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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The Spirit of Discernment, Bible Study 04/08/15

Posted on April 15, 2015 by growintheword

The Spirit of Discernment
Synopsis of Bible Study 04/08/15
Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Phil 1:9 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Discernment means the ability to decide between truth and error; right or wrong. With discernment comes much responsibility. When discerning, you got to be both strategic and careful when discerning what truth really is.
Discernment is also the ability to think biblically. The problem is you got to know the word of God in order to be able to discern.
1 Thess 5:21-22 says 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.- In other words, examine everything carefully. We should examine all things that come to us. Ex – Most of us let anyone into our lives without question. It is important to test everything!
1 John 4:1 says 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. – Test the spirits that you encounter, including people you come in contact with. Remember our spirit is the essence of who we really are.
I. How do we know this?
a. Our body is not really who we are. Our spirit is the essence of who we are. How do we prove this? When we die, our body goes back to the dirt, but your spirit goes to God.
b. God makes transactions to your spirit and not to your flesh. The only way to commune with God is in spirit and in truth.
c. We have to know also that the devil is a spirit. The devil is attracted to your flesh; God is attracted to your spirit. Whatever is attracted to God, will be attracted to your spirit. Whatever is attracted to Satan will be attracted to your flesh.

II. The devil is a counterfeiter.
a. If you must test the spirit to know if it is of God or of the devil, know that it won’t be easy. The devil will show up looking and sounding like God. This means the only way to test it is by not relying on our flesh. The flesh can be deceived, but the spirit can’t. There is a still small voice in your spirit that tries to tell you when something isn’t right.
b. The spirit inside of you is like the GPS in your car. After programming it, the moment you get off course, the GPS is going to say something about it. Just like the GPS, God programs you by his word and the Holy Ghost will start speaking to you the moment you get out of line.

III. Gaining the discernment is based on your willingness to wait, learn, and listen
a. Wait – You need wisdom to undertake this one. James 1:5 says 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.- Wisdom is your perspective on life , your sense of balance, your understanding.
b. Spiritual discernment is calling on the Holy Spirit to lead or give you direction on matters. We must call on the Lord and ask him to speak to us about what we are about to do.
c. When you discern you don’t always discern a person solely on their actions. Remember it is their spirit that makes them who they are. Their actions sometimes make us forget this.
d. We have the Holy Spirit in the unemployment line. We subconsciously want to do things on our own.

IV. Jesus and his teaching on discernment
a. Learn to ask the right questions – Luke 11:9 says 9 ” So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.- We ask other people for their advice more than we do the Holy Spirit. The devil wants you to be led by emotion and not the Holy Spirit.
b. Learn how to determine time and seasons – Matt 16:3 says and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. ‘ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.; Ecc 3:1 says 1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:- You can have a good thing at a bad time. Ex- There is nothing wrong with having a mink coat, but there is something wrong with wearing on a sunny day. You might see a good opportunity, but it doesn’t mean it is the right season for you to have it. The devil could be trying to trick you.
c. Got to learn how to use wisdom and judgment- John 8:16 says 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
1. 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.-
i. Ex- What you have is the word of God. Then you have your Pastor. In preparation of the presenting the word to you, your Pastor must consecrate himself, pray, and move himself out of way, thus allowing the Lord to use him as a vessel as he speaks a word into your situation. This is how the Spirit of God connects to your spirit. God tells you everything you need to hear, because you sit under a Pastor that he has assigned to you.
ii. Ex2- Bishop Walker says one of the greatest compliments he could get is for someone to say to him, “Every time I come to your service, you talk right into my situation”.

V. Discernment vs. delusion
a. Matt 7:15-16 says 15 ” Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? – You got to beware of false prophets assigned to your life. Without discernment, you will not be able to tell the difference.
b. The gift of discernment – We have to learn how to use this gift.
c. Beware of false prophets – Many people taught you the wrong meaning of false prophets. A false prophet is simply a person that taught you the wrong thing about word. Matt 7:15-16 says 15 ” Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. – Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? You have to know the word.
d. You got to know false prophecy is erroneous teaching. You don’t just take somebody’s word at face value. You should take whatever someone says and go to the word of God and it should line up.
e. The word of God should inspire you to speak. When you got the word, it is hard to keep it to yourself.
f. The gift of discernment needs to be cultivated- 1 Kings 3:9 – 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
g. This gift must be done with the heart of God – Proverbs 15:14- 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.; Acts 16:16-17 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”-Divination was a fortune telling spirit. Notice that though she was practicing something demonic, she said all the right stuff. She proclaimed that Paul and Silas were “men of God”.
a. Acts 16:18 says 18 And this she did for many days.- Though she were calling Paul and Silas men of God, she did not have good intentions. Everything that sounds sanctimonious and righteous is not of the spirit of God. The only way to discern it is to be so in tune to God, you can just call it for what it is.

VI. How do you know you have it (discernment)
a. Do you desire it? 1 Co 14:1 says 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
b. Do you love God’s presence?
c. Do you have sensitivity to the spiritual atmosphere? – Bishop explains that he is so sensitive in the spiritual atmosphere that he can go into a particular realm, when he preaches. In this realm, he can see spirits while he is preaching. This is why he often keeps pushing when he extends the invitation to Christ. He can actually see the spirits trying to keep souls from coming to Christ.
d. Do you feel different than other people? Do you often see things other people don’t?
e. Do you see unusual signs?
f. Did you have childhood salivation signs?
g. Do you have the ability to know what lies behind a person’s words or actions? Ex- Doris Harrison, Bishop’s grandmother, really had this gift. You would think you had Mr. or Mrs. Right, but grandmother could sense when something wasn’t right about them. Many elders even today share this gift.
h. Confirmation by others and leaders- Lots of people with this gift has heard this prophesied over your lives.

VII. What to do
a. Always begin with data.
b. Begin with what is factual.
c. Let your heart educate your mind.
d. Have a soft heart, but a hard head. Even though our heart is soft, will think critically through our decisions. Just because you are feeling a certain way, don’t mean you can’t think through a decision. When faced with a decision, ask does it make sense according to God’s word. Ex-If you are 3 mths behind on rent, do you think God would want you to sign up for a 300 dollar car note?
e. Does it line up with God’s word? Our senses, our values, God’s word, and our circumstances, should all line up. – When God moves, he has things worked out. Don’t operate in your mind.

VIII. Imaginations vs facts
a. Images are created in our mind. 2 Cor 10:5 says 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, John 8:32 says 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”- In Matthew 4, Jesus had fasted and all the things that Satan showed him was in His head. He responded continuously to Satan, “It is written…” In this phrase, he demonstrated that he allowed God’s word to take precedence over his imagination. We have to remember that we shouldn’t allow our emotions to get past our spirit.
b. We have to turn our emotions over to God. Psa 34:18 says 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit., 1 Cor 2:10 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. – We need to know what the Holy Spirit is saying to us and not be led by our emotions. Your emotions can change on us. If you allow your emotions to take control, then our will begins to take control. .
a. Luke 22:42 says 42 saying, ” Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”; Psa 119:11 says 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.-The word inside our heart blocks our flesh. You got to make sure the word inside of you has greater authority in your life than “your will”.
c. Your actions vs. wisdom. – First it gets into your head, then your emotions, and then this results in actions which causes conflicts. When you have wisdom you think about your actions. 1 cor 4:5 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.-Ask the Lord to show you if it will benefit you to do this:; Pro 4:7 says Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.- Make sure you get wisdom.
d. Your spirit and your flesh are always competing for your attention.

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Relationship Clinic VI, “How do you know where people fit into your life?” Bible Study 03/27/15

Posted on March 27, 2015 by growintheword

Relationship Clinic VI

How do you know where people fit into your life?

Synopsis of Bible study 03/25/15

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

If you have a spirit like an amputee, you just cut things off. The problem is, if you have this spirit, you may be moving too soon. You need to find out where people fit in.

Pro 13:20 says 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. – You must stay away from foolish people. Having the right people in your life is a vital part of your success. Where people fit is very important. Remember that it is not an issue with them; it is an issue with where they fit in. People in your life will either take you up or take you down.

Got to be willing to find the right people in your life

  1. Childhood friends might be alright to be in friendship with, but you might have to finder a better place for your childhood friend to fit. You have to be wise about placing friends; they might not fit where you going.
  2. Your new season will require new relationships. You got to come out of your comfort zone and know where people fit.
  3. People that fit in have common goals, similar values, and they celebrate your success. They won’t privately hate on you.
  4. You don’t need people who stifle you. We need people in our lives that will stretch us. Writer Henry Miller quotes, “… No one creates alone, of and by himself… “- If the persons in your life don’t motivate you or encourage you, then they probably shouldn’t be part of your starting lineup, after all, we are trying win. Simply put, winners want winners.
  5. Having said this, based on Forbes magazine, there are 6 people you need in your life in order to be successful. We are not meant to be by ourselves. As we name the 6 people you need in your life, write down a person that fits each of these 6 categories. They are:
  6. Instigator– This is someone who pushes you or makes you think. They energize you. They are always motivated by vision and they are the voice of inspiration.
  7. Cheerleader – They are a huge fan or strong supporter. They are the voice of mediation. They support and believe in you and will never let you down. Cheerleaders make you stay and work, whereas instigators make you get out of bed to go to work.
  8. Doubter – This is the person that plays the devil’s advocate. This is the person that wants you to be safe and successful. Ex– You buy a SUV and they call to your attention the increase in the cost of gas. They want you to think about every aspect of your actions. The doubter brings realism into your optimism.
  9. Task master– This person is the loud voice that makes you get things done. They are a steward of momentum.  They make you get things done. They refer to this person as the worker bee type.
  10. Connector – The person that has no allies. They break through roadblocks. They can reach people in places where you cannot. They connect you to the right resources. They know how to navigate the room and tell you where everything you need is.
  11. Example – This person is like the mentor. This is the person who is a guiding entity. Their presence reminds you that amazing things can happen.

How do you identify the right people?

  1. Matt 12:46-50 says 46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ” Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ” Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” – What Jesus is showing us here is that everyone who makes claim of relationship with you, is not connected to you. The titles of kinship (uncle, aunt, brother, sister and etc…), are not always an indicator that they are connected to you. People may have family titles, but don’t work in the function of that title as they should. You may have a lot of kin folk, but only some family members that operate in their family titles.
  2. When you are connected to a visionary leader, you enter to an intimate place like a family member. In this relationship you:
  3. Assess your relationship needs
    1. You have a right to state your relationship needs without feeling guilty. – You got to assess what you expect out of the relationship or others will place expectations on you that you don’t want. You have to be honest about what you need and what you want out of your relationship. – Ex-“All I want to do is be you friend”. A simple statement like this can mean something totally different to someone else. You have to make your needs in the relationship known or the other person will have expectations for things that you never intended to deliver. As a result, you will be frustrated and drained from this friendship all the time. You have to be willing to:
  4. Label your expectations. There 3 things you should expect from people in a friendship. (Write down relationships that remind you of these things).
    1. Do you have time to invest in this type of relationship? Relationships take investments (of your time, attention, and etc…). You can’t pour into a relationship and the other person not. Ex- You can talk to some people and it is so easy, yet there are others that are needy and it drives you nuts! They drain you. Ask yourself do you have the time to give what this person needs from you? Maybe you need to reassess how you align this type of person in your life, because you don’t want to keep letting them down.
    2. There is a season a person should be in your life. Ecc 3:1 says 1 To everything there is a season, – There is a time for every purpose under heaven. Have you ever met someone that you wish you would have met at a different time in your life?
  5. You got to know where people fit. John 15:15 says 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.- People shift in certain areas of your life. When they shift down, it’s more difficult than when they shift up. Shift happens! However; some people can’t handle this.
    1. Are you willing to have that tough conversation with your friend, so that you are all on the same page? You can’t just cut them off. This would not be Christian like. You have to talk to them about it.
    2. Different levels of friends:
      1. Mentor-counselor
      2. Ministers
      3. Acquaintances
      4. Friendships
      5. Conditional friends
      6. Lifelong friends

Understand the difference of the different type of people in your life.

Pro12:26 says 26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. (List the people that match these friend types below).

Different types of friends

  1. Wannabee – They act like they have been in your life all the time, but haven’t. They are often delusional about their connection with you. They will violate boundaries.
  2. Used-to-be – This is a childhood friend or boyfriend or girlfriend. They were connected to you back then, but don’t know who you are now. Your whole memory of them is bad press. They are fuelled by the pain of not being with you.
  3. Could-never-be – they don’t fit anywhere. 1 cor 15:33 says 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”- Your family are even alarmed by them.
  4. Should-be – This is the person that makes you say, “Wow; I should have met them before!” They are in your network and influence now. The timing is right. You go to the function and you feel like you should already know them.
  5. Have-to-be – Eleanor Roosevelt quotes “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart …” – They are connected to your purpose. Pro 18:24 says 24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – They may not have the title, but they sho-nuff have the function. They will be so close to you, they blow your mind, because this is spiritual.

Healthy relationships are important, because they are important to God. How can you say you love God whom you have not seen, and hate the person that you see every day? Put the people where they belong in your life. Don’t let your past people mess up your life by defining what God is about to do in this season!

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Relationship Clinic IV, “How Do You Know You Are Over the Pain of Your Past?” Bible Study 03/11/15

Posted on March 18, 2015 by growintheword

Relationship Clinic IV

“How Do You Know You Are Over the Pain of Your Past”

Synopsis of Bible Study 03/11/15

Delivered by Bishop Walker

Many of us struggle with this issue called pain. Phil 3:13 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,– When you think about pain and the process of getting beyond it, there is a term called offense that comes to mind. When we experience offense, we have to realize that what we are dealing with is flesh, not spirits.

Eph 6:12 says 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – This then tells us that when dealing with offense, it is spiritual warfare.

The devil uses our flesh as a manifestation of the offense. When we are offended, we have to decide if we are going to take the bait. When we are offended, there are two possible reactions. They are:

  • Spiritual Reaction.
  • Physical (Natural) Reaction.

Of course we advise you to have a spiritual reaction, but for now, let’s talk about the natural reaction. Our natural tendency is to act in the flesh.

How do we keep from acting in the flesh? How do we transition from responding in the flesh? Know that you will never be able to deal with offense in your flesh. It’s got to be in the spiritual.

Where does the offense come from? Sometimes the offense comes, because it reminds you of something that happened to you before that wasn’t dealt with.

  • There are layers of pain and as a result of your levels of pain, you have scars. Scientifically, you remember the bad things better than the good things that happened to you. As a result, you replay the footage of the bad things over and over in your mind. Isa 43:18-19 says 18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

How do you know you are over the pain of your Past? The answer is, you are able to put the old things behind you and make room for the good things. God is doing good things in your life right now!

  • Joseph was elevated, but he could have retaliated instead. Gen 50:20 says 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. – Egypt was saved, because of what offended Joseph.
  • Does God allow you to be offended and just expect you to stand back and do nothing? God could have prevented it, so why did God let the offense come. Job would testify that he wasn’t doing anything, but God allowed the devil to have permission to attack him.
    • There are moments that God allows the offense to happen, but he is in control of the end result. The fact that you are reading this right now is evidence that God controls the end result. Ex – Joseph knew that everything happens for a reason. Had he not been put into prison, he wouldn’t have met the butler who told pharaoh that he could interpret dreams; he wouldn’t have been in prison if Potiphar’s wife had not lied on him; he wouldn’t have been sold had it not been for the evilness of his brothers; and he wouldn’t have been hated by his brother’s enough for them to sell him, had he not been given the coat by his father.
  • Soren Kierkegaard has been quoted as saying “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – The only way to understand a person is to know where they been. This is the only way you will understand why a person is the way they are. You must accept that both our pain and our history make up who we are. We can’t however allow ourselves to stay in the pain and allow it to rob our future.

Let go of your past. You deserve to be free

  • John 8:36 says 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. – The chains have been broken. You can’t be free if you still living in the past.
  • Gal 5:1 says 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.- Once you been set free, don’t go back! This is being entrapped in the snares that have been designed to make you powerless and to put you into the pain that makes you powerless. At this point your pain is dictating your destiny.
  • Pain is real and once you are free, don’t go back! Luke 9:62 says 62 But Jesus said to him, ” No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”- Looking back is not option.
  • Lesson from past pain.
  • Learn to live life for you – You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Something happened to you, but you have to come to a place where you want to be heal. Healing begins with you. Self-discovery is impossible, because you won’t allow the healing process to begin. Ex- Bishop shares that during the last snow storm, he went out to clear the sidewalk. The problem is he did so in shower shoes instead of boots. As soon as he stepped out onto the ice, he went airborne. Trying to catch himself, he injured both his wrist and one of his fingers. As a result, he was not able to bend the finger. His wife, who is a doctor, advised him to go and get it checked out. Bishop refused and the finger remained sore for days. After days of him being in pain over the finger, his wife scolded him and reminded him that his finger would never be healed, if he didn’t get it checked out. In other words, his finger would be jacked up. In like manner, if you don’t allow God to heal you, then you will remain jacked up. Don’t let pain rob you of life.
  • Learn how to trust God. Psa 56:11 says 11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? – We allow ourselves to put human attributes on God. Don’t let your horizontal horror; rob you of your vertical blessing.

Psa 146:3 says 3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. – Don’t allow what people did to you, cause you to distrust people. Put your trust in God. Ex – Some people start folk off at 100% credibility and then allow them to lower it by their actions. Other people start people at 0% and then allow them to prove themselves towards the 100%, this way if they don’t make it, they are not disappointed by what they do.

  • Learn to have the right intentions – Psa 51:10 says 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Rom 12:9 says 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.- Have you ever volunteered to help the Lord get them, as if He was moving too slow for you? Learn how to walk away in peace, instead of pieces. Learn to declare over your life that you are not going to walk away as fragmented pieces. If you don’t, this will eventually get into your head.

Isa 26:3 says 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.- We are not going to let somebody have the joy of saying, “look at what I did to them”.

  • Clean up your life – Spring clean your life. Spring clean your emotions and your spirit. Pain will set up residue and cause illness, disease, pain, and other ailments. Take note of what is inside of you. Ex – When you meet Thomas, don’t compare him to a previous Thomas that did your wrong.

Psa 139:23-24 says 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.- In other words, ask the Lord to show you what is wearing you out.

Ecc 3:1 says 1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:- It’s ok to get help. Sometimes you got to talk to somebody.

Pro 1:5 says 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

Prov 19:20 says 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.-Counseling can help you get to the core issue. You might be mad at somebody, because of something that happened to you in the past. There is often history tied to your pain. Out with the old and in with the new! Remove the old stuff and replace it with something new. If you don’t fill that void with the word of God it becomes a deterrent from healing from any past pain and experiences.

2 cor 2:14 says 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

  • Terms to know:
  • Was, that is, and what will be – God’s desire for your life is that you prosper in your soul and emotions. 3 john: 1:2 says – 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
  • Emotions – Feelings on the inside that cause pleasure of pain that cause you to move in a certain direction.- God wants you to master you emotions, not let your emotions to control you.
  • Self-control – This is godly feelings that cause you to take control of your soul and spirit – Heb 4:15 says 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.- The Holy Spirit knows what we deal with.

Mark 14:32 says 32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, ” Sit here while I pray.”- Prayer causes you to take control of your emotions.

The devil wants you to think you won’t have control of 3 things:

  • Our personality, our circumstance, and our weaknesses – The devil is a lie, because 2 Cor 5:17 says 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Things to Remember:

  1. Take up the shield of faith which is the word of God – The word keeps offense from hitting my emotion.
  2. God says forgive others is an act of faith – When you forgive, you can’t wait for somebody to say they are sorry. True forgiveness s is not for them, but for you.
  3. Stop reliving the situation – Don’t make your pain fit every story that is told.
  4. Stop making excuses for why you are so easily hurt – Having that tender sport or sensitive subject is nothing more than excuses.
  5. Stop wearing your emotions on your sleeve- How do you know if you are guilty of this? Because people keep asking you what is wrong with you.
  6. Stop trying to get even with people who have hurt you – The greater the offense, the greater your retaliation spirit gets.
  7. Don’t harden your heart. Let it go. – Offense is like this; “I’ll let it go, but the pain won’t let me go. Everywhere I go, the pain goes. ” The longer you hold on, the further you get from your destination.

Let it go!

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