Part IV: It Was All in God’s Plan

Posted on September 29, 2023 by growintheword

Part IV: It Was All in God’s Plan

 

Synopsis of 9/24/23 Sermon

Delivered by Joseph W. Walker, III

Ruth 1:6-17 NKJV 
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!” 
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you;For wherever you go, I will go;And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;Your people shall be my people,And your God, my God.17 Where you die, I will die,And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

INTRODUCTION 

  1. There is nothing more powerful than the plan of God over our lives. It is important to know the plan of God is always in motion, even when we are unaware that He is moving.
  2. Things happen often that we don’t understand. Even if we don’t understand what’s happening, doesn’t mean anything isn’t happening. If anything, we miss the move of God, because of our loss of focus. What ever happens in our life is intwined with God and his plans for our lives.
  3. When we reflect over our lives, you can see that some things have happened so that other things could happen. We can see that all things have worked together for our good. Other things happen that don’t make sense, know that it all has purpose.
  4. This story today is to make you understand the importance of your decisions, your character, and being in the right position.
  5. Everything that happened to you was for a purpose. It was all part of God’s plan. Whoever left you, whoever came, whoever released you from a job, all of it was part of God’s plan.
  6. In order to understand todays lesson real good, you have to know about the key players of this text. This book is set during the time of Judges. The mother (Naomi) had two sons that perished. They were Moabites although Naomi originally came from Bethlehem but left because of the famine.
    1. Moabites came from the linage of Lot. Lot had a son called Moab and from him came the moabites.
    2. Moabites were polytheistic which meant they served many gods. The Children of Israel served the one true living God.
  7. Naomi’s sons died as well as her husband and she got word that the famine had ended in Bethlehem, where she was from. At this news, she decides to go back, but on the way, she urges the daughter-n-laws (her dead son’s wives) to stay in Moab. She had no more sons to offer them to marry and she was too old to have any more sons.
    1. Naomi had two daughter-n-laws. One was named Orpah and one was named Ruth.
  8. Oprah said she was going to go back to Moab. When Orpah goes back to Moab and she gives birth to 4 sons that were giants. One of her sons would be Goliath (of the David and Goliath story).
  9. Ruth decides she wanted to stay with Naomi. She refused to leave Naomi’s side.

 

THE COURAGE TO LEAVE THE FAMILIAR 

  • Whenever you encounter something great, you have to have the courage to leave the familiar. One example of this is when God spoke to Abram who later Abraham and told him to go to a land that he would show him. Abraham had to leave his land.
  • The Disciples also left what was familiar to them also. They left their occupation of being Fishermen to embrace the assignment that God had given them.

 

  1. Don’t Be Paralyzed by The Pain in Your Past 
  1. Naomi was uncovered meaning she did not have the covering of a husband. The enemy tries to pull you into anxiety and depression when you are down.
  2. During this point and time, Naomi’s pain was both personal and public. She refused to be paralyzed by what had happened. You can’t wallow in your pain and and let it cause you to miss the door that God has opened up for you.

 

  1. To Get What You Never Had, You Must Do What You’ve Never Done 
  1. If you want something different you got to do something different.
  2. You have to be willing to be:
  3. Focused and Obedient – You can’t doubt God, even if its uncomfortable.
  4. Faith to set out in the Opportunity – You have to have the faith to step out when opportunities come.
  5. Free from Opinions – You have to be delivered from opinions of people.

THE COMMITMENT TO BE LOYAL AND FAITHFUL 

  • The plan of God requires you to be both faithful and loyal.
  • The measure of loyalty is those people who are loyal to you until the end.

 

  1. Be Connected to Destiny and Not Other’s Decisions 
  2. Ruth has to make a decision about her own destiny. She has accepted that she is going back Naomi’s birth country. Whether or not anyone agrees, she knows what she wants to do.
  3. When the feelings of others get greater than your Promise, this causes problems. You will miss your destiny listening to other people’s opinions.

 

  1. There Is a Difference in Convenient Attachments and Spiritual Connections 
  2. Ruth is spiritually connected to Naomi, but Oprah is just conveniently attached to Naomi. Some people in your life are only transactional and not spiritually connected. You can tell this, because the moment that you stop giving to them what you have been giving them, you will see that it was never meant to be a transforming relationship.
  3. Ruth is in a transformational situation. She sees God in Naomi. Some of you would rather be in Moab instead of walking into what God has for you.
  4. People with loyalty have:
  5. Character– They live in integrity.
  6. Consistency– They are intentional about what they do.
  7. Capacity– They have a way of pushing greater out of you.

THE CHARACTER TO LABOR IN THE FIELDS 

  • Naomi and Ruth finally get to Bethlehem. When they get there, Naomi had to explain. She wanted Ruth to know that they had to work in this new place. They had to work in the fields. No one would take care of them, like they did in the land they just left.
  • There comes a moment where yo have to:

 

  1. Be Willing to Put in The Work 
  2. Whatever God has for you, will find you working. Your blessing will find you working.
  3. When You Serve Your Name Comes Up Where You’ve Never Been
  4. When Ruth worked, she did so with so much excellence, she got noticed in the field. When you are working, know that there is always somebody watching. If you work it, God has someone out there wondering who you are.
  5. You have to keep serving and doing what God told you to do.

 

THE CORRECT LOCATION TO BE FOUND 

  • It is about our decisions, our character and position.

 

  1. When You Are in His Will, The Blessing Will Find You 
  2. Boaz instructed people to leave some grain behind just for Ruth.
    1. You won’t have to chase stuff. Stuff will find you if you are in God’s will.
  3. The blessing of the Lord doesn’t go to people. Often God sends his blessing to places. This is why it is important to be in position.
    1. Example: Often, there is a play designed for the Quarterback to throw to a certain spot on the field, instead of to a Receiver. This is why, when the Receiver comes off the line, there is someone on the opposing team that tries to bump them off of their route. The ball is thrown while the receiver is running to a spot. When the Receiver gets to the spot, what is the air will meet them in that spot. God has something already in the air. You just have to be in the proper spot at the proper time to receive the blessing.

 

  1. God Will Use Your Story to Change Your Status 
  2. Boaz is the owner of the field. Oprah had the kids, but Ruth is going to get the property.
  3. This is your season for restoration!
  4. Final Analogy: You’re at the back of the line. It’s important that you stay in position. People think people are passing you up, but what they don’t know is God is going to flip the line. He’s going to turn the line so that those who are in the back will now be in the front!
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Part II: How Somebody Like Me Made the Cut

Posted on September 18, 2023 by growintheword

Synopsis of September 10, 2023 Sermon

Delivered by Joseph W. Walker, III

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

  1. INTRODUCTION 
  2. Gods sees in us we can’t see in ourselves. When he moves people into destiny, it is preordained. It’s already done.
  3. If we be honest, we are surprised how God trusts us. All of us have colorful backgrounds. If people knew what we had done in the past, they might not want to sit beside us.
  4. The enemy specializes in making you think God can’t use you. No matter what happened in your past, God sees you as being salvageable. No matter what you’ve done, God will use you. God has a plan for you.
  5. Today we learn how we made the cut. We are hear by the grace of god.
  6. This chapter is the chapter of faith. We get an explanation of faith in chapter one. In verse 6, we see that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith needs to be played out in our works. Our faith moves heaven.
  7. We see this hall of faith in this chapter. Your faith moves you above being average. We have a list of amazing people that were example of faith.
  8. Abraham for example moved by faith and so did Noah who built an ark out of faith. In this chapter we meet rehab. It makes sense how Abraham and Noah made the list, but how did Rahab make it?
  9. Rehab was a prostitute, but she made the cut. Even the person next to you, looks churchy, but if you go deeper and they were to be honest, you might wonder how they made the cut too. God salvages people that the public has thrown away.
  10. This points to Joshua too. They were about to take Jericho. These spies went in first and had a conversation with the Rahab. Rahab hid the spies. You all know what the Hall of Fame is, don’t you? Well, because of her faith, Rahab is remembered in the Hall of Faith.
  1. YOU’RE NOT DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE OF YOUR PAST 
  2. Every believer who’s done anything for God, knows you are not disqualified because of your past. God uses imperfect people all the time.
  1. Our Histories Are Not Hierarchical 
  2. Some people think some sins are greater than others. Despite her past, Rahab was included in the Hall of Faith. God is no respect or of persons. If you think about, God has demonstrated this in us. Just because you have the Position you have, it doesn’t exempt you from your humanity or the ability to do something wrong.
  3. The problem with legalistic mindsets is they think they are all mini-Jesuses.  Be careful when people literalize the Bible. All sin is sin. There is no hierarchy on sin. For example – “I don’t smoke crack, I just smoke weed.” Jesus said judge not, yet less ye be judged.
  • People See Your Past, But God Sees Your Potential 
  • God doesn’t allow an episode in your life to disqualify you. When you hear the name Rahab, many of you have preconceived ideas about her. People are quick to bring up what you used to be. Despite what Rahab had done in the past, God always knew that there was something good inside of her.
  • God sees your potential, when people see the worst in you.
  1. GOD WILL PUT YOU IN THE MIDST OF A DIVINE PLAN 
  2. God orchestrated a situation for rehab. When the spies came, they came for protection. God will put you in a situation to show the world you are more than what they thought you were.
  3. Destiny sometimes finds us, instead of us finding destiny.
  1. Embrace The Opportunity for Redemption 
  2. You have to think, maybe God put you in a place, so that people can see something about you, that they’ve never seen before. When you have an opportunity to do good, do it.
  3. Just because people have done bad things, doesn’t mean that they have a bad heart. There could be a variety of reasons why people ended up where they are. You have to ask yourself, what put this person in that place? Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
  4. The good news is; God didn’t judge you off of one chapter of our life.
  • Allow Grace to Hit Your Gift 
  • The Bible tells us to serve one another, and our gifts will manifest. Rehab, though she was a harlot, was a businesswoman. Although her business was morally wrong, it doesn’t mean she wasn’t gifted at business.
  • When the spies asked to be hid, she negotiated the terms. She was able to cut a deal that was mutually beneficial not only to her, it was beneficial to her family too. Just because you did things wrong, don’t mean God can’t use the gift inside of you.
  • Rahab had been using her gift wrong, but now she was able to use it for something good. Remember when Jesus called the disciples, he didn’t take their gift of fishing away from them. Instead, Jesus just changed what they were fishing for.
    • What would happen if you used the gifts, you had been using for bad and turned it around to use it for God’s work? It is not that people are not gifted. It is that their gifts are misguided.
    • Even though Saul was killing Christian’s, he was still brilliant. He used all of his gifts for Satan. After the Damascus rode, he used his gifts for good. When God’s grace hits your gift, you will help somebody.
  1. GOD ALWAYS DELIVERS ON HIS PROMISE 
  2. God counted on rehab for righteousness.
  1. God Never Forgets Those Who Serve 
  2. When you serve, you have to serve with:
    1. Availability – Some people say they don’t have time. You have to make time for God.
    1. Aim – What is your motivation for serving? Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV says 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
    1. Attitude – If you are going to serve, serve with a smile. Serve the Lord with gladness.
      1. Psalm 100:2 NKJV says Serve the Lord with gladness; 
        Come before His presence with singing.
      1. Matthew 25:23 NKJV says His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
  • Your Decisions Have Generational Implications 
  • We don’t always connect the dots. Whatever you choose or not to do, can affect your whole generation. Rahab could have just thought about herself, but she didn’t.
  • Rahab is negotiating with the General. She asks if she hides him, what’s in it for her? Rahab’s condition was when they came back, to destroy Jericho, they needed to make sure not to harm her family.
  • Although they agreed, there was one condition. The General told Rahab to put a red rag outside the window. He told her that when they saw the red rag, they would know not to go there. The red rag in this case represented the blood.
  • Another condition was, when they came back, her family had to be in Rahab’s house. They could not be out running around. When things go down, there is nothing like being in the presence of God.
  • Rehab is brilliant. She doesn’t just think about herself. She thought about her generation. In a similar manner, when you get tired of church, you have to think this is not just a decision you are making just for you. This will be a storm that gets your children wet. Some of our children are jacked up now, because of the decisions we made concerning God.
  • THE GOD WHO CONTROLS YOUR DESTINY DESERVES YOUR PRAISE 
  • God knows the plans he has for our lives. There are seasons that had significant strongholds but know that God is in control.
  1. You Will Be Known by Your Faith Not Your Flaws
  2. When pinning history, the writer included Rahab. Somebody is being interrogated right now for what they used to be. Every interrogation will end now, in the name of Jesus! Psalm 103:12 NKJV says As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. – God’s grace is about to put you in mind blowing spaces. When the hand of God is ion your life, he puts you in places that you would never have believed.
  3. Some people say the same about you as you have said about Rahab. They wonder how did you get that job? How did you get that house? They based it off of what you were in the past.
  • His Grace Will Put You in A Mind-Blowing Space 
  • God’s grace put you in this space. When others counted me out, God put me here. Eyes have not seen nor ears heard, neither have entered into the heart of the man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor 2:9 – When the world wants to throw you away, God recycles you.
  • You might still wonder how somebody like Rahab could be used by God? Well if you look at Matt 1 :1 -5a will see this: 1 This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, – Women been saying they are waiting on their Boaz and if you catch the bolded part at the end, you will see that Rahab was Boaz’ mother. Boaz mother was a prostitute, but she ended up in the genealogy of Jesus Christ!
  • Turn to your neighbor and say, “Despite everything I did, I made the cut”!
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Part I: There Is Something I Have to Do

Posted on September 8, 2023 by growintheword

Synopsis of Sermon 9/3/23

Delivered by Joseph W. Walker, III

Jeremiah 1:4-10 NKJV 
4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

  1. INTRODUCTION 
  2. None of us was born to exist. From the beginning of time, there has been a divine pull, trying to bring you into God’s purpose for your life. Maybe you have felt this prompting to do something bigger.
  3. In the moment that you feel this great pull, you begin to accept that there is something you are being called to do. There is a call and assignment on your life. You tried to run from it, only to find yourself running to it.
  4. There is greatness in you, purpose on you, and Destiny in you. No more excuses, it’s time!
  5. God reminded Jeremiah; he could not escape his call. The people were not pleased that Jeremiah had received this assignment. Today we examine this call and assignment on Jeremiah’s life. What God has started in our lives, started long before we got here.
  1. REVELATION OF A PREDESTINED ASSIGNMENT 
  2. To understand what God is up to, you have to understand when it began. God operates outside the realm of time. God started before the beginning started. Before you were placed in your mom’s womb, God was already at work on your life.
  3. When God creates, he does so with purpose. He puts all inside of you what is needed for your assignment.

A. God Was at Work Concerning You Before You Got Here 

  1. Your genetic composition is not an accident. It was all preordained by God.
  2. The begots mentioned in the Bible points to connectivity. We often skip them when we read the bible, thinking it is not important, but it is. All of this connectivity to genealogy eventually gets you to Jesus.
    1. For example it was no accident that your Dad met your Mom. It was all about you. Everything about you is a collision of your genes, destined by God, for an assignment on the earth.
    1. Example 2: Don’t worry if you’re not patient, because this probably means that you’ll never be one who is involved with childcare. Simply put, God wired you for something else.
  3. The devil knows you are wired for something powerful. This is why he wants to derail you!
  1. You Were Born to Solve a Problem 
  1. If you don’t discover the problem you are here to solve, then you become a problem. Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King were both examples of being here to solve a problem.
  2. The answer to Cancer is in someone, but they have to embrace the assignment for the answer to manifest. I lack of a cure for Cancer can be simple because the person with the answer never embraced their assignement.
  3. Jerimiah was created to solve a problem. God will always call you to something that wows you. When God calls you to something, it is always bigger than you!
  1. REALITY OF PROTESTING YOUR ABILITY 
  2. Everyone comes up with excuses. Moses said he was too old. Jonah just ran.
  3. David was young when God called him. It is amazing how God will use you, when statistically, you shouldn’t be able to do it.
  1. Your Flesh Will Always Protest the Call 
  1. The flesh doesn’t want to be under submission. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He already knows our issues, before he calls us.
  2. God knew when he called him, that Peter was part hood and part Holy. When God deals with us, it’s based on our potential, not our present tense situation.
  3. God is patient with us, even when others give up on us.
  • God Desires Your Availability Not Your Ability 
  • You can tell God you can’t do this, but you will realize this is something you have to do.
  • It’s not about your ability, but instead your availability. God is concerned if you are willing to trust him enough to do what he tells you to do.
  • You have to trust God in this new season in your life.
  1. REMEMBER YOU HAVE PROVIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE 
  2. God doesn’t send you anywhere, without giving you what you need.
  3. God tells Jeremiah to go and know that He would be there with him.
  1. Walk In the Authority Like God Sent You 
  2. Purpose is not a place for timid people. Stop walking into a room and sitting in the back, like you’re not supposed to be there.
  3. Stop second guessing yourself. God has you!
  • God Will Deliver You from Every Scheme of The Enemy 
  • When you begin to walk in purpose, understand that you will have a lot of attacks. Know that you can be doing good things and still experience attacks.
  • The enemy will attack when you try to work in you Purpose: (it’s a systematic scheme)
    • This Scheme will include:
      • Distraction – This will cause you to take your eye off the original assignment. Keep your focus on what God has called you to do.
      • Disillusionment – This is to confuse you and to make you think nothing makes sense. It doesn’t make sense that people will fight against something that is designed to bless them.
      • Discouragement – This is when the enemy beats you down. Every time you try to do good, you keep taking blow after blow.
  • Jeremiah wanted to walk away. It is because of the Lord’s mercy’s that we are renewed. You have too much to do, to walk away from your assignment in God!
  • RESPONSIBLE WITH THE POWER TO ACHIEVE 
  1. You Will Always Win with His Word 
  2. You’re carrying the Lord in your mouth. This is why you have to be careful with the words in your mouth. Philippians 1:6 NKJV says 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; – You win with the Word. God’s word accomplishes what it was sent to do.
    1. I have been down and out and God’s word, gave me a second wind.
  3. The word of God is a promise. For every problem, God has a promise. No weapon, formed against you shall prosper.
  • This is Your Season of Influence to Get Things Done 
  • God gives me revelation in his words.
  • Jeremiah was told not to be anxious when he went into different spaces to spread the word. God said he would set him about nations and kingdoms.
  • God set him up to build and plan. What’s greater than money? Its influence. Influence will get you in rooms that your resume can’t get you into.
  • The enemy wants your influence. If God gives you influence, he doesn’t raise you up to brag. It was never about you. It was for you to get stuff done on the earth.
  • Can God trust you to take him where he raises you up to? God didn’t’ raise you up for you. It was so that you would fulfill his purpose on the earth.
  • You were called to make a change. You were raised up so you would be a change agent. When He raised you up, you were supposed to root out the stuff that was not supposed to be here.
    • This is why you got the devil nervous. When you root up, you pulled down. You pull down strongholds. This is changing people’s minds and their mindsets.
  • You cast down the things that are not like God. When you think of nations, you have to think of natural influences. Nations means you have influence in this world. He’s not giving you power in this word, but instead power over kings. You will have power in the spiritual realm too.
  • You got to get this done:
    • 4 declarations:
  • I am not afraid to face it. – No matter what God has called me to do, I won’t be afraid to face it.
  • It might be difficult , but God will deliver – It’s tough because its big, but God will help you get through it!
  • God shaped your history according to his purpose. – All this time, we thought it was all about us, but we were wrong. God had a purpose in mind for you.
  • My story will end with grace and growth. – Nothing will hinder me if I do what God called me to do.
  • Story: When Deon Sanders went to Colorado, they were 1 – 11. He gutted the team, because he wanted to do a new thing. As a end result, they upset TCU, because they were focused on their assignment and not their obstacle.

God has a purpose for you and he will help you get it done. Turn to your neighbor and tell them, “We are coming!”

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Part III: You Can’t Get That Until You Pass Thru This

Posted on August 25, 2023 by growintheword

Synopsis of August 20, 2023

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker

Psalm 84:5-7 NKJV 
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, 
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, 
They make it a spring; 
The rain also covers it with pools. 
7 They go from strength to strength; 
Each one appears before God in Zion.

  1. INTRODUCTION 
  2. It should be your desire to be close to God. We believe you are reading this right now, because you are pursuing a relationship with God. We must know, however, that a relationship with God, comes with a cost. Matt 6:33 NKJV says “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
  3. We need stuff from God, but he doesn’t need stuff from us. That thing you need from God only comes when you submit to his process.
  4. It is natural for us to resist the process. We want to go straight to the blessing. Even though it’s not pleasant, you have to pass through whatever God orchestrates for your life.
  5. This text today is a Pilgrimage Psalm which means it was a song. The people were passing through Jerusalem while singing this song. This would give them comfort as they passed through Baca, also called the Place of Tears.
  6. When you focus on the Promise, you are not swayed by the Problem. When you are focused on what you are going to, you won’t focus on what you’re going through. Many of us want the Degree, but we don’t want to pass through Baca to get it. Everyone has a Baca to deal with!
  7. We must realize that tears are part of the journey.
    1. History: Baca is only mentioned once in bible and it is translated as weeping. Psalms 84:5 says “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” – The journey was interesting. You had weeping in one hand and refreshing springs in the other.
    1. There were trees in Baca were weeping like mulberry trees. You really only see these mulberry trees mentioned in one other place in the bible. II Samuel 5:22–25 NKJV says, “Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”
    1. In the Psalmist’ days, Pilgrims passed through this waterless valley with weeping trees. In the scripture they had to go through this condition to get where they were trying to go. The weeping that happens along the journey in Baca is symbolic of the tears that you shed on your journey.
  8. Really see yourself in this. The people were passionate about their destination. They were so determined to get there; they were willing to get there by any means necessary.
  1. GOD GIVES POWER FOR THE PILGRIMAGE 
  2. Blessed are those who’s strength is in God. You have to know that what you go after is going to have to take strength.
  3. God knows the:
  1. Length of the Trip – God knows what it will take to get to where you are going.
  2. Limitations Of the Travelers – He knows how long it will take and how much you can bear.
  3. I must:
    1. Begin with the End In Sight 
    1. You Cannot Do This Without Him 
  4. Before getting there, they are locked in on the journey. When you are in pursuit of your destiny, you are locked into what you are after. Luke 14:28 NKJV says “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—”- This means you actually thought through this. You didn’t’ just set out on the journey.
  5. You can’t do this without Him. When you rely on God, you have learned that you can’t do this without Him.
  6. God reveals himself to you on the way.
    1. You have to:
  7. Actively Submit. – You have to surrender totally to God.
  8. Accept His Sovereignty. – God doesn’t owe us an explanation.
  9. Acknowledge His Spirit. – It is the Power of God that will get us through.
    1. It doesn’t matter what you have, people don’t realize that your strength comes from the Lord.
  10. You have to go through on God’s strength.
  11. You will pass through the pain. – There is no promise without pain. You can’t get around this. Baca is the go between from what you are going to and what you going through.
  1. YOU WILL PASS THRU THE PAIN 
  2. You Can’t Get Around This 
  3. Accept What God Allows 
  4. Assess Who Will Accompany You 
  5. Approach It to Achieve It – I won’t step to it, unless I believe I can do it.
  6. Make Sure Your Tears Have Term Limits 
    1. You must let your tears work for you. They should help you release the hurt. Every tear we cry has a story. Psalms 56:8 says “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” -Everyone has tears. As you age, your tears may get less, but they don’t run out.
    1. The thing about the valley is, it is not meant for you to be there forever. You are just passing through.
    1. Don’t let the residue from Baca, follow you into Jerusalem. Phil 3:13-14 says “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 30:5 KJV says For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
  1. YOU MUST BE POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE 
  2. You have to pull self together, wipe your eyes, and move. You have to resist being negative and despondent.
  3. You have to declare:
  1. There Is Something Good in Every Situation 
  2. No matter how bad it looks, you need to realize there is something in this situation. For example, if it wasn’t for the layoff, I wouldn’t have to become an entrepreneur.
  3. Baca is a valley of weeping. Although it is a valley of weeping, we still can benefit from the experience.
  4. Don’t Just Cry, Create 
  5. They made a Well. This was a dry place and it only had weeping trees. You can’t live without water!
  6. They decided to make a Well. One reason for passing through Baca is to raise up the Engineer inside of you. They dug a well. That thing that God started in you he will perform until the end of time.
  7. Dig a well!
  • GOD WILL GIVE YOU PROVISION TO KEEP YOU FROM PERISHING 
  • When they dug the well, God sent the rain and allowed the rain to fill the pool. When you do what you can do, God will do what you can’t do. He will make sure you get something out of the journey!
  1. If You Maximize the Opportunity, God Will Give You Overflow 
  2. Opportunities come in many forms. Because of these many forms, sometimes we overlook them.
  3. If you do all you can do, like digging the well, God will release blessings in your life.
  4. Some of us think God will do things for us without us putting in the work.
  5. We have to:
  6. Put In the Work – You got to dig your well, work your plan, and work your vision.
  7. Prepare The Well – In the scripture, they were specific about what they were digging. They weren’t just digging holes; they were digging Wells. You can’t be just working. You have to be working on your Well. Who digs a well in a dry place? Those that can patiently wait on God.
  8. Patiently Wait – We believe that God will do what he says he will do. We believe that if we act, God will act. Luke 6:38 NKJV says “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.””
    1. When we read this text and compare in modern day times, we have a hard time interpreting without knowing some background.
    1. In the bible times, they worked the land and then they would pray for rain. The rain would usher in the harvest. Drought for them was like a recession is for us. You work, you plan, and you know that God will supply all of your needs.
    1. Bishop prophesies, “You are about to reap double. God is about to fill your pools”! – Turn to the one next to you and say, “I feel the rain filling up the places of drought”.
  9. In the scripture, they set out on a pilgrimage, to go to Mt Zion in Jerusalem. They knew the only way to get there is to rely on history. They knew it was going to be painful. They knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They decided to build something while they were in their situation. They knew when they did something, God would do what they couldn’t do. If you haven’t dug anything, then the rain won’t mean anything to you.
  10. When the rain comes, instantly they go from strength to strength. They had one strength when they left. It was God’s strength which is spiritual strength.
  11. When I worked my plan, the natural man was tired, so God gave me water to give me another strength. This was natural strength. God don’t just bless in heaven. He blesses down here too.
  12. The Bible says they all appeared in Zion.
  • You Will Survive and Make It to Your Destination 
    • I Got Stronger – Every one of them appeared in Zion. You prayed, you cried, you prayed, and you cried, but in the end, you knew you were going to make it.
    • Through the Baca experience, you’ve gotten stronger.
    • What I Saw – You ought to thank God for what you saw God do in Baca. He brought the rain. He made a way out of no way!
    • I Survived – Another thing we think God for is, we survived!  Not only was I going to make it, everything attached to me is going to make it through Baca too!
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