Out of nowhere, Sermon 05/03/09

Posted on May 6, 2009 by growintheword

Out of nowhere
Synopsis of Sermon 05/03/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
God is a God of timing. He works in his timing and not ours. What is really interesting is how God can bring destiny and blessings out of nowhere. When all obstacles appears to be against you, God can bring you into purpose. Out of nowhere God can bring you into the brightest season of your life.
Many want to know when they appear to be in a season of being stagnant, where is God? God is not a passive God. He is active. He is always moving. It might be in the background, but he is still moving. If you will remember, God had been working with Moses behind the scenes the whole time before he brought Moses to the forefront. The way Moses ended up being found by Pharaoh’s daughter all the way up to the burning bush was all about God orchestrating things in the background for Moses purpose. If you look at Joseph’s life, you will notice the same thing. Joseph was favored by his father and his jealous brother’s end up selling him into slavery. He wound up in jail only to end up working for one of the top officials of the land. Despite all of the negative things that appeared to happen to these two folk, out of nowhere, God shows up and blesses them and causes them to bless others.
I. When will our season come?
a. God is going to come out of nowhere to set you up. You could be sitting with or working with someone at this very moment that God is going to raise up for incredible and marvelous things. 1 Finally, the LORD said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel. Now fill your horn with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my new king.” 1 Sam 16:1 (NLT)-Israel had gotten impatient for a king in this scripture. They made Saul their king, but Saul was not God’s choice for them. God eventually rejects Saul, because he becomes wicked on the throne. God eventually raised up David out of nowhere. God asks Samuel in verse one, how long will he morn over King Saul? Just like this, God wants you to get over some stuff in your life before he will allow you to walk into your blessing. Samuel goes to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king of Israel.
b. God will anoint you. Here is a powerful side about the anointing. Kings were anointed at the inauguration of a king. We are about to witness an anointing before the inauguration. God anointed David before he was ever put into office as King. God will choose you long before he gives you your assignment. 2 But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” Take a heifer with you,” the LORD replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.” 4 So Samuel did as the LORD instructed him. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the leaders of the town became afraid. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” 1 Sam 16:2-4 (NLT)

II. Power of divine discernment
a. God doesn’t choose the way we do. Jesses thinks Eliab must be the one (the new king). 5 “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them, too.6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!” 1 Sam 16:5-6 (NLT). God doesn’t choose like we do and his thoughts are not our thoughts. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV). You can’t get caught up on things that look good on paper. Everything that looks to you might not be good for you. God operates on integrity, not image. Ex-Bishop explains that his friend Pastor Jeffery Johnson bought a vintage mustang. He had it detailed and cleaned up, but the mustang still had one problem. The gas hand on it was stuck on full. One day he is riding around in the mustang and almost ran out of gas, but he was unaware because the gas hand always showed full. The way you look has nothing to do with what you are. You can look good but still be flawed. Even if you are rejected keep serving. In due season you will reap if you faint not. Your labor is not in vain. If you are faithful in this season, God will make you ruler over much. David’s story illustrates:
1. Divine delay-This one way God brings something to pass. God is always up to something. A delay is not a denial 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.” 8 Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the LORD has chosen.” 9 Next Jesse summoned Shammah, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen.” 1 Sam 16:6-9 (NLT)-Samuel has gone through a long drawn out process just to discover that this is not who God wants. David is keeping sheep. He has not been invited inside. David is on the outside. When Samuel says I need to look at your other son, they send for David. David looks and represents the rejected. David working with the sheep represents us going through our period of rejection. You have to remember, what is for you is for you.
2. David teaches us the power of isolation. David says he is going to wait for his time. He did so by working with the sheep without complaint. People might not know your name, but just stay there. Wait on God. Some people will have to go through stuff in order to value who you are. Now why would God hide his blessing (us)?
3. God keeps us protected. 10 In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 1 Sam 16:10-11 (NLT)-Jesse was asked did he have anymore sons. Jesse replied the youngest and sent for him. While God was waiting to use David (as king) he kept him in the field so he would be protected. Sometimes what we thing is a curse sentence is God protecting us.
4. God works providentially-he wants you to man obscurity (the state of being unknown), before he will give you popularity. Sometimes God will hold your assignment, because he knows that you would lose your mind if he gave it to you now. God waits until a set time to allow you to be prepared for your blessing. When God gets ready for you, no one can stop it. Somebody is looking for you. Somebody is about to come in your life and put you usher you into the greatest season in of your life.

III. Divine destiny
After Samuel looks through all of Jesse’s sons, and God rejects them all, Samuel asks for if there are any other sons. He asked Jesse to send for David. David shows up in verse 12. 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy and handsome, with pleasant eyes. And the LORD said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 1 Sam 16:12 (NLT)
a. David didn’t look the part. When David got there, he didn’t look like someone they would promote. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in front of the rest of them. God will anoint you in the midst of folk that thought you wouldn’t qualify to be elevated.
b. When David shows up, he didn’t fit the prototype. God will raise you up where you thought they wouldn’t fit in. Because you don’t look like you fit, doesn’t mean God hasn’t placed greatness inside you. You can’t be judged in your right now. Your greatness will be found in your not yet.
c. David ends up being anointed as King, though he hasn’t been placed in the position of King. David was out in the field and his father and brothers were inside the house. Samuel, under God’s assignment, came looking for a future king on assignment.
d. David in obscurity was tending the sheep. We were born to fulfill our destiny. Everything that happens to us works together for the good of helping us to our place of greatness. David is outside the house, everyone else is in the house. David doesn’t look the part, but it doesn’t change who he is going to become. Ex-Kurt Warner, the football player is also a good Christian, a tither, and a family man. He is going to placed into the Hall of Fame. Based on his college stats, he was not drafted into the NFL when he got out of college. This means on paper, no one would want him. When he came out of college, he had a job bagging groceries. The Rams needed a backup quarterback and decided to call Kurt Warner from a local Arena League. The reason they called him was to become the backup quarterback for them. After he signed on as a backup quarterback he was given the opportunity to play, because the First-string Quarterback got hurt. Kurt Warner went into the game and never came out. The rest is history. The point is, when God anoints you, you are truly anointed for your purpose, no matter where you came from. Out of nowhere God may anoint you for something that is great.

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Grace of God, Bible Study 04.29.09

Posted on May 1, 2009 by growintheword

Grace of God
Bible study 04/29/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker
When you talk about grace, you are talking about one of the greater attributes of God. Some people don’t understand this and take it for granted. In Acts 17, Paul has a conversation with the philosophers. A lot of these philosophers were talking about how they felt it to be important that you worship in temple with religious apparatuses and rituals. 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. Acts 17:25 (NLT)-Paul explains that there is nothing we can do by hand that will please God. God is simply a giver by nature. God gives himself freely to us. Grace is something that God gave to us that we did not deserve. It is all in how we:
I. Approach God
a. Grace is about getting what we don’t deserve and receiving God’s unmerited favor.
b. As a result of our relationship with Jesus, we are assured grace and peace. God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and more of God’s special favor and wonderful peace. 1 Peter 1:2 (NLT)
c. We are receiving the goal of our faith. 9 Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9 (NLT)-the goal of our faith is salvation.
d. The Old Testament prophesied of Jesus’ coming and he represents that which we did not deserve. 10 This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean. 1 Peter 1:10 (NLT). When Jesus came that was God giving us what we did not deserve (grace). We ran the bill up (with our sins) and owed the debt, death was the cost, and Jesus came and took the debt away. The fact that we are saved is an extension of God’s grace. If we really look at this, we realize that God is a giver and grace must not have anything do with us. Grace is about God and who he is. We can’t earn grace and we certainly don’t deserve it.
e. The Prodigal Son. Luke 15 tells us about the prodigal son. The focal point of this story is not the straying away of the son or even the son that stayed behind. It is about the response of the father. The prodigal son leaves and hits rock bottom and on the other side, you have another son that was faithful and never left home. When the prodigal son returns home, the father has the servants bring him the best robe and has them to kill a calf for a feast he would have in honor of the lost son returning home. The son that never left represents the nature of us today. He questions why his father would fuss over the son that foolishly left, when he remained firm the whole time. The son that stayed home is angered that no one ever bothered to make a fuss over him when he has done right, yet they fuss over those who have done wrong. We must realize that Grace is not about who you are, it is about God bestowing favor on whomever he chooses. We think we earn brownie points because of what we do for God, but God’s grace will bump anyone up in line ahead of us at his discretion. Who are we to think we deserve grace before anyone else. None of us have earned it anyway. We are all recipients of unmerited favor.
II. Grace versus the Law
a. The law was what the Hebrew people lived by. The law was a task master. This next scripture is a Theologians dream scripture. This scripture is like a modern day CNN. It will give you and insight on the law verses grace like you never have seen before. 23 The son of the slave-wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. 24 Now these two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. Hagar, the slave-wife, represents Mount Sinai where people first became enslaved to the law. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery. 26 But Sarah, the free woman, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. And she is our mother. 27 That is what Isaiah meant when he prophesied, “Rejoice, O childless woman! Break forth into loud and joyful song, even though you never gave birth to a child. For the woman who could bear no children now has more than all the other women”! 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. Gal 4:23-28 (NLT)-Paul is making a reference to Abraham. Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman, Hagar (Ishmael). She was given to him by Abraham’s wife, because Sarah thought she was barren. Ishmael was born the ordinary way. The other son was born by Sarah. Sarah was 89 years old when the Lord opened her womb and allowed her to be able to conceive a baby. Ishmael was born by the standards of human law. Abraham and Sarah thought since she was too old to conceive, it would be logical for Abraham to sleep with Hagar and get a son. Isaac was born through the promise of God. Isaac was born through extra ordinary circumstances. He was born into a situation that should have been impossible, because Sarah was 89. The son born the ordinary way (Ishmael) and his family persecuted the one born by the spirit (Isaac). As a result, they were banished from Abraham’s land. This led to a struggle that is still going on today. The decedents of Ishmael are still at odds with the descendants of Isaac today. The struggle between the two nations still exists today. It is a struggle over law and grace. Muhammad, a descendant of Ishmael, has brought over one billion people on to his side of this ancient conflict through the religion of Islam. (more on this can be found at http://www.therefinersfire.org/ishmael_and_isaac.htm)
b. Ordinary is the natural way of the law. Ordinary is a way rising up through the ranks through ordinary religion and doctrines or a religious system so to speak. The ordinary way represents the Old Testament Law (the task master). Jesus came in and brought folk in by the promise. Through the promise, it doesn’t matter how long you have been doing anything. God will elevate your through grace. There will always be a conflict with those who live by grace and those who live by the law. The law was a task master. It was a set of rules that did not promote spiritual growth.
c. What will we do with the law? Ex- How does the law manifest? There was a woman in the bible that was caught in the very act of adultery. The religious leaders quote the law. Jesus says I am not going the ordinary way, he is going by grace. He asked them without sin to throw the first stones. They had to all drop their stones, because no one had escaped sin. God says that he is not impressed with our human energy. You will not work your way to a place where you will have bragging rights in heaven. In fact God says heaven will be a great surprise. We will be surprised who didn’t make it to heaven. 1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. Gal 4:1-2 (NLT)-We have been trying to work through a system of laws instead of doing things God’s way. The whole time, we are getting further away from God which is what Satan wants. 10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Gal 3:10-11 (NLT), 8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Eph 2:8-9 (NLT)-We can’t boast about where we are. It is by God’s grace that we are still here. This is nothing more than an extension of God’s grace.
III. What it means to be under the law
a. God did this to demonstrate his justice. 21 But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight—not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. 22 We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. 23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. Romans 3:21-25 (NLT)
b. God left what was done before hand unpunished. 26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law Romans 3:26-28 (NLT).The wages of sin is death, and we were left unpunished.
c. If you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. Gal 5:18 (NLT); We have been delivered from the law. 4 So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit. Romans 7:4-6 (NLT)
d. The relation between law and sin. 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 1 Cor 15:56 (NLT)-the power of sin is found in the law. The law arouses things in us. 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” Romans 7:7 (NLT)-Imagine if you were told that under your chair is taped a 100 dollar bill. You are told not to look for it. This represents the law. Think about it. You had no desire for $100 bill until you were told not to look for it. The law aroused something in you that makes you long to know if it is true. This is what makes the law complicated. When Satan asked Eve about the tree, she did not long for the fruit until she recalled what the law said about not touching the fruit. The fact that God says not to do it, is what makes it more appealing to us. We have no problem doing the “dos” or the things the bible says to do. Our struggle is with the “don’ts”. We have a strange desire to do what the bible says not to do.
e. The commandment produced all of our covetous desires. 7 “But,” some might still argue, “how can God judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 If you follow that kind of thinking, however, you might as well say that the more we sin the better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned, yet some slander me by saying this is what I preach! 9 Well then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is good— not even one. Romans 3:7-10 (NLT)
f. Sin is deadly. When the commandments came, sin sprung. The commandment that intended to bring us life caused our death. The law and commandment is Holy, it produced death in us, by what was good. Sin was aroused by the law. The sin in us stimulates all of our desires. This is why Paul says we couldn’t live under the law. Paul says the thing I want to do, I don’t’… Paul says he has this war in his flesh and he can’t figure out how to break it.
g. Who is going to save us? The law can’t save us. 20 For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it. Romans 3:20 (NLT), 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. Romans 3:28 (NLT), 16 And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ—and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.” Gal 2:16 (NLT)
IV. Justification and grace (reconciling it)
a. We hope that while we have studied these scriptures, the knowledge has gone much deeper than we assume. Watch how revelation knowledge pops out at us now:
b. 1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Since we have been acquitted, we don’t have to worry what you think about our past, because we have peace with God. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Now we have access to stuff we didn’t think we would have though grace. Because we were standing in grace, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. Now that we have received unmerited favor, we go through without whining. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. Our perseverance is producing character and that produces hope. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God poured it into our heart. 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. You can’t find someone that is willing to die for a righteous man, let alone one who is not righteous. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment. Romans 5:1-9 (NLT)- While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
c. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful kindness became more abundant. Romans 5:20 (NLT) – We were added so the trespass might increase, but the more mess that came, the more grace God gave more grace. We were guilty of the charge that the jury read, but instead of the sentence of death being imposed on us, Jesus stepped in and acquitted us of all the charges. Not only did he grant us grace, he made it like the crime never happened.

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Killer Sex Part IV – Bible Study 04/22/09

Posted on April 24, 2009 by growintheword

Killer Sex Part IV
How to stay Holy when you are horny“
Bible Study 04/22/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Today we explore the issue of “How to stay holy when you are horny”. There is this tension in all of us when we are saved. Although it might sound odd, it is just a reality. Some try to pretend that they don’t have these thoughts, because they are saved, but for the most part, this is not true. How do you reconcile this issue of being horny? The truth is this is real stuff and the church needs to talk about it.

8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:8-10 (KJV)-Where is this place, this scripture is talking about? Is it a physical place? No it is a spiritual place. How do we arrive at this place called holiness? The true way to deal with this is to adapt to a lifestyle of holiness. In the past, many people tried to achieve holiness through clothing, for example long skirts, women not wearing pants, no makeup, no jewelry and etc… The problem with this was despite what people wore or didn’t wear, people still ended up pregnant, drunk, and on drugs. It was obvious that this was not the key to holiness.

It is important to know what holiness means. Holiness is tied to sanctification which means to be separated or set apart unto God. Birds of a feather flock together so naturally a person trying to achieve holiness would not hang around with crowds of people that are not trying to live Holy.

God knows that we do not often have the power to separate ourselves from things. 26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Lev 20:26 (KJV)-God severed some relationships on purpose, because they would be unfruitful for you. We don’t have the power to sever these relationships on our own, because we are emotional and loyal. Some people are still kicking and screaming over people God severed out of their lives, but they should be rejoicing over this. These things that God removed were hindrances to where God was taking them. There are some people you can’t simple be in relationship with when you are trying to live for God.

God severs us of:
1. Our possessions: God separates our possessions. 14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. Lev 27:14-15 (KJV)-In the Old Testament we find that whenever what priest would sanctify would be valued more. You could have an expensive house, but it could be cheap as it relates to a house of equal value that had been sanctified. Just like this, everything that comes into our hands, we must bless or sanctify. We have to ask God to bless everything we posses so that spirits do not try and take it over. On your job, bless your space and any money you make you need to bless. There are spirits out there looking for access.
2. Our place: 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 2 Chron 7:16 (KJV)-God establishes the places that he wants you to dwell. God wants you to be where he is. God wants you to be in his will. When you understand holiness, you understand that God wants you to be around the right people and in the right place. We have to ask God to bless where we go and the money that comes into our hands. If Satan can get you around the right people, he knows that he can get you to spend the money you made in the wrong places for the wrong reasons.
• Sanctification is not only being separated from sin, it is being separated from the world. Sanctification is not a denomination as some people think. It is part of the process of salvation. 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV). God is everyday saving us from things that hinder us from being close to him.
• When we are burdened and oppressed, you are vulnerable to sin 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:1 (KJV)-in past sermons, we tied sin and weight together as one thing. We identified it as that which has burdened or oppressed us. When we are burdened and oppressed, you are vulnerable to sin. When you are burdened down, you need something to hook you up. You are looking for something to minister to you, but Satan that only builds you up temporary.
• Jesus tells us to bring our burdens to him and he will give us rest. Whatever is burdening us down, God says bring to him and he will give you what you need without exploiting you (unlike Satan). We not only need to lay aside the weight, we need to be freed of the behavior the weight caused.
• Since God is Holy, this should be our aim also. 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. Lev 20:7 (KJV) -We must understand that without holiness we can’t see God. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb 12:14 (KJV) –Without holiness, we can’t see the Lord. If God is Holy, we must be holy when we come to him. The closer we get to God, the clearer we become. The Enemy is trying to pull us away from God. All of us have challenges in our flesh. Sometimes we struggle within ourselves, because we don’t understand why despite how good we try to be, we still have sexual issues. Ex-Let’s just assume that everyone reading this deep down in their heart wants to be a Christian. Assuming that this is right we can bet that you still get horny despite your desire to be a good Christian. If you are not horny ever, we are concerned about you, because this is something that is natural. Knowing this, the question becomes, “How do we manage it?” Remember being horny is not the sin. Acting on it is.

Do you know one of the most vulnerable moments you will have is right after church?
• We worship God, but it is the most vulnerable thing you do. When you worship, you step outside of your flesh. When you worship, your spirit abandons your flesh. If it is just a worship experience for you, then you will fall back into your flesh when the worship is over. A true worshipper doesn’t do this. Because your flesh is neglected during worship, your flesh is hyper needy. Ex-Remember when Jesus was baptized (a great event), he was led to the garden to fast. After his body had been neglected from the fast, Satan came in to tempt Jesus. When we get back in the flesh, we have to get back living in the spirit. We have to keep crucifying our flesh daily so this can be achieved. It is more than a worship experience. It should be a worship lifestyle
• The plot of sin is to get us further away from God. 1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV) -not that God is not there, your iniquities cause distance between you and God. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph 5:5 (KJV).
• When you got saved, you signed up for sanctification. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2 Thess 2:13 (KJV) -there is no salvation without sanctification. Ex-You get saved, but you don’t yield to process of sanctification. You think rejoining the church 50 times will do it. Sanctification is an eternal reality. Whatever is in us, we have to ask the Lord to take it out. We open ourselves up to Devine Scrutiny.
• Our vessel must be clean. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.Isaiah 66:20 (KJV) -We are talking about what we offer to God, for example our gifts, our talents, and our worship. It must be bought in clean vessels. Ex-If we lick the rim of a cup and we offer to someone, they would not drink from the glass. Nothing is wrong with water inside, but there is a vessel problem. People will not receive what is in the vessel, because the vessel is tainted. With the water symbolizing blessings, we must know that blessings are hindered because of the mess found on some people’s vessel. People don’t look for perfection, but they want to see people that are at least a trying as carriers of their blessings. The thing that makes us tainted is our habits or being repeat offenders. 4 For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people to repentance again because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross again by rejecting him, holding him up to public shame. Heb 6:4-6 (NLT) – We keep becoming repeat offenders, making it hard for others to repent.

If we know we have struggles in the flesh, and we desire holiness, how do we achieve holiness? After all, we are not wired to be holy. By nature we were naughty.
• It is the work of the Holy Spirit. You can’t do it cognitively or in your head. You can’t mentally overcome everything, because you can be talked out of stuff in your head. Ex-Bishop explains that he hasn’t had dessert in about 2 yrs. He explains that while trying to refrain from what he felt was harmful, people have tried to push him into the temptation of eating desserts. He admits that though he tries to stay strong, there are times the mind tries to play tricks on him. For example, “As hard as you worked, you deserve it” or “One scoop is not going to hurt you”. It is the power of the Holy Ghost that sustains you. The Holy Ghost brings back to memory what you have been taught. He is there to help us.
• Through chastening us-God can get us to holiness by whipping us. 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb 12:10-11 (KJV) -No one is joyous through a spanking, but afterwards it produces righteousness. Righteousness is exercised by those that got whippings. God sometime whips us to prevent us from walking outside holiness. Ex-When we were kids, sometimes we got the privilege of watching others get whipped for something we should have gotten whipped for. Sometimes God will allow you to see others get whipped. After seeing this, why would you do something that God whipped another person for? God will let you see what should have happened to you. God chastens us because he loves us, but the whole time we are being whipped; his hands are still on us.
• By the word of God. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalms 119:9 (KJV) -How can someone get their life together? By taking heed to God’s word. God sent his word, because it is his word that shuts you down. God’s word will convict you sometimes before you do what you are planning to do. All you got to do is take head of this word. Obedience is better than sacrifice. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3 (KJV)-You are made whole or purified by the word. God talks about the word in portion of the Bible by using milk and meet as symbols. If we use this same analogy, when we get full of word, we won’t want to be filled by something else.
• By faith. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Acts 11:24 (KJV)
• By prayer. 12 And may the Lord make your love grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love overflows toward you. 13 As a result, Christ will make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy when you stand before God our Father on that day when our Lord Jesus comes with all those who belong to him. 1 Thess 3:12-13 (NLT)-We must pray for humility and the ability to make right decision.
• Heat of struggle. Paul says that the things he don’t want to, he keeps doing. In other words, we try to do right and we keep slipping up. In all of our lives, there is a struggle going on. It is a struggle between the flesh and spirit. The more you neglect your flesh, the louder your flesh will holler.

You got to recognize these 5 things to put things in perspective
• Know your purpose- 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Phil 1:5-6 (KJV) -God dropped something in you. God is not going to let you mess up that deposit. He will keep reminding you that he put it there. Isn’t it amazing when you do something and that small voice inside you tells you that you know better? This is why we try to hide our church peripheral when we are doing wrong. We try to shut that voice up, but it doesn’t work. You end up with God pulling you back continuously.
• Put your past in perspective- 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 (KJV)-Stop beating yourself up over mistakes made in your past. Everybody has some skeletons of some kind in their closet. Let it go, don’t hold yourself hostage. 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (KJV) – You can’t go to your destination by holding on to the past.
• You might experience some pain. Why did God allow us to get hurt? Our hurt was about creating dependence on God. He wanted to develop us to know where to go when we are hurting. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 2 Cor 12:6-8 (KJV) -God says whenever he allows pain, you have a choice. You can allow it to get exploited or allow his grace to sustain you. God wants us to choose to draw close to him. 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7 (KJV-Even though we made some mistakes, we have some roots. This is what makes us come back. There is more to us than can be seen. Who we really are is like roots, buried into the earth.
• There will be some Purging- 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7 (KJV) -We want to be purified.
• God will purify us. 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14 (KJV) – we are suppose to be different and excited by doing good works.

In closing
We are horny, but we are supposed to be holy. How do we deal with this? How do we get this out of us? Imagine that there is a towel. This towel has purpose. This towel will do what it was designed to do. If the towel is dirty, we won’t use it. This is what our life is like. We have been in some low places, kicked around, stepped on, and passed around by people that didn’t know our purpose. Instead of wiping their face with us (representative of our purpose) they whipped something else with us. We got dirty and stained. Now we are just over here alone. We are at the altar and everybody says, ‘ewwhh what you going do with that?” We ask the lord the same thing. What can he possibly do with us?” How do we get these stains out of us? We would like for it to be instantaneous change. We won’t to be made whole quickly. One thing is for sure, we have to realize that it took years for these stains to get on us. We can’t settle for looking good from a distance, we want the real thing. We want our spirit man to be greater than our issue. We ask God to help us, but know that removing the stains ain’t going to feel good. God has to cause some friction, pain, and tumbling and more friction. There is more friction allowed and as a result, more things fall off. There are people in your life that meant you no good, but hung on. The friction, was so they would fall off. God fixed it so you wouldn’t be able to give anymore and so others fell off. When you get done, you will thank God for the journey. The good thing about it is when he is done; there will be no evidence of what you have gone through. You are so close to a miracle, all you have to do is look at your neighbor to see how close you are. They have been passed around and abused, but look at them. You can’t even tell. If it is your desire to be purified and it is in your heart, God can do it.

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Get out of the way of the glory – Sermon 04/19/08

Posted on April 22, 2009 by growintheword

Get out of the way of the glory
Sermon 04/19/08
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
Text: 12 Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Cor 3:12-18 (NLT)
God demands the presence of his people. The glory of God is the supernatural presence of God in the earth realm. When we experience the presence of God, it is God rearranging things in the natural to look like that of the Kingdom of God.
There are many hindrances that prevent God’s glory from taking place. We ourselves often put are in the way of the manifestation of the glory God. We prevent the glory from showing up. There is a certain attitude and atmosphere needed for this event to take place. We have to be willing to make some adjustments for this to happen. There are those who have moved beyond religion and are ready and willing to receive God’s Glory. Paul calls these hindrances the veil. The veil is symbolic of the thing that keeps people from experiencing the totality of God. God says more now than ever, it is important that we have and experience Gods glory. God says he is an intimate God meaning he is right there where we are. We need God’s glory. We need too much from God to allow anyone to stand in the way its manifestation. No matter what we got to move or rearrange, we have got to get to God’s glory. We need in this season the total manifestation of this Glory. When we experience the manifestation of God’s glory, we receive his healing and his power.
Paul says we have too much in the way of the glory of God. Paul shares with us:
I. The lesson of the veil (vs. 16 of the text)
The veil was the thing that separated the people from the glory of God. Many of us only comprehend God through the veil. We do not experience God in his totality. To give an example, anytime tradition hinders you from God you have experienced being blocked by the veil. What is your veil? Is it:
1. Denominationalism. This is when we refuse to move if it doesn’t follow the protocol of our doctrine
2. Arrogance-When you think it is all about you. We think that everything we have achieved is a result of us and not God. God is not going to share his glory with anyone. No matter what you think the Lord will have his way.
3. Acceptance-When you do what you do for people’s affirmation. We have to realize that some folk won’t like us no matter what you do.
In this season, people are after truth. You came to this service or you are reading this document, because you are after truth. Paul declared the truth about the veil in the text. In the Old Covenant they had veil set up in the temple, but because of Christ, we no longer have to live behind the veil. 50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, Matt 27:50-51 (NLT). The veil was set up in the temple so people would have to pass their sacrifice for their sins from outer court to inner court and give to high priest. The high priest would then take and put the sacrifice on the altar for their sins. This caused those in the outer court not to experience the power and the presence of God personally. When Christ died, the veil ripped symbolizing that from then on we could go to God for ourselves.
II Liberty is validated (vs. 17 of text)
The mere fact that the scripture qualifies that the Spirit is God suggests that there are other spirits running around church such as the spirit of witchcraft, the spirit jezebel, and the spirit of antichrist for example. We have to try the spirit by the sprit. The Spirit of God sets us free.
When the spirit of God is present, he allows us to transcend every situation. In other words our relationship with Christ causes us to rise above every situation. The glory of God causes us to respond to every level of trails. Liberty is validated by who we are and not where we are, based on whom we know (God). This means we can be in a situation and still be free. Ex-The 3 Hebrew boys was in the fiery furnace, yet the king saw them walking around free in the fire. God doesn’t have to get us out of our situation in order for us to be free. We can be freed while we are in the mist of our situation. Ex 2-Paul and Silas were in jail. They were bound, yet they sang praises to God. As a result, they are freed from prison before being set free from prison. Once you recognize getting free in a thing, that’s when you realize you can transition a thing. God says he will transition you or bring you out of it.
Whenever you get out of the glory of God, you realize the power of:
1. The right environment-People want to come to church to create the right environment for receiving God’s glory.
2. They want an encounter. People want to experience God personally.
3. Expression- People feel free to express their feelings anywhere they are.
There are people that wonder how you are able to give God the glory, while you are going through what you are going through. If our liberty is validated, then wherever we are and whatever situation we are in, we are still free.
III. Life is victorious (vs. 18 of text)
We look through the glass and we see what happens is the veil was like a curtain. Only privileged people could see what happened behind the veil (the priest). In other words, through the veil, you only experience God based on what somebody told you happened behind the curtain. With an open face or a removal of the veil, we can see everything that happens clearly. Paul says when you see God’s glory; you are transformed by what you see. You can’t see God’s glory and not be changed. When you see him, you walk different and talk different. Some people stay the same, because they haven’t really seen God.
When we have seen God our:
1. Countenance changes –You will never be the same after you encounter God.
2. Condition changes-We changed and from trouble to glory. God will change your situation, no matter what it looks like. When you have seen him, you don’t have to praise him on que anymore. You can’t help but to give God praise, because you are praising God for his presence. If you are after the glory, God says get ready.
You about to experience the:
1. Power of glory- 1 kings 8:10-11-When the glory cloud comes, Bishop explains that he will not be able to preach and choir want be able to sing. When his God’s power comes, you have go with the flow.
2. Praise him for his glory-Give God glory and stop giving it to man for what was done in your life. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (KJV). . Give God the glory. If I should get any glory, let it go to Calvary. Give God the glory.
God is about to manifest the promise of his glory 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid. 6 “For this is what the LORD Almighty says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth. I will shake the oceans and the dry land, too. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD Almighty. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD Almighty. 9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD Almighty. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!” Hag 2:5-9 (NLT)-God said don’t worry about the economy. The silver and Gold belongs to him. What you are going to, will be greater than what you are going through. This time God is going to give you peace. The glory of God will bring peace and you will sleep like never before and be able to walk like never before. Receive God’s glory.

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