Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast
from St. Augustine, FL.
Now enjoy this message. You can open up your Bibles.
We're going to launch from the Gospel of Luke today.
We're going to go to the 19th chapter.
Actually, I'm going to back up. I'm going to read a good portion
of scripture. Are you ready?
It's going to be lengthy, but it's going to be necessary.
So Luke, chapter 18. I'm going to start in verse 35
and I'm going to go all the way through Luke 19, verse #26.
I just want to set the context historically for this scripture.
Amen. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and
that is the triumphant entry of Christ in the week of His
Passion right leading up to Passover.
And historically we are very close in time to what's taking
place in the in the Gospel of Luke when I read the 18th
chapter and the 19th chapter the the passage I'm going to read.
So just want to put the setting that this is the third year of
the ministry of Jesus and he's he's coming to his destiny on
the cross and his disciples. There's never a greater example
of leadership or a greater role model we can aspire to than the
Lord Jesus Christ. He is, was, and will come a man
on a mission. And he taught.
Us. The greatest model leadership.
It's just not how you start, it's how you finish.
And just 'cause you started this walk of faith, where you at
right now? The thing I love about the story
of. Daniel, when he went into
captivity, he started right, He stayed right and he ended,
right. And for your life in Christ, you
started this journey. Are you on course right now and
are you going to finish strong? The word says he's the author
and the finisher of our faith. It's he that began a good work
in us. He wants to see it completed
Now. You ain't need to participate
with them daily. It's a 24 hour a day lifestyle.
24 hour a day lifestyle in Christ.
Amen. So let's listen to this.
As I read, I'll be reading out the new King James Version.
It says in verse 35 of Luke, Luke 18.
Then it happened as Jesus was coming near Jericho that a
certain blind man sat by the road begging and hearing a
multitude passing by. He asked them what it meant, so
they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
This blind man cried out, saying, Jesus, son of David,
have mercy on me. Then those who went before
warned this blind man that he should be quiet.
But he cried out all the more. Son of David, have mercy on me.
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to
him. And when the blind man had come
near, Jesus asked him, saying what?
Do you want me to do for you? The blind man said, Lord, I want
to receive my sight. Then Jesus said to him, because
you're He said, receive your sight.
Your faith has made you well. Immediately he received his
sight, and he followed Jesus, glorifying God and all the
people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief
tax collector, and he was rich. He sought to see who Jesus was,
but he could not because of the crowd and because he was short
of stature. So he ran.
Ahead. He climbed up into a Sycamore
tree to see Jesus, for he was going to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and he saw
Zacchaeus. And Jesus said, Zacchaeus, make
haste come down, for today I must stay at your house.
So Zacchaeus made haste and came down and received Jesus
joyfully. But when they saw it, they all
complained saying Jesus has gone to be a guest with a man who is
a Sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to
the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor,
and if I take anything from anyone by false accusation, I
restore 4 fold. Jesus said to him today,
salvation has come to this house because he's also son of
Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which is lost. Now as they heard these things
he spoke another parable, because he was near Jerusalem,
and because they thought the Kingdom of God would appear
immediately. Therefore Jesus said, a certain
noble man went to a far country to see for himself a Kingdom and
to return. So he called ten of his
servants. He delivered to them 10 minus,
and said to them do business till I come.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him,
saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
And so it was when he returned, having received from the
servants to Me, had given the money to be called to him, that
he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Then came the first saying, Master, your mind has earned 10
minus. And he said to him, well done,
good servant, because you were faithful and a very little have
authority over 10 cities. And the second came, saying,
Master, your mind has earned 5 minus.
Likewise he said to him you also be over 5 cities.
Then another came, saying, Master, here is your mind, in
which I've kept put away in a handkerchief, For I feared you,
because you're an austere man. You collect what you did not
deposit, and reap what you have not sown.
And he said to him out of your own mouth, I will judge you, you
wicked servant. You knew that I was a austere
man, collecting that which I did not deposit, and reap what I did
not sow. Why then, did you not put my
money into the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it
with interest? And he said to those who stood
by him, take the minor from him, and give it to him as 10.
But he said to a master he has 10.
Jesus said, I say to you, everyone who has will be given,
and from him who does not have even what he has, will be taken
away from him. Now, during offering, I gave you
the parable of the talents, and this is the parable of the minor
minors. Now there are two different
parables in a very close period of time.
The parable of talent was actually during the Passover
week, the the passion week. All right.
But I think it's very important to know Jesus is finishing his
assignment. He gives 2 parables that are
very similar in context and principle.
But why? 'cause he's depositing a message
of instruction for his church. They were looking for what the
Kingdom of God, What do we preach at anchor?
Faith. Church.
The Kingdom of God? The Basilias, The Kingdom?
The realm? Or a a territory where a king is
in charge? There's a difference, although
similarity, between the Kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God,
the Kingdom of Heaven, the Heaven's, the Oranos where God
literally is right now, where his throne's at, but the Kingdom
of God is anywhere where you permit him to be.
Lord. If we backed up a couple
chapters of Luke 17, they said, Lord, what's going to be the
sign of your Kingdom? When's it coming?
He said, Behold, the Kingdom of God does not come with
observation. The Kingdom of God is within
you. So in Anchor Faith Church.
We preach, teach the truth that right now we're in the Kingdom.
Why? Because you're permitting Jesus
to be Lord. For those of you that have
received him, guess what? You're a Kingdom citizen in
operation right now, and he gives these parables because God
has delivered something to you to do while you're on the earth.
There's a purpose. There's an assignment.
Amen. So if we.
Look at this story, the 1st place he went to in Luke chapter
19 and he was on a mission, you know he just didn't.
He wasn't went. He was sent.
So be sent, just don't go. I'll give you one example and
you can find others in scripture in Acts chapter 16.
Paul wanted to go. Certain cities in the Holy
Spirit forbade or restricted him.
Hallelujah. So you want to listen to the
Holy Ghost? He's given us the great God, the
great comfort of the great counselor on the inside, and as
many as are led by the Spirit. These are what?
The sons and daughters of God. So guess what?
You'll be sent on a mission and assignments, but you just don't
want to go if God doesn't want you to be there.
The anointing, the grace, the resources are where he sends
you. God blesses his plans.
You don't make your plans and ask God to bless your plans.
You follow his plans. His plans are blessed.
So I believe with all my heart the greatest example.
Leadership. Jesus, as we see in the end of
Luke 18 leading up to the Palm Sunday.
He's on a mission. He knew the.
Blind man was going to be there. Amen.
There was a mission to that. Listen, Jesus had a threefold
assignment. He He taught in the synagogues,
He preached the gospel of the Kingdom, and he healed every
manner of sickness and disease. And the mission of the Church is
still the same, to teach in this synagogue, this sanctuary, to
proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and the
principles that go with. It.
And to heal every manner and every sickness and every dis
ease. Any dis ease you have, there's
healing power for it, as Pastor Marcus said, Heaviness try to.
Come up on Friday, that's a dis ease.
And there's an antidote in the Word called praise and the
sovereignty of God. As pastors been preaching only
works when you. Do the word of God.
Depression would have stayed on him, although it's God's will
for him have joy. But guess what?
He had to activate a thing called praise for it to work.
I just got a debit card for our business.
Last week because our old one's expiring and guess what it just
didn't work. I had to call A1 800 number and
activate. If I would have took that to the
store and tried to run it, it would have said decline.
Don't let your life be declined in any transaction because
you're not activating the word of God.
So the first thing he did in Luke 19, he's on a mission he's
sent, he's being led by the Holy Ghost.
And it's interesting to me in the close proximity of time,
that he's getting ready to go into Palm Sunday, the week of
his passion leading up to Passover that's coming up.
Amen. Where we celebrate.
And really, every day we should celebrate the redemption of the
Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection.
Our lives should be a living example and testimony to the
goodness of God of what he's done in our life.
Amen. But he enters Jericho.
Now we know what happened in Jericho, right?
That was the walled city that the children of Israel had to
conquer in order to get into Canaan land.
Hallelujah. So I think it's purposeful.
That God sent Jesus through Jericho because he's on a
mission and assignment there. And what happens at Jericho?
Something large that obstructed the way in the road and the
journey of his people had to be brought down.
Jesus is still bringing walls down today.
Jericho in the Bible is a place of fragrance and know how sweet
it is to have victory in the Lord, to be able to shout with
His method and his plan of redemption to bring down
anything or anyone that stands in the plan of purpose of God
for your life. But at and near Jericho, guess
what he encountered a man named Zacchaeus.
Now Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector.
Now chief tax collector means they actually bid out to other
tax collectors to go get the funds.
So we have Matthew as a tax collector, but really of rank.
Zacchaeus was a higher degree of a tax collector than Matthew.
The interesting thing about this, Matthew and Zacchaeus were
both taking money for the Roman Empire from their own
nationality and background. The Jewish people.
That's why they didn't like him. They said this man's a Sinner.
Hallelujah. Now his name means Zacchaeus
means to be pure, justified. And I got to thinking about this
and I thought, Lord, whatever I'm doing in life, I don't want
to justify my way or be pure in my own eyes.
I'm going to be pure in your eyes and I'll be truly justified
and sanctified, really to your plan.
You know, we can make excuses for why we do what we do, and
the reason sounds good. As Angie, my wife, ministered on
Wednesday, don't lean to your own understanding, but is it
really God's way and God's method and God's plan for your
life? Now, now, Zacchaeus, when he
heard Jesus was coming, there was something on the inside of
him that said, I've got to see this man now, Jesus being our
greatest model, Let me ask you this question.
Is there something that attracts people to you?
Come on, come on. If people were attracted to
Jesus and said, I got to see this person and listen, he was
rich, so you think that he's got it all together.
Well, let me tell you this. Riches are not wealth.
You could be rich and broke. You could have sickness or
disease in your body and the money in the bank.
'S going to do you no good. But Jesus came to what?
Heals, sickness and disease. You could be rich and your
mind's a vice, grip of confusion, depression.
But when you're in the Kingdom, God gives you something called
wealth, which includes riches. But it comes with a sound mind.
The Blessed Lord makes 1 rich and he adds no sorrow with it.
So Zacchaeus was rich, but he understood this.
I'm missing something. There's something empty, there's
something vacant, there's something void in my life, and
I've got to see Jesus. Now there's two things that
hindered Zacchaeus #1, the crowd.
He was short. He couldn't see right.
I was thinking, that's not the only crowd that stood in the way
of some people before. Are you going to do what's
necessary to touch Jesus today? The crowd, those that should be
celebrating Jesus, were actually standing in the way of his
viewpoint, but it reminds me of the woman with the issue of
blood that she couldn't get to Jesus because of the crowd.
So guess what? She pressed in.
And Zacchaeus is another example of pressing in today to get all
the words of God, all the impartation, all the instruction
that he wants to give out today. Are you pressing in to receive
what he wants to say today? And because he was short of
stature, the second thing is I got to get a new new vantage
point, a new viewpoint. I can't see him from my current
location. So my prayer for you today is
let's get a viewpoint of Jesus. Today he had to climb up into a
Sycamore tree to actually see where Jesus was.
I remember when we first came to Saint Augustine, you know,
hardly go to the beach anymore. But when you come from
landlocked position in Oklahoma and then relatives come to
visit, you guess what they want to do?
They want to go see the beach. So we went out on a boat, and
what is that called when they take you up with the parachute
parasailing? We did that.
That was kind of freaky. You know, honestly, I'm thinking
sharks. And I thought I saw some.
It could be in my mind playing with me.
But what I realized is when I was way up there, it was a
different view than I was way down low.
And it was quiet. And what I'm praying is that you
get a new perspective. Today of the Lord and Zacchaeus
did right. So he went through Jericho on a
mission to see Zacchaeus. And you know what happens with
Zacchaeus? His repentance comes.
I want to give you a key in this story.
Repentance, restoration and release.
What happened with Zacchaeus? Repentance means I'm, I'm done
living life my way, head in that direction.
Repentance means I'm, I'm done going down that road.
I'm going to turn around and I'm going to start following God.
That's repentance. It's a change of mind.
It's a change of thinking. If you're still thinking the
same way today that you were five years ago, you're not truly
in repentance. You could have slid back some.
But today, God's saying today is a day of salvation.
Right. And then there's there's
repentance, but there's restoration.
God's all about restoring lives. He's about repairing you, making
you whole for the purpose and the plan that he has for you.
And then there's release. Meaning he's got a plan.
He's got employment. He's got an activity.
For you to do in the earth. With true repentance comes
repair and restitution. You can't just say I had an
experience with God and there's no change in your life.
Guess what happened was Zacchaeus.
He said Lord, they were accusing him because he was rich.
This is a notorious Sinner. He's greedy.
He's all about money. He doesn't care about people.
He cares about the dollar or whatever their currency was.
And that's always about his gaining more riches and not
about helping people. But guess what happens when the
Kingdom of God comes and has an impact on your life?
There's repentance, there's restoration, then there's
release, which included repair and restitution.
Now what does Zacchaeus say? He said.
Lord. I give half my goods to the poor
now. The Jewish culture, given up to
20% of your income, was generous, he said.
I'm going to do more than that. I'm going to add 30% of that to
show the reality of the impact that the Lord's had in my life.
I'm giving. And then he said to top that
off, if I've taken anything unrighteously or wickedly or
greedy, I'm going to restore fourfold.
So he goes back to Exodus 22. Restitution means I want to make
things right. You know, when I got saved, born
again. Come on.
Filled with the Holy Ghost, sanctified and set apart for the
work of the master. There's some things in high
school that I did BC that I wasn't very proud of.
Matter of fact, I still have thoughts today.
People would not know my conduct or character compared.
To what I used to be now, right? And I remember thinking, man,
there's there's people I'd like to go to.
And say I'm sorry, that wasn't the real real me.
Are you with me? That's where repair and
restitution is to make things right, that we're wrong and
that's true salvation. Jesus mission is found in the
9th. Verse and the 10th salvation has
come to this house. Because why?
Because. There was restitution and
repair. Zacchaeus, literally.
Isn't it interesting? The first thing he did is
loosened his wallet. Let me say it again.
The first thing that happened was Zacchaeus as he loosened his
wallet. I'll say it one more time.
The rich man Jesus got the crowbar out through love, stuck
it down that wallet, spread it open and said what you going to
do now Zacchaeus see Law verse 10.
The the Son of man. You know Jesus is reference in
scripture as the Son of God, but he's also the Son of man.
You know, he can relate to our humanity, every emotion, every.
Test. Every temptation that you walk
through Jesus have been through. If you go over to the Gospel of
Hebrews chapter, the gospel, what is good news?
But the book of Hebrews chapter 4, it says that he was tempted
as on all points, like we are yet without sin.
Now if Jesus is our highest model leadership, which he is,
guess what? He was tempted the same way you
were. He was tested the same way you
were. This says the Son of Man came,
which means all the humanity, everything that you feel with
being human. You know human beings are prone
to malfunction at any time. That's why truth is so
important. But he's experienced everything
yet without sin. So what a great example for us.
You know, you could live life without missing the mark.
You get enough word in, you listen.
The Holy Ghost. close enough You can live life without missing
the mark. You get enough word in you.
You listen the Holy Ghost. Enough.
Does that mean that sin doesn't try to come?
No. But it never attaches itself to
me. The Bible says he was tempted on
all points like we are yet without sin.
That means temptation is going to come, but it's what you do
with the temptation that defines if you're an overcomer or you're
a victim. And Jesus always overcame.
What he say, it is written. What he say it is written.
So the Son of Man.
This is his mission, to come and to seek and to save that which
was lost. We understand in Anchor Faith
Church that what was lost the Kingdom.
The Kingdom of God Jesus message was the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom is like this. The Kingdom is like that.
He spoke parables about the Kingdom.
He spoke the parables of the talents in relation to the
Kingdom of God. The parable of the mine is what
he spoke. Why?
Because it related it to the Kingdom of God He came to seek.
That means he came in order to find something.
He was on a mission for those that would receive to save.
Now salvation means deliverance. It means redemption.
It means health. Amen.
It means you're no longer molested by the enemy.
I know that's strong, but when I'm saved, I'm no longer
molested by the enemy, the lost. That means people that were
perishing, that were apart from God, that were destitute, that
were broke, that were disgusted and busted.
I came. To seek and save those people.
So listen, God's Word comes to change our lives.
God's Word. Just like it did with Zacchaeus.
Just like it did with the. Blind man comes to change our
lives. He changes our life in stages,
over time and permanently. Jesus word, the word of God,
changes our lives in stages, over time and permanently.
When you first get the word of God, it's information.
Information which means I get it and hopefully you're getting
something today. Secondly, it comes as
inspiration. Just like Zacchaeus, I got to
get to him. Inspiration.
Means I desire it. I crave it.
I long for it, right? Inspiration.
Impartation means I got it in my heart.
I got it in my heart. It's part of me now.
Hallelujah. What's in you is going to come
out. When I was younger, my my
parents owned a Dairy Queen and I would work there for $5.00 an
hour. That was big money for a
teenager, $5.00 an hour. Can you make it for $5.00 an
hour today? But I remember working at there
at the Dairy Queen. Blizzards.
Dilly bars. Hallelujah.
I was a master at dipping the cone upside down, flipping it up
with the trademark swirl. But when I leave work, you know
what I smelled like? Dairy Queen.
Wayne Salisbury can relate to this in Dexios.
He just raised his hand. What do you smell like when you
go? Home What?
You cooked bacon? What am I saying?
Impartation. What's in you is going to come
out. Revelation.
I see it. I see it.
Zacchaeus Solid.
I give half my goods to the poor Lord.
I restore fourfold If I given anything on on if I've taken
anything unrighteously. Revelation, I see it.
Realization it's working in my life and in my life is changing.
I'm not the same as I used to be.
Actualization means others see it working in my life.
You're not the same. Transformation means I'm changed
so much I'm never going back to what I used to be.
He didn't call us to live a conformed life, but to be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may present
your bodies a living sacrifice to God.
He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Now he gets to the parable of the 10 minors after this.
He gives each 110. Now 10 minors was about four
months of wages. All right.
So just to bring it. Home, let's say average person
makes about $3000 a month. So I said, here's $12,000, whose
money is it? Whose money is it?
And he gives it to Kingdom citizens, and then he goes.
Away for a long time, right? But then he comes back and he
takes account of the $12,000 he gave you to see what you did
with it. You can say Hallelujah, Amen or
O me. Listen, this is the introduction
before we get to the Meet Luke 1913, I'm going to read this
from a King James Version. He called his 10 servants, he
delivered to them 10 lbs. And he said to them.
Occupy till I come, he said. Here's $12,000.
I want you to occupy They were looking for the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God does not come with what observation, but it's
within you. God gave you something and.
He said. Occupy till I come, there's a
work. For the church.
In the earth today, the word occupy means a carry on business
to be a banker or a traitor. And what's bankers and traders?
Do they invest now? An investment is an asset or
item acquired with the goal of generating income or
appreciation. Appreciation refers to an
increase in the value of an asset over time.
When an individual purchases a good as an investment, the
intent is not to consume the good.
But rather to use it to create future wealth.
An investment always concerns the outlay of some resource
today. Time, effort, money, or an asset
in hopes of returning a greater. Payoff in the future.
Jesus invested life into you, truth into you, redemption into
you. Gifts and grace into you.
And he's going to come back one day.
What? And he's going to ask what did
you do with my investment? Have you increased in value?
The word occupy means this? And I want to go to Romans 517
first, because pastoral prophetically said this is the
year of the reigning spirit. This is the year of the what
reigning spirit. Romans 517 says, For by one
man's offense, death reign. By one much more they which
receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by the one Jesus Christ.
Now the word reign means this that you exercise kingly power.
You're the governor of a province.
Let me put it this way. You're the governor of your own
life. Let me put it this way, before
you conquer the world, you got to conquer yourself, he said.
You came to reign in life. He came to seek and save that
which is lost. Guess what?
He gave Adam in the garden a territory, a place to work with.
Same thing. He's given you your life as a
territory to work with. He's coming back one day to see
what you've done with the investment he's given.
Listen to this the the word reign metaphorically, and I want
this to be etched in your mind and heart.
Means to exercise the highest influence or to control the word
reign metaphorically means to exercise the highest influence.
What does influence mean? This is the year of the reigning
spirit, so we are to exercise the highest influence.
Influence literally means according to eighteen 81828
Webster's dictionary. It's a flowing into or on.
It refers to a substance spiritual, too subtle to be
visible, like inspiration. So influence means you don't
even know what you're around right now.
But it's in me. It's going to get on you.
Let me say you don't let me say it again.
You don't even know what's around you right now.
But what's in me is going to flow into you and onto you.
Listen, the yeast always impacts the dough, and your influence as
a righteous person before God Almighty should impact every
area, every sector of society. Everywhere you go, you should
have influence. Are you going to meet a blind
man today that needs healing? Are you going to need Zacchaeus?
That needs direction? Are you going to meet a woman
with issue of blood that needs healing?
Kingdom Reign. This is the year, the reigning
spirit. Now the word occupy means this.
It means work. Everybody say work.
Say work, say work. Did you know that work was in
the earth before the fall? Work is not a profanity.
It's not a dirty 4 letter word. Matter of fact.
Work is what God's given you to establish dominion on the earth.
He's called his people to be creative, industrious and
productive on the planet, he said.
You're made in my image, so guess what I put creative
ability on the inside of. You are you managing that
creative ability to be into industrious, to be productive or
fruitful? Occupy means this.
You work until everything. Everybody say everything fills
the influence of your presence, he said.
Occupy till I come, work until everything fills the influence
of your presence. Let me ask you this.
Did everybody, when they around Jesus, feel the influence of his
presence? As He is?
So are we. This is the year of the reigning
spirit. I want to give you 1 ingredient
to rain this year. There's other ingredients, Amen.
But this is one I think the church is lacking, and where
there's slack, there's lack. Well, Lord, I just don't have
enough. The reason you don't have more
is because you settle for less. He went to Jericho, conquered
it. Why?
To get to Canaan land. You know, that's where they
divided the land. It's land that's more than
enough. It's a land still today that God
wants us to live in by faith and.
When the Church of Israel went in, they divided every all the
inheritance out and he said to one of the tribes, he said, if
it's not enough. Go get some more.
The reason you don't have more is because you settle for less.
And the the one tribe said we need some more space.
Well, what are you waiting on? Go take it.
Occupy. Occupy Proverbs 12/20. 4
Proverbs 12/24 I'm going to read it some 4 translations.
It says this from the NIV. Diligence hands will rule, but
laziness ends in forced labor. The New Living Translation says
this work hard and become a lit leader.
Be lazy and become a slave prover.
The amplified says it like this. The hand of the diligent will
rule, but the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
The passion translation says it like this.
If you want to reign in life, don't sit on your hands.
Instead, work hard at doing right for the slacker.
We'll end up working to make someone else succeed.
The word. Rule.
Literally means to reign and the hand of the diligent will what
Rey this is the year, the reigning spirit.
So let me ask you this, where's your diligent level?
At how? Full.
Is your diligent tank, are you experience God's best?
Are you reigning and thriving, or is there slack and lack
because you're not diligent? Let me give you some the
negative side of slothfulness, because it's literally the King
James says if you're slothed will, it'll lead to tribute,
which means you'll be under force.
Rule Proverbs 18-9 says he also slothed on his work as a brother
to him, that's a great waster. He that slothed on his work as a
brother to him who's a great waster.
He gave you 10 minus and said what are you going to do?
And if you're slothed with it, guess what?
You wasted God's gift in your life.
Proverbs 24 verses 30 through 31 says, I went by the field of the
slothful and by the vineyard of the the man void of
understanding, and lo was grown over with thorns and nettles had
covered the face thereof, and the Stonewall was broken down.
Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse #18 says by much slothfulness.
The building decays and through idleness of hands the house
drops through. Hebrews chapter 6 verse #12 says
don't be slothful, don't be slothful but followers of them
who through faith and patience inherit the.
Promises, he's now. Let's go to the positive side of
this verse if you want to reign this year with this one
ingredient, he said. The hand of the diligent shall.
Rule. Now the word hand indicates
work. It indicates power.
It indicates position. Remember, when Esther had to go
see the king, He extended his right hand with the scepter.
The hand represents position. Where has God placed you?
Positioned you in the body of Christ.
It means direction and power. Deuteronomy 28 one through verse
14 talks about the blessing of God, right?
We live in a new covenant with better promises.
So this is wonderful. It was in the Old Testament.
But listen, Proverbs 28. One says this.
It shall come to pass if you diligently, if you diligently
obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all
those commands which I command you today.
The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of
the earth. Well, Lord, I don't see that in
the church. Is the Church diligent enough?
Jump down to verse 8. The Lord will command blessings
on you in your storehouse and to all in which you set your hand.
The hand of the diligence. Show what rule?
Notice there's no blessing if you don't set your hand to do
something. Let me put it this way.
It doesn't fall on you like ripe cherries off of a tree.
Faith without works is dead. What are you doing with your
hands? Hand shows what you do with your
life. The Eastern Bible Dictionary
says the hand was called the instrument of all instruments.
With my hand I can make peace. With my hand I can go to.
War with my hand I could tithe with my hand, I could take
bribes. Everything you set your hand to
the hand of the diligent. But diligence is the key.
I'm going to give you 3 definitions of diligence. #1
means this to be sharp, pointed, sharp, pointed.
That means you're keen in attention.
You're fixed. Listen, if a sword is sharp,
guess what? It's pointed.
And it could. It could Pierce through what it
needs to get through, right? But if it's.
Dull. Because it hasn't been
sharpened, it's not going to be as effective.
So don't be a dull Christian. Stay sharp.
Secondly, it means a strict decision.
Diligence is a strict decision and that means you're you're
rigorously conforming to the principles the truths from the
from the Kingdom of God. And you've made the choice.
You've made the choice. You've made the choice.
As I was praying, praying today, there's.
And Pastor Marcus even said, I said thank you Holy Spirit.
There's no turning back. Once I put my hand to the plow.
It's a decision. I'm not looking back.
I'm not looking to the left or right.
I am full focus, full force full concentrate on doing what God
wants me to do. Don't be distracted, Saints.
Don't be dull. Make a strict decision.
Today is the day of salvation. Make the decision, Man, with
everything that's within me. I'm going to occupy and be
diligent to do what God's called me to do.
And thirdly, it's determination. Determination.
I couldn't even say this definition without honoring
Pastor Kenneth Hagin. Who obviously Pastor Earl is
submitted to as a mentor and as a man of God.
But he has a saying. I cannot be defeated and I will
not quit. That's determination.
And not to be too carnal. But all I can see is Mick in the
corner. Come on, get up.
You bumming ain't over. Oh, y'all, didn't hear no bell.
I don't do that as good as Pastor Roddy, but it ain't over
if you fail. Then get back up.
Get back in the fight. Get in the ring.
Occupy. Be diligent.
You may have taken a cut. You got a great quarter man in
the Holy Ghost. He'll put some ice on that thing
and encourage you say get back in the ring.
Take down Ivan Drago. Come on, Saints Church.
It's time to rise. It's time to reign.
Determination means I'm committed.
I'm bound to a course of action. Spiritually, physically,
financially, emotionally. I will not relent.
Martin Luther, when he had the 95 thesis, I will not recant.
I'm determined that this is the infallible, everlasting,
incorruptible word of God, and I'm not going to do what
religious people say. Great men and women of God have
been burned at the stake because they won't recay it.
I'd rather lose my life to gain it than gain my life and lose
him. Diligence, diligence, diligence.
I want to give you one case study from the Bible of a man
who was diligent. This comes from David's mighty
man, which he had thirty of them, right?
Second Samuel 23, though I want to highlight one of the three
that were his chief advisors. Second Samuel 23 is a delicious
chapter. I mean, it is awesome.
It's a load of baked potato with sour cream, butter, cheese and
chives, and it gets a little bit of sprinkled bacon on it.
Hallelujah. Not to defend vegans out there,
but it's a good piece of prime steak.
But it is delicious. David opens it up.
And what the 1st 9 verses are powerful talking about his life?
Actually, I think it's the first eight, but we get to verse 9 and
David, listen. He occupied, he spread out until
everything felt the influence of his presence.
You know, he he went in a cave and people went in with him.
And those people weren't mighty warriors when they went in.
The Bible says three things about they were discontent,
distraught and broke. What a way to start a church.
We're broke. People that are distraught and
discontent, but they got in a they got in a cave with a giant
killer and guess what was on David Gut in them.
What's on Pastor Earl. You keep coming, gets on you.
Hallelujah. It's important.
Listen who you associate with so it says.
After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, Dodo the Hoatite, one of
the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines
who were gathered there for battle.
For the men of Israel had retreated, he arose, and he
attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand
stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great
victory that day, and the people returned after him to the
plunder. Not everybody's going to go with
you in this walk of faith, number one, you read this person
contacts and some people retreated.
They said, we can't handle this, we can't do this.
But guess what? The hand of the diligent shall.
Rule Now you got to be strong. If you were the son of Dodo,
that'll get you picked on in school.
But there was something in Eleazar that said, I've been
around David. I've seen the diligence, the
call, the purpose. Now there's something in me.
My life is transformed. My life is transformed.
And listen, the Philistines were
coming and it says he defied the Philistines.
That means he resisted. He refused to obey their
culture, their plan and their intent.
Matter of fact. That sounds a lot like David.
Who is this uncircumcised giant that ain't coming in my house.
Pornography ain't coming to my house.
Alcohol ain't coming to my house.
Vulgar language. You ain't going to hear me
speaking that. You ain't going to see me
beating my wife. Who is this uncircumcised giant?
So he defied the Philistines. Something on the inside of him,
though, says he arose. That means he came on the scene.
He stood up, and it's said that he attacked the Philistines
until his hand the hand of the Diligent.
Was weary and his hand stuck to the sword he had.
He was holding on that sword so tight and diligence that it his
hand literally bonded with the sword.
It it's the same word for a husband.
Leave your father, mother and cleave to your wife.
He grabbed on a sword so hard said I'm not coming off of this
and listen with the sword of the spirit don't come off.
Be diligent man. Keep on swinging.
It says he grew weary.
But the Bible says don't grow weary and well doing for due
season you shall reap. Listen weariness isn't a normal
human emotion but you it's only temporary.
Say it's only temporary. He kept swinging till it it
stuck to the sword. Man.
And listen, it says the Lord brought about a great victory
that day. I love it because through a man
or a woman of God that's diligent, whose hands at work,
there's going to be great victories in the church.
If we got a lazy, LAX idol, unoperative, inactive church,
we're going to have no great victories in the city, nation or
world. This is the year of the reigning
spirit and God said if you want to reign, you need to get
diligent. You need to get diligent now,
like First Chronicles 11 as we wrap up this story about our key
key player here with Eleazar, it gives a little more insight
about the Philistines. It says that he had a barley
field and the Philistines were coming.
And basically in this story, as we relate them together, he
said. You ain't taking my field, these
are lentils. I got some beans, and I'm not
letting you take my beans. Don't let the devil take your
beans. Listen, they have beans and rice
for breakfast in Nicaragua. And lunch and dinner.
We're blessed. If you had money, you ate meats
once a day in Nicaragua. It wasn't eggs and bacon for
breakfast. It was beans and rice.
Praise the Lord. We got it Good.
But he stood and he was swinging.
He said You ain't taking my field.
Where's your diligence this year?
That said, Devil, you are not taking.
Matter of fact, I'm advancing. I'm on quick.
I'm going to stand having done all to stand what stand there
for And listen, the great thing about when you occupy as God's
called you to do for the Kingdom and you want to reign, 'cause
you're diligent not as it impacts your life.
It's a way where people start to feel the influence of your
presence. Because it said the people that
left before the battle came back after because there was plunder.
There was spoil. God wants you to use you so
mighty. There's a thing called overflow
in your life where others get to come and partake of the
victories you win, and hopefully it inspires them to be diligent
about the masters business. I want to close.
I want to close with this. Now, this isn't comprehensive,
but these are just, say some area, say some of diligence that
God requires from you, OK, And they'll put this on the screen.
Number one, God requires diligence in you seeking him.
Hebrews 11/6 But without faith it's impossible to please him.
For he come, he that come to God must believe that he is and that
he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him, those that
are sharp and pointed, those that have a strict decision, and
those that are determined right. Secondly, God requires
diligence, and you obeying him. Deuteronomy Chapter 11, verse
#13 says, it shall come to pass if you hearken diligently unto
my commands which I command you this day to the love the Lord
your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your
soul. A third area God requires is in
listening to him diligence. Isaiah 55, verse #2.
Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and you
labor for that which satisfies not hearken, Or listen
diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul
delight in its fatness or prosperity.
A fourth area is in development. God wants you to grow, grow up,
and mature. Second Peter, chapter One verse
#5. And beside this, giving all
diligence, giving all diligence, Add to your faith virtue and the
virtue knowledge 5th area, Keeping the soul, your mind,
your will and your emotions. He wants you to be diligent.
I can give you another verse on this and I will right now.
Proverbs chapter 4 says guard your heart or be diligent.
Guard in your heart. For out of it flow the issues of
life. Deuteronomy Chapter 4 verse #9
says only take heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently,
lest you forget the things what your eyes have seen, unless they
depart from your heart all the days of your life and then teach
them to your sons and to your son's sons.
Another area God expects diligent is in self examination.
Psalm 77 Six says Call. When I call to remembrance my
song in the night, I commune with mine own heart and my
spirit, made diligent search examination.
The 7th area is offense or unforgiveness.
Hebrews chapter 12, verse #15. Looking diligently lest any man
fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springs
up, troubles you, and thereby many be defiled.
Wow. You got to be diligent not to be
offended. You want to occupy.
You want to finish your assignment.
You need to be a man and woman of God.
That takes that sword of forgiveness and says I release
things. I cut off any unforgiveness the
8th area. Is in your business, your
employment, what's caught? What?
What has God called you to do in the marketplace or the sacred
place? Proverbs 2723 says be diligent
to know the state of your flocks and look well to your herds.
It reminds me of a Dave Ramsey story.
When he met with somebody he was trying to reconcile their
checkbook. Everybody know what checkbook
is. A register, a check register.
It has debits and credits. If your outcome is more than
your income, then your upkeep becomes your downfall.
But he was looking at it and he saw he kept on seeing ESP.
So every every once in a while on the lines and he said what is
ESP and they just said it stands for error someplace.
I used to drive my wife bonkers with our check register 'cause I
would always not include the change, so would cushion the
account. And then our, our bank was like,
whoa, there's a lot more in the account than what's in the
checkbook. Well, yeah, because I'm, I'm not
factoring the change. Just be accurate.
Proverbs 2723 says 23, says be diligent to know the state of
your flocks and look well to your herds.
You got to know some things. If you're in business, there's a
diligence. Listen, we got some business
people in the church you want to excel and occupy.
You better be good at just not only the work but the back end
stuff as well. There's administrative side,
then there's a production side. And if you haven't want to have
a There's a marketing side. Lord, what I need to do to
expand what you've given me. Last thing I want to go over is
your purpose and calling. You got to be diligent about
what God's called you to do. Second, Peter 110 says
wherefore, brother, brother. And give diligence.
Give diligence to make your calling and your election.
Sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall.
Listen, Church, I close with this.
Every day is a gift from God. And don't despise a day of small
beginnings He wants you to occupy.
He wants you to reign this year. But it's going to require
diligence. I just end with some testimonies
from the Bible of people that started with what God gave them.
Listen, he don't give you everything at once.
He gave them four months supply. It's kind of like that one show
where they drop you off in the middle of nowhere and just give
you a little bit the survivor and say you got to excel in this
right? Now listen, these people from
the Bible. Moses had a rod.
Samson had the jawbone of a donkey.
David had a sling. The widow woman had a pot of
oil. The little boy had a few loaves
and a few fishes. Dorcas.
I love saying that name had a needle and a thread.
The lower, the lower. Of the distant and difficult and
deceptive The great opportunity is where you are today.
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