Part 1 – Head Health, Bible Study 05/20/20

Posted on May 21, 2020 by growintheword

The Disciplined Mind: Managing Temptations and Contemplations

Synopsis of Bible Study 05/20/20

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

Our head is attached to our body, so what’s in our head matters.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

We are constantly being informed by world views and philosophies that we here. Our personal stories are filled with disappointment, brokenness, and pain. Our hearts and minds have been with lies, deceit, and accusations from both the world and the enemy.

Have you ever slowed down and paid attention to what’s going on in your in your head? What are you hearing? What are you thinking? what are you believing in?

Temptation: The desire to do something especially something wrong or unwise.

Contemplation: The action of thoughtfully looking at something for a long time. A deep reflective thought. – In other words, my desires cause me to focus on things longer than I should, when  shouldn’t be focusing on them at all.It is a challenge.

You have to remember that your thoughts are just as important as your actions. Some people think, “I thought it, but I didn’t do it”. Matthew 15:19 (NKJV) 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  –  Jesus once said if you thought it in your heart, you’ve already done it. Temptations and contemplations are like magnets. Closer they get to each other, the harder it is to pull them apart.

I.            MANAGING TEMPTATIONS AND CONTEMPLATIONS

  1. Situation Selection – You have to avoid situations where temptation is present. Look at the situation, know yourself, and then avoid it.
    1. Sometimes we try to act like we are stronger than we are.
  2. Situation Modification – Sometimes we can’t avoid situations, but we can modify our engagement in it to protect our lives.
  3. Distraction – Diverting your attention. The temptation is there, but we divert our attention elsewhere. This means that we put my attention towards something positive.
  4. Reappraisal – We must ask the question, is it really worth it? Is our reputation and wellbeing worth taking this chance?
  5. Response Inhibition – I now look more deeply at this thing, than I used to. What I thought was good, no longer looks the same. Carnal flesh will make things look better than they really are.

II.            THE BATTLE OF THE MIND

  1. Challenge Your Thoughts
  2. We have to tell our thoughts, “You won’t govern me, I will govern you!” 2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lust; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”- When you’re a God chaser, you try to apply his word to all aspects of your life.
  3. You try to make sure everything you put into your spirit aligns with God’s will.
  4. Bring Your Mind Into Submission
  5. At some point you’ve got to bring your mind into submission of the Spirit of God.
  6. God’s word is the answer to combating the temptations of the enemy.
    1. Philippians 2:5-11 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Jesus made himself of no reputation. He humbled himself and came to us as a man. He who was of the Word, came in flesh and humbled himself.
    1. Jesus even realized that in doing this, His spirit must be stronger than his mind.
    1. My spirit must be stronger than my mind. Some of you want to go one way, but God wants you to go another way. Your spirit must be strong.
  7. Consider the Fruit
  8. Will power is not the problem. Our willpower overrides what we know to be right. Your willpower can be the difference between your breakthrough or your breakdown.
  9. Discipline comes in at the Will to do what you are supposed to do. We know to do it, but we need to be willing to do it.
    1. Its about your mental state. When your spirit and your mind are properly aligned, your mind will always be in order and your Will within your spirit, will always be motivated to do what the Lord wants you to do.
  10. Fight Back
  11. The war in your mind is not passive activity. Every day you wake up, there is this war in your mind. We all have mental battles all the time, especially now.
    1. 1 Corinthians 15:2 “by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” – You’ve got to hold fast to God’s word. I have to have His word on my mind and my mind on His word.
    1. This keeps me in a disciplined state, that no matter what comes in my life or no matter what lie the enemy puts into my head, the word of God is what immediately comes into counter it.
      1. If there is no word in your life, then you have nothing to counter what comes at you.
      1. I have to come to a place in my life where I believe in his word completely.
  12. We often buy into false images. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” – Every day you wake up, you have to deal with imagination. The root word to imagination is “Images”. These are pictures that the enemy tries to put into your mind and your spirit.
    1. When false images come into you mind, you have to cast them down. When images develop in the dark room of your mind, bad things happen.
  13. The moment where fear or bitterness comes in, you have to say, I apprehend you this very hour.

III.            HOW TO NAVIGATE WHAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL

  1. Stay in Your Reality
  2. Focus on what you can control. I might not be able to control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond to it.
  3. Stop living a false reality. Stop living something that is not your truth. Be honest about where you are.
  4. Have practical honesty. Be honest that your situation is out of control. When something is out of control, it’s out of control.
    1. This is like an alcoholic saying, “I can stop anytime I get ready.”
  5. You can’t allow fear to get into the way. Accept your current situation, but don’t allow it to paralyze you.  How many people do you know that are still crying over something that happened to them in the past?
  6. Make peace with yourself. When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with your situation.
  7. Self-Assessment

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NKJV) 23 All things are lawful [a]for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things [b]edify.

  1. You have to know yourself and know what situations you can put yourself in.
  2. It may be legal, but it may not be good for you. Weed may be legal, but if you have an addictive personality, then it might not be good for you.
  3. If You Can Not Figure It Out, Wait and Rely on God
  4. Jeremiah is honest about his situation.
    1. Lamentations 3:21-26 “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!” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” –Jeremiah recalled to his mind. You can’t bring something back to your mind, that wasn’t in your mind in the first place.
    1. Because of the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed. Every morning God’s mercies are new. God prevents the enemy’s plan for us every day.
  5. Put your trust in God and settle yourself in the Lord.
    1. John 14:15-18 “15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” – God will not leave you helpless.

IV.            BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

  1. Jeremiah
  2. The word of God came to Jeremiah’s life early, to discipline him. This is why he was able to recall God’s word to his life.
  3. You can have a moment, but don’t let that moment arrest you.  Jeremiah 1:4-10 “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.”
  4. Before you even go there, God says he wants you to know He never sends you where you to a place that he hasn’t equipped you for. You need to say, “I am not going down the road of fear and activity”.
  5. Jesus
  6. Jesus has a moment, when he was tempted in the wilderness.
  7. We often think Jesus was physically taken to different places and tempted. Matthew 4:1-4 “ 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  – Jesus is exhausted and tired and hungry and that’s when the tempter usually comes.
    1. The devil only took Jesus to places in his mind. This wasn’t physical. The devil doesn’t have power of Jesus. This was mental.
  8. Jesus kept responding with the word. The only thing that will help during temptation is the word of God.

V.            THREE WAYS TO MAINTAIN A DISCIPLINED MIND

  1. Understand Deliverance
  2. Deliverance is a process. It takes discipline. When some people say they quit smoking, they have to stay at it. It is not a onetime thing.
  3. Deliverance isn’t a one-time experience.  Luke 4:13 (NKJV) 13 Now when the devil had ended every [a]temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  –  The devil comes in shifts. The devil needs something else to go into. He might leave, but he will come back greater than he was before.
  4. Starve the Old Nature
  5. If you have problems with your faith to combat tempation, then you have to do something different. Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” – Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
  6. Escape the enemies snare. Psalm 124:7 (NKJV) 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the [a]fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. – You got to be willing to starve your old nature. If you starve it, it will die.
    1. If you keep feeding your old nature, it will get stronger and stronger. If you don’t feed it, it will die.
  7. Feed the New Nature
  8. There’s a new you. Occupy your life with the things of Christ.
    1. Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”
    1. Proverbs 13:4 “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;” – It puts us in a better position to hear from God. The real cure to temptation is discipline.
  9. When your mind and you heart is disciplined and you have the word as a core value, then you will win. You need to develop your appetite with the word of God.
  10. We can’t promise temptation won’t come, but if you are in the word of God, we can promise that you will overcome it.
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RECALIBRATE Phase 4

Posted on May 15, 2020 by growintheword

Reallocation

Synopsis of Bible Study May 13, 2020

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

Psalm 119:59-60 NKJV “59 I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. 60 I made haste, and did not delay to keep your commandments.”

Reallocation is changing the way something is given or shared or to assign to a different purpose or person, than was originally intended. In this season, we all have reevaluated how we have given of our time or ourselves. Now as a result, we have reallocated our resources. As a result, our value system has changed.

I.            WHY IS REALLOCATION IMPORTANT?

A.     Driver Of Increase In Productivity

  1. You have to be intentional. You have to realize that your time has value.
    1. When you see time as capital, then you realize that you don’t have time to waste.
  2. Where your money, your energy, or time is leaning, determines what you think is important to you.

B.     Improves Time Management

  1. Reallocation is being a good steward of what God gave you. This means your money, your family, your ministry, your job, and even your time.
  2. Ask yourself how to do you use what you have.

C.     Eliminates Risks

  1. Reallocation causes you to become creative in doing the things that God has given you to do.
  2. You have to eliminate risky behavior, risky relationships, and all other things that present a risk to you.
    1. One moment, everything could be going well and in the next moment, the rug can be pulled out from you. It’s then that you realize that you have no time to be playing.

II.            SIX WAYS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD

  1. Be faithful. Being faithful to God shows your relationship with God.
    1. Anyone can be faithful when you are employed and have plenty of money in the bank, but can you be faithful when you are uncertain about your situation?
    2. Being faithful to God shows that God has top priority in your life.
  2. Be disciplined. Count the cost, before you make decision to do something.
    1. Don’t spend more than you earn.
    2. Make good decisions concerning your money.
  3. Being Consistent. Save a portion of your income.
    1. Everything can’t be spent on material things. Try to save 3 months worth of expenses.
    2. It critical in this season that we learn to put some stuff back, just in case things get hard. Once we pay God, pay our self, and pay bills, make sure you put something back.
  4. Acknowledge God. We have to realize that God owns everything.
    1. Did you ask God to bless so you to have more stuff or to be a blessing to others?
    2. In reallocation, I give what matters to God.
      1. Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Stop coveting other people’s stuff.
  • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NKJV) Instructions to the Rich 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. – Don’t be arrogant. Don’t put your trust in something that one phone call can take away. Put your trust in God.
  1. Pay debt. Remember in December, Bishop prophesied that we should all try and get out of debt. If you don’t have debt over your head, you’re able to do more for people.
    1. Little by little, by little, you can become debt free. Start reallocating your funds.
      1. Take the money you are not spending on gas now and use it to pay down your debt. This is a good example of reallocating your money.
    2. Set Goal. Ask God what goals he has for your life.
      1. Reallocate your time that your goals may be aimed towards God’s will for your life.

III.            HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STEWARDS

  1. Be Thankful
  2. In this season, we are thanking God even for the little stuff. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”- Whether blessing are big or small, we will thank God for them.
    1. I’ll even thank God for the crackers in the pantry now.
  3. Thank God for your job if you still have one. Stop complaining about it. Be thankful that you have one.
  4. People who are not thankful, are people you can’t trust.
  5. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV – “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”-Whatever you do, do it unto God, not for the approval of man.
  6. We have to have Thanksgiving. Be thankful and then give. You can give without being thankful, but you can’t thankful without giving. When you give, you realize that everything you have is a gift from God.
  7. God is looking for people who are thankful.

 

  1. Trusts God To Provide
  2. We trust God for our salvation, but often we fail to trust God for our daily living.
    1. 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV – “ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” – Put your trust in God and not in money. Culture tempts us into thinking that the more you have, the happier you will be.
  3. Put your trust in Him who made the money.
  4. You’ve got to get to a place where your trust is in Him.

 

  1. Be Content
  2. Can you come to a place where you are truly content? Hebrews 13:5 NIV – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
  3. Paul says, he knows how to live between seasons. Philippians 4:11-13 NIV – “11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
    1. We know how to light candles and eat Ramen Noodles if things get tight. This is just surviving between seasons.

 

  1. Be A Faithful Example
  2. Let people see the faithfulness in you. Matthew 5:16 NIV – “ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
  3. The world is looking for examples of how to live through this season. Titus 2:7 NIV – “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness.”
  4. Show others how we get through this. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV – “ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
  5. Be an example to your children. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV – “6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
    1. Be alert. Show your children and others how you get through this season, trusting God.
    2. Your children will look back on the things you did and know what to do during difficult times.

 

  1. Lives Within Their Means
  2. Act your wage. Don’t let your income determine your lifestyle.
    1. Some people have to go and buy something, every time they get a raise.
    2. Allocate things in a way that glorifies God.

 

  1. Gives Time And Talent
  2. Shift your time and talent to the kingdom.
    1. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV – “ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”- Ask God what he wants you to do for the kingdom using the gifts he has given you.
  3. Gives Treasures
  4. We give treasure to God, out of the treasure he gives to us. 1 Peter 2:1-5 NIV – “1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
  5. In everything I get, I will honor God first. Proverbs 3:9 NIV – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;”

 

  1. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

 

  1. Leah – Mindset
  2. Genesis 29:31-35 NIV – “31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” 33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. 34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.” – There is that moment where everything you do shifts and you come to a “Now Moment”! Leah came to this moment when she named the last baby Judah.
  3. What is your “Now Moment”? What is that moment where you say I’m done playing and I now give it all to you Lord?
  4. The Disciples – Action

John 21:6 NIV – “ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

  1. What am I willing to do now? Am I now ready to cast my fish nets on the other side? Am I ready to reallocate and finally do it God’s way?

 

  1. The Rich Fool – Habits

Luke 12:20 NIV – ““But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

  1. This scripture was taken from the story of “The Rich Fool”
  2. It is a story of how someone with great means, thought that he was just going to hold things for themselves.
  3. Jesus taught that there is no security in material things. Safety doesn’t come from just storing up resources, it comes also by relying on Gods provisions. The parable of the Rich Fool explains this point.
  4. The Rich man produced a crop one year that yielded so much grain, the man didn’t have space to store it.
  5. He tore down his barns to build a bigger one, so that he could restore the grain, relax, and live off of his savings, but God said to him: Luke 12:20 NIV – ““But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”
    1. We are living in this life trying to accumulate things, but our focus is off. We pray that you will ask the Lord to let you focus on the real thing, which is God’s Kingdom.

 

  1. Maybe this is a time that we focus on the kingdom. Where your money is, your heart is. Take time to reallocate your time, your money and your heart.
    1. Luke 12:15 NIV – “ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”- You will never have anything that matters unless God has your life.
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RECALIBRATE Phase 3, Bible Study 5.6.20

Posted on May 8, 2020 by growintheword

Reorientation

Synopsis of Bible Study May 6, 2020

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


James 1:22-24 KJV “22but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”- One of the most difficult things in life is getting our mind to match our new reality.

  • The reality is to try and shift your mind around this new reality or new way of doing things.
  • There is this idea, you have this mentality of what you should do vs what I will do.
  • Whatever change you are bringing into your life is birth out of something. New beginnings are part of life.
  • This change that God wants you to make is for the best.
  • Question may be, “Well now I’m done, now what?” or “What do I value the most at this point?” or “What is my new measurable?”
    • This can be overwhelming, self-deflating, or even defeating to change all the facets of your life.
    • This is why you have to focus on one.
    • Then you have to find motivation to upgrade areas of your life. There will be ripple affects from this.

     I.            THREE AREAS OF REORIENTATION

  1. Orientation of yourself. – Lets reflect over last few months of our life. I have to reassess. I meditate on where I’ve been vs where I going.
  2. How I do I align with this new direction or new space.
  3. We have to get to a point in our life where we can do this. I can reorientate myself.
  4. You have the capacity to reorientate ourselves to this new normal.
    1. In the Bible, Jesus takes these men who were Fisherman and reorientates them to be Fishermen of Men. This is a new normal for them.
    2. God will help you reorientate yourself.
  5. Orientation to others – Everyone can’t go with you.
  6. You have to examine who needs to go vs who needs to stay.
    1. In the bible, David talks to God about who needed to go into war with. Some had to stay behind, because they were too tired. You have to discern who can stay and who go.
    2. You have to eliminate dead weight. You can’t consider people’s feelings about this either. Some people can only go so far with you.
  7. Orientation of time – You’re going to have some ups and downs in your life.
  8. Never feel like you are out of time. There is blessing in the in between spaces. You can see light at the end of the tunnel. Work towards the light, don’t stay in the tunnel.

II.            KEYS TO ORIENTATION

  1. Know When To Let Go And When To Hang On
  2. Either make moves or make room.
  3. Change is not a straight forth path. You must learn to let go. To change, you have to do things different.
  4. We have to learn to let go of certain things, so that we can do God things.
    1. Some of the things that we need to let go are things like, doubt and procrastination.
    2. When you decide to let these things go, you can achieve what God wants you to achieve.
    3. Scripture tells us to lay aside every weight that so easily besets us.
  5. Develop A New Level Of Persistence
  6. Persistence is key in this season. What is your metric for growth?
    1. It’s not enough to just hang on. We are not just trying to survive; we are trying to thrive.
  7. Let go of self-doubt. Doubt will kill your dream.
  8. You’ve got to learn to keep going when change is all around you or when things don’t look like its working out.
  9. Persistence means I won’t let go. Remember the scripture says knock, and the door shall be opened.
    1. Remember, they were praying for Peter who was locked up and Peter shows up at the door? There is something about persistence.

Luke 18:1-8 NIV – 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”- This woman was do persistent, she made an unjust judge give her time. This is persistence.

  1. You have to get to a point that your persistence is strong.
  1. Find Congenial Spirits/Relationships
  2. You need people around you that bring something to the relationship. Relationships in this season should be reciprocal.
  3. We don’t know all the answers, so God puts people in our paths that no more than we do. These people bring value to our relationships.
  4. Build relationships with people that matter. Meet new people. Invest in yourself.
  5. Have you ever considered the relationship between Moses and Aaron?
    1. Exodus 6:26-30 (NKJV) 26 These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”[a] 27 These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron. 28 And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am [b]of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”
  6. Every time we study Moses, we read, “Moses said to Pharaoh”. Moses has a speech impediment and God gives him an assignment that involves talking.
  7. Aaron is there because he can speak and articulate what Moses can’t. God will give you help.
  • You don’t have to do this all by yourself. We are not intimidated with people that know much more than we do. We need people that can help us achieve what God wants us to achieve.

III.            HOW TO LIVE AS A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST

A.     Face Your New Reality

  1. Part of reorientation is your old stuff has got to go. In this season, the Old You has to go. We have to let go of all the beef we’ve had from the past, all the old way of thinking, has got to go.
  2. Transition requires a clean break. We have to be led by our spirit and not our flesh.

James 1:2-4 NIV – “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”- Lacking not.

Romans 8:29 NIV – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”- When I reorientate, I learn how to encounter joy.

  1. We give God glory in it, because we know it is producing something in our lives.
  2. God has formed us to represent him in the earth.
    1. As a result, we are adopted into God’s family. Romans 8:15 NIV – “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”-
  3. We are given a new kingdom citizenship. Philippians 3:20 NIV – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”- A lot of people say that they are saved, because they have been baptized. This is just the outward show of the life we have chosen to live.
    1. It’s only part of it. You can go down as a dry sinner and come up a wet sinner

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – This is the season that God wants us to claim our new identity.

B.     Claim Your New Identity

  1. You have to own it. You are not going back. Claim your new identity!

John 1:12-13 NIV – “12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” – You have direct access now to the Father.

Galatians 5:16-26 NIV – “16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”- If you going to be in the flesh, then you got to understand what the flesh is. All the stuff your flesh desires, will keep you in a place where you can’t reorientate yourself and go to the place where God is taking you.

  1. Even a snake sheds its skin for a new season. A believer has to be willing to shed his Old Self and walk in the Spirit of God in the Fruit of the Spirit.
  2. Your flesh will keep you in a place where you can’t reorientate yourself to where God wants you to be.

C.     Pray Like A Child

  1. Pray out of sincerity or purity.

Ephesians 5:1 NIV – “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children”

  1. Example, son comes down the hallway. He wants to brush his teeth, because his Dad is. The point is, he imitates his dad
    1. We must become imitators of Christ. If we have bad behavior, so will our children and so with the generations that follow behind us.
  2. Prayer is critical

Mark 1:35 NIV – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”- Jesus thought it necessary for him to pray early in the morning and remove himself from everyone else.

  1. We have to develop the good habit of prayer. Sometimes it may mean finding a moment to get away from everything.

Matthew 6:9 NIV – “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,”- We honor God in our prayers.

Hebrews 10:19-20 NIV – “19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,” – We don’t have to have anyone pray for us. God shed his blood and the veil was rent in two, now we can go to the throne of God for ourselves.

Romans 8:26 NIV – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”- Don’t just ask God for stuff. Ask God for control of your life so that we can walk in God’s will.

D.     Walk Humbly

  1. When you reorientate to your new reality, when your new creature in Christ, then you get to a place where you realize humility is the key. You realize that in a moment, something can make equals of us all.
  2. Humility is what God is looking for in this season.
  3. God is calling us to a new life. He wants to reorientate us.
    1. We might lose our way, but God is still working in us.
    2. Philippians 2:13 NIV – “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”- God is still moving and working in you. This is the whole idea of reorientation.
  4. Reorientate yourself to match God’s mission for your life. Begin with relationship with Jesus Christ. God loves you so much.

 

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MANAGING THE MOMENT Part 1:

Posted on May 6, 2020 by growintheword

Don’t Let It Change You

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Synopsis of Sermon May 3, 2020

Genesis 50:20 NIV – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

I.            INTRODUCTION

  1. All of us must be aware that we are kingdom representatives. We are God’s ambassadors in the earth. When God allows us to walk in a particular space, it’s because he trusts us in those spaces.
    1. Often, Influence is given to us, not because we deserve it, but because it is a gratuitous gift to us.
  2. We have to manage these seasons. Influence has a way of influencing our character. Our faith means nothing if we don’t properly manage our Influences and our Moments.
    1. It is Influence that puts us into these positions.
    2. How you deal with certain moments, speaks to your character and your relationship with God.
  3. This season is filled with uncertainty. It is uncomfortable. You have the unique opportunity to manage this season.
  4. Why did God give this word today to us? It is because God wants us to manage our Influence and our Season.
  5. Look at the life of Joseph. Like Joseph, our life has a lot to do with how we manage Moments. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of his relationship with their father.
    1. Joseph has visions or dreams. When he shares his dreams with his brothers and they began to hate him for what the dreams said. As a result, they try and stage Joseph’s death. They place him in the pit to die.
    2. Joseph is found by Potiphar and as a result, he goes to Potiphar’s house, goes to prison, and there his gift is revealed. Joseph is then sent to Potiphar and he is elevated in the house of Potiphar. This causes him to be put into a position to save the Egyptian Nation.
    3. Joseph’s success and failures were all tied to how he managed the moment.
  1. Every stage of Joseph’s life, there was success. There will be moments where you and I will get tests like Joseph and you will have to manage that moment. Whatever happens in life, don’t let it change you.

 

II.            DON’T BE CARELESS WITH YOUR VISION, LEARN TO EXERCISE CONFIDENTIALITY

Dreams are given to prepare you for something up the road.

Dreams were not given to you carelessly, so you can’t share them carelessly. This is why you have to value confidentiality, because without it, you’ll create problems that you least expect.

A.     Everybody Can’t Handle Your Vision

  1. Joseph shared his vision with his brothers and on the surface, it seemed harmless.
    1. Often your vision will expose the insecurities of other people.
  2. Insecurities of others can hurt you. Be careful not to share too much. You have to learn to keep your mouth closed.
    1. Joseph’s brothers didn’t celebrate him. They became jealous of him.

B.     Discretion Will Keep You Out Of Ditches

  1. Joseph’s own bothers put him into a ditch to die. Joseph shared his dreams, too soon. You can’t share your dreams with everyone, because this will make you a target.

Proverbs 2:11 NIV – “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”- You can’t quote silence.

  1. Loose lips sink ships. You have to learn in some moments to keep your mouth closed.

III.            DEMONSTRATE CREDIBILITY AND CHARACTER

Character is behavior on display. Potiphar sees a guy in a ditch and rescues him, then he lets him work in his house. Joseph doesn’t let his status change who he is.

A.     Serve With Excellence Regardless Of The Situation

  1. Can you serve with excellence regardless of your situation? Joseph is used to having a coat with many colors and he’s used to favor, but now he’s a servant in the house of Potiphar. Joseph keeps serving with excellence.
    1. If you are faithful over a few things, God will make you ruler over much. If you can serve God during your little, He will bless you with much!

B.     No Matter The Cost Refuse To Compromise

  1. The bible says why Joseph is being elevated in house of Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife shows up. She makes an advance on Joseph. Watch his character. Character is who you are when no one is looking.
    1. Joseph doesn’t allow n 1 hour thrill to mess up the destiny that God over his life. Joseph realizes that what God is doing over his life is bigger than the attack that is about to come at him.
    2. When you experience some of the things that Joseph experiences, you are going through these seasons.
  2. Some of these seasons are:
    1. Conjured Up Accusations
      1. People will make up things on you.
    2. Character Assassination
      1. The devil will try to kill your character.
    3. Career Alterations
      1. The devil wants to mess up your destiny.
    4. Keep being what God called you to be. Your calling cannot be contained.

IV.            OUR CALLING CANNOT BE CONTAINED

Joseph ends up in prison, though he stood on his character. Prison doesn’t have to be just a physical place. It can also be a state of mind. You can be in prison on your job, in your home, or even in your church.

A.     You Can Be Effective In A Negative Situation

  1. Joseph meets the Butler and the Baker in prison. Joseph interprets their dreams.
  2. Joseph realizes that he can still be positive in a negative situation. Joseph figures out how to be effective in a negative situation.
  3. You can put a child of God in a negative situation and they will still give God the glory.

B.     Your Gift Will Always Make Room For You

  1. God will put you into a situation where your gift is needed. God will put you where people will need what you have. All you have to do is walk in where God told you to.
  2. In t
  3. In this season, your gift will shine like it never has before.

 

V.            REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CONVICTIONS WHEN YOUR STATUS CHANGES

  1. One thing that blows our mind is when God elevates people and they change. We have to learn no matter where we are in life, it remains all about God.
  2. Joseph was in an interesting place. God will place you where people need what you have.
    1. Joseph told the Butler, “Just remember me”, when they were in prison together and the Butler was about to get out. God has some stuff that is about to find you, even in this crazy season. Even in this crazy situation, God has some resources that is about to find you.
  3. Pharaoh has a dream, and no one is able to figure it out. The Butler informs Pharaoh that he has someone in his prison that interprets dreams. Joseph, just like that, was brought out of prison and placed in front of Pharaoh.
    1. Joseph interprets the dream. He determines that the dream meant that this region would have 7 years of harvest and 7 years of famine. As a result, Joseph told Pharaoh that he needed to store in the time of great harvest, so that they could live off of what they had stored up during the famine.
  4. Pharaoh elevates Joseph and leaves him in charge of distributing the bread or in other words, what they stored up. God is about to elevate you and you’re about to be a God is about to make you a blessing to others.

A.     God Didn’t Raise You Up To Be Bitter, He Did It For You To Be A Blessing

  1. We look over the things that happen to us that was bad, but we are not supposed to be bitter.
  2. Joseph’s brothers who threw him in the pit, ultimately needed him during the famine. God showed this vision to Joseph early and Joseph shared it too early. Youthfulness will make you think it is all about you, when it’s really all about God.
    1. When God showed Joseph the vision, it wasn’t about them all bowing down to Joseph. It was about everyone.
    2. God allowed Joseph to be put into the pit, to show him humility and that the vision was about God.
    3. When Joseph’s brother’s come, they were nervous. They knew that Joseph had every right to refuse bread to them during the famine.

B.     It Wasn’t Just My Work, But It Was God At Work Through Me

  1. Here is a season God says he is trying to show you something. God allowed you to go through so he could teach you humility.
  2. The bible says when Joseph’s brothers come, he has a right to deny them or get even. In Gen 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. – If you take the bait of bitterness and let it change you with hate and resentment, there are people that are trying to bless by what you are doing and what you’ve gone through.
    1. Joseph realized that it was never about him, it was always about God and his glory. You need to know that it is about to change for you. You’re about to walk through every season of your life.
    2. When God gives you influence, you have to manage the moment. Don’t be bitter, just pass out the bread. Don’t be bitter to the people that did you wrong.
  3. Sometimes you’ve got to pass out bread to the people that did you wrong, but God will get the glory. Can God trust you when He blesses you? Don’t let it change you, when he blesses.
  4. All things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. If Joseph had never been hated on, he would have never been in pit. If he had never been in the pit, then Joseph wouldn’t have ended up in Potiphar’s house. If Joseph had never been in Potiphar’s house, then he would have never been lied on. If Joseph hadn’t been lied on, he wouldn’t have ended up in prison. If Joseph had not been put into prison, then he wouldn’t have met the people that knew Pharaoh, that when Pharaoh had a problem, his gift wouldn’t have come to the forefront. If that hadn’t happened, then you wouldn’t have gotten to this place to manage the Moment for God’s glory.
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