Angels and demons Part III, Bible Study 09/29/10

Posted on October 1, 2010 by growintheword

Angels and demons Part III

Bible study 9/29/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Recap

1.     Remember we learned that there are two worlds or two realms. There is physical world and a spiritual world and God created us to exist between the two. God also created the angels who constantly go between the two.

2.     Remember the whole creation. In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God. God existed before the beginning. Before the beginning of time, there is the existence of God and the heavenly court filled with seraphim and cherubim and they gave glory to the one that sat on the throne. Isaiah 6:1-2 says 1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. – This all happened before the beginning began. This was all in the sprit realm before time began. When God created the beginning, this is when time began. God dwelt in eternity.

3.     Remember Lucifer was the chief angel that directed the choir. When he was cast down into the physical realm (the earth) he became Satan or the devil. He brought a 3rd of the angels with him and they became demons (fallen angles). Satan then becomes the prince of the air, the god of this world.

Why is this significant?

1.     God created the heaven and the earth in the beginning. Genesis 1:1 says 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. – Lucifer, God, and the angels existed before the beginning of time.

2.     The earth was chaotic. Genesis 1:2 says 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. – There was a reason why the earth was void and without form. Satan’s rebellion brought chaos and darkness onto the earth. Darkness was upon the face of the deep. God allowed his spirit to move upon the face of the water.

3.      God said let there be light. And there was. Genesis 1:3 says 3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4.     God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:4 says 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. – Satan brings chaos and darkness into the earth. God divided the light to divide the darkness that already existed. God gave us a choice at that time. Either we can dwell in the darkness or in lightness.

5. Historically, many of you were made to believe verse 3 was the creation of light as we know it, but it was not. If we look at Genesis 1:14 it says 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:- God is talking about the sun and the stars at this point in this scripture. God puts the sun up and the lights in the heavens to help us understand seasons, days, and nights. This is not the same light that is being talked about in verse 3. Verse 3 is talking about the light of God’s glory.

6. When Adam and Eve were in the garden, the dragon was after something. What was it? When you look at Satan’s departure from the heavenly realm and his arrival to the earth realm, you must know that Satan is after one thing. It is your soul.

Battle for souls

1.     You are made up of flesh, spirit, and soul. God says he wants to work with you from the inside out. If you give your soul, he will dwell in you with spirit, and as a result, he will control your flesh. Satan says if he can get your flesh, he can rob your spirit, and ultimately steal your soul. Now you have God after your soul and Satan after your soul. Imagine the warfare that is going on.

2.     We must put on the armor of God so we can stand against the attacks the devil. Ephesians 6:11says 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:12-18 says 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; – The word is for offense. Faith is defense. If there is a battle for the souls, Satan is after access. Ex- To demonstrate this, we pick a girl out of the air and we call her Brandy. Now Satan wants access to Brandy. Remember there is a way he gets access to us all. That access is called HALT. This acronym stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. These are all conditions that Satan uses to gain access to us.

a.     Now Brandy is hungry (could be for food, intimacy, relationship, and number of things). The devil says he has a demon to fulfill her hunger. We just see Brandy as a person. When we see her acting out, it is not her. It is the demons that have attached themselves to her. You can’t see the demons, because they are hid. They are cowards.

b.     Now Brandy gets angry and Satan sends a demon for her anger. The angry demon says tells Brandy to curse the person out that she is mad at, so Brandy does it. Now it is Friday. Brandy starts calling people and no one is home. Brandy starts watching TV and nothing is on except for stuff she has seen over and over again.

c.     Now Brandy is lonely. The devil sends her a nice demon. This demon says, “Look, this is what you need to do. “ Suddenly Brandy has gotten so lonely stuff she would never consider starts looking good. People she would never consider stepping to starts looking good. Suddenly she starts lowering her standards.

d.     Next Brandy becomes tired. This can mean that she is physically or emotionally tired. The point is she is just tired. Brandy just needs somebody that can pour into her and give her strength. Now Satan is going to bring a demon that is going to pour strength into her. Brandy starts acting out in all these different ways and then society starts judging her. Jesus looks at Brandy and sees all the demons that are attached to Brandy. In the flesh you only see Brandy’s demons. We think Brandy has all this stuff going on, but it is the demons in her. The longer you stay hungry, the more prone you are to start eating trash. If we get hungry enough we will start eating out of the garbage can. The idea is that these demons keep wanting to attach to us. They are looking for openings to attach to. Many people are in church, yet they are still angry. We do all of this lifting up our hands and worshipping and then we get back into the car and start cursing the person we are mad at. The demon doesn’t care anything about us coming to church. What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul.

The 3 heavens

1.     There is the heaven of the earth’s atmosphere. This is where the planes and the birds fly.

2.     There is the heaven of the stars and the moon.

3.     There is the heaven where God dwells often called the third heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 says 1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. – It was not lawful for this man to utter what he saw in the third heaven. He heard things in the spirit realm that he could not utter in this realm.

Understanding of the underworld

Philippians 2:10-11 says 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Under the earth is the key term here.

1.     The grave – We are made up of 3 dimensions. We are body, spirit, and soul. The grave is the abode of the body.

2.     When we are in our body, we are absent from the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6 says 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:-  Our body is here and not in heaven. We are absent from God.

3.     Our bodies are just shells for our soul. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. -Sometimes we see our loved ones pass on. We see them in the casket and we think it is them. Often at funerals people say they want to go with them. Remember our deceased loved one are absent from the body, but present with the Lord.

4.     There are laws that regulate the physical realm and there are laws that regulate the spiritual realm and each of those laws are different. We see are loved ones and we are wondering how we will go on. Before we know it, we might start talking to the body of the deceased. We forget that our loved one is not there anymore. Our body is just a shell that houses our soul. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 says 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. – When the trumpet sounds the dead in Christ shall arise and our body will take off corruption and put on incorruption. The mortal must put on immortality where we do not age. Death is swallowed up. The power of sin is the law in this realm, but God gives us the victory through Jesus Christ. When Madea passes on or Papa passes on, there is this longing for them that we experience, but know that we will we see them again.

5.     This is a legitimate question. Will we really see our loved ones again? You will see them, but not like you’ve known them. The law of this realm can’t work in that realm (the spirit realm). When you die, your flesh must go back to its origin (dust). Remember when God said let us make man in his image, he put word and spirit in the man, but he also put dirt in the mixture. God made us from the ground but he put spirit inside of us. When we die our body goes back to the dirt, but our soul goes back to God and rests with him.

6.     If they are with God and asleep, will they know us? 1 Corinthians 13:12 says 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.- When that time comes, we will know Jesus like we know ourselves. 1 John 3:2 says 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. -In the earth, we don’t really know what Jesus really looked like, because when he came and dwelt among us, he wrapped himself in flesh. He did this because we could not handle his glory. He wrapped himself in something that we could understand. Will we know him? The laws are different. Ex- Bishop explained that when he was widowed, he struggled with something about the 2nd yr. after his former wife passed away. He wondered could he ever move on. In a sense, moving on made him feel like he was cheating. Can you ever really move on after someone has passed? Are we cheating? The Lord reminded Bishop that what he was doing was bringing laws down to the earth that don’t exist in heaven. There is no law of marriage in heaven. Angels don’t marry. God gave us marriage here so that we could multiply, but it won’t be like that in heaven. Imagine if the law of marriage happened in heaven. It would be like having a soap opera in heaven. This is why we say when you get married, “… until death do you part…” They have no memory of us or marriage from heaven after they have passed on.

7.     How do we know this? If they had a consciousness of us in this realm, heaven would become hell. They would constantly be worried in heaven about us. Can you imagine dying and always thinking about your children that you left behind? You would be worried sick. It would not be heaven anymore at the point. When we pass away, in heaven we will be like the angels. One love will bring us all together. We will be angelic beings giving one glory to the one on the throne. We will know each other, but like we know each other now. If we did we would be in heaven trying to set up territories for our families and friends. When a person passes, instantly they are transformed in the Lord and are asleep.

8.     They left behind a shell. We have funerals for it, but it is just a shell. The person that passed on is asleep in Christ. The shell is for us.

9.     Paul spoke to church at Thessalonica. Paul made sense of it. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. – They are sleep with Jesus.

10.  The Lord is going to come from the 3rd heaven and descend to the first heaven on a cloud. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 says 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: – With a voice of an archangel, Christ will say to an angel “Blow a trumpet “and the dead in Christ will rise. Your body isn’t getting up, your soul is getting up.

11.  They will be caught up together. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. – Your soul will come together with the souls that died before you and we will be with Jesus on a cloud. You will meet the Lord in the air and we shall go back to no time and no aging. We will go back to time with no beginnings.

12.  We used to say one of these days we will go where the wicked shall cease from troubling and weary will be at rest. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 says 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. – We are not going to the 3rd heaven when we die. It is coming to us. God has this so worked out; we will be in the clouds reigning with Christ for 1000 yrs while all sorts of torment will happen on this earth. God is going to deal with Satan and then he will bring heaven down. You might wonder why God would bring heaven down into this realm when it looks so awful and the descriptions of heaven are so awesome. Know that old things will be pass away and all things will become new.

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Quitting is not an option Part IV, “I’m in a better place” Sermon 09/26/10

Posted on September 29, 2010 by growintheword

Quitting is not an option Part IV

I’m in a better place

Synopsis of Sermon 9/26/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Romans 5:1-5 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Anyone that has had an authentic relationship with Jesus will tell you that there is power in transformation. Transformation is validation that your conviction was real. There is no way to experience a relationship with Jesus and no experience change. God will come into your life and change your life circumstances and view on life. Many of us come with a variety of backgrounds and experience, but God saved us. He looked beyond our faults and supplied all our needs. Whatever God has blessed you with; you ought to thank him that he saved you beyond all of your mess.

When you look at this letter in Romans, you see an amazing revelation. It is really a chronicle of the human condition. We need to first go back through and see what the books of Romans reveals to us.

a. In Romans 1- Paul gives a Salutation. In other words, Paul greets them.

b. In Romans 2 we see investigation. God looks at life of the people.

c. In Romans 3 we have adjudication. God explains that no man can judge you. He is the righteous judge.

d. In Romans 4 we have Justification. It clears of us of stuff in our life.

e. Romans 5 give us Motivation. Those that received justification now has motivation.

f. Romans 6 is about Obligation. We are obligated to represent God in the earth realm.

g. Romans 7 is about Situation. Paul explains that he is in a situation. That he doesn’t want to do, he finds himself doing…

h. Romans 8 talks about condemnation. There is no condemnation who walks after the spirit of God.

i. Romans 9 talks about God’s determination. Gods desire to save us

j. Romans 10 reminds us of our salvation. If we confess with our mouth believe and believe in our hearts, we shall be saved.

k. Romans 11 is about restoration. God won’t leave anyone out. He wants to restore those that have been lost.

l. Romans 12 talks about consecration. God wants to clean us ourselves up.

m. Romans 13 talks about expectation. We live expecting God to at anytime, step in our situation.

n. Romans 14 talks about liberation or being free in Christ. We have been set free of our sin.

o. Romans 15 reminds us of our affiliation. Be careful the crowd you hang around.

p. Romans 16 talks about conservation. This deal with the way we talk and deal with people should be in love.

As we walk through this, Paul deals with salvation and being justified by faith. This means that we are saved meaning we are turning from old ways and turning towards God, then we are sanctified, and then we are positioned then for glory.

Some people are beginning to count the cost their past and they can see what their past has cost them. People are looking at you as a victim. Sometime people will try and make you remember where you been, but you can declare that you are truly in a better place now, than ever before. Now you probably couldn’t say this a month ago, a yr ago, or even 2 yrs ago. God has shifted you and you are in another place. Things that used to break you can’t break you any longer. You are in another place. Your response has gotten greater because you in a greater place. It is your response to what God has done in our life.

I. Peace with your past

Romans 5: 1 says 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

1. Only through this relationship will we have peace. When the promise of God is on your life, the devil will assign people to bring up your past constantly. These people can recall everybody’s past but their own. The devil is so stupid he doesn’t understand that you have peace about the very thing he is trying to call attention to. When you got saved, God dropped the charges and made it as if you never done it. That is what justified means. God abolished it out of our record.

2. Be careful being around people are always talking about others. You can be sure that they are talking about you when you aren’t round. As the song writer says, “Sweep around your own front door before you try and sweep around mines.” This is why some are not elevated. Their hate-ration is stopping their elevation

3. Those that have peace with God, don’t trip about their past. While other people are worried about our yesterday, we are looking at our tomorrow. We have a new relationship with Christ.

4. We are not in denial about our past:

A. We own it. Most of the stuff the enemy tries to bring up about us is true, but we own it. We don’t deny, but we are past it. That was my drunk, high, or sleeping around it, but we are past it.

B. Oppressed by it – At one time we were oppressed by our past. It had a hold on us. It was taking control of our life. Some people may wonder how we can be in church if we own it. What gives us the right do we have to speak of righteousness and bring someone else to Christ? It is because of the next point. We overcame it!

C. Overcame it– We are over it now. We are over-comers! God has allowed us to have some mess in our lives, but it gave us awesome testimonies. Some of us build testimonies on others with cookie cutter build a bear testimonies. For example “Bridge over troubled water” and “Shelter in the time of the storm.” We need to be able to tell our real testimony. We don’t look like half of our testimony. You can deal with a person’s past if you want, but know they have peace about it. Good took your past and put it in the sea of forgetfulness and then he posted a no fishing sign.

II. Provisions in his presence.

Romans 5:2 says 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1. We have the awesome opportunity to get stuff because we know it is available, even though we don’t deserve it (that’s grace), because we are in relationship with Christ. When Christ comes into our life we have access to certain things.

2. God can’t be separated from what he gives.

3. The transition is difficult. This is because we have been depending on others. We don’t depend on people for this, because we have access. We have access to the grace we stand in. We have that access through faith. For years, people didn’t know what they had. We understand that he has all that we need, but more than that, he can’t be separated from what he gives us. We can be separated from what we give, but God can’t. Whatever God gives, he can’t be separated from. For example, he don’t just give joy, he is joy. He doesn’t just give peace, God is peace.

4. We didn’t realize what we had. Paul says we have access by faith. Ex-Bishop explains that he had a connecting flight in Dallas Texas. He learned that he was going to have 2 – 4 hr layover. Sitting there he was kind of agitated. There were babies crying, he was hungry, and it was crowded. It is 5:30 in the morning and somebody was talking real loud on the phone. Who on earth could you be talking to on the phone at 5:30 in the morning? All of the sudden, Bishop looks up and he see some seats and something is flashing upstairs. All of a sudden it hit him. It was a priority club and he remembered that he had received a card for a membership to this club in the mail, because he flies so much. In other words, he had access to the club level. Bishop didn’t know what he really had in the card, so he pulled out his laptop to see what all he really had in the card. After viewing the information on the web, he realized he could go to the priority club and get orange juice, food, drinks and sit back and relax and watch TV. They would even wake him up tell when flight is about to take off if he falls asleep. Bishop took his bags and went up elevator like he was really somebody. What he really was doing was leaving a level of confusion and mess to go to another level. We have to walk in our access.

5. When you have the spirit of expectation, you actually get on peoples nerves, because you are always expecting something to happen.

6. By going to another level, we get:

a. Retreat-We get a retreat from the drama in our lives.

b. Refreshments – We get the opportunity to be refreshed from our situation.

c. Rest-This is kind of access is by faith. Like Bishop having the card, these people didn’t know what they had. God gave you access. You don’t have to hang with drama. Come on up a little higher. Tap into your access. Paul says we have hope and this is called expectation. The amazing thing about this is we are rejoicing before God shows up in verse 2. Some are going into another situation and leaving others behind. You have to always go through looking like something is going to happen. Be expecting something to happen. We believe God is going to show up in our situation and at any moment and turn things around.

III. Praise him through your problems

Romans 5:3 says 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

1. We act a fool, because even in trouble, we know something. Tribulation works patience and patience is dependence on God.

2. Our portfolio is being expanded through our experience. Romans 5:4 says 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:- It is because of this experience, we have hope.

3. Hope makes us not ashamed. Romans 5:5 says 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

4. We know how to handle adversity. The devil doesn’t understand that adversity makes us better. It is because we have learned how to praise God through it. If you knew what we did in our past, you would act like we act. The trial came to make us dependent on God. We are at a point where we are totally dependent on him

5. Many of us have the demon of worry. It will keep you all night long watching reruns of Gunsmoke. You got to understand, God will put you in situation where nothing else works, and then we have no choice but to go to him. God wants to see how long it will take for you to see that only he can work it out.

6. Tribulation works patience. Patience works experience. The next time you say you have Christian Experience, you need to check yourself. Christian experience is the stuff you have gone through. You got the scars to prove it. Some of you, experienced are so varied; it is amazing you are in your right mind. Ex – Imagine God telling one of the angels, come down and interview you for a promotion. Based on what we have gone through, you are able to say you are still in your right mind. God promotes you because you pass test, not because of tenure. Experience brings hope. God gives you a new attitude.

7. Hope makes us not ashamed. What sustains us is the hope that we have. Romans 5:5 says 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is, the Holy Spirit reminds us how much God love us, regardless of what we go through. – Without the Holy Spirit reminding us how much God loves us, we would think God hates us. Because we are saved, the Holy Ghost keeps reminding us so we don’t think God is punishing us for what we did in our past. The Holy Spirit reminds us that no matter what we go through, God still loves us. Ex- Bishop went to the dentist a couple yrs ago. You got to be true teeth or they will be false to you. Bishop had extensive dental work done. Like most men, Bishop can’t take pain like women can. Bishop has phobias about the dentist. Bishop got anxiety about this needle situation. When he finally gets to the dentist, they lay me back, turn the music on sooth him The dental assistant came to give him a shot in the gums. Bishop’s toes start tightening up. She said you going to feel a little pinch. She gives him the shot in his gums. She said we done and few moments later Bishop noticed his mouth feeling funny. In that area it was is numb. Dentist comes in with dental assistant and they have all these drills and stuff. This is stuff that he knows that will cause more pain. The Dentist got him in position, because the prep work had been done. Bishop noticed that when the dentist used the tools that was supposed to hurt, he could hardly feel it. The reason he couldn’t feel it is because the dental assistant gave him a shot in area that they were going to work on. They numbed it enough so when the Dentist came to work in the area it would not hurt. The area was prepared. What God allowed you to go through a few yrs. Ago was a little pinch that prepared you for what you are going through now. You are not hurting while you are going through, because what you have gone through, numbed that area.

Quitting is not an option Part IV

I’m in a better place

Synopsis of Sermon 9/26/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Romans 5:1-5 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Anyone that has had an authentic relationship with Jesus will tell you that there is power in transformation. Transformation is validation that your conviction was real. There is no way to experience a relationship with Jesus and no experience change. God will come into your life and change your life circumstances and view on life. Many of us come with a variety of backgrounds and experience, but God saved us. He looked beyond our faults and supplied all our needs. Whatever God has blessed you with; you ought to thank him that he saved you beyond all of your mess.

When you look at this letter in Romans, you see an amazing revelation. It is really a chronicle of the human condition. We need to first go back through and see what the books of Romans reveals to us.

a. In Romans 1- Paul gives a Salutation. In other words, Paul greets them.

b. In Romans 2 we see investigation. God looks at life of the people.

c. In Romans 3 we have adjudication. God explains that no man can judge you. He is the righteous judge.

d. In Romans 4 we have Justification. It clears of us of stuff in our life.

e. Romans 5 give us Motivation. Those that received justification now has motivation.

f. Romans 6 is about Obligation. We are obligated to represent God in the earth realm.

g. Romans 7 is about Situation. Paul explains that he is in a situation. That he doesn’t want to do, he finds himself doing…

h. Romans 8 talks about condemnation. There is no condemnation who walks after the spirit of God.

i. Romans 9 talks about God’s determination. Gods desire to save us

j. Romans 10 reminds us of our salvation. If we confess with our mouth believe and believe in our hearts, we shall be saved.

k. Romans 11 is about restoration. God won’t leave anyone out. He wants to restore those that have been lost.

l. Romans 12 talks about consecration. God wants to clean us ourselves up.

m. Romans 13 talks about expectation. We live expecting God to at anytime, step in our situation.

n. Romans 14 talks about liberation or being free in Christ. We have been set free of our sin.

o. Romans 15 reminds us of our affiliation. Be careful the crowd you hang around.

p. Romans 16 talks about conservation. This deal with the way we talk and deal with people should be in love.

As we walk through this, Paul deals with salvation and being justified by faith. This means that we are saved meaning we are turning from old ways and turning towards God, then we are sanctified, and then we are positioned then for glory.

Some people are beginning to count the cost their past and they can see what their past has cost them. People are looking at you as a victim. Sometime people will try and make you remember where you been, but you can declare that you are truly in a better place now, than ever before. Now you probably couldn’t say this a month ago, a yr ago, or even 2 yrs ago. God has shifted you and you are in another place. Things that used to break you can’t break you any longer. You are in another place. Your response has gotten greater because you in a greater place. It is your response to what God has done in our life.

I. Peace with your past

Romans 5: 1 says 1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

1. Only through this relationship will we have peace. When the promise of God is on your life, the devil will assign people to bring up your past constantly. These people can recall everybody’s past but their own. The devil is so stupid he doesn’t understand that you have peace about the very thing he is trying to call attention to. When you got saved, God dropped the charges and made it as if you never done it. That is what justified means. God abolished it out of our record.

2. Be careful being around people are always talking about others. You can be sure that they are talking about you when you aren’t round. As the song writer says, “Sweep around your own front door before you try and sweep around mines.” This is why some are not elevated. Their hate-ration is stopping their elevation

3. Those that have peace with God, don’t trip about their past. While other people are worried about our yesterday, we are looking at our tomorrow. We have a new relationship with Christ.

4. We are not in denial about our past:

A. We own it. Most of the stuff the enemy tries to bring up about us is true, but we own it. We don’t deny, but we are past it. That was my drunk, high, or sleeping around it, but we are past it.

B. Oppressed by it – At one time we were oppressed by our past. It had a hold on us. It was taking control of our life. Some people may wonder how we can be in church if we own it. What gives us the right do we have to speak of righteousness and bring someone else to Christ? It is because of the next point. We overcame it!

C. Overcame it– We are over it now. We are over-comers! God has allowed us to have some mess in our lives, but it gave us awesome testimonies. Some of us build testimonies on others with cookie cutter build a bear testimonies. For example “Bridge over troubled water” and “Shelter in the time of the storm.” We need to be able to tell our real testimony. We don’t look like half of our testimony. You can deal with a person’s past if you want, but know they have peace about it. Good took your past and put it in the sea of forgetfulness and then he posted a no fishing sign.

II. Provisions in his presence.

Romans 5:2 says 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1. We have the awesome opportunity to get stuff because we know it is available, even though we don’t deserve it (that’s grace), because we are in relationship with Christ. When Christ comes into our life we have access to certain things.

2. God can’t be separated from what he gives.

3. The transition is difficult. This is because we have been depending on others. We don’t depend on people for this, because we have access. We have access to the grace we stand in. We have that access through faith. For years, people didn’t know what they had. We understand that he has all that we need, but more than that, he can’t be separated from what he gives us. We can be separated from what we give, but God can’t. Whatever God gives, he can’t be separated from. For example, he don’t just give joy, he is joy. He doesn’t just give peace, God is peace.

4. We didn’t realize what we had. Paul says we have access by faith. Ex-Bishop explains that he had a connecting flight in Dallas Texas. He learned that he was going to have 2 – 4 hr layover. Sitting there he was kind of agitated. There were babies crying, he was hungry, and it was crowded. It is 5:30 in the morning and somebody was talking real loud on the phone. Who on earth could you be talking to on the phone at 5:30 in the morning? All of the sudden, Bishop looks up and he see some seats and something is flashing upstairs. All of a sudden it hit him. It was a priority club and he remembered that he had received a card for a membership to this club in the mail, because he flies so much. In other words, he had access to the club level. Bishop didn’t know what he really had in the card, so he pulled out his laptop to see what all he really had in the card. After viewing the information on the web, he realized he could go to the priority club and get orange juice, food, drinks and sit back and relax and watch TV. They would even wake him up tell when flight is about to take off if he falls asleep. Bishop took his bags and went up elevator like he was really somebody. What he really was doing was leaving a level of confusion and mess to go to another level. We have to walk in our access.

5. When you have the spirit of expectation, you actually get on peoples nerves, because you are always expecting something to happen.

6. By going to another level, we get:

a. Retreat-We get a retreat from the drama in our lives.

b. Refreshments – We get the opportunity to be refreshed from our situation.

c. Rest-This is kind of access is by faith. Like Bishop having the card, these people didn’t know what they had. God gave you access. You don’t have to hang with drama. Come on up a little higher. Tap into your access. Paul says we have hope and this is called expectation. The amazing thing about this is we are rejoicing before God shows up in verse 2. Some are going into another situation and leaving others behind. You have to always go through looking like something is going to happen. Be expecting something to happen. We believe God is going to show up in our situation and at any moment and turn things around.

III. Praise him through your problems

1. Romans 5:3 says 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

2. We act a fool, because even in trouble, we know something. Tribulation works patience and patience is dependence on God.

3. Our portfolio is being expanded through our experience. Romans 5:4 says 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:- It is because of this experience, we have hope.

4. Hope makes us not ashamed. Romans 5:5 says 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

5. We know how to handle adversity. The devil doesn’t understand that adversity makes us better. It is because we have learned how to praise God through it. If you knew what we did in our past, you would act like we act. The trial came to make us dependant on God. We are at a point where we are totally dependent on him

6. Many of us have the demon of worry. It will keep you all night long watching reruns of Gunsmoke. You got to understand, God will put you in situation where nothing else works, and then we have no choice but to go to him. God wants to see how long it will take for you to see that only he can work it out.

7. Tribulation works patience. Patience works experience. The next time you say you have Christian Experience, you need to check yourself. Christian experience is the stuff you have gone through. You got the scars to prove it. Some of you, experienced are so varied; it is amazing you are in your right mind. Ex – Imagine God telling one of the angels, come down and interview you for a promotion. Based on what we have gone through, you are able to say you are still in your right mind. God promotes you because you pass test, not because of tenure. Experience brings hope. God gives you a new attitude.

8. Hope makes us not ashamed. What sustains us is the hope that we have. Romans 5:5 says 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is, the Holy Spirit reminds us how much God love us, regardless of what we go through. – Without the Holy Spirit reminding us how much God loves us, we would think God hates us. Because we are saved, the Holy Ghost keeps reminding us so we don’t think God is punishing us for what we did in our past. The Holy Spirit reminds us that no matter what we go through, God still loves us. Ex- Bishop went to the dentist a couple yrs ago. You got to be true teeth or they will be false to you. Bishop had extensive dental work done. Like most men, Bishop can’t take pain like women can. Bishop has phobias about the dentist. Bishop got anxiety about this needle situation. When he finally gets to the dentist, they lay me back, turn the music on sooth him The dental assistant came to give him a shot in the gums. Bishop’s toes start tightening up. She said you going to feel a little pinch. She gives him the shot in his gums. She said we done and few moments later Bishop noticed his mouth feeling funny. In that area it was is numb. Dentist comes in with dental assistant and they have all these drills and stuff. This is stuff that he knows that will cause more pain. The Dentist got him in position, because the prep work had been done. Bishop noticed that when the dentist used the tools that was supposed to hurt, he could hardly feel it. The reason he couldn’t feel it is because the dental assistant gave him a shot in area that they were going to work on. They numbed it enough so when the Dentist came to work in the area it would not hurt. The area was prepared. What God allowed you to go through a few yrs. Ago was a little pinch that prepared you for what you are going through now. You are not hurting while you are going through, because what you have gone through, numbed that area.

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Angels and Demons Part 2, Bible Study 09/22/10

Posted on September 23, 2010 by growintheword

Angels and demons part 2
Synopsis of Bible study 9/22/10
Delivered by Bishop Walker III

There are 2 worlds. There is a physical world and a spiritual world. The spiritual world exists in the heaven lies and the physical exists here. It is important for us to know that they both coexist together. They are interrelated.

Genesis 1:1 says 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. – Typically we rush through this scripture and think this scripture is speaking of God creating the world. What this scripture really says is God was creating two dimensions. It was the heavenly dimension and the earthly dimension. God created both dimensions in the beginning and man was created for both.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 says 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.- Paul shares with the church at Thessalonica that they were made up of soul, spirit, and body. Your body soul and spirit must be blameless. The problem we have is the spirit nature inside of us is constantly being influenced by the physical world.

Ephesians 2:2 says 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: – The prince and power of the air is Lucifer the devil. He was thrown out of heaven into earth realm and given dominion in this realm. He has the power to attack us from the outside in, but the Holy Spirit defends from the inside out. In times past, we worked accordance the principles of the earth realm. This allowed us to do things in the earth realm that aggrieved the Holy Spirit inside of us. How many people will admit that they did stuff in the past that they can’t believe that they did. Was it you or the manipulating spirit inside of you? What God did in the heavenly realm was cast out Satan and Satan came down into the physical realm. We were created and though we live in physical realm, we have to access the spiritual realm, because it has authority over physical realm. If we don’t know that, we allow the physical realm to take over our lives. Our body is in the natural realm, but we have a spirit that connects to sprit realm, because our soul has been redeemed and God lives within us. The devil is after our soul, but he missed his opportunity, because we are saved.
There is a pattern
a. God used this n the scripture to show us how he wanted the spirit realm to have authority over the physical realm.
a. Remember Genesis 3:24 says 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. – After Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden, God pulled cherubim and told him to come down to the garden and not let anyone else into the garden. The Garden of Eden was in the physical realm, but the cherubim was isn’t the heavenly realm. He took something from the spiritual realm and brought it into the physical realm and he told him to take authority.

b. In Gen 19 (read this later), Sodom and Gomorra had gotten so wicked, God destroyed the whole city. Before he did, he took two angels from the spiritual realm and told them to come into the earth realm. He told Lot and his family to come on out of the city because he was going to destroy it. He told them to do one thing. He told them not to look back. Lot’s wife was nosey and she looked back and as a result she turned into a pillar of salt. Who got lot out of the city? It was angels, who come from the spiritual realm. They had to come, because there was no one in the physical realm that could have gotten them out.
c. Genesis 28:10-19 says 10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. – Slept in a place all night and dreamed. He dreamed about a ladder set up in earth (which is one dimension) that went to heaven (another dimension). In his dream he saw angels’ inter-dimensional traffic. Some of them were going up and some were coming down as if to say “I got something to do” and others saying “I just finished.” These angels were coming down into the earth realm and others were going back up into the spirit realm. It was God giving him a glimpse of what God was trying to show us. Over your head, God’s has got angels constantly coming down and going up in two dimensions. If you are not spiritual, you will think you are by yourself. You can’t interpret reality based on worldly principles.
d. 1 Chronicles 14:13-14 says 13And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. -God told David don’t do what first mind wants to do. Follow the mind of the spirit and go where he tells them to go. God told them to go by the mulberry tree.
e. 1 Chronicles 14:15-17 says 15And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations. -God told David, “You got the enemy in the earth realm. But you can’t win like you trying to win.” God told David to get into position because he was going to send help from the heavenly realm. He told them that he would let them know by a sound in top of the trees. It will be a sign that God had gone before them and won the battle. The people saw David and his troops kill the Philistines and everyone feared David. David knew it wasn’t him that had done this great thing. He knew it was God, but God made it look like David was responsible. God will do the same for us. He will fight the fight and give us the victory, yet make it look like we did it!
f. Daniel 6:22 say 22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. – Daniel is on the menu. He recognizes in the earth realm, there is no negotiating with lions. Daniel knew he needed prayer. He needed help from the heavenly realm. The thing designed to devour him, God shook up. God sent an angel to say, “No you won’t.” Things are ready to devour you, but God will send an angel on your behalf to say “No you won’t!”
b. We know this isn’t Christmas, but this next point about a deeper revelation. Remember when the wise men saw the star. The star was an indicator of where the baby Jesus was. How many of you today can get under a star? When you try, it looks like it keeps moving. This means that God strategically in the heavenly realm, put a star in place to let wise men in the earth realm know that God was about to manifest his greatest glory between two dimension.
c. (Read Matthew chapter 2 later). God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream and told him to take the child and his Mother to Egypt. In Luke 1:11 it says 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. – There appeared to Zacharias an angel. They come from the heavenly realm. They don’t look like us. They look different so Zacharias was scared. Luke 1:12 says 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. – He was troubled and scared. Luke 1:13-15 says 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. – Though the Holy Ghost hadn’t come, the angel said that Zacharias’ child would be filled with the Holy Ghost. Since the Holy Ghost hadn’t come, this Holy Ghost would be received from the heavens. Luke 1:16 says 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. – They were told that their son would be an amazing son that will prepare the way for God’s greatest glory. John the Baptist was coming and an angel told Zacharias that his wife was pregnant with something bigger than him.
d. Luke 1:26 says 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, -God sent his chief angel Gabriel for this message. This announcement was going to usher in something. The next time we see Gabriel will be when Jesus is coming back.
e. Luke 1:27-29 says 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. – She was troubled because they never seen angels. Luke 1:30-34 says 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? – To translate verse 34 we can say in the physical world, “How can this be since I have never had intercourse with a man?” To translate this scripture from the heavenly realm we would say, “ How can this be that God would do such a great thing through me since I don’t have earthly connections?” Some of us have put so much trust in earthly connections; we don’t think God can do anything without us having earthly connections. What God is going to do with you in this season will not involve earthly connections. It will be spiritual. You don’t need earthly connections!
f. Luke 1:35 says 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. – We have to reconcile this:
If God would send Jesus when he did, was Jesus thought to be sent after man sinned or was Jesus preordained to be sent before man sinned?
a. God is omniscient meaning all knowing. God put Adam and Eve in the garden. Did God know he was going to sin? The answer is yes.
b. Then why did God set them up to do it? What was the point of it all? In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. God existed before the beginning began. The beginning didn’t begin with God. God began the beginning.
c. Before the beginning began, there was a heavenly host. Lucifer and a 3rd of the angels rebelled and were cast to the earth. When God created the heaven and earth, the earth sat in darkness. When Satan was cast into it, there was just darkness and chaos. God knowing that Satan was going to do, he put in place a contingency plan. Before he crated Adam and eve, he already had a contingency plan.
d. Paul will help us with this. Ephesians 1:4-5 says 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, -We were by nature, children of wrath. Our sin made Satan our father and when he got tired of us, he threw us away and we were without hope. When Jesus came, he adopted us.
e. God promised eternal life before the world began Titus 1:2 says 2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
a. 2 Timothy 1:9 says 9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, -He gave us Jesus, before the world began. The contingency plan was in place before the world began.
f. This point Dramatized
2 deacons were brought up from the audience. They represented part of the heavenly courts. Bishop plays the part of the God head. Deacon #1 plays the Word and Deacon #2 plays the Holy Spirit. Before the world began, there was this Heavenly Court (which is made up of God head, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost). The choir stand represents the angels and all they did was give glory to the one that sat on the throne. One of them raises his hand and says it ain’t right for God to get all the glory and a 1/3 of them agreed with him. As a result, they were kicked out of heaven. Lucifer and his demons had to leave. Lucifer becomes Satan and the angels that followed him became demons. (As this is demonstrated, the choir members/demons all come into the congregation and find empty places to sit. This also demonstrates how Satan finds empty places in us to place himself into, but this is another sermon). Lucifer and his demons sit in the empty places in the earth realm. God said, before the beginning, we have 2/3 of what we started of the angels they started with. They sing Holy Holy Holy giving praises to God! Cherubim’s and Seraphim’s are around the throne. When God released Satan and his demons into the earth, chaos and darkness was there. God said I need to create something go there in the darkness. The God Head says Holy Spirit move on the face of water. He says to The Word, make light, make land, the fowls of the air and etc… This went on for 5 days and on the 6th day, the word comes back and God said it was good. On the 6th day, God said I will need you all for this. He has the Word and the Holy Spirit to come closer and the God Head says, “Let’s make man.” He says, “I am going to make man in our (meaning the Heavenly Court) image. This means God made us like him. Body (God Head), Soul (the Word), and The Holy Spirit (spirit). So God made man in his image. He then told the Holy Spirit to blow on us. When he did this, man got up and was a living being. He told The Word, “Since we are all in him, tell him name everything in earth and whatever he names it, it’s going to be.” Adam doesn’t realize that what he says is going to manifest. He doesn’t realize that the words he says came from heaven. Adam says after naming everything that there wasn’t anything suitable for him, so God said, “Let us make him a mate” and they takes the rib out of man to make Eve. God says to them, “I need you to be fruitful and multiply.” Now God can talk to them. There are because there are no distractions. He says you can have everything you want. Because God promised that they would have eternal life, he told them that they would live forever. He told them they could have anything they wanted, but just don’t touch the tree of “good and evil”, because that is a heavenly realm kind of thing. Then that serpent, that devil, thought since he was down here, let him get into something lowdown and mess up something God is trying to do. The devil comes to Eve and gets here to give the fruit from the tree to her husband. Immediately after eating the fruit, they knew they were naked. They never knew before. God says to the Word, “Go find them”. This is why the bible says the voice of God came through the garden. God sent his Word or his voice through the garden to look for them. How many people know that when you mess up, Gods word will find you in your mess? Word says Adam, where art thou. Now he knows where he is, but he asked anyway. Adam and Eve said they hide because they were naked. God asked who told you that you were naked. Afterwards the curses or punishments were given out. Serpent cast on belly, Man would have to work, and women would have labor pains. One cherubim was sent to guard the garden and instructed not to let anybody else in. God said, I still believe in them. He says I have to let them know. Even when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he sent angel to get Lot out.
The Word said to God, if we continue with our sanctified imagination, “We knew they were going to mess up and you knew you would send me, because I am the contingency plan.” What are we going to do? God says to the Word, “ I have sent you for short stays all this time, but this time, I am going to ask you to stay longer and to pay a price that you don’t owe. “
As a result, Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea. God said in the beginning was the word and word was with God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. The word came down and became flesh, so our flesh could become word. We didn’t realize what Jesus/the Word left. He left his heavenly realm and glory to come into the earth realm so we could one day be with him. They lied and spat on him and sent him to the cross. Jesus kept saying his kingdom wasn’t of this world. He was Gods contingency plan. He came from one dimension to be a contingency plan. They crucified him and he died, and then he rose. He is seated at the right hand of God today. On the day of Pentecost, when they were in one place on one accord, God said Holy Ghost, “I need to you to go and get into them. The only way they can live this out is to have the spirit of God in them.” Power in the heavenly realm was then made available in the earth realm.
g. Jesus one day called his disciples and said who do men say I am. The word is in the earth realm and he wants to know if they really know who he is. Some say Elijah one, but this is still in the earth realm. Another says some say Jeremiah, which is still in the earth realm, but Peter said though are the Christ, son of the living God. This didn’t come from this realm. This came from his father which is in heaven. Jesus said,” Peter upon this rock I will build my church. All the gates in hell can’t prevail against it.” Jesus said he gives us the keys to the kingdom and what we bound up here on earth will be bound in heaven and what we loose here shall be loosed there. This is two dimensions. You got enough power that you don’t have to walk around and be depressed. Open up your mouth and unleash your power. This is living word. Grandma used to sing “All day all night, angels keep watching over me”. All day and all night, angels are coming back and forth blocking what the demons are trying to do to us. Stop living just in this realm. Stop building your hopes in this realm. Build your hopes on things eternal. The essence of who we are is in that heavenly realm. We are strangers here. This is why they don’t understand you. This is not your home!

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Qutting is not an option Part 3, “Sermon 09/19/10”

Posted on September 22, 2010 by growintheword

Quitting is not an option Part 3

What survivors should know

Synopsis of Sermon 9/19/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Know it or not, you are a survivor. People have come to the conclusion about your life. Based on what they see in your life, they minimize your journey, because they don’t understand what it took for you to get where you are. The truth of the matter is, if they knew your testimony, they would handle you a lot better.

What is a Survivor? A survivor is one who lives through affliction. If you lived through affliction and it didn’t get kill you, then you are a survivor. What we have gone through pushed us closer to God. When you been through hell and back, you are through playing games and above being in anybody’s clique. This Psalm that we are in today is called a Pilgrim’s Psalm. What we mean is it would be sung as they went on their journeys. We think David wrote this particular Psalm, but we are not sure. It is written through the sons of Korah. They were people David left in charge of music in the temple.

Somebody reading this came here thinking they couldn’t make it, but know that it is not over until God says so. Know that God is always moving, he has a plan, and revelation for your life.

Lesson that survivors teach us:

I.                   Pursue his presence

1.     We must be in pursuit of God’s presence. The trick of the enemy is to get you to push away from God, but the enemy doesn’t realize that pain will push us right into the presence of God. If you think of your past pain, you will realize that it made you pray harder and seek God harder than you ever did before. In the presence of God, we find satisfaction and completeness.

2.     Even the bird has sense enough to know that they need to be close to God. Psalm 84:1-3 says 1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

3.     When we talk about getting in God’s presence, we are not talking about the building where we attend church. When you get into God’s presence, it means to get into his power. What we need is in Him. If we can get into his presence, there is fullness of joy. If you are in the presence of God, you will praise him regardless of the circumstances. We are not on something, we are in something. Psalm 84:4-5 says 4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 5Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

4.     We have to get to a place we are:

a.     Satisfied in his presence.

b. We know God is our strength. When in his presence, we recognize that he is our strength. Psalm 84:5-6 says 5Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. -Remember that this is a Pilgrim Psalm. The Psalmist declares in this scripture that it is good to be in God’s presence while you are on your pilgrimage. You must realize however that you won’t arrive where you are going without going through Baca. Baca was a rough terrain and a difficult place to get through. In order to get to Zion, you must go through it. It is easier to go through Baca in his presence, than in your flesh. If you are not in God’s word, you approach Baca and find yourself wondering why God would let you come all the way out here and not give you resources and water. In other words, you become bitter. You become so disillusioned; you will turn your back on God.

c.     You recognize that you have to be resourceful in your Baca.

5.     In Baca you realize:

a.     It is a rough situation. Conditions are not favorable in Baca. There is no water or food in Baca.

b.     You must have the right revelation. When others see it as opposition, you see opportunity

c.     You have reality of expectation. Based on what we heard, we expect that something can happen here. We expect God to do something in our situation.

d.     You must respond to preparation. Our strength is in God. Why would we need his strength? It is because when we pass through Baca, we have to make a well. This is where we start preparation. We are digging something (the well), because we expect something.

6.     Why do we dig the well? It is because we expect manifestation. We expect God to give us what we need. In this case, it is water.

7.     In Baca (verse 6), we go where we can’t get any water, but we get revelation. The revelation is that they are passing through it. Somebody else before us got through the same situation we find ourselves in. If they made it through it, then so can we.

8.     We receive manifestation. Before you cry out let it rain, give God a well to put it in. If we dig the well, God will send the rain. If you don’t dig anything, you won’t receive anything. Why would God let it rain, if we don’t dig anything to put the rain in? God is not just letting it rain just for you. It is for others. Others will come by and benefit from the well that we dug. We have to dig a well so God can put the rain in.

II.                Positioned for his purpose

1.     The Psalmist is seeking purpose and direction for his life.

2.     In biblical history, there were certain seasons where men would go and journey to Zion. They would stop and rest along the way to regain their strength. This is strength to strength. Psalm 84:7 says 7They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

3.     David recognized he was anointed but not in place. Psalm 84:8-10 says 8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. 9Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. – You can be anointed but not in place or proper position. When God places you, it is about service. Note: Many of you have heard this scripture (Verse 10) used at a many Usher day services. We are about to give you deeper revelation of it.

4.     You have to be willing to give up something to be where God wants you to be. The Psalmist says he rather be in God’s presence. In other words, verse 10 tells us that the Psalmist would rather serve where people didn’t know his name and where he didn’t have a position, than to serve among the wicked. All of us have spent time in the tents of wicked. It is fun on the front end, but fatal at the finish. Ex- The wicked wants to take from you, but God wants to add to you. Just ask the prodigal son. When he lost all that he had, his friends were gone. This is how the wicked will do you. Know that God will stick with you. This is why we fret not ourselves of evil doers… for we will reap if we faint not. . We will serve with tears in our eyes and aches in our hearts. We are not serving for a pat on back.

5. The Psalmist says that you can have tents of the wicked, but one day in his presence is better, is better than 1000 days outside God’s presence. In other words it’s like having a 1000 days in the bed, but not able to get any rest. One day in Christ will give you joy and peace.

III.             Praise him for provision

1.     God is our security. Zion mentioned in the scripture was a physical place. The Psalmist was dealing with the reality of earth and heaven.

2.     Lord means over and sun means revelation. The shield represents the obstacles of our enemy. Psalm 84:11 says 11For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. – This scripture reminds us that God will bring light where darkness is. This is why when the son was on the cross, the sun refused to shine. Where there is no revelation, there is no light. God will shine a light on your dark situation. Like the scripture says, God will be a shield. With all the stuff we go through to get where God wants us to get, know that God blocked some stuff from us. Every survivor that is reading this is here, because God blocked it.

3.     Verse 11 says no good thing will God withhold from them that walk upright.

4.     It is Gods desire to be benevolent to you. Psalm 84:12 says 12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.- God doesn’t want to withhold anything from them they at walk upright.

5.     Because we are upright, God wants good things to happen to us. Proverbs 28:10 says 10Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession. – It is God’s desire to be benevolent to us. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk upright. Righteousness is not determined by you, but it is determined by God. Therefore, we don’t have our own righteousness. What then is good? If God doesn’t think it is good for you, then it must mean that something better is up the road.

6.     You got to be:

a.     Faithful in the trail -Do what you know to do, while going through the storm.

b.     Follow through -No matter what they do to you, we have to be determined to follow righteousness and to follow God.

c.     Trust in the Fathers timing – Just because God wants to withhold it and he won’t give it to us when we want, know that if he promised it, he will give it to us. If it is good for you and then God will give it to you. It is coming. Ex– Bishop remembers being in the grocery store. He explains how he needed to pick him up a snack. He decided he would get a health bar. He couldn’t eat it, because he was in line and needed to pay for it first, but he was really hungry. The line was long in this store, because there was only one register open. Bishop explained that there were some people that started arguing and holding up the line. Bishop wants to eat the bar, but he can t eat it until he passes through this situation in this case being the line. In the natural Bishop asked himself, “Why are these people holding up the line?” Spiritually, this is what happens to believers. God is trying to get us to heaven, but we have to go through so much pain and drama it often prevents us from reaching our destination. If you stop obstacles from getting into your way and start letting stuff go, then you will be able to get through.

d.      Forever trust God. Psalm 84:12 says 12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. – Trust God no matter what. Trust him in all that we go through.

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