Part I: THE BLESSING IN BLOODY DOORS 

Posted on September 6, 2024 by growintheword

 

Synopsis of Sermon 9.1.24

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 

Exodus 12:1-8,12 – 13
Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Exodus 12:12-13 KJV

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. Be very clear that God is a God of covenant. A covenant is an agreement. When we come into agreement with God, then or relationship becomes reciprocal. By this we mean, we do what we do and he does what he does.
  2. It is also about having a covering. Obedience is the key. Do what He assigns you to do, when he tells you to, whether it makes sense or not.
  3. Sometimes God will tell you to do stuff that is unorthodox. God has plans to get you out of situations. This time, we see the bloody doors as being something unorthodox.
    1. One example of God asking somebody to do something unorthodox is when God asked Naaman to dip into the Jordon River 7 times in order to help his situation.
    2. On another occasion, Jesus asked Mary and Martha where they had laid their brother Lazarus. God then asks them to take Him to the graveyard. This was unorthodox. Then Jesus told Lazarus to come forward, and Lazarus rose from the dead.
    3. On another occasion, God took clay and spit on it. Then he put it on the man’s eyes, so that he could see again. This too was unorthodox.
  4. You can’t focus on the myth and miss the miracle.
  5. In today’s sermon, you will learn about the Passover. God is committed to getting you out of unhealthy situations. It’s about the power of covering and the power of obedience according to what God is going to show you.
  6. The Children of Israel were incarcerated because of their growth. In other words, they were enslaved. The new Pharaoh was intimidated by their growth in numbers.
  7. If God be for you, He’s more than the whole world is against you. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go. Pharaoh is stubborn and would not let them go. As a result, God sent 10 plaques and finally, Pharaoh decided to let them go. The 10 plaques are really important. We will elaborate on them later.
  8. The Children of Israel found out that they had to participate in their own deliverance.
    1. They were told to take a first-born lamb without spot or blemish. At a specific time, God wanted them to kill it as a sacrifice, and then put the blood from it on the door post of their home.
    2. God was going to send a plaque that would kill all the first-born male children and animals, but when the death angel come by, he would pass over all the houses that had the blood on the door post. After this, for generations, they would celebrate this Passover.
  9. Remember they were supposed to take the first-born lamb and sacrifice it at a certain time.

II.            CHARACTER TO DILIGENTLY PRESENT YOUR OFFERING

  • Your offering speaks to your character. One thing that upset God at one time, was people were bringing in offerings that had flaws and defects such as missing eyes, missing limbs, etc… This showed the negative sense that they showed towards God.
  • We must be consistent with our offering and our sacrifice.

A.   We Should Be Consistent In Our Stewardship To God

  1. God wants us to show up in our best self. If you can’t give your all to Him, don’t give at all.

B.   We Should Always Give Him Our Best

  1. When we give God our best, 1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV says 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For[b] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
  2. We ought to give with:
    1. Generosity – John 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
    2. Integrity – I’m not going to act like I gave when I didn’t.
    3. First fruits – Proverbs 3:9 NKJV 9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10“So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
    4. Cheerfulness – 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV 7 So leteach one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [a]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. – We ought to be thankful that you have something to give.
    5. Faith – My situation might not be ideal, but I project my faith on what I give.
    6. Purposefulness – We are intentional about what we give to God.

 

III.            CONTENT KNOWING GOD DEALS PROVIDENTIALLY WITH YOUR OPPOSITION

  • God deals with my enemies.
  • He fights our battles. He is our Covering.

A.   God Does Not Tolerate What Refuses To Liberate You

  1. Pharaoh was determined not to release God’s people. The enemy wants to keep you under control. He is intimidated by you.
  2. Liberation – God is on the side of the oppressed.
    1. Luke 4:18 NKJV says 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me [a]to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are [b]oppressed;– When you grow in your relationship with God, you won’t allow yourself to be bound.
    2. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV says 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [a]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
    3. John 8:32 NKJV 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Wherever there is a word, there is liberation.
  3. You’re on your way out of your Pharaoh Situation!

B.   It May Take A While, But Let God Handle It

  1. It took 10 plaques for them to come out of Egypt. Pharaoh had to go through 10 plaques before he was willing to release the Children of Isreal.
    1. Water turning into blood – Exodus 7:14-24
    2. Frogs – Exodus 8:1-15
    3. Gnats – Exodus 8:16-19
    4. Flies – Exodus 8:20-32
    5. Death of livestock – Exodus 9:1-7
    6. Boils – Exodus 9:8-12
    7. Hail and fire – Exodus 9:13-35
    8. Locust – Exodus 10:1-20
    9. Darkness – Exodus 10:21-29
    10. Death of the firstborn – Exodus 11, 12:1-30 – With this, God cuts the bloodline off. Stops them from being able to reproduce.
  2. God made provisions for his people while the plaques came. His people were in Egypt, but they weren’t in Egypt.
  3. God reminds them to:

IV.            COMMIT TO PUT THE BLOOD ON YOUR DOOR POST OFTEN

  • On the 10th of the month, the lamb had to set there until the 14th of the month. They had to inspect the sacrifice during that time. Exodus 12:3 NKJV 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
  • Twilight was when they were supposed to follow God’s instructions.
  • In the middle of the month is when it is a full moon. God was going to bring them out at night and use the moon to light the path.
  • It’s important to do this at the right time and right place.
  • The blood from your door, came from your sacrifice.

A.   Cover Your Access Points

  1. The door is an access point. The entry ways to your life have to be covered.
  2. We must Cover:
    1. Our Minds – He will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is stayed on him.
    2. Our Emotions – If we don’t cover our emotions, we will make bad decisions.
    3. Our relationships – Anything that is not good for me, Lord please don’t let it get past the blood.
    4. Your digital Presence – Our children are restyling with their own identity. We allow a lot of crazy stuff to come in through our digital components.

B.   The Blood Represents Power And Protection

  1. The blood is so powerful, it is a forecast of the blood that Jesus would shed for us as our savior.
  2. You will know the blood because:
    1. The blood reaches – It reaches to the highest mountain and to the lowest valleys.
    2. The blood redeems – When I shout like I shout, I do what the scripture says. Scripture says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”
    3. The blood is a reminder – We overcame by the Blood of the Lamb.

V.            CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT DEATH HAS PASSED OVER

  • When the death angel came, the Children of Isreal were passed over.

A.   Whatever Happens To Your Enemy Will Not Come Near You

  1. Whatever happens in the world, won’t come to you. When someone dies in the Lord, they don’t die, they just transition. They are asleep. I Thessalonians 4:13 NKJV “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”

 

B.   I’m Alive Because God Made Sure I Survived

  1. Death and the grave had a conversation. When Jesus was crucified, Death said, “I’ll sting him” and the then the Grave said, “I’ll hold him”. The Grave held him Friday and then Saturday, but when Sunday came, Jesus was gone. He rose from the death.

    Just like this, God is going to allow you to overcome that which is trying to overtake you! Thank God for those Bloody Doors!
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Part IV: God’s Got Somebody Looking Out For You 

Posted on August 30, 2024 by growintheword

Synopsis of Sermon 8.25.24

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 

Acts 27:42-44 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 “and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”

I.               INTRODUCTION

  1. The plan of God over our life’s is always progressing. God will impose his will to show us that He is in control. No matter the circumstances that occur in your life, understand God is in control.
  2. Every part of your journey is controlled by God. He will place and assign people along your path, at the right time, to help you get to your destination. This is why it’s important not to be mean to people. You never know who God has connected to you, to help you get what you are supposed to be.
    1. It could have been a teacher or custodian or maybe even a stranger who got on your nerves. When you look back over your life, you thank God that they got on your nerves. They may have been one that God assigned to you. God places people at the right place and at the right time to help us get where we are supposed to be.
  3. Paul writes a 3rd of the New Testament. He started as a terrorist to Christian’s. His name was Saul, until after having that experience on Damascus Road with God. During this experience, his name was changed to Paul, and he spent the rest of his life lifting up the name of God.
  4. In this scripture today, Paul is in prison for his stance on Christ. He has a right to appeal his case in Rome. He wants to declare his case to Caesar.
    1. Nero is the Emperor at this time. He was so cruel, he made a sport out of persecuting Christian’s. He would persecute Christians in an arena and allow crowds to watch, like it was a soccer game.
    1. He would even set Lions loose in the arena to attack Christians.
  5. As a prisoner he went before the local courts. Felix and Fetus try him in their courts. Paul realized that they were biased, so he asked them if they could go before Caesar and plead his case.
  6. Now Paul is on a boat ferrying with other prisoners. He’s on the boat with 276 people (King James says two hundred threescore and sixteen souls).
  7. They encounter a storm in the sea. This was like a tropical depression. It lasted 2 days. Eventually, it broke the boat into pieces. The Leader gave the command to kill all of the prisoners, so that they would not escape.
    1. What’s important about this is, in Rome, if your prisoners escaped, they would kill you too. This is why when Paul and Silas sang hymns at midnight, and the chains came off of all the prisoners, the Guard was about to kill himself.
  8. There was one Centurion named Julius who wanted to save Paul, so he said, “Those that can swim, swim to the shore. The rest of you that can’t, float to shore on the broken pieces of the ship’.

II.               RECOGNIZE THE PLOT OF SATAN

A.    Storms Will Bring Out The Best And Worst In People 

  1. Storms will show who is with you and who is not.
    1. Your Mind—What Do You Really Think About Me? – Your realities show up in the storm. The enemy wants to make sure you don’t get where you’re supposed to be.
      1. If God let you survive, it ought to indicate to you that you’re going to make it. You’re still here!
    1. Your Motives—What You Want To Do To Me – What is your hidden agenda?
    1. Your Morality—What Is Your True Moral Compass? What are you willing to stoop down to?

B.    The Enemy Wants To Kill You Before You Reach Your Destination 

  1. The storm came to take them out, but God saved them.

III.               REALIZE GOD’S GOT A PERSON SITUATED

  • God has someone situated to remind you that God is sill God.

A.    Even Your Enemy Knows You Are Anointed

  1. When you are anointed, you don’t have to say anything. Psalm 20:6 says “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; He will hear him from his holy heaven With the saving strength of his right hand.”Psalm 20:6 KJV
  2.  
  3. God will save you just because you’re in the presence of someone anointed. God will save the whole operation, just because there is one person there that is anointed!

B.    God Will Send You Help From Unlikely Sources 

  1. God Will Often Use The Assistance Of A Stranger – Many have entertained angels unaware. Many have gotten help from someone that they haven’t seen before, and they never saw them again.
  2. God Will Use Your Adversary Strategically – God will make your enemy your foot stool. God will good out of what the enemy meant to be bad for you.
  3. God Will Use People Assigned For Your Season – If Julis the Centurion hadn’t got that assignment, everyone would have died.

IV.               RECEIVE THE PROVIDENTIAL STRATEGY

  • God is the ultimate strategist. God uses Julius to put forth the ultimate plan.

·      God Gives Directives According To Our Abilities

  1. When you give directives, you do so according to people’s abilities. The Centurion said those who can swim, “swim!”.
    1. This is not like swimming at the YMCA. It is like swimming in the ocean, with waves coming over your head and currents pulling at you.
  2. The ability to swim in these conditions is a spiritual skill set. This is just like somebody being able to pray and praise when they are under attack! We can admire people like this.
  3. God, being a strategist, makes accommodations also for those that are not that strong. They told those that couldn’t swim to float on the broken pieces. There are those that can swim and the rest just have to float. God makes a way for those who are weak.

·      There Is A Blessing In The Brokenness 

  1. Often, we see the brokenness, but we don’t see it as a blessing. You must know that broken stuff can still bless you. For example, on your cellphone, your screen can be broken, but you can still get calls. Your lens on your glasses can be broken or scratched, but you can still see.
  2. People are just like this. They are broken, but they still keep showing up.

V.               REJOICE ON THE PIECES YOU SURVIVED ON

  1. Some people complain, because things are not like they used to be.

A.    It May Not End Like You Thought 

  • You don’t always know how the journey is going to turn out. The route may change, but the destination is still the same.
  • Paul never expected to experience a storm like this.

B.    You Are Going To Get There Unscathed 

  1. The Bible says that they all made it safe to land. Would you please remind your hater that you’re going to make it and God loves you so much, He is going to let them make it too, just because of you. Everyone made it to land unscathed.
  2. Even those on broken pieces made it. Everyone on your row is going to make it.
  3. When surfing, the thing you are depending on may lose its way, such as a Surfboard. Every now and then, a surfer may have to swim in, because he or she lost their surfboard.
  4. This requires stamina and courage. It’s called paddling in. You might be navigating some crazy places in order to make it in. If you lost your board, the water isn’t going to be gentle. You may have to navigate against some high tides and some big waves. You may even have to navigate around rocks and reefs.
  5. Just like this, know that a lot of people reading this came paddling in. They had to navigate through some rough stuff to get here. When you paddle know that you are a survivor.  
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Posted on August 26, 2024 by growintheword

Part III: Friends Not Fans 

Synopsis of 8.18.24 Sermon

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 

Mark 2:1-5 
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

I.               INTRODUCTION

  1. Friendships are the most important relationships we will attain in life. Many friendships will come for specific reasons, but some will only be there for certain seasons. No matter which, all of them play roles in our lives.
  2. Who we allow in our circle can affect our Destiny. If you get 5 real friends in your lifetime, you have done well. Proverbs 17:17 NKJV 17 A friend loves at all times,
    And a brother is born for adversity.
  3. S.Lewis pinned a quote that says,“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one!””
  4. We have to learn the difference between friends and fans. The difference between friends and fans lies in relationships. Friends invest in your well-being. Fans are attached to you based on your status and are focused on what they can get from you.
  5. Some of you have been classifying people as friends in error. Just because people call you friend, doesn’t mean that they are your real friends. They will vacate the friendship when things get rough. You don’t know who your real friends are until things get rough.
  6. You have to be able to discern between the two. When you do that, then you tap into the blessings behind the scenes.
  7. In this season, you will learn to align with the right people.
  8. In this story today, this man needed a miracle. Some of us find ourselves in the same situation. God will use human agency to help you with your breakthrough. In other words, God will send people into your life to be real friends. Don’t push them away, because of the things your past friends have done.
  9. In today’s story, there is a paralytic. He lies on a cot and relies on others to get for him what he needs. This happens in a land called Capernaum. In this culture, it was believed that is was the cause of some sin that they may have committed, when people that had a sickness or ailment.

 

  1. Think about Job’s friends. When he went through his attacks and his sickness, his friends asked him what he had done to anger God.
  2. In john 9, the blind man’s friends thought he had sinned resulting in his blindness, but his blindness was so that God could get the glory.

 

  1. Jesus started teaching in Capernaum. Everywhere Jesus went, word got out about Him. In this story, Jesus was in the house teaching and the crowd had gathered to hear him teach.
  2. There is a man laying on a cot that had 4 friends. They heard that Jesus was in town, and they believed Jesus could help his situation, so they decided to carry him to Jesus.
  3. When they carried him to the house, they realized it was blocked. They realized that they had to take him to the roof, break through it, and lower him down.

II.               THEY WERE NOT CRITICAL OF HIS CONDITION

  • He’s lame and the culture judged him, thinking he had sinned. His four friends, however, did not.

A.    Everybody Can’t Handle Your Handicaps

  1. Be very clear, lameness is something impeding your progress. All of us have some kind of lameness in our lives. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean you don’t have it. We all have some kind of handicap that tries to hinder us from reaching our destination.
  2. Handicaps put us in certain predicaments. You’ve got to remind people that we all have issues, but it is the grace of God that allows us to do like we do.

B.    Real Friends Have Compassion

  1. Compassion is the feeling you have for people that are suffering.
  2. Attributes of Compassion:
    1. Compassion Hears – You don’t judge people for their disfunction. You’re able to allow them to tell you, their story. For example, a person didn’t just end up homeless. Let’s hear how they got there. Listen to the stories of people and quit judging. James 1:19 NKJV says “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”
    2. Compassion Hopes – Hopes for the best in people. Romans 15:1 NKJV says “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” – I see your potential, regardless of your situation. Some people hope you fail, but your friends won’t. You can’t be a hope-er and a hater at the same time.
    3. Compassion Helps – When you have compassion, it is true after the action. Galatians 6:2 NKJV 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Chris. In today’s scripture, we see that they saw their friend on his back and they refused to allow him to be in that situation. They were willing to help.
  3. How did they help you ask? They carried him to Jesus.

III.               THEY EACH CARRIED THEIR CORNER

  • Everyone had to carry their corner for his help to happen. Your one assignment is to carry your corner.
  • We’ve got people trying to lift us, but they’re not able to carry their corner. Our situation ought to be better when we are being carried. In order for that to happen, you have to be handled properly. The people that are carrying you can’t drop you!
    • If you would remember in II Samuel, someone was crippled, because they were dropped as a baby.

A.    They Did What They Could To Get Him What He Needed

  1. They knew Jesus was in the house. If Jesus is in the house, then healing is in the house.

B.    It’s Not As Heavy When We Work Together

  1. When carrying somebody this kind of distance is hard, but it isn’t as hard, when we all work together.
    1. Force distribution – When multiple people work together, then the weight is evenly distributed. Stop living in situations where you do all the lifting. You can do bad by yourself.
  2. There is power in togetherness. We are better together!
    1. God moves into togetherness. Remember when the Children of Israel were marching around the Walls of Jericho together and when they shouted, the walls fell? Psalms 31 reminds us of how beautiful it is for us to dwell together. Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, God gave them a breakthrough! Acts 2:1 KJV says “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
    2. Peter was in jail and the church was together praying for him and he was suddenly released. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas prayed together and an earthquake shook their chains loose. Everyone’s chains came off in the jail. When we come together, that’s when breakthroughs happen!
  3. They take the paralytic man to the house where Jesus is and find that there is a crowd in the door.

IV.               THEY DIDN’T CANCEL BECAUSE OF THE CROWD

  • Crowds are a deterrent for some people, but not when it comes to ball games and concerts. It’s only a problem when it comes to the things of God.
  • The woman with the issue of blood, went through a crowd to get to Jesus. In Luke 14, this guy climbed a tree to get to Jesus. You don’t know what some people had to press through, just to get here today

A.    Don’t Allow The Facts To Frustrate You

  1. What do you do when you get there, and both the windows and doors are full of people? What do you do when you take the journey God said to take and there is no access when you get there?
  2. You have to have:
    Faith beyond the Situation – You’ve got to believe what God told you.
  3. Finish What You Started – If you got to the house, make up your mind that you’re so far out, that going back is not an option.
  4. Focus On Solutions – Stop talking about what can’t happen. Start speaking to those things that can happen.

B.    They Didn’t Leave Him At The Door

  1. Fans will leave you at the door. We don’t need to be left at the door. We need to get in God’s presence. Stop letting people drop you off at the door.
  2. Somebody reading this, needs a miracle or something to happen for them. God says it will happen today! God doesn’t send his word by accident. He sends it at that right time and at the right place.
  3. This word is about to position you in the best season of your life.

V.               THEY WERE CREATIVE TO GET HIM TO THE CHRIST

  • Real friends will get you to Jesus, to get your miracle.

A.    Obstacles Are Nothing More Than Opportunities

  1. There is a book that is called, “Obstacle is a way”. In this book, it explains that Obstacles are not roadblocks. They are opportunities. It’s not about breakdowns, but instead
  2. The only way a miracle can happen is it has to be beyond something you can do.
  3. Shift your perspective. You’re in the prefect situion.
  4. They got him to the house but couldn’t get him through the door. You need people around you that can think. We need conversations about solutions, not people that just stand around, watching to see what you are going to do.
    1. The friends tried to get their friend through the door. Then they tried the window, and then they decided to do something unorthodox. They said let’s go and rip off the roof and let him down to Jesus.
  5. This is your roof ripping season. Everything that is trying to block your blessing needs to know that this is your rough ripping season.
  6. Back in the Bible days, you can look at the houses, the way you look at them today. Houses back then were built with ladders on the side. On top of house, there was mud, planks, and then beams.

B.    You’ve got to Do What You Never Did, Before You Ge What You Never Had Before

  1. You’ve got to be spiritual enough to reach for more. God closed this portal, because it is too low for you. Either you stay frustrated on this ladder or get on another level. God is calling you to another level. My praise and worship is going to another level!
  2. You get to other levels step by step, not by the elevator.
  3. When you get to another level, you have to be strong enough to rip the roof off. If you want a miracle at this new level, you’ve got to be willing to move the mess out of your life. Get the messy people out of your life. Be willing to say, “Don’t send me an email with mess in it”.
  4. At this level, you don’t have time for any mess.
  5. You have to be willing to show respect concerning how you move at this level. The friends knew they had to be careful with how they handled their friend on the cot. They had to come to a demonstration, not demolition. In other words, they didn’t want to interrupt the beams, out of fear of tearing the whole house down.
  6. Some people speak against structure. Jesus doesn’t go to houses where there is no structure. Stop creating things that don’t have structure.
  7. Just because you have structure doesn’t mean there is no room for your gift. They moved the guys between the beams. We are not trying to hinder your miracle, trying to get our miracle. It’s your season to receive a miracle.
  8. They let him down on the ropes at the feet of Jesus. Jesus said your sins are forgiven. Jesus wanted the haters to know that he was the one that forgave sins.
  9. In verse 11 of chapter 2, Jesus looked at him and said he wanted him to arise, take up his bed and go home. Take what was holding you, hold it, and then go home. You are leaving here better than you came! You came crippled but you will leave here walking.
  10. You’ve got to be willing to tell everyone what God has done for you.
  11. Just like Jesus did for the paralytic, God is going to give you your breakthrough immediately.
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Part II: Thankful For Those Who Stayed By The Stuff

Posted on August 16, 2024 by growintheword

 

Synopsis of Sermon 8.11.24

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

1 Samuel 30:9-10, 21-25

9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.

21 Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. We are thankful for those who stayed by the stuff. There is a moment that hits where we realize that its all about gratitude. In this place, you are thankful for the stuff you took for granted. We’re thankful that we are in our right mind and that we atleast know who our enemies are.
  2. In this sermon you will discover how we should be thankful for the people in our lives. Lots of people are overlooked or devalued. God uses devalued people behind the scenes. There is a blessing in staying behind with the stuff.
  3. In this story today, David goes into battle and is victorious. He and his team then return to Ziglag. There, they discovered that their camp had been burned and their women and children had been taken. While they were out into battle, the Amalekites had come and taken all their stuff and their families.
  4. They saw their city in ruins, and they wept. When people are grieving, they need someone to blame. In this case, they blamed David. In fact, they wanted to stone him.
  5. David encouraged himself in the Lord. Have you ever had to encourage yourself? The scripture says David went to God and asked what they should do. He asked, “Should we accept this as our new reality, or should we go get our stuff?” God told David to go and pursue the enemy and He promised that he would recover it all.
  6. David gets his troops and tells them that they were going back to get their stuff back. David and his men began to pursue the Amalekites. When they came to the brook of Besor, David asked a question. He asked if anyone was tired? He wanted to give the tired men a chance to get out. 200 men said they were tired. They decided to stay behind. At this brook, David and his army, put their stuff down and David told the 200 to guard the stuff as the rest of them went back into battle.
  7. On the way, they ran into an Egyptian that told where the Amalekites were. David and his men were able to ambush them and get the victory. They not only got their stuff back, they got the enemies stuff too. Remember the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just.
  8. They are coming back with the stuff they got during the battle and they are on their way back to Ziglag. They had stuff enemy’s stuff and the their stuff too. At Besor, David said he had to divide all the stuff out among all the troops. Somebody in David’s camp asked, “Why should they divide their stuff with the 200 that didn’t go into battle with them”? David said to them, “What God has delivered unto us, the same blessing goes to those who stayed by the stuff”!
  9. It doesn’t matter if you are the 400 or the 200, you are due the same blessing! God wants to show you how to be thankful for those who stayed by the stuff.
  10. If you are a leader, this will be a leadership lesson. If you’re just a worker, this will be an encouraging word.
  11. People can have good intentions and still be exhausted.

II.            RECOGNIZE WHEN SOME ARE EXHAUSTED

  • They had to deal with this enemy over and over again. This is what makes us exhausted. We have to deal with the same stuff over and over again.

A.    Limited Capacity Doesn’t Mean Lousy Character

  1. Just because I can’t go on, doesn’t mean my character needs to be called into question. Everybody’s 100% is not the same. 200 soldiers stayed behind and 400 went back into battle.
  2. The 200 helped before, when they won the first battle, so just because they were too tired to go into the second battle, doesn’t mean they are bad now.
  3. Things we should remember:
  4. A Person’s History – The 200 helped before, so it doesn’t mean that they are bad now.
  5. A Person’s Heart – Thank God for them that can tell you the truth. If they are not able to continue, but they go with you anyway, they can slow you up. Its ok to tell a person that you are tired.
  6. A Person’s Honor – It’s always better for a person to be honest with you.

B.    I Would Rather You Be Honest With Me Than Hinder Me                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

  1. And the wicked men in the camp said, “You can’t give them what you give us”.

III.            REBUKE THE SPIRIT OF ENTITLEMENT

  • David understood the magnitude of what they were doing, by them staying with the stuff.

A.    There Will Always Be People Who Try To Determine What You Deserve

  1. You don’t own it. People feel because they’ve been with you longer, they feel they ought to have the best. Like in the story of the prodigal son, the father gave the son gifts for returning, but the brother that stayed was like, “How dare you do all of this, when I was here the whole time”!

B.    The Blessing Comes From God

  1. David says the blessing came from God. No one has a right to prevent the blessing of God from going to anyone. It is time for us not to hate on people that God wants to bless.
  2. They returned with all of it. There is enough blessings for everybody. Get your stuff, because I know after He blesses you, I move up a place in the line. That means, I’m next! What God does in the life of others, doesn’t diminish what he wants to do for us.

IV.            ROLES SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANT AND EFFECTIVE

  • Lay your hand on yourself and say, “I matter”. David realizes that everyone has a significant role to play.
  • We must recognize Capacity Based Delegation. Often our disappointment is based on our own anticipation. Instead of faulting people on who they are, believe them and characterize them on who they show themselves to be. You can’t make people be who they aren’t!
    • For example, if you are not good with kids, I can’t ask you to work with children.
    • If you are an introvert, you don’t need to be a receptionist. You would be running people off. You can’t put somebody in a space that isn’t’ organically who they are. God puts us where our capacity matches the assignment. For example, just because you can preach, doesn’t mean that you can pastor.

A.    Don’t Downplay Your Assignment

  1. Don’t let people downplay your assignment. There is value in staying by the stuff.
  2. Story: There is a great Pipe Organist that received this award for all his work and accomplishments. One thing that he said in his acceptance speech was that none of his accomplishments could have been achieved without the guy that turned the pages of music for him. There is a blessing in being behind the scenes.

B.    They Got Victory Without Being Vulnerable

  1. One of things we learned about leadership is you won’t catch us slipping the second time. The first time the Amalekites got their stuff while they were in battle. This time David said if anyone was tired, they could stay behind with the stuff. David wanted to repurpose them based on their capacity. At the brook of Besor, David put the 200 who were tired, watching the stuff. Now when they go fight for a second time, if the enemy tried to come back to their camp, they would have a rear guard. They would have David’s back.
  2. There is a blessing that is about to hit your life. There’s a blessing that is about to hit our house!

V.            REWARD WILL BE SHARED WITH EVERYBODY

  • God will bless you regardless of the opinions of others. When God gets ready to bless you, know that no devil in hell can stop it!

A.    Serving, Not Status, Gets God’s Attention

  1. If you ever learn this lesson, you will learn that it’s not about your title, it is about you gracefully serving. This gets God’s attention.
    1. Some people can’t even introduce themselves without titles. Why do you have to be Dr. James? Why can’t you just be James?
  2. When God called Abram and Joshua, He called them by name, not by their titles.
  3. God didn’t say he would make your title great. He said he would make your name great. God will exalt you if you will humble yourself. Serve when you are tired. Serve even when people don’t like you! Serve in season and out of season.

B.    What God Has For You Is For You

  1. God takes care of all of us. The spoils from the battle go for those not only in the battle, but also those behind the scenes.
  2. This is the season that God is about to make it up to you, because you stayed by the stuff. The same blessing he gave for the 400, He also has for those that stayed by the stuff.
  3. There are bench players or bench warmers. The NBA champions of the 2024 Boston Celtics, assembled a team of players like we’ve haven’t seen in a while. Have you heard of a player named Juan Morgan? Probably not, because he was not a starter, but he was on the Roster. He didn’t get in the game. But he was on the Roster.
  4. When the Celtics play their first home game, they will have a Ring Ceremony. They are all going to get their rings and although not a starter or a star, Juan Morgan will get a ring too. There is a thing called ring regardless. Jaun never got in the game, but he was on the Roster. When God passes out the blessings, he will give us a blessing too. All you have to do is be on the team!
  5. Your bible says, when David and his men, reconciled this and came back, David eventually became king of Judah and Israel. The bible says in verse 25, “so it was, from that day forward, he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day forward”. He made it a law. Whoever is on the roster, God makes provisions for the 200 as well as the 400.
  6. Your role was at practice. The job of the nonstarters is to practice with the starters. You make the starters better. When your turn comes, you will be thankful for the ones that made you better. Can your praise be great on the bench before God puts you in the game? Thankful for those that stayed by the stuff!

 

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