How to Handle the Word

Posted on January 7, 2019 by growintheword

Synopsis of 1/9/19 Bible Study
5-Part Series: How to Handle Your Business

Week Two: How to Handle Money

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.
January 9, 2019

Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

     I.                    Introduction

  1. Money is often a subject that is difficult to discuss. It not just difficult in church, it is difficult to discuss the subject of money when it relates to raises on a job and when it comes to money in relationships too.
  2. If you learn to handle money effectively, you will understand how God intended you to handle money.
  3. Some people say it ain’t about money, but if this is so, why do we go to work?

Scripture Reference: 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV) 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – The Lord doesn’t want you to fall in love with money.

  1. Today’s lesson is designed to explain God’s desire for your money. It also to bring you to a better understanding of stewardship.

 

 II.                    Make a Change in How You Spend Money

  1. Learn to control money, don’t let it control you
  2. Many people don’t have a plan on how to control or spend their money. They live out of their front pockets.
  3. Without a plan, you plan to fail. If you don’t control your money, it will control you.

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) 22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.- If sorry is attached to your increase, then it is not a blessing from God.  For example, if you have the house that you want, but can’t pay for anything else, then it is not a blessing. If you have a car and can’t afford to pay note on it, then it is not a blessing.

  1. You must learn to manage what God has blessed you with

 

  1. This starts with tithing which is 10% of your gross income.

Scripture References: Genesis 2:15-17 (NIV) 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” – God started in the beginning trying to teach us what not to touch.

  1. In Joshua 6, the children of Israel took stuff they weren’t supposed during battle and as a result, they had problems. When you take what you are not supposed to take, you bring curses to yourself. Taking the tithe can cause a curse to come to you or your finances.
  2. Malachi 3:10 (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 suchblessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. – Bring the tithe into the place where you are being fed (the storehouse). This is the only place in the Bible where God asks you to try him to see what he will do. If you do what God has commanded, he promises to bless you more than they will pay you. You won’t have enough room to receive the blessing that will come your way.
  3. Trusting God helps you understand the value of the other 90% left after the 10% has been tithe.
  4. After paying your tithes, how much money do you have left over to manage? You have 90%.
  5. Paying the tithe is not magic. You have to be a good manager of what’s left.
  6. When you trust God, he rebukes devourers for your sake.

III.                    Master the Challenges of Saving Money

  1. Break the bad habits that keep you in debt
  2. We hate debt. When you hear the word “debt”, it ought to make you frown. Debt wasn’t even designed to put a smile on your face.
  3. God never intended for you to be in debt.

Scripture Reference: Romans 13:8 (NKJV) 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  – You were not created to be in debt. You were created to be owners and managers.

  1. God’s system is learn to save for it, then get it. This does not include your house or a school loan. These two things are considered good debt.

How to Break Bad Spending Habits:

  1. Refuse the temptation to make hasty financial decisions. – Don’t make impulsive purchases. Don’t make quick decisions. To buy stuff for sale, buy it on sale.
  2. Understand the true nature of wealth. – Wealth is not things just you buy, it is a quality of life.
  3. Rich talks softly, wealth whispers, and broke
  4. Stop trying to look wealthy, instead, build wealth.

Scripture References: 3 John 2  (NKJV) 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.  – What good is it to buy a lot of stuff just to turn around and loose it? God wants you to be complete.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NKJV) 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. – Those who are consumed with being rich will never have rest. Those who are content will be able to rest.

“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” –Henry David Thoreau

  1. Stop spending more than you earn. – Act your wage.
  2. Drive that car until the wheels fall off.
  3. Studies show that 38% of people spend more than they earn.
  4. Also, studies show that half of Americans don’t have money to cover a $400 emergency if they needed to.
  5. You need to save enough money to pay at least 3 months of bills, to tide you over if an emergency.

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 22:7 (NKJV) 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. – Build up all this debt and you become a slave.

  1. Stop ignoring your bills. – Just because you throw it away, doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay it.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 37:21 (NKJV) 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.  – If you create a debt, you have an obligation to repay it.

  1. You want to make sure you have a healthy credit score. Things happen and you don’t want to be in a situation where you go to buy that house and can’t.
  2. Do not use your credit cards like it is free money. – Realize that you will have to pay it back.
  3. The average household has at least $16,000 in credit card debt.

 

  1. Save today to have success for tomorrow
  2. Work should be optional, not mandatory. Lots of people can’t retire, because they were not good stewards when they were working.
  3. Don’t sacrifice your golden years trying to look like money

Scripture Reference: Genesis 41:47-49 (NKJV) 47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth [a]abundantly. 48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. 49 Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. – This is what financial people refer to as the Joseph Princple

The Joseph Principle

  • How much produce did Joseph instruct Egypt to reserve during the years of plenty? 20% or 1/5
    • How much of your monthly income should go towards savings? 20%
  1. Model Conscious Decisions in the Stewardship of Money 

 

  1. Your stewardship sets the standard for your successors

“It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.” –Robert Kiyosaki

 

  1. Our ancestors did so much more with less money than we have, because they knew how to save.
  2. Everyone should leave something that the next generations can draw from.

 

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 13:22 (NKJV) 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.  – You ‘re supposed to leave a blessing to your children’s children.

 

  1. A good heart leads to good stewardship
  2. All this stuff starts in your heart.
  3. Don’t take financial advice from broke people.

Scripture References: Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  – Look in your checkbook and it will tell you where your heart is.

  1. Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV) 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is thefirst and great commandment.;
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV) 7 So leteach one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [a]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. – Give as your heart leads. Trust that;
  3. Luke 6:38 (NKJV) 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” – If you give, God will give it back in ways that will blow your mind. God sometimes sends and assigns people to bless you.

 

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Wonder What God wants for Christmas?

Posted on December 4, 2018 by growintheword
By Darius Rucker

Old man playing Santa Claus
Blue in a town with old Jack Frost
Now he’s handing out candy canes and smiles for free
People scoring with their lists
Rushing around to buy those gifts that will
End up wrapped up underneath the tree
I’m sitting at this red light looking at a manger scene
Watching snowflakes kiss that baby
And it makes me think

I wonder what God wants for Christmas
Something that you can’t find in a store
Maybe peace on earth, no more empty seats in church
Might be what’s on His wishlist
I wonder what God wants for Christmas

What do you give someone
Who give His only Son
What if we believe in Him
Like He believes in us

I wonder what God wants for Christmas
What might put a smile on His face
Every bubble with no dust, the devil given up
Might be what’s on His wishlist

I wonder what God wants for Christmas
What kind of gift from you and me
More sister, more brother, more lovin’ one another
Yeah, I wonder, I wonder what God wants
By now we oughta know what God wants for Christmas
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Series Title: The Fight of My Life Part III, Bible Study 09/26/18

Posted on October 8, 2018 by growintheword

 

Week Three: How to Live Your Best Life

Synopsis of Bible study 09/26/18

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

 

Psalm 23:5-6, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I.          Introduction

  1. Life is full of struggles, but it shouldn’t have a starring role in your life. At some point, your struggles should be over.
  2. Some people are always going through something. These people constantly complain, because they want to know that people care about them. The problem with this is, if you are always going through something, then people begin to wonder how long the tunnel is? Why is it taking so long for you to get your breakthrough? Are you sitting on the side of the road in park?
  3. You have the ability to move from a place of struggle to a place of overflow and ease. Your worst days can turn into your best days if you walk in wisdom headed to your end.
  4. The force that has come against you has taken too much of your life. God is a God of restoration. He wants you to be restored. Joel 2:25-26 (NKJV) says 25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming [a]locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. -When the fight has depleted you, God will send resources your way to restore what you have lost. He will direct things into your path.
  5. Many of you have been in the fight of your life for so long, it is time that you to encounter some sweat -less victories. Put down your fighting gear. You have got to learn to live your best life.
  6. Many of us have different ideas of what our best life is. If we were to pass the mic around, everyone would have d different description of a best life from their perspective.
  7. Living your best life is about being in the right positon. Blessings come to a position and not necessarily to the individual. This is why it is important for you to be in proper position. Ex-For those of you that know about football, you know that a quarterback may try and move the ball down the field is by throwing to the spot that the receiver is supposed to run to. For this reason, it is important for the receiver to get to that spot in the time he is supposed to. If he doesn’t, then the receiver cannot catch the ball and advance down the field.
    1. It is important for us to know that the blessing is in the air, but God needs you to get to the spot that you are supposed to be in. There is power in positioning! You need to understand the power of positioning. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says 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 is not trying to hurt you. God needs you to make conscious decision to live your best life.
  8. How to live your best life:
    1. Live every day with a fresh Know that the present is the present. You can’t bring yesterday’s stuff into today. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV) says 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. – God wants you to have a fresh start today. Don’t let stuff pile up on you. You have to learn to release your issues and realize that today is a new day.
      1. If you want to know if tomorrow is a new day, realize that if you wake up and open your eyes, you have reached a new day.
    2. Live more consciously each day. We wake up every day naïve, not realizing what is around us. 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be [a]sober, be [b]vigilant; [c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.- The enemy is looking for a weak mind every day.
      1. You must realize that life is not to be lived on autopilot. It is to be lived in real time.
      2. When you encounter people, then follow your spirit. Our mentor says I don’t want you paranoid, but treat everything like a setup. People are your friend until they are not. The devil is slick and sly. Don’t go through life naive.
    3. Create your own opportunities. You have to be proactive. You got to be in position when it time for your gifts to be used.
      1. Learn to be an answer to the problems around you. You are pregnant with promise and it doesn’t just involve one thing. There is more inside of you than what you think. Invent a system that bring resources to you verses chasing systems and begging for resources.
      2. Look at the aunt. Proverbs 6:6-8 (NKJV) says 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.- What is the ants’ system? Simply they have decided that they will bring food from one place to another and they won’t allow anything in their path to deter them from completing their mission.
  • Let’s examine the enemy that is watching a person who is determined like the ant. The snake wants to cross the ants’ path, but it knows better than to try, because the snake knows the ants have a system in place that will prove fatal to the snake, if he tries to cross their path. The snake is not scared of the ant, but he is afraid of their system. If you work your system, then the enemy knows not to cross your system. If your system has you bored, then you need to change your system.
  1. Be authentically you. Stop measuring yourself to the standards of others. Galatians 6:4 (NKJV) says 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.-You are unique. Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) says 14 I will praise You, for [a]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. – There is a time that the mentee has to find its own way. God anoints things that are authentic not When you are authentic, the people who really love you, want you to be authentic.

II.          The Prepared Table

A. You have reservations at the table God prepared for you

  1. So often, we try to gain access to tables that God didn’t prepare for us. Sometimes you are on the uninvited list, because you want to eat off of the wrong menu.
  2. Your diet determines your destiny. Ex – Daniel was invited to eat at the kings table. They had access to all that they could have dreamed of in the place. What was being served was considered forbidden food, according to their religious beliefs. As a result, Daniel and his men requested other food. Daniel 1:8-17 (NKJV) says 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and [a]goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.” 11 So Daniel said to [b]the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus [c]the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.- God had brought Daniel into favor with the Chief Eunuch. After being urged by the Eunuch to eat the food that the King assigned them to eat, Daniel prayed for stuff that they could eat without going against their beliefs.
    1. The Chief Eunuch was concerned if Daniel and his men didn’t eat of the king’s food, they would look poorly compared to the other men and it would anger the King. Daniel asked the Chief Eunuch to allow them to eat just vegetables for 10 days and then compare their look with the others. After the 10 days was up, Daniel and his men looked better than the men that had eaten the king’s food. Daniel would not eat the forbidden food, because he had made a decision to eat of the Lord’s Table.
    2. 5 yrs ago, you were comfortable saying “Let’s turn up!”, but now, like Daniels and his men, your diet has changed. You are trying to eat from the Lord’s Table now. God will do the same for you as he did Daniel, if you wait for him to prepare the table. The word given to you by your Bishop or your Pastor is a diet for the people that want to eat from the Lord’s Table.

B. God invites your enemies to provide them with evidence of your elevation

  1. When God prepares the table for you, He will invite your enemies to prove that you have been elevated.
  2. Proverbs 25:21-22 (NKJV) says 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.- God’s ways outweighs your ways.
  3. Romans 12:19 (NKJV) 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 

III.          The Provision at the Top

A. The oil of the anointing flows down, not up

  1. The anointing doesn’t flow without order. Psalm 133:1-2 (NKJV) says 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
  2. When Samuel was looking for the next king, no one passed the test. He then inquired for somebody else and it turned out to be David who had been serving out in the fields. This is proof that you can’t be salty about serving in the background. Don’t leave your post too early!
    1. How to Remain in Position While in Pursuit of Your Best Life:
  3. Stay where God sent you.
  4. Submit to those where God sent you to serve.
  • Serve with faithfulness and skill.
  1. When you are in the right position, you will live in overflow. You’ve got to learn to embrace overflow.
    1. 3:20 Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) says 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,- God can only bless you with overflow equal to the sustainability in your life.
  2. God don’t want you to have a seasonal blessing. I pray that you never become a once was.
  3. God will protect you. He we rebuke the devourer for your sake.

IV.          The Protection in the Temple

A. Goodness and mercy are a benefit of being covered

 

  1. Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV) 91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”- When you are covered by God, He will make sure you’re insured. God is just like the State Farm commercial. He shows up on the scene, just when a crisis occurs.
    1. Sometimes God will show up before the crisis occurs.
  2. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV) 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
    1. You are guaranteed an all access pass to the best life.
    2. Every day you wake up, a fresh start begins.

B. You are guaranteed an all access pass to the best life

  1. John 10:10 (NKJV) says 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – God is waiting on you. The devil tries to still your joy every day. In doing this, he wants to destroy your name.
  2. It does no good to come to church and shout and not live the life you shout about. You have to have a prayer life that moves you to the next dimension. God wants you to live your best life. Everything you touch, God will bless.

 

V.          Conclusion

This will be a season for abundance! Start making room! I declare over your life that God is going to open the windows of heaven and pour you out blessings, more than you have room enough to receive.

That next thing you do that’s Big, make sure you share your testimony with us!

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The Fight of My Life Part II, Bible Study 09/19/18

Posted on September 27, 2018 by growintheword

Part II: How to Face Tough Decisions

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

Synopsis of September 19, 2018

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)  says 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [a]direct your paths.

Life is full of decisions. It is important however, to understand how to use them. The decisions we make have a bearing on how our life plays out.

When things are complicated, we find ourselves in a place of indecision, leading to something unhealthy.

The wrong decision can be fatal. As you reflect over the decisions you have made over your life, many would agree that there are some decisions you made, that you wish you could get back.

Often when we come to this place, where we lean to people for advice. The sad thing is, the people we often go to are people that can’t handle their own situation.

I.        Introduction

  1. Scripture Reference: James 1:5 (NKJV) says 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
  2. When you are at a crossroad, what should you do? James 1:5 says when facing tough decisions, you don’t have to do it on your own. Just ask God about it.
  3. Here are 10 things that you will have to work through in your life eventually. Grade yourself letters A – F based on how well you think you did on each one.
  4. Tough Life Decisions:
    Choosing a Life Partner
    2. Choosing to Buy a Home
    3. Choosing to Have Children
    4. Choosing a Career Path
    5. Choosing Where to Live
    6. Choosing to Leave a Relationship
    7. Choosing to Reconnect with a Loved One
    8. Choosing When to Retire
    9. Choosing Long-term Care for a Family Member
    10.Choosing to Discontinue End of Life Support for a Relative
  5. In these circumstances, you will have to be guided by wisdom. This is why it is important to stay focused.

II.        Maintain Your Focus

A. If it’s not addressed to you, don’t give attention to it

 

  1. Conserve your energy to make decisions for yourself. At some point, you have to learn to mind your own business. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NKJV) says 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.- This is the process of making tough decisions. The toughest decision you will ever have to make is cutting others off, so that you can deal with your own stuff.
  2. The bible says anyone born of a woman is but a few days of trouble. Why then would we add more trouble on ourselves, by adding other people’s problems into our lives?

B. The right mindset will lead to the right moves

  1. You got to take over you mind and not let your mind take over your life.
  2. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,- Casting down images is referring to the images that the enemy puts into your mind.
  3. The enemy will plant images into your mind that will contradict what God has told you to do. Those images will make you doubt what God told you.
    1. Images will cause you to have bad thoughts. Images in your head will have you seeing your own funeral. God says cast those thoughts down!
  4. To have right frame of mind.
  5. Methods to help keep the right frame of mind:
    1. Only allow the best information to rest in your thoughts. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) says 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.- Only allow the stuff to do with your destiny inside your space.
    2. Shape your mind with vision and goals. Think about what your life goals are. Make decisions based off of your goals. Some people get in on everything, serve on every board, and get involved with every project, simply because they don’t know how to say no. These type of people take on too much stuff.
    3. Your decisions has to line up with your destiny. Your decisions must line up with your assignment. The day Lazarus was raised from the dead, there were others dead inside the grave. Jesus went to the cemetery and only called Lazarus’ name. It would have been a good thing to raise all the people up from the dead, but Lazarus was part of Jesus’ assignment.
      1. Romans 12:2 NKJV) says 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
    4. Protect your mind from erroneous thoughts and opinions. Some people think everything they read on Facebook is true. There is a big difference between the truth and a lie. The truth has legs, but a lie has wings. Therefore, lies have nothing to stand on. Often we make decisions based off of lies and then afterwards we realize that we should have waited.– Romans 8:5-8 (NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be [a]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the [b]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
    5. Strengthen your mind with positive thoughts. 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.– We are so bad about bringing other peoples issues into our situation.
      1. You don’t need negative people’s stuff within your situation.

III.        Manage Your Feelings

A. Don’t allow the process of decision making cause you to become unstable

  • “Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” ― C.S. Lewis –You can’t cry forever. Emotional drama and hard decisions together can trip you up.
  1. Too many options can sometimes be overwhelming. When you make a decision, you got to stick to it and be confident that it is right. James 1:6 (NKJV) says 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.– Ex- This is a metaphor. You want a 2019 7 series BMW, fully loaded. You go to the dealership and you are ready to purchase this dream vehicle. The salesman says that they are all on backorder and informs you that it will take a couple of months to receive this car in, but he lets you know that he has a 2018 5 series BMW that you could take right now.
  2. You decide to take the 2018 5 series instead of waiting on the 2019 7 series BMW, because you did not want to wait. Somewhere around Dec, you see someone pass by you with the new 7 series BMW and you begin to think that you wished you would have waited. It bothers you so bad, you try to diminish the quality of the 7 series just to make you feel better about the 5 series that you shouldn’t have got.

 

B. You must learn to face complicated problems with confidence in the Problem Solver

  1. God has already fixed it. 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.-, Ephesians 5:8 (NKJV) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

IV.        Move Your Life Forward

A. There is too much at stake for you to be stuck

“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.” ― Malcolm Gladwell

 

 

  1. You are one step away from your next level in life. Hebrews 12:1 (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,- One thing that causes us not to move forward is our being weighed down by other people.
  2. In order to move on, you got to move ahead with intentionality. To be fearful of making a wrong decision causes you not to make a decision at all. For example, for everyone that did not vote, know that you did vote. Your failure to make a decision caused a decision to be made anyway.

B. Once you are headed in the right direction, there is no reason to look back

  1. When you go forward, you got to be willing to following God and not worry about looking back. Why are you looking back checking on how the hell you left behind is doing? Proverbs 4:25 (NKJV) says 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
  2. Lot’s wife looked back when they were leaving Sodom and Gomorrah and turned in to salt. Genesis 19:26 NKJV) says 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.- You are an individual that has to make a decision apart from your group.
  3. There is no need to look in the rear view mirror, when the light is green. You focus ought to be on what’s ahead of you. Every decision has to be a decision of intentionality. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV) says 18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

V.        Conclusion

  1. All Bishop Walker knew about Nashville when he first come here was Hee Haw, but God made a way in the wilderness. When you make the right decision, you are where you go, and you are position where you are supposed be, then God will take care of you.
  2. He didn’t have any money and he didn’t have any furniture, but people from the church took care of him. He was given many things, even a couch. God provided for him. Who would have known that he would end up being the Pastor of church here?
  3. Everything has to be done with intentionality. Every day you wake up, there are choices. You can’t control them. There are decisions of what you can and there are consequences from the decisions that you make.
  4. The enemy wants to get into your choices and decisions to change the view while minimizing the circumstances. Adam and Eve allowed one decision to cost them the whole garden and his caused sin to enter the world.
  5. Think about our choices. Ask God for wisdom when making choices. Know that one decision can affect your whole life.

 

 

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