Part IV: It Hurt but It Helped

Posted on October 31, 2023 by growintheword

Synopsis of 10/22/23

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

        I.            INTRODUCTION 

  1. Revelation is powerful. We are all in a position to receive it. What God allows is for our development and not your demise.
  2. Being consumed by what we go through on a daily basis, we miss knowing why we went through it. When life hurts, God meant it to bless us, not hurt us.
  3. When it comes to thorns, we have asked God to take it away. We pleaded and struggled with God. God had to remind us that something was in it for us. It might not feel like it now, but what you ask God to move, might be designed to bring a blessing into your life. You might be thanking God for your thorn later on.
  4. It helped you, though it hurt you. Remember Joseph? He was hurt by the pit, but the pit brought about his blessing.
  5. Historical context of Paul:
    1. Paul was originally called Saul. He was born in Tarsus. This is modern day turkey. He was a zealous Pharisee which were those who held to the traditionalism of their ancestors. They were strict adherers to religious law.
    2. Paul studied under Gamaliel, a Jewish scholar. He was bilingual, knowing both Hebrew and Greek and had the ability to speak both fluently.
    3. Paul was persecutor of the church originally. At first Paul’s name was Saul. Saul spent the first part of life, persecuting Christian’s, until the road of Damascus experience. The Second half of his life, he was all about bringing about redemption. His name was changed to Paul. He spent the remainder of life, building up what he tore down.
    4. Paul experienced a lot for the sake of Christ. He wrote about a 3rd of the New Testament. He is one of the best writers in the New Testament. He wrote things like, “I can do all things Christ…” or “Love is patient, love is kind…” or “The Fruit of the Spirit is…”. Amid his own persecution, Paul shares with the early church, he knew a man that had a vision. The man had a vision in the 3rd heaven and he saw stuff he couldn’t speak of. He was able to see things that were unspeakable, things that no one was permitted to tell. Because of that revelation, there was given to Paul, a thorn in his flesh, so that he might not be
    5. You might not think there is much hardship associated with a thorn but consider this. It’s like getting a deep splinter. That splinter may be small, but it hurts so bad and like the man in the vision, you can’t get it out! Before long, that little bitty splinter will drive you nuts!
    6. Paul asked God to remove it 3 times and the Lord wouldn’t. God said that his grace was sufficient. In other words, God is saying, you will eventually see why the thorn is there and how it is helping you.

     II.            THE THORN WAS FOR YOUR PRIDE 

  • The greater your spiritual encounter, the greater the need for your humility.
    • James 4:6 NKJVsays But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” – There is a tendency for all of us to become prideful.

 

  1. Don’t Allow a Spiritual Encounter to Produce Spiritual Elitism
    Having spiritual encounters is wonderful, but understand Spiritual Elitism is having the attitude that you are superior to everyone when it comes to spiritual matters.
  2. Don’t allow your spiritual encounter to turn you into one with Spiritual Elitism.
  3. Different manifestations of Spiritual Elitism:
    1. Looking down on people.
    2. You expect special privileges.
      1. This is really when you think everyone is going to hell but you.

 

  1. God Allows Thorns to Remind You of Your Human Condition 
  2. Some people argue what the thorn that Paul was referring to might have been a condition. Others say the thorn was something medical. Some people say the thorn could have been a spiritual struggle. We don’t know what the thorn is. It does, however, give us an opportunity to see our issue in its place.
  3. It’s good that God doesn’t put our thorn on blast. Our thorn reminds us that we are human flesh.
  4. Our thorn reminds us of our need for God. No matter how influential you are, no matter how strong you think you are, you can’t deal with your thorn by yourself.

  III.            THE TRUTH ABOUT PRAYER 

·       Paul does what he knows. He talks to God about it. Prayer is the most effective when you are honest.

  • We try to go through life like we have a “S” on our chest. We don’t want to be honest about our hurting. God said cast your cares on Him because he cares for you.
  • Paul said he went to God 3 times, and He wouldn’t remove thorn. Why wouldn’t God remove it?

 

  1. Just Because God Doesn’t Move, Doesn’t Mean He Didn’t Hear You 
  2. God won’t always do what we want him to do. He gives us what we need and not what we want. There were times, when your children were young, and they kept asking you to do something for them. They kept asking over and over, because you didn’t act on it right away. You heard it, but you didn’t move on it, when they thought you should. In like manner, God might not respond or act right away. God knows the proper time to respond to us. He might not come when you want him to, but he is always on time.

 

  1. Sometimes, No Is the Answer 
  2. Why isn’t there a praise break, when the answer is “no”? There are times that God will say “no”.
  3. You have to trust it, when God says no. No is part of the plan. If God says yes, it removes you from the development needed to take you where He is taking.
  4. When you finally get where you are going, you will appreciate and see the need for the answer, no.
  5. You ought to thank God for the “no”, because without it, you wouldn’t be where you are today.
  6. Paul says if you are going to permit this, then there must be purpose in it. Therefore, he decided to glory in his infirmities.

 

   IV.            THE TESTIMONY IN HIS PROVISION 

  • God says he won’t move it, but he will give us grace, because it is sufficient. Grace is giving you what you don’t deserve. Sufficient means enough. You don’t need grace and weed (substitute with whatever you use to cope), you just need grace. Grace is enough.

 

  1. God’s Grace Will Get You Through This  

  2. Why trying to fill your purpose, it is God’s grace that gets you through it. 1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJVsays But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 
    Grace gives us:
    1. Spiritual Endurance– This is the ability to stay in the race.
    2. Spiritual Enlightenment– It is about seeing your situation differently.
    3. Spiritual Expectancy – When I live by grace, we know God is going to give us above what we ask or think.

  3. You Will Discover His Strength in Your Weakest Moments
  4. There are moments where you have to throw it all on the line.
    1. Story– There was a young boy in water, and he was going under as if he was drowning. The lifeguard just stood there. The little boy kept fighting to stay up, but he kept going under. Finally, the little guy couldn’t fight any longer. He began sinking and then finally, the lifeguard went in after him. People asked the lifeguard why he waited so long to try and rescue the guy? The Lifeguard said as long as little guy was struggling, he couldn’t rescue him. He said he had to wait until he stopped struggling. – The takeaway from this is, Gods’ strength is perfect in our

    V.            THANKFUL IN THE MIDST OF THE PAIN 

  • We will glory in it not when we come out, but while we are in the midst of it.
  • The thorn is still there. God won’t remove it, but Paul says he will glory in it.
  • Through this experience, Paul learned something. It was:


 

  1. If God Allowed It, There Is a Blessing in It

 

  1. We have to remember, if this hadn’t happened, then that couldn’t have happened. God works all things together for our good.

  2. I Choose to Praise Him Rather Than Pout 
  3. Some people spend their whole lives pouting with God. We don’t wait until the battle over to give God glory. We will give God glory now!
  4. We have Pouters and then you have Praises.
    1. Story: Guy brings flowers to his wife, just because. With excitement, she reached in and pain rushed through her body. The thorns stuck into her finger. Now there is blood on the tissue paper.
    2. In this moment she has several choices.
      1. Reject the roses for the pain it has caused her.
      2. Fuss at her husband.
    3. Because she recognized the intent of the giver, she holds the roses by the stem and thanks him. She knew her husband wasn’t trying to hurt her.
    4. In life, God may give us a thorn and it may hurt. It might cause us to bleed, but He loves us. Can you do like the woman and hold God by the stem?
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Posted on October 20, 2023 by growintheword

He Blessed Me at My Breaking Point

Synopsis of 10/15/23 Sermon

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Jeremiah 20:7-9 NKJV
O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.
I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me.
8 For when I spoke, I cried out;
I shouted, “Violence and plunder!”
Because the word of the LORD was made to me
A reproach and a derision daily.
9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.

I. INTRODUCTION

  1. One of the most amazing revelations and common dominators in our lives today is how so many have come to their breaking point. Many will testify that breaking points are not uncommon. They tend to sneak up on you.
  2. When you come to the end of yourself, it is an interesting place of contemplation. It is a place where you will think about things that you thought would never enter your mind.
  3. In this series, we have talked about this. For instance, we talked about Elijah under the broom tree a week or so ago. He had come to the end of himself. If you’ve never been to the end of a breaking point, keep living! There will come a day that you will come to the end of yourself and in this, you will discover that no matter what title you have, no matter what degree you have, no matter how much money you have, the breaking point hits us all.
  4. The beaty of breaking points is that God specializes in meeting us at the end of our breaking point. It is written that our extremities are God’s opportunity. Maybe you are hearing this word, and you are baffled by the attacks in your life. Well know that it is all about what you are carrying. If you weren’t carrying what you were carrying, you would never have these attacks.
    1. In experiencing these attacks, it is natural to want out. When you are contemplating walking away, you must realize that you are not just walking away from a thing, but rather walking away from a Devine Purpose.
  5. A purpose is not something that you choose. It chooses you. When it chooses you, it apprehends you. You can’t get out of it. The enemy tries to get you to stop carrying what you are carrying.
  6. In the midst of overwhelming attacks, know that God is at work in your life. The assignment of God will come to fruition, but you will come to a place called the end of yourself. It is at this place where you are doing what God told you to do. You wonder why all this drama now? Know that there is a blessing at your breaking point.
    1. Some of us are at a point where someone just needs to do one thing sideways, and it is all over!
  7. We have come to prophesy to you today and let you know that God has a blessing at your breaking point!
  8. Jermiah’s life is a good example of someone at their breaking point. Jermiah is called when he is young. God says that before he formed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb, God knew him. Jeremiah must grow up not only naturally, but also spiritually.
  9. Jeremiah is a prophet during the thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah and during this time, the people of God had lost their minds. They were so caught up into idolatry; they are not hearing God. God sent Jeremiah to them with a warning for them to get themselves together. God says it was time for them to come back to Him.
  10. Jeremiah comes at a time in history when the walls of Jerusalem would fall down. Still the people would not listen to God’s word.
  11. When they saw Jeremiah in the street, they would avoid him. They made a mockery of him. Some of them mocked and criticized him so much, Jeremiah started questing his assignment. He actually tried to quit.
    1. At this point he realized that something placed inside of him was so strong, it was like fire shut up in his bones.

II. GOD WILL PERSUADE YOU KNOWING THE REALITY

  • It is interesting how Jeremiah processed what he was up against. Jeremiah thinks he is tricked by God. His struggle was if God knew this would happen, why couldn’t he have given him an opt out option.

A. You Never Choose the Call, It Chooses You

  1. God will insert himself in your life and leave you no say in the matter. You must come to a place where you know God owns your life. Jeremaih 1 says that God knew him before he placed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb. Jeremiah had to catch up and walk into what God had already started for him.
  2. God doesn’t tell us everything, because he knows our flesh will walk away from it.
    1. You have to walk into what God chose for you. An example of this is, God2 chose the disciples.
  3. If God chose you, then you wonder why he chose someone like you? It is because God knew that you could handle it.
  4. You don’t understand your strength, until you’ve gone through some things. You wouldn’t know how good you could pray if you first hadn’t gone through some stuff.

B. God Knew You Could Handle It

  1. That is why you’ve got to go through it. God knows what he is doing. We know we can do it, but in our head, we are frustrated.
  2. Jeremiah’s issues manifested in every area of his life. Why? It was the pain of rejection.

III. THE PAIN OF REJECTION

  • Bishop says he suffers from rejection. Many of us suffer from rejections that happened a long time ago. Rejection is tough, especially when you’re doing what God told you to do. How do you reconcile rejection when you’re just doing what God told you to do? It’s hard being rejected because you wonder if you are good enough.
  • Here is where Jeremiahs pain is:

A. I’m Trying to Help Them, But They Are Hurting Me

  1. Everybody has been there? What God is giving Jeremiah is for their benefit, but they are trying to curse him instead of embracing what God told him to say. The people we are there for, often abandon us.
    1. Mark 6:4 NIV says Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” – This simply means you will get more love from people outside your community than those you grew up with. Sometimes your biggest haters will be those that you grew up with or the ones in your own home.
  2. Remember the stone that the builders rejected, became the chief corner stone.
  3. So why are they rejecting you?

B. The Word Is Not Welcomed

  1. They hate the word. In Jeremaiah 1, God said, don’t be afraid of their faces. God put his word in us. He put divine logic inside of us. When it looks illogical out there, it will be logical in here.
  2. When God gives you word, you are carrying something. Jeremiah is worried, because the people are rejecting the word that he puts out.
  3. Why were they rejecting the word?
    1. You Have to Admit That You Are Wrong – They don’t want to have to acknowledge that all these years, they have been doing things wrong. Can you imagine being on a job and presenting something that can change things, yet the company rejects it? They reject it, because they don’t want to accept or own that they have been doing things wrong all this time. Some would rather go down doing something wrong than come up doing something right.
    2. You Have to Access Your Ways – You have to make changes if you accept this word. Some are not willing to do that.
    3. You Have to Be Accountable to His Will – If you receive His word, you are now accountable for it. You’re only accountable for what you receive.

Story– Bishop tells a story about his son Joseph. When Joseph is told that he can’t have something or is told that he can’t do something, he takes his index fingers and put them into his ears, as if he’s not listening to what you have to say. We do this with God. We are not listening and this is why our lives are out of control.

  1. Jermiah realized it was because of God’s word that the people weren’t listening.

IV. I’VE PLANNED MY RESIGNATION

  • When people resign, they plan it. When someone resigns, they didn’t just wake up on Monday and resign on Tuesday. They resigned 6 months ago. They’ve been collecting a check, but really been absent for six months. People plan their resignation long before they act on it.
  • People resign because of:
    • Escape– They trying to get away from the drama and avoid confrontation.
    • Stress – They are trying to escape the stress. They can’t take it anymore!
    • Regain control – I lost myself! They try to get back to themselves. Do you think God would invest in you just for you to turn around and throw it away?

A. My Frustrations Have Led to Contemplation

  1. Things inside your mind are frustrations that cause you to contemplate things you never thought you would. The enemy will use HALT as an access points. HALT is an acronym that stands for hunger, anger, lonely, and tired. The enemy will use these low points to allow himself the opportunity to get to you.
  2. The enemy tries to convince you that you will never come out of this.

B. I’m Done but I’m Still Doing It

  1. Jeremaih is preaching but complaining to God at the same time. The people are not listening to him! Many of us are still working, but we’re done. Our passion is diminishing, and our focus has gotten off. You’re at your breaking point. You are done but still functioning! You’ve checked out! Anybody ever been there?
  2. Jeremiah was at his breaking point! This is the point where God is there!

V. MY PASSION WAS REIGNITED

  • Jeremiah’s transparency is a point of identification for all of us.

A. Your Word Wouldn’t Let Me Quit

  1. If it wasn’t or the word of God, we would have lost our mind. His word kept us!
  2. There are moments which you have a hell filled week, and on Sunday, God somehow gives you the word you need to go on.
  3. Whatever you are going through, God has a word for it. You think you can’t keep going, but God has a word for you. Jeremiah was about to quit, but God’s word gave him a second wind.
    1. Even if the preacher isn’t preaching what you are going through, you better save it for when you do.

B. My Faith Is on Fire

  1. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. When you are hearing Jeremiah say, “it’s like fire shut up in my bones”, then you realize that God reignites our passion.
  2. Story: When Bishop started with Mt Zion he was 34 yrs old. Jefferson St had 150 members. 60 would show up on a good Sunday. There were some that showed up praising God. Some praised God occasionally Some came as the frozen chosen and some came falling asleep.
    1. Bishop was about 2 months into his Pastorship, when they came to him and said they had an Annual Usher Day scheduled. He asked who was the guest speaker? They said they wanted to hear their new Pastor deliver the word.
    2. After eating, he went back upstairs and the church was full. He’d never seen the church this full. That day, the Lord let him sit in His lap. Bishop preached harder than he ever had. He saw this old Lady shout. Bishop was feeling himself then. 6 Ushers got up and grabbed hands and made a circle around her. Another one tried to give her some water and the other fanned her. Bishop thought, “I’m trying to start a fire and ya’ll trying to put the fire out.!”
  3. God gave you a fire that noone is going to put out. They may lie on me, but my fire is not going out! You might talk about me, but my fire is not going out!
  4. How does fire remain? It is oxygen. The more oxygen, the more the fire burns. The bible says let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! Our breath or our praise, just might be the oxygen that reignites somebody’s fire!
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Part II: I’m In the Fight of My Life

Posted on October 13, 2023 by growintheword

 

Synopsis of Sermon 10/8/23

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Genesis 32:24-30 NKJV 
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

I.            INTRODUCTION 

  1. One of the things that is true in our life is the fact that we are becoming. It is a journey where we learn about each other. We are always growing and becoming.
  2. In this process, you realize that God has called you beyond yourself, to benefit others. God from time to time will impose his sovereignty on us, to pull us back into alignment. This happens when we get beside ourselves or prideful. God has to bring us back to where we need to be.
    1. Somebody reading this, is in this place right now. What you’re experiencing is about your future. This is not a fight against Satan. It is a fight with God! This is to see if you will finally get beyond yourself. It is a fight to see how bad you want to see your destiny It is a fight that will separate good from great. It will eliminate every generational curse in your life.
    2. This struggle you are dealing with right now, will allow you to walk into the best season on your life, when it is over! Don’t ask about why you are in the fight, but rather ask what is God trying to show you about yourself?
  3. Here is the context: Abraham has a son named Isaac. Isaac and Rebecca have two twin sons called Jacob and Esau. When the twins were born, Esau came out first, but Jacob grabbed Esau by the heal and pulled him back, then he pushed himself out first.
    1. Jacob was one that was always trying to get over. Jacob was a manipulator or trickster. For example, on one occasion, Jacob saw Esau hungry. Esau, being the oldest, had the right to the Jacob, seeing that Esau was hungry, said he would give him a bowl of soup, if he would give up his birthright.
    2. During Esau’s vulnerability (being really hungry), Jacob takes advantage of his brother. Jacob and his mom Rebecca was really close, so when Isaac was on his deathbed, she tricks Isaac into passing the birthright to Jacob instead of Esau who was the oldest.
    3. Esau was angry after finding this out, so Jacob fled to his Uncles house. When he gets there, he sees Rachael and wants to marry her. As a result, he agrees to work for her on her Dad’s farm, but was tricked. After working the agreed amount of time, he was given Leah instead of Rachael, because she was the oldest. The Trickster got tricked! He still wanted to marry Rachael so he agreed to work an additional 7 years, in order to get Rachael.
  4. When Jacob got ready to return home, he sends gifts ahead to Esau, because initially Esau wanted to kill him for stealing his birthright. Jacob never heard from Esau concerning the gifts that he sent ahead.
    1. Now Jacob sends his camp ahead. He is in Peniel which was called “Face of God”. It is the night before Jacob was going to finally meet with Esau and now he is left
    2. Out of nowhere, there was a man that wrestles him. It turns out to be God. He wrestles all night until the break of day. This was the fork of the road for him. Will he change or will he remain living the same?

II.            YOU WERE LEFT ALONE FOR A SPIRITUAL BATTLE 

  • You’ve been running from one dysfunction to another. Sometimes we can leave a trail of pain and confusion behind us. When God gets us in a place of alone, it is so we can work out what to do next. In this alone place is where you reconcile our assignment. It is an opportunity to get ourselves together.
  • Aloneness is never intended for you to be lonely. God is with you during this whole time. The songwriter says, “I come to the garden alone…” and “He walks with me and talks with me and tell me that I am his own”.
  • God will frustrate relationships. It is scary sometimes when you have to be alone, but being alone is a time to be with yourself.
  • At this point and time in the text, God has orchestrated this moment for Jacob.

A.     You can’t escape what God allows 

  • When God has you alone it is:
  1. To Show You Yourself – It’s the real you that you will see.
  2. To Save You from Yourself – At this point, if you continue down this path, you will self-destruct.

B.     It May Be a Nuisance, But It’s Preparing You for Your Next 

  1. God apprehended Jacob when Jacob was just minding his own business.
    1. What is it about you that would cause God to choose to wrestle with you? It is about what’s next for you. There are things that God has to deal with inside of us, in order for us to go to the next level.
    2. Some things have to be taken care of, before God can use us for the next level.
  2. Jacob prevailed in the wrestling match. This brings about a question. How can you beat God? God is showing Jacob how strong he really is.
    1. God touched Jacobs’s hip and dislocated it. It resulted in Jacob being left with a limp.

III.            THE LIMP WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK YOU 

  • God will take you through to get you where you need to be.
  • When God gets ready for you, he knows where to find you and how to break you.
  • Your limp will manifest in different ways.

A.     Your Strong Will Must Be Brought Under Submission

  1. Jacob has to come under submission. All his life, he has never submitted to anyone.
    1. His attitude is unsubmitted. He’s been a trickster all his life. For example, he didn’t want to be with Leah, yet he had babies with her. When you’re like this, you create your own rules.
    2. Example – Cut the lights off and you won’t be able to see. If you stay there long enough, your eyes will begin to adjust to the darkness. Before long you will be able to walk around without bumping into things.
  2. Your head controls your actions. Jacob has a head problem!
    1. Proverbs 14:12 NKJV says 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. – The problem is in my mind. This is why parents used to say you had a hard head.
    2. Romans 12:2 says And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – It is your mind that controls the action. Your heart is really a spectator of what occurs.
    3. You didn’t lose the battle when you ended up in somebody else bed. You lost it when you picked up the phone.
  3. God gives Jacob a limp to put him into submission. This forces him to have to explain what happened to him.

B.     Our Handicaps Remind Us of Our Need for Help

  1. My limp says I still need God.

IV.            LATCH ON UNTIL HE BLESSES YOU

  • Latching on means you are holding on to something that don’t want to let go of it.

A.     It May Seem Intense but It’s Not Indefinite

  1. Jacob wrestled until the breaking of day. Even though you may be wrestling, know that trouble don’t last always.

B.     I’m Not Going Through It Without Getting Something Out of It 

  1. Whatever I go through, I’m going to get something out of it. We’re either going to get a lesson or a blessing..
  2. James 1:2-4 NKJV says 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
  3. 1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV says Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
  4. 1 Peter 5:10 NKJVsays But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. – After you come out of it, you will be better on the others side.

V.            YOUR LEGACY IS GOING TO BE BETTER 

  • One of the greatest lessons to your struggle, is missing the lesson.
    • It is about becoming, evolving, or even maturing.
  • Your fight will not be in vain. It is about legacy. Decisions impact legacy.
  • Jacob stole the blessing. The decision Jacob makes now will impact not only him, but it will also impact history.
  • While he is wrestling, God said, what is your name? Experiences in the Bible gave you names. God told them to tell Pharaoh that I am sent him. When you pray, “I am”, it inverts God’s name into your answer, before you start praying: Who’s going to make a way? I am. Who’s going to help you pass the test? I am. Who’s going to heal you? I am.
  • Names matter. Moses’ name meant “draw out”.
  • What does Jacob’s name mean? It means “heal catcher”. It also means “over-reacher”.
  • The reason your life is messed up, is because you’re doing the most. Doing the most is always about you.

A.     He Changed My Name 

  1. Jacob will no longer mean the most. It would be changed to Israel meaning “Let God Prevail”. All his life, Jacob has done it his way, but now he would change to doing things God’s way.
  2. The same Jacob who was always so stubborn comes into a new day, with a limp.

B.     My Limp Is a Part of My Story and For His Glory

  1. If you don’t have a limp, something is wrong with you! Your limp tells your story! It tells that you’ve gone through some trials and come out victorious! Where’s your limp?
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Part I: I Didn’t Know I Had to Deal with All of This

Posted on October 6, 2023 by growintheword

Synopsis of October 1, 2023 Sermon

Delivered by Joseph W. Walker, III

1 Kings 19:1-8 NKJV 
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

I.            INTRODUCTION 

  1. When God calls us and summons us to an assignment, he has factored in the beginning to the end. We were created to fulfill the assignments of God on the earth. God gives us the grace to do whatever he assigns us to do.
  2. There are moments you encounter things you didn’t expect. These are the things that make you wonder how in the world they happened. For example, you had someone that seemed to be your ride or die and out of nowhere, things went left.
  3. There are some circumstances that make you question if you even want to continue with your assignment. In these moments, you want the Lord to take your assignment back.
  4. All of us have been in this place where we had to deal with stuff we didn’t think we would have to deal with and as a result, we have contemplated resigning or abandoning our assignment. Jesus even said, “Let this bitter cup pass from me”.
  5. God is going to give us a word to navigate through our contemplations.
  6. What happens in the mind and spirit of a prophet who experiences attacks that they didn’t know they would encounter? Some people have experienced so much, it is a miracle that they even show up at all. In this text today, we are going to find out how Elijah navigates this space. This is the space of wanting to resign the assignment.
    1. Somebody has been in a place of frustration. We are going to find out how to keep from walking away from our assignment.
  7. Elijah was a servant of God. After the death of Gideon, the nation had turned away from God. They turned to worshipping the idol They were under the assumption that this was the god of fertility and that he was the true god that reigned.
    1. Whenever there was a drought, they believed Baal would send the rain. King Ahab was the 7th king of Israel. He formed an alliance with Sidon and Tyre. These was one of the enemies of Israel.
    2. There was a princess in Tyre called Jezebel. Ahab married her.
    3. Elijah was following God and King Ahab marries Jezebel. Elijah’s assignment was to go to Tyre and tell the people to turn away from serving Baal and return to Him. God held up the rain and caused a drought in the land, because they were worshipping Baal.
  8. Elijah went a brook where the Lord sent a Raven to feed him and the brook supplied him with water. Eventually, the brook dried up. God then sends him to a widow woman. She is about to make her last cake for her and her son and die, but Elijah asked her to make him a cake first. Because she honored God’s servant, she never ran out of food.
    1. The widow woman’s son fell sick and died. Elijah fell on the boy 3 times while calling on Jesus to help him. Life came into the boy on the 3rd
  9. Eventually, Elijah goes to King Ahab with a challenge and asks him to have the people him to meet him on Mount Carmel. He wanted them to call on Baal to bring down fire on the alter and he would do the same, only he would call on the one true and living God.
    1. Elijah presented Ahab with a challenge. He told Ahab that whoever’s god/God would send fire down on the alter, they would all agree to serve that god/God. So Ahab’s prophets made an altar and placed a bull on it and then they called on Baal to send down fire on it, but fire did not come down on the altar. They tried several times, but still nothing happened. At one point Elijah began to taunt them for 1 Kings 18:27says 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” They tried several times without any response from their so called god.
    2. Undeterred, Elijah trusted God, and when it was his turn to call for fire, he upped the ante. Elijah rebuilt God’s altar, dug a trench around it, and prepared a bull to lay across the altar. Then, he drenched everything in water four times over. Why the water? Simple. If the sacrifice lit, no one could claim happenstance or coincidence. It would show that an all-powerful God had done what no other god could do.
    3. Elijah cried out to God on behalf of the people of Israel. At Elijah’s cry God rained fire from heaven upon the altar, and the flames not only consumed the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar and the dust around it. After seeing this amazing display, the people fell on their knees and proclaimed, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God! 1 Kings 18:39 says 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” – And as revival broke out in the land, the dams of heaven broke, too. Much needed rain pattered down on the dusty soil, bringing a new season of fruitfulness to a dead land. Elijah had all the prophets of Baal killed after this.
    4. When Ahab told Jezebel all that had happened, she was angered to the point of wanting Elijah killed. She sent a messenger to tell him this, so Elijah ran into the woods, laid down under a broom tree, and asked God to kill him. This brings us to the place we are in today’s lesson.
  10. There are some lessons in this.

II.            THE REASON YOUR DESTINY IS UNDER ATTACK 

  • This is not happening by accident. It is sent by the enemy to derail your destiny. The assignment on your life has made you a
  • You were not called to adhere to systems designed to harm God’s people.

A.     What you defeated demoralized the enemy 

  1. What you have done, has brought embarrassment to the enemy’s camp.
  2. Your defeat of the enemy is about:
  3. What you revealed-  The enemy was no match for your God.
  4. What you represent – You show up as a kingdom representative
  5. Witness of His record – When you show up, people see victory! You remind them that no weapon formed against God will proper.

B.      Your assignment is a threat to the enemy’s agenda 

  1. The enemy sees you as someone who is in the way.
  2. When you don’t know who you are, you empower Satan. God wouldn’t give you an assignment without giving you an anointing that enables you to do it. You are Gods anointed!
    1. The fact that God’s hand is on your life, shows that you are anointed!
  3. Know that Jezebel is not restricted to one place. Jezebel is on your job, in your church, and in your house. Jezebel can be anywhere!

III.            THE REAL DESIRE TO BE LEFT ALONE 

  • Elijah went and sat under the broom tree by himself.

A.     Sometimes you have to escape the madness 

  1. It allows them to be in pain in private – Sometimes you don’t want to deal with the pain publicly.
  2. It protects their peace. – Sometimes you have to get away for your own sanity.
  3. It allows them to pursue His presence – You need to talk to God. You need to talk to God, instead of other people.

B.      There is a need to talk to Him and not “them” 

  1. God can handle your frustration and not judge you. David says my help comes from God!
  2. Elijah is bleeding, but he’s still praying. This is a time to anchor down under the broom tree and talk to God about it.
  3. Stop talking to everyone and else and learn to talk to God.

IV.            THE REALITY OF BEING DEPRESSED AND ANOINTED 

  • Putting this together for many seems like an oxymoron. Know that you can be anointed and depressed at the same time.
  • You have to walk out this journey in front of people. If you don’t deal with depression, you will implode! There are people around you every day dealing with low grade depression.
  • There is nothing wrong with you, because you are dealing with depression. People are carrying around lots of stuff. Sometimes, things are simply put, “not good”.

A.     Everybody has a breaking point 

  1. There is a place where you will find yourself at, that you never thought you would be before.
  2. You can be encouraging others and yet be privately broken.

B.      Just because you are tired doesn’t mean it has to be terminal 

  1. Elijah asked the Lord to kill him. God does not accommodate his request. He knows Elijah has more life to live.
    1. Be steadfast unmovable always abiding in the work of the Lord. Hold on, help is on the way!
  2. Elijah is under the broom tree. This reminds us that we should pray for leaders everywhere. Some of them are under the Broom Tree as we speak.
    1. God met Elijah under the broom tree.

V.            THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF DIVINE ASSISTANCE 

  • When God shows up, he shows up under the broom tree. The broom tree doesn’t have a lot of shade, but it has just enough.
    • You don’t have to big or beautiful to bring comfort. All you have to do is show up and be present.
  • The word says God saw Elijah and he heard him. God specializes in seeing and hearing. God sees what you are dealing with!
  • God sent an angel. How is it that everyone believes in demons, but they don’t believe in God’s angels? All night and all day, Angels have been watching over you!
  • Elijah was so depressed, he wished for death!

A.     If you lie in it, you will die in it 

  1. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging your depression, but you can’t wallow in it. You have to get up! God has great things he wants to do in your life. God came that you might have life and have life more abundantly.
  2. When Elijah was slapped the first time, he got up, but laid back down. God had to send an Angel a second time.
    1. We often get a revelation, but we slip back under the Broom Tree. Know that this is your last day under the Broom Tree. A break through is about to hit your house!

B.      God is going to feed you for your future 

  1. Elijah looked around and he saw bread on coals cooking and water in a jar. Who put it there? God has always used angels to make stuff show up. If you will remember, Abraham was getting ready to kill his son, and there was a Ram in the bush. God will make stuff show up for you.
  2. God is about to make what you need show up. You won’t have to worry about the debt on the credit card, because God is about to make it show up! You won’t have to worry about that student loan, because God is about to make it show up!
  3. Elijah needed the food for his journey. This was natural remedy. God met his physical needs.
  4. Here’s the spiritual remedy. We survive post pandemic, because we get fed on God’s word and it sustains us. Just like Elijah did. He fed off the bread cooking on coals and it sustained him for over 40 days!
  5. I would have lost my mind, if it wasn’t for God’s word!!! Excuse me if I praise him like I do!! God showed up for me!!

 

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