The Revelation In The Book Of Revelations Part 1, Bible Study 03/03/21

Posted on March 12, 2021 by growintheword

Personal, Biographical, Historical (Chapter 1)

Synopsis of March 3, 2021

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Revelation 1:9 NKJV 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. John was on the island of Patmos. It is important to know that all the Disciples were Martyrs.
  2. Patmos was a volcanic treeless island. John was put there as a punishment.
  3. John received a vision, but at first he wasn’t sure if he was tripping from being famished.
  4. It has been said that the Book of Revelation is hard to understand. For others, they say Revelations is hard to believe.
  5. Revelation really completes the Canon. This is why we view this scripture called Revelation as being authoritative.
    1. The 66 books in the bible are considered the Canon.
  6. Who determined what books made up the 66 books of the Canon? There was a council called Nicaea. Nicaea was the first council of the organized church.
  7. The Canon is a list of books that is considered authoritative scripture by a particular Religious Community. The council of Nicaea tested these books.
  8. Exodus was a book that was found to be used over and over. This was one of the books that was included in the Canon by the council.
  9. Revelation barely made it into the Canon. Apocryphal was a word used to describe a group of people that found it unnecessary to spend time on “the end of time”.
  10. The book of Revelation is the summation or finale of all the books of the bible. It is the final victory of the church.
  11. Revelation is the only book that is entirely prophetic.
    1. In this book we see that God is in control of history.
    1. We see that we are victorious.
    1. We see that there will be time a of tribulation.
    1. We are comforted when we look at the final act of Christ in the earth and his upholding the faithful.
  12. John says those who read this book will be blessed. The day is coming where God will make a final and full revelation. We will know when it comes.
  13. In this series, we will take the mystery out of this book and give you the facts.
  14. In this book, there is a Sender, Receiver, and Salutation.
  15. The language in this book is not by accident.
  1. Revelation 1:9-11 NRSV 9 I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

II.            OCCASION

  1. Revelation is connected to both ancient and modern scholars and during the time it was written, there was a lot of persecution taking place.
  2. It also took place during the reign of the roman Empire. Revelations was written around 96CE (Common Era)
  3. What we get from Revelation is all that John saw. Rev 1:10-11 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
  4. This was not Roman Policy. There were random outbreaks of hostility. They had conflicts between their Pagan Neighbors and believers of Jesus Christ.
  5. Many people wonder if the persecution in Revelation actually happened or is it something that is going to happen in the future.
    1. Revelation 1:19 NKJV 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

III.            LITERARY FORM

  1. We have to look at how the book is written. Revelation is apocalyptic. It is highly symbolic. All though the vision seems impossible, it provides a lot of clues for interpretation.
  2. Apocalypses describe the content in the book of Revelation. It is talking about what we see in the future. It talks about present day evil and the blessings that God is about to bring upon His people.
  3. The Book of Revelation shows the conflicts of the Righteous Minority and the Wicked Majority which were made up of Foreign Powers (Antichrist believers). There is a war taking place.
  4. In Revelation, we have a war between good and evil and God vindicates the righteous. We will look at this, how this takes place, and why God does it.
  5. You will have a reward at the end and God is going to punish your oppressor.
  6. Many Jewish Apocalyptic Writers use a lot of symbolism. Revelation is written in the same way.
    1. Revelation 1:19  19 [a]Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. – John was told to write the things that he saw, the things that was happening now, and the things that shall come.
  7. When Paul writes a third of the new testament, he speaks a lot of the things that are mentioned in the writings of Revelation. The aim of the writer is to understand what God is up to.

IV.            PURPOSE ?

  1. The book of Daniel mirrors this book called Revelation. Paul writes it to encourage the faithful who were oppressed by Emperors.
  2. In Revelation, there will be a final showdown between God and Satan. Satan will increase his persecution against the believers. The showdown will happen, but we have to be steadfast until then.
    1. Although Satan will increase his persecution, you will be covered against any spiritual harm.
    1. You were sealed or covered, and this is how you will miss certain things coming to you.
  3. Tribulation will happen in the world more than has ever been seen before.
    1. Matthew 24:21 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
  4. This book is the final victory from heaven. Satan is defeated.
    1. Satan has demons. Satan was an angel in heaven, before he was cast down to the earth. His followers were cast out too and they became demons.

V.            INTERPRETATION

  1. Preterist View – This is only those that went to church in John’s day. God is giving the news of his day.
  2. Historicist View – This view approaches this from a sweeping, disorder, panoramic view of the church. They are all about Christian history and not so much about the future of world, but instead the future of the Church.
  3. Futurist View – In this view, they believed that revelation begins with the end of days. It is directly preceding Jesus’ return.
  4. Poetic View – They believed revelation is full of pictures and symbols of God’s day. They believed that this was not for personal meaning. They believed it was just to encourage believers of that day.
  5. The Book of Revelation did speak of all these things. We can’t deny the fact that it reveals what was, what is, and what is to come.
  6. You have to read Revelation from this 3-fold perspective.
  7. What is this book saying considering all these perspectives?
    1. We believe the book of revelation must mean something. It is a book that has value and meaning. It has promised blessings and not promised confusion.
  8. Do you think we are living in the days that John spoke about to come? John wrote about events that was to happen in future.
  9. What makes this book distinctive? John used the number “7” 52 times.
    1. Revelation 1:1-3 NKJV 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

VI.            DISTINCTIONS

  • 7 Churches
  • 7 Spirits
  • 7 Golden Lampstands
  • 7 Stars
  • 7 Seals
  • 7 Horns
  • 7 Eyes
  • 7 Trumpets
  • 7 Thunders
  • 7 Signs
  • 7 Crowns
  • 7 Plagues
  • 7 Golden Bowls
  • 7 Hills
  • 7 Kings

Remember that we know that the number 7 means completion

VII.            BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS AND KEEPS THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN

  1. Lots of us don’t read Revelation, because we are afraid of what it will reveal.
  2. There is revelation in this book for us. You need to read it so that you may be blessed.
  3. “Those who read” and “those who hear”, means it should be read publicly.
  4.  “Those who…” is plural. It speaks of people hearing it.
    1. If we would read the same thing in today’s times it would say, “Blessed it the Pastor who teaches revelation and blessed is the congregation who hears it.
  5. After all we went through in 2020, you got to know that God is speaking to us.
  6. If we could ever understand Revelation, it would change our lives forever.

VIII.            GREETING

  1. Revelation 1:4-5 NKJV 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, – We must read it to know what God has done, what he is doing, and what he’s going to do.
    1. This was Asia which would be the western part of the modern-day Turkey. This is where those 7 churches were located.
  2. God is trying to show us the completeness and perfection he expects from the 7 churches.
    1. Isaiah 11:2 NKJV 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. –

IX.            A STATEMENT OF PRAISE

  1. Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – John says God has already acted on our behalf. In this scripture, God had done an audit of the church to show them how they were faring.
  2. If there was any other way to wash us from sin, we would know it. God washed us by his blood.
  3. You must hear what God saying to you, because he paid for and washed us in his own blood.
    1. Example: If you had a favorite pair of Jeans and they got covered in paint, you would wash them to keep them, because you love them. Well God loved us so much, he literally washed us in his blood.
  4. When something gets washed, it experiences agitation. Agitation is necessary to get things clean.
  5. John is being persecuted by being in exile on this island. He gives a message to others of what God has done, is doing, and will do. He will reveal to them what no other can.
  6. It is coming straight from the throne of Him that washed us.
  7. God called us kings and priests. This was forbidden by law. You couldn’t be a king and priest in old times.

X.            DESCRIPTION OF THE RETURN OF JESUS

  1. Revelation 1:7 NKJV 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. – One of our favorite songs is “The king is coming”.
  • Jesus left on a cloud. He will return the same way. We look up because Jesus is coming back with the clouds. This will be literally because He left this way.
  • Acts 1:9-11 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”. – This is true figuratively too. The bible reverences the great cloud of witnesses.
    • Revelation 1:8 NKJV 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

XI.            WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CHURH TODAY?

  1. Revelation 1:12-13 NKJV 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. – This reminds us of the golden lampstands. It reminds us of the 7 lampstands that found in the temple. In Jewish, on candle with 7 lights on it. The stand merely makes light more visible, but the light comes from the oil.
  2. Whatever God did, was so you would be more visible. We don’t produce light; we only display it.
  3. You might not find an ancient lamp stand. The lamp burns, but the only way it continues is because it is full of oil. The light burns, because of the oil.
  4. Don’t let your oil run out. The church can’t be what it supposed to be without the oil. This is why we are positioning ourselves to where he wants us to be.
  5. Don’t let your oil run out. Jesus is coming through the clouds and he is looking for an oily church.
  6. We are the church. The anointing is how we allow His presence to be with us.
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Hurt But Not Hindered: How To Move Forward Part 4< Bible Study 2.24.21

Posted on March 4, 2021 by growintheword

Reconciliation

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III
Synopsis of February 24, 2021

Psalm 133:1-3 NKJV 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 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. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

I. INTRODUCTION

  1. What is reconciliation?  Allasso is a Greek word used for reconciliation and it means “to change or exchange. It can even be like the change between God and man.
  2. To say something needs to be reconciled, we assume that something must be broken or fragmented. When fragmentation comes, it can be reconciled by intentional engagement.

II. BIBLICALLY, WHAT IS RECONCILIATION?

  1. Romans 5:6-11 NKJV 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. – While we were sinners God saved us.
    1. We needed to be reconciled back to God. Someone had to initiate this.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, – God reconciles the world to himself.
  3. Romans 5:1 NKJV 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, – Therefore we are no longer enemies of God. God loved us back to himself through His Spirit. God was always about reconciliation.
  4. God gives us the ministry of reconciliation.

III. THE INITIATOR VS. THE AGITATOR

  1. Initiator – The initiator wants to save the valued relationship. There is a reason reconciliation is important. God is trying to do something in the earth.
    1. We breakup and fracture relationships over the silliest things. The smallest of things cause breakdowns.
  2. Agitator – The agitator stirs up public feeling. They try to aggravate you.

IV. FOUR TYPES OF RECONCILIATION

  1. Deep Mutual Healing – This is when both parties come to an agreement that it is time to change.
  2. Shifting Your Expectations – No matter how you deny it, it goes back to our expectations. Expectations is the belief that it is going to happen one way only to find out that it happens another way.
    1. If one person decides to change their expectations of the other and it can fracture relationships.
    2. Sometimes you have to treat things like you do fish; you chew the meat up and spit out the bones.
  3. Agreeing to Disagree – This is agreeing to disagree, rather than trying to convince the other person that you are right. It’s not worth not being able to work together.
  4. Inner Resolution – Choose when the reconciling is not possible. If they slam the door on you, that’s all you can do.

V. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

  1. Micah – Leads Reconciliation to The Will of God
    1. During the 8th century, it was a bad time full of corruption. Micah trying to get everyone back into the Will of God.
      1. Micah 7:1 NKJV  1 Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, Like those who glean vintage grapes; There is no cluster to eat Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. – There was no such harvest like this for Micah. Everyone was doing their own thing.
      1. Micah 3:8 NKJV 8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. – Micah initiated counsel and testimony to help people where they were. Many learned to live a new life.
    1. No matter what happens around you, be who God called you to be.
      1. Micah 7:7-9 NKJV 7 Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. 8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. – Micah’s ability to reconcile his will to the Will of God, made him effective in carrying out God’s will.
  2. David And Saul – Resentment Leads to Death
  3. Saul didn’t realize that the seeds he sowed, caused his own destruction. Jealousy grew up in Saul against David.
  4. Saul neglected everything trying to kill David. Since Saul tried to kill David, he ran, and Saul spent all his time trying to hunt David down.
  5. David could have killed Saul on 2 different occasions.  However, David would not draw his sword against one of the Lord’s anointed. He let God live with Saul.
  6. Don’t come down to their level when you are anointed. Give it to God.
  7. If you go after revenge, you will miss what God has for your life.
  8. 1 Samuels 8:6-7 NKJV   6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. – God warned Samuel to let it go, because he did not want him to build up resentment against the people.
  9. Jacob And Esau – Reconciliation Leads to Love
  10. Esau was mad at Jacob for stealing his birth right.
    1. Genesis 33:4 NKJV 4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. – Even though his brother had stolen his birthright, Esau was willing to reconcile with Jacob.
  11. When people see us reconcile, they will see the God in us. We must be willing to say, no matter what happened, I want to make this right. Are you willing to make it right?
  12. If you don’t reconcile with each other, it can affect the way you worship God.
  13. God makes the first move by reconciling us back to himself. God gave his only begotten son that we might have everlasting life.
  14. If I am spiritual, I have to be the one that says, “I will be the one that makes this right”.
  15. Everybody might not reconcile with you, but you have to be the one that doesn’t want to live with regrets.

VI. RECONCILIATION CAUSES CLEAN HANDS

  1. Psalm 24:4-6 NKJV 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah – When the offended can reconcile to the offender, it speaks well of God.
  2. We have to declare, “Lord order my steps where I need to be, to reconcile with whom I need to reconcile. Remove the chaos from my life and let me walk in peace with you and others, in Jesus’ name, Amen”.
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Hurt But Not Hindered: How To Move Forward Part II

Posted on February 17, 2021 by growintheword

How To Move From Victim To Victor

Synopsis of Bible Study 2/10/21

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. This world is full of people with a victim mentality. In a sense, they are enslaved.
  2. The way we look at the world is based on how the world reacts to us. What we look for in life, is what we find.
  3. When you finish moaning about life, do you feel empowered or disempowered? You can look up or you can get up!
  4. Some people complain all their lives, because they enjoy complaining.
  5. You can develop a victim mentality. A victim mentality is a mindset.
  6. To have a Victim Mentality, you are a person that views themself as a victim. This type of person accuses everyone of causing their dilemma.
  7. A Victor Mentality is one that sees him or herself coming out of their situation. They don’t make excuses or linger over things that have happened in their lives before.
  8. You’ve got to move on to a place where you become a victor. Will you put your energy into something positive, or will you linger around the victim story?

II.            THREE TYPES OF VICTIMS

  1. Martyr Victim – This is the person who solely feels sorry for themselves. They feel like they will be elevated if they victimized.
  2. Arrogant Inferior Victim – This type of victim cuts others down, so that they can feel better about themselves.
  3. Arrogant Super Victim – This type of victim is one that thinks they are more significant than the problem. They think everyone is beneath them.

III.            THE ROMANTIZITIAN OF VICTIMIZATION

  1. Why Is It Easier? The reason it is easier for some people to play a victim is because playing the victim is the path of least resistance for them. Additionally, some victims will find other victims to hang with.
  2. Once you snap out of the state of being a victim, your crowds change. Misery loves company.
  3. Many who live the victim role don’t realize how it affects others. When you play the role of a victim, your issues really effect the people that are around you.
  • Own Your Trauma, Do Not Dump Your Drama
  • When you own your drama, you won’t be likely to dump it onto others. Name the trauma, come to grips with the entire story, and find a therapist to help you work through it.
    • Find a professional to help you sort through your issues. You don’t have to expose all this stuff on your social media page. This is often how people are able to better target you.
  • Eventually, you are going to have to snap out of it! You have to snap out of this Victim Mentality.

IV.            7 SIGNS OF A VICTIM MENTALITY

  1. No Responsibility – Victims take no responsibility for the situations they find themselves in. We must be willing to find out what role we played into our problem.
  2. Living A Frozen Life – At this point, the victim is at the mercy of everyone and everything around them.
    1. Ask them why they are stagnant, and they will give you a laundry list of reasons and they will tell you that its mostly the fault of others.
    2. A large part of this is holding grudges. We’ve got to get to a place, where we realize that you can’t hold on to grudges. Grudges will make you a victim.
    3. Some people take on the role of being a victim because they like the attention.
  3. Permanent Self-Pity – This victim has a habit of pitying themselves like a defenseless child that can’t take care of itself.
  4. Constant Comparison – This type of victim compares themselves to others in a negative way. A victim will complain about everything, and never count their blessings.
  5. Critical – This type of victim is very critical. They find something negative in any and everything.
  6. Believe They Are Perfect – They all of a sudden think they are perfect. They think everyone has done them wrong.
  7. Easily Cut People Out – They are highly emotional. They cut people out of their lives at the drop of a hat.

V.            BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

  1. Lessons From The Life Of Hannah –
  2. Hannah felt like she was a victim. She had a problem and went directly to the Lord about it. Hannah was Elkanah’s first wife; after they had been married for ten years, he also took Peninnah.
  3. Peninnah was mocking Hannah, because she couldn’t have any children. This hurt Hannah tremendously. She decided to take her burden to God in faith.
  4. When we are faced with greatest trail, we need to do like Hannah and go to the Lord! She realized something. Hanna realizes that she could stay in her dilemma or go to God about it.

B.     Lessons From The Life Of Leah

  1. Leah was rejected by Jacob. She was presented to Jacob to marry, be he wanted Rachael. Jacob works 7 yrs to get Rachael’s hand in marriage and finds out that Leah had been placed in his tent instead. Jacob wanted Rachael so bad, he works an additional 7 yrs for her. This hurt Leah.
  2. Leah was unappreciated and started having babies for someone that doesn’t even want her. Each baby was named based on her emotional state.
    1. Leah’s first son was named Reuben which meant “to see”.
    1. The second son was called Simeon which meant, “God hath heard that I was hated”.
    1. The 3rd son was named Levi, which meant, “because I have given my husband a third son, he will live with me now”.
    1. Finally, she had a 4th son and called him Judah which means, “Praise”. Leah finally realized that she needed to go to God with her issues.
  3. It’s so convenient to be a victim. Being a Victor can only happen if Christ is at the center. When you decide to be a victorious Christian with God at the center, you have realized that you can only get there by Him.
  • CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRIST-CENTERED VICTORIOUS LIFE

A.    Fear Does Not Defeat

  1. Psalm 112:6-8 NKJV 6 Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies. – Victors lives in confidence and are secure. When the world becomes dark, he looks for the light.
  2. A Victor knows how to trust God. We must change our narrative. Trust God no matter how bad it may seem.
  • Flint-Focused
  • Isaiah 50:7 NKJV 7“For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. – This means we need to be laser focused between God and our goals.
  • We need to be humble, hardworking, and striving in excellence.
  • Guards Their Associations
  • Romans 8:14 NKJV 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
  • James 4:3-4 NKJV 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:3 NKJV 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.


  • Celebrates God’s Word
  • I know God’s word has value. When you celebrate God’s word, you operate in love.
  • A Victim thinks the whole world is against them. A Victor sees things as a challenge.
  • A Victor makes do with what he or she has, but a Victim looks for the handout.
  • What are you going to be? Will you be a Victim or Victor? This is a mindset. Learn who you are.
  • How long will you allow yourself to be a victim? When will you make a switch?
  • Hold your head up. Don’t walk through this life with you soul cast down.
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FIRST THINGS FIRST: Part III

Posted on January 25, 2021 by growintheword


FITNESS

Synopsis of Bible Study 01/21/21

Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.

Luke 10:27 NKJV 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

       I.            INTRODUCTION

  • Our body is the temple of the Lord. We have to take of our bodies, because our body belongs to God.

     II.            HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY SPIRIT

  1. Psalm 139:13-14 NKJV
    13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. –  There are some people that take better care of their cars, than they do their bodies.
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
    19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. – All that God wants to do in life, he speaks it through the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us.
    1. We have to be careful what we put inside our bodies. God doesn’t want the Holy Spirit to sit in a lot of mess.
    1. Would you let you body lay in a dirty crib? You can contribute to your own demise, just by how you treat your temple.  
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV
    16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. – You can’t deal with everyone else and not deal with what’s inside of you.
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV
    Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. – Your health is important to the whole Body of Christ. When your health knocks you out of operation, the whole body of Christ suffers.

  III.            FOUR REASONS YOU SHOULD EXERCISE

  1. Improve Your Mood – Some of you know that you are too moody. Physical activity also stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These brain chemicals play an important part in regulating your mood.
    1. Serotonin is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. This hormone impacts your entire body. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.
    1. Lots of people don’t have a outlet. Exercise gives you an outlet to release your frustrations too.
  2. Increase Energy Levels – There was a study in Georgia that found that exercise increases your energy by 20%.
  3. Create A Better Sleep Pattern – Sleep is part of taking care of yourself too. No boundaries, no schedule, and no balance causes you to have problems. Work on getting more sleep. Try to get 6 – 8 hrs sleep per night.
  4. Avoid Sickness – Exercise can help many issues. It can help your immune system which helps in avoiding sickness.

 IV.            LEARN TO SHIFT THE PHYSICAL INTO SPIRITUAL

Romans 8:5 NKJV
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. – It is essential in cultivating a mindset. When you are spiritual, you view your spiritual health in a spiritual capacity. This is warfare for us! We can’t expect God to do extraordinary things in our lives, if we don’t take care of our physical health.

  1. Physical Health Is A Result Of Emotional Health – Your physical health can directly affect your emotional health.
  2. Your Emotions Are Your Personal “Check Engine” Light – We see people emotionally eat. When they do this, this means that there is something emotional that they need to fix. You have to be your best version of yourself.
  3. Don’t Allow Your Fear Or Failure Keep You Out Of Shape – Be who God called you to be. Don’t quit, because somebody else is getting better results than you. Don’t try to replicate someone else, just be the best you that you can be.
  4. Take care of your Mental Health too. You can do this by listening to spiritual music or by sitting still and taking time to reflect on God.
    1. Jesus carried the cross after being scourged and beaten. He was nailed to the cross and then he gave up the ghost. To be clear, they didn’t kill him, He willing gave his life.
    1. Jesus died as a man, so we have to realize that He couldn’t have fulfilled his purpose as a man, if he had not been in shape. Your health and condition has a lot to do with you being able to carry out your purpose.
  5. Think about what you put into your body. Think as much about what you put into your body as you do that which you put on your body.
    1. How many people have we lost too soon, because of things like diabetes and heart disease?

    V.         MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

(Case Study: Man In The Tombs)

Jesus meets the man in the tombs. He is placed among the tombs by other people, because he was cutting and himself and could have cause harm to come to others. When Jesus appears, the demon spirit inside him says to Jesus, “What have we to do with you” They know who Jesus is.

This man is in real pain. Some of us, like this demon possessed man, is haunted by demons. He can’t live in peace with himself. Everyone knows who he is. He is fit enough to break the bond of his chains, but not mentally sound enough to break the bond of the demons.

  1. Live Within The Parameters Of Peace – If you take care of your temple and your body, you will experience peace.
  2. There Is Hope For Your Healing – Jesus wants the man whole, not just healed. God wants you to be made whole. You’ve got to be willing to let go of anything that has you in despair.
  3. In the tomb, no one can hear the man, because he is with dead people. When you have mental issues, you have to be careful of the people you have around you. If you are around dead people, they might not hear you when you need help.
  4. What are you willing to pay for your deliverance? Matthew 8:28 – 32 – 28 And when He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, “[a]What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before [b]the time?” 30 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them. 31 And the demons begged Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the pigs; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and [c]drowned in the waters. –  Jesus let the demons go into pigs as they requested. They went into the pigs, but then the pigs ran into the sea and drowned. There is always a price to pay for deliverance.
  5. In this season when we talk about eating right, we want your head and your body healthy. The woman with issue of blood touches the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Jesus said that it was her faith that made her whole. In other words, she no longer has the issues and residue of what people did to her at throughout the years.

In a pandemic, your mind and body needs to be in optimal shape. Let’s keep our fitness up, so that we will be well enough to carry out the purpose that God has planned for us!

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