How will your story end Part III

Posted on June 24, 2009 by growintheword

How will your story end Part III
“Miracle in the making”
Synopsis of Sermon 06/21/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
Text: 1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Mark 2:1-4 (KJV)
A Christian needs to know and understand this one principle. Whatever happens in our life, we have to know that God has the ability to position us for miracles. Regardless of the obstacles and statistics, no matter what you are going through, you must know God navigates our lives through a series of events connecting us with the right people of the right season, in order to bring to pass, an awesome change. This is why it is important for us to realize that God is always up to something. No matter how bad it looks, remember that God is up to something. Nothing just happens, there is always destiny tied to whatever happens in your life. Regardless of your situation, you must remember that you are truly on God’s radar. It is also important for you to know that you have not gone unnoticed.

Here there is a man in our text that has a condition called palsy. Now what is palsy? It is literally an abbreviation for paralysis. It involves a reduction in the use of physical parts of the body. It is a reduction of motion where certain parts of the body do not move as they should. As a result of this one loses sensation because of months or years of lack of use. There are many of us even today, who experience spiritual palsy. There are areas of our life that are not progressing or moving as they should and lots of times apathy sets in we lose a sense of sensation about them and we wonder if we are ever going to move again. Well there is news. There is a miracle in the making. Don’t allow your prognoses to define your destiny, but know that God will position you for the greatest season of your life. Stop listening to Nay Sayers. Get the negative people out of your life, and trust God in this season.

Here is the crux of this message. Everything that has happened in your life up until this point has been necessary to position you and allow you to experience the greatest manifestation of God’s power like you have never seen before. Stop worrying, stop whining, and stop tripping. There is a miracle in the making. You can look at your circumstances and get depressed if you want, but somebody knows that it though it may be rough, they realize they are in the perfect place for a miracle to break out in their life.

In the text, the bible declares that Jesus had returned to Capernaum. The first time Jesus went to Capernaum, his popularity was great because of the miracles that he had performed. Now he was returning a second time, which is why the bible says he returned is to Capernaum. His fame is so powerful, that multitudes gathered and mobs followed him. They knew he was able to give them what they needed. They knew that he is able to perform miracles, so they followed him. The bible says they are now in the house. Jesus is in the house and we are not sure whose house, but we believe it is that of Mary. Now Jesus is in the house and the multitudes have gathered there also along with the skeptics and the scribes.

Here is a man whose condition has caused him to be laid on the bed or bed ridden. Four friends have recognized that Jesus was in the house. The bible declares that they picked him up. This is why it says he was borne by four in verse 3. They picked him up and came to the house where Jesus was. If his life is going to change, he has to get where Jesus is. They came to the house and line was outside the door and they were unable to get in. Rather than become discouraged, they may have went to the windows, but it was customary for people to even sit in the windows in those days. Rather than to give up on the man they were so committed to helping him get his breakthrough, they decided to break protocol. They decided to take the roof off and lower the man down at the foot of Jesus.
I. Connect with people with Radical faith
1. You need folk with radical faith. We need people that are not easily swayed. We need people in our lives that have a Caleb spirit and are willing stand alone trying to reach a breakthrough if they have to. They will stand up in the minority and say “yes we can”

2. The scripture says it was noisy. : 1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. We really wonder why it was so noisy and who was making the noise. If you want to know who the noisy people are in church, you will be happy to know that it is the benefactors of what Jesus has done in their life. In the scripture they were noisy because they remembered all that Jesus had done when Jesus was in Capernaum before. Guess who is in the house. If you are quiet it might be because Jesus has never done anything for you. We remember what Psalms 10 says. We understand what it means when it says let the redeemed of the Lord say so. If it had not been for the Lord who is on our side, where would we be? People may want you to be quiet, but you can’t. You have to tell what the Lord has done for you. Tell people this is not a quit pew.
3. Jesus had been teaching in the house. You have got to understand the power of the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word of God. Some people wonder who is in the church and who is not. Remember we are not here for anybody else. You need to worry if Jesus is in the house. Where Jesus is, there is break through. Where Jesus is, there is healing. Where Jesus is, there is financial breakthroughs.
4. The friends see Jesus in the house and they want to get their friend in there to him. The friends get creative. They were willing to raise the roof to get the breakthrough that they want.
5. The friends possessed:
a. Thoughtfulness. 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Prov 17:17 (KJV)-This man could represent the next generation. You need some thoughtful people that are willing to help you get to your breakthrough.
b. They understood the power of teamwork. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Eccl 4:8-9 (KJV)-If the man with palsy is laying on the cot and held by four men, then there is power in everyman on every corner. If one man loses control of his corner, he could jeopardize the man’s well being and the potential for his breakthrough. This is the same in our lives. If you do not hold up your end and your responsibility, you could jeopardize your whole community.
c. They had Tenacity-Their friends made up in their mind to get their friend to Jesus. We need folk in our lives that are working to help make it happen for you. You have to be connected to the right people in your life. How can two walk together unless they agree?
II. Conflict with Religious folk
1. There is no way that you will not run into people that have conflict with what Jesus is trying to do in your life.
2. The text suggests that the scribes were in house. They could not understand what Jesus was about to do, because they operated in reason. Verses 6-7are actually responding to verse 5. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? Mark 2:5-7 (KJV) What you have are religious teachers that have not received Jesus Christ. People that are logical based have a hard time receiving spiritual things.
3. You will always have people trying to find flaws in what you are doing. The enemy knows you are about to make it to your break through and this is the last time he has to take you out. Because of the attacks they are receiving, some people ought to feel like they are about to enter the greatest season of their life.
III. Celebrate the release of favor
* Under the anointing of God, Bishop explains that God says he is about to release favor into our lives.
1. When God gets ready to release your blessing to you, you have to be able to receive it. 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. Mark 2:9-11 (KJV). In the scripture, Jesus tells the man with palsy, so that they might understand who they were dealing with, take up his bed and go home. This man’s condition is palsy which really is an abbreviation of paralyses. This means he has limited or no control of his muscle motion.
2. The culture in that day was when someone got palsy or any serious condition; it was a result of someone’s sin. They believed when one sinned, things like this would happen. This is the reason that Jesus said that the man’s sins were forgiven. Jesus healed him and forgave his sin. What good would the man be healed and still guilty of sin in this culture?
3. When Jesus forgave the man’s sin, he reversed every curse in him. Every label that was placed on the man, because of his disease was removed. Just like this, Jesus wants to break the curses that are found within us.
4. Everything that has happened to you was leading up for the greatest manifestation of blessings in your life. If you look back at verse 10, Jesus says to the scribes, that they might know who he is and then turned to the man with palsy and healed him that he might make a believer out of them all. 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) Mark 2:10 (KJV)
5. God gave the man a commandment somewhere between verse 10 and 11 and something happened. 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. Mark 2:11 (KJV). He told the guy to walk when he had never walked before. To really understand this, you have to know that when your muscles are not used over a period of time, they deteriorate making it impossible to use them ever.
6. Because the muscles should have deteriorated, why did man with palsy think he could walk when he was told to take up his bed? It was because of God’s word. God can put strength where there is no strength.
7. The man with palsy immediately took up his bed. Remember, 4 men took him up on the roof and now he takes his bed himself. He needed help getting there, but no help leaving. The bible says obedience is better than sacrifice. Bishop explains that he believes in some instances, God allows delayed obedience, just to make a point. Going back to verse 12 again, we see that the man walked before them all before he left. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. Mark 2:12 (KJV)-This was delayed obedience, because the Lord told him to take up his bed and go home, not walk around in front of everyone. There is no harm in walking around showing off what God has done for you. There is nothing wrong with sending a card to your enemy thanking them for setting you up for your blessing. There is nothing wrong with sending a card to your enemy and thanking them for making you a better person. They shouldn’t have messed with us, because God was not through with us yet.
8. In verse 12 everyone was amazed that the man got up & walked. Even the enemies had to raise their hands as if to surrender in worship. Let’s take a look at a translation for verse 12. We have seen some stuff but we have never seen it in this fashion. What God did and is going to do in your life, some people have never seen before. You are a miracle in the making.

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Thought for today, 06/19/09

Posted on June 19, 2009 by growintheword

Balance Life

A person who is lazy is and passive is not happy. A passive person is someone wants something good to happen, but who just sits still and waits to see if it does. Successful people live disciplined lives.

First Peter 5:8 says, “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times.” The devil would like you to go overboard in some area, but stay steady and God “will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you”.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of advesity. Ps. 94:12-13

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What a friend I have in Jesus Part II, Bible Study 06/17/09

Posted on June 18, 2009 by growintheword

What a friend I have in Jesus Part II
Synopsis of Bible Study 06/17/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
Remember our term Christocentric. This was the term we learned in Part I and it told us that it was having as the theological focal point, the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ. As we grow, our relationship will be tested by a variety of things. You will find out how genuine your relationship with Christ really is.
The hope we have is found in Christ. No matter what we go through, we hold on to our hope. No matter what we go through, it is important for our witness to be strong. When we proclaim that we have a relationship with God, it is important that it shows up when we go through our trials.
I. Companionship
1. When you got saved, you received the Holy Spirit. It is important to understand where the companionship in this relationship comes from. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph 1:12-14 (KJV)-After you heard the word of God and accepted Jesus, you were completed by receiving the Holy Spirit. We are sealed by the Holy Ghost and we recognize that Christ will come back for us and afterwards, we will be in glory with him. We have the Holy Spirit that sustains us while we are yet still here. We allow the Holy Spirit to sustain us despite what we go through, because we know we have something better waiting in glory. We have to see the Ministry of Holy Spirit working alongside Jesus’ work.
2. When Jesus left, he left us with some companionship. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:16-18 (NLT)-Remember that in this scripture, Jesus is about to make his early departure. He said he would not leave us alone, but instead he would leave us with companionship. In verse 17, we find that this companion would be that of the Holy Spirit. The world doesn’t understand the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in our life. Looking at verse 18, we have to see the totality of the God head in our relationship. The Holy Spirit brings us into all truth, by guiding and leading us.

3. If Jesus is sitting at the right hand of father, what did he leave to instruct us? It was the Holy Spirit left inside us. We are codependent of others, because we don’t understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
4. You don’t belong to yourself. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6:19-20 (KJV) God paid the price that you might have the precious gift of the Holy Spirit inside you. If God thought enough of you to put that precious gift inside you, it must be an insult to refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit of God.
5. Who would Jesus give the power to? 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt 28:18-20 (KJV)-Jesus said all power was given to him in heaven and earth. Who would Jesus, give the power to? It is us. This suggests that God is not going to send you out powerless. It is then impossible to have the gift of the Holy Spirit and not go when God says to go. God saved us to empower us so that we may empower someone else. The same power that saved you is able to save someone else. They can only know this power if share the power you have received.
II. Opportunity
If you go, God will not send you by yourself. God empowers you to go and do his will. God said he is only going to be with people that are busy doing their kingdom assignment. You cannot be doing God’s assignment and be out there by yourself. What a friend we have in Jesus. Whatever the assignment is, it still falls within the call of the Great Commission mentioned in Matt 28:18. For example, even if you are called to be a dentist, this could be your kingdom assignment, because it teaches others to observe what you have been taught. Someone will look at the Christ in you and wonder how you are able to keep your peace when things are in disarray. This gives you the opportunity to save them. All calls to kingdom assignments are not necessarily found in the church. This is what makes us different from others. God saved us to give us a teaching opportunity. Some people are teaching people about God without even opening their mouths. You should be a living example of what it is like to live for God. You ought to make people wonder how you are able to still give God the glory and still keep your peace during trying times.

As long as we are fulfilling our kingdom assignment, we are never alone. We can call some folk from the bible days and they will testify of the opportunities that God gives to us. For Hebrew boys, they would testify that they were not left alone. David found out that when he was in the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil, because he knew he wasn’t alone.
III. Hope
1. Some people minimize the power of the word they received. In the last election, people were cynical of the word “Hope” and its concept. They wondered how a person could push the concept of hope as a theme. Well they pushed it all the way to the White House. Hope stretches past our right now, until it gets to our not yet. We are not defined by where we are. We are defined by who we know. Hope gives us things to talk about, something to look forward to, and something to hold on to.
2. People talk about their plans. They talk about plans for college and they talk about their planned vacation. Older folk hope for their retirement. Hope gives us:
a. Hope once embodied gives us something to work toward. Example: Our vacation is an example of exercising our hope. We put up with stuff that we normally wouldn’t, because we have the goal in mind. Without hope, you have no goal.
b. Hope motivates work. Where is God? He is here with us, as long as we are fulfilling our kingdom assignment. Our kingdom assignment is not always easy. Our kingdom assignment is where we experience most of our demonic interrogation. This is because our assignments are a threat to Satan’s kingdom, but remember that Jesus grabbed authority over two dimensions when he was raised from the dead. Jesus said all power in heaven and earth was in his hands which means his power will win in the earth realm.
3. Paul says he is struggling between being here on earth or with Christ in heaven. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Phil 1:22-23 (KJV). We all hope for the opportunity to go to heaven. Out of those reading this, who would be concerned about making heaven if Jesus came back today? This is a valid concern. If you hope for something, you don’t mind working for it. In like manner, if you hope to go to heaven, hopefully you are working out your salvation.
4. When God tells you something, no matter what happens, your relationship should be so strong, you are not swayed by it. When you have been told a thing by Christ, then you must stop tripping over the stuff in between. If he told you something, then you must hope for it. Don’t let all the discouragement in between, make you stop working.
5. There is still a thin line between hearing from God and schizophrenia. In other words there is a difference between a farfetched claim of what God called you to do and what God told you to do.
Concluding story:
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Acts 27:13-16 (KJV)-Here the Apostle Paul is a prisoner on a ship. He has been taken captive with other prisoners and is being ferried somewhere while the south wind blew softly Where Paul and the other captives are at this point is not their kingdom assignment. Paul encounters several problems on the way to his assignment. The ship represents that which is supposed to ferry them back to the assignment. It was destroyed which represents a major setback from reaching our assignment.
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; Acts 27:17-18 (KJV)-The people that were carrying Paul, had to take baggage off of the ship in order to make it though the storm. Just like this, you have to lighten your load on your ship when you are trying to make your way to your assignment. The baggage and the cargo were keeping Paul and the captives from getting to their destination.

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. Acts 27:19-20 (KJV)-They had lost all hope. They were going through hell and the storm was so bad, they couldn’t even see. All hope was taken away. God saves us to present us with a teaching moment.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. Acts 27:21-22 (KJV)-Paul told the captors they should have taken heed to his warning. He had a word for them and they wouldn’t listen, but now they were in a position where they were forced to listen. Paul assured them that no life would be lost, but cautioned them that they would lose the ship. The thing that was holding them is not going to make it to their destination. Likewise, the thing that is holding us from our destiny is not going to make to the end. Your destiny though, has to be bigger than the ship or what you are using to get to your assignment. If you allow your destiny to be hindered to denomination, tradition, and other things, you are limiting what God can do in your life. Remember to trust God. If the ship goes down, your destiny will not.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:23-25 (KJV)-Paul stated he was promised that God would be with him in his assignment. God sent an angel to remind him of the promise. No matter what would happen, Paul was promised that he would make it to his assignment. He was told that when he made it, the people with him would make it to. Remember when Paul and Silas made it, so did the others. The chains came off of all the prisoners at the same time. The safest place for you to be is with folk that are working in their assignment. Paul reminds them that they would not die there. They were going to be saved, because Paul was going to be saved.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. Acts 27:26-29 (KJV)-They couldn’t see the land for a long while. Finally when they did see land, they cast out the anchors so they would not hit the rock.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Acts 27:30-31 (KJV)-Paul told the officials that if they did not keep the prisoners with him, they would all die.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Acts 27:32-35 (KJV)-Paul tells them the fast is over and for them to eat some meat, because they would need their strength for what was going to happen next.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Acts 27:39-44 (KJV)-They decided to take up the anchors. They fell into a place where two seas met. They already dealt with storm above, but now they are going to deal with a storm below. The captors wanted to kill the prisoners to keep them from escaping, but the centurion stopped them from killing them. Some prisoners dropped out, others swam, some floated on boards, but others got on broken pieces of ship trying to get to land.
It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there. You will get to your promise, because God made you a promise. Hold on and sail in to what God has promised you. God will give you a teaching moment. We are going to make it no matter what the economy is. We are going to make it, because God made us a promise. You have to stay in your kingdom assignment. He can’t exempt you from the storm, but God can keep his promise. He can’t promise what is carrying you there won’t be shattered, but you will get there. If you lost your home, the home might not be the house. The home might be you being inside the house. Some of you are spiritually strong enough to swim or surf in. The weak will grab on to what is left and come in. It doesn’t matter how you make it to the assignment, as long as you make it. All you need as a piece of hope to hang on to.

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How will your story end Part II, Sermon 06/15/09

Posted on June 16, 2009 by growintheword

How will your story end Part II
“How to get through”
Synopsis of sermon 06/15/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker
Text 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Cor 4:8-10 (KJV)
God has given us the wardrobe of worship. One of the tricks of the enemy is to make you think you won’t come out of what you are in. When you are a child of God, no matter how bad an experience you have, you realize the hand of God is on your life. If God allows it, you have to know it has come to bless you. If God is in it, we know we will come out of it. If it hasn’t killed you yet, you must know that it must be there to bless you. How you go thru your dilemma has a direct effect on how you come out of it.
Throughout the word of God, we find people that experienced insurmountable situations, yet they made it out of them. This serves as evidence that God can bring us out of whatever situation we might find ourselves in. Know that you can get through this. You may have wounds and battle scars, but at end, you will thank God for the journey.
Paul continues to speak to the church at Corinth about their spiritual maturity. Paul kept telling this church that it was important how a Christian responds during their time of trouble. You have to make up in your mind that even though you may be going through difficult times, you will get through this.
I. Resolve to endure the trail
1. You can’t control what happens in your life. This is why we pray the prayer, Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In this prayer, you are saying God is sovereign and that what God allows to happen must be for a reason.
2. There is a benefit for your pain. Paul says in verse 8 of the text : 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; In verse 10 he says 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Simply put, this means the Christianity we proclaim ought to manifest in our life. Not so much when things are going well, but when the bottom falls out. Our relationship with Jesus ought to show even when our way seems rough.
3. When we are going through, our relationship with Jesus ought to show:
4. The benefit of the trial will produce character in us. Character is behavior on display. Many of us are what we are based off of what we have gone through. Sometimes God says he will live you in the trial because he wants to know what you will say you say, where you will stand, and will you continue to sow Will you whine or complain or represent him the way you are supposed. What will you say when you go thru your trial?
a. Where will you stand? Is there stability still in your life while you are going through what you are going through? Are you still speaking words that edify God?
b. Will you continue to sow? Will you still give of your money and of your time while you are going through? When our commitment is right, it is exposed in the midst of our trials.
5. Rather than looking like what we are going thru, we are supposed to look like what we are going to. We are not going to let the Devil see us with our head down. There are people around you every day that has been through all kind of hell, but you would never know because they don’t look like what they are going thru. Let the poor say I am rich and the sick say I am well.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. 15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. 17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. 18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lam 3:14-24 (KJV)-Jeremiah wrote in this scripture that he was messed up and depressed in front of the other people. He says he was filled with bitterness and he felt like his life was over. He states he had forgotten the blessings that God had given to him. In verse 19, Jeremiah says he remembered what he went thru and all the misery he had encountered. In verse 20, he says though he remembered what he had gone through; he was humbled by the process. In verse 21, Jeremiah comes to his senses and says he remembered the Lord’s mercies which are new every day. Finally in verse 24, he realizes the Lord is his portion and therefore he had no choice but to believe in God. Remember, we have to always look like what we are believing God for. You have to resolve to endure the trial.
II. Revelation of escaping the tomb
1. The tomb represents confinement. You must understand the Christ you preach, must be made manifest in your life. You can’t be a Christian without Christ. When death works in us, it is so we can live. For example, when spiritual leaders go through all types of trials, it is so that others might live. They give us the benefit of what they have learned. This is like Jesus dying so that we might live. Not to put down other faiths, but in our Christian faith, we know our savior lives. If you would check the graves Muhammad and Buddha are still there. This makes our faith (Christianity) amazing. We serve a risen savior.
2. The same power that raised Jesus can raise us up. We as Christians then have no reason to quit. There are no quitters in the body of Christ, only in church. There is no theological frame work you can have for quitting. Some people use the scripture in the bible that says shake dust off your feet when times get hard. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Matt 10:14 (KJV)-This scripture only refers to if a person does not want to accept the word of God when you give it to them. It does not mean quit you have a license to quit. Ex-An example of this is when someone doesn’t get the solo in the choir and they try to say maybe it is time for their season to end. Why do we bring the Lord in our mess? Why don’t we just say that they made us mad and we don’t like them and we are quitting? All the teaching we have access to now days and all the things Jesus went through without quitting, who are we to say that we quit? We have the same power that raises Jesus from the dead. Therefore, we have to know that we can get through any dilemma that we may find ourselves in.
3. Paul reaffirms that the same power that raised Jesus up, will raise you up. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 2 Cor 4:11 (KJV). When we come out, it is for the glory of God. God gets no glory if you quit. It is one thing to be persecuted, but another to be thrown away. Some people have been buried by people giving up on you. What they don’t realize is when they buried you, they triggered something in you. When they buried Christ, they put him in a borrowed tomb. Borrowing even implies that you will be giving it back. Even though some people may try to burry you, they will know when God brings out, because you will come out with Gods glory. Just like Jesus Christ, we will rise again from whatever has brought us down.
4. The same authority that raised Jesus up will raise you up. Be careful when you write people off. You never know who God has favored. There are some people reading this right now that are about to enter the best season of their lives.
III. Responsibility to explain your testimony
1. You can’t receive a testimony and not share it. Some people want a testimony without a test. Without the test, you only have the “mony”. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Cor 4:16 (KJV) We faint not, because of the weariness of our outward man. When you ball your fist up or tell someone that they got one more time to do what they did to you, this is living in your flesh. It is a symptom of your outward man. People think because you love God, you cannot slip back into your flesh, but it does happen. One thing is for sure, you can’t just live in your flesh dealing with church folk.
2. People want to know why you haven’t gone off on somebody because of all you have gone through. It is because when the outward man gets tired, we rely in the inward man that is renewed every day as referenced in verse 16. Ex-Bishop explains that there is no way he can preach 4-5 sermons a Sunday, in his flesh. It is the inward man that makes it possible. If our inward man that sustain us.
3. The word is light. Verse 17 is the climax of our testimony. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2 Cor 4:17 (KJV). The word is light, but seems heavy to us sometimes. It can seem heavy when you don’t know what is going to happen to your job or where you are going to find the money to pay your mortgage. Those who have gone through similar tragedies have a responsibility to go back and tell the ones that are currently in the same tragedy that the affliction is light. Once you make it to the other side and receive your blessings, you are able to look back at your tragedy and see that it was light. You must help others see that the burden they are going through is lighter than it seems.
4. Troubles don’t last always. Your situation has not come to stay. Be careful of hating on someone who is blessed, because you don’t know what they went through to get what they got. The blessings we receive cost something. We can’t have this glory, without a story. We have to go through it giving glory for the story. You don’t have a clue of what God is sitting you up for. The way your go through your trial, lets God know if he can trust you with your blessings.

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