Doubt after the shout

Posted on May 2, 2025 by growintheword

Synopsis of Sermon 4.27.25

Delivered by Keion Henderson

John 20:24-27 (NKJV)

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

I.               Introduction

  1. Every asked what the Lord was doing, after shouting at church? Ever got in the parking lot and still had questions?
  2. Few are bold enough to admit it, but the truth is, they have a Sunday shout with a Monday mindset. You can’t cover it up.
  3. All of us are saints with sinner problems. We are declaring in the sanctuary, but doubting in the living room.
    1. We all have a church persona, but we have a constant battle with flesh.
  4. When asked which disciple we are most like, we like to say Peter. The truth is, most of us don’t have the courage of Peter.
    1. We are really more like Thomas. We are in between “almost” and “not yet”. It is the Post Easter mindset.
  5. Thomas missed one service and came back doubting what everyone else shouted about. He was not there, when Jesus appeared the first time.
    1. How many of you have asked God to do something and He hasn’t delivered on it yet? Thomas said unless he could see the nail prints for himself, he would not believe. In other words, he wanted receipts.
  6. There were some people in the room. They defined it as a manufactured moment.
  7. Jesus had gotten out of the grave, just like He said he would but we have questions of how it all came together.
    1. How did the government believe Jesus wasn’t the Messiah, but yet they put a stone in front of grave?   
    1. This shows that your enemies believe in you more than your friends do.
  8. Peter cuts the ear off of a Roman Soldier, when they came to get Jesus. Jesus puts it back on and tells Peter, “Get behind me satan!”. He told Judas to do what he had to do and to do it quickly . Peter was about to mess up the assignment. Jesus was not supposed to die in the garden.
    1. This is doubt that leads to faith. No matter who you are, you’ve had some questions for God.
    1. All of us have had a praise on our lips and a doubt at the same time.
  9. When we ask questions of God, He reveals himself. There is a difference between asking God a question and questioning him.
  10. God doesn’t just meet us at celebrations; he meets us at questions. He doesn’t just meet at the time of hype. Sometimes He meets us in our wounds.

II.               The absence of Thomas

  1. The twins were not with them. The Bible says that Thomas was one of the twins and he was not with them. The Bible really doesn’t reveal who the other twin is. One Theologian said that the word twin used here is not a reflection of another person, but instead an admission of another personality.
    1. Just like the person that praises in church and then gets outside and finds that their car has been dented. They become another person!
  2. Thomas has a split personality. The problem with having a split personality is, you think you always have company. You think you have talked to someone about your situation, and you have only talked to yourself.
    1. When you feel you have company and don’t, this leads you into isolation.
    1. Any decision you make without company is just an opinion and not based on facts.
  3. Scripture says that Thomas told the disciples, “Unless I see it for myself, I won’t believe”. Jesus shows up and says tells Thomas to look at his scars.
    1. The Bible says Thomas was one of the twelve, even though he missed the meeting. Thomas wasn’t mentioned anymore after the meeting. This implies that Jesus would rather you be absence than to be present doubting.
    1. Absence doesn’t mean you won’t be counted. Although he wasn’t present when Jesus showed up at first, he was still one of the twelve.

III.               The assurance of Jesus

  1. Thomas said he wouldn’t believe it, unless he saw the scars for himself. This was his stubbornness.
    1. Thomas said he needed to see marks. In this, Thomas isn’t saying that he is struggling to believe. He is saying without seeing the scars, it is impossible to believe. This is why Jesus gives scars. It helps with our belief.
  2. God took us through it and left evidence so we wouldn’t be so full of ourselves. This is why your sinuses flare up, when you get dust inside your nose. We are just dirt, and we can’t be too full of ourselves. God resists the proud!
    1. No matter what we think about ourselves, we’re still dirt!
  3. Sometimes pain is the prelude to power. Bishop Walker or any Pastor for that matter, wouldn’t be who they are, if they hadn’t gone through what they’ve gone though.
    1. Just because you love your Pastor, doesn’t mean that the devil does.
    1. There is no glory without struggle and misery. There is a story behind every glory!

IV.               The appeal of touch

  1. Most people are high off of smoke they didn’t inhale. Some people shouted just because the person next to them shouted.
  2. Thomas said don’t just show him the crown, show him the cross.
    1. Most young people can’t be reached, because we won’t show them our scars. We want them to think we have always been where we are now.
    1. We sterilize our testimony. We want people to believe we were always where we are now.
    1. Jesus showed Thomas His scars. Be proud of the vulnerability as well as the victory!
  3. Glory looks better when it’s got blood on it. Anointing without suffering is an illusion.
    1. Sometimes the proof you need is the struggle, not the strength.
  4. Jesus shows Thomas his scars. Jesus customized his arrival for the one who doubted. Jesus showed up again, just to show Thomas his scars.
    1. God will customize his arrival in a way that makes you believe.
    1. It’s much like Jesus saying to you, “How do you want your steak?” He’s willing to customize His arrival so that we believe.
  5. Sometimes we miss God’s arrival, because it doesn’t come the way we expected it to.
    1. Remember the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost, when He was walking on the water, coming to meet them.
    1. God says grace is about to circle back around. He’s come back to see about you!

V.               The appeal of touch

  1. God gives us an example of greatness and we often miss it, by sitting in the car. Proof of Jesus’ power is, God exalted him, but yet we can still touch him.
    1. Jesus was God, but He still walked amongst the people.
  2. Some of us have gotten too blessed to be touched.
    1. For example: We used to shake hands when we were ministers. Now that we are Pastor or Bishop, we don’t allow people to get to close to us.
  3. When Jesus was resurrected, He didn’t take away the wounds. If He can reverse death, then you know that He can reverse the scars.
    1. Jesus left the scars there as a reminder for us.
  4. After it was all over, Thomas finally declares, “That’s my Lord”. The biggest doubters are ok, if they become the biggest shouters! Some things have to come out with a shout!
  5. Shout it out!!
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You’ve Got To Do It 

Posted on April 18, 2025 by growintheword

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 
Synopsis 4.13.25

Matthew 26: 35-39 NKJV 
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

I.         INTRODUCTION

  1. One thing about living out Gods purpose is to understand it comes with sacrifice. Sacrifice brings a level of anxiety to some people. Sacrifice is counter intuitive to our desire to think about ourselves and no one else.
    1. A relationship with Jesus Christ ultimately starts with sacrifice. Jesus said that if any man desires to follow after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him.
    1. The reality is, we live in a world that subscribes to a cross-less Christianity. It is a world where people want the promise without the process. People want the glory without the grind.
    1. God orchestrates things in our lives to develop us, position us, and sharpen us, in order that we might be released into our assignment.
    1. There is an assignment for everyone reading this now. God wants to do something great and something powerful for us. It is important to know that it comes with instructions. There are some things we have to do.
  2. Today we learn that there is a place we must all go through. That place is called Gethsemane. Today as we look at this text, we need to know that this book was written by Matthew, the former text collector called Levi. He was drafted by Jesus and transformed by the power of that call.
    1. Matthew becomes one of the disciples who chronicles this narrative of what he sees in the Garden of Gethsemane.
    1. This garden was preparing for Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and ultimately His resurrection for the sins of the world. It was a moment that captured the emotional and spiritual struggle that He would encounter, anticipating the suffering that was ahead.
    1. Two disciples asked when Jesus came into his kingdom, could they have a seat at his right and left hand. They were aspirational in their questions. Jesus said they didn’t know what they were asking.
    1. To go where He was going came with instructions.
      1. They must first be baptized and then drink from the same cup he drank from.
    1. People look at you and want the level you are at, but in your mind you think, if they walked in your shoes for a month, they would gladly give it back.
    1. Never assume people are where they are, without having to go through some things. Just because they look well put together, know that there are stories all around their situation.
    1. There are people that have lost things and had haters come after them. They have put up with a lot of stuff, but they are still here today.
  3. In the story today, it takes place at the Garden of Gethsemane, the mount of olives outside of Jerusalem. In fact the word Gethsemane means oil press. This is a fitting metaphor for what Jesus was about to undertake.
    1. It’s the weight of what He would bare. It was the place of crushing. It was where olives were crushed to make oil.
    1. Many look at anointed people that preach or sing, but you have no idea that this anointing cost something. It represents some crushing. In order for oil to be released, there has to be some crushing.
    1. Jesus comes to the garden and He takes 3 of his disciples with him. They are Peter, James, and John. This is Jesus’ inner circle.
    1. This is not the first time Jesus revealed His inner circle to us.
      1. Mark 5:37 NKJV says 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. – When Jesus was going to raise Jarius’ daughter from the dead, He only took Peter, James, and John.
      1. At the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus took them with them too.
        1. Peter (Simon Peter) – Peter was the type of person you didn’t cross. Some say he was half Christian and half hood.
        1. James (son of Zebedee). James and John were brothers. James was the oldest. He had an exuberant personality. He was passionate about what he wanted to get over. In fact, he was the first on to be martyred in the name of Jesus Christ.
        1. John (son of Zebedee) – Was the little brother of James. They left the family business to follow Jesus. Initially they were fishermen.
          1. John was the youngest of the two. Jesus loved John dearly. John’s head is pictured on Jesus’ shoulder at the Last Supper.
        1. John was the one standing next to Jesus’ mother at crucifixion.
  4. When they come to this place, they are about to see Him at his grief. People can only go so far with you, before they disappoint you.
    1. Even when people disappoint you, don’t allow them to hinder the plan of God.
  5. This word will help you navigate the terrain called the garden.

II.         YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE GARDEN

  • All of us have a Garden of Gethsemane. It is the place where we will be crushed!
  • It is the place of preparation.
    • In it, we are sharpened, our faith is purified, and we are prepared for something much greater.
  • We often pray for another way, just like Jesus did in the garden. Ultimately, we find strength in choosing God’s will over our own.
  • We recognize that this is something that God has ordained us to go through this.

A.  Seek God’s Presence In Your Moments Of Distress 

  1. Jesus teaches us not to go through a garden to be crushed, by ourselves. You have to learn the power of prayer.
    1. Jesus knew the power of prayer.
      1. Luke 6:12 NKJV says 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
      1. Mark 1:35 NKJV says 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a [a]solitary place; and there He prayed.
      1. Matthew 14:23 NKJV says 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
  2. Jesus prayed at least an hour, every time he prayed. Did you know the average Christian prayer 15mins per week?
    1. We spend more time on email than we do our knee-mail.
  3. You won’t make it through the garden without knowing the importance of prayer.
    1. Jewish people of that time, prayed 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, evening) according to Psalm 55:17 NKJV which says17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
      1. Daniel 6:10 NKJV says 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
  • When you understand the importance and the power of prayer, you will realize that you are seeking guidance.
    • We don’t want to make significant decisions without first praying about it. We don’t make decisions out of emotion. We do it out of devotion. This is why our lives don’t have a lot of commotion. We understand the prayers of the righteous avails much in heaven.
  • The Bible says that they watched and prayed. This is important because this comes out of the temporal guard schedule during times of danger, they would watch. It is one thing to pray, but it is also important to have the maturity to watch while you pray.
  • Jesus is aware of what’s going on. He’s clear about what’s going to happen. He told the disciples at the last supper that somebody was going to betray him and to do it quickly.
    • Jesus knew Judas had already sold him out. He goes to the garden and takes the three to pray with him. He knew the roman soldiers were coming and all he was asking was for the three disciples to watch and pray.
    • Not only did he want them to pray spiritually, He also wanted them to have earthly discernment and to have the sense enough to know what was going on around them.
    • Never be so spiritually deep that you don’t have any “watching common sense”. In this season you have to say “Lord, let me pray, but give me the spiritual discernment to know what the enemy is doing all around me”.
    • Some of you are too deep that you don’t have any awareness. What good does it do to be so spiritually high, that you are no earthly good. Tell somebody I’m watching!
  • Make sure that you pray. In moments like this when you are trusting God, you will discover some powerful things.
  • When Jesus asked them to pray, they fell asleep. The average Christian prays about 15mins per week. Jesus said can you watch for me 1hr, which is 60 mins.
    • Jesus said he had given them everything, water when they were thirsty, fed them when they were hungry, he even gave the miracles, and all he was asking for from them was 60 mins to watch and pray, but when Jesus came back to check on them, they were sleep.
    • Jesus went back and prayed harder. He prayed so hard that sweats of blood came off his brow. He goes back and finds them sleeping again. He tells them the spirit is willing, but their flesh was weak.
    • It is a revelation to all of us that we may have to experience these moments alone. There are times in your life that you may have to go alone.

B.   You Might Have To Experience These Moments Alone 

  1. Joseph experienced aloneness with his brothers when they threw him in the pit.
  2. Elijah experienced aloneness in the wilderness in 1 Kings 19.
  3. David experienced aloneness in defending himself from Saul.
  4. These are the moments you learn not to depend on your own strength, but to say Lord I need you like I’ve never needed you before.
    1. You will gain so much when you put your faith in God.
  5. It is in gethsemane when you should grieve.

III.         YOU SHOULD GRIEVE IN THE GETHSEMANE

  • Gethsemane gives you a place to grieve.
  • Greif is not just over death. It can also be a loss of expectation.
    • Greif can be, you expected a relationship to be this and it turned out to be that.
    • Greif can be, you expected a child to be this, and it became that.
  • Gethsemane just provides for us a place to grieve.
  • Jesus teaches us something. Jesus does not go through gethsemane in His divinity, he went through it in his humanity.
    • He shows us that when you are going through gethsemane and you are suffering, you must learn how to go through gracefully as a human being and not try to be super spiritual, by trying to go through with your cape on, trying to make people think that you are stronger than you really are.
  • Jesus is going through gethsemane, saying that His soul is so sorrowful and at the point of death.

A.   Allow Yourself To Express Sorrow And Struggle As Part Of Your Faith Journey 

  1. You’ve got to be real with God, because when you are real with God, He will be real with you.
  2. It is ok to say that this hurts. It’s ok to tell the Lord that you are struggling. It’s ok to say this is too heavy.
    1. Some of you pretend in front of us and cry all the way home. Its ok to tell God this doesn’t make sense and that you don’t know how you’re going to get through this season.
    1. We need to go to God. The Hymn writer said “Oh what needless pain we bear, all because carry, everything to God in prayer”.
    1. When you go to God in your vulnerability and in that space in your spirit, know that God can handle it.

B.  Whatever It Is, God Can Handle It 

  1. When you go to God and say you can’t handle these people on the job, God can handle it.
  2. When you go to God and say you are trying, but nobody understands. God can handle it.
  3. You got to learn to turn it over to God, knowing that God can do with it, what you can’t do.
  4. Jesus says my soul is exceedingly sorrowful. Can you imagine how Peter, James, and John were robbed of an opportunity, because they were out of order, spiritually?
    1. They missed seeing Jesus in His humanity, because they fell asleep. Many people miss seeing you in your humanity. They see you in your spiritual strength and create a narrative that you are never weak. And the moment they see you in your weakness, it messes up their faith.
    1. It is their fault that they never see me in my weakness. We came to tell you that yeah, sometimes we cry. Yes, there are times we want to cut somebody and yes, sometimes, we stay up all night long, asking the Lord to help us out.
  5. Sometime life hurts, but whatever it is, God can handle it.
  6. If Jesus can hurt, it is ok for you to hurt.

IV.         YOU WILL GROW THROUGH THE GLOOM

  • Don’t go through it, if you can’t grow through it.
  • It is in this moment that you have to:

A.  Let Adversity Fortify Your Faith And Resolve 

  1. Why Jesus is experiencing this, he is gaining greater resolve. It is not just a place of trial, it is also a place of transformation.
  2. Even though I faced adversity in the garden, I have to get to a place where it builds me up and not break me.
  3. You cant let gethsemane break you. You have to let it be the place of your breakthrough.
  4. You’re going to be stronger when you come through this. You are going to have a greater resolve when you come through this.
    1. If I had not gone through gethsemane I wouldn’t be as determined as I am right now.
    1. Had I not gone through this, I wouldn’t have my accomplishments. I wouldn’t be as strong.
  5. Here’s when you know you’re getting through Gethsemane. You accept what God allows.

B.   Accept What God Allows 

  1. Jesus says, Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Let’s contemporize this.
    1. “Lord if there’s another way for me to get this, without dealing with them, holla at your boy”
    1. God, if there’s any way I can avoid that situation and still get the blessing…
    1. God if there’s any way around it, but nevertheless, not my will, but thou will be done.
  2. This is when you know that you are maturing in the garden. It’s when you come to a place where you say God thank you for hearing my option, but I’m just going to accept what you allow. I’m going through it, because it isn’t about what I want. It is about what You want. I want You to be glorified.
  3. It is not passive resignation, it is about courage filled with faith and surrender saying I don’t always understand it, but I trust you God.
  4. God wants us to trust him and hold on. This is about surrender. Can you surrender?
  5. Surrender is hard for some of us, because we are the CEOs of our lives. We want to tell God what we think out to happen, but this is the season where God is looking for surrender.
  6. You got to be willing to take your hand off it and go and do what God wants you to do. Not our will but His will be done.
  7. Story – A few years back where the man was off the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. The lifeguard saw him struggling and people asked him to help him. The lifeguard kept sitting there.
    1. They kept yelling for the lifeguard to help him, but the lifeguard just kept looking. About 25secs in, people started shouting at the lifeguard tower asking, “Don’t you see him drown?”. The lifeguard slowly came down the tower and walked casually to the ocean.
    1. 40 secs into the event, that felt like 40 mins, the lifeguard jumps in and pulls the man in. He checked all his vitals, and he was fine.
    1. The people were upset with the lifeguard, because he took so long. They asked him didn’t he know it was an emergency? The lifeguard explained, the reason he didn’t jump when he first got into trouble was because he had jumped in while he was fighting and struggling, he would have grabbed him and both of them would have drowned.
    1. He said to let him stop struggling and fighting and let him get to a place where he wanted to surrender, and he could do what he needed to do. God does us the same. When we get through fighting and struggling the will of God, that’s when you see the will of God come to pass in your life.
  8. In that moment in the garden, you will get ready for glory.

V.         YOU WILL GET READY FOR GLORY

  • The irony of this story, both Jesus and the disciples are given an assignment, and preparing to do something they weren’t accustomed to doing.
  • They were exhausted from the events that led up to the garden.
  • Some of us want to fall asleep before we get to the garden. We will go through things where we are physically and emotionally exhausted. We are mentally overwhelmed, and spiritualty disoriented.
  • You will have a reason to fall asleep in the garden. The weight and fear alone can do this. When you flesh is crying for rest, God gives the directive to stay awake.
  • Because of all that they had gone through, they were totally exhausted at a time, they were asked to stay awake.
  • Why? Even though they didn’t feel the real weight of the moment, God did. Something was happening in the spirit around them. I know you feel like you are tired, but don’t miss a divine moment, because your flesh is about to check out.
  • Your instructions require spiritual stamina. Your obedience in weakness can be the difference between spiritual dullness and divine clarity.
  • Your willingness to push through tiredness can unlock spiritual strength in your life. Yes, you have a reason to fall asleep, but God commands you to push through your weariness and stay awake.
  • I command you to stay awake. There is glory after this. Do you think God would let you go through this if glory wasn’t on the other side.
  • If you survive the garden, you walk in the glory. This is why the enemy wants to kill you in the garden.
  • Satan will try to use:
    • Failure – To get you in the garden. People will fail you, making you think you shouldn’t care.
    • Fatigue – I’m tired, I can’t go no further. But God will send you a word to quicken your spirit.
    • Frustration – Makes you so frustrated so you want to leave.
  • It makes you fight the wrong battle in the garden. Peter cut off the ear of a Roman Soldier. Jesus wasn’t supposed to die in the garden.
    • You got to go through the garden. Can you give God praise for the glory on the other side.

A.   Understand That Trials Are Temporary, And God’s Promises Are Eternal 

  1. What would you be thinking about now in all aspects, if you hadn’t gone through the garden?
  2. Why is it so tough in this space? Not even the people I brought with me can handle it?

B.   It Had To Happen To Propel You To Your Destiny 

  1. He reigns with the crown, because he was willing to bear the cross. It is the garden that gave you the strength to endure the cross.
  2. No cross will conquer a child of God!
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You Have No Idea

Posted on April 4, 2025 by growintheword


Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 
Sermon Synopsis 3/30/25

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV 
But as it is written: 
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 
Nor have entered into the heart of man 
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. Seldom do we understand the totality of the blessing God has for our lives. We are clear God has plans for us, but it exceeds our human expectations.
  2. Anything you have experienced does not compare to what God has in store for your life. It’s bigger than we can ever imagine.
  3. Today’s scripture requires us to understand the dept of context that goes into it.
  4. Corinth was a major city of commerce in those days. Paul would speak to the Corinthian church, because the Holy Spirit told him to do so.
    1. Economically they are thriving, but morally they are bankrupt.
    2. They are bankrupt because they have given themselves to idol gods.
    3. Aphrodite, the god of love, was placed in their temple. This particular god is truly the counterpart to Venus. Venus was the Roman version of this god.
  5. In the midst of this, Paul is looking at people that turned themselves over to idolatry. Paul is a tent maker at this time. In Acts 9, Paul was converted on Damascus Rd. He explains that the same transformation he experiences, was available to them.
    1. Because of Paul’s fire and passion, he experiences attacks from the Jews. Paul was trying to meet them where they were. Paul would share that wisdom of God is greater than man’s. This messed them up, because they lived by the scale of reasoning.
    2. No matter how educated you think man is, God supersedes this. God will always break human rules, to do what he wants to do.
  6. Paul is bringing them to a place where he tells them about God wanting to give them eternal glory. He is also lifting up a kingdom manifestation. God wants to do something on earth too, not just in the great by and by.
    1. If you don’t walk in faith, you are shortchanging yourself.
    2. Don’t limit Gods plans based on what you have already received.
  7. There is something called Prophetic eco. This is something that has already been declared prophetically in scripture before.
    1. For example: 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” It was declared before prophetically in Isaiah 64:4 NKJV where it says 4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
    2. When Paul is giving us a prophetic eco, he is explaining that God is still up to something.
    3. This word today is designed to let you know that you have no idea what God wants to do in your life.

II.            REST IN HIS PROMISES

  • Resting isn’t the promise of God. When you receive a word from God, that’s a promise. You have to be content with what God says.
    • Isaiah 55:11 NKJV says 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me [a]void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
    • God accomplishes what He pleases. God will direct His word at a specific time, at a specific place, and it will come forth.
  • People that rested in His promises:
    • Abraham – Genesis 15:5 NKJV says 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
    • Joshua 1:5 NKJV 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
  • God will give you a word and all you have to do is rest in His word.
  • How do we do this?
    • By faith – We believe God will accomplish what He said he will do.
    • Focus – We focus on what He promised us.
    • Fortitude – We have a level of fortitude. When people tell you to curse God and die, you will fight for this revelation.

A.   Trust That God’s Promises Are Unbreakable And Eternal 

  1. God’s word is so unbreakable. Numbers 23:19 NKJV 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? – God ain’t like human. He doesn’t break his word.
    1. Isaiah 40:8 NKJV 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
    2. Psalm 119:89 NKJV 89 Forever, O Lord, Your word [a]is settled in heaven. – One cliché, we use wrong is when we say, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it”. – It was already settled in heaven, whether we believed it or not. God was just waiting on us to catch up to our belief system.
  2. When God spoke to create the world, He spoke, and it was. You have to rest in the fact that it is already done.

B.   Find Peace In Knowing That God Is Faithful To Fulfill His Word 

  1. If God said it, can God do it? When I settle in this word, I will walk on the same job with the same people. How then will this word change my situation? We have to trust that God is working behind the scenes.
    1. Even if our situation is stagnant, we have to trust and wait on God. All we got do is check His history.
  2. In today’s scripture, Paul is speaking to people who are morally bankrupt and who are caught up in idolatry.
  3. We have scaled our life based on our scale. Paul said don’t limit what God can do. Prepare yourself, because God is actively preparing what He said He’s going to do. It’s already in motion.

III.            REIMAGINE WHAT’S POSSIBLE

  1. Can you reimagine what doesn’t look possible beyond your current situation?
  2. You can’t be confined by the familiar and the predictable. You have to see potential when others see problems.
  3. We look at blank stuff, like a blank canvas, as a platform for the creativeness of God.
  4. Progressive people verse Regressive People.
    1. Progressive People – These are open people. They eagerly embrace change. They are ready to say, even if it breaks their comfort zone, they are open to what God wants to do, because they are
      1. When you do what you always done, this is frozen progression. Progressive people aren’t afraid. They prepare for what’s on the way.
    2. Regressive People – These are people who are stuck. Threatened by change. They always want to go back to the way things used to be.

A.   Challenge Limitations And Envision The Extraordinary 

  1. You got to always be willing to change your mindset
    1. Ephesians 3:20 NKJV says 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, – We have to be willing to embrace something beyond our limitation.
    2. David – David is an example of someone who had to see his problems as possibilities.
    3. Perspective – This about how you see. Thinking big starts with your perspective. Do you see bigger?
    4. Prayers – How do you pray. Stop praying these little prayers? Don’t ask the Lord to help you pay your mortgage. Ask the Lord to help you pay off your house.
    5. Philanthropy – This is about how you sow. People who give big, see big.

B.   Step Out In Faith To Pursue The Dreams God Has Placed In Your Heart 

  1. People who stepped out on faith.
  2. Abraham – Hebrews 11:8 NKJV says 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
  3. Nehemiah – Nehemiah built the wall.
  4. Peter –Matthew 14:29 NKJV says 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
  5. You’ve Got to be willing to step out, because you are after more.
  6. Know that God is pulling you to something greater than you’ve ever known.

IV.            READY FOR WHAT HE HAS PREPARED

  • Are you ready for what he’s prepared for you for?
  • God has to prepare it for you, but are you prepared for it?
    1. Moses – God was preparing him, before he led. He was born during time, when all the Hebrew boys were ordered killed. Because he was hidden in a basket and found by Pharoah’s daughter, he grew up in a palace. He learned the language of the Egyptians. This was preparing him to meet Pharaoh. When he fled from Egypt after killing the Egyptian, he would learn to be patient and lead wayward sheep. Because God prepared him to lead sheep, He prepared him to lead God’s sheep.
      1. He was able to stand before pharaoh, because God prepared him.
      2. Everything you’ve gone through is for something God has for you. God was setting you up to learn a lot of stuff.
    2. Esther – She was prepared for such a time as this.
  • We want more for our family. Be ready for God has prepared for you. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV says 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
  • Everyone wants the platform, but no one wants the preparation.

A.   Prepare Your Heart And Mind To Receive God’s Blessings 

  1. The Latin word for prepare means to make ready or provide.
    1. Take pizza from a freezer, put it on the counter and try and read the instructions. The instructions say you must preheat the oven at 400 degrees. The pizza was designed to go into a preheated situation. It is designed for the environment to be right before it gets into that environment, so that it can reach its full potential.
    2. Sometimes you ought to give God glory for preparing the place for you!
  2. Are you prepared to walk in it? Every experience we have is preparatory. When we receive the word, we must rest in the word. We must believe that God is at work doing what he promised.
  3. It might look like this now, but can I see something I’ve never known. Don’t limit your blessing to what God did in someone else life.
  4. Every experience we go through, know that God is preparing you for something.

B.   Anticipate Opportunities And Experiences That God Is Orchestrating For You 

  1. It’s all going to align in its own time.

V.         RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST COMES WITH PRIVILEGES

  • If you were here last week, you can see some synergy.
  • If I love God, you have a relationship with God, and that relationship comes with
  • We really shouldn’t be giving privileges outside our relationship.
  • We want access to God’s blessing without relationship, but that’s not how it goes. We have to surrender our hearts to Him.
  • You can’t get the perks of the promise, without partnership in the process.

A.  Recognize The Blessings Of Being In Communion With Jesus 

  1. When I’m in communion with God, it is not contingent on my circumstance. We know in His yes and in His no, He is working.
  2. If you pout in His nos, it means that you think God is not still working. You have to thank God for the nos and the closed doors.

B.   God Releases Blessings According To Our Capacity To Be Thankful 

  1. What makes me come to gratitude is our relationship between gratitude and blessing.
  2. Paul is speaking to people that operate out of reason. They don’t respond until they see. In faith, you respond based on what you know, not what you see.
  3. We know God is at work. We know that its going to happen, so we start thanking God ahead of the manifestation!
  4. Imagine walking into a buffet, one of the all you can eat places, where the options are
    1. The size of your plate determines how much you can take. If you walk up there with a saucer, whatever fits on it is all you can get. You take a plate, and that’s all you can’t get. You take a plater and that is all you can get.
    2. In like manner, the size of the thing, has to do with your praise. If you show up with a saucer praise, you are saying to God, this is all I have the capacity to receive. You take a plate, the same thing applies. Knowing what we know now, we are about to turn our praise to a platter!
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Part 3: When It All Starts To Make Sense

Posted on March 28, 2025 by growintheword

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III
Sermon Synopsis 03/23/25

Romans 8:28 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I.               INTRODUCTION

  1. Last week, we left off, talking about a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece represents pieces of life such as the highs, the lows, the triumphs, and the tears. We hold pieces in our hand, and we wonder where it fits.
  2. Our human view can be chaotic, and it makes us doubt whether or not it will ever make sense.
  3. God has a grand design for our lives. Like the picture on the puzzle box, God has a complete picture. What looks chaotic to us is part of a grand plan for Him.
  4. At some moments, God will give us a glimpse of his handy work, and we are able to sense God is up to something. At that moment it makes sense.
    1. This is when you realize that it was all of the struggles, the waiting, the pain, and the challenges have purpose. They make you realize that God may be up to something.
  5. Would you have expected that the things you went through years ago would make sense today? Would you expect that season of frustration would make sense today? If you keep on living, things will literally start to make sense.
    1. This is why the devil wanted you to self-destruct. He knows that if you keep on living, it will begin to make sense.
  6. Why is it, the enemy wants to keep you in misery and struggle? It is because he knows it will work for the good.
    1. Tyler Perry suffered abuse from his father. As a result, he used to hide under the house.
      1. He Struggled to get his plays discovered, and now he owns a studio and employs hundreds of people. The struggle was for the platform that he enjoys right now.
    1. Oprah Winfrey endured abuse. She was fired from first job in Nashville, but now she’s one of the most influential people on the planet. This proves that rejection is a redirection for something better.
    1. Steve Harvey slept in his car for 3 yrs, struggling to make it as a comedian, living off of scraps. Now he is a television host. He had no place to sleep, but he owns homes all over the world now.
  7. You don’t know my story. If you did, we would have praise service at this very moment! You don’t know like I know, how far God has brought me!
  8. Today we preach this to encourage you. We want you to come to a place where you are not discouraged anymore. God is not through with the picture that He is painting in your life.
  9. There is a place of revelation that we all come to in God, where we realize it all works together for the good. God is faithful enough to finish what He has begun in our lives. It will all begin to make sense in your life.
  10. Come back to the place called Corinth. Ships bring in goods from nearby lands. In a small room sat a man named Paul.
  11. Paul was named Saul and he was a terrorist of Christians originally. He met with

God on Damascus Road and began to become a missionary for Him, from then on.

  • He spent 3 yrs in Corinth. To be in Rome, was the place where you wanted to be, to do real missionary work. He was worried about the people there, because they were under heavy persecution and false teachings.
  • Since he couldn’t get there, Paul decided to write to them. He wrote the book of Romans that explained the power of Jesus Christ. Every chapter of Romans gives a moment of God in humanity.
  • Here’s a shortened view of Rome:
    • Romans1 – Revelation – (Gods Righteousness Revealed)
    • Romans 2 – Condemnation (God’s Judgment on Sin)
    • Romans 3 – Justification (Righteousness Through Faith)
    • Romans 4 – Imputation (Righteousness credited by faith)
    • Romans 5 – Reconciliation (Peace with God through Christ)
    • Romans 6 – Liberation (Freedom from Sins Power)
    • Romans 7 – Frustration (The struggle with sin)
    • Romans 8 – No Condemnation (Victory in in Christ)
  • At Romans 8, the tone changes from doctrine to assurance. Paul knew the life of a believer was not easy. He knew what the people were experiencing under Rome. He reassured them that all of it would work together for their good.
  • Paul doesn’t say this, because he hasn’t endured. He understood that God was one that could turn tragedy to triumph.
  • God is still at work. No matter what is happening in your situation, if you receive this revelation, it will all make sense afterwhile.

II.               THE PEACE IN PERSPECTIVE

The scripture says, “And we know…”

  • How we view our experiences is based on our perspective. It’s all based on what you know.
  • Knowing is based also on lived experiences. Some things are taught, and some things are caught.
  • When you know something, you walk and act differently. What you know will show when you go through difficult times. If you knew what I know, you wouldn’t act like I act.
  • Through Paul’s writings, it seems apparent that he didn’t want us to be ignorant.
    • 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NKJV says 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.,
    • Romans 11:25 NKJV says 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [a]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
    • 1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV says, 12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
  • This is perspective. This is where our revelation removes our worry.

A.    His Word Will Keep You From Worry

  1. What do we know? We know God’s word. It is the knowledge of God’s word, that gives us peace.
  2. The word becomes a shield against worry.
  3. When we internalize His word, we have deeper confidence.
    1. For instance, we come to church, because we need a word from God. Some of us drive pretty far to go and receive the word every Sunday morning.
    1. For some of us, we would be on skid-row if it wasn’t the word.
    1. When you get bad diagnosis, you didn’t trip, you just lean on God’s word. God’s word promises that He will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on him.  His word promises that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. God’s word reminds us that God will supply all of my needs according to His riches and glory!
  4. You may know the study of life, but you better know who is life! You might know knowledge, but you know nothing until you know His word.
  5. His word is a keeper.
  6. Paul said it wasn’t good enough for him to know. He wanted everyone to know.

B.    It’s Better When WE Know And Not Just ME

  1. It’s better for my community to be grounded in the same revelation that I am grounded in. In other words, your crew matters.
    1. When you have bad day, you ought to have atleast 4 other people that can encourage you to go on. When you’ve got those who just want to smoke or drink problems away, you’re with the wrong people.
  2. How can you marry and be in relationship with people that are not rooted in the word of God, when you a believer? They’re trying to drink when you’re trying to pray.
    1. You can’t influence me when you don’t have a word for yourself.
      1. Acts 2:42-47 NKJV says  42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [a]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and [b]sold their possessions and goods, and divided[c] them among all, as anyone had need.46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added [d]to the church daily those who were being saved.
      1. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NKJV says 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
  1. Psalm 133:2NKJV 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. – It’s like the oil that runs down Aaron’s beard. The oil represents the anointing.
    1. If you take a sample from the head and a sample from  the hem, you should get a perfect match. In other words, if we look down the pew, the same oil on the student should match the oil of the teacher.
      1. What you stand under, is what you understand.
  2. Why do we need this word?

III.               THE PLETHORA OF PREDICAMENTS

Scripture says “All things work together for the good…”

  • Trying to be deep, we looked up the word “all” for a deeper meaning. The only answer we could find for all was, “all”. We don’t get to choose the things we experience. Unfortunately, you don’t get to pick and choose. Just like a game of spades, you have to play the hand that is dealt to you.
  • The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.

A. Life Is Going To Life

  1. Paul Lawrence wrote a poem called “Life” that said:

A CRUST of bread and a corner to sleep in, 
A minute to smile and an hour to weep in, 
A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, 
And never a laugh but the moans come double; 
   And that is life!

A crust and a corner that love makes precious, 
With a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us; 
And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, 
And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter; 
    And that is life!

  • Jesus said persecution will come in this life. Job said man born of a woman is but a few days trouble, but he also said he would wait until his change come.
    • One bad situation can turn your life upside down. Even though our situation may be crazy, God’s word is consistent!
  • All things work together for my good. This makes me have a sense of peace in my life. When life is life-ing, and trials are showing up, I still have peace in my situation.

B.    You Have To Take The Bad With The Good

  1. Remember Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Job asked her, shouldn’t they accept the good with the bad?
  2. When bad things happen, you have to praise God during the bad! We must realize that if God allowed it, then it must be here to develop us. When trials come, we need to start asking God what He is trying to develop inside of us?
  3. Most of the things we love came out of pain.
    1. Diamonds are transformed under deep heat. Pearls are formed in an oyster ‘s mouth, sparked initially by irritation. Real gold was purified though extreme heat. Islands were created through erupting volcanoes.
    1. Character is built from trials and challenges in life, but in the end, it shapes the person. Our strength, our resilience are things that make up our character. Your character was built based on all you have gone through.

IV.               THE PROVIDENTIAL PROCESS

  • God was doing something to remind us that we have to trust Him.
  • God is making things happen behind the scenes. You can’t see the hand of God, but you are able to see his handy work.

A.    Everything You Go Through Is Connected To Where You Are Going

  1. What you’re going through has little to do with your right now. It is for your not yet. You are going through for something He hasn’t revealed to you yet.
  2. What is amazing is that God would trust you to go through what you’re going through right now.
  3. Everything is working it ergonomically. Just like God put enough distance between your fingertips and mouth, so that you could feed yourself. Too short or too long, could be an issue.
    1. A doctor can tell when something is not in position. When your body is out of position, the doctor can tell something is wrong.
    1. Nothing happens randomly. Therefore, you have to interpret every intersection.

B.    God Is At Work In It

  1. Everything that happens, you have to see God working in it. Look at the closed door as an opportunity to move into the right place and position. God was preparing me through all the decisions.
  2. God works like that, because you never know how it starts. God puts you at the right place at the right time, around the right people. When you look back over it, you never forget it.
    1. Bishop explained God took him from Vanderbilt University to a little red brick church called Mt Zion (on Jefferson St). He came in and sat at the back of the church.
    1. A lady name Margaret Wilson asked if he was preacher. Even though he said yes, he had only been preaching for 4 mths. She introduced him to the Pastor of the church, and that Pastor made him an Associate Minister.  Bishop explains that he stands before us now, because he was where he was supposed to be.
  3. Take nothing for granted. Everybody trying to talk to you is not trying to holler at you. Some people are simply on assignment, to get you to your next step.

V.               THE PURPOSE IN THE PLAN

Scripture says “Called according to his purpose…”

  • Everything that happens in your life should be attached to your purpose.
  • Bishop says he teaches, because he wants people around him to be able to teach.
  • There is a thing called biblical literacy. It matters, to know the bible. 
  • There is a process called Exejesus, which is the process by which serious students of the bible, understand the bible looking at context.
  • Isojesus is adding something to the scripture that was never there. You must handle the word of God with integrity.
  • We see people in our lives that are not in the word. They are mad at God and church, and they are still living their best lives. Something tragic happens and we show up saying, “All things work together for them who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose”.
    • This is not true for them. This only applies to those who are in alignment with God. Love is what love does.
    • If you love me, you are committed to me.

A.    Your Commitment Should Be Greater Than Your Crisis

  1. When you love God, you don’t disconnect with him, just because you go through crazy seasons.
  2. We love God so much, we won’t let him go.
    1. There is a woman that lost both of her kids to death and she is still up ushering. There is another woman has who attends 8:15 service. She had Stage 4 Cancer, but she shows up almost every Sunday.  People are in here now that refuse to look like what they are going through!
  3. Romans 8:38-39 NKJV says  38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    1. The first part of the scripture says, “I am persuaded…” – This means I am not going anywhere, until I get what God has for my life.

B.    It’s Going To Work Out For Your Good

  1. We opened by telling you knowledge isn’t based purely on intellectual knowledge. Knowledge is based on lived experiences.
    1. Psalm 119:71 NKJV says 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
    1. 2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV says 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, – Don’t hate on my glory, if you don’t know my story.
  2. Have you ever wondered why movies are called pictures? Because that’s how cinema photography started. It started with still pictures. You can’t get stuck in a bad frame. God is so awesome, if He sees you in a bad frame, He will put you in the right word, to get you back into the right frame.
    1. This is why they call it motion pictures. You have to keep moving. We come against the pictures of stagnation. Keep moving!!
  3. In this frame, stop stressing over who got positions and who’s in charge, because remember God is still the director! He is still making this thing come to pass!
  4. No more crying after this, because after this, we are going forward! This was all in God’s plan!
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