Posted on July 24, 2025 by growintheword

Part 3: This Wall Is In My Way

Synopsis 7/20/25

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Joshua 6:1-5 (NKJV)

1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.

2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

I.            Introduction

  1. On the 7th day, when they made a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when they heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout—and the wall of the city fell down flat. The people went up—every man straight before him.
  2. Have you ever felt like you were standing right at the edge of your breakthrough—but the closer you got, the greater the opposition became?
    1. You’re in the right place today. Because this Word is going to help us understand what it looks like when God’s people are at the door of promise, but one thing is standing in the way.
  3. For Israel, that “one thing” was the wall of Jericho.
    1. Jericho was a fortified city.
    1. The wall was built like a fortress—25 feet tall, 20 feet thick.
    1. They were proud of their wall.
    1. The wall was so massive, it had houses built into it. Biblical history suggests that Jezebel’s home may have even been built into the wall—she’d hang out her red rag from time to time (but that’s another sermon for another day).
  4. The wall of Jericho was designed to intimidate.
    1. It gave the city a psychological advantage.
    1. Jericho had military strength.
    1. They could also, shut the city down where no one could come in and no one could go out. That’s where our text picks up today.
  5. To understand this fully, you’ve got to go back to Genesis 12, where God made a covenant with Abraham.
    1. God promised to bless him and make his name great, and through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. He told Abraham his descendants would inherit the promised land.
    1. Before they possessed it, Abraham’s descendants—the Israelites—would spend 400 years in Egypt.
    1. They entered Egypt as welcomed guests because of Joseph. But when a Pharaoh arose who didn’t know Joseph, the favor turned into 400 years of slavery.
    1. They cried out, and God heard them. He raised up Moses to lead them out.
    1. Moses trusted God even in the face of Pharaoh’s resistance.
    1. God performed signs, brought them through the Red Sea, provided manna and water in the wilderness. Their clothes didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell—God sustained them.
    1. At the edge of the Promised Land, when spies were sent in, fear took over.
    1. That generation died in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb remained.
  6. Moses died on Mount Nebo. Now Joshua, Moses’ protégé, was called to take the people into the land.
    1. God told Joshua: “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. I got you. As I was with Moses, I’ll be with you.”
    1. Joshua did great exploits, including parting the Jordan and defeating Amalek.
  7. But now—at this moment—they were standing at the threshold of promise, but there was  one thing in the way: a wall.
    1. That wall represents everything standing between you and your promise.
    1. For some of you—it’s a diagnosis.
    1. For others, it’s an invoice.
    1. For some—it’s a toxic relationship, a job situation, depression, or doubt.
    1. But I came to declare: whatever your wall is, this is your last day dealing with it, because the same God who brought you out—will bring you in.

II.             Walls Weigh On Our Worship

A.   Walls Create Barriers, But Worship Breaks Chains

  1. Walls are heavy. They burden your mind.
  2. They try to block your worship, because you’re so consumed with the problem—you forget your praise.
  3. The enemy wants you to see an obstacle, but God wants you to see an opportunity. Let me help you:
  4. When you mature in God, you stop panicking and start praising.
    1. Don’t say, “My life is falling apart. ”Say, “God, you must be setting me up for something major!”
  5. Worship isn’t based on what you see—it’s based on what you believe.
  6. What I see might look bad, but what I know is that:
    1. God shall supply all my needs.
    1. By His stripes, I am healed.
    1. He will keep me in perfect peace when my mind is stayed on Him.

B.   Walls Challenge Our Faith, But God Calls Us To Trust

  1. Can you still trust God when the wall is still there?
  2. Can you trust God when the promise is spoken—but the obstacle hasn’t moved yet?

III.            Worship Wields The Weapon

A.   Worship Is Our Warfare Against The Enemy

  1. Israel wasn’t told to fight Jericho with swords. They were told to worship. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God…”
  2. The shofar—the ram’s horn—wasn’t a military trumpet. It was a sacred, prophetic instrument.
  3. It symbolized God’s presence, it warned of judgment, and proclaimed victory.
  4. Blowing the shofar wasn’t about pageantry. It was a prophetic declaration “We are claiming territory. We are about to occupy what God promised.”

B.   There are territorial spirits.

  1. Demons are assigned to regions—why do you think certain cities are known for certain spirits?
  2. When the people of God blow the trumpet—when we raise our worship—we declare war.
  3. We say to the enemy: “We’re taking back territory!”
    1. Mount Zion isn’t in four locations just for convenience. It’s a divine strategy.
  4. God told us to take territory.
  5. We bought the block at 1112 Jefferson Street—once the most incarcerated zip code in the nation.
  6. We took over a nightclub in Antioch and made it a youth complex.
  7. Now we’re in Brentwood—covering the city in every direction.
  8. When you worship, you shift the battle from your hands, to God’s hands.

IV.            Waiting Works In Our Walk

A.   Here’s the strategy.

  1. Joshua says: “Get in line. March around the wall—once a day—for six days. And don’t say a word.”
  2. Why? Because sometimes silence is your strategy.
  3. Some of y’all talk too much. You post your promise before it manifests, but this time—just march and say nothing, because on the 7th day, something is going to happen!
  4. By the 7th time, you’ll be tired, but you’ll also be ready—because man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

V.            We Are About To Witness Divine Wonders

A.   Final Lap

  1. On that final lap, the priests blew the shofar, which is an ram’s horn. A person in a white hoodie blowing a horn AI-generated content may be incorrect.
  2. The people shouted together—and the wall fell flat. It didn’t crumble. It didn’t crack. It fell flat.
  3. And when the wall fell, every man went up straight before him.
  4. This is how you know it was God, because your wall isn’t just falling—it’s clearing the way.
  5. Don’t miss this: It only happened when everybody shouted together.
  6. There were no spectators and no folded arms.
  7. We need one sound, one shout, one unified faith, because there’s something on the other side of that wall.

Final Prophetic Push

  1. Look at your neighbor and say, “Help me shout this wall down.”
  2. When we open our mouths together, walls fall, strongholds break, and territory is taken!
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Part 2: The Power of a Yet Praise

Posted on July 15, 2025 by growintheword

Synopsis 07.13.25
Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NKJV):

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

I.               INTRODUCTION

Life has a way of putting us in situations where everything seems to be falling apart. Have you ever been there? Moments where the things you counted on fail. The job you relied on disappears. Relationships you thought were unshakable begin to crumble. Everything you held dear starts slipping away.

Life sometimes brings us to a place where our plans are derailed by uncertainty—yet we are forced to testify to the depth and breadth of our relationship with God.

This is where we find the prophet Habakkuk. Unlike many prophets who speak God’s word to the people, Habakkuk speaks the people’s frustrations back to God.

He asks hard questions:

  • Why do the wicked prosper?
  • Why do the righteous suffer?
  • Why does it feel like You’re silent, God, in the face of injustice?

By chapter 3, something shifts. Habakkuk moves from questioning to confidence. From frustration to faith. From the natural to the spiritual.

He says, “Though there are no blossoms… no fruit.. . no cattle—YET I will praise God.”

This, my friends, is what we call a YET praise.
It’s not based on what you see—it’s based on what you know.
It’s a defiant praise in the face of adversity.

A yet praise is a pivot in your posture. It’s when God gives you a revelation in your situation—and that revelation creates an expectation that what was revealed will become manifested.

Your language has changed. Your vision has changed.

You may not have the healing… YET.
You may not have the home… YET.
But you believe manifestation is on the way.

Some of you are praising based on a word—not on your circumstance. And that’s what this message is about: praise as a position, a perspective, and a push forward.

II.               PRAISE PROFESS OUR POSITION

Habakkuk’s name means “embrace” or “wrestler.” He wrestles with God’s will, but ultimately embraces God’s plan.

600 years before Jesus, Judah is in crisis. The Assyrian Empire is crumbling, and Babylon is rising. Political corruption, injustice, economic collapse—everything is chaotic. Sound familiar?

Habakkuk is standing in the middle of national disaster, asking: “God, why are You allowing this?”, but chapter 3 is a pivot.

It’s a song. A declaration. A memory of what God has done.

He says, “God has given us deer’s feet… He is preparing us for elevation.”

You don’t get deer’s feet for staying low. You get deer’s feet because you’re going higher.

So let me give you a few things to help you understand how a YET praise can shift your life.

  1. PRAISE ESTABLISHES OUR STANCE DESPITE THE STRUGGLE
  2. Your situation does not define you—your stance in God does.
  3. When you praise in difficulty, you declare that your faith is not circumstantial—it’s steadfast.
  4. You’re like a tree planted by rivers of water…
    You’re steadfast, unmovable, always abounding…
  5. Foundation matters.
  6. Praise is your seatbelt in turbulence.
    You may not be able to stop the storm, but you can strap in and call on Jesus.
  7. That’s how you survive life’s turbulence—with a foundation in God.
  • PRAISE KEEPS US GROUNDED IN GOD WHEN LIFE IS UNCERTAIN
  • Judah was facing the unknown. The Babylonians were coming, but praise lifts your eyes above the chaos.
  • “I will bless the Lord at all times” means I bless Him…
  • If He opens the door.
  • If He doesn’t open the door.
  • All times means even when I don’t understand what’s going on, I will bless him.

III.               PRAISE PROVIDES A PROPER PERSPECTIVE

Praise doesn’t just keep you grounded—it shifts your view.

  1. Praise Shifts Our Focus from Lack to the Lord
  2. Stop focusing on what’s missing.
    Start thanking God for what’s present.
  3. Worry stares at the fog. Praise focuses on the headlights.

3. So enjoy today. Protect your peace. Don’t drag tomorrow’s worry into today’s gift.
“This is the day the Lord has made—I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

  • Praise Reframes Problems as Platforms for God’s Power
  • Your pain is a platform.
    Your struggle is an opportunity for God to get glory.
  • Paul and Silas praised at midnight—and the jail shook.
  • What if your praise is someone else’s breakthrough?

IV.               PRAISE POWERS OUR PERSEVERANCE

Endurance is not about avoiding struggle.
It’s about having the strength to push through it.

A.    Praise Strengthens Our Steps in Seasons of Suffering

  1. Psalm 23 says  “Yea, though I walk through the valley…”
    You may be in the valley—but you don’t have to camp there.

B.    Praise Gives Us Stamina to Press Forward in Faith

  1. Habakkuk says, “Even if there’s no fruit, no flocks—yet I will rejoice.”
  2. This is agricultural disaster.
    No crops = no food, no income, no survival, but he says, “Even if I lose it all—I still choose to praise.”
  3. Like Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

V.               PRAISE PROPELS US TO PROGRESS

Verse 19 isn’t just about survival—it’s about elevation.

A.    Praise Accelerates Our Movement Toward Divine Destiny

  1. God doesn’t just give you strength to survive—He gives you strength to CLIMB.
  2. Deer’s feet = agility to go higher.
  3. You were prepared in the valley… for the high place.
    All that trauma? That preparation?
    It was building you for the next level.
  4. Tell somebody: “This is the last time you’ll see me at this level.”
  5. Praise Shifts Your Mindset from Survival to Success
  6. You’re not just surviving—you’re progressing.
    You’re blessed in the city and the field.
  7. Worship Prepares You for the Doors God is About to Open
  8. Worship is about who God is.
    And that alignment gets you ready for what’s next.
  9. Joy in the Lord Strengthens You for the Journey Ahead
  10. The joy of the Lord is your strength.
    That’s how you keep moving when others quit.

B.    Praise Positions Us for the Next Level of Purpose

  1. You were built for this. That’s why God gave you deer’s feet.
  2. There is:
  3. Protection – Some things can’t reach you at this level.
  4. Provision – God will nourish you in high places.
  5. Persistence – You’re equipped to handle the terrain.
  6. Perspective – You see clearer at this height.

e.      

C.   CONCLUSION: THE POWER OF “YET”

  1. “Though the fig tree does not blossom… yet I will rejoice.”
  2. That little word “yet” carries weight.
  3. As an English major and theologian, let me tell you—“yet” is a conjunctive adverb.
    It connects two opposing realities: despair and praise.
  4. “Yet” says:
  5. My faith isn’t tied to the fig tree.
  6. My praise isn’t postponed by pain.
  7. My revelation is greater than my reality.
  8. You may not have the diagnosis you wanted—yet.
    You may not have the breakthrough—yet.
  9. But you’ve got a YET praise.
    A praise that says, “God, I trust You anyway.”
  10. So if you’re here today and this word reached you—don’t let pride keep you in your seat.

If you need a foundation, come to Jesus.
If you’ve been trying to hold it all together on your own—it’s time to give it over to Him.

This is your moment.
And your YET praise… is your prophecy.

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I’m Included

Posted on July 1, 2025 by growintheword

Synopsis of Sermon 06.29.25

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

John 4:7-26 (NKJV):

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 

18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

I. Introduction

Have you ever felt overlooked, unimportant, or rejected? Maybe it was by people who said they cared about you. Maybe it was by a system or by society. All of us know the sting that comes with rejection.

But today, I want to challenge you to look at rejection through a different lens. A lens of faith.

What if your rejection was actually a part of God’s redirection?

Today is not just a gathering—it’s an encounter moment.

God wants to speak to you personally—to bring you into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.

A. Grace That Breaks Barriers

Let’s talk about this Samaritan woman. She experienced rejection on multiple levels—gender, ethnicity, and personal history.

Yet she becomes one of the most powerful examples of the grace of God in the New Testament. This encounter with Jesus will blow your mind.

She was labeled, isolated, and misunderstood—but she was still included. Tell somebody near you: “You are included.”

Let’s break down the context:

  • She’s a Samaritan.

The Samaritans were the result of intermarriage between Jews and Assyrians. Because of this, other Jews considered them impure and heretical.

  • They had their own temple on Mount Gerizim, accepted only the first five books of the Torah, and were divided religiously from the Jews.

This created a deep divide—so deep that Jews would walk around Samaria just to avoid them.

  • She’s a woman.

And in that culture, women were often seen as inferior. It was especially scandalous for a Jewish rabbi to speak to a Samaritan woman in public.

Jesus breaks all of that.

He meets her at Jacob’s well at noon, a time when women normally did not come to draw water. Why? Because she was trying to avoid people. She had a reputation.

She wanted to get in and get out—but what she didn’t realize was this wasn’t going to be an ordinary day.

Jesus asks her for a drink. That request alone shatters cultural and religious norms. Then He offers her living water—a spiritual satisfaction she had never known.

B. Living Water: Spiritual Satisfaction

She didn’t understand at first. She says, “You have nothing to draw with. The well is deep—where do you get this living water?”

Jesus sees past her confusion—and past her past. He asks her about her relationships. She says, “I have no husband.” He replies: “You’ve had five husbands, and the one you’re with now is not your husband.”

That’s a bombshell moment—her truth exposed, but instead of running, she shifts the conversation to worship: She says “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place to worship.”

Jesus responds: “The hour is coming—and now is—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth… for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

Then comes the revelation: “I who speak to you am He.” Jesus reveals His identity—not to a rabbi, not to a Pharisee, not to a religious leader—but to her, an outsider, rejected, broken, and branded.

C. True Worship

Worship is not about place—it’s about presence.

The living water represents eternal life, spiritual renewal, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus teaches that worship is no longer confined to temples or mountains—it’s about encountering God in spirit and truth.

This woman came for water—but she left with a well on the inside of her. Some of you come to church for a routine—but you’re about to leave filled, refreshed, and restored.

Tell somebody: “You’re closer than you think.” You’re closer to breakthrough, closer to freedom, and closer to destiny.

II. Accept Rejection As Redirection

Sometimes rejection is the clearest sign that God has something greater in store. We struggle when we’re excluded—when they don’t invite us, don’t text us, or don’t choose us, but maybe, just maybe, that closed door is God’s way of opening a better one.

The Samaritan woman was rejected—as a woman, as a Samaritan, and as someone with a troubled past, but Jesus didn’t avoid her, He didn’t shame her, and He didn’t ignore her. He included her.

A. Man Rejects You Because They Don’t Understand You

People often judge you without reading your full story. They walk into the middle of your chapter and act like they know your whole book.

Jesus knows the beginning, the middle, and the end—and He still chooses you. She came to the well in isolation—but Jesus saw her pain, her past, and her purpose.

He didn’t ask questions to condemn her—He asked questions to make her feel seen. Tell your neighbor: “You are known. You are seen. You are included.”

B. Jesus Meets Us at Our Lowest to Lift Us to His Level

Jesus didn’t wait for her to come to Him—He went to her. He stepped into her story and changed the ending.

Somebody next to you could testify: “He met me at my lowest—and lifted me to where I needed to be.”

She didn’t come for a miracle—but a miracle found her.

III. Receive Revelation and Reality

You’ve got to receive revelation as reality.

See, the revelation you’re about to receive will be your reality.
Perception is not your reality—revelation is.


People may perceive things about you, but that’s not your truth. That will be revealed naturally.

Look at the Samaritan woman. What is she coming to do? She’s coming to draw water. She’s got her bucket, ready to pull from the well, but Jesus sees beyond her routine.

He says, “I see what you’re doing. You’re drawing water, but you’re still thirsty, huh?” Because the truth is—You’re not just thirsty for water, you’re thirsty for something deeper.

Her problem wasn’t the water in the well. The problem was the emptiness inside her.

She kept dipping the bucket in—and drawing it out—but remained empty. That well was a mirror of her life. Relationship after relationship. Situation after situation. Drawing in… drawing out… and always dry again.

Jesus says, “I know what’s really going on. People see one thing, but I see the deeper thing.
I’m not asking you for water because I need it— I’m trying to give you a revelation that will transform your life.” If you knew who was asking you for a drink, you’d be asking me for living water!

A well holds what was, but a spring pushes up what’s fresh and alive. Jesus wasn’t there to refill her same old bucket—He came to place a source inside her that never runs out!

When you understand the power of living water, you won’t panic when people leave.
You won’t fall apart when someone walks out. You won’t chase validation in dry places.
You’ll say, “I’ve got a fresh flow inside me!”

So your ex may see you and say, “Why are you so happy now—its like you’re doing better without me?” And you can say, “Exactly. I’ve got a source that never runs out.”

A. God Exposes What You Hide to Heal What You Fear

Jesus knew everything about her—her past, her patterns, her pain and still, He didn’t shame her.

He revealed what she tried to hide, not to embarrass her, but to heal her.

Let me say this:

God will expose what you hide, to heal what you fear.

B. True Worship Begins With Truth

Jesus said, “Go call your husband.” She said, “I have no husband.” He replied, “You’re right. You’ve had five—and the one you have now isn’t yours.”

Why did He make her say it? Because healing begins when you’re honest. Any good therapist will tell you—you can’t fix what you won’t face.

You’ve got to say it: “I’m broken.” “I’m battling addiction.” “I’ve been masking my pain.”

Touch your neighbor and say: “I can’t say it around you, but I can say it before Him.”, because worship creates space for truth.


And once the truth enters your heart, the Word can take root. Worship tills the soil so the seed of the Word can grow.

Jesus said some seed fell on stony ground—because trauma and offense harden the heart, but worship breaks up the soil—so the Word can penetrate.

Let me teach this:
When Job lost everything, the Bible says he tore his robe, shaved his head, sat in ashes…and worshiped. Then—he spoke revelation: Naked I came, naked I’ll return. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

We’ve had it twisted in church. We used to say, “Before the preacher comes, the choir will give us a selection—A and B.”, but the choir wasn’t prepping us to receive—it was entertaining us!

Let me tell you:

Worship is not about performance—it’s about preparation.
Worship isn’t entertainment—it’s engagement.

You don’t need a show—you need a word.

Ask your neighbor: “Do you want a concert, or do you want a revelation?”

When you worship—for real—it breaks your pride.


When your heart is open, God can drop a seed right into it. That’s when restoration begins.

IV. Restore Righteousness Through Relationship

Jesus says, “Someone like you? Yes, you’re included.” She had five husbands, and her situation was complicated—but He still included her.

Why? Because righteousness is received, not achieved. You can’t be free and fake at the same time.

You’re not righteous by performance. You’re righteous by surrender. Jesus spoke to her heart—and righteousness came through relationship.

Let me make it plain. You ever pulled into a car wash in a hurry? You don’t want people to see your dirty car, so you drive to the one where you can stay in the vehicle.

The attendant waves you in—guides your tires—gets you aligned. Then what? They say, “Put it in neutral.”


Why? Because you can’t control the process and be cleansed at the same time. Alignment leads to transformation. You go in dirty, you let go, and when you come out… you’re clean.

Tell somebody: “You should’ve seen me a few years ago.” I don’t even look like what I’ve been through!

Now she’s clean. But she still has questions. Where should I worship? This mountain? That temple?

Jesus says: It’s not about location. It’s about alignment.

A. Worship Isn’t About Location—It’s About Alignment

Jesus says, “The time is coming—and now is—when true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth.”

Don’t limit God to a place, a building, or a denomination.

Tell somebody: “I don’t need a sanctuary to shout. I’ll praise Him in the gas station, the grocery store, the hallway!”

B. Living in Righteousness Requires Relationship, Not Religion

Jesus wasn’t just breaking gender barriers—He was breaking religious rules. A Jew speaking to a Samaritan? That broke every norm.

Religion is about rules—relationship is about access. Religion says, “You don’t belong.”
Relationship says, “You’re included.”

Some of y’all are missing God because of man-made traditions. You want robes and rituals… but God is trying to give you revelation and righteousness.

Religion will have you shouting in church but bitter in the parking lot.
Testifying on Sunday—but not paying back what you borrowed on Monday.

V. Respond to Revival

Revival is not just a service—it’s a response. The Samaritan woman didn’t keep her encounter to herself. She ran back and told her community—and revival broke out!

Water wasn’t meant to be stored. It’s meant to flow through you.

A. Revival Begins When You Recognize the Need for Change

She said, “I need something deeper. I need Jesus to fill the empty places in me.”

Revival starts when you realize:
“Only Jesus can give me what I truly need.”

B. True Revival Results in a Transformed Life

She was changed—and she shared that change and revival spread.

Let me testify for some folks in here:

I was broken—but He made me whole.
I was disappointed—but He healed my heart.
I was lost—but He gave me direction.
I was chasing validation—but now I walk in alignment.
I was anxious—but now I have peace.
I was prideful—but now I have perspective.
I was a performer—but now I serve for an audience of one.
I was angry—but now I have joy.
I was just surviving—but now I’m thriving.

Tell your neighbor: “You haven’t seen anything yet.” I just came to tell somebody—you are included.

If you’ve ever felt rejected, dismissed, or disconnected—
You are included.

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Part 2: It Happened When I Worshipped 

Posted on June 20, 2025 by growintheword

Synopsis of Sermon 06/15/25

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NKJV):

6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.z

2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

3 And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; 
The whole earth is full of His glory!”

4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 So I said:

“Woe is me, for I am undone! 
Because I am a man of unclean lips, 
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; 
For my eyes have seen the King, 
The Lord of hosts.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.

7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips; 
Your iniquity is taken away, 
And your sin purged.”

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send, 
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

I.            Introduction: When Worship Changes Everything

  1. There are moments in all of our lives that change us forever. Many of us, as we reflect on the events of our lives, recognize that there have been watershed moments—moments we will never forget.

God has allowed us to experience seasons of struggle, and in those moments, we’ve received both lessons and blessings.

But then there are those moments that divinely disrupt our reality—moments where God imposes Himself on business as usual, in order to bring us to a place of revelation concerning worship.

Worship is one of those moments. because true worship, ladies and gentlemen, is surrender.

When you truly worship, you position yourself for an encounter with God, and that encounter begins to shift your perspective. Worship brings you into a place of intimacy with God, where you begin to gain clarity—clarity concerning your purpose, your assignment.

You receive wisdom regarding relationships.

Whatever you need—it’s in that space.

  • The Bible says in His presence there is fullness of joy. Because when you enter His presence, revelation occurs. Clarity happens.

And this is important—because when you look at others who have encountered God, you see transformational moments. You’ve seen it for yourself, right?

  • Moses was transformed by a bush that burned but was not consumed.
  • Paul was transformed on the road to Damascus.
  • John, while worshipping on an island called Patmos, received a revelation and wrote an entire book about it.

And now in Isaiah chapter 6, we see Isaiah giving us a pivotal moment in history. It’s quite interesting that he shares this moment at such a significant time in the history of Judah.

  • Your Bible teaches us that Isaiah said he saw something. Let’s talk about that for a moment. What you must understand today, people of God, is that worship goes beyond the routine of religion.

Worship is deeper than going through the motions. Worship is not just something we do in here. Worship is something we live out every single day.

  • Isaiah declares: “It was in the year that King Uzziah died.”

Uzziah, the king of Judah, ruled for 50 years. He came to the throne at age 16, after his father Amaziah passed.

Under Uzziah’s leadership, Judah experienced political stability and economic growth. The people loved him. They leaned on him. They depended on him.

But the Bible teaches us in 2 Chronicles 26 that even though he was a great king, he got beside himself. Pride rose up in him. He decided to go into the temple and burn incense—something God had explicitly told him not to do.

As a result, God allowed leprosy to come upon his forehead. And because Uzziah remained unrepentant, that leprosy ultimately led to his downfall.

Just like that, a man who was once great—who had done extraordinary things—was brought down by his pride. And as the Scripture says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

  • But simultaneously, Isaiah says, “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord.”

I saw the Lord! He was high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Isaiah saw seraphim—angels—each with six wings. With two they covered their eyes, with two they covered their feet, and with the other two they flew.

And they cried out with such harmony—no choir director needed—“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”

And when they began to sing, the Bible declares that the temple shook. The thresholds trembled. Smoke filled the house. And it was in that moment that Isaiah saw himself.

He said, “Woe is me! I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips!” But then one of the angels flew to him with a live coal from the altar. He touched Isaiah’s mouth and declared that he had been cleansed, purified, sanctified.

  • And then came the question from the throne: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And Isaiah answered, “Here am I. Send me!”

Maybe you came today—or maybe you’re reading—and you’ve been asking:

What is my purpose? Why am I here? What is the point of my existence?

Can I tell you something? It’s going to happen—When you worship.

Maybe you’re seeking clarity—your life feels foggy, and you’re facing decisions. Let me tell you: It’s going to happen—when you worship.

Maybe you need direction in your relationship. You’re wondering, “Is this the person?” or “What’s going on in this season?”

You’ve got to resolve in your heart: “Lord, it need this to happen—because I’ve got to worship for this.”

Today, I want to talk to you. Because I want you to understand: God wants to speak to all of us—today.

And the first thing I want you to hear is…

II.            SEE CLEARLY THROUGH TRANSITION

  • You see, what you’ll discover is that Isaiah didn’t receive this revelation during a season of comfort—he received it during a time of transition. And sometimes, God has to shift things in our lives in order to shape our vision.
  • Transition can be uncomfortable. It forces us to rely on God in a new way.
  • Many of us struggle with change because we’re too caught up with what was—and we cannot receive what shall become.
  • When you worship, your perspective shifts—from what you lost to who God is.
  • Worship brings you to a place of realignment.
  • Worship aligns your vision with heaven’s agenda.
  • Some of you have been blind to the next season—because you’ve been holding on to the past. When you’re clinging—you can’t spring.
    • You’re so enamored with what has been…You have so much loyalty to what has been, you can’t open your spirit to what God is trying to do now.
  • God is trying to take you into a new season—
    • New relationships,
    • New levels,
    • New opportunities—
  • But you’re still romanticizing the way things were. Let me tell you something:
  • When you enter into a true place of worship, you stop seeing in the natural… and you start seeing in the Spirit.
  • You’re going to discover this one day:

A.   Some Things Must Die For You To See Clearly 

  1. Isaiah says, “It was in the year that King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord.”
  2. Watch this: Uzziah was a capable king—but toward the end of his life, he lost focus.
  • Here’s the point I want you to understand:
  • His death marked the end of an era, but it also created space for Isaiah to seek God in a new way.
  • Sometimes, the things we’ve been holding onto—the things that have been our historical security blankets, the things that have been comfortable—they have to die in order for us to enter into a greater revelation of God.

Watch this:

•         Maybe the job had to die.

•         Maybe the relationship had to die.

•         Maybe the friendship had to die.

  • Because if it hadn’t died, you would have still been clinging to it—Still living beneath what God had in store for your life.
  • Can I tell you something, people of God? God lets it die so that you’ll finally fix your eyes on Him.
  • Some transitions are painful—but they are necessary for clarity.
  • You fill in the blank:
  • “I’m glad ____ died… so I could see God.”
  • I wouldn’t be tuned in right now—if that hadn’t died.
  • I wouldn’t even be in church—if that hadn’t died.
  • Sometimes, you’re just one delete, one block, one boundary away from seeing God more clearly.
  • Here’s what you need to know:

B.   God Moves When Distractions Are Removed 

  1. Some of us have been praying, “God, reveal Yourself.”
  2. But God is speaking. You just couldn’t see past your distractions.
  3. As long as Uzziah was alive, Isaiah had no record of seeing the Lord, but when Uzziah was gone—Isaiah’s eyes were opened.
  4. Let me ask you a question:
    1. What distractions have been blocking your vision?
    1. What’s been keeping you from hearing clearly from God?
    1. What’s been standing in the way of you seeing God?
    1. What’s been stopping you from worshipping with true authenticity?
  • 7 Things That Distract Believers From Experiencing Authentic Worship And God’s Presence
  1. Personal Pride
  2. That’s what messed up King Uzziah—he became prideful and was struck with leprosy.
  3. Sometimes our pride gets in the way because we say, “Ain’t nobody gonna make me worship God.” “That’s not the way I was raised.”
  4. You’ve built up a barrier, and your pride won’t let you humble yourself, but let me remind you: God will not share His glory with you.
  5. Worship requires humility—and pride will block your breakthrough.
  • Persistent Problems
  • You keep chronicling your trials and troubles.
  • You’re so consumed with what’s going wrong in your life—
  • So focused on what the devil is doing to you— That you can’t even perceive what God is doing for you.
  • You’re adding up your problems,
  • And you’ve forgotten to count your blessings.
  • People’s Opinions
  • You’re so worried about what other people are going to think.
  • The reason you haven’t stepped into your new season
  • is because you’re incarcerated by the opinions of others.
  • “What are they going to say?”
  • “What will my family think if I step out in faith?”
  • Let me tell you something—they’re already talking about you. You might as well give them something to talk about.
  • Polluted Priorities
  • When worldly ambition, material gain, and status take precedence, you’ll miss the move of God.
  • Maybe your priorities are so out of alignment that you don’t have time for God.
  • You say, “God, I want to seek You, but I’ve got to work. I’m too busy.”
  • And God is saying, “Oh, you need more time? You want Me to free you up?”
  • Don’t forget—the Lord gives, and the Lord can take away.
  • Pleasures of the Flesh
  • You’ve got time for your tea time, time for brunch,
  • time for entertainment and indulgence— but you don’t have time to worship.
  • You’ve made comfort your god, and convenience your master.
  • Past Pain
  • Your unhealed wounds, bitterness, and unforgiveness
  • have made it hard for you to move forward.
  • Yes, you’re in the house of God. Yes, you’re watching online, but emotionally—you’re still trapped in what someone did to you.
  • Stop giving power to the people who hurt you.
  • Remind the devil: I am no longer bound by what happened to me.
  • Preoccupied Minds
  • Your mind is everywhere.
  • You’ve got time to scroll through social media.
  • Your face is in Facebook—but it’s not in The Book.
  • You’re checking your emails—but when’s the last time you sent a knee-mail?
  • Can I talk to somebody here today? God is about to remove your distractions.
  • Touch your neighbor and tell them: God’s going to remove all your distractions!”
  • What is it that’s in your way?
  • And here’s the deal: It was in Uzziah’s time…
  • You have to stand firm in His presence—

III.            STAND FIRM IN HIS PRESENCE

  • You have to stand firm in His presence— Because when God begins to move,
  • distractions must go so vision can come.
  • When God reveals Himself, it is never in the passive tense. God demands a response.
  • So when Isaiah saw the Lord—everything around him began to shake. Somebody say, “It shook!” Say it again—“It shook!”
  • When God’s glory fills the room, it disrupts everything that is not aligned with Him.
    • Some of us want to experience God, but we are afraid of the shaking. That’s why it’s easy to settle for just praising God.
    • Now—there’s nothing wrong with praise. Praise is good. Praise is necessary, but see—praise doesn’t shake much up.
  • But when you worship God—Worship will bring you face to face with the holiness of God. And when that happens? Anything in your life that is not firmly rooted in Him gets exposed.
  • Standing firm in the presence of God means refusing not to waver— still saying, “God, no matter what comes, I’m going to be strong in my convictions. I will stand. I will be anchored in my faith.”
  • Somebody in this crazy, wishy-washy world needs to be steadfast, immovable,
  • and always abounding in the work of the Lord.
  • Somebody needs to be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water,
  • bringing forth fruit in your season.

A.   God’s Presence Will Shake What Isn’t Secure 

  1. Whatever is false, whatever is unstable, whatever is not from Him—will be exposed.
  2. The seraphim cried, “Holy, holy, holy!” And when they cried, the Bible says the temple began to shake. Maybe you missed that… Some of you need to get ready, because this disruption is necessary.
  3. You’ve been asking, “Why are things shaking up on my job?” “Why does it feel like relationships are shifting?” It’s because—you’re getting closer to God.
    1. The closer you get to God the more things around you will start shaking.
    1. There are people you’ve been close to—it was cool for a season—but now you’re trying to go deeper in God, and the relationship is getting weird.
    1. God is shaking loose anything that was anchoring you more than Him.
  4. Those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth and whatever is a lie in your life cannot stand in the presence of truth.si
    1. So if you want to know who your real friends are—worship!
    1. If you want to know who’s really walking with you—worship, because whenever you get close to God, whatever is false will be exposed.
  5. Half the stuff God is shaking out of your life—let it go!
  • Reverberation of Divine Holiness to
  1. Reverberation is the continued echo or reflection of sound after the original sound has stopped. It happens when sound waves bounce off surfaces—like walls or ceilings—and return to your ears, creating a lingering effect. It’s like the after-effect of a sound—like when you clap your hands in a big, empty building and the sound hangs in the air for a moment before fading.
    1. Get this: when the trembling occurs, it is a reverberation of divine holiness.
    1. The presence of God comes, and anybody who enters can tell that He’s been there. When you walk into a space where God was, you can still tell God is there.
    1. We are wired to detect the reverberation of even demonic presence. When you are spiritual, you know when something doesn’t feel right. You walk into a place and immediately sense, “Something ain’t right.” You can’t put your finger on it, but your spirit is not settled. That’s discernment.
    1. Have you ever been around someone and thought, I don’t know what it is, but something’s off? You feel like you need a Gas-X or some ginger ale—who am I talking to?
  2. But let me flip this. Just like you can walk into a place and know that the enemy has been there, you can also walk into a place and know that the glory of God has fallen there.
    1. People of God, some of you—no matter what time you tuned in, or what time you walked in this building—you can testify: “When I entered this atmosphere, I could tell the glory of God was reverberating all around this place.”
    1. Look at your neighbor and tell them, “He’s all over this row! I feel the presence of God!”
    1. He didn’t just show up when you showed up—He was already here.
    1. When you’re in the presence of God, the power of God will linger and linger and linger.
    1. Let me break it down even further. That’s why we sing, “Consuming fire, sweet perfume…”Because, just like perfume, when you spray it in one place, the scent lingers. You can smell it long after it’s been applied.
  3. So it is with God’s presence. Now, listen to me—worship triggers a shaking, but it also invites the weight of glory. Isaiah said this—and I’ve got to give it to you: “I looked up, and His train filled the temple.”
    1. A king’s train—like the flowing robe of a bride’s dress—was a symbol of victory. The longer the train, the greater the king’s conquests. This wasn’t just true in biblical times, but also in world history.
    1. Remember Napoleon? The short man with the big ego? He wanted to conquer the world to make up for his stature. Why? Because the length of a king’s train symbolized power, victory, and authority.
  4. Now here’s the revelation: Isaiah didn’t just say he saw a train—he said the Lord’s train filled the entire temple.That means everywhere Isaiah looked, God had already won.
    1. And I came to declare this over your life: Wherever God occupies, there is already victory!
  5. Some of you need to understand what the weight of His glory really looks like.

A.   Worship Invites The Weight Of His Glory 

  1. It means that when you worship and come under the weight of His glory, every area of your life—wherever His presence dwells—victory is already there.
  • But the devil has been lying to you—telling you that you’re not going to overcome this, that you won’t make it out, that this is the end. But I came to shut that lie down and declare:
  1. His train is in your bedroom.
    1. His train is in your hospital room.
    1. His train is in your courtroom.
    1. His train is in your office.
    1. His train is in your classroom.
  • Wherever you go, you’ve got victory—not because you’re trying to get it, but because it’s already done.
  • Let me say this too: God’s glory cannot be contained in a building. Worship invites God to take over. Worship says, “God, your authority is so powerful, there’s no battle we cannot win. There’s nothing we cannot overcome.” And when I worship, I remind myself—and everybody around me—“Victory is mine!” I told Satan to get behind me—somebody shout VICTORY!

Now watch this…

IV.            SPEAK WITH A SANCTIFIED TONGUE

Sanctified Speech and the Power of Worship

  • The words that we speak in worship matter. When you worship, you enter a place—watch this—where you’re cognizant of what comes out of your mouth. The power of life and death is in your tongue.
  • Isaiah said something so powerful: “When I got in this space and saw the Lord, high and lifted up—when I saw how His power filled the room, and there was no empty space, His glory was everywhere—then I saw myself.”
  • You see, the reason why some people don’t truly see themselves is because they’ve allowed themselves to be worshiped. You start believing your own hype. You keep drinking that Kool-Aid they serve you, and you forget that you’re flawed.
    • I know they said you’re fine—but you’re flawed.
    • I know she told you you’re handsome—but you’re flawed.
    • I don’t care what your net worth is.
    • I don’t care where you work or what you drive—you’re still flawed.
  • All of us—every last one of us—when we enter into true worship, we begin to see ourselves in light of God’s holiness. That’s why the enemy doesn’t want you to worship. He wants you to stay on the periphery—sing a few songs, be entertained, and leave unchanged. But when you worship for real, it exposes who you really are.
  • Isaiah said, “Woe is me!” “I see myself—I’m not even worthy.” “I’m a man of unclean lips. I don’t even deserve to be in this space.”
  • Let me tell you something. This is why we cultivate this atmosphere of worship at Mount Zion. Because worship is not optional—it’s foundational.
    • There’s a new and different wave of worship that has hit Mount Zion, and some of you can already sense it. Some of you are just about to catch it. But hear me: what we are experiencing now in this season is not just a stylistic shift. It’s not about new songs or unfamiliar melodies. It is a spiritual movement.
    • Before the Word goes forth—we pause and worship. Why? Because worship tills the soil of the heart, so the seed of the Word can take root.
  • This is not the time for you to sit back, be entertained, and watch the praise team do what they do. No—this is the moment for you to engage. These aren’t just songs—they are declarations.
    • They are atmosphere setters.
    • They are spiritual preparations.
    • These are real-time agreements that prepare us to receive what heaven is about to release in our lives.
  • Worship prepares us for a deeper level of revelation. Somebody knows exactly what I’m talking about. We didn’t come here to be entertained—We came here to encounter what God has for our lives.
  • I don’t come to church for the “what’s up, what’s up,” —whether they sing my song or not! I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
  • And when I align my words with the worship—watch this—I don’t get upset if God doesn’t do what I want Him to do, because I am a worshiper.
  • “Holy, holy, holy” means, God, You are still holy—whether You heal me or not. Jehovah, I’m not worshiping You for what You do. I’m worshiping You for who You are.
    • See, some of you sit back with your arms folded and your lip stuck out because you’re spoiled. You’re like, “God didn’t do this for me. That’s why I’m not going to church. That’s why I’m mad at God—because I didn’t get the job, I didn’t get the position, I didn’t get the person.”
    • But the devil is a liar. You’ve got to get to the point where you recognize: there are people in here today with cancer—but they’re still believing God for their healing. There are people here who’ve been laid off—but they’re still believing God for provision. There are people who’ve lost everything—but they’ve seen God restore them again.
    • Why? Because they worshiped their way through. It didn’t happen when they shouted. It didn’t happen when they praised. It happened when they worshiped.
    • They had sense enough to throw their hands up and say: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
  • There’s a surplus in the house. Sometimes I don’t know how it’s going to work out, I don’t know when it’s going to work out, but as long as God is on the throne, I still give Him glory! Who am I talking to today?
  • Worship allows you to see the promise, not the problem. It lets you see your destiny, not your demise. And that’s why—

A.   Conviction Precedes Cleansing 

  1. Conviction precedes cleansing. “Woe is me, for I am undone. ”That’s self-awareness.
  2. I’m convicted when I’m in the place of worship. I’m convicted—
    I get it. It’s messy. It’s me, but God loves me so much that He doesn’t condemn me—He cleanses me.
    1. Religious people love to condemn you. I’m just sick of it. I’m sick of these self-righteous folks always trying to tell somebody they’re going to hell.
    1. Who are you to declare somebody’s eternal destination? If it had not been for the grace of God—
      You wouldn’t even have the breath to speak judgment.
      You don’t have a hell to send anyone to.
    1. We’ve got to understand something: God loves us so much… He purifies.
  3. Let me tell you why grace is so powerful: He cleanses, but you’ve got to let God cleanse you.
    1. We’ve played with cleansing for too long.
      Let me help you catch this:
    1. This is how some of us treat our spiritual lives—
      The same way we treat our dry cleaning. “It ain’t that dirty.” This is because you want to go somewhere so bad, you’ll wear it dirty before you get it cleaned.
      1. You want to be married so bad—you’ll wear it dirty.
        You want a relationship so bad—you’ll wear it dirty.
        You’ll worship dirty.
  4. But when we offer worship, when we offer God our service—
    That’s not a performance. That’s an offering!
    1. When you serve, you worship.
      When you give,you worship.
      When you offer adoration, you worship.
    1. That’s why when you come to church, you receive the Word—that’s God speaking to you.But what you give back to God—is your worship:
      through service, through adoration, and through giving. Now watch this:
  5. When you worship God—in your adoration, in your service to Him, and in your giving to Him—you must do it purified.
    1. Okay, I want God. I do. But let me make it plain. 99.9% of the restaurants you’ve ever eaten at have a sign in the bathroom that says: “Employees must wash hands before returning to work.”
    1. Why do they post that? Because it reassures you they care enough about what they serve you that the people serving you won’t serve with dirty hands.
      1. We ought to care enough about God’s people that we don’t serve them with dirty hands. Touch your neighbor and say:
        “He’s not talking about physical hands now—he’s talking about your heart.”
      1. He’s talking about your life. He’s talking about your attitude.That’s why David said: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
        Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

B.   Your Pain Isn’t Permanent 

  1. Hello—only God can get this out of you, but when God gets you out of you, let me tell you how you know you’re close to the greatest season of your life:
  2. You go through the purging. Watch this—I had a distraction… and it died.And when it died, I saw God like I’d never seen Him before.
    1. And when I saw God, He was high and lifted up. That means—no matter what degree I had, no matter how popular I was, I was still looking up to Him.
  3. His train filled the temple. I saw His glory. His power was so amazing that wherever He was, He owned it.
    1. I didn’t just read about victory—I saw it!
    1. But then… I saw myself and I had to realize: I was undone.
  4. Yet He didn’t condemn me—He purged me. He shook some things up.And I realized—
    The reason some people aren’t comfortable around me…It is because I’m a worshiper.
  5. This is  because what worship does is it exposes what’s fake.
  6. So now that I’m in the most authentic place of my life, I’ve been purged, not condemned.
  7. Now—I’m ready for where God is about to take me. Now—it’s time to step into your assignment.

V.            STEP UP TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT

  • Step into your assignment—because every encounter with God requires a response.
  • Worship is not just about His presence; It’s about being transformed for His purpose.
  • Some of us have been waiting for confirmation, when God has already given you a command.
  • Worship positions us to hear the voice of God clearly—and to respond without hesitation.
  • Your next level isn’t waiting on another sign—it’s waiting on your surrender.

A.   Surrender Activates Assignment 

  1. Once Isaiah was cleansed, he heard the voice saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
  2. And without hesitation, he answered, “Here am I—send me.”
  1. Notice the sequence. He saw—watch it carefully. He surrendered and then he was sent.
    1. A lot of people are unwilling to go through the process— but always want the next level.
    1. Worship is what you have to surrender, because God won’t send you if you’re not surrendered.
  2. It’s here—in worship—that we lay down our will for the purposes of God.
  3. It’s where we stop resisting, and we recognize something: Nothing gets done without the anointing.
  4. “Who will go for us?” Somebody like me. The anointing activates authority.
  5. Play your prayer life, not just your talent. You can’t walk this out unless you do it under the anointing.
  6. Can I tell you something?Where God is about to take you—you must go under the anointing. Jesus says in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to…”—to do what I’m about to do.
  7. Understand this: Thank God for your preparation. Thank God for your degree. Thank God for your experience. But where God is about to take you, you’re going to need the anointing that puts super on your natural.
  1. The anointing gives you clarity when confusion surrounds you.
    1. The anointing gives you confidence when your credentials are questioned.
    1. The anointing opens doors that no man can shut, and it shuts doors no man can open.
    1. The anointing will place your name in rooms you’ve never stepped foot in.
    1. The anointing will silence critics who are still trying to figure you out.
    1. The anointing will make you effective, when others are just impressive.
    1. The anointing will equip you for battles you don’t even know are coming.
    1. The anointing will cover you from attacks you never saw coming.
    1. The anointing destroys the yoke.
    1. Somebody testify: You went for the anointing!
  • You wouldn’t be able to do what you do, walk how you walk, or live out your purpose—without the anointing.
  • People don’t have to like you—but they can’t deny when the anointing of God is on your life. Somebody shout: “I am God’s anointed!”
  • The anointing activates authority. And alignment assures advancement. Because now—once I’m anointed—I’m positioned.
    • Isaiah positioned himself in the presence of God to receive the purpose. “I saw the Lord, high and lifted up…”If I’m not aligned with God, God cannot trust me.
    • Y’all not getting this—Alignment matters in this season. Why? Because an appointed time attracts acceleration.
  • It was the year Uzziah died— That means: You don’t choose the time—God chooses the time.
    • If you just operate under the anointing, and stay aligned, God will tell you when it’s going to happen.
    • You’re getting upset because you’re sitting there comparing yourself on social media. You’re saying, “It’s happening for them—what’s wrong with me?” You can’t even celebrate somebody else’s breakthrough, because you’re wondering, “When is it going to happen for me?”
    • Let me tell you something: Whatever’s happening for them has nothing to do with you. Because when it’s your time, God will make it happen.
    • And not only that—God will restore the years that the locust has eaten. Touch your neighbor and tell them: “God will accelerate your time. He’ll make up the difference.”
  • Every assignment requires surrender. Isaiah didn’t just hear the call— He responded immediately.

B.   God Isn’t Looking For Ability But Availability 

  1. He’s looking for availability. Isaiah did not ask questions; Isaiah simply said, “Here am I, send me.” God isn’t waiting on you to feel qualified— but God isn’t waiting on you to feel available.
  • Worship focuses you on your availability. Worship says, “I surrender.”
  • Can I talk to somebody and tell you something? People have gone all out, but God is waiting on your surrender.
  • That one word: Yes.
    • Abraham was called to be the father of many nations—guess what he said? Yes.
    • Moses was called to lead God’s people out of bondage—guess what he said? Yes.
    • Samuel was called to be the voice of God to a nation—guess what he said? Yes.
    • David was called up—said Yes.
    • Esther was called to stand in the gap for her people—guess what she said? Yes.
    • Mary was called to carry the Savior of the world—guess what she said? Yes.
    • The disciples were called to leave everything and follow Jesus—guess what they said? Yes.
    • Paul was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles—guess what he said? Yes.
    • Jesus was called to give His life for the salvation of the world—guess what?
  • Say Hi to your neighbor—the person sitting next to you gossiping.Tell them, “It’s time for you to say Yes.”
  • I come today to tell you, God is waiting on you to open your mouth, surrender your life, and say, “Yes, God, here I am—send me.”
  • Can I leave this with you with this? When Apple wants to update your device— I can’t speak for you Android people, but Apple updates your device— When Apple wants to update, somebody’s gonna grab this out the atmosphere— It sends you a notification: A new version is available. Accept and install. But the update can’t happen until you say Yes. You don’t always know all the details of what’s changing until you click Yes. And God is trying to update somebody’s life today.
  • He’s saying: A new version of you is available. A better you is available. A bolder you is available. A more focused you is available. A more fruitful you is available. A more faithful you is available. But God is just waiting on you to say Yes, because your Yes activates heaven on your behalf. Your Yes will position you for what you’ve been praying for. Your Yes is the bridge between your worship and what’s next.
  • Some of you came in needing direction, needing clarity, and God said, “I’ve already downloaded it. I’m just waiting on somebody to surrender and open their mouth and say, ‘God, I’ll go where You want me to go. I’ll do what You want me to do—even if they laugh at me.’ ”God, in this season, I’m in a place of surrender. We have worshipers in the house today who can lift up your hands, open your mouth, and say, “God, here am I, send me.” I’ve come to declare in this season: God is looking for true worshipers who are willing to surrender and say, “God, it happened when I worshiped today.” God has an assignment for your life.
  • I want you to hear this prophetically. Isaiah said, “It was when King Uzziah died that I saw…” Wait, wait—“I saw the Lord high and lifted up.” I don’t know where you come from. I don’t know how long you’ve been in church, but this pastor does not write sermons on Saturday night for Sunday morning. God gives me my messages months in advance prophetically, and when I release the word, it always happens in a season when people need comfort in discomfort, when things are uncertain, they need certainty in uncertainty.
    • Who would have ever known? This isn’t a political statement—I’m giving you the Word. Who would have ever known on a weekend where the whole country is walking around protesting no king? I’m not talking about political stuff—I’m talking about that now. God’s listening, and this word is to tell you: Let me introduce you to the Real King, because even He will have to bow, band every tongue will have to confess who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
    • Now, who is this King? Lift up your hands. Don’t just give me a little lift—lift up your everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in.
    • Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty in battle.
    • So lift up your heads, all you gates. Lift up your everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.

Happy Father’s Day! We appreciate all of the men in our ministry.

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