Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty Part 3, Bible Study 4/8/20

Posted on April 10, 2020 by growintheword

April 2020 Bible Study Series Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty

Part 3: Staying Positive

Synopsis of Bible Study April 8, 2020

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

Proverbs 17:22 NKJV – “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

How you view this season has lot to do with how you go through it. Some people, all they see is the negative. You can’t be a person that is always being feed negativism.

I.            OTIMISSIM VS. PESSIMISM

  1. Optimist- This is a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something. A person who believes that good must ultimately prevail over evil.
    1. They see things from a hope perspective
  2. Pessimist- A person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believes that the worst will happen. Believes that evil will always prevail over the good.
    1. They see the glass half empty while the optimist sees the glass half full.
  3. An optimist understands that life can be a bumpy road, but at least it is leading somewhere. They learn from mistakes and are not afraid to fail again – Harvey Mackay
  4. Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have – Anonymous
  5. Darrin Donnelly states in his book Relentless Optimism, “The people who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid failure; they’re the ones who learn how to respond to failure with optimism”
  6. There has to be an effort to be intentional. You have to stay positive in this season. It is about perspective.

II.            STAYING POSITIVE IS ABOUT PERSPECTIVE

  1. We all have blind spots that come from our own thinking. Blind spots make us think this is not what God would have us to think.
  2. You can’t have a perspective that is too hot or too cold. You have to be a thermostat. A thermostat perspective can change environments.
  3. 3 parts of perspective
    1. Thoughts – Often how I think can be controlled by a particular thing or particular space.
    2. Feelings – How I feel can be measured by what I am going through. What I do can have an affect on how I feel.
    3. Actions – Actions can be about how I see life. You can make yourself sick or act a certain way based off of your perspective.

III.            WHAT IS IT THAT INFORMS YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. – Whatever you find positive, let you mind meditate on that. Don’t focus on things that are negative, because it can be toxic to your destiny.

What are the effects of our perspective?

 

  1. ENVIRONMENT
    Psalm 1 :1-6 (NKJV) 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the [a]ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he [b]meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the [c]rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. – Have you ever thought that the people you hang around, can affect your environment? Hang around someone long enough, you will end up believing what they believe. This is why it is important to be around positive people.
  2. Your environment can be conducive to your mindset and change your perspective.
  3. EXPOSURE
  4. It is about getting out of your environment. – Some people in your life can’t handle what God is going to do in and through you.
  5. Vision is all about your exposure. If you don’t go beyond your zip code, then your vision is affected. You can’t be it, if you don’t see it.

Genesis 12:1-2 NIV – “1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

  1. EXPERIENCE
  2. This is about reflecting on what you have seen God do.

Psalm 37:25 NIV – “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”- David said he’s been around and his experience tells him that God is going to pull you through.

  1. You see people that don’t worry, and you wonder why. It is because they have seen God work things out before.

IV.            HOW TO PREVENT NEGATIVE ENERGY

Ever woke up feeling good and one phone call takes it all out of you? You have to prevent negative energy from being around you.

You have to:

  1. Control Your Boundaries – You got to learn to block some things and to delete some things. Keep your mind away from toxicity. This means control allowing negative energy in your space.
  2. In this season, you don’t have the luxury of carrying all that you are carrying and then take on others luggage too.

 

  1. Watch What You Take In
  2. Watch your eye gate and ear gate. Be careful what you allow to come into your spirit.

Psalm 101:3 NIV – “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.”- You can’t see all this negative stuff all day and it not affect you. You can’t let this stuff attach to you.

  1. Watch what you hear.

Mark 4:24-25 NIV – 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”- We often miss that. Take head of what you hear.

  1. Some people are messy and we just sit and listen to all that they have to say. You can’t always be reading, watching, or hearing negative info.
  2. Ask yourself, are you allowing more negative to pour into you than you allow God’ word?
  1. Watch What You Put Out
  2. What you put out is often what you put your mouth to do. When you do this, you are creating an atmosphere around you.
  3. Proverbs 18:20 NIV – “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.”- Why do you attach to negative energy? It is because deep down, you may be
  4. We take our garbage to garbage can. Ask yourself then, why do people feel comfortable bringing garbage to you?

V.            SIGNS OF A NEGATIVE PERSON

  1. They always find the bad in the good. These people will find bad in everything.
  2. Their negativity will drain your energy. Relationships pour into you. You don’t need something pouring into that is draining you.
  3. They find ways and reasons to under achieve. They’re always looking for the easy way out.
  4. They refuse to grow personally. Negative people are stuck in the same place. They get mad at you for progressing.
  5. They always play the victim.
  6. They worry about everything.
  7. They love the word “but”. I love your house, but…

VI.            HOW TO MOVE FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE

  1. Have an attitude to gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

  1. You have to practice gratitude. If you focus on the bad things, you never see the good things.
  2. Focus on what God is doing for you and not what is happening to you
  3. Write down everything that you appreciate God for, so that you don’t let your situation drive you crazy.
  4. God has done more for you than what’s happening to you.
  5. Spend more time being aware of your countenance. Look like what you believe. Smile more.
  6. Your posture matters.

Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV) 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful [a]countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. – When you have a merciful heart, it changes your countenance.

  1. We see the present as present

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. – We don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but we know who holds tomorrow.

 

 

VII.            HAVE THE MATURITY TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

  1. Jeremiah
    Jeremiah 20:9 NIV – “But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
  2. Jeremiah didn’t want to do it another day. He was done. Jeremiah matured to the point that the word called him back to himself.
  3. Job
  4. Job had to encourage himself. Job went through one thing after the next. He kept getting bad news one after another.

Job 1:20-22 NIV – “20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”-Job matured to the place that he reverted back to what he always knew.

  1. Job worshipped God

Job 13:15 NIV – “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.” – They may call him crazy, but Job made up in his mind to trust God.

  1. David
  2. David had to trust God. Saul tried to kill David, and David had to learn something about being optimistic.

Psalm 23:4 NIV – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”- You not in the valley by yourself

  1. We have divine partnership this makes up our optimism. When we trust things like this, great things happen.
  2. To come back from Zig Lag and see that all had been destroyed, family had been kidnapped, and people have turned against you, this is hard. Know that no matter what, you will recover

1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV) 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was [a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  – David had a spirit of optimism. David asked God what to do. God told him to get up and go back. You shall recover all.

Conclusion:

Say to yourself, “I shall recover all”. The way you will survive this season is you have to stay positive. Let nothing separate you from the love of Jesus Christ.

In all of the bad news, know that He is the good news!

 

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Don’t Stop Living series , Sermon 4.5.20

Posted on April 9, 2020 by growintheword

Don’t Stop Living series

Part 1 – Your life matters

Synopsis of Sermon April 5, 2020

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

Matthew 21: 1-9 NIV – “1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

  1. INTRODUCTION

So many of us go through life without knowing the true essence of our existence. God has something for you to do on this earth. The sooner you realize your purpose, the sooner you will appreciate your value.

In the scripture, this was the period prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. He asked his disciples to go and get the donkey from town that was tied. He was going to use it to ride into town.

  1. GOD HAS AN ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU

You were born to accomplish something in the earth. Often, we don’t find our assignments, they find us.

A.      You Are Valuable to The Kingdom

  1. Jesus sent the Disciples into town to get a donkey that was tied that had never been ridden. Though the unridden Donkey had not been broken, Jesus saw the donkey for the value it had.
  2. Society has its way of attaching value on people. Your value is not determined by people, but instead what God says you are.
  3. Its time to discover your value!

B.      Everything Tied Up Is About to Be Loosed Up

  1. Jesus said the donkey would be tied to tree. He told the disciples to lose it and bring it to Him.
  2. Tied up implies being constricted or controlled. Everything that has been tied has to be released.
  3. God will loose things that have been constricting you. Just like the donkey, the Master has need of you. This is why God has loosed the things that have been constricting you.

C.      You’ve Been Entrusted to Carry Christ In Culture

  1. Jesus could have of chosen anything, but he chose the donkey. Likewise, Jesus could have chosen anyone to carry out his will, but he chose you.
  2. Our assignment is to help carry Christ into this culture.

D.     You Bring Peace and Not Conflict

  1. You can’t carry Christ if you don’t take His method and His ministry.
  • WHO YOU ARE CONNECTS WITH WHERE THEY ARE

A.      Mutual identification has a lot to do with your assignment.

  1. Zechariah 9:9 NIV – “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, slowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
  2. Matthew 21:5 NIV – “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”- You can’t be so high and mighty that you lose common touch. Jesus came humbly by riding in on a donkey.

B.      The corona virus has equaled the playing field.

  1. It all comes down to:
    • Story – I have to tell people my story. I have to tell people that I haven’t always been at this place in my life.
    • Status- God has evened the playing field. It doesn’t matter how much you make, how much education you have, or statue you have achieved, we all have had to humble ourselves during this Pandemic.
    • Service- We have had to learn to serve each other.
  2. YOUR PURPOSE FUNCTIONS BETTER UNDER HIS CONTROL

When the donkey is chosen, he is under the control of Jesus Christ. The donkey has to allow Jesus to Lord over it, if its value is to come to full fruition.

  1. I’m Submissive – No one had every ridden the colt. In order for the donkey to fulfil its purpose, it has to be broken. In other words, the Donkey has to submit.
  2. The Donkey’s natural inclination is to buck, because it hadn’t been ridden.
  3. I Only Go Where He Leads Me – Jesus had a predetermined purpose in mind.
  4. The Steps of a Good Man are Ordered by the Lord.
  • The Course – In this season, God is looking for people willing to let him lay down their life for the course.
  • You have to understand that God has our life in his hands.
  • The Cadence – there is a pace and timing by which God will get you through this.
  • The Cause – God never leads you down a path that doesn’t have purpose.
  1. It’s Not About Me, It’s All About Him – The text shows how purpose plays out. It is all about HIM.

 

  1. We forget that God can do this without us.
  2. God alone must be glorified.
  3. I Can Serve Without Attention – The donkey carried Jesus. He brings him though Jerusalem and doesn’t draw attention to himself. It ain’t about the donkey, in this case, it is about who the donkey is carrying.
  4. The donkey is moving in purpose silently, without drawing attention to himself. We have to learn to operate in purpose without having to be seen. When God has his hand on me, I deny myself, and want people to see HIM.
  5. THE MORE I SHARE HIM THE MORE PEOPLE PRAISE HIM
  6. The more the donkey carried Him, the more people praised Jesus
  7. John 12:32 NIV – “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” – They threw their clothes in the street. This was signifying that he was a king.
  8. The only way this will make sense is you got to pay attention to the fact that the people in the street was celebrating him.
  9. Do you know who he is?
  10. Revelation – He is the king of glory, of righteousness, and of heaven. He is available for the tempted. He guides, He heals the sick, He delivers the captives, He blesses the young, He rewards the diligent, He is the door way of deliverance, He is the highway of holiness, He is the gateway of glory, His promise is true, His might is matchless, His goodness limitless, He is indescribable, He is incomprehensible, you can’t live without him, and you can’t move without him. Death could not handle him, and the grave could not hold him!
  11. Liberation – When He comes through, every struggle is released. It is us believing that God can set us free.
    1. We have seen God bring us out of so many things.
    2. Some of you are anxious about Covid. Know that He is King, and He is the deliberator. He brought you out before and he will do it again!
  12. Celebration – There can’t be liberation without celebration.
    1. People are going to wonder who are these people who are still trusting God during this Pandemic.
    2. Who are these people that decided to give God glory through all of this?
    3. When we get to the other side, God is about to shift us into a different dimension with a shout of praise.
    4. Hosanna means save us Lord we pray. Our salvation comes from Him that saved us time and time again. Our salvation comes from God.

I leave you with this scripture:

Psalm 118:24-26 MSG – “Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone!
This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name— from God’s house we bless you!”

Your life manners. Everything God promised in your life will come to pass. God will complete what he began in your life!

 

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Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty, bible Study 4.1.20

Posted on April 3, 2020 by growintheword

Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty
4-Part Bible Study Series

Part 2: Spiritual Persistence

Synopsis of April 1, 2020

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

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

God wants us to know how to life out our lives faithfully.

       I.            WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FAITHFUL?

  1. When we’re talking about persistence we talk about faithfulness. There is nothing more important in your life in this season than to be faithful.
  2. What does it mean to be faithful? By definition, it is an adherence to a person or thing. A promise at which a tie is contracted.
  3. God rewards those who are faithful. When we are faithful, we trust that God will take of us.
  4. Faithfulness doesn’t mean we will be perfect. It simply means that every day, we will try to be consistent to God’s commandments.
  5. God is looking for faithful people. 50% of Americans belong to church. 19% of Americans don’t have a religious preference. Only a 3rd of Americans read the bible once a week. How can you be faithful to something that you are not committed to?
    1. What would happen if we flipped through the bible once a day or used it in case of emergency? What if we would be eager to go back and get it, if we forgot it? Imagine how much better we would be?
  6. One great thing about the bible is, you don’t ever have to worry about it being disconnected.

     II.            WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING FAITHFUL?

  1. God can trust you with more.
    1. God wants to know if he can trust you. Most of what He releases has much to do with if we can be trusted.
      1. A lot of your relationship with God has to do with whether God can trust you. Think about it, we don’t even give our kids a key to the house until we feel like we can trust them.
    2. This is the only way we can be what he called us to be.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ – We complain about our small beginnings, but God wants to know how we will handle the little things. How we handle the little things is an indication of how we will handle big things.

  1. Being faithful is to show that I treat my possessions as if they belong to God.
  2. Trustworthiness is built by surrendering everything we have to God.
  1. Brings credibility to your name.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.- You begin to realize that we go through a process where God makes us credible and faithful. Can God trust you through this season? Can God trust you to let your light shine through this season?

  1. God is looking for us to be examples. God wants us to be responsible. He wants to know he can trust you with what He gives you. This is what faithfulness looks like.

 

  III.            BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

  1. Faithfulness in Covenant – Abraham
    1. You got to be willing to move when God says move. God says to Abraham the He would make his name great.
    2. Abraham’s didn’t allow his disobedience to take God’s blessing away. He followed God’s direction through faith.
  2. Faithfulness in Conflict – Jeremiah

Lamentations 3:19-24 (NKJV) 19 Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the [a]gall. 20 My soul still remembers And [b]sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

  1. Jeremiah was about to slip, but he saw God and his goodness. He realized that his mercy was sustaining him.
  2. Jeremiah came back to his senses, because he remembered that God had been faithful to him.
  3. Faithfulness in Connection – Sarah

Genesis 17:16-19 (NKJV) 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”

19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. – Abraham was not always faithful, but God was powerful enough to make it happen.

John 15:1-4 (NKJV) 15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

– God knows where you are and your capabilities.

  1. We often want God to join us in our stuff. God wants us to instead line our faithfulness up with his faithfulness.

 IV.            HOW THE ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO CAUSE US TO BE UNFAITHFUL

  1. Affliction – Job 1:9-11 (NKJV) 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not [a]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse[b] You to Your face!” – Satan tried to explain to God that Job only trusted him, because he had a hedge around him.
    1. Just like the scripture, in this season the hedge has been removed. Can we still serve God?
    2. Anyone can be faithful to God before Corona, but can you be faithful to Him now?
  2. The Failure of Others – Satan uses other people’s issues to pull you away from God. Some people will quit coming to church, just because someone at church made them mad.
    1. Paul says in Romans 8:39 that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul said he would let nothing separate him from the love of God.
    2. When I connect with God, I will let nothing separate me from God.
  3. The Lure of Culture – Culture can pull you away. In these days, we have allowed culture to get stronger than the church.
    1. Even now, people don’t want to do what God wants us to do, because culture urges us to do something different.

James 4:4 (NKJV) 4 [a]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. – If we keep following with culture, you become an enemy against God.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – We’ve got time for everything else, but not God’s word.

  1. We have time for everything else but God. We make sure our kids have time to do recreational activities, we have time for our own recreation, and we make time to do everything else we want to do, but we don’t have time for God.
    1. In this season of the Pandemic, maybe God is calling us to reevaluate the way we spend our time. Maybe God wants us to take this time to put our lives in better alignment with Him.

 

    V.            KEYS TO A FAITHFUL LIFESTYLE

  1. Be consistent in your confession
    1. We don’t have to produce faithfulness alone. God gives us the power to do this.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

 

  1. Work as Unto God Not Man
    1. God gives us strength to be faithful people because we do it for him.
  2. We do this for God’s glory. Do not let the role others play discourage you.
  3. Sometimes faithfulness to family and friends can pull us away from God. Proverbs 27:9-10 (NKJV) 9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by [a]hearty counsel. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
  4. Do Not Change Your Course
  5. Stay the course that God set for you.
  6. Faithfulness is staying faithful to something. When you hit head winds or turbulence on a plane, the pilot does not change will not change its course. He continues to the planned destination. Forget what’s behind and press towards the mark. Don’t turn away from what God has pointed you to.
  7. Can you speak well of God despite what’s going on? Faithfulness is important. Consume your life with praise.

 

 VI.            WHAT ENHANCES YOUR FAITHFULNESS?

  1. The Word – God’s Word is what keeps me faithful is this season.

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. –  If you ever get God’s word in your heart, it will prevent you from disappointing God. People who are faithful, have God’s word in their hearts.

  1. Winning in Warfare -What we are dealing with now is warfare. It is not time to rollover and be a wuss. You’ve got to declare that you are not going to allow this war to have your family, your job, or your spirit!
    1. When you are in battle, you’ve got to win this thing. You’ve got to be willing to say Lord, “I’m going to win this war”. You may lose a few battles, but you will win this war! You are coming through this!
  2. Worship – Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV) 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. – This season is teaching all of us the importance of coming

together.

  1. You need community. After this is over, revival is going to break out!
  2. Your faithfulness requires you to be in worship. Look how easy it is to be in worship. We complained about getting up early and going to church, but now we can stream everything. We don’t have to even have to get dressed to go to church.
  3. God wants us to have the same enthusiasm to worship Him when this Pandemic is over. God wants us to get out of your bed He blessed us with, get out of the house He blessed us with, and get to the house God and be a worshipper.
  4. When I worship God, I’m faithful regardless to how things turn out.

One of the greatest examples ever given of worship during a storm is by a song writer who was traveling on the Atlantic Ocean. He had gotten the news that his family had perished in an accident. He had lost both his wife and his daughter.

While on his way to them, still on the ship, he took out a pen and paper and wrote these words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

When you’re a worshiper, you can say, “I don’t know all the answers about this crazy season, but Lord I do know that you count on me to be faithful, , because through all of this,  it is well with my soul.

Through this, God is looking for consistency. I’m going to praise you now, just like I did before all this happened and I will still praise him with this is over.

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Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty, Bible Study 3.25.20

Posted on April 2, 2020 by growintheword

4-Part Series: Surviving Seasons of Uncertainty

Synopsis of Part 1: The Significance of Preparation

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.
March 25, 2020

 

Everything God did in the earth, he prepared for us. God put things in place for man, before he created him. Water, grass, and the Sun was all created, before God created man. God prepares.

This season should expose the critical need for preparation. Preparation is developing a systematic schedule of events to accomplish a spiritual goal. In other words, it’s a plan. As we plan as a child of God, we have to ask God to bring forth his will. We want to line up with His will. God always works with a plan.

I.            THREE WAYS TO RECEIVE A PLAN

  1. Through Wise Counsel
  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.- It is important to know we have to have wise counsel to make strategic plans in this season.
  2. John 14:26 (NKJV) 26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. -The Holy Spirit is inside you to bring you to a place where he can teach, navigate, and bring things to remembrance in your life. – This is why it’s important not to be too talkative. Don’t talk so much , that you don’t allow space for a response. We have to make sure we can hear when the Holy Spirit is speaking to us.
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) 11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. – We do what Christ would have us to do.
  1. Direct Revelation – This helps us to come into what God wants us to receive.
    1. We allow God to speak to us, sometimes through sermon, and allow God to give us revelation that will guide us to what we are supposed to do next.
  2. The Spirit of Wisdom – Wisdom is spiritually, the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. God is looking for wisdom from us in this season.
    1. How do we get wisdom? We ask God for it.
      Scripture References:

      1. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) 11 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – “God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,” – If we are like Solomon and we don’t ask for personal gain and we instead ask for wisdom, God will give you what you ask for and in addition what you didn’t ask for.
      2. James 1:5 (NIV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.
      3. Isaiah 33:6 (NIV) 6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.[a]
      4. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV) 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]- If we are going to prepare, we have to be in the wisdom of God.
    2. Gods word will get us through this season.

II.            THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING IN THE WILL OF GOD

A.       Scripture References:
Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

  1. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. – We often say we have no fear. We say we are not scared of Corona, because we have faith. However, we ask for wisdom, so that we won’t be foolish. In other words, we appropriately apply God’s word to our situation.

III.            BENEFITS OF APPLYING GOD’S WORD

  1. It Empties You of Excuses – The word of God will empty you of each excuse you have.
  2. It Equips You with the Resource of a Task – How do we do it?
  3. It Energizes You with the Grace and Power to Obey God – When you struggle to obey God, it is his word that will sustain you. James 4:8 (NIV) 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
  4. It Enriches Your Human Revelation – God’s word sheds light on you as a human being.
  5. It Enlarges You as a Reward for Your Obedience – As you obey God, He will enlarge your territory. Its about staying in the will of God.
  6. When things get rough, you can’t come up with illegal ways to stay in the will of God. You have to ask God to navigate you into this season.
  7. Malachi 3:14-18 (NIV) 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.- God was so serious during this day. There is a choice you got to make. Are we going to serve God and do his will?
    1. Just because things are getting worse, it doesn’t mean God has changed, nor his standard, or his word.
  8. We have to be personal. We must do what God called us to do. Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV) 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.- When you understand God’s thoughts, you will think towards God’s will for your life.
    1. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. – God has a future and a hope for you. His plans for your life has not been postponed or cancelled.
    2. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) 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;- God is going to complete what he started in you.
    3. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) 12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.- God is the Author and Finisher. In otherwords, He completed it, before it was started. He has already worked it out and he is waiting on you to walk it out.
  9. Financially -The power of preparation is what we must understand. Proverbs 6:6-11 (NKJV) 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no [a]captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her [b]supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you [c]slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.- What is important is to hear what the prophets are telling you.
    1. Save your money. Now is the time to make financial preparation.
    2. The tithe – The tithe is a contractual arrangement where God will protect you even financially. This is how the tithe protects. When you tithe, you become a Covenant Partner with God. God protects those who are in covenant with him.
      1. Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;- Bring your tithe into the place where you are being fed the word of God. The reason why our ministry is successful is because people of this ministry tithe. The point is when you tithe, God will rebuke the devour for your sake.
    3. The tithe rebukes the devour. It keeps the Economic Devour from coming to you. This is a moment you should be more a tither and seed sower, than ever before.
      1. Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) 22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and Summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”- Your seed in the ground is critical to this season.

IV.            WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I REFUSE TO SUBMIT MY FINANCES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

  1. I Miss God – We often miss the move of God when we don’t trust God with what he has give to us.
  2. I Rob Others – People’s lives depend on what we do. When we don’t support God’s Kingdom, then we prevent blessings to get to some people.
  3. I Prove to God that I Cannot be Trusted – We are saying to God, “You can’t trust me to represent the Kingdom”.
  4. I Live Off the Sacrifice of Others – When we don’t give, we benefit from the giving of others.
  5. I Cause Others to Make Painful Adjustments by Having to Sacrifice Even More – Others have to carry our load instead of the weight of the load being evenly distributed.
  6. The word Store House mentioned in Malachi 3 is critical. You need to lay or store some stuff up. 1 Chronicles 26:15-17 (NIV) 15 The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. 16 The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard: 17 There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. – This scripture shows that they had a storehouse where they stored things up.
    1. 1 Chronicles 27:27 (NKJV) 27 And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine.
    2. 1 Corinthians 9:19 (NKJV) 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 2 Chronicles 32:28 (NKJV) 28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and [a]folds for flocks. – Everyone ought to have a storehouse. In this season, start making wise financial situation.
  7. Diversify yourself.
    1. Proverbs 21:20 (NKJV) 20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.- When you squander all your money, the bible refers to you as foolish.
    2. Ecclesiastes 11:2 (NKJV) 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. – Don’t put all your money in one place. You don’t know what might come along next.
  8. Nothing catches God off guard. Mark 4:1-9 (NKJV) 4 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds [a]of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no [b]crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 9 And He said [c]to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”-This is an example of how we hear the word of God. Think back to all the sermons you’ve heard, prior to this Pandemic happening. God was preparing us. Referring to this scripture, God wants to know, “Has His word fallen on good ground?”. God never lets a Season happen that you are not prepared for.

V.            BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF STORING UP FOR LATER

  1. Genesis 41:33 (NKJV) 33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. – Joseph tells them how to store up for a season that was to come. Thanks to Joseph, Egypt survived because they had made preparation.

VI.            FOUR THREATS TO PREPARATION

  1. Complacency – No foresight, no insight.
  2. Self-Reliance- False sense of security: Example, “It won’t happen to me”.
  3. Misuse of Spirituality- This is like us saying, “I won’t get screened, because the word says, I won’t get cancer”.
  4. Too Busy to Pay Attention to Detail – Have you been paying attention to what God is dropping into your spirit? Now you realize all the stuff you pay for that you don’t need. God want’s you to pay attention to all that you waste.

VII.            THE SIGNS OF A PREPARED PERSON

A.     They Possess Peace

1.       When you are prepared from God, it is evident.

a.       Scripture References:
Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

  1. Genesis 41:33 (NIV) 33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
  2. John 14:7 (NIV) 7 If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” – When you are prepared, you have peace. You are not worried.

B.     They Are Not Stressed

  1. The Disciples should have been stressed out on the ship, because Jesus was on the ship. don’t
    Scripture Reference: John 14:27 NIV – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

C.     They Are Not Struggling

  1. Scripture Reference: Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.-

D.     They Are Not Settling

  1. Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. – God’s promise will manifest, therefore, I refuse to settle.

E.      They Do Not Succumb

  1. Scripture Reference: Psalm 91:5-7 NIV – “5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”- When you prepared, you don’t get stressed

*Speak this over your house.

Psalm 92:5-7 (NKJV) 5 O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. 6 A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked [a]spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever.- A thousand my fall at your side, and 10,000 at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

 

Lay your hand on yourself and say ”it shall not come near me”!!

 

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