Converted

Posted on November 19, 2015 by growintheword

Converted

Synopsis of sermon 11/15/15

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Anchor Text:

Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV)

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

The scripture says, then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” We were all born into sin. We all have gone through seasons where things weren’t so great. In these seasons, our lives had been a series of events that would have led to damnation if not for heaven’s intervention.

Jer 29:11 says 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. – One of the most powerful experiences that could ever happen to us is conversion. This is totally different than simply joining. When you join, you simply become a member of the church, but when you are converted, it goes a little deeper: When you are truly converted, no one has to tell you to show up! You don’t have to tell a converted person to treat people right; You don’t need to prime a converted person up with the praise team or ques from an organ either! All a converted person has to do is think about the goodness of God and the praise will begin!

This sermon is not to get you to shout. This sermon is for understanding the transformative power of God. God takes something and converts it for his own glory.

Saul was a terrorist to the Christians of the early church. He was even present at the stoning of Stephen. On the road going to Damascus, God met Saul. God interrupted Saul’s agenda from terrorist to evangelist. This same power is available to us today.

There is a level of evidence seen when a person is converted.

  1. Past Conduct

Saul was an amazing individual. He was diligent, intelligent, passionate, and the list goes on.

There are things we can learn from Paul’s conduct:

  1. We’ve all had a Saul season. Saul’s name is changed to Paul to represent his right now season (not his past), but you can’t appreciate this right now Season (also referred to as the Paul season), without understanding his Saul season. All of us have had a Saul season. Prov 14:12 says 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.- Saul’s season represents the season where you thought you would do it your own way. If you think about it, much of what we look at in the world is beyond our ability to change it. One thing we can change however is ourselves.
  2. No matter what you did, know that God can still use you. No matter what you did, know that God can still use you. God can take the raw materials of our past, and use it. This is not a time for us to make excuses about why God can’t use us. Everybody reading this has had some type of Saul season.
  3. We come to tell you today that God can still use you! He used Abraham who lied about his wife being his sister, Jacob who was a trickster, Moses who killed a man and hid his body, David who was an adulterer, and Jeremiah who tried to walk around his one assignment. All of these examples should be evidence that God can use you!
  4. God takes one thing and converts it for his glory.
  5. POWER OF CONVERSION

God met you and changed you. You wasn’t an easy case.

  1. When God gets ready for you, he knows where to find you. Psa 139:9 says 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea – In other words, there is no limit on Gods ability to find you. When God gets ready to find you, he will find you like he found Saul.
  2. God will meet you where you are about to do what you are about to do. God is aware of your every move. Some of you know that God has been calling you and pulling you away from things. Know that this is God literally speaking to you an guiding you.
  3. True conversion will send you instantly into another direction. 2 Cor 5:17 says 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.- When conversion happens in your life, the things of the past have to let you go. Because of your new life, Christ has no room for the baggage of your past.
  4. When the light shined upon him, Saul was blinded. Sometimes God has to blind us of our own issues. God had to blind Saul and open up his eyes, so that he could see (clearly). – Just like this, God opened your eyes so you could see differently. One encounter with God can change your whole life.
  5. How was Paul able to argue that he was an Apostle? Apostles are those that walked with Jesus or had seen him in person. This consisted of eleven disciples plus the one that replaced Judas. The question often arises, how then was Paul (formally known as Saul) able to call himself an Apostle? Well the answer is, on Damascus road, Saul had an encounter with God and he saw God. This illustrates to us that whenever you meet God for yourself, you will change instantly.

Whenever you are truly converted, you have:

III. Paradigm of Commitment

When converted, your commitment is greater than the average person. When you are converted, this thing is real for you. In Saul’s former life, he persecuted the church. In his later life, Paul was persecuted by church. In his Saul life, he ran with the devil and his Paul life, he ran against evil.

Why would the devil start messing with you when you get saved? It is because he wants to block your commitment.

  1. Your purpose will always have to be greater than your pain. James Baldwin wrote “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – When you are playing church, pain will uproot you. When you are converted, you understand that no matter what happens, you can stay and finish your assignment. Paul said, “If God be for me, he is more than the whole world against me. Paul said, “… and we know all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose…” – God did what he did in your life just to show somebody that he is real in your life.
  2. The same energy you had for the world you now have for the kingdom. – God will bring us to a place of humility sometimes. God is not after religion; he is after relationship. God salvaged Saul. In his encounter, God asked Saul why he was persecuting him. He could have instantly killed Saul, but he didn’t. Why did he salvage him? It was because Saul was a good man, full of energy, passion, and dedication. He was articulate too. God knew he could take all of these qualities and convert it for the kingdom.
  3. It is amazing how when we were in the world, we had all that energy, and now when it comes for the things of God, we are always tired. When we were out in the world, we used to go to happy hour and stay longer than an hour. Now we can’t even spend an hour in Bible Study. We used to spend all kind of money at the club and having so called fun, but now we get upset if the preacher asks for 5 dollars to sow in a ministry.
    1. One thing is for sure, the church is the only place that you can tell the weather on the inside. If the weather is bad, there will barely be anyone inside the church.

Again, there is a different between joining and being converted. Be honest and ask yourself, did I simply join or have I been converted?

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I had to do it! Sermon 11/01/155

Posted on November 13, 2015 by growintheword

I had to do it

Synopsis of sermon 11/1/15

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

We as Christians, suffer from entitlement issues. We need to realize that whatever God has for us to do, it is for us to do.

There comes a moment that God will take you through so much that you have to yield to his will. You can run, but you can’t hide! You come to a place where you say, I’ve got to do it!

God has providently orchestrated you to do it! No one else can do this assignment, but you. You have to do what God says do.

Jonah was commissioned by God to go to Nineveh. The problem was that Nineveh was a wicked city and Jonah did not want to go there. Jonah decided instead to run from God and go to Tarshish.

  1. Reasonable to the call

Jonah 1:1-2 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

When God calls us, he always sends his word to confirm it. He also makes it clear that it is Him calling us. Whatever we are called to, we must know:

  1. What God calls us to is never easy: Stop complaining as if you are the only one called to something difficult. Can you imagine being Noah who was asked to build a ship for a flood, when it wasn’t even raining? What about Moses, with nothing but a stick and stutter, going out to Pharaoh to try and convince him to let God’s people go? Can you imagine how it must have been to be Jesus coming down from heaven to die for us, knowing that we wouldn’t receive him? John 16:33 says 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 43:2-3 -When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.- Know that God never calls you without having your back.

  1. He chose you because he knew you could do it – Everything that happened in your life was about God bringing your purpose forth. He is taking you through predetermined trials to get you ready. If you’re catching hell now, know that there must be greater in store for your life. Romans 8:28 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. Hebrews 13:20-21 says 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you[a] what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
  2. God won’t give you an assignment he hadn’t equipped you for. Romans 8:30 says 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Philippians 1:6 says 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 2:10 says 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.-Whatever God calls us to, he equips us for.
  1. Running has consequences

Jonah 1:3 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

The bible says that Jonah found the ship going to Tarshish. Jonah goes to the ship and pays the fare. Know that there is always a ship willing to take you where God is willing for you to go. That ship may be friendship, mentorship, relationship, sponsership, or etc… It is important for you to know, however, that any ship outside the will of God is considered a hardship.

  1. Your disobedience makes you magnet for storms – 1 Samuel 15:22 says 22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams .- Your obedience attracts unnecessary trials and tribulations.

Sometimes the Lord sends storms. Storms are not always the work of the devil. How then, do we rebuke a storm that God sends to get our attention?

Jonah 1:4-16 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.-

    1. Wherever Jonah goes, there is a storm. Whenever you are outside the will of God, storms will show up.
    2. The ship was in jeopardy. They wanted to know what was going on concerning the storms. Jonah explained that he had been running from God and if they would throw him overboard, the storm will cease.
    3. Instead of throwing Jonah overboard, they rowed even harder, trying to keep the ship afloat. We are just like this. We know the problem, but we still try to make it work. You can keep on rowing, but it ain’t going to work.
  1. You are a liability on the ship. God hasn’t called you to be liability, but instead, he wants you to be a testimony. Some of you have liabilities on your ship. You want to give everyone a chance, but there comes a time that you will have to get the liabilities off your ship. Release them into their destiny. Refuse to go down with your liabilities.

III. Rejoice in another chance

We are here; because God was willing that we wouldn’t perish.

Jonah 1:14-17 14 Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. 17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

  1. God could have killed you, but he kept you. God prepared a fish for Jonah. There is no fish today that could swallow you whole and yet you still live; if nothing else, the acids in the stomach would kill you, but God prepared a fish. God factored in Jonah’s disobedience. God made provision for him. He made a space to keep him, until he was willing to yield.
  2. This fish was prepared just to hold Jonah – What could have killed others did not kill you, because God was keeping you.
    1. Reflection -In this space, there is a time of reflection. God wanted Jonah to realize that he couldn’t run from God.
    2. Repentance – God is looking for your repentance. Psalm 103:4 says 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. , – God needs you to stay alive to save a whole generation of people.

  1. Jonah was not willing to be a vessel of God, but while he was in the fishes belly for 3 days, he became ready. All God was looking for was one word, and that word was “Yes”.
  2. This mess is part of my message. Though you find yourself in a mess, God can turn it around. All you have to do is say yes.
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Manifestations of the Holy Spirit Part 1, Bible Study 09/30/15

Posted on October 22, 2015 by growintheword

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit Part I

Manifestations of tongues (Understanding the heavenly language)

Synopsis of Bible Study 09/30/15

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

We must first understand that there are differences of gifts, but they are of the same Spirit. 1 Cor 12:4-5 says- 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Prior to Jesus’ ascension back into heave, He said he would not leave us comfortless. Jesus gives this word, but in a context for us to understand the dispensations of God in the earth realm. Dispensations in this context means “seasons”.

Before Jesus left, He promised that not only will we do what he did, we would also do greater things than he. In other words, the works Jesus did when he was on earth such as healing the sick and casting out demons are all things we should be able to do and more. We must realize that all the works that Jesus did, dwells within us.

Manifestation of the promise

The Day of the Pentecost:

This is 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:1-4 – 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. -The cloven tongues sat on their heads like fire. In the Apostolic religion and others like it, this is very significant. In fact, the hat that you see on the Pope is symbolic of the tongues that sat on their heads that day at Pentecost.

  1. They were in One place on one accord – This reminds us that unity is essential. Matt 18:20 – 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”-Wherever there is unity and communion in the Spirit of God, there will be the presence of God. God does not dwell in chaos.
  2. Divided or divers tongues – Acts 2:3 – 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.-To understand tongues, you must know the distinctions between the types of tongues. The Greek word for tongues in Acts is glossolalia which means tongue talking. Tongues are words uttered in speech usually in intense worship, without conscious control of the speaker. Some say it is a possession of the divine supernatural.

According to the New Testament, this first appearance of tongues came at Pentecost (glossolalia) Remember the bible says … as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Paul distinguishes between spiritual gifts and the private prayer language. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about how the gifts should flow in the house. In 1 Corinthians 13 he backs up and says you can’t have anything without love. In 1 Corinthians 14 he talks about order. Paul explains to the church that when there is somebody speaking in tongue (the gift) there must be an interpreter.

Act 4:31 – 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness., Acts 8:14-17 – 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit., Acts 10 :44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. , Acts 11: 15-17 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘ John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ‘ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”- When people got saved, often they immediately spoke in other tongues. Remember is the gift of tongue and no the heavenly language.

When you read the book of Acts, it is important to know that Acts is a book of history.- It is the “Acts of the Apostles “and the “history of the early church”. It is more historical than is a book telling you what God wants you to do. In Acts 1, Luke writes that the Disciples were to go to the upper room and wait for the comforter to come. They go and they are tarrying waiting for the comforter to come. In acts 2, the Holy Spirit came and manifested when they were together in one place. Many people today still think you have to tarry for the Holy Ghost. You don’t have to tarry for the Holy Ghost anymore, because the Holy Spirit is already here. It is not that you are waiting on the Holy Spirit, instead He is waiting on you. When you got saved, you got a packaged deal. You received the Holy Spirit in that package when you got saved. When you empty yourself and get you out of the way, then you give Him full control

Glossolalia (the Greek word for tongues) occurs throughout the 19th and the  20th  century. Many people talk about the famous Azusa Street Revival of 1906, in Los Angeles, California which was facilitated by William C. Seymour [1] .  Many people from different areas and different denominations came to this revival. One of the most memorable things that came from this revival was that many people begin to speak in tongues after such a move of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring of tongues began to be known as the Pentecostal Movement.

Understanding the heavenly language

What is Full gospel? We are Baptist with Pentecostal in us. Historically, Baptist had good structure, but no power. By this we mean that Baptist traditionally didn’t teach the gift of tongues or the laying of hands on the sick and etc… This is considered power. The Pentecostal on the other hand, had power but no structure. By this we mean that they believed in the gift of speaking in tongues and the laying of the hands on the sick, however, they were not really structured. Their services started around an approximate time and ended whenever they got through. There was really no particular order to their service either. When we say we are Fullgospel, it is a doctrine that unites the best of both worlds. No longer do we just preach that Jesus died and he got up; we preach that Jesus got up with all power in his hands!

Dialektos- means in the Greek “discourse or I speak”. It is a English term meaning dialect. Acts 2:5-7 says 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? – This gift of tongues was the ability to speak a language that you had never been taught by the unction of the Holy Spirit,. For example, you made  We don’t see much of this anymore.

Dialect is what you have learned. Having said this, we are mind, body, and spirit.

  • My spirit is in my belly. Your mind learned a dialect, based on you geographical up-bringing. For example, you may speak English because of where you are from. You have a sub-dialect also, which tells where you came from. For example, you may speak English, but another may sound a little different speaking English, because of where they came from. You intellect taught you that.
  • Your spirit has the dialect of the Holy Spirit. Tongues are the dialect of the Holy Spirit. For example, English might be the dialect of your intellect. Between you intellect and your spirit is yourself, your flesh. You mind is so strong, it often prevents you from tapping into the dialect of the Holy Spirit

1 Cor 14:14-15– 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray without the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. -When we begin to pray in the Spirit of God, we’re seeking understanding of a revelation. Our mind or flesh can’t worship God; He won’t have it. God will only see it when we worship him in the spirit.

God’s language is a spirit. We must worship God in spirit and in truth, because God is a spirit.

God took dirt and made man. Man was formed, but he wasn’t living until God breath his breath (His spirit) inside of him. We being in the image of God refers to your spirit. In other words, the part of   you that looks like God is your spirit. Because you are a spirit, the people you choose to marry should be married to your spirit instead of being married to you. The reason why is because you as a person may change. Your appearance may change, your dress may change, and even your outlook may change, but your spirit (the essence of who you are) won’t change.

God communicates with our spirt not us. When we pray, we must try to pray in the spirit.

You don’t have to be one that speaks in tongues to be saved. A truer statement would be, you get the privilege to speak in tongue when you get saved. Speaking in tongues is not a single qualifier to determine if one is saved or not.

Eph 3.3– 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, – God makes mysteries known to us when we pray in the spirit. What When we pray in the spirit, our prayer language sounds, which is called our heavenly language, also called tongues. Everyone that removes their mind and is saved, can pray in this language if they worship hard enough.

Your Pastor has to pray for you in the spirit, so that there is no demonic interference. When we pray in the spirit, we get revelation. Your Pastor prays in the spirit and revelation comes, then this inspires a sermon that talks about all the things that you have been praying about all week.

We grew up thinking of pray as a phone call. For example, we used to say, “Jesus is on the main line, tell him what you want!” Imagine then that praying is a phone call. Then you have to acknowledge that every phone call you make has the potential to be tapped.  When you pray in your flesh and intellect, the devil comes in and tries to interpret and intercept your prayer. The devil is after that which is carnal.

When you pray in the spirit, then the devil can’t intercept it! Rom 8:26-26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.-The Holy Spirit takes what our mind doesn’t understand and takes it to heaven, because he understands what we don’t understand. Don’t fret if you don’t understand what you are saying, because you are not supposed to understand. Just know that it happens during prayer and worship.

[1] http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199904/026_azusa.cfm

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The Spirit of Discernment II, Bible Study 04/22/15

Posted on April 23, 2015 by growintheword

The Spirit of Discernment II
Synopsis of Bible Study 0415/15
Delivered by Bishop Joseph Walker III
Phil 1:9-10 – (key verse) 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
When looking at discernment, we are not trying to determine between good and bad spirits. We realize that people have the gift to call out spirits, but with discernment, we are really trying to have the ability to distinguish between truth and error.
With discernment, you got to make sure that you are thinking biblically. If we think biblically in life, we will apply truth, thus magnifying every lie.
I. Faith and Wisdom
a. When you act out of faith, you act out the ability to discern things of God.
b. We have to have faith and wisdom other otherwise we leave stuff unchecked. You can have discernment without wisdom, but if you do, you will find yourself doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. To operate in discernment, we must have the word, wisdom, faith, and discernment.
c. Wisdom can be given to someone that is not necessarily educated.1 Cor 1:18-31 says 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:”I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
d. No human being can boast in his presence. – We don’t have it, if He don’t give it!
e. The more I get in Word of God, the better my relationship with Him. The better my relationship with Him, the more faith I have. The more faith that I have, the more wisdom I have, and this will give me strength.

II. How do you test discernment?
1 Tim 4:1-2 says 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,-In later days, some people will depart from their faith and subscribe to demonic doctrines.
a. Discernment is also the ability to know what God is saying and when false teaching is emerging- What is the best way for Satan to attack discernment? The best way is for him to create an attack on the word in my life, so that my faith, my wisdom, and relationship with God has no power. After all, all these things are based on our interpretation of the word.
b. If Satan can make you think wrong is right, he has you. There can be no faith that is built on unsound doctrine.
c. Attacking your word will also make it difficult for you to see truth or to notice when Satan shows up.

III. A.W. Tozer wrote 7 things to ask when receiving teaching
a. Ask does this teaching magnify your relationship with God?
b. How does the teaching strengthen your view of Jesus Christ?
c. How does the teaching change your attitude towards scripture?
d. How does it affect my self-life? These are things like feed pride or humility.
e. How does this teaching affect our relationship to other Christians? Ask does it cause me to be arrogant?
f. How does this teaching affect our attitude toward the world system? Does it cause you to crucify the world? Teaching should always be balanced.
g. How does it change your attitude towards sin? – You know it’s right when you want to be a better you when you leave.

IV. Testing and discernment
a. You have to live life without compromise – In the story of the Prodigal son, he had an inheritance, but asked for it too soon. As a result, he ended up losing everything. Some things we pray for, God doesn’t give, because it is not time for us to have it.
b. What happens if God doesn’t deliver it when we want it? Because God knows what is going to happen down the road; we should add the following statement to our prayer, “If it is not time for me to have it, then give me patience until you feel I am ready for it”. You got to trust God’s timing.
c. See more and stumble less- We stumble because we can’t measure things that go against the word of God. We are not armed to stand strong against erroneous teaching. Ex- People ask all the time what is the chore reason for the successful growth of the Mt Zion Church ((Nashville). Bishop simply responds to them, it is bible study. This is why Bishop’s heart lies with Bible Study. People that come to bible study are serious. If you look at Buddhism, Muslims, Christianity, Judaism, and other religions, and match them with other educational systems of the world, you would have to agree that America is low on the totem pole as it relates in science. When it comes to Biblical literacy, which of these religions would you think would know more about their faith? It is Christianity that would be low on the totem pole when compared to the other religions. We have got to focus on learning Gods word, because when you don’t know the Word of God, you will fall for anything. Just to prove a point, turn quickly to the book of Hezekiah! …. See this is our point. There IS NO book of Hezekiah!
1. 2 Peter 1:3 says 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,- There is nothing we won’t know, if we know His word.
d. The ultimate goal of discernment is your destiny. The steps of a godly man are ordered by the Lord -Psalms 37:23 says 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.- Some of you have taken years off of your life, because of your wasted steps. Every step we take must be a step toward destiny. You got to get somewhere and get rooted in the word of God.

V. Got to get to a place to discern over desire
a. You a good person, you love people, your heart is big, and you give everyone a chance. The problem is, the Holy Spirit sends you notifications that something ain’t right, but you refuse to acknowledge the notifications, because you think you can save them. Because you are a good person, you keep taking them in, regardless of the pain they have caused you. Satan wants to keep you in this cycle of hurt, so you won’t trust anyone and so you will remain bitter. The Holy Spirit gives you these notifications, but you got to trust it.
b. You have to learn to love people from over there. Ex-In college there was a dissertation done of fellow student. He was arguing that since Jesus was omniscient, he knew all the disciples issues before he called them, but he needed them to fulfill his will. Judas was problematic, because why would he choose a betrayer to be among your group of followers? Why would Jesus keep Judas around so long? It was because he needed him. When Jesus dealt with Judas, it deals with discernment. It was Maundy when Jesus had communion with the disciples, revealing that he was about to die. They were eating at the table. At the table, he said to the disciples, somebody was going to betray him. Knowing he had discernment, everyone wanted to know if it was them. He waited until he got to the table, to reveal his betrayer. The lesson in this is, everyone can’t be at the table with you. It is all about timing.
Will you testify that God has been giving you warnings and you’ve been ignoring them?

VI. Things to remember
a. Discernment prepares you to be a leader – Dan 1:4 says 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good- looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.- When you choose people to serve around you, you will chose them rightly.
b. Keeps you from being ruled by emotion. Phil 1:9-10 says 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
c. Prepares you to know the will of God – Pro 10:13 says 13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.- When you have wisdom, it is clear when you open up your mouth.
d. Preserves you from error in all practices.
e. Prepares you to be a faithful steward of your time and gifts- Ex- You have to be clear that this is where God wants you to be when you go to preach. Ex2- When Bishop Walker first started working on the Second location at Mt Zion, he had to be clear that God wanted him to do it. You got to be clear about God wants you to do. God will give you the grace to do only what he desires. You don’t burnout when you only do the things that God wants you to do.
f. Preserves you from the extremes of isolations- He prepares you to bless your life and others. Heb 4:12 says 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

How do you recognize false ministry
a. One way to recognize false ministry is by observing the fruits. Matt 7:15-20 says 15 ” Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.- The fruits you produce don’t lie! Ex- In the south, they used to have a watermelon truck. If you are from the Deep South, you know not to pick the biggest or prettiest watermelon on the truck. What you do is tap it and test it. The biggest and prettiest isn’t always ripe. The worst thing you can do is invest in something and get home and find out it ain’t ripe.
b. Anyone that refuses to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ-Mark 9:39 says 39 But Jesus said, ” Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.- He that speaks of only of himself and never Christ is a false prophet.
c. Unfulfilled prophecy- Deu 8:15 says 15 who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;- He who speaks prophecy and it never comes true, can be a false prophet.
d. When you are enticed to follow another God- Deu 13 says he won’t share his glory with anyone. People of today, try to dilute His word. The bible is not historically, it is a living word.
e. Preaching another gospel- Beware of people teaching the word of God that is not in the word of God. We should only say amen if it is good sound teaching. Amen means so be it. Ex- Bishop explains that one of the greatest compliments he could get is when a person says they get fed every time they go to Mt Zion. Bishop further shares that he knows he is on the right track after hearing people say, “Not only am I feed, but I know what he is putting in the food. This is how you compliment a chef.

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