax collectors dealt with public money. Most people didn’t like them.

  • Lived in Capernaum.

  • He wrote the book of Matthew.

  • He died in Ethiopia

  • Jews hated tax collectors.

  • He was the first one to bring them the gospel in the Hebrew language so that they could understand it.

  • His symbol: 3 money bags (this was to remind us Matthew was a tax collector before being called to be a Disciple)

  • We don’t know how he died. We know he died and was martyred, but we don’t know how. They think he might have been cut open and burned at the stake, but we are not sure.

  • Personality Trait: Hospitable.

  • Life’s Lesson:  Jesus Christ is for everyone even sinners and outcasts.


Peter (Cephas, Rock, Simon)

  • He was as fisherman

  • He was the son of Jonahs from Capernaum.

  • He did evangelistic work among the Jews. He was crucified upside down. He asked to be turned upside down, because he didn’t think he was worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his savior. He was part of inner circle.

  • It is believed that he wrote 1 & 2 Peter.

  • Jesus called him Simon. He was like the chairman of the disciples. He spoke for them.

  • He was married.

  • His symbol: An upside down Cross. Other symbols for Peter were 2 crossed keys representing him being given the keys to the kingdom. In fact the whole apostolic succession belief is based on Peter. If you look at a Pope’s garment, there is two keys crossed sown on it.

  • Peter was the switch blade carrying disciple.

  • Personality traits: Impulsive yet cowardly, hot tempered yet tenderhearted, insightful yet dense.

    • He was courageous and solid after the Pentecost Experience.


  • Life’s Lesson: He believed that God can forgive our sins and strengthen the faith of those who love him.


Phillip

  • He preached in Perugia. .He died a martyr in a place called Hierapolis.

  • He came from humble beginnings.

  • He was a fisherman.

  • The first 3 gospels record his name. In the gospel of John, Phillip becomes a living personality.

  • Scholars wonder if he was the same Phillip that was ordained as a deacon. Phillip was the one that read to the Enoch and showed him away.

  • He was hung and while doing so, he asked them not to wrap him up in linen and perfumes which was their form of embalming. He said he is not worthy of his body being treated the same way as Jesus’ body (his savior) was.

  • His Symbol: Basket of bread loaves, because he was part of the feeding the multitude.

  • Personality Traits: Practical, helpful, literal and confused. John 14:8


Simon

  • He was called a Canaanite.

  • He lived in Galilee.

  • He died of some form of crucifixion, but not sure what.

  • He was a Jewish nationalist very much into the law.

  • He hated people that compromised with Rome.

  • He had lots of faith. He was willing to share with the other disciples.

  • His symbol: Fish laying on bible indicating that he was a fisherman who became a fisherman of men as a preacher.

  • Personality Trait: Patriotic, loyal. Mark 3:18

  • Life’s Lessons: He believed we should sacrifice politics to follow Jesus.


Thomas (Doubting Thomas)

  • He was born a twin.

  • Lived in Galilee.  

  • He was also known as Didymus (Greek name). John 20:24

  • Hey labored in Persia and India.

  • He died in a place called Mount Saint Thomas in India.

  • His Hebrew name was Thomas and his Greek name was Didymus.

  • Sometimes they called him Judas.

  • This Thomas appeared at the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

  • He was in upper room when Jesus appeared with the disciples. Thomas was the one that said he didn’t know the way. He is known as doubting Thomas. He was the one that said he was not going to believe that Christ had risen until he saw the nail prints in his hand.

  • He died in India and with the spears.

  • His Symbol: A group spears, stones and arrows

  • Personality Trait: Inquisitive, doubtful, courageous, faithful.


When you look at the totality of the gospels, you have to recognize that there is a certain pattern of lessons that you can get from them. Jesus was training the disciples to reign. In all of these things there were lessons that Jesus was using in preparing the disciples to reign, before he would release them to be apostles. We can use some of these lessons, because we are disciples as well. We are being trained to function as the disciples of old did. Whether you know it or not, we are disciples too, because we are emulators and followers of Christ. The question we must ask it what things did Jesus do attempts to molding the disciples into their assignment?
      I.            Commitment to the cause

  1. True discipleship requires strong commitment to the cause.

  2. Examples of disciples whose priorities are straight:

    1. The disciples priorities– Mark 8:34 says 34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.-True disciples have their priorities in order.

    2. We have to know how to handle persecution-Once our priorities are in order, we can handle persecution. Matthew 10:22 says 22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

    3. We have to deny ourselves. Coming to church just on Sunday doesn’t count. Think of your level of commitment and your priorities. If it just looks like rain, some people won’t show up for church. However, we can be under a tornado warning and those same people will still get dressed and go out to a party. If we are Disciples of Christ, we have to deny our self and do what God calls us to do.

    4. We have to be able to handle persecution. If the disciples listed in the bible were martyred for their discipleship and all we have to worry about is people not liking us, then it looks strange for us to have the position we have. Some of us will get out the choir or some other Ministry simply because somebody doesn’t like us. If you think about it, this sounds stupid in relationship to what the Disciples had to go through. Everything Jesus was doing was in efforts of training the disciples. Jesus tried to teach them how to handle persecution. This is why each of them went to their deaths giving God the glory.


  3. As disciples we have to:

    1. Check our Identity– We must look like him.

    2. Check our Integrity– We have to act like Christ. (We have to go above looking like him)

    3. Here are two scriptures that validate this:




                                                              i.      We have to love one another (This shows characteristics of a disciple.) John 13:35 says 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. –As a disciple, we must love people. We don’t have to like them, but we must love them. Jesus loved everyone despite what they did to him.

                                                            ii.      We must bear fruit. John 15:8 says 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. -We must bear much fruit. We can’t be disciples if we are sitting on our hands doing nothing. If our level commitment is there it shows up. It shows in our priorities, how we handle persecution, it show in our identity, and our integrity.
   II.            How you make disciples

  1. Evangelism has been lost in the local church. People depend so much on the Pastor’s personality and media outlets to draw people to Christ. The idea of one on one evangelizing has almost become extinct. How many people have you invited to your party to your party verses how many people have you invited to church. Things reproduce after themselves. Genesis 1:28 says 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.- In this scripture, Jesus was sitting things in motion. He wanted us to be fruitful and multiply.

  2. Don’t get a mad a church because it is growing. There is enough folk unsaved to go around. Matthew 9:37 says 37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; – There is not a problem with the harvest. The problem is with the laborers.

  3. Jesus spoke about a empty pew in scripture. Luke 14:23 says 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. – Jesus wants his house filled. If you are true disciples, you ought to feel grieved every time you sit or walk by an empty seat at church. Every empty seat is another soul that might have gone to jail or died before knowing God. As a disciple, you have to be about being motivated to helping people change their lives.

  4. People join church and you don’t se e them anymore. Matthew 28:18-20 says 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – People join the church and you don’t see them anymore because they don’t submit to discipleship. They are not willing to attend the New Members class and the New Discipleship classes. The moment you give your life over to Christ, the devil intensifies the attack to make you second guess your decision. You will deal with stuff you haven’t before. You have to have someone to help you walk through this. One person that is a disciple qualifies to disciple someone else. We must go out and share Jesus Christ making Disciples of Christ.


III. Walk in authority

  1. Everywhere Jesus went demons trembled. Without him saying anything, they recognized Jesus because they recognize his authority. Luke 4:18 says 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

  2. The signs shall follow them. We are one the “Them” that is mentioned. In other words we are one of “Them”, because we are one of them that believe. Mark 16:17 says 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;- They spoke with new tongues, but it is more than an new language. There are people that speak in tongue that will still curse you out. It is about a new way of living life. They changed the way they spoke and they changed their thoughts. When you are a truly a disciple walking in authority, you will start changing. You are never supposed to go around chasing things. This is what Religion does. Religion will have you chasing stuff. When you are a disciple, things chase you. Blessings will overtake you. Most of the time we are tired, because we chase things that we were never supposed to chase.

  3. Greater works shall you do. John 14:12 says 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. -You were supposed to do greater things. Mentors want you to do better than what they did. Everything that Jesus did, the disciples were compelled to do the same thing. That was the amazing thing about Peter walking on the water. Peter wanted to come and Jesus told him to come. Peter was able to do exactly what Jesus did (walking on the water). It makes you where you are not codependent on spiritual leadership. Jesus never enabled disciples. He tried to empower them. If you are not careful, you will let your Pastor enable you instead of empowering you. Enabled people will get upset, because the Pastor can’t come pray over your house. You should be empowered to cast the demons out yourself. Everything that Jesus did, he taught them (the Disciples), empowered them, and then put it to the test to see where they were. He empowered them and then he says he wants to see if they got it.

    1. Ex- Jesus talks about the seeds on stony grounds and among the thorns and then he says lets got to other side of the sea. Jesus goes sleep while on the ship. Remember that he is the mentor to them. A storm comes and he knew it was coming, because he is God. They didn’t know about the storm, but Jesus knew. He was just trying to get them to see where they were. When the storm came, they began to panic. They woke Jesus up and asked if he cared that they perished. They should have known if Jesus was on the ship, it wouldn’t go down. Jesus gets up and rebukes them and says to the storm peace be still. The disciples flunked the test. Just like this, when you begin to look at what is happening to world today, spiritual people should be asking is “God what are you saying to us?” The Tennessean interviewed Bishop Walker just the other day and his response was “Why is God having such a difficult time getting our attention?” Earthquakes happening, hurricanes, volcanic ash shutting down European airspace, and floods in Nashville of all places. We weren’t really in a flood zone. Not that we done anything wrong, but what is God saying? Not that you did anything wrong. He may be saying I want to know where my disciples are. While everyone else is nervous, true disciples ought to be walking in authority saying God has got this. True disciples let the world know that God is up to something and we want to be spiritual enough to discern and share with others what he is up to.




In the actions of the Apostles found in the book of Acts

Know that Acts is a History Book. In Acts 2:43 it says 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.-many and wonders and signs were done by apostles. – Where are the miracles and where are the wonders. Where is the level of faith to speak to faithfulness people and tell them God is able. This is the season for real disciples. Jesus told his disciple to go into the world and make disciples. And the world, in which they went, was similar to ours. It was a world full of political uprising and unusual events. In fact when they preached, one day 3000 souls were added to the church. Sometimes God will use events to make Godless people develop a God consciousness. It cultivates the soil so you can deposit a seed. It is an opportunity for real disciples to make a difference. Don’t miss this opportunity. God wants us to use these things to be a blessing to the kingdom, that he might be glorified.

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He knew exactly where I was, Sermon 04/25/10

Posted on May 3, 2010 by growintheword

He knew exactly where I was

Synopsis of Sermon 04/25/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Passage John 5:1-9 says 1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

All of us can agree, no matter your plight or situation, that God is keenly aware of what is going on in your life. Regardless of your fatigue or frustration, it is good to know that God has your circumstances on his radar. He is working behind the scenes to bring your deliverance to pass. Many of us think God has turned a deaf ear, because it is taking so long. Our problem is we don’t like to wait. We are an instant society. We want everything right now. We have instant everything now. Grandma would say is not worth having unless it is worth waiting on. We must realize that God will let us sit in a circumstance so long; it will push us to the peripheral of our faith. We find ourselves thinking that it seems like he would have come by now.

In the text, we are by a pool called Bethesda. There is a man that has been there 38 yrs. He is there with others that have come. Why is he there? Why have they gathered at Bethesda? Bethesda means house of mercy. It is a place that has 5 porches. People would come and wait at this pool called Bethesda, because the angels would come down in the certain seasons and trouble water. When the troubling of the water occurred, the first one in the pool at that time would be healed of their infirmities. You can imagine with all that was at stake there, it was like a dog fight there. No one there had any manners. It was like every man for himself. Here at this moment in the text, here was an impotent man in his circumstances that had been taken to this pool. He was hoping each day that this would be his moment for a breakthrough. He was disappointed, because every time, somebody beat him in getting into the pool. This story is a testimony for us to know that God knows exactly where where we are. Ask yourself where you were 38 yrs ago? What were you doing 38 yrs ago? Some people were not even born. Can you think back to what was happening 38yrs ago in 1972? To put it in a relevant context the first episode of “The Price is Right” aired. In the same yr the sitcom “Sanford and Son “aired. This gives you a better idea of how long this is. For most of us, we wouldn’t have given up long before 38rys.

We have to know that God is aware of where we are spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. God says you will not leave here today in the same place you were when you first start reading this. God ordered your steps to tell you that he is going to rearrange your life completely. This will be the last you will be frustrated over this. Say good-bye to the pool. God is about to expand our situation into something greater.

The bible says the man with the condition was there 38 yrs. To understand his you have to first look at the context of the man’s conditions and frustrations.

I.                  The Context of the conditions and frustration

John 5:3: 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

  1. They were all waiting for the same thing to happen (a miracle or healing). There is something wrong with all of us. Don’t let the devil make you think you are the only one. The person sitting around you might think they have it together, but trust me; we are all at the house of mercy (meaning waiting on some kind of healing).
  2. God has our circumstances on his radar.
  3. The people waiting at the pool all have some kind of sickness:
  1. Desolation in producing – This is when you can’t seem to make things happen. The more you try, the more impotent you find out you are.
  2. b.      Darkness in your perspective- The scripture says that some of the people were blind. With no vision people perish.
  3. Disable in progress– Some of the people at the pool could not walk. It took them longer to get there than other people. Just like these people that could not walk, there are some things in our life that we should have had done by now. The problem is there is a paralysis in us that was caused by our problems.
  4. Deterioration in private– The bible says they were withering. It means we can look good on outside, but inside we are suffering deterioration. These are people that feel like they are dying slowly because of what they have gone through. They wondered if it will ever stop.
  5. For experiences-Sometimes we have to be in our situation to learn about ourselves. Sometime you can stay in your situation so long, you allow bitterness step in. If you don’t celebrate other people’s breakthrough, you can hinder your own breakthrough. Know that every time a person steps out of the blessing line, we move up in that line. What is real friendship? It is being able to celebrate other peoples happiness whether it involves us or not
  6. To keep us from being enabled -In the text, people brought the impotent man to the pool for 38yrs. Somebody took it upon themselves to drop this man off every day for 38yrs. How many folk will you let enable you to stay in your rut? How many people will you allow to accommodate your issue?
  7. Expectation – You have to come to a place where you say that you are expecting something different. No longer will you depend on the system for your breakthrough.
  1. They were all depending on the pool to get them well. The pool represents the dream or hope of expectation. When you can’t count on the system, know that you can count on God. Your level of dependency is getting ready to shift. No longer will you put your destiny in the hands of people. Your destiny is going to shift to the hands of God.
  2. Why should God let us stay in our situation so long?

II.               Crisis that can challenge your faith

John 5:4: 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

  1. That thing you are about to go through, know that it is about your faith. When Jesus shows up, it is about your faith.
  2. It s hard being at the place, but not in the place. The man in the text wants to be in the pool, not at the pool.
  3. It doesn’t matter how many people are at the pool. 5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? – When we give God the glory, he knows what is going on with us. No matter how many people are at the pool sick, know that God is watching out for us.
  4. Jesus asks a question in verse 6. He says to the man, “Will thou be made whole?” The certain man started having a lamentation over his problem
    1. Problem– God will not allow us wallow in the problem and he will not allow us to be paralyzed by what has happened. All he wants to know is are we wanting to be made whole. The question is do you want something better? Ex- You know these kinds of people. You try to offer solutions, but they keep talking about the problem and are not open to solution. You don’t smoke, but they make you think about smoking when you talk to them. These people keep talking about their problem, because their problem has got them paralyzed.
    2. Paralyzed-You can’t get out of it, because the problem has got you paralyzed. In scripture, when people referred to Jesus, they usually call him Rabbi or Teacher. John 5:7 says 7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. – In verse 7, they referred to Jesus as “Sir”. Sir can mean you have a problem, just like when somebody cuts in front of you. You say, “Sir” as if to say, “What’s up”. In this context the address using the word “Sir” is like the certain man was saying, “You know I want to be made whole!”
    3. Potential– Jesus was not concerned with the man’s problem. He was concerned about his potential. The man’s frustrated spirit is an example of spirit of discouragement that is running throughout the whole body of Christ. Your faith must propel you to place of faith. You can be discouraged, but you can’t wallow there. Job said though he (God) slay me, yet will he trust him. Jeremiah penned a time where he almost got discouraged. Through it all, he penned the words … great is thou faithfulness. God will put you in a situation to challenge your faith, but we must refuse to look like what we are going through.

III.           Christ who can change your future

John 5:6-8 – 6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

  1. Jesus asks in verse 6, do you want to be made whole? All the water or the pool can do is heal you. The certain man was waiting. In verse 6, Jesus says he came to make him whole. He was not offering healing (like the pool offers). Jesus was offering wholeness. Like the man at the pool, we are after more than healing. We are after wholeness.
  2. Deliverance will come when you stop talking about your problem. We have to:
    1. Receptive to revelation-Don’t worry about what happens.
    2. Rise out of your rut. – Know that it is your time now.
    3. Rein over your restraints– The thing that has been holding us, we are now over it. If it has been controlling us, know that we now control it. We give God glory, that destiny is in his hands. It is not about how we start out, but how we end up.
  3. God is saying your turn around is about to happen. Imagine the line at the pool. You are in line trying to figure out how you are going to make it up to the pool. Just like being in the line at the pool, we keep coming to church wondering when our turn will come. Know that no matter what, your turn is next. No matter what, when God shows up, he changes the rules of the game. He asks do you want to be made whole. God says he is going to do something in your life. Verse 3 says there was multitude of people. Verse 6 says Jesus saw him. Jesus must have turned that thing around (the order of the line). Know that the last shall be first and first shall be last. God says if the people who are called by their name, will humble themselves, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, and pray then he will heal the land. If you turn around, God will turn your situation around. Turnaround from that crazy system and from those crazy people and turn to him and God will move you to the front of the line! We are depending on this and that! Just turn to him! He will give you wholeness, peace of mind, and the ability to go to bed at night. We are after wholeness.
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