Series Title: Overcoming Toxic Relationships , Bible Study 08/15/18

Posted on August 27, 2018 by growintheword

Series Title: Overcoming Toxic Relationships
Part 3: Understanding the Attack on Your Gift
Saul and David

Synopsis of Bible Study 08/15/18

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

 

  • Relationships have a tendency to go into a variety of directions. People are your friends, until they’re not. Your allies are your allies until they are your
  • Relationships have a variety of purposes too.
  • For some people, if you make them mad enough, you will hear them tell you all that they felt bad about you. The scary thing about this is, they felt this way about you the whole time when you thought they were your
  • 1 Samuel 19:9-10 (NKJV) says 9 Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. 10 Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.

I.          Introduction

  • Toxic relationships come in many forms.
  • Toxic relationships are harder to detect in Spiritual relationships than in Carnal Relationships. Being spiritual, one would think that we would be able to handle toxic relationships better than unsaved people, but this is not something we should purposely embrace.
  • “Toxic people attach themselves like cinder blocks tied to your ankles, and then invite you for a swim in their poisoned waters.” – John Green. – In otherworld’s, the residue of a toxic relationship stays with us.
    • 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.- Some things are so big and so hurtful, we have to be wise enough to give them over to the Lord.
  • Sometimes we feel guilty for letting people go. Ex- When Jonah was on the ship and the terrible storm came, they had to throw him overboard, before the storm stopped. Sounds bad, but look at this way. When you throw people off the ship, you are releasing them into their destiny. Jonah would have never done what God wanted him to do, had he not been thrown overboard and been swallowed by a whale. Release them into their destiny.
  • We have to learn to overcome toxic relationships.

A.    The five warning signs associated with an unhealthy relationship:

As you go through these, think about people in your life that resemble these signs.

  1. There is a constant power struggle. Your presence makes people feel like you are taking something from them, because their gifts are all about them.
    1. Psalm 9:13 (NKJV) 13 Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death,,
    2. Psalm 27:2 (NKJV) 2 When the wicked came against me To eat[a] up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
    3. Your gifts are for God, not self-edification. If you value them for you, then you depend on the glory you get from people instead of giving glory to God.
  2. The person brings out your worst qualities. Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NKJV) 7 O Lord, You [a]induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am [b]in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. 8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
  3. You have a contrasting communication styles. “Attempting to hurt someone with words is not the way to resolve conflict or communicate hurt feelings.” – Keri Nola-
    1. These are people that don’t know how to say stuff. Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV) says 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.- There is a way to say something bad, good.
  4. You feel bad about yourself when you are around that person. When you’re in a relationship with a person that leaves you feeling torn down instead of built up, then that relationship is
    1. Some people can be way too critical. Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary [a]edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.- if a person says nothing you do is ever right, then that is
  5. The person is prone to irrational frequent displays of jealousy. Jealousy is birth out of Saul’s jealousy was because he was envious of David. Many gifts we have, many gifts we don’t know we have, but we know that they will be revealed in time. One thing we know for sure is, we are gifted.
    1. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (NKJV) 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

 

  1. 1 Samuel 17:6-12 (NKJV) 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul.-Saul was angry because they credited David with more.
  2. The moment focus shifts from them that is the moment that they stop celebrating.
  3. If your relationship is effected after you are elevated over them, then it is toxic. Ex – When Bishop Walker first started Pastoring Mt Zion, there were only about 65 who people showed up on Sunday. At the time, Bishop thought Mt Zion was going to be a training ground for him to go somewhere else.

 

Later Mt Zion grew to 125 people. At the height of this, Bishop was preaching everywhere. Invites to preach were coming in all the time, but as soon as Mt Zion started to really grow, the invitations stopped coming. All of a sudden, people were concerned about Bishop “taking members”.

 

It is not about where people go, it is the fact that they go to serve the Lord. The point to this whole thing is, as soon as the success started, Bishops relationship with other ministers and churches changed.

 

For some, relationship changes, when they can’t contain what happens to you. True friendship can celebrate your happiness whether it includes them or not.

 

II.          Anointed by God

If Satan can get you to give up on the small stuff, you will forfeit the big stuff.

A.    The Assignment in your life will always call you forward

  1. When David was anointed, he was overlooked at first. Samuel had tested all of his brothers trying to find out who would be God’s next chosen king. The problem was, no one passed the test.
  2. This made Samuel want to know if there was anyone else back there that they could have overlooked. When you are anointed, you have to be content with being the “anyone else back there?” person.
    1. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (NKJV) says 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.;

 

  1. 1 Samuel 16:7-12 (NKJV) 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For[b] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not [c]sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with [d]bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” – It’s ok to wait your turn. Sometimes they have through the rejects to appreciate what they had.

 

B.     God will move you from the pasture to the palace

  1. David comes out and doesn’t look the part. God has a way of moving you from pasture to palace. 1 Samuel 16:14-16 (NKJV) 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the [a]distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”- God never ever ordained Saul to be king. It was the people who wanted him.
  2. Saul was narcissistic and egotistical and as a result, God’s spirit left him.1 Samuel 16:17-18 (NKJV) 17 So Saul said to his servants, [a]“Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”- Saul was distraught and the people wanted a harp player to play over him to get him out of his slump. David’s father sent him to minister to Saul.
  3. It is important for you to know that some people that God sends you to minister to, will later be a menace back to you. This can be painful too. You need people in your life that can celebrate all of your gifts, not just the ones that benefit them. There is some world changing stuff inside of you.

 

III.          Attacked for Your Gift

Your gifts will cause attacks.

A.    Your gift will create opportunity and opposition

  1. Your gift will make room for you. Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV) says 16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.-
  2. Don’t invite yourself. Allow yourself to be invited. If you are anointed, God will find you and bring you before that which is great.
  3. Ex- Do you remember Bishop GE Patterson. He was one of the greatest and Presiding Bishop’s that ever lived. He was from the COGIC doctrine. When Bishop Walker (then Rev Walker) first met Bishop GE Patterson, he had no idea that God had positioned him.

 

  1. God placed Bishop among all these great men, even though he was considered small in the Ministry. Bishop Walker was invited to a big meeting one time and when he got there, he wondered why he had been invited to such an event with all of these Big Name Preachers. At the time, Bishop Walker only had 65 members at Mt Zion.
  2. Later on Bishop was invited to preach at Bishop GE Patterson’s church. When Bishop Walker got up to preach, Bishop GE Patterson prophesied over him and told all about the big church he would later lead. Bishop Patterson was prophesying about him leading the now Mt Zion and his current position as Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Doctrine.
  3. All the while, Bishop Walker wondered why him? The answer is, your gift will make room for you! It’s not about us, it is about God!
  4. Shortly after Bishop Walker preached at Bishop Patterson’s church, he became a mentor for Bishop Walker. They became so close, that when Bishop Patterson passed away, his wife called Bishop Walker and told him that Bishop Patterson wanted him to have all of his Bishop shirts. This means a lot to the Mentee.
  5. The whole point of the scenario is this, Bishop never had to run around trying to be noticed. All Bishop had to do is stay comfortable in his lane. God will open up doors to people that will blow your mind!
  6. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.- God prepared you. Your gifts were prepared for God’s purpose for you.
  7. Think about your gifts. You’ve probably only tapped into about 7 of the gifts that you possess. The funny thing about this is, the enemy is not after those gifts you have tapped into. He is after the other 93 gifts that you haven’t even discovered yet. Your enemy is after your not-yet! The enemy knows that if you tap into your not-yet, then you will for sure be a threat then!
  8. In the story Saul is struggling with being a “has been”. Saul should have mentored David, but instead, he tried to stop God’s plan.

B.     Learn how to be strategic when you encounter strife

 

  1. Know your limit. 1 Samuel 19:18 (NKJV) 18 So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. – At some point, you have to know when to say that’s enough.
  2. You got to set boundaries. Even if you love them, you have to set boundaries. David loved Saul, but he left his house. Staying there would not have been good for him and was a danger to God’s plan.
  3. Continue to operate in your gift. David was still operating in his gift. When you read the 23rd Psalm, you might think David might have been sitting on the beach relaxing when he wrote it. The truth is David was actually running from Saul when he wrote that. You have to learn to minister while you are under attack.
  4. Jesus was hanging on the cross, but he still ministered. “forgive them”, “Mother, behold thou son”, and “this day, you will be with me in paradise”
  5. Where God is getting ready to take you, you got to learn that these attacks come with the territory. In fact, I would be worried if I was doing God’s will and not being attacked. In fact on person wrote this phrase that is food for thought. It says: “When you get to the point of greatness, don’t read comments”.

IV.          Appointed for Greatness

A.    God does not anoint you without an appointment

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) says 3 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:- there is a season for preparation. – People just see your elevation. They never see your struggle. They don’t realize the stuff you really overcame, didn’t make the paper.
  2. 2 Samuel 5:4 (NKJV) 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. – Your story is filled with stuff that you overcame. Through all of that, God still elevated you.
  3. Elevation is not based on tenure. The stuff that happened late and night, pushed people through. They were elevated, because they passed some tests and stood some trials!

B.     The persecution was preparation for your position

  1. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.- Stop letting them do that to you. We’re all the time letting people frustrate us.
  2. What God has promised, is on the way. 2 Samuel 1:17 (NKJV) 17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
  3. There is a them and a they in every city, on every job, and in every family. You have to pull yourself together and not allow the attacks to hinder your gift.
  4. There are people that haven’t been born yet that will reap from your gift. If you quit, you rob people of what God was going to do in their lives.
  5. The stuff you are supposed to doing, is going to bless people. Make up in your mind right now that you are no longer going to let the enemy rob you of your gift.

 

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Part 2: Understanding the Hurt and Hindrances in Your Own House, 08.16.18

Posted on August 16, 2018 by growintheword

Series Title: Overcoming Toxic Relationships

Part 2: Understanding the Hurt and Hindrances in Your Own House

Joseph and His Brothers

Synopsis of Bible Study 08/08/18

Genesis 50:20 says  “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.”

I.          Introduction

  1. Relationship hurt is one of the most heartbreaking things you can ever experience in life. The pain of relationships can introduce you to a level of hurt beyond your human comprehension. You find yourself asking the following questions:
    1. “Why did they do it?”
    2. “Why me?”
    3. “What is it about me that causes them to do this to me?”
    4. “Is there something wrong with me?”
    5. “Why now?”
  2. There’s nothing more painful than receiving a hurt from your own house. Even if you try and distance yourselves from the family member, your path has to still cross at times. At the very least, you have to attend family functions.
  3. There is a lot of brokenness found in family hurt.
    1. Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) says 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [a]have a contrite spirit. – God is right there and has a remedy for you. God does not want you to stay in that place that you are.
  4. Cutting ties with your families members is not impossible nor is it against biblical principles.
    1. In the bible, Leban and Jacob went their separate ways.
      1. Genesis 31:49 (NKJV) 49 also Mizpah,[a] because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. –

II.          The Cost of Favor

A.    The coat of anointing is attractive and costly

  1. Joseph’s father gave him a coat of many colors. This coat represented Joseph’s anointing. The coat of anointing is attractive, but it is
    1. Genesis 37:1-3 (NKJV) 37 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a [a]stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.- As a father, Jacob had love for all of his kids, but he saw something special inside o Joseph.
  2. The coat he gave Joseph was to mark the favor that rested upon him. Whether you know it or not, you have a coat on you, when favor/anointing is upon you.
    1. When you walk in a new space and people don’t like you, it is because of the coat that is on you.
    2. You must know that you must wear your coat.
  3. Often people miss that you are more than the coat that they see on you. Psalm 90:17 (NKJV) 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands
    1. People often look at what is on you externally and they think if they take it, it takes the anointing off of you. This is not true. When favor is on you, it’s on you.

B.     Those closest to you will not always celebrate your dreams

  1. In ancient times, dreams were often associated with messages from deities. Joseph was a dreamer and he had dreams that would give insight to the future of Israel; however, his dreams were not welcomed by his brothers.
    1. Joseph was a dreamer. His dreams wasn’t welcomed by his brothers. This made them hate him even more.
  2. Joseph had a problem. He was a dreamer.
    1. Dream one – The first dream was the sheaves. They bowed down. Genesis 37:6-8 (NKJV) 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. – Joseph told his brothers that they would have to bow down to him one day. They hated him for this.
    2. Dream two –Genesis 37:9-11 (NKJV) 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.– In Joseph’s dream, the moon and stars bowed down to him. This meant that even Joseph’s parents would have to bow to him. His father rebuked him for this dream, but he kept the matter in his mind. Joseph’s brothers hated him even more for this dream.
  3. You have to keep your dreams to yourselves sometimes.
    1. The more you tell a hater about your dreams, the more they envy you, because it reminds them of what they are not doing.
  4. Some people don’t have the capacity to share your dreams. You got to know who to share your dreams with and when to share them.
  5. Don’t underestimate the level of pain your family can cause you. The pain from your own house is deep, but God can still heal it.

III.          The conflict with Family

A.    Don’t’ underestimate the level of pain your family can cause you.

  1. Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) 3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their [a]wounds.- The Binding of wounds. This doesn’t mean God will immediately erase all the pain in you. God heals the brokenhearted And binds up their [a]wounds- Let’s look at the first part, the broken hearted. Ex-Ever broke a bone? Just like the doctor, God gives you a cast to keep the broken place still, so that it will heal properly.
    1. God needs you to be still so you can heal properly. If we keep running all over the place while we are broken, just like the broken bone, we might heal, but heal crooked.
  2. The stuff in your family is so deep, you might be healed, but you’ve got to be healed properly.
  3. You’ve got to be honest about your hurts.

Reasons family hurt can be so painful:

  1. We think our family member will be here unconditionally. We expect people in the street to do us wrong, but we never expect it from family.
  2. Shared history gives our siblings an unending supply of embarrassing moments in our childhood. Some people can tease you and tease you causing more and more hurt.
  3. Family members tend to depend on each other for support, advice, and finance, but they never help you.
  4. We tend to distance ourselves less from family members when they hurt us compared to our friends.

Common aspects of hurtful family environments

  1. Aggression – If I got to fight at home and work too, then that’s too much fighting.
  2. Lack of affection – Stop marrying people and afterwards, shutting down the shop.
    1. If a man or women leaves for work and they are full, they are less likely to stop by McDonalds, Krystals, or Wendys on the way. (You’ll catch this later on…)
  3. Neglect – Includes not ignoring the other. Even your children, don’t need to be neglected. If you don’t pay attention to you loved one, they will get attention somewhere else. There is someone always waiting for an opportunity to step in.
  4. Violence – You have the responsibility to report abuse in your house.

B.     Family hurt may be damaging to your heart, but it won’t delay God’s plan

  1. Joseph was hurt by his brothers, but it did not hinder God’s plan for him.
    1. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.- Sometimes it can be hard to deal with family hurt.
    2. Remember 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) says 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

IV.          The Conviction of Faith

A.    God will call you to help the ones who hated you

  1. The fact that you are here today is evidence that God is at work in your life.
    1. Job 16:6 (NKJV) 6 “Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; And if I remain silent, how am I eased?- We need to notice that after suffering hurt that was supposed to hinder him, Joseph kept his integrity. You have to continue being yourself, even though you are hurt.
  2. After many years, Joseph had to face his brothers again. The same brothers that tried to harm him, had to later face him.
    1. Years later, Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret his dreams. When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph told him that it meant that there would be 7 yrs of famine and then 7 yrs of plenty.
    2. Joseph was elevated after interpreting the dream. During the 7 yrs of plenty, bread was stored. When the famine came, people had to come and see Joseph to get food.
    3. During the famine, guess who had to come and get food from Joseph? You guessed it. Joseph’s brothers had to come to him for the
    4. Jacob sent Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to get bread, not knowing who was handing it out?
      1. Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) says 44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,– We can’t come down from what God’s words says. Joseph was second in power to Pharaoh. You don’t use your place of elevation for a moment of retaliation.

B.     You don’t get to choose who receives the bread of blessing

  1. You can prevent somebody from getting a blessing, just because of what they have done to you.
    1. Hebrews 10:30 (NKJV) 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [a]says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”,
    2. Luke 6:27-28 (NKJV) 27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
    3. Proverbs 25:21-22 (NKJV) 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., – Go on a bless them that have done you wrong!

V.          Conclusion

  1. You make them feel worse, because of your kindness. You do not have to retaliate.

 

  1. When you see Joseph elevated, you can only imagine what Joseph was thinking when he saw them.
    1. Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.- Look at Joseph’s elevation. What do you do, when your own family who did you wrong, come to a place where they have to beg for your help?
  2. Our response should always be this. Genesis 50:19-20 (NKJV) 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 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. – In other words, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for my good. Stop trying to get even and watch how God will bless you.
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Help with Funeral

Posted on July 15, 2018 by growintheword

My sister-n-law, Jamie McMurry, passed away suddenedly  Monday July 9th 2018. This was totally unexpected. She has two children ages 13 and 5.

We were informed that she did not have a Life  Insurance Policy.  We need your help with funeral expenses.  Any donation is greatly appreciated and will be given to Strawther and White Funeral.

If you are not comfortable donating to GoFundMe Accounts, then you can call Strawther & White Funeral Home directly for alternative ways to donate. –strawtherfh@gmail.com

615-230-0810

Please mention Grow In the Word Ministry when you donate.

Thanks and God bless you for your help.

Jamie Mcmurry Funeral Fund https://www.gofundme.com/jamie-mcmurry-funeral-fund?pc=tw_dn_cpgnsharemore_r&rcid=r01-153168417114-16578213754e4aea

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Taking Care of You: , Bible Study 06/20/18

Posted on July 3, 2018 by growintheword

 

Dealing with Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health and Wellness

Synopsis of Bible Study June 20, 2018

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, DMin.

www.mtzionnashville.org

3 John 2 says, “2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

I.          Introduction

  1. Many of us pour ourselves into other people so much, we end up neglecting ourselves. This is noble and admirable, but at some point, you have to access your needs and pour back into yourself.
  2. Audre Lorde wrote “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” The point is, we want you to live.
  3. Self-care is important. You are not taking care of yourself just for you, it’s also for the people that depend on you.
  4. Genesis 2:2-3 (NKJV) says 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.- God thought enough of his work that He Himself, took some rest. If God took time to rest, so should we.
  5. Music works in harmony. There are a lot of notes and chords written down, but really, there is no music or rhythm without a rest (which is a pause in the music) being used throughout the composed music.

Ex1.

 

Ex2.

 

  1. A lot of time we mask issues behind being busy. Nobody drives a vehicle and turns the corner, without atleast touching the brake. They at least tap the brake.
  2. Some people go through life without ever pausing. When God created everything, He even stopped to celebrate himself. He stopped and looked and said, “It was good”. Know that it is ok to celebrate yourself.
  3. It’s really about your mentality (your mind). You have to learn to take control of your thoughts.

II.          Be Transformed in Your Thinking

A.    You got to take control of your thoughts.

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) 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; – Images/imaginations are pictures. Taking control of your thoughts is about taking control over what you are thinking in your life.
  2. For example, if you want to get rid of scary thoughts, then stop watching scary movies.
  3. Scary movies are the things we allow to enter our mind that are not of God. Scary movies also referred to as images or imaginations, get into your mind through your gates. These gates are your eye gates, your ear gates, or your ear gates. Then the images stack up and clutter your mind. As a result of the stacking of these images, you produce ungodly thoughts.
  4. The Bible says that any man born of a woman is but a few days of trouble. This means we are born slanted towards trouble. If we are slanted towards trouble, then it is guaranteed that trouble will come our way.
  5. Some people aren’t able to be creative anymore, because they have filled their minds up with clutter.
  6. Three ways to take your thoughts captive:
  7. Accept responsibility for your thoughts. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) says 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.– You have a choice to respond positivity or negatively. One bad event can ruin your whole day if you let it.
  8. Your mind not just your behavior, must change. You can change addresses and still be in the same mindset you are . 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.
  9. Choose to focus your thoughts on the right things. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) says 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. You got the right not to want negative stuff around you.

B.     Remain positive by surrounding yourself with positivity.

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.- Have an environment around you that is so positive. This throws people off guard!
  2. Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) says 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary [a]edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.- What you release is what you will attract.
  3. Systematic theology – God has a system. His word doesn’t return to him void. It accomplishes what he sent it to do. Even when God sent the Word in flesh, it returned back to him. Jesus, the Word is sitting at the right hand of Jesus right today. In like manner, when you send out a word, know that it is coming back to you.
  4. The words you speak, create a greenhouse in your life. When you release the word, it comes back to you as a harvest. This is the reason the bible says so much about your mind and guarding your tongue.
  5. Mental health is so important. You have to make sure that you keep your head together. What you listen to, what you watch, and what you say, all contribute to what your mind thinks.

III.          Be Trained with the Care of Your Body

A.    Treat your body like a temple

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV) says 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?-Your body is a housing of the essence of who you are and the God in you. The Holy Spirit, God in you, lives inside your body. God was above us, then he was with us (in the form of Jesus), and now God is in you (In the form of the Holy Ghost). We can tell how you value the essence of who you are, simply by looking at how you treat your temple.
  2. Would you intentionally allow rodents and filth inside the baby’s crib? No, because you value your baby’s life. If you were to get a new car and you don’t smoke, would you allow somebody to smoke inside it? No, because you value your car. Strangely, there are some people who value their car more than they value their temples.
  3. You can’t ask the Lord to enlarge your territory if you don’t have the health to work it. The majority of people that pastor today are either morbidly obese or chronically ill. We are digging our graves with a fork.
  4. What healthy habits do you practice daily?

Grade yourself with a grade of A-F on the following questions.

  1. Stay hydrated
  2. Get enough sleep daily
  3. Ge adequate down time/ rest
  4. Learn to say no
  5. Eat more meals in a relaxed state
  6. Find more ways to laugh
  7. Spend more time in nature
  8. Get daily light exposure
  9. Move your body daily with exercise
  10. Limit and reduce how much sugar your consume
  11. Learn to manage overall stress
  12. Exercise your mind
  13. Learn a mediation technique that works for you
  14. Let go of unrealistic expectations.
  15. Find how to make yourself happy

 

Things to think about

  1. What is preventing me from leading a healthier life?
  2. What life adjustments are needed for me to include healthy habits into my life?
  3. Which of the healthy habits listed do I need the most in my life.

B.     Your body requires intentional care

 

  1. Maintenance is so much cheaper than repairs.
  2. God gave an amazing diet. He fed it to the Children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. He gave them Manna in day, which is carbs and He gave them meat at night, which is protein.
  3. It’s important to watch you emotional health too. This is your heart. The stuff in your heart can make your head go left. Think about it. Nobody ever thought they would be stalker. It just kind of happened. Noone ever thought they would be one to key a car, but it happened!

IV.          Be Transparent about Your Emotional Wellness

A.    Being truthful about your heart leads to healing

  1. If don’t deal with your emotions, you can become implosive.
  2. How you know?
  3. Arrive at personal choices and decisions– not based on emotions.
  4. Live and work independently. A person that has their emotional wellness in check, is not needy or clingy.
  5. Form independent relationships with others. – Some of the closet friends I have, I don’t call every day.
  6. Take on challenges. – People that are not emotionally well, are withdrawn.
  7. Mange your life in personally rewarding yourself- You can’t just go to work and not stop to enjoy your life. Nothing works without reward.
  8. John 10:10 (NKJV) 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 wants you to prosper in your health and in your mind.

 

B.     Nothing is done without spiritual health

  1. Psalm 116 New King James Version (NKJV)

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

 

116 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

3 The [a]pains of death surrounded me, And the [b]pangs of Sheol [c]laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living. 10 I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.” 11 I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, 19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

[d]Praise the Lord!

 

 Lessons from Psalm 116:

  • v. 1 Believe in Him.
  • v. 2 Cry out to Him.
  • v. 9 Follow Him.
  • v. 13 Drink Him.
  • v. 14 Obey Him.
  • v. 16 Serve Him.
  • v. 17 Thank Him.
  • v. 18–19 Live for Him.

 

I see myself like a pitcher. Every day I show up, there are cups waiting for me to pour into them. The more cups you have, the more I have to be under the fountain, so that I may pour out. The bigger your request, the more you have to stay under the fountain.

If you have a lot of cups to fill, then you have to continuously be under the foundation.

You got to get to place where you allow God to fill you up. There are times you get tired and want to leave the fountain, but you still pour out.

Sometimes you are only operating on pure condensation because you are good at what you do. This means that you are functioning, but you are not full. So you go back to the fountain to be filled up, so that you are not counterfeit.

Lots of people try to function without the fountain, but you just can’t. We’re able to do what we do, because God constantly fills us up.

God wants you to operate at the optimal level all the time. Get your body together, and get your heart right, allow yourself to be so spiritually focused, that you will come to get a word, no matter who is delivering it. Make sure you stay under the fountain.

 

 

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